> John Atkinson wrote:
> ...this is one of the bits I don't quite understand in John's NRE
Sorry, but this is bullshit.
The NAC *and the RH* were already engaged in a slugging match with the ESU and
FSE: the 3rd Solar War begins in 2165, NSL and RH joins in on the NAC side in
2166; the first (unsuccessful) NRE attack on New Sofia occurs in
2168 - at the same time as the ESU's attack on the RH settlement of
Tsitsihar (in the Treralis system).
Are these simultaneous attacks a mere coincidence? I doubt that the NAC
leadership would believe that even if it were true (which I also doubt,
considering the normal Byzantine political and diplomatic slipperiness). To a
superpower fighting for its existence, the NRE's action looks very much like
openly siding with the ESU.
The next NRE attack on the RH comes in 2173 - right after the Sumani IV
incident has caused the 3rd Solar War to heat up again. The timeline
doesn't mention the RH much after this year - they seem to have been
knocked out *of the 3rd Solar War* by someone... and according to your
timeline, the NRE delivered a devastating knock-out blow to the RH in
this year. Another coincidence? Again I very much doubt that the NAC
leadership would believe it.
In other words, from the NAC's point of view the NRE first appeared to have
carefully coordinated its attacks on an important NAC ally with the ESU's
operations, and some years knocked that same ally out of the war entirely just
as the fighting began to heat up again and the NAC needed all the support its
allies could provide.
This is not just a "limited war for a limited objective" - it is a major
contribution to the ESU cause in the 3rd Solar War.
Do you *really* believe that the NAC "wouldn't care" about a 3rd-rate
power making major contributions to the enemy's cause?
Regards,
> --- Oerjan Ohlson <oerjan.ohlson@telia.com> wrote:
> Are these simultaneous attacks a mere coincidence? I
That's our story and we're sticking to it.:)
> and diplomatic slipperiness). To a superpower
Let me compare:
In 1982, the US and USSR were engaged in a Cold War. A nominal US ally
attacked the US's closest ally who
is a member of a US-sponsored mutual defense
organization. The US's response was not to bomb Argentina, or send in the 82nd
Airborne, or even to move a carrier group in to shut down the Argentinian
Navy. We sold the UK some Sidewinders and spent the rest of the war trying to
broker a ceasefire. Now, let's imagine that shortly before this, the War the
Never Happened did. The US and UK (and the rest of NATO) is in a 'fight for
it's life'. The UK doesn't have the assets to waste. What do you think is
going to happen? They are going to get told 'Deal with it' and the US will go
on focusing on the main theaters of conflict.
> The next NRE attack on the RH comes in 2173 - right
Still fighting in 2183 when they finally loose Titshihar to ESU. Which
indicates that it's not a high priority theater if it takes decades to take
one lousy planet. Especially considering that the NAC has
since 2173 lost 3 colonies to the ESU/FSE.
> John Atkinson wrote:
> >and diplomatic slipperiness). To a superpower fighting for its
Bad example. If Argentine had taken the Malvinas during a 3rd World War
between NATO and the WP, I very much doubt that the UK would have had more
than token forces in the Falklands (ie., no more than they had at the start
of the actual Falklands War) - which means that the Argie attack *would
not have have affected the UK's ability to fight against the WP at all*. In
contrast, the NRE attack on the RH in 2173 seems (at least according to NRE
propaganda) to have crushed the major part of the RH navy and knocked the
Hegemony right out of the 3rd Solar War.
Instead of the Falklands War comparison, try this one:
The 3rd World War is raging between NATO and the WP. Suddenly, Greece attacks
Turkey in the rear, causing the Turkish war effort to collapse and releasing
most of the WP forces defending the Caucasus for use against western Europe.
How would the US deal with this Greek betrayal? Would they just smile and
continue their cordial relations with the Greeks, would they impose economic
sanctions on Greeks and treat them with extreme suspicion after the war had
ended, or would they take some more affirmative action
against Greece to stop their schemes?
> >The next NRE attack on the RH comes in 2173 - right after the Sumani
> indicates that it's not a
It either indicates that it is not a high priority theater *to the ESU* (not
surprising if the main purpose with the operation was to draw the RH
navy into a decisive battle - which wouldn't be necessary after 2173),
or
that it takes them this long to defeat the local defence force - which
wouldn't be too surprising if the latter has reverted to a
guerilla-style
campaign. Note that there is no mention of the RH making any attempt to
reinforce the Tsitsihar defence forces or driving the ESU naval forces away
during these fifteen years.
Later,