Traveller-digest     Thursday, November 28 1996     Volume 1996 : Number 700



(R)1996. Traveller is a registered trademark of FarFuture Enterprises.
All rights reserved.

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Re: House Rules: Active Duty
Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #699
Re: senior subordinates 
Happy Thanksgiving.
Miles Vorkosigan and Subordination.
Re: Claris Draw Starship library
Re: Roger Sanger
Fanny!
Copyright Violation
Re: Deckplan layout
Imperium Games News 11/27/96
Re: Re, MT weapons & equipment for T4
Re: common language?
Re: common language?
Re: MT weapons & equipment for T4
RE: I just went through QSDS for the first time and I have Questions.
RE: Deckplan layout
RE: Copyright Violation
Re: senior subordinates
ClarisDraw Starship library now on WWW
RE: zero point energy fluctuations?
Is the list active?
RE: Traveller-digest V1996 #694

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 11:21:17 -0600
From: Steven Bonneville <bonnevil@itlabs.umn.edu>
Subject: Re: House Rules: Active Duty

Well, I wasn't going to contribute to this thread, since the first
response was very good, but since this is dragging on....

Peter Brenton's response is basically identical to the relationship
between size of ship and rank that the Keith brothers sketched out 
for command of ships in the Imperial Navy in the FASA products and
their JTAS articles.  It ran:

 Sublieutenant.  Up to 300 tons  (scoutships).
 Lieutenant.     Up to 1000 tons (escorts, corvettes).
 Lt. Commander.  Up to 10 ktons  (destroyers, fleet escorts).
 Commander.      Up to 30 ktons  (escort destroyers, light cruisers).
 Captain.        Up to 100 ktons or more.
 Commodore.      Might command a dreadnought or similar vessel over
                 100 ktons if operating in a small squadron where
                 an admiral and fleet captain are not present.

They also specified that in the IN, if all line officers were out of
action, command devolved to the senior specialist officer, with 
preference given to Gunnery, then Flight, then Engineering.  This
seems reasonable to me -- this precedence would tend to pass command
to officers able to direct combat, and maintain a vessel's fighting
ability for as long as possible.

A three officer (command crew) ship such as a _Valor_ missile corvette
is given as an example.  Such a ship is commanded by a lieutenant, with
a sublieutenant as Chief Gunner and a sublieutenant or ensign as Chief
Engineer.  From there you can divide the rest of the crew into petty
officers and spacehands in a logical manner.

As I see it, the IN will be very serious about the standards the 
officers must uphold.  This lieutenant, probably about twenty-six to
thirty years old, has control over forty nuclear missiles with a 
combined destructive power of twenty megatons of TNT, as well as an
expensive starship (also dangerous if mishandled) and a trusting
crew.

  Steve Bonneville
  <bonnevil@itlabs.umn.edu>

------------------------------

Date: 27 Nov 1996 17:00:28 GMT
From: ajpursell@babylon.montreal.qc.ca (Alan Pursell)
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #699

Hey there,

gone south to get some sun and recover from the snow that just keeps on
coming... back next tuesday. 

see ya...

alan j

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 13:06:00 -0500
From: TPeterAZ@aol.com
Subject: Re: senior subordinates 

In a message dated 96-11-27 04:19:42 EST, Stewart Eyres wrote:

> take a look at Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series.

Absolutely; fervently seconded.  Lois McMaster Bujold is one of my favorite
authors.  Sometimes her science is a little funky, but (IMHO) she is the
premier storyteller in science-fiction right now.  Her characters are
interesting and multi-faceted (wait 'til you figure out everything about
Miles' dad), her plots inventive.  Any referee would do well to emulate her
style of building layers of depth into a story, not to mention her sense of
pace and humor.  The Vorkosigan novice is directed to "Borders of Infinity,"
a collection of short stories featuring young Lord Miles Vorkosigan.  For the
more chronologically minded, start with "Shards of Honor," which details
Miles' parents' meeting and marriage; next "Barrayar," which deals with
Cordelia's pregnancy and Miles' birth (key to the character, in many ways);
then "The Warrior's Apprentice," which is the story of Miles' attempt to get
into the Service Academy;  then "The Vor Game," further adventures; then
"Ethan of Athos," which doesn't feature Miles, but gives further background;
then "Brothers in Arms," a personal favorite, outstanding examples of the
High Soc/Low Rank problem; and, finally, "Mirror Dance," Bujold's most
ambitious novel.  Also "Cetaganda," her newest book, is just out in
paperback, though I am expecting the hardcover for Christmas.  I believe it
is set before "Brothers in Arms," though not having read it yet, I'm not
exactly sure when.  The stories in "Borders of Infinity" are set in between
the various books, so it's hard to categorize the book as a whole.  There you
have it.  Enjoy.

Tim Peter
<TPeterAZ@aol.com>
"Never let your schooling get in the way of your education."--- Mark Twain

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 13:32:10 -0500
From: "Peter L. Berghold" <peterb@superlink.net>
Subject: Happy Thanksgiving.

Best Thanksgiving wishes to all.   

	
- -- 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%% Peter L. Berghold -- Unix Hacker at Large                          %%
%% TCG -- MIS Department       PHONE: (908) 392-2722                  %%
%% berghold@tcg.com  (work Email)    peterb@superlink.net (play Email)%%
%% "Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it"  %%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 14:31:29 -0500
From: Paul Rocchi <paulr@TDSI.JTS.COM>
Subject: Miles Vorkosigan and Subordination.

Stewart Eyres <spe@astro.keele.ac.uk> said: 
> For an idea of the problems caused when a junior officer has high
> social rank, take a look at Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series.
> Miles Vorkosigan is an Ensign and then a Lieutenant in the Imperial
> Armed Services, but at the same time the son of the Prime Minister
> (who is also Count Vorkosigan, and the former Imperial Regent) and
>  about 3rd in line to the Imperial Throne (by one argument).  His training
>  officers at the Imperial Academy perceive a bit of a subordination
>  problem in Miles - ie. that he only understands the concept as applied
>  to other people.
 
Military Chain of Command is based on the premise that one's superiors
are more competent/better informed than one is. To act otherwise is
insubordination. 

The problem with Miles' "subordination problem" is that, in general, he is
right. He IS more competent, or better informed, or just quicker on the ball
than most of the officers put above him. (Which is why putting him on the
shortest chain of command possible works)
When Miles takes orders from a distant Simon, and Simon reports directly
to the Emperor, Miles in at his best. He _must_ work under his own
initiative, and the only people above him in the chain of command are two
of the people he respects (and wants respect from) most on Barrayar

Some militaries recognized this situation where a junior officer may have
a better grasp of the situation than a more distant superior. The most
famous is the Austrian "Maria Teresa" medal, awarded to a junior officer
who wins a victory by disobeying orders from a superior. The flip side
being that if you didn't win, you were court-martial material.

Miles, or someone like him would make a marvellous patron for a group of
Traveller characters. - If they didn't mind having the operation blow up on
them on a moments notice. To keep up with Miles, one must think fast -
and often NOT along conventional military lines.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 12:16:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Wes Payne <n9548326@cc.wwu.edu>
Subject: Re: Claris Draw Starship library

Thus spake BrianMays@aol.com:
                     ^^^^^^^
Far be it from ME to lend credence to a stereotype, but I feel compelled 
to waste more bandwidth now so that some may be saved in the future...

> << could whoever did post it let me know where I could
>  get them? >>
> 
> ME TOO!  ME TOO!
  ^^^^^^
THAT'S one of the things I've been RANTING ABOUT.  That "ME TOO!" could 
have-- SHOULD HAVE -- been in E-MAIL!  One line followups which do NOT 
contribute to the thread should NOT be posted to the list for our 
non-edification.  THANK YOU for listening.

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wes Payne, known to you as:  n9548326@cc.wwu.edu
Western Washington University -- Bellingham, WA -- The Great Northwet!  
"What is FUN?  Why is it usually colored BRIGHT PINK, and where does
 it go when JESSE HELMS comes around?" 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 17:15:56 -0500
From: Rob Beck <beck@mail.all-net.net>
Subject: Re: Roger Sanger

At 05:14 AM 11/27/96 -0400, Fred wrote:
>Greetings:
>
>I'm looking for Roger as well. He cashed a check of mine and I haven't 
>seen a nice package darken my door yet...

I am in the same boat, but I talked to him the other night and he assured me
that soon my package would be in the mail. That hopefully means all of us
who are to be getting nice packages from him. 

Rob.

                         Robert Beck
                         E-Mail: beck@mail.all-net.net
                         Send E-Mail For My Public PGP Key.

------------------------------

Date: 28 Nov 96 09:16:55 +1100
From: Michael.Barry@FINANCE.ausgovfinance.telememo.au
Subject: Fanny!

     The Aussie meaning of the word? Well let's just say that when the 
     Canuck used the phrase "freezing *his* fanny off...", I became pretty 
     bloody confused. 
     
     <Oh dear, Bustard One is going to have a go at me again!>

------------------------------

Date: 28 Nov 96 09:17:31 +1100
From: Michael.Barry@FINANCE.ausgovfinance.telememo.au
Subject: Copyright Violation

     I have just received a message from somebody claiming that they have 
     the copyright on the words "b*llocks", "b*stard", "b*llsh1t" and 
     "fwck". 
     
     Since I am incapable of writing a posting to TML without using one of 
     these words, I am afraid I shall have to unsubscribe. 

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 17:44:51 -0500
From: "Gerald S. Williams" <gsw@aloft.micro.lucent.com>
Subject: Re: Deckplan layout

This is starting to sound like a religious debate. The fact is, either
orientation has benefits, and apparently most small-to-mid-sized ships
have horizontal layouts.

I wrote:
> > I disagree. During combat, everyone should be buckled into forward-facing
> > acceleration couches in the "horizontal" ships. If the g-comp fails, you
> > are less likely to black out in this orientation compared to sitting in
> > the same orientation on a "vertical" ship.

and shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson) wrote:
> This immediately removes all chance of damage control.

No it doesn't. As I said, you have to lay out ships planning that you
*may* be operating with "gravity" towards the back of the ship. In
fact, you may be operating the engines at 6G acceleration. Nobody is
going to be walking around the engine room then, regardless of whether
the "floor" used to be a "wall" or not. In either orientation, you
would want to have "gravity" towards your back then.

> Also, you don't always have *warning* before an attack.

This is not really relevant. If the compensation fails, the engines
should kick off long enough to let people strap in (this is true
regardless of the orientation--you might be running at 6G, and are
likely to be maneuvering if in combat).

- -O Gerald Williams / Bell Laboratories - PAI830 55E-224 O-
- -O gsw@lucent.com /   1247 South Cedar Crest Boulevard  O-
- -O (610)712-3370 /       Allentown, PA  18103-6209      O-
- -O -------------/ "Innovations for Lucent Technologies" O-

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 16:57:22 -0600 (CST)
From: "Joseph E. Walsh" <ransom@connect.iconnect.net>
Subject: Imperium Games News 11/27/96

Imperium Games News                                    November 27, 1996


CUSTOMER SERVICE

Ann Flagella of Imperium Games has been taking care of customer service, 
working to satisfy those who were not happy with the result of their 
order under the previous management.  Reportedly, she's been doing a good 
job of resolving disputes in a customer-friendly way.

If you wish to get in touch with Imperium Games, the email address is: 
sweetpea10@msn.com


PRODUCT SHIPMENTS

As you know, Aliens, CSC, and JTAS #25 have been delayed a great deal 
already.  At this point, it looks like all three will be in our hands by 
Christmas.  Keep your fingers crossed... :)


- -Joe
______________________________________________________________________________
Joseph E. Walsh      |  Atari 8-Bit User and Programmer Since 1982
ransom@iconnect.net  |  Classic Traveller Referee Since 1983
Stuck in the '80s    |  Microsoft-Free and Loving It! :)
       .....Official Reporter of Imperium Games Product Info.....

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 17:24:48 -0600
From: sam thomas <sinbad@dfw.net>
Subject: Re: Re, MT weapons & equipment for T4

At 10:01 AM 11/27/96 -0400, Robert Flammang <FLAMMANG@vms.cis.pitt.edu> wrote:
>
>In MT, weapons have a penetration value which is identical (I believe)
>to that used by Striker. A while back, I posted a conversion table
>between Striker (or MT) penetration and T4 damage. Here it is again. I hope
>it helps.
>
>Striker (MT) penetration	T4 Armor or Damage
>1				4
>2				5
>3				5
>4				6
>5				6

Rob,

I must have forgotten but what conversion formula(e) did you use for the MT
to T4 conversions? Remember that Greg Porter uses a different armor layering
method than Striker/MT. have you had a chance to look a the gamma version of
the Vehicle construction rules that he posted?

I used the conversion formula posted by Greg Porter and I get totally
different figures. ie

10mm Binary Autopistol design comes out with a Pen 3 and Damage 3 in MT
terms, but has a damage value of 4 in T4 terms?????!!!!??? 

Sinbad Sam
sinbad@dfw.net

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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 20:06:54 +0000
From: Mused <marz@hotstar.net>
Subject: Re: common language?

Harry wrote:
> Even with a common language, similar words may have differing meanings.

A friend of mine, French Canadian, was GMing a group of players in Call of Cthulhu that 
included one or two players from France. 
At one point, while describing a bar, the GM used the phrase "dead bodies" (meaning empty 
beer bottles) and the French player had a look of horror as the GM described this bar with 
people casually drinking with dead bodies covering most of the counter. When the GM 
asked what was the matter, the player asked about the dead bodies, the GM replied "just like 
in any kinda seedy bar" The player at this point got an explanation about the local slang, but 
up til then, I think he was probably thinking that maybe this crowd was a little too rough for 
him (if they hang around in the type of bar were bodies on the tables are not worth noticing)

And as far as an english anecdote, I have heard of an australian phrase, probably archaic, 
"fair dinkum" meaning Okay. As in yer fair dinkum, meaning yer okay! Try saying that to a 
hillbilly (ok, son of the soil)

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 20:09:16 +0000
From: Mused <marz@hotstar.net>
Subject: Re: common language?

Harry wrote:
> By the way, is that -25C or -25.

I would guess C. Canada is on the metric system

and now for your convenience, a list of all countries still using the old imperial measurement 
systems, in descending order of economic strength

USA
Liberia

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 20:18:13 +0000
From: Mused <marz@hotstar.net>
Subject: Re: MT weapons & equipment for T4

Jerome DARMONT wrote:
> 
>  One thing that amazed me when I purchased MT was the huge diversity of
> equipment and weapons available to the players. I must say my players
> appreciated that very much (too much? :) too. T4 is not that exhaustive.
> It is easy to use the equipment from the Imperial Encyclopedia in T4,
> but the weapons' stats have to be adapted. Has anyone done that yet? If
> so, I am interested! If not, I'm about to do the conversion. So if anyone
> else is interested...

I AM! ME! I AM HEREBY EXPRESSING COMPLETE INTEREST!
In other words, I would be pleased with a posting of said material.
I am also working...ME, I AM INTERE...sorry, on the same idea, but I just styarted a new 
job and my brain is full

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 20:34:39 -0500
From: Eric Freitas <edf@atlantic.net>
Subject: RE: I just went through QSDS for the first time and I have Questions.

Matthew Harelick wrote:

>2. Standard Hulls. I noticed that QSDS creates a bunch of standard hulls which
>have each place structural limits on the number of G's that the ship
>can pull. For example a Far Trader is built with a Box S hull with 
>a maximum acceleration of 1 G. 
>
>Has anyone created any rules to allow players to modify the hull to 
>increase its structural integrity. 

After running one of our products at work through testing to meet the General 
Motors environmental requirements, I find that the max acceleration rating of
a Traveller hull to be unrealistic.

Our product, a networked electronic engine controller, must continue to work
properly after being subjected to 40G's (in a big shaker) for over an hour.  I 
realize that a car doesn't ussually see these kind of forces except during a
collision, but even my Toyota Tercel was mostly intact after being t-boned by
a full size pickup at 45mph.  So I guess I'd want to know how much damage
a Traveller starship hull would take when it crashes into the ground at say 
100mph?  Is everybody dead?  That's a lot more than 1G.  Or is the damage 
localized in the point of impact area on the ship?

Eric F.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 20:40:23 -0500
From: Eric Freitas <edf@atlantic.net>
Subject: RE: Deckplan layout

Joseph Block <jpb@miamisci.org> wrote:

>Earth First! We'll strip mine the other planets later.

This is a great line for a T-Shirt.  I come from 
NW California where E-First has offices, this 
would go over pretty well with the majority of the
_working_ population  (Egads Ren, did you say w.w..w..work?
AAAGGGHHH!).

Eric

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 21:17:36 -0500
From: Eric Freitas <edf@atlantic.net>
Subject: RE: Copyright Violation

- ----------
From: 	Stewart Eyres[SMTP:spe@astro.keele.ac.uk]
Sent: 	Monday, November 25, 1996 4:33 AM
To: 	traveller@MPGN.COM
Cc: 	Stewart Eyres
Subject: 	Copyright Violation

>Hi there
>
>I don't normally forward emails in their entirey, but the following
>came to me, and I'd thought I'd ask for comments from the list, so
>I've sent it all.  to put it in context, I think he is refering to my
>web pages at http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/~spe/Hobbies.html.  My questions are:
>
>1) Has anyone else had anything from this guy?
>

Never heard of this guy, probably full of it otherwise he would have ID'd
himself.

>2) Is s/he for real?

Tell him to go sue IG/GDW and everyone else who's used this without
paying the licensing fee over the last thirty or so years.  Tell him your
using it under the acceptable use clause, in relation to GDW & IG 
books.

>3) Does copyright on things in the US effect its use by me in the UK?

Yes.

>4) How does this effect GDW/IG's use of the term Psionic Institute?

He must have been dead for the last twenty years not to have heard
of the game Traveller, and it's use of the term psionics.

>5) Anyone any idea if using a copyrighted word in a fictional setting
>can be challenged under copyright laws, particularly when that use has
>been made since 1979 (by GDW)?

As I understand it, if something has been trademarked by someone, but
has been in general use by the public for a certain number of years, that
trademark is invalid.  On another track, if you can prove that the term was
in use before his stated trademark date, then you can use that as 
evidence against him, and might even get his trademark invalidated.  

Personally I don't think he has a foot to stand on.  He sounds like some 
kind of religious fanatic who is trying to get people to acknowledge his 
religion.  He's doing a very bad job of gaining converts.  If he wants to 
sue someone, point him in the direction of GDW and IG, they probably
have more money than you do.

Ask Mark Miller if he has ever heard of this guy.  He had to find the term
somewhere.  My guess is that you aren't in any trouble.  

Eric Freitas

PS - 	Just remember that there is a cult in El Cajon California that 
	believes that Nikola Tesla was a prophet.  The high priestess
	drives around a big pink car with a flying saucer on top of it!
	Now there's a start to a great adventure!
  

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 21:51:41 -0500
From: Joe Block <jpb@miamisci.org>
Subject: Re: senior subordinates

At 1:06 PM -0500 11/27/96, TPeterAZ@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 96-11-27 04:19:42 EST, Stewart Eyres wrote:
>
>> take a look at Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series.
>
>Absolutely; fervently seconded.  Lois McMaster Bujold is one of my
>favorite authors.

I'll third that.
[snip]
>ambitious novel.  Also "Cetaganda," her newest book, is just out in
>paperback, though I am expecting the hardcover for Christmas.  I believe it
>is set before "Brothers in Arms," though not having read it yet, I'm not
>exactly sure when.  The stories in "Borders of Infinity" are set in

Tim, "Memory" is the latest book, both in realtime and timeline time.
Rather ..intriguing.  I can't say more without spoiling it.


Joe Block <jpb@miamisci.org>
PGP 2048bit-Fingerprint: F8 A2 A5 15 56 42 9B 16  3F BD 57 0F 8A ED E3 21
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 19:10:24 -0800
From: "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: ClarisDraw Starship library now on WWW

Do to a surprising number of people being interested in my ClarisDraw
Library for Traveller Star Ships it is now available on my web page.

 		http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/

Please note that this file is intended for the Macintosh version of
_ClarisDraw_, it won't work under ClarisWorks as far as I know, and I doubt
it will work under the Windoz version of ClarisDraw.

				Zane

| Zane H. Healy                    | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh@ix.netcom.com (primary)  | Linux Enthusiast          |
| healyzh@holonet.net (alternate)  | Mac Programmer            |
+----------------------------------+---------------------------+
| For Empire of the Petal Throne, and Traveller Role Playing   |
| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/                      |

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 23:42:34 -0500
From: Eric Freitas <edf@atlantic.net>
Subject: RE: zero point energy fluctuations?

Harry wrote:

>Eric Wrote:
>
>> The gist of it is that gravity is generated when particles are
>> subjected to zero-point fluctuations.
>
>Pardon my complete ignorance on the topic, I must have fell asleep
>during that lecture.
>What are zero-point fluctuations?
>Are they fluctuations from +ve to -ve with zero as a baseline?
 =20
Zero-point-fluctuations or zero-point-field (ZPF) are the electric and
magnetic fields that result from virtual particles (having nothing to=20
do with VR ;).  Virtual particles are positive and negative particles
that appear out of nothing (apparently) and then meet, anhilating
each other in a matter anti-matter reaction (I'm assuming here).=20
=20
Normally under Einstein's Relativity, particles,and therefore energy
cannot appear from nothing, since this breaks (I believe) the second
law of thermodynamics (energy can neither be created or destroyed),
but under the right circumstances, when two such particles appear and
then almost immediately destroy each other it can occur.  The only=20
thing that is left to react with normal space and reality are the=20
electromagnetic fields which can interact with other particles.

To go a little farther one would have to wonder where these virtual
particles come from.  I've read that they are allowed to exist due
to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle also known as the=20
Indeterminancy Principle (that says you can never know both the=20
momentum and position of a particle at the same time to any=20
great degree).  I have however read an article by a famous=20
military strategist (Stefan T. Possony) in which he contends that
there are new kinds of weapons being tested by the Soviets that=20
use a "different" kind of physics.  He goes on to quote a book that
discusses work by David Bohm:

	Empty space ... is not empty at all; it's full,
 	an immense sea of energy on top of which matter as
	we know it is only a "small quantized wavelike=20
	excitation ... rather like a tiny ripple."

	The entire universe of matter ... is to be=20
	treated as a comparatively small pattern of excitation
	on the energy sea.

      In other words, the virtual particles and the ZPF they generate
are created when potentials in the energy sea line up correctly.=20
Gravity and inertia under Haisch's description is nothing more than
the resistance to acceleration put up by the energy sea (well at
least the inertia part, gravity works a little differently).

	Gravity under this description seems to work like the=20
early universe was described to me.  Particles are always oscillating
at specific frequencies, thereby giving off radiation.  The ZPF (energy
sea) is constantly creating particles and their anti-particles of a=20
wide range of energies (and therefore frequencies).  A particle under
this system damps the zpf around it, and when two particles near
each other, there exists a line between them that holds slightly=20
weaker zpf fields.  Particles will then tend to move toward each other
along this line.  This motion would be akin to gravity.

You could use this mechanism to establish a mechanism for artificial
gravity.  Simply lower the amount of Zero-Point-Fluctuations (creating =
an=20
area of negative energy) in say a grav plate and you have instant =
gravity. =20
If you want a one way grav plate, instead of one that attracts things to =
both sides, you might be able to shield the area underneath (cool =
gravitic shielding!  or an=20
inertial compensator).  This same method could probably be used
in tractor beams.

Anti-gravity on the other hand might be achieved in two ways.
1. Shield a vehicle, or part of a vehicle (like CG lifters) from all =
ZPF.
    This would serve to act much like Thruster Plates, with a decrease
    in thrust the farther you get from a massive object. (I don't
advocate shielding the entire vehicle completely due to possible=20
time dilation effects suffered by the occupants.)
	  =20
2. Create a volume of higher than normal ZPF, and shield it in
    every direction except the thrust direction.  This would essentially
    provide you thrust, however unlike the Thruster Plates,
    this effect will work away from planets & massive objects, since it
    pushes against the ZPF instead of another objects gravity.

Type 1 could be used for tractor beams, and type 2 could be used for=20
pressor beams.

I use type 2 to make my anti-grav drives work.  It makes ships much=20
faster, and combat _very_ different from classical traveller.  My drives
(I have two types) work in the following manner:  For type A the drive =
is=20
made up of two main sections in a cylindrical shape.  The foreward part=20
is a spherical hot fusion reactor (which burns prodigious amounts of =
fuel
to produce the power needed), and the aft section is the actual drive
mechanism.  The drive mechanism is made up of a number of type 2
partly shielded thrust chambers.  These chambers are mounted on a
spinning axis and all face aft.  The reason for spinning the thrust =
chambers
is to "slice" into an area of normal space across from the area of=20
"compressed" space (my term for increased zpf space).  This method
increases the velocity achievable by this method of propulsion.  It is =
akin to=20
a propeller pushing air backwards. Note that the spinning is not =
necessary
to get propulsion from this method, it simply increases the amount of
thrust the engine produces.

I call the engines "Spin Gravs", a term created by author Bill Baldwin
of the _Helmsman_ series of novels (great space opera's).

Well hope I answered your questions.

Eric Freitas

note - my basis for using Stefan Possony in this article can be found in
         a book created by Jerry Pournelle:

	Warrior:  There Will Be War, Volume V
	created by Jerry Pournelle (ISBN  0-812-54959-7)

	"Defense In A N-Dimensional World: Technilogical Surprise
             Must Be Prevented", by Stefan T. Possony, copyright 1986
	pages 217 - 230

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 20:50:45 -0800 (PST)
From: "John R. Snead" <jsnead@netcom.com>
Subject: Is the list active?

It's been 24 hours since I've seen a message, so I'm checking if the list is 
still active.

- -John jsnead@netcom.com

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Nov 1996 00:04:13 -0500
From: Eric Freitas <edf@atlantic.net>
Subject: RE: Traveller-digest V1996 #694

Jeff Brawley wrote:

>If you read in the RCEG, it explains that CG does create a field where
>gravity is nullified.  It's description is in with the Grav Belt and Grav
>Bike "broomstick"

You're right.  I've read that explanation.  Maybe we're all closer to the
truth than we could have imagined ;)

>
>Hope this isn't just restating the obvious.

Nope, thanks for the feedback.

Eric Freitas

------------------------------

End of Traveller-digest V1996 #700
**********************************

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