Hi Jerosen,
This not a new topic.
Originally, I agreed it was a waste of GA resources, but the political impact of trashing all of the SLN's reserve, especially the BF's which has been the club to keep so many in the shell, protectorates and verge so accepting of their fate is too tremendous not to do it, NTM the far less expensive means of destroying all of it.
Everyone knows they cannot fight so many SD's.
Effectively eliminate the BF and who wants to stay?
Before Lacoon 1&2, there wasn't an effective way for those anti-SL systems to coordinate with all the rest who wanted to quit the SL [thus dividing the SLN's forces into much smaller threats, which might be faced], because the risk of the SL finding out before the connections were made were too great and nipping any such effort in the bud.
Now the SL and/or mandarins are far more removed from being able to respond to such separatist feelings, NTM BF has been removed from the playing field by Kingsford, which will only be exacerbated by whatever they attempt in regards to Beowulf, so splits from the SL may happen far faster than we've previously thought even if those systems don't immediately join the GA.
L
Jeroswen wrote:**quote="phillies"*
*Show up at Terra with the Beowulf SDF and friends. Have the Beowulf SDF, using tractored missile pods, blow up Hyperion. "act of self defense". Friends provide antimissile defenses to the Beowulf SDF.
Of course, if the hypothetical attack on Beowulf, if it happens, violates the Eridani Edict, then appearing at Sol with a list of the guilty, a supply of port-a-gallows, and the suggestion that the ISLN should do the arresting might spread confusion.
namelessfly wrote:The best, or at least most effective, PR gesture would be to respond to the impending attack on Beawulf by first destroying the SLN ships then making the short hop from the Beawulf terminus to Sol system with a squadron of SD(P)s to blow away all of the remaining SLN fleet (including reserves), SLN fleet bases, and shipyards known to build ships and parts for the SLN.
I suppose that the RMN should be gracious enough to grant the inhabitants of the various space platforms an opportunity to surrender and evacuate rather than just blowing them away from long range to kill millions of people as occurred at Oyster Bay.
The RMN might even take steps to ensure that no "fragments" from orbital facilities impact inhabited planets to kill millions.
**/quote**
I've been lurking for quite a while but this thread got me thinking. I hope if anyone hits on what Mr. Weber wants to do he'll do it anyway and not try to force a change because someone "guessed right".
Anyway I think the best way to deal with everything here is very simple. Load up every surviving ship and crewman from BOM2 and Spindle and escort them with a Squadron of SD(P)'s, Carrier Support, and screening elements, right to the SOL system itself. Sit right on the hyper limit and invite the Solly News crews to examine the records contained on the ship and allow them to interview the crews before turning them and the ships loose to be repatriated in the SOL system. The Task Force should issue a warning to the Solarian League that any further attacks, including those against Beowulf, will be viewed as a full declaration of war against the Grand Alliance.
This is a win, win, win for the Grand Alliance.
1. You get the Solarian News agencies the facts and a scoop they can't pass up.
2. You don't have to deal with housing millions of POW's and finding spots for hundreds of obsolete ships.
3. The blow to the SLN's psyche will be tremendous. Even without saying it, its quite clear that "We gave you back your obsolete ships, play nice or the gloves come off" is the real message being sent.
Their infrastructure is obsolete. I would not destroy it and force them to rebuild new. Let them keep their crap and their old way of doing things. You want to keep them from modernizing as long as possible.
Just my two cents.
