2001 Oct 12 `How's the progress on the Segmi?' `Much improved from September. Energy and culture medium are available, and the first batch of molds are done. Production has started on the most common sizes.' `And the specs?' Makoto asks, `You said something about them blowing up?' `Impenetreble to conventional weapons, although a lot of attacks that that won't penetrate will reduce a normal human to a puddle of tenderized meat inside it.' Usagi whimpers at the image, then nods for Ami to continue. `With segmi, it will take about four terajoules at one point twenty-one exawatts to delaminate the construction, which will result in an energy release of approximately two point five exajoules.' `In human terms?' Makoto asks. `Five hundred kilotons of TNT.' `Four terajoules?' Rei asks. Ami gives her a look that translates as "check your math." Rei taps her fingers, `Four terajoules at 1.21 exawatts. That means it bleeds off energy fairly quickly, and that trigger energy needs to be applied very fast. What can apply that kind of energy?' `Nuclear weapons, EDF gamma-ray lasers, and a couple of the Cthulu giant robots at the moment. A hundred terawatt laser, held on the same spot for two seconds would suffice, but the American ABL project is a one megawatt. Nothing Terran-built that isn't nuclear-pumped exceeds a gigawatt.' `Worst case what kind of damage are we looking at?' `Full issue of segmi, in a major city like Tokyo or Port Arthur-Dalian, hit by a hundred megaton bomb . . . ' Ami takes a breath, `Goodbye, cruel world.' `How?' `Crust shattered and blown into the mantle. Primary and secondary shockwaves will reshape and flatten most of the surface. Dust blown into the atmosphere will drop global temperatures by over twenty degrees, average, and it will take centuries for the atmosphere blown into orbit to resettle, what of it isn't blown away by the solar wind. Nothing larger than a bacteria is likely to survive, perhaps some of the hardier plankton and deep-water vent-dwellers, if they're lucky.' `Good bye,' Minako nods, `So we're not going to advertise that.' `Not while we're . . . whatever it is with the US,' Usagi says firmly. `Could we . . . mitigate that?' Rei asks. `Possibly. Easiest is don't get hit. Next, Saturn or Pluto may be able to manipulate the blast. Last, Serenity may be able to fix things after, the sooner the better.' `After a day?' Usagi asks. `Likely fatal for you, even with all of us pumping energy to you, and all of our sub-borne power crystals.' `Because the ground-based ones will be gone. Orbital or extra-planetary stations?' `Mercury!' Makoto exclaims. `What?' Ami says, then, `Oh! That would work well. Much higher energy density.' * `That's neat,' Umi says, pointing at the glowing bank of crystals. `It's a sympathetic reaction, they glow when the rest of the crystal is in the light.' `Lightbulbs,' Umi answers. `Graditation . . . turn them so they're shaded . . . spell to turn 'em . . . power the spell off the crystal . . . dump 'em in mass . . . control spell manf . . . markup, twenty yen each.' `Japanese?' `Three thousand.' `Nice. And we get to strip off most of the energy?' `Exactly.' `So, how far do you have to go with Mercury?' `Another month.' `You don't need to supervise on that anymore today?' Umi smiles down at Ami. Ami blinks, then smiles slowly, `I could be persueded to take off early. Megumi, can you run the plans?' `For the lightbulbs?' Megumi asks. `Yep.' `Done.' `I love you,' Ami says, and makes a kissy noise. `I love you more,' Umi says, `Anything you want, just let me know, and if I can, it's yours, Megumi.' `Flirts!' Megumi laughs, `Thanks, though. Have fun.' `I will,' Umi says, `Not so sure about Ami.' `Oh no,' Ami whines, `What are you going to do to me?' `You'll find out.' `Hint!' Ami demands. `New space armor, balutes, EDF station six.' `Are we teleporting up or . . . ' --- Log: 2006 June: Field problem 2006 July: Field problem. Paper drafted this 2006 October 18: Typed in.