"Whenever a great power achieves a spacewar capability, this creates a whole variety of remarkable technical spinoffs," Tony told his guests. "Through our methodical exploration of this weapon’s capabilities, we’ve discovered its peripheral features. When combined with laser reflectivity from a Mylar aerostat, we can refocus effective heat beams over a seventy-five-kilometer radius. In early Star Wars parlance, that beam was known as ‘The Finger of God.’ Space-based lasers have never been put into practice. They are simply too heavy to launch with conventional rockets. Even airborne lasers need a chemical power plant bigger than a 747. However, this ground-based laser, combined with an airborne mirror, can dominate the horizon. It can hit settlements, moving vehicles, any target chosen."