GBWT Military confrance. All nations invited.

[gbwt]

On The Great Big Wet Thing's recently installed defense grid.[/b]

General Blood, the snow white wolf of GBWT’s military, is sitting off to the side of the press room, closed except to a select few press members, as well as all Federation military advisors and representatives. A fox in a suit stands off to the side of a large screen where a visual presentation is being presented while he narrates.

After numerous, rapid, and simultaneous launches from GBWT's various space centers, of both manned and unmanned space craft, our new defensive orbital grid is in place. After several years of development and almost all military funding being diverted to this endeavor, the following specs have been made available to other nations in the Federation.

• Main tools in defensive arsenal. The bulk of the defensive grid is made up of a dynamic array of small satellites. Each is armed with long range, low to mid powered lasers. The purpose of these are to shoot down offensive missiles and other projectiles that my threaten GBWT. They are controlled by an early stage, primitive AI, but will not function without the OK from a ground based command center. The AI's main purpose is to keep out any attempt of hijacking, providing the hijackers can get through the numerous firewalls, smart bugs, and other undisclosed safety measures that protect the mainframe.
  
• There are several 'orbital weapon platforms'. These range in function and capability from electromagnetic rock throwers, to high-powered lasers, to EMP guns, and so on. The exact details of these are to remain top secret for the time being.
  

A side note, the defensive satellites can be used offensively. We have no intentions, however, to use them as such in the near future. Testing of the grid shall soon commence. There is null risk you your nations from these tests.

Also, the smaller defense satellites can be used to defend the entire federation from space born disasters, such as asteroids that would cause massive devastation on the planets surface.

We will now take any questions you have.

[The Union of Tinis]

A fox, Commander Ovrin Lenord of Tinisian space forces, asks, "What is the operational range of these devices? Can the lasers and what have you reach terrestrial targets? And how about long range targets? Could they for instance perfrom laser surgery on the moon or would the focal length of the lasers prevent high energy concentration at that length?" [OOC Translation: basically what is the maximum distance that the lasers are effective at? Modern lasers do have a 'range' of sorts due to imperfections in even the best lasers.]

[gbwt]

The fox answers while G. Blood looks on. "The satilites have a capability to change their altitude, but i dont think we will be moveing them to the moon yet. As for their range, depending on what orbital patern it is flying, it can move close enough to do precise damage to ground targets, but these small satilites are designed to intercept ICBMs and other missles. Some of the larger platforms however, do suport lasers that are capable of doing signifagant damage to ground targets, and are more precise then any smart missle. They are able to target a specific room of a building, rather then blow up the entier structure, thereby limiting colatral damge. Next question?"

[Llewellynlland]

*ahem* How do you plan on compensating for refraction? OOC: One of the key problems with lasers is the high refraction that happens thus why they are not used in the "Star wars" defence plans.

[gbwt]

General blood stands when the presenter does not answer. "That," he says in his deep, growling voice, "is classified information. Next question."

[The Union of Tinis]

Commander Lenord of Tinis asks another question, "Are these satellites solar powered or do they have internal power plants, and if the latter is the case, if a satellite was forced into the atmopshere, what dangers might be posed by the release of any onboard fuels?"

[gbwt]

The smaller satilites are solar powered, but have a means to store a charge enough for a single shot should their pannels be damaged. As for them reentering the atmosphere, they are desigend to break apart, and if their gps and thrusters are working, will stear towords open ocean or unpopulated areas before they re-enter the atmosphere. the larger platforms however, have various means to power themselfs. These are classified. Some of them are to big to manuver, and have a self destruct fail safe built in. Once they reach a certian altitude, they are programed to break apart at key points so as to reduce impact. As for the exact nature of all fules, some satilites carry dangrouse fules, as well as cargos. Again however, the details of tehse are clasified."

[Llewellynlland]

We would like to hear about the exact number as well as ranges of your stations. These could pose an incredibly high threat to any neiboring nations as first strike weapons. What inshures to the rest of us that you will not use them as such?

[gbwt]

"The defesnive satilites are numoruse indeed. But as i stated before, they are not designed for ataking terestial targets. The wepon platforms however, are indeed capable of first strike capabilites. The are intended however, for defense of GBWT, and the federation from atacks by other nations not part of the federation. They are more acruatly, deterants, and will only be used in the most dire of circustances. We are all part of this federation, and we hope to benifit this union of nations rather then cause distrust."
The fox speaker looks over to General Blood as he stands and speeks. "You may be intrested to learn, that a tour of some of the satilites is being schedualed. Any one representitive from each nation that passes phyisical examination shall be admited to the designated satilites. After testing has been compleated and such of course."

[Vyl]

A Vyl technical director asks, "How is the connection to the ground-based systems made? We are concerned about the impact on our inter-satellite communications and navigation, and the potential for increasing traffic on our network to impact the new systems."

"Also, how many geostationary systems are positioned? Orbital space is rapidly becoming scarce with the sudden expansion of so many space industries. Would you consider allowing non-military users to place communications or scientific equipment on the larger platforms?"

*Meanwhile, higher-up officials back at Vylland consider the offer of a tour - though they take some time to reach a conclusion, there is little doubt they will accept. Though the countries unmanned space industry is flourishing - primarily with comsats - the manned (birded?) sector is struggleing to justify research costs.*

[gbwt]

The fox looks down and shifts out a new paper. "The comunications are being made on a unique, encrypted wavelangth. They will do little to effect otehr comunications. And yes, we are aware of the decreesing abmount of space. We plan to alow comercial industries limited use of the platforms for a fee, and other nations will be alowd on and given accese to teh stations. Rember, these have only recently been launched, and are still undergoing testing of inportant systems, such as life suport. There will be sevral months of testing, and then we will discus what sahll be done with them and how we shall share them. Keep in mind, though these are wepeon platforms, they are multi purpose. and research will be done as well. Smal scale projects can be filed with our R&D department, and they shall be schelduled to be taken up... Next question."