Directed energy weapons (DEW) utilize various forms of
energy to produce damaging effects through beams: light,
sound, microwaves, and other particles. Such devices have
recently been deployed both as stationary ground-based
systems and in orbit around the Earth. This weaponry is
employed for precise, high-cost, yet necessary operations
related to national security worldwide. In scientific
literature, particles generally refer to photons, which are
a form of light, or electrons. Larger particles, such as
protons and neutrons, are rarely considered due to the
difficulty in controlling them. Electron control is achieved
through the principle of electron-beam tubes, similar to
those used in old cathode-ray tubes, where an electron
stream could even burn surfaces on the back of a monitor.
Modern devices, operated by medical equipment specialists,
no longer utilize simple tubes. In the 1970s, synchrotrons
- accelerators generating synchrotron radiation - were
developed. This radiation occurs when a particle is forcibly
bent along a trajectory, emitting X-rays or other forms of
radiation. Unlike early X-ray machines, the beam here is
perfectly collimated without additional focusing: it follows
strictly perpendicular to the particle's bending plane.
Initially, synchrotrons were enormous, comparable in size
to CERN facilities. Over time, their dimensions have been
reduced to the size of a large suitcase, and they can
operate on power supplied from a standard electrical outlet.
When such weapons are used, their effects manifest as
sudden, localized damage at short ranges, which are
difficult to explain through conventional means. People or
objects may experience unexplained burns, organ damage, or
electronic malfunctions without visible causes. Since the
energy is precisely directed and passes through the
atmosphere with uncontrollable losses, signs of exposure
are often subtle, and effects are selective and localized.
Detection of such weapons can be based on anomalies, such
as rapid appearance of injuries on the body or equipment
without signs of traditional impact, sudden changes in the
electromagnetic background at specific points, or the
appearance of weak but characteristic signals in the radio
spectrum. Examples include localized scorched patches
of grass, mass casualties among cattle in a single field,
abnormal human behavior, complaints about insects under
the skin, bugs in the head, migraines, bright spheres, luminous
objects, and so forth. Orbital DEW emitter groups
essentially form a phased array consisting of thousands of
small satellites orbiting at altitudes of 200-500 km above
Earth. They are typically organized into a regular grid,
ring, or spiral for optimal phasing. Each satellite measures
between 0.5 and 2 meters in size - typical CubeSats equipped
with laser modules, solar panels, and laser emitter
antennas. From the ground, this constellation appears as a
swarm of flickering points moving synchronously along
the orbit. These satellites do not emit light constantly; they
are visible only during laser activation, as they are made
from inexpensive polymers. The DEW satellite group is
controlled via artificial intelligence (AI) and small
gravitational interaction thrusters. Coordination occurs in
real time. However, despite their low cost, these satellites
are not reusable; after a certain number of DEW shots, they
become non-operational and are de-orbited. New satellites
are then launched to replace them. Each satellite generates
a laser beam (for example, in the infrared or visible
spectrum, with power levels of 10-100 kW) and directs it
downward toward Earth through a lensing system composed
of deployable orbital lenses. One such satellite is positioned
over each continent to direct DEW strikes to specific
regions. The beams converge in a conical shape from orbit
to ground, focusing on a very small area due to diffraction
and atmospheric effects. The atmosphere disperses the beam,
but AI employs adaptive optics to compensate for turbulence.
The phased beam then reaches Earth as a narrow but powerful
jet.
This beam is absorbed by the target material (such as a lithium
battery in a smartphone), converting light into heat. The
effectiveness depends on the laser wavelength (infrared is more
efficient for heating). The beam diameter varies depending
on the operational task: delivering a lethal dose to a person,
destroying a battery or internal component of an industrial
object, or igniting a territory.
The beam is delivered in short pulses to achieve localized
heating and prevent overheating of the satellite or atmospheric
gases (UFO effect). Despite significant atmospheric energy
losses - up to 50-80% due to scattering - the remaining energy
is sufficient to damage specific targets. Due to the inability
to precisely control the damaging factor, side effects often
occur. For example, forest fires, crop circles, luminous UFO
like spheres, and so on. Overall, this weapon is relatively
inefficient but remains sufficiently covert, which offsets its
production costs - primarily from inexpensive mass-produced
components.

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* Origin: Shipwrecks & Shibboleths [San Francisco, CA - USA] (700:100/72)