Armageddon???? - Part Eighty One Up

[Starglider]

Turin... ITALY? How is that a significant target?

Stuart doesn't like it

Things are moving along nicely.

I had a more elaborate test scene in mind, but I didn't have the time or energy to write it* and Stuart's does the job just fine. I'm clear for this evening though and now I'm sure what position Belial is in I'll try and do some more bits.

* Lock-free concurrency is just hard, no way around it; I'm pretty good at what I do, but there are just so many states and so many paths that need to be reliably de-bottlenecked in what I'm doing ATM (in double-quick time for the demanding customer) that my brain feels like it's about to pour out of my ears...

[JN1]

Also, weren't THREE XR-220's built?

XR219 (the only one to fly), XR221 and XR223 were taken to the firing range at Shoeburyness and shot to pieces, tragically. I wouldn't be surprised if more bits of the TSR.2 survived than what is said on the official lists.

Wow I had no idea British aircraft looked so bloody awesome.

Aren't most of them?

JN1 wrote:

If Turin does get destroyed Satan may just get introduced to the power of the atom.

I'm pretty sure that that was always part of the plan, even before Earth's cities started getting extra crispy.

I think that it is likely to speed up matters. Sheffield and Detroit have only so far brought a conventional response, though I guess the use of gas might be seen as a WMD retaliation.

[Darth Wong]

It's really becoming quite worrisome that the humans and demons are using up their stockpiles of weapons and warriors fighting each other while Yahweh sits and watches ...

[LadyTevar]

It's really becoming quite worrisome that the humans and demons are using up their stockpiles of weapons and warriors fighting each other while Yahweh sits and watches ...

Crap! Didn't think of that!

[Shermpotter]

Darth Wong is right. So far very little has been done on the 'heavenly' front. Worrisome is right!

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Turin... ITALY? How is that a significant target?

Lingotto car factory, owned by Fiat, I believe it produced some aircraft and tanks for fascist Italy.

[Burak Gazan]

Since the infernal asshole appears to have survived, and only seems to have learned "kill more rawr!" , the fucking gloves are going to come off in a hurry. I have a hope that there are one or two "Big Ivans" in storage being rapidly checked out for deployment

And Turin? Dammit, destroying the home of solid chocolate?

NO MERCY!!

[dragon]

Turin, chocolate nah as long as it is not Belgium then no problem.

[CaptainChewbacca]

It's really becoming quite worrisome that the humans and demons are using up their stockpiles of weapons and warriors fighting each other while Yahweh sits and watches ...

Crap! Didn't think of that!

I bet once heaven's offensive starts we make a peace and get Abigor installed in a hurry. The demons seem easier to work with than the angels.

[Sidewinder]

Killing them all is another thing that I cannot see turning out well for Satan. They would all go over to Humanity faster than light.

You're assuming other demons will actually hear of the destruction of Satan's palace. Satan just ordered the deaths of most of the witnesses (the orcs Belial drafted into digging out the ruins in search of survivors), and he can make the few who know the truth (like Belial) to keep their damn mouths shut.

Anyways, it's nice to hear the TSR.2s are flying again. I wonder if more will be made? Or is the RAF just going to order more Eurofighter Typhoons and/or lease ex-USAF F-111s?

EDIT: Thought to include this paragraph from the Thunder & Lightnings website, which suggests it IS possible to put the TSR.2 back in production.

Strangely, in 1981, the then Conservative government briefly looked at reviving the TSR.2 programme. This got as far as looking at possible modifications to bring it up to date (Tornado style intakes, modern electronics, extensive use of carbon fibre construction to lower the weight and so on) before the project was once again returned to the grave. It was certainly a strange episode; with the Tornado shortly to enter service, developing the TSR.2 to completion (using XR220 and XR222 as a basis for the new project!) would have been a very odd thing to do. As it turned out, the Tornado became more or less what the TSR.2 was to have been. That it was still slightly less capable than the TSR.2 had been projected to be a full fifteen years earlier says a great deal about how far advanced the TSR.2 project really was. That the TSR.2 was all-British (bar some electronics) and the Tornado required the cooperation of three countries also says a great deal about just how good the British aircraft industry was.

Of course, the TSR.2 doesn't hold a candle to the F-12B (production version of the Lockheed YF-12) or the B-70 Valkyrie, but it'll probably take considerably more time, money, and effort to get the USAF superplanes back in the air.

[Sidewinder]

I have a hope that there are one or two "Big Ivans" in storage being rapidly checked out for deployment :P

Are you referring to the Tsar Bomba (according to Wikipedia, the weapon was codenamed "Ivan")? Personally, I think we should save it for Yahweh; as Darth Wong stated, that guy is just watching human and demon forces decimate each other.

[Peptuck]

It's really becoming quite worrisome that the humans and demons are using up their stockpiles of weapons and warriors fighting each other while Yahweh sits and watches ...

Eh, we're only using up our conventional stockpiles. If heaven gets uppity, we can just light it up with nukes, though I figure that's going to be a very, very, very last resort if the munitions run out.

[Starglider]

Personally, I think we should save it for Yahweh; as Darth Wong stated, that guy is just watching human and demon forces decimate each other.

The human forces aren't being 'decimated'. In fact the human losses are trivial. Meanwhile there is massive mobilisation; huge numbers of troops being trained, more troops gaining combat experience, all available factories being switched over to war production, new planes and tanks being built, new weapons being designed from scratch...

In fact earth is much better prepared in almost every way to fight Heaven now than when The Message first came. The only possible exception is the drain on munitions stockpiles, which will likely be highly temporary as more and more factories complete their change-over.

[gtg947h]

Saw this and it reminded me of this thread... I present a Hell-camouflaged AR-15!

[JN1]

Anyways, it's nice to hear the TSR.2s are flying again. I wonder if more will be made? Or is the RAF just going to order more Eurofighter Typhoons and/or lease ex-USAF F-111s?

I'd say build more Typhoons, including probably a 2 seat strike version with thicker wings. Typhoon production seems to be quite sophisticated and largely automated, it should also be possible to restart production of the Tornado as AFAIK the various partners that make up Panavia are still producing spare parts.

As you note the Thatcher government did look at resurrecting the TSR.2, but it would have involved new jigs and producing what was basically a new aircraft. In this situation it is probably better to produce Typhoons, Tornadoes and Hawks rather than trying to make more TSR.2s.
If anything its probably more of a shame that more Buccaneers did not survive.

The only possible exception is the drain on munitions stockpiles, which will likely be highly temporary as more and more factories complete their change-over.

If Heaven does not hurry up and jump in soon it will find a fully mobilised humanity (just imagine how many soldiers that would be!) ready to fight and defeat whatever they can throw at us.

[Edward Yee]

Most significant paragraph I found the whole chapter...

Satan nodded slowly and focussed his vision on Belial’s face, seeing the traces of his tears from frustration and rage. “And you wept for me Belial.” Satan’s voice was dumbfounded, disbelieving. “You wept for me and fought for my life while others scurried away to save themselves. Such bravery and loyalty deserve recognition. The realms of Asmodeus remain unawarded. From now on they shall be the realms of Belial. I give them to you, holding them of course is up to you.”

[Enigma]

How does the Canadian Avro Arrow compare to the TSR.2?

[Darth Wong]

If Satan eliminates all of the witnesses, he can claim that he was in the palace when it was destroyed, thus enhancing the myth of his personal invincibility.

[Black Admiral]

How does the Canadian Avro Arrow compare to the TSR.2?

Completely different aircraft types; the Arrow was an interceptor, the TSR.2 was a nuclear & conventional strike aircraft.

[SCRawl]

How does the Canadian Avro Arrow compare to the TSR.2?

For one thing, it really is gone for good. I think that the plans still exist, but there's no mothballed prototypes. Besides, as Black Admiral pointed out, it was just an interceptor.

[consequences]

Depending on whether dead humans consigned to Hell can survive in Heaven, the war with Hell actually may do nothing more than enhance our existing manpower for the later conflict. If nothing else, the garrison force for Hell after the human victory is covered, freeing up every living body for defense of Earth and the War with Heaven.

Remember, the biggest limiting factor for the modern world in full war production is likely to be trained personnel, once it gets over the initial changeover. Well, every deader from this war, plus every dead veteran of the past is out in Hell somewhere.

[Enigma]

How does the Canadian Avro Arrow compare to the TSR.2?

Completely different aircraft types; the Arrow was an interceptor, the TSR.2 was a nuclear & conventional strike aircraft.

Thanks.

[Eulogy]

Anyway, the human operation to destroy Tartarus and seal its portals had better get into full swing soon, since it appears that Satan intends to use Belial's weapon without restraint, and has not been deterred at all by the destruction of his palace.

I doubt the operation will take much longer to start. Memnon is already at least 2/3rds of the way there, and don't forget that Belial still needs to actually find and mobilize more naga, send out a targeteer, etc.; factors which should buy Earth more than enough time to flatten Tartarus.

Besides, having Belial become favoured AND get all of Asmodeus' swag will make him (or his assets at least) a very tempting target to the other demon nobles, especially since his reputation with his peers isn't that good.

[Edward Yee]

Then again, there's no guarantee that Satan won't simply smack them down, since he's "baaaack," and for some reason (at least appears to) be affected by Belial's actually being there for him.

[Zim]

Then again, there's no guarantee that Satan won't simply smack them down, since he's "baaaack," and for some reason (at least appears to) be affected by Belial's actually being there for him.

I think Satan was caught off guard. There's so much treachery and back-stabbing in Dis that Belial's "tears" absolutely bewildered Satan.