The power from a nuclear explosion causing more nuclear explosions is literally how stars work...
Goddamn Teenagers (Worm, AU/time travel)
Ace Dreamer
Verified Reality User
- Location
- Between The Unknown & The Known
It was more, "Set the atmosphere on fire, spreading world-wide". Our atmosphere is not stable, all that free oxygen made (almost completely by) photosynthesis, is one example. There's water vapour, which contains hydrogen, theoretically fuse-able. Might the nitrogen and oxygen combine in some way? The risk was estimated at 'three in a million', call it 0.0003%. But. Very little was known, except theoretically, about what would happen to materials in a nuclear explosion.
Get it wrong? Even if it's a minor effect, say stopped by oceans, immense effects on the biosphere.
- Location
- Australia
Except it's not just explosion = power = more explosions; it's explosion = power, then that power + fuel = more explosions. Without a star's immense gravity to ensure that a constant supply of fuel is fed into the ongoing explosions the reaction would cease.
TLDR simplistically put, insufficient containment = no sustained fusion. It's why making a viable nuclear fusion power system on Earth is so hard, it's a lot pickier than fission is about its working conditions.
Ace Dreamer
Verified Reality User
- Location
- Between The Unknown & The Known
I found the fact that there's evidence of naturally-occurring fission reactors, on Earth interesting... (In the past. Uranium decaying, all the time since made in a supernova (or whatever), means far less likely these days...)
There's a fun cape power. Transmute enough underground materials (iron -> uranium?) to start a 'natural' fission reaction. They wouldn't see that one coming!
Not alone though. Gravity is also putting energy into the system. In the center of a star the mass of everything pushing together helps the reaction along, as well as making sure more fuel is always handy.
In the 'set the atmosphere on fire' scenario of a really big nuke, the energy from a nuclear explosion does the work instead, so in theory if you dumped enough energy into the air, then the air would start its own runaway reaction, which would trigger more air. Because fusing hydrogen releases more energy that is required to fuse more hydrogen. Technically.
In practical terms though, our atmosphere is far from an idea environment for that. We lose a shit ton of energy turning normal air into an environment that can support fusion.
To get something to fuse we first have to cook the shit out of it, like 100 million degrees Celsius cooking. That, surprising nobody, takes a fantastically large amount of energy. More than enough energy to not be self sustaining anymore.
- Location
- Somewhere, Maybe
Not to mention that at those temperatures, with only Earth's modest gravity holding it down, the Atmosphere would literally boil away anyway long before a fusion reaction could get going. That's why you need dramatically higher temperatures in a fusion reactor than you do in the heart of a star, the lack of gravity for confinement means lower pressure, which is the other half of the fusion equasion.
You need both tremendous (stellar) temperatures, and pressures to get fusion to work. you can push energy from one side of that to the other (higher pressure means less temperature and vice versa), but you still need both.
Ace Dreamer
Verified Reality User
- Location
- Between The Unknown & The Known
Yes, but, this was before all that was worked-out and tested. It was an 'ignorance' situation. Might also want to consider Black Swan Theory... "Three in a million chance? Nah, we'll be OK. Press the button" - what risk of wiping the planet is acceptable?
(The cynical might say, "Well, at least you've solved the problem of the enemy...".)
- Location
- Somewhere, Maybe
Nowhere in my post did I mention that they -knew- about this.
All of this was stuff that got worked out once the math was better understood. At the time, all they knew was that the error-bars of their calculations -diiiiiiid- overlap, but by such a tiny extent that it was practically negligible. Once the science of nuclear physics was better understood, then yes, they figured out it was an impossibility, hell, not too much earlier than this people still hadn't figured out that stars were mostly hydrogen, they assumed that they had the same chemical makeup as the Earth.
The history of science is a -fascinating- topic, but not one that I will derail the thread on. ^^
Earning their Pay, Part 6
"Damage patterns consistent with rush of air and debris into a vacuum immediately following the event," the analyst said as the spotter craft flew further into the exclusion zone.
Director Tagg nodded, but gave no other indication that he had heard. The climate controlled command center reeked of sweat and fatigue.
"Radiological alarm," another voice called out. "Aligns with irregularities in blast pattern, and suggestive of some sort of containment breach or leakage."
"Ensure Dragon has latest on radiation danger zones," Tagg replied, automatically, eyes fixed on the displays.
Finally, the wreckage of the dam came into view, and the crater beyond. Whatever Eidolon and Valkyrie had done, it had worked. The massive body of water was nowhere to be seen, with all indications agreeing that it hadn't been vaporized, or buried, or driven upstream, or moved to elsewhere in the watershed. All indications indicated that the pathetic remnants in the bottom of the crater were all that remained of the unfathomably huge mass of water.
Good news for those downstream, but at what cost? And what would the beast do now?
Tagg's view snapped to a dirty plume of smoke and fire erupting in the distance. Before he could say anything in response, the spotter was already redirecting.
The call came out a few moments later, "Behemoth sighted!"
Note: Oh yeah, he's still there
Director Tagg nodded, but gave no other indication that he had heard. The climate controlled command center reeked of sweat and fatigue.
"Radiological alarm," another voice called out. "Aligns with irregularities in blast pattern, and suggestive of some sort of containment breach or leakage."
"Ensure Dragon has latest on radiation danger zones," Tagg replied, automatically, eyes fixed on the displays.
Finally, the wreckage of the dam came into view, and the crater beyond. Whatever Eidolon and Valkyrie had done, it had worked. The massive body of water was nowhere to be seen, with all indications agreeing that it hadn't been vaporized, or buried, or driven upstream, or moved to elsewhere in the watershed. All indications indicated that the pathetic remnants in the bottom of the crater were all that remained of the unfathomably huge mass of water.
Good news for those downstream, but at what cost? And what would the beast do now?
Tagg's view snapped to a dirty plume of smoke and fire erupting in the distance. Before he could say anything in response, the spotter was already redirecting.
The call came out a few moments later, "Behemoth sighted!"
Note: Oh yeah, he's still there
Ace Dreamer
Verified Reality User
- Location
- Between The Unknown & The Known
I was pretty sure you understood this, that people didn't always think the same way, had the same skills/knowledge.
But, GDT, the teenage mantra, "What do you mean it wasn't always done this way? It's obviously the right way to do things!", and the adults listening with the tight smiles, and the longer memories...
(Also, "Why didn't someone fix this before now? It's wrong!", and the adult thinking, 'It used to be a lot more 'wrong', and this is as good as we've managed, so far'...)
Earning their Pay, Part 7
"I'm sorry, Dick," the operator said into his headset, "we can't divert anyone for the terminal."
"But we just got it built," the man pleaded. "I've turned on all the foam, I can stay at the board, we have the generator. Tens of thousands of barrels of capacity, connectivity to the gathering systems—"
"I know," the operator said. "I know." He scrambled to think of a way to convince the old fool to just leave. "My Susie's brother owns a piece of the gathering system and my brother, three of the wells are on his land. The PRT, though, they aren't going to distract him when he's going for this stuff. What if we did discourage him and went for Mandaree or what's left of New Town, they think there might still people in shelters there—"
"Can I help?"
"Thank you, no." Oh, God, that would be even worse than the old man trying to ride it out in his control room. Dick's wife didn't need another shock, she might not survive it. "You aren't trained, this ain't like when you were in the National Guard. Get you and yours to safety for now, there will be plenty chance for you to help once the beast has gone. That you are trained for."
"But—"
"You call me back in twelve hours, twelve hours, and I'll tell you where to go. How many people 'round here can work a loader like you?"
"No one, but damnit—"
"Twelve hours, Dick, I need to clear the line."
Note: I give it roughly one in four odds Dick goes and gets himself killed trying to help. Would be higher except the operator pointed out Dick could do more good after.
Shout out to Avetho from the SB thread for reminding me of the PES incident. Really interesting tale of the benefits—and dangers—of modern maintenance/ monitoring tech. The control room staff there deserve a medal.
"But we just got it built," the man pleaded. "I've turned on all the foam, I can stay at the board, we have the generator. Tens of thousands of barrels of capacity, connectivity to the gathering systems—"
"I know," the operator said. "I know." He scrambled to think of a way to convince the old fool to just leave. "My Susie's brother owns a piece of the gathering system and my brother, three of the wells are on his land. The PRT, though, they aren't going to distract him when he's going for this stuff. What if we did discourage him and went for Mandaree or what's left of New Town, they think there might still people in shelters there—"
"Can I help?"
"Thank you, no." Oh, God, that would be even worse than the old man trying to ride it out in his control room. Dick's wife didn't need another shock, she might not survive it. "You aren't trained, this ain't like when you were in the National Guard. Get you and yours to safety for now, there will be plenty chance for you to help once the beast has gone. That you are trained for."
"But—"
"You call me back in twelve hours, twelve hours, and I'll tell you where to go. How many people 'round here can work a loader like you?"
"No one, but damnit—"
"Twelve hours, Dick, I need to clear the line."
Note: I give it roughly one in four odds Dick goes and gets himself killed trying to help. Would be higher except the operator pointed out Dick could do more good after.
Shout out to Avetho from the SB thread for reminding me of the PES incident. Really interesting tale of the benefits—and dangers—of modern maintenance/ monitoring tech. The control room staff there deserve a medal.
Care and Feeding of your Human
"… he's much better behaved than most boys I meet," Aisha said as Amy forced herself to keep a serious face. "You all have him well-trained."
Amy leaned in conspiratorially. "It's because he's pretty sure if he was a little shit you could kick his ass, and if you didn't, Vicky or Crystal would."
"Hmmm," Aisha said thoughtfully. Amy could see the little gears turning behind the younger girl's eyes. "At school I can take pretty much any one of them, maybe two or three if I go hard with a broom or some other 'not weapon'. The little shits travel in groups though so even that's hard." She looked up sharply, eyes full of sudden interest. "You think Vicky might be up to do a visit, make some examples? I could make a list, get pictures even."
"Meow," added the black and white speckled kitten, bopping his head against Aisha's leg.
Amy blinked. "I didn't know you had a cat? Wait, where was he then, this whole time?"
Aisha chuckled nervously, even as she squatted down to pet the kitten. "He's not, er, I think he belongs to, uh, a friend of, um, anyway, Dr. Weaver knows him? There was a thing? Lisa was there? He pops up sometimes?"
Amy thought furiously. Who might Aisha know who had a cat that just popped up places and… oh. She chuckled. "Yeah, I get the general idea."
Amy bent down to bop the kitten's nose. "Were you lonely? Your usual humans too busy to give you attention?"
"Mew!"
Note: why all humans be busy PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!
Amy leaned in conspiratorially. "It's because he's pretty sure if he was a little shit you could kick his ass, and if you didn't, Vicky or Crystal would."
"Hmmm," Aisha said thoughtfully. Amy could see the little gears turning behind the younger girl's eyes. "At school I can take pretty much any one of them, maybe two or three if I go hard with a broom or some other 'not weapon'. The little shits travel in groups though so even that's hard." She looked up sharply, eyes full of sudden interest. "You think Vicky might be up to do a visit, make some examples? I could make a list, get pictures even."
"Meow," added the black and white speckled kitten, bopping his head against Aisha's leg.
Amy blinked. "I didn't know you had a cat? Wait, where was he then, this whole time?"
Aisha chuckled nervously, even as she squatted down to pet the kitten. "He's not, er, I think he belongs to, uh, a friend of, um, anyway, Dr. Weaver knows him? There was a thing? Lisa was there? He pops up sometimes?"
Amy thought furiously. Who might Aisha know who had a cat that just popped up places and… oh. She chuckled. "Yeah, I get the general idea."
Amy bent down to bop the kitten's nose. "Were you lonely? Your usual humans too busy to give you attention?"
"Mew!"
Note: why all humans be busy PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!
Last edited:
From the Peanut Gallery, Part 2
"Ok," Lisa said. "Ok, we can do this."
"Yes, Lilac," Taylor replied, rolling her eyes. "We've established that. Now, when I get closer to the box, my power gets happy. When I touch it, my power doesn't react and yours gets nervous. When I pat it, your Power gets grumpy and jealous and mine doesn't care. What's next?"
Abomination doesn't deserve affection, least of all from one so blessed.
Well that's another point for jealousy?
Elsewhere
"Where's Rachel? I haven't seen her in a while." Cassie asked, as she and Wafa set out food for the dogs.
"Sleeping," the older woman said, somehow effortlessly calming two dogs who had begun to tussle. "You should too, if you're going."
"Going?"
"She'll be heading out as soon as an area is declared clear for search and rescue. The students will go too, of course, but she seems more comfortable around you."
"Ooohhhh, yeah, I'll go try to sleep as soon as we're done here."
"Might want to talk to your parents too, so they don't worry."
Note: Taylor is doing science!
"Yes, Lilac," Taylor replied, rolling her eyes. "We've established that. Now, when I get closer to the box, my power gets happy. When I touch it, my power doesn't react and yours gets nervous. When I pat it, your Power gets grumpy and jealous and mine doesn't care. What's next?"
Abomination doesn't deserve affection, least of all from one so blessed.
Well that's another point for jealousy?
Elsewhere
"Where's Rachel? I haven't seen her in a while." Cassie asked, as she and Wafa set out food for the dogs.
"Sleeping," the older woman said, somehow effortlessly calming two dogs who had begun to tussle. "You should too, if you're going."
"Going?"
"She'll be heading out as soon as an area is declared clear for search and rescue. The students will go too, of course, but she seems more comfortable around you."
"Ooohhhh, yeah, I'll go try to sleep as soon as we're done here."
"Might want to talk to your parents too, so they don't worry."
Note: Taylor is doing science!
Last edited:
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Was that suppose to be "my power gets happy"?
Yes! You are correct! Typo fixed in the text!
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Think you forgot an R in the last sentence of the dialog too.
Ace Dreamer
Verified Reality User
- Location
- Between The Unknown & The Known
She can't be doing science! She isn't poking the box with a stick!
('Science' is tricky, when what you're poking is power (shard) socials. And, before today, you didn't know powers had socials!)
((I'm still unsure of the origins of the box... Dropping the odd (more obvious?) hint might be nice...))
Last edited:
Fixed in the text! Thank you!
- Location
- Sterling
After this most recent chapter, I'm thinking it might be something created using Eden's flesh and QA's guidance. For Lisa's Power to be jealous, I'd assume that the "Abomination" has to be similar enough to it to somehow relate, and based on this and previous reactions the most reasonable explanation to me is that "Abomination" is formed from Shard flesh. The most convenient source of such is Eden.She can't be doing science! She isn't poking the box with a stick!
('Science' is tricky, when what you're poking is power (shard) socials. And, before today, you didn't know powers had socials!)
((I'm still unsure of the origins of the box... Dropping the odd (more obvious?) hint might be nice...))
- Location
- Earth: Universe Meta - 1
That would be pretty difficult given that there's been no mention of QA communicating until this series of events.
- Location
- Sterling
QA doesn't need to communicate with people to guide. As mentioned, there's been a whole lot of speculation uptime about QA following Dr. Weaver around and possibly nudging things, either through interacting with the world personally or telling other Shards to do things.
This. There also is the very reasonable view, widely shared, that Taylor would not have survived her meat puppet and depowering experience absent some heavy shard-side meddling.
Taylor's general… Taylor-ness contributes as well. Sure, she may be Like That, but… she also had a history of pulling shit with her power that is on the edges of what was understood to be possible.
A great example is the range extending bugs. What the actual fuck is that shit. Can you imagine the PRT power researchers trying to figure out that one. There is no known biological mechanism for that to work, it has to be shard side. It's not like Amy has a history of otherwise augmenting parahumans' range like that… so why did it work? Of course Amy being Amy it's not like they were ever able to properly research the issue uptime, but still.
Riley is the case that comes to mind as similar, but they are pretty sure uptime that the reason she got away with so much was {spoilers}. Which sure as shit wasn't going to apply in Taylor's case.
Better be on the safe side.
For what it's worth, Valkyrie at least is comfortable in concluding that she has QA's support and assistance in her planned New Worlds Order, and as we will shortly find out in more detail some of the bullshit going on with Eidolon relied on support from QA.
Disaster Party, Part 6
"Wood for sheep," Derek called out, cackling. "I have wood for sheep!"
Amy rolled her eyes, and went back to her detailed examination of the kitten. Also scritchies.
Mostly scritchies.
Maybe she should have joined the wood and sheep game with Vicky and the tweens. Vicky was earning her halfsies on babysitting, and Eric was following Aisha like a puppy, and Neil was doing boring adult things, so that left her on kitty worship duty. Very different sort of vibe than gaming with Alec.
She was distracted by a buzzing on her 'work' phone. Looking down, she saw it was a message from Dr. Weaver.
"Are you interested in helping diagnose and stabilize novel injuries? Treatment optional, but welcome. Blast, exotic energy, radiation exposure, shouldn't be anything infectious. No Behemoth exposure cases. Paid as consulting expert, as we Do Not Approve of minors volunteering for Endbringer duty. Your choice of whether you would be working for PRT or Valkyrie. All at secure offworld treatment center. Valkyrie assurances as to safety. Secure transit via portal."
Amy felt a spike of interest from her power and, well it wasn't like she had anything better to do.
And they were asking. Not assuming. Asking.
Amy liked that a lot.
"Sure?" Amy replied. "Does, uh, Mark and Carol know?"
The reply was instantaneous. "Will clear with them next. Will let you know soon, either way."
Oh. She had even asked Amy first.
Note
Jaded Taylor as Skitter: I will Do My Duty against the kaiju.
Jaded Taylor as caretaker to a bunch of 'kids': If you try to emotionally blackmail my babies into fighting, I will render unto you such horrors that you will beg for something so sweet as Skitter.
Amy rolled her eyes, and went back to her detailed examination of the kitten. Also scritchies.
Mostly scritchies.
Maybe she should have joined the wood and sheep game with Vicky and the tweens. Vicky was earning her halfsies on babysitting, and Eric was following Aisha like a puppy, and Neil was doing boring adult things, so that left her on kitty worship duty. Very different sort of vibe than gaming with Alec.
She was distracted by a buzzing on her 'work' phone. Looking down, she saw it was a message from Dr. Weaver.
"Are you interested in helping diagnose and stabilize novel injuries? Treatment optional, but welcome. Blast, exotic energy, radiation exposure, shouldn't be anything infectious. No Behemoth exposure cases. Paid as consulting expert, as we Do Not Approve of minors volunteering for Endbringer duty. Your choice of whether you would be working for PRT or Valkyrie. All at secure offworld treatment center. Valkyrie assurances as to safety. Secure transit via portal."
Amy felt a spike of interest from her power and, well it wasn't like she had anything better to do.
And they were asking. Not assuming. Asking.
Amy liked that a lot.
"Sure?" Amy replied. "Does, uh, Mark and Carol know?"
The reply was instantaneous. "Will clear with them next. Will let you know soon, either way."
Oh. She had even asked Amy first.
Note
Jaded Taylor as Skitter: I will Do My Duty against the kaiju.
Jaded Taylor as caretaker to a bunch of 'kids': If you try to emotionally blackmail my babies into fighting, I will render unto you such horrors that you will beg for something so sweet as Skitter.
- Location
- Philippines
Honestly a lot of the "capes in Endbringer fights" are really just there to get extra hands and feet. At that point, why not rely on trained evacuation civilian personnel?
- Pronouns
- N/A
To make capes feel useful for once.