Post by Model Man on Apr 25, 2008 21:25:19 GMT -6
(original post: Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:20 am)
There is definitely no reason to believe that any of these weapons are manned. Excepting in so far as, why not have them manned as the tech level is such that it's a practical consideration to have a local human in case anything goes wrong with the computer system (Examples, anyone?)
If they are actual single use 1,000mt nuclear bombs, then no one's onboard no matter what. If they are weapon platforms, then there would be cause to have a few-person crew just as missile silos do today (or have done in the past). A simple Pod ride swapping crew out every other month or two seems reasonable. There are no apparent docking ports, though the hull is littered with things that could be considered such were one to do so. There are definitely no standard airlock doors as found on Big D and Aries.
As for size, let's consider that it is a manned weapons post. Let's say that the tower is ten - twenty feet wide. At ten feet, that makes the whole thing 600 feet or so. Do the math from there. The tech certainly says they can achieve that size ship and bigger and using mass production (e.g. Aries et al). It would also explain the lack of an obvious airlock. Make the Discovery the same length and spot the airlock on that -if it's even facing you. It could afterall be on a side unseen by these two views we have available.
If it's a single bomb, maybe it's 100 feet long.
The 'firing tubes' at the front are another consideration. If bombs launch from there, decide the diameter of your missile and go from there. Personally, that pointy thing in the stbd mid tube looks like a missile tip or a death ray emitter. I like the latter notion better. But Arthur says they're bombs. Technically, Stanley never said what they were... Until I read the book in the last few years, I thought they were standard satellites. The whole jump cut took on a more significant meaning afterwards.
Beam weapons are my definite vote. Especially the Chinese bomb...
There is definitely no reason to believe that any of these weapons are manned. Excepting in so far as, why not have them manned as the tech level is such that it's a practical consideration to have a local human in case anything goes wrong with the computer system (Examples, anyone?)
If they are actual single use 1,000mt nuclear bombs, then no one's onboard no matter what. If they are weapon platforms, then there would be cause to have a few-person crew just as missile silos do today (or have done in the past). A simple Pod ride swapping crew out every other month or two seems reasonable. There are no apparent docking ports, though the hull is littered with things that could be considered such were one to do so. There are definitely no standard airlock doors as found on Big D and Aries.
As for size, let's consider that it is a manned weapons post. Let's say that the tower is ten - twenty feet wide. At ten feet, that makes the whole thing 600 feet or so. Do the math from there. The tech certainly says they can achieve that size ship and bigger and using mass production (e.g. Aries et al). It would also explain the lack of an obvious airlock. Make the Discovery the same length and spot the airlock on that -if it's even facing you. It could afterall be on a side unseen by these two views we have available.
If it's a single bomb, maybe it's 100 feet long.
The 'firing tubes' at the front are another consideration. If bombs launch from there, decide the diameter of your missile and go from there. Personally, that pointy thing in the stbd mid tube looks like a missile tip or a death ray emitter. I like the latter notion better. But Arthur says they're bombs. Technically, Stanley never said what they were... Until I read the book in the last few years, I thought they were standard satellites. The whole jump cut took on a more significant meaning afterwards.
Beam weapons are my definite vote. Especially the Chinese bomb...
