As the missile cruises towards the target the laser energy simply beams out into space.
Another wash of laser energy crashed against their shields.
The main problem has been lack of sufficient laser energy.
More recent work has demonstrated that significant savings in the required laser energy are possible using a technique known as "fast ignition".
The laser energy required after radiotherapy was only 800 J/ month (median).
This was controlled with 5000 J laser energy after which the patient had no further rectal symptoms to death six months later.
Both sides were using a great deal of laser energy to very little effect.
It worked with laser energy that was able to change amplitude much like an AM radio.
Once heading down, the wings on the silent bomb would maneuver it to hit at the point of the reflected laser energy.
The first bolt of laser energy nearly cut the ship in half.