Jonathan_S wrote:Well, no. They'd still have to consider what system was threatened with invasion and what their other command priories were.John Prigent wrote:Case Zulu means 'invasion imminent'. Wouldn't all those receiving that message immediately look to see where it originated and make tracks to the threatened place IF FEASIBLE? Clearly only those within reach are expected to respond, for others it simply ISN'T feasible.
Cheers, John
Certainly the entirety of home fleet didn't instantly come screaming into Basilisk in response to Honor's Case Zulu - though it was certainly feasible for them to have quickly reached Basilisk.
Even in time of peace only a couple squadrons of wallers were detached and sent -- just in case the whole thing was a feint to leave the home system under-defended for the Peep's classic surprise knockout blow.
Obviously that's an extreme example, but similar logic would need to apply to any commander learning of an imminent invasion of Manitocoran territory.
What can I send without unduly risking my other obligations?
Would a force that size simply be throwing good money after bad? (IOW do I need to wait for reinforcements to concentrate to avoid having all the relieving forces defeated in detail)
And in a lot of a ways cthia's scenario of a Case Zulu against the Manticoran home system is one in which you seem to need the least manditory response planning because the Admiralty is right there to quickly dispatch specific orders to any units within range to respond; thanks to the wormhole junction.
Yeah, the large forces at the major termini would start making contingency plans to reinforce Manticore - and possibly concentrating more of their forces near their terminus. But the initial Case Zulu would be expected to be shortly followed by more detailed orders - removing the need for them to react in an ad hoc and uncoordinated manner. For most termini the bulk of the forces in the system couldn't have physically made it to their wormhole (since a lot of the mobile forces are in-system defending the planets and stations - not stationed out at the terminus - before specific follow-on orders could be received)
One would think that the Admirality would have a "Case Zulu" instruction plan concerning the junction forces. Since the main mobile force at the wormhole termini is usually at the Manticore Junction it would probably have instructions on how to deal with a Case Zulu from one of the Termini, and would start implementing those at the Commander's discretion, while forwarding the alert to the Admirality and awaiting for further, refined orders. Other termini, like Trevor's Star, have large enough pickets to also be able protect their charge and backup another terminus, So would also have pre-set instructions they would act upon.
Preferably, depending on the threat, as the Admirality, I would move portions or all of the Junction mobile force to the threat Terminus, while moving the pre-arranged "Case-Zulu" response forces from the un-threatened termini to the Junction for quick re-deployment as necessary.
It takes awhile to move the tin around, so the Admirality will have time to assess the situation and relay specific updated orders to all the Manticore and terminus forces, but SOME pre-planned orders for the junction forces (which specify the levels of forces to be moved) would allow for the quickest response to any threat, while not having everyone just running to the sound of gunfire.