From:	dejaffa dejaffa@*********.net
Subject:	Electro-Magnetic Pulse Questions
Date:	Sun, 22 Oct 2000 21:21:41 -0000

Strago said:
...
>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.

Far from it. One can be generated with equipment that would fit in a van
(see Neal Stephenson's _Cryptonomicon_) with today's tech, likely with a
briefcase-sized unit by SR times. Of course, wear your lead-lined
undies...

>Secondly, is there a way to localize the pulse or direct it?

Direct it, yes.

>Thirdly, is there only one size pulse?

No. It's in proportion to energy, pure and simple.

>For instance, could you pulse the lobby of a building but leave the upper
floors with their
>electronics intact?

Theoretically, yes.

>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?

IMCW (In My Campaign World), not likely. Because EMP's are so simple,
all significant equipment would be shielded against all but the most
powerful possible EMP.

>2) Is there any non-corporate group which has the capability to do the
>above?

Generate them, heck, yes. A SR team that includes a good
decker/rigger/mechanic type could generate EMP's. Generate EMP's that'll
knock out a corp, not easily at any rate.

>3) What would happen to any deckers on the Matrix when an EMP hit?
>Dump shock? Or worse?

Ouch. A powerful enough one, if the decker was hit by the actual EMP,
could do nasty stuff.

An EMP that actually took out a Matrix host wold cause dump shock or
worse to a decker, I'd say. Picture the Matrix suddenly going . . .
sideways, as parts of the host are destroyed and others are distorted.

>4) Would a runner group feasibly be able to use EMP to take out
>security?

IMCW, no, because of shielded systems. In other campaign worlds, who
knows?

Dejaffa