Lacoon
Just re-read “A rising thunder”for the 3rd or 4th time. I guess its my favorite in the recent series of Sollie skirmishes. Some of the most interesting parts to me are:
1. The conversation betw Manty merchant marine Captn & the Sollie shipping manager.
2. Activation of Lacoon 2
3. Raj ate his gun.
4. Meeting between x,y & z.
Here are some ideas for expanding the Lacoon concept:
Action Goal Intended & unintended consequences.
Lacoon 1 Recall Manty merchant marine from Sollie space
1. convince Sollies that Manties are not gonna roll over.
2. Remove merchant marines from the line of fire.
3. Free up skilled manpower for offensives against Sollies & MalAlign.
Mandarins discover the error of their ways but their belligerence keeps them calling plays from the same “tried and true” playbook for dealing with neo-barbs.
Sollie economy slows, then goes into recession because transportation stalls. “Who can destroy a thing controls it” – quote from Dune
Sollie citizens believe that govt can solve their problems and become more willing to swallow govt propaganda rather than believe their lying eyes or engage their brains.
Lacoon 2 Close key jump points to Solarian shipping. Raise the stakes Negatively impact the Solarian economy to force the Mandarins to take responsibility for their Navy’s actions. Manty’s begin prosecuting war with Sollies.
Sollie trans stellars attempt a coup that fails, solidifying the Mandarins power, but increasing their fear & paranoia. Sollie R&D starts to move forward, intending to close the technology gap.
Lacoon 3 Manty’s submit declaration of War to Chamber of stars.
2. Identify and target Sollie infrastructure, starting with military R&D facilities, like Technodyne.
3. Task commandos (ninjas) to infiltrate and provide covert assistance to revolutionaries in Verge protectorates (ie do what Firebrand pretends to do).
Keep the Mandarins and the Sillies off balance so they take too long to get their act together. Buy enough time for the Solarian Leauge ship to come apart before they can bridge the technology gap wth the Manicore Alliance.
Mandarins engage the theory of “the big lie”.
Sollies start raiding Manty shipping using Frontier fleet. Frontier fleet takes their frustrations out on any Manty ships they catch. Few survive the experience. MalAlign agents help bureaucratic inefficiency to keep Sollie technology in a “not invented here” mindset. This results in R&D stalling out.
Lacoon 4
1. Public relations campaign to discredit the Mandarins policies.
2. Publicize Frontier Fleet’s secret contingency files from their captured computers.
3. Expose corruption in OFS protectorates & client states including Manpower corporate records and client lists.
Create political division and possibly a constitutional crisis Verge systems try to declare independence.
Most Sollie citizens remain brain dead. However, Daud al-Fanudahi’s coalition makes contact with the Beowulf Biological Survey Corps.
Mandarins institute a military conscription program and begins a reign of terror to keep Verge (and core) systems from succeeding.
Lacoon 5 Initiate banking, corporate & infrastructure cyber warfare & espionage. Prosecute the war on multiple fronts, not just militarily. Destabilize the Solly economy. Follow the money trail to the MalAlign. Anarchy reins, people die & things get blown up. Manty’s get a lead on the Verdant Vista (now Torch) wormhole bridge terminus. Manty’s get wind of the Prometheus or Darius plots.
