Ilya wrote:
Quote:
|
Creative, yes, but just like Heinlein's tactic in "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress", packs less punch than advertised. The bullet would have hit the neutron star at about 0.5 C. M-16 bullet weighs about 8 grams. Say, it was a high-caliber rifle with a 40 gram bullet. Impacting neutron star it would produce a 200-250 kiloton explosion. I doubt that would harm a spacecraft tough enough and/or far enough away to survive neutron star's usual effects.
|
Yup, that's what I meant about the bullets in Protector. However, I'm sure that the Brennan-monster with his amazing intelligence added in the effects of the impact destabilizing the star's crust, causing a fault with consequent isostatic readustment resulting in a synergistic effect. The narrator did mention that a significant portion of the star's surface began to glow, suggesting a more widespread effect.
Never underestimate the Brennan-monster.