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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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[–] AA5B 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Given the basic premise from the very beginning, where the emperor wants to destroy house atreides, I doubt it. If the houses were going to honor their promises, they already should have

[–] Ptsf 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

There is a big difference between invading a foreign nation (Ukraine?) against established treaties and nuking a foreign nation. Mutually assured destruction is avoided by even those on the losing side until they're well aware they've lost and have been given a reason not to surrender.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Even IRL multiple different leaders have ordered MAD in multiple different circumstances, only stopped by some peon committing treason by disobeying launch orders.

You are giving conservatives far too much credit to their intelligence.

Iraq was invaded specifically because they had no WMDs. Any sane ruler would launch when faced with death. Real interesting how the rogue nations with proven nuclear weapons capability are the only ones still standing…

[–] Ptsf 1 points 7 months ago

I'm not sure I'm giving them far too much credit when you've sort of already proven my point by bringing up the multiple times it has been ordered and yet still avoided. I'm sure the situation would have changed if the person's responsible for launch believed themselves and their families to be dead already, but a chance at anything else is better than nuclear MAD. There's a hell of a lot of reason not to press that button.