Well of Souls Forums

On the plus side, humanity's distance and technological disadvantage should make it a very unattractive target. Provided the Loroi aren't lying about whether they genocide neutrals, the original issue that drove the TCA to try to make contact may not even be real. There is no reason they must join o...

Ithekro wrote:And given how far away his homeworld is expected to be, its not like he can report in on anything he learns for quite some time.

Its also likely something the Umiak already know about, so even if Alex were a Shell construct, he wouldn't be learning anything the Umiak could use.

Today's expert systems are getting very capable, and with "machine learning" techniques this will probably only accelerate... and it probably won't be long before some AI systems can pass the "Turing test", that is, to be able to fool a human into thinking that it is another human. But this is not ...

Today's expert systems are getting very capable, and with "machine learning" techniques this will probably only accelerate... and it probably won't be long before some AI systems can pass the "Turing test", that is, to be able to fool a human into thinking that it is another human. But this is not ...

icekatze wrote:hi hi

If I'm reading this right, Alex is shocked by the implant that Fireblade seems to have.

Given what Arioch has said recently in the Terran Q&A thread, I wouldn't be surprised if Alex is shocked by the implant because the general culture in the TCA is against cybernetics.

Good point, well put. I can imagine people leaving Earth to escape political correctness and the continual social drift towards left wing values. Though I can also see radicals like communists and fascists leaving Earth to set up colonies where they won't be interfered with and can work with likemi...

Cities also usually exist because some aspect of geography made it a good place to build a city. You're not just capturing a group of buildings, you're capturing a strategically and logistically important location. Urban warfare may be uncommon in history, but its been happening a lot recently, espe...

I rather doubt that. Early colonization efforts will require a level of toughness, physical fitness and sheer drive that is... how to say it... somewhat lacking in most of the hardcore science fiction fans I know. And I include myself in that category. I don't think I would do very well on Mars. Th...

It's a subjective thing, and different people will draw the line in different places, but I don't think most humans are as eager at the prospect of self-mutilation as your typical sample of hardcore science fiction fans. Right now in the United States, genetic modification of humans is illegal; thi...

The problem with comparing mechs to tanks is that a mech can't out-tank a tank. It can't carry as heavy firepower, its not as durable, its a bigger target, and its nowhere near as fast. So... what can a mech do that a tank can't? Well for one thing, it can shoot around corners. Just like infantry, i...

We don't all have household atomic reactors or flying cars today, not because they're not technically feasible, but because they not a good idea . Change the context and suddenly it does become a good idea. Take a Mars colony, for instance. Household atomic reactors would be useful because you don'...

Are the Terrans building a Dyson swarm, or would that get in the way of the standard sci-fi trope of most people living on planets? I'm not sure what the one thing has to do with the other... but I think in order to have an actual need for a large percentage of a star's energy output, you have to h...

Are the Terrans building a Dyson swarm, or would that get in the way of the standard sci-fi trope of most people living on planets?

Its, in the Loroi octal numerical system, and written from right to left, the unit number they're part of, namely the 51st raider squadron. If they wore EA on their shoulders I'm pretty sure all humanity would join the Umiak in jihad. Reminds me of the jokes people made about this ship I designed: ...

Though, it is a sign that they all feel sort of relaxed around Alex if they're comfortable to talk about even more touchy or depressing subjects. They would have cut it any time if it would be otherwise, especially after his fauxpas. Remember, most Loroi don't do tact. I'm not sure they have a conc...

I was thinking the latter, based on Arioch once saying that Terran vessels' acceleration was more limited by their compensators than by fusion drives. Implying that if they had better compensators, they could build faster vessels without developing better engine technology. Incorrect: This question...

I would imagine it would be the same, wouldn't it? There's no point in overbuilding the engines of a ship for acceleration the ship or its crew can't handle; the volume, mass and reactor fuel used up by larger engines is best used elsewhere. I'm assuming you mean "better inertial compensators, all ...

What acceleration would Terran ships be capable of if they had more effective inertial compensators?

You can see it whenever Alex asks something. Beryl keeps giving him these very obvious answers, as if his species doesn't have combs or knives. I don't think she sees him as an equal (yet). Well, to a certain extent that's just being scientific... you can't assume that an alien understands the same...

It would still have the spinal mount problem and the relative low mobility of Earth engine and acceleration dampening field issues inherent in Earth ship design at the moment. Also how can one be sure the beam would defuse over the distances to be less useful than expected? At 650,000 km (over two ...