On 25 Jun 2015 at 18:27, Tim wrote:

> > Note 2: in atmosphere, weapons grade lasers (SF level ones, not the
> > measly few kilowatt ones we currently have) will level *very* visible
> > ionization trails in the air. This both cuts down on their range and
> > effectiveness, but also makes them stand out like a neon sign. One
> > that says "please shoot me"
>
> Yes, and starship beam weapons would blast out a column of superheated
> air like unnaturally straight lightning.

Which reminds me of an image I really need to track down and scan. It
was in a Scientific American artile about ICBMs or some such. It
showed three or four RVs (dummy warheads) coming down near Kwajalien
atoll.

It was a daytime pic. And the RVs are easily visible as these ruler
straight bright whit lines (plasma sheath). They look like a special
effect from a movie!

I showed it to the gaming group and we all made notes to *really*
change our descriptions of such things in the future.

I'd imagine that incoming ortillery rounds would look much the same.

Whether nukes or "mere" ortillery, anybody in a TU who sees something
like that is going have their day ruined. (Unless they are targeted
on the "other side".

Sort of like the Vietname vet in the group who told us about the time
his patrol(?) was taking fire from a *lot* of VC on a hill. He called
for fire support. Nothing avialable in his command but they'd pass
the request along.

After a minute he got connected to some guy who wanted the usual grid
coordinate etc.

After the "on the way" there was a much longer than usual wait. hen
the hillside exploded rather spectacularly.

Seems he was close enough to the coast and had gotten patched thru to
the New Jersey. A full broadside of those 15"(?) guns tends to make a
target take notice.

--
Leonard Erickson (aka shadow)
shadow at shadowgard dot com