[TML] A little tinkering with Lasers

[Richard Aiken]

On 8/25/07, Garry Ward <garry.e.ward at worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
> Most meson guns are spinal mounts, which are mostly internal, only the
> bore
> takes up surface space. That is, a TL 15 2 Gj meson gun has a 5 x 5 meter
> surface foot print.
>
> Possibly not an issue deep inside a planet because there is so much rock
> to
> absorb miss fires, but on a ship, a miss fire is gonna hit something you
> really don't want hit.


Over on JTAS a long while back, a post got me to wondering why the Tigress
needed a gunport for it's meson gun.  Of course, the actual reason (per
Loren) was artistic license (it was just drawn that way . . .)

But in trying to find a good in-game reason, I assumed that it was because
the beam needed a certain area of vacuum immediately ahead of the muzzle -
of a length which was a very small but still non-trivial percentage of the
weapon's maximum range - or the partical decay would trigger too soon.  E.g. a
misfire.  From that came the idea that a planetary deep meson site would
have to be a huge installation, as it would need a globular vacuum chamber
surrounding the cannon.  And from that came a great backdrop for a dramatic
confrontation . . . an enormous weapon hanging suspended in the center
of vast emptiness . . . the whole buried miles below the surface of a
wealthy world . . . PC and Villian in vacc suits, climbing spiderlike over
the framing members . . . with a loooooong fall awaiting the first to slip .
. .

-- 
Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident."  Robert A. Heinlein