Topic Actions

Topic Search

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Shannon_Foraker and 79 guests

SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion

Join us in talking discussing all things Honor, including (but not limited to) tactics, favorite characters, and book discussions.
SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by NHBL   » Wed Nov 02, 2016 9:33 pm

NHBL
Lieutenant (Junior Grade)

Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2015 3:26 pm

S
P
O
I
L
E
R
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
spoiler
When Henke took control of the orbitals, why would Mesa even think of defying the shiploads of troops? If surrender wasn't coming instantly, no ground assault needed--that is the heart of the edict. If a planet doesn't surrender, nuclear strikes are permitted under the rules of war.
Top
Re: SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by Weird Harold   » Wed Nov 02, 2016 10:25 pm

Weird Harold
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 4478
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:25 pm
Location: "Lost Wages", NV

NHBL wrote:If a planet doesn't surrender, nuclear strikes are permitted under the rules of war.


Permitted =/= Required. Just because you can (legally) Nuke a planet, doesn't mean that you should nuke them.
.
.
.
Answers! I got lots of answers!

(Now if I could just find the right questions.)
Top
Re: SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by cthia   » Wed Nov 02, 2016 10:35 pm

cthia
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 14951
Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:10 pm

Weird Harold wrote:
NHBL wrote:If a planet doesn't surrender, nuclear strikes are permitted under the rules of war.


Permitted =/= Required. Just because you can (legally) Nuke a planet, doesn't mean that you should nuke them.

Especially if you are a civilized nation with morals, scruples, values and a respect for human life.

"Because you can doesn't mean you should" stands center stage in the "Black Lives Matter" movement here in America.

Although, to be fair to the poster, the people on the planet have no way of knowing the intention of those who control the orbitals. And it seems that playing Russian roulette with everyone's life is potentially self-destructive. Literally.

The art of the bluff is easy to call when it is simply your wallet at stake. Not so much when it is your life.

Son, your mother says I have to hang you. Personally I don't think this is a capital offense. But if I don't hang you, she's gonna hang me and frankly, I'm not the one in trouble. —cthia's father. Incident in ? Axiom of Common Sense
Top
Re: SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by munroburton   » Thu Nov 03, 2016 6:11 am

munroburton
Admiral

Posts: 2375
Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:16 am
Location: Scotland

They had human shields. Any population strikes on Mesa would likely kill twice as many slaves and seccies as it did Mesan citizens.

We already saw Terekhov resort to highly precise kinetic bombardment once surrender was offered and explictly rejected. So the RMN will go ahead and bombard if forced to - just not with nuclear weapons.
Top
Re: SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by Vince   » Thu Nov 03, 2016 11:17 am

Vince
Vice Admiral

Posts: 1574
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:43 pm

munroburton wrote:They had human shields. Any population strikes on Mesa would likely kill twice as many slaves and seccies as it did Mesan citizens.

We already saw Terekhov resort to highly precise kinetic bombardment once surrender was offered and explictly rejected. So the RMN will go ahead and bombard if forced to - just not with nuclear weapons.

And in the Honorverse, there is no need for nuclear weapons directed against a planet target when kinetic energy weapons will do the job.
-------------------------------------------------------------
History does not repeat itself so much as it echoes.
Top
Re: SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by Silverwall   » Thu Nov 03, 2016 3:44 pm

Silverwall
Captain (Junior Grade)

Posts: 388
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:53 am

Also there are plenty of legitimate military targets you can blow away with planetary strikes without triggering an Eridani scenario. Many of these could be attacked by pinnaces or ground forces but the attacker is not obligated to put thier forces at risk when an orbital kinetic strike is available.

These include:

* Airport/spaceport facilities that can/are launching attack craft
* Barracks and other military facilities
* Command and control facilities
* Key logistics routes such as highways and rail lines
* troop concentraions in the field OR in a city
Top
Re: SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by NHBL   » Thu Nov 03, 2016 8:59 pm

NHBL
Lieutenant (Junior Grade)

Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2015 3:26 pm

I was not suggesting that they should; I was just puzzled that the people in charge on Mesa defied the Manties, saying that they couldn't take the planet.
Top
Re: SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by pnakasone   » Thu Nov 03, 2016 9:32 pm

pnakasone
Captain of the List

Posts: 402
Joined: Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:21 pm

NHBL wrote:I was not suggesting that they should; I was just puzzled that the people in charge on Mesa defied the Manties, saying that they couldn't take the planet.


The EE has a major flaw it depends on the planets government caring about it civilian populations survival.
Top
Re: SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by Silverwall   » Fri Nov 04, 2016 2:26 am

Silverwall
Captain (Junior Grade)

Posts: 388
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:53 am

Basically the Edict is the same as the rule about seiges in the 1600-1850 period.

If the beseiger managed to batter a practical breach in your defences you could surrender with honor and be treated with respect. If you fought in the breach and made the enemy assault the defenders were going to be killed almost to a man and there would be officially sanctioned rape and pillage as the enraged soldery got revenge on you and your people. A notable example is the siege and sack of badajoz in the peninsula war by the british forces.
Top
Re: SPOILER! Eridani Edict quetion
Post by Randomiser   » Sat Nov 05, 2016 9:37 am

Randomiser
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1452
Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:41 pm
Location: Scotland

NHBL wrote:I was not suggesting that they should; I was just puzzled that the people in charge on Mesa defied the Manties, saying that they couldn't take the planet.


I suspect they hoped the Manties didn't have the intestinal fortitude to bombard even legitimate targets on Mesa, knowing that the Mesan government and Sollie newsies would immediately be crying Eridani Edict violation, whether there was one or not. Just like there is no evidence at all that the explosive ending of the book is down to the Manties, but they are getting blamed anyway.
Top

Return to Honorverse