| From: | Matthew Bond mgb@*****.swinternet.co.uk |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Electro-Magnetic Pulse Questions |
| Date: | Mon, 23 Oct 2000 01:37:15 +0100 |
From: "Strago" <strago@***.com>
To: "ShadowRN" <shadowrn@*********.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 11:27 PM
Subject: Electro-Magnetic Pulse Questions
> Has anyone else seen the Fox TV show Dark Angel? In it, some
> organization sends the entire US back to the Dark Ages by detonating
> an electro-magnetic pulse in the atmosphere. I understand the effects
> of an EMP, but I have a few questions, some relating to Shadowrun.
> From what I've read, I know that an EMP is one of the side effects of
> a nuclear detonation. Thus, the easiest way to set up an EMP is to
> detonate a nuke above your target. I do wonder, though, if that's the
> ONLY way to get an EMP.
Well, no, not in theory... but in practise it's the only way to generate
one large enough to do more than cause interference on TV's.
> Secondly, is there a way to localize the pulse or direct it?
Not that I've heard of, and definitely not from a nuke.
> Thirdly, is there only one size pulse? For instance, could you pulse
> the lobby of a building but leave the upper floors with their
> electronics intact?
Given a non-nuke EMP generator, possibly, but only in a building well
over 100m high.
> And now for the Shadowrun questions, building on the above:
> 1) What would happen if someone used an EMP in downtown Seattle? Would
> it knock out the corps?
Not necessarily. It works by inducing high voltages in sensitive
electrical equipment. This can be stopped by a Faraday cage (essentially
a fine wire mesh *completely* encasing the sensitive equipment...
including wire data paths and power cables...). Bear in mind that it has
no effect on optical systems (except in as much as they use electronics
to generate optical signals).
A shielded building *can* be devised, especially if it's power
generators are internal.
> 2) Is there any non-corporate group which has the capability to do the
> above?
Governments, terrorist organisations etc
> 3) What would happen to any deckers on the Matrix when an EMP hit?
> Dump shock? Or worse?
It would depend on how localised the effect is, what systems the Decker
is routed by, but if they are affected, then Dump Shock will probably be
the least of their worries...
Remember, almost *all* electronic equipment within the are of effect
will be useless junk afterwards (as in 'irrepairably damaged circuitry',
replacement is essential). Including Cyberware...
> 4) Would a runner group feasibly be able to use EMP to take out
> security?
I certainly wouldn't like to try it... It will just attract attention
from outside the affected area...
And expect your Street Samurai with move-by-wire, cybereyes and
cyberears to be deaf, blind and immobile...
Matt
