unforum

[jonc]

[GasparLewis]

Building on that and on myself, I'll add this chunk of speculation, which, at this point, is starting to seem the likely reason for this equipment.

[Dranioth]

[GasparLewis]

I know; I'd seen it two weeks ago, and it just rang in my head now.
Suppose that's where inspiration struck, then, eh?

And, actually, you're right. If the plates and ionizers were taken back, they couldn't have been used yet. Otherwise, why store them? You'd dispose of them, that's what. Maybe they did, though, so that's on hod for now. So, then, what would they need a perfect hologram with a timer for, other than the Cube, as spec/conj?

[jbd]

[duckiemonster]

[Juxta]

I think that we're all missing the most important point here. Violet has a new rival for Kurt's affections once more! However, Karen also sounds distinctly lovely, if a little...erm...barking-hatstand-tonto-cuckoo-wacko.

Crazy girls, "ftw", as you youngsters say these days.

J

[jbd]

[GasparLewis]

[yggdrasila]

Gaspar - from what I've read, that looks largely spot-on, but I'd like to add a thought (first post, hopefully no ensuing trouting) -

I definitely think the hologram concept has to be correct. But I also think there's a significant possibility that what is being built is a trap - basically a fake Cube with explosive weaponry.

I mention this because everything I've turned up about (magnetic/explosively powered) flux compression generators point to their use as EMP weapons, far more so than power sources. It also seems likely that the flux compression generator in question would be a magnetic one, which would explain the Baker field as containment.

So, I would postulate that the atomic clock in question could be a bomb timer (and that, in fact, the ionizer could be to ionize the gas used by the clock) of some sort. Additionally, FCGs target computational devices...possibly an attack on the keys of whomever finds the fake Cube?

The other thing is that an FCG is largely a one-off device: it is destroyed in the process of being used, so its capacity as a longer-term power source seems minimal.

My guess is that the 3P knows where the Cube is, and is planning to present a fake Cube elsewhere, possibly designed to blow up anyone who finds it, while they go find the real one.

ygg

[Antony C]

Crazy speculation.

A hologram with a timer could be used if you wanted to 'prove' to someone that you had the cube, where in fact you had it safely stowed away without there being a chance of it being stolen from you. As a kind of, 'look we've got it, now give us the cash' kinda thing.