*Hrrmms...*
Just noting that if you're interested in holding the Solar System hostage, you don't actually *need* a planetbuster. You just need to be able to convince people that you have a planetbuster - and if your plan is to bust a planet in order to convince them, then you need to be able to convince them that you have *another* planetbuster. People can be wrong in both directions
Of course, the ability to blackmail people at that level can still be used to do some serious damage, whether or not you actually have anything to back it up.
Beyond that, it sounds like some really neat ideas, and could be an excellent story - but I'm curious as to how you'd build an actual planetbuster without breaking the seal on weapons-grade handwavium.
...or did that get unsealed while I was off doing other things?
Just noting that if you're interested in holding the Solar System hostage, you don't actually *need* a planetbuster. You just need to be able to convince people that you have a planetbuster - and if your plan is to bust a planet in order to convince them, then you need to be able to convince them that you have *another* planetbuster. People can be wrong in both directions
Of course, the ability to blackmail people at that level can still be used to do some serious damage, whether or not you actually have anything to back it up.
Beyond that, it sounds like some really neat ideas, and could be an excellent story - but I'm curious as to how you'd build an actual planetbuster without breaking the seal on weapons-grade handwavium.
...or did that get unsealed while I was off doing other things?