From: | Avenger <Avenger@*******.DEMON.CO.UK> |
---|---|
Subject: | Oh my God! They killed Genetics- The Bastards! |
Date: | Tue, 30 Jun 1998 12:55:07 +0100 |
Subject: Re: Oh my God! They killed "Re: Fetishes..."
In-Reply-To: <199804010133.SAA15040@******.primenet.com>
Glad to have you back Caric. Remind me that we have to bug Kenson about
having cameos in SR3 for using us. Now all we need is a good throretical
genetics argument with Pete and life will be complete.
Heh. Sorry this is a bit old Nightlife, I've been busy. :) I still say
that the frogs would win out though. <grin> ;-P
Anyway, ignoring the possibility of genetic mutation and alteration
utilising genetic matter from ancient critters (It is now believed that
they can make new Tasmanian Tigers from the dead body of a puppy they've
got... Dinosaurs are next) but I digress.
++++
Here's an argument I started somewhere else. And I'm interested in the
lists opinion - from a theoretical sense anyway.
A short while back, an asteroid passed between the earth and the moon.
It wasn't noticed until it began it's journey "away" from us. The
asteroid was sufficiently large that had it struck the earth, it would
have caused devastation on a scale we can barely imagine. A situation
would have arisen that would have obliterated life from a considerable
portion of the planet, a "nuclear" winter would also have resulted.
Now. According to common belief amongst scientists, Mars was destroyed
by a massive impact from a comet/asteroid that ripped off the 3km thick
crust from a large portion of the planet and stripped away the
atmosphere (there is now an argument brewing as to when it happened -
some say it was in the days of dinosaurs, a new group are convinced it
happened as little as 14,000 years ago).
We are, according to the majority of respected astronomers and astro
chappies, 20,000 years into the next cycle of asteroid bombardment. (If
you want details please ask privately, not on the list. That part of
the conversation is already generating 60K posts).
Now. Ignoring for a moment the scientific facts and counter claims of
this. We /have/ been hit by large extraterrestrial objects in the past.
Gulf of Mexico, Nevada, Europe, Siberia, Russia, South Africa all show
evidence of impacts. NASA knows there is an asteroid out there with our
name on it and it's coming, they freely admit it. The government knows
that it's out there. The scientists know it's out there.
They know it's coming, and they also know we stand little chance of
spotting it.
Now comes the question.
2058 Shadowrun tech levels. Pretty impressive in some ways, incredibly
regressive in others.
If the threat of asteroid impact and extermination of life is taken
seriously, and the various organisations involved with Space certainly
seem to be taking it seriously. What, if any, precautions and
countermeasures would be in place by 2059/60?
Who would own them (aside from the all-encompassing and /boring/ ARES!).
What other uses could these units be put to? What are the chances of
terrorists taking over such units and what use would they be put to? If
Reagan had a dream of orbital weapons platforms, and the relevant
defence companies began researching that with "hidden" funding - what
could be done?
Rail guns exist, they're just not very good at the moment, Land based
lasers exist. A flying laser platform exists in the form of an
experimental 747, other strange and wonderful toys already exist. Then
there is the rash of "disaster" movies from the last couple of years
centred around asteroid impact...
>Which way to Gurth's stairs?
Gurth's stairs are open plan - thanks to Bull moving a sofa in there.
But mine have a new armoured door protecting the understairs cubby.
And I'm already in it.
I'm working on air filtration units after a complaint and smelly
thwapping of a visitor yesterday. :) (Thanks Gurth, the house stinks of
carp now.)
--
Avenger
http://www.shalako.demon.co.uk/index.htm
(Newbies Survival Guide to Stk & SR stuff)
http://www.freespace.virgin.net/p.siems/index.htm
(UK Survival Guide, SR Guide to the Oceans.)