(SPOILERS) Expected defeat at Beowulf.

kzt wrote:Sure. Where is the command and control node you say it has? The description expressly points out that it has no such command and control nodes. It's a cloud of KH2s, which are unmanned automated fire control platforms, each heavily defended by their own automated point defense systems. Not that I'm saying its Skynet, but it's Skynet.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7666&start=40#p213226

Just a few posts up from me, At All Costs chapter 57, a few paragraphs in. Lovat had three Moriarty platforms, at least 1 complete crew, and partial crews for the other two platforms.

Keyhole-II's would just be giving the Moriarty platforms FTL transmissions, turning them into Mycroft.

Edit: link fail to my specific post, it's a couple down from Duckk's. I had quotes with the related textev

Somtaaw wrote:

kzt wrote:Sure. Where is the command and control node you say it has? The description expressly points out that it has no such command and control nodes. It's a cloud of KH2s, which are unmanned automated fire control platforms, each heavily defended by their own automated point defense systems. Not that I'm saying its Skynet, but it's Skynet.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7666&start=40#p213226

Just a few posts up from me, At All Costs chapter 57, a few paragraphs in. Lovat had three Moriarty platforms, at least 1 complete crew, and partial crews for the other two platforms.

Keyhole-II's would just be giving the Moriarty platforms FTL transmissions, turning them into Mycroft.


Edit: link fail to my specific post, it's a couple down from Duckk's. I had quotes with the related textev

As for the Moriarty platforms, everyone is right - At Solon, there is just 1 CA sized (400Ktons) mentioned as the control platform in Arthur orbit. (it was delivered by freighters in 2 pieces). At Lovat, there were 3 CA sized platforms, which took shifts in control of the system.

One thing Beowulf may be hoping for is that who ever is in command of the SLN fleet or individual ship commanders may be reasonable and could be talked in to backing off. If no RMN ships are in position to look like they are club being held over the planet it could make such a task easier.

One scary thing is that Beowulf may fully expect to be hurt severely but plans to use the SLNs attack and the resulting deaths as a rallying cry to convince other systems to secede from the league. If they where willing to that to us the second oldest of earth daughter worlds they will start using the heavy hammer on other core worlds. The battle of Beowulf will likely be the flash point of a very bloody disintegration of the league. With the way things are now likely to go as the league disintegrates ten million dead will be a drop in the bucket.

You can get the Mandarin reactions to whatever causes the 10m casualties at Beowulf---take your pick

Manty weapon(s) with shoddy targeting and safety was fired either deliberatly at Beowulf to overset the actual results of the plebiscite which was to remain in the League.

The Manties had an ambush fleet waiting in hyperspace and it attacked our observers just after they entered League Space around Beowulf. At the same time they launched weapons Beowulf to create an incedent to cover their moving in to take over the system. It could not possibly have been SLN weapons, our DEFENSIVE fire was all aimed out-system (even if we missed targets and the weapons didn't self-destruct at the end of their runs, they are still heading out-system in ballistic paths.

The tragic destruction and loss of life on Beowulf was the result of deliberate attacks on it's own population by members of the Beowulf Government to take over the system and establish a new regime which has been attempting to leave the League.

Duckk wrote:Uhh, what? Moriarty is a single platform of heavy cruiser size.

A single platform with two backup platforms: "Gold," "Silver" and "Bronze."

I did mis-remember the size.

Brigade XO wrote:You can get the Mandarin reactions to whatever causes the 10m casualties at Beowulf---take your pick

Manty weapon(s) with shoddy targeting and safety was fired either deliberatly at Beowulf to overset the actual results of the plebiscite which was to remain in the League.

The Manties had an ambush fleet waiting in hyperspace and it attacked our observers just after they entered League Space around Beowulf. At the same time they launched weapons Beowulf to create an incedent to cover their moving in to take over the system. It could not possibly have been SLN weapons, our DEFENSIVE fire was all aimed out-system (even if we missed targets and the weapons didn't self-destruct at the end of their runs, they are still heading out-system in ballistic paths.

The tragic destruction and loss of life on Beowulf was the result of deliberate attacks on it's own population by members of the Beowulf Government to take over the system and establish a new regime which has been attempting to leave the League.

While the spin in nauseatingly plausible, I wouldn't be surprised if the MAlign provided evidence to contradict it. I can't think of anything that would end the League quicker than the Mandarin's getting caught in a lie that big.

On the other hand, the ensuing scandal wipe out the last shred of hope that the League would be able to remove Manticore as a potential center for a post-League renaissance. But that's not particularly likely in any case unless the MAlign wants to risk a reformed League not collapse at all.

noblehunter wrote:While the spin in nauseatingly plausible, I wouldn't be surprised if the MAlign provided evidence to contradict it. I can't think of anything that would end the League quicker than the Mandarin's getting caught in a lie that big.

On the other hand, the ensuing scandal wipe out the last shred of hope that the League would be able to remove Manticore as a potential center for a post-League renaissance. But that's not particularly likely in any case unless the MAlign wants to risk a reformed League not collapse at all.

How about they help cause the million deaths on Beowulf and make sure that the event can be used to cause the league to collapse in bloodiest way possible.

Weird Harold wrote:

Duckk wrote:Uhh, what? Moriarty is a single platform of heavy cruiser size.

A single platform with two backup platforms: "Gold," "Silver" and "Bronze."

I did mis-remember the size.

Two backup platforms specifically at Lovat. It's not a requirement to have multiple platforms, as was demonstrated at Solon.

pnakasone wrote:One thing Beowulf may be hoping for is that who ever is in command of the SLN fleet or individual ship commanders may be reasonable and could be talked in to backing off. If no RMN ships are in position to look like they are club being held over the planet it could make such a task easier.

One scary thing is that Beowulf may fully expect to be hurt severely but plans to use the SLNs attack and the resulting deaths as a rallying cry to convince other systems to secede from the league. If they where willing to that to us the second oldest of earth daughter worlds they will start using the heavy hammer on other core worlds. The battle of Beowulf will likely be the flash point of a very bloody disintegration of the league. With the way things are now likely to go as the league disintegrates ten million dead will be a drop in the bucket.

The latter part of your post mirrors the sentiment of my own in my first offering on page 5...

cthia wrote:

...

And if this 'don't shoot until they shoot' policy is implemented 'in this case' to mirror the atrocious expense of lives to fuel their goals in martyr-ess fashion, as was the MO of that guiltless MAlign double copper-plated super bitch who orchestrated the Giselle incident, then the blood of 10M lives are on the hands of Beowulf and I cannot see the GA being an accomplice to that.

...

Simply the thought of it leaves a very bad taste in my mouth -- akin to the conspiracy theories (true or no) of the US government 'using' the tragedies of 911 (among other appalling things) to further its political goals.

I can't see the GA being defeated at Beowulf even with the high number of fatalities predicted, once the GA ships get to within Apollo range of the SLN it will be the SLN that suffers yet another defeat.

I think most of the Beowulf fatalities will probably occur on the planet not in orbit, so with the BSDF and the GA ships after them the SLN doesn't have a chance of getting away.

If it is not the SLN that commits the planetary damage their only hope of surviving would be to strike wedge and welcome the boarding parties to investigate their computer logs. If they don't do that then they will surely be pursued and eliminated in another way.