tlb wrote:penny wrote:The GA cannot simply hyper in-system guns blaring without proof. And the MA has been very paranoid about losing pieces of their puzzle. And what can the GA legally do? Can a navy simply hyper in someone else's system and demand anything? Even if that anything is simply cooperation? Does even galactic law say that a navy must be given admittance to your system even in a time of peace? Why should a system have to allow another navy to trespass; to possibly see classified emplacements, mines, etc. The Andermani didn't seem to be under any obligation of allowing Honor access to space it controlled. So, not only must Darius be found, but certain undeniable proof of many things must also be uncovered. So, the legality of attacking Darius alone because of the logistics involved in gathering certain proof might give Darius the warning of an impending attack.
Consider what happened with Galton. No mission was sent to see if Galton was peaceful; it was the logical source of munitions used in the war against the Grand Alliance and so a fleet was sent to end the threat. Exactly as the SLN thought they were doing when the fleet was sent to demand Manticore's surrender.
So doesn't it all depend on the circumstances of how Darius is found? If it were found because bad things are happening and evidence points to a certain section of the galaxy, then Darius has the choice of cooperating or being treated as part of the problem. However that is extremely unlikely without other things happening first.
It is difficult (at least for me) to think of any way Darius could be found that does not include finding evidence of collusion by Mannerheim. If the wormhole to Darius were blockaded, then Darius could only exert influence by making the journey through hyperspace. This would open the possibility of triangulating Darius, the same way that Galton was found and Darius will be treated in the same way.
Well … I thought the attack on Galton was arrogant in the way it was carried out and totally unlike… Manticore, at least. I don't think the evidence they had was incontrovertible. And you hit the nail on the head that the entire attack reeked of the stink excreted by the SL when their ‘logic’ accused Manticore of certain crimes that led to the MBS being attacked. And if you recall, the GA didn't really have incontrovertible proof.
The GA still does not have that proof. The GA needs to review data dumps, weapons and etc. to get that proof. I am afraid that Galton (by the same logic that will apply to Darius when it is attacked) has plausible deniability. After all, who better than Manticore knows without a shadow of a doubt about a secret entity who has been framing other navies! All of the tech used at Oyster Bay (any information regarding tech suggested by Simoes is still circumstantial) could have been carried out utilizing the current technology of the time since none of the wreckage has been recovered. How can the the RMN be complicit with an alliance that may have done to another system what the SL did to them? Without having that incontrovertible proof?
If the GA does not find that proof, will the GA be on the hook for reparations to Galton? Reparations that could be massive.
BTW, is it legal to launch probes in another system in general? Probes allow someone to snoop; to reveal classified Intel. It just doesn't seem to be lawful to launch probes in someone else's system. It should be an act of war. Of course, if war is what is sought anyway, then it is a moot point.
Question, even if a wormhole is being guarded that leads to Darius, can another navy legally force entry without it being an act of war? Surely admittance does not have to be given, no? And per our current discussion about inaccessibility – because there may exist a certain wave and a certain wave only that leads to a specific region of space – it isn't a given that the region of space behind the wormhole can be triangulated and the wormhole bypassed. So a journey through hyperspace isn't a given.