The Death Star concentrates a huge investment
The book version of Thrawn is judged unlikely to support so much spending on one fixed asset.
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Explore every watch point in reverse video-date order, then in timestamp order within each video.
State infrastructure before a superior army
A medieval time-travel example puts durable state infrastructure ahead of imported military technology.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Galaxy Gun's range and concentrated firepower
Hyperspace missiles offer distant, adjustable strikes, while concentrating the weapon in one asset leaves it vulnerable.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Can the Doomsday Machine be stopped?
A planet-eating machine raises the problem of control after its makers or crew are gone.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
A superweapon still needs an accessible shutdown control
Crew placement and an external breaker illustrate the control measures a powerful weapon needs.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Tholian Web and the problem of passing traffic
Using an energy web as a barrier raises a traffic problem, although viewers challenge this simplified account.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Genesis Device puts planet-scale power in one unit
The Genesis Device illustrates the hazard of concentrating a planet-changing capability in one system.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
How does the Tholian Web trap a ship?
Energy filaments enclose a vessel, and the sealed web becomes self-generating, preventing escape and obstructing outgoing fire.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Xindi test strike gives Earth a warning
The smaller Xindi strike causes damage while revealing the danger before the planned larger attack.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Dakara's reach and exposed location
Dakara's galaxy-wide reach raises questions about access to its exposed installation and control after its first use.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Could an Atlantis city ship carry Dakara's weapon?
A proposed mobile Dakara weapon could strike Wraith-held worlds, but it would kill their other inhabitants too.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Ori belief and a qualified Warhammer analogy
A comparison with Warhammer's Chaos gods turns on the different roles that followers' belief plays.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Could weaponized satellite debris become a doomsday weapon?
Enough persistent debris would crowd orbital space, especially where orbital decay does not remove it.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Why were orbital kinetic weapons not publicly adopted?
The public rationale recalled is fear of a slippery slope, while the identity of any system placed in orbit remains unknown.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The uncertain choice to use a dimension-reducing weapon
Tentatively yes, although using them and declining to use them both create strategic problems.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Why strategic theory needs practical checks
Checks against war games, exercises, real events, and history can expose problems in prolonged theoretical debate.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Where alternate history becomes a war game
A scenario can establish its divergence from history while leaving later events to the war game.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Is Alicorn on the scale of a doomsday weapon?
Yes, it is judged to be on that scale.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Shadow Planet Killer's core-drilling problem
Core-drilling missiles in Babylon 5 raise a speculative question about protecting their electronics.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Is the Ori Supergate a weapon or a route?
The Supergate is strategic movement infrastructure, comparable to a major wormhole route.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Self-replicating Shadow machines and loss of control
Babylon 5's self-replicating machines prompt a concern about errors accumulating as they multiply.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
What does secrecy cost a Death Star project?
Secrecy could slow construction and restrict the yards and defenses available to the project.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
How secrecy and interpretation shaped Yamato estimates
The recalled estimates understated Yamato's armament, while intermediate judgments could distort good photographic analysis.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
How many layers should intelligence pass through?
Intelligence needs expert context, while repeated repackaging can separate leaders from the original information.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
When does directed-energy research become usable?
The device claim is unverified; a laboratory demonstration alone does not establish reliable military operation.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Could familiar fictional technology become a doomsday threat?
Phasers or phased lasers offer immense power, and transporter systems also raise concerns about destructive potential.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Which battleship would suit a fictional space conversion?
Vanguard, because her size suggests room for the conversion.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Could AI run defense systems in a film-style scenario?
The cost of the AI infrastructure is considered beyond the available government budgets.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
What the Replicators suggest about near-term drone defence
Existing electronic warfare and naval guns could help against small drones while laser systems mature.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Where do Andromeda's Nova weapons fit?
They resemble ship-carried nuclear arms, with other powers able to possess equivalents.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Bomb-pumped lasers and the gap between idea and weapon
A claim that a nuclear explosion could transfer all its energy into a laser beam meets a materials objection.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
What might additional Midway-class carriers have been named?
Pacific War battle names such as Philippine Sea, Iwo Jima, or Okinawa are suggested, with an admiral's name also possible.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Were bomb-pumped lasers part of SDI?
Yes, with their performance judged poor.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Attero Device endangers both Wraith drives and Stargates
An anti-Wraith device also makes the gate network hazardous for its users.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Why Atlantis needed more than shields and drones
Atlantis's defences are compared with a ship relying on one missile type for every threat.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Atlantis city ships and vulnerable power systems
Repeated attacks during a major war justify adding weapons and spreading power modules and reserves around the ship.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Why the Mark IX strike does not end the Replicator threat
The Replicators rebuild after a devastating strike and retaliate against Atlantis.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
A micro-universe energy project destroys its own system
An immense new power source ends in a solar-system-scale disaster in Stargate.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Would sending the Replicators against the Ori solve either threat?
The survivor would still threaten everyone else and would emerge stronger.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Reality Bomb threatens life beyond one universe
The Daleks' Reality Bomb would spread destruction through time and parallel universes.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Why the film's hovering F-22 is unconvincing
A film's supposed F-22 is criticized for hovering and having the wrong tail arrangement.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Crucible concentrates Dalek power in one target
A single Dalek hub joins fleet operations to the Reality Bomb's deployment.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Halo Array denies the Flood its hosts
Firing the rings would kill sentient life across the galaxy to starve the Flood.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
The Arks and the cost of building Halo
The scale of ring and Ark construction prompts a debate about other ways to fight the Flood.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Had robotic forces already failed against the Flood?
Their failure is acknowledged, while the proposed alternative favors simpler, effective machines.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Could simpler robots resist the Flood?
Simpler robots under remote control are proposed, but a further objection says even basic logic systems can be compromised.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Could a smaller Halo weapon target infected worlds?
A proposed shipborne weapon would attack infected planets and ships while sparing the rest of the galaxy.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·
Deterrence as a balance of threats
A bayonet cartoon is used to explain restraint when each side can retaliate.
From Five Doomsday Weapons of the Sci-fi universes, and the theories of Deterrence... why do they fail? ·