Trying to wrap my head around Mutineer's Moon

[Jawawithagun]

I remember enjoying the Weber novel way back in the dark ages and just started to re-read it. But right from the start the thing is bugging me.

Could somebody please explain to me just WHY a lunar survey craft is armed?

Well, out-of-universe it's clear, because Weber want to have his if-it-shoots-at-you-it's-friendly first contact.

But in-universe? On a supposedly friendly joint US-Soviet mission the military had the last word and decided to arm a survey vehicle, on a photographing mission to the back of the Moon. A known area, with nobody expecting any hostile encounters. (Or even friendly encounters.)

I don't get it.

[Simon_Jester]

I doubt there's a reason beyond "this is the future so we have spaceships armed with pew pew lasers," and never mind that there's no one in space for the lasers to shoot at.

[Zaune]

If you actually care about that kind of detail, you probably ought to stick to his earlier books. He's now popular enough that he doesn't have to listen to his editors.

[Molyneux]

If you actually care about that kind of detail, you probably ought to stick to his earlier books. He's now popular enough that he doesn't have to listen to his editors.

That is generally a worrying sign...see also every Star Wars film past Empire Strikes Back.

[dragon]

I remember enjoying the Weber novel way back in the dark ages and just started to re-read it. But right from the start the thing is bugging me.

Could somebody please explain to me just WHY a lunar survey craft is armed?

Well, out-of-universe it's clear, because Weber want to have his if-it-shoots-at-you-it's-friendly first contact.

But in-universe? On a supposedly friendly joint US-Soviet mission the military had the last word and decided to arm a survey vehicle, on a photographing mission to the back of the Moon. A known area, with nobody expecting any hostile encounters. (Or even friendly encounters.)

I don't get it.

Because it's not just a lunar lander it's part of an interstellar probe. It was for the Promethius mission, which was to man kind first attempt to visit another star. And it was a full dress rehearsal which is normal for military.

was one reason he'd been selected for the first joint US-Soviet interstellar flight crew,

There'd been wrung hands at the notion of arming a "peaceful" interstellar probe, but the military, which provided so many of the pilots, had enjoyed the final word, and MacIntyre breathed a silent breath of thanks that this was a full-dress training mission as weapon systems came alive.

link

[Jawawithagun]

If you actually care about that kind of detail, you probably ought to stick to his earlier books. He's now popular enough that he doesn't have to listen to his editors.

Mutineer's Moon is actually one his earliest published books, harking back to '91.

Because it's not just a lunar lander it's part of an interstellar probe. It was for the Promethius mission, which was to man kind first attempt to visit another star. And it was a full dress rehearsal which is normal for military.

Okay, that makes some sense now. Really didn't read it as a full dress rehearsal, just as simple test run to get the systems and survey procedures finalised.

[Simon_Jester]

Well, if the final ship is going to be armed, you need the weapons on board when you test the ship if you want the test to be realistic. The installation of the weapons will affect the weight and balance of the craft, and in a sensor test you definitely don't want to overlook something like "whoops, I activated the surface-imaging radar and suddenly the targeting computer decided that was the signal to go 'weapons free' on everything I pointed the radar at!"

Which you might, if the weapons weren't installed at the time.

[dworkin]

Because going out into the great unknown and not being able to blow the crap out of it means you're a dirty commie mutant traitor who kicks puppy's, violates nuns and leaves you're mobile on in theatres. This is early Webber after all.

[White Haven]

If the military is running the program, you can bet your ass they're going to be of the opinion that 'just hope they're peaceful or you can run away' is a dumb strategy. This isn't a NASA probe with a civilian set of priorities.