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In the Dune universe, why not use laser weapons as bombs? (self.sciencefiction)

submitted 7 months ago by sudo42 to c/sciencefiction

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In the Dune universe, when a laser weapons hits a shield, both are destroyed in a nuclear explosion reaction.

So instead of building nuclear weapons, wouldn’t it be easier to tie a timer and a “parachute” to a laser gun and drop it from orbit onto your enemy’s city?

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It’s sort of like the nuclear weapons situation in our world. Everyone who has the weapon know they can use it, but they won’t, unless there’s somone crazy enough cough Muadib cough to do it, because it all but assures complete destruction of your house by the rest of the great houses. It’s an unspoken rule.

[–] ricdeh 6 points 7 months ago (2 children)

That's not their question though. Their question is about why build nukes when you can achieve the same effect with a shield and a lasgun.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

They did answer the question. Anyone who tries it without some SERIOUS protection would be utterly annihilated once word got around they intentionally induced nuclear detonations. Using nukes of any kind is a major taboo in universe, everyone is able to do it but when you break the taboo nothing is stopping your enemy from repaying in kind.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

You can just people do neither