UN Nature - longish again

Niall writes-
***
I have to disagree with Noahs view of the UN as an actual power in its own
right. I very much doubt it would have any actual planets that it controlled
apart from perhaps being the onyl significant power willing to patrol certain
regions. It seems more likely that it would be organised like a Megacorp with
an income provided by the various powers but only to patrol in the core
systems. As such it may not have that many ships compared to the major powers
but what it does have is pure quality. It might not be able to stop a major
power all by itself but it could certainly hurt it badly enough that the
aggressor might be made vulnerable to other powers. The UN's role wouldn't be
to expand its power base but to simply keep the status quo.
***

        After some reflection, I have to agree with Niall - Though I
like the idea of the 'Big Scary UN', it doesn't seem to fit too well into the
FT universe. Some more thoughts on this: OK, granted that the UN has a fleet
(UNSC) and ground forces (UNSC Marines, others). How is this paid for? Taxes
or dues, or both? While their fleet will not be as big numerically as the
Major Powers, it will still probably have the full gamut of ship types. They
would want the
ability to at least confront an SDN/CVA on equal terms - they have to be

able to keep the peace somehow. I would still insist that their ships would be
a qualitative leap ahead of everybody else. They would pay
handsomely for brilliant engineers/theorists.  This would be a good way
of
maintaining some form of control - that's what peacekeeping is, after
all. On the 'cool bell' side, I'd like to see them with Heavy Beam Weapons,
EMP projectors and other neat stuff, 'cause it would be, well, cool.
        The UN would have a pretty solid grip, peace-wise, on the Core
systems.
 This would be maintained by the enlightened self-interests of the Major

Powers - who wants to trash the heart of your own economic base?  One of

the UNs main jobs would still be piracy/smuggling interdiction and
enforcement of celestime regulations - think of a 'Coast Guard' type
role.
 Destroyer/Cruiser type ships are well suited to this; they would
probably make a proportionally greater share of the UN Fleet than a normal
'Battle'
fleet.  The UN's capital-types would have the show-the-flag type jobs.
So what keeps one Major Power from just jumping the UN and hoping for a
lightning victory, then claiming the Core for itself? First, the UN would
be a tough nut to crack - you'd be hitting them in their home turf, and
their stuff is better than yours. Second, while you're busy being carved up by
HBWs, your neighbors would begin to regard you in a most unhealthy

way. You're open for conquest, and you're also threatening their economics,
too; and on a more emotional note, hey, you're besieging
TERRA -
it's just Not Done. For operations where more force might be needed than can
be assembled by the UN exclusively in the time alotted, the UN would call on
the Major &

Minor Powers to lend some ships/troops to help get the job done.  This
would be fraught with political problems and bickering (just like
today!),
and would be the UN's arguement for a bigger military budget. For some reason,
the Major Powers keep voting that one down... The UN enforces it's regulations
through various measures. First, there would be a general force of law. If you
don't comply, we'll make your life difficult, through sanctions, trials in
absentia, etc. Everybody besides
the offender tends to take the UNs side in this sort of thing - a chance
to tweak an enemy is rarely passed up. Second, force of economics. The UN

main force sits directly in the middle of the busiest trade routes in the
Human Sphere. Those customs inspections sure can be dragged out...and the
fines, don't ask. Third, force of arms. The UN can muster, on it's own, a
pretty formidable fleet. With enough support from the various member states,
they can be downright scary. Just the announcement that a Major

Power has decided to lend forces to a UN operation can convince people of the
error of their ways. The UNs relationship with the Minor Powers (PAU, IC, IF,
OU, LLAR, others) is a bit more direct. The UN could probably defeat any one
of these in a
stand-up fight.  They know it.  They also know that the UN is a
wonderful tool for making your voice heard in a universe of bigger fish.
Together

Minor Powers can create significant voting blocs, and by lending forces to the
UN, their troops & crews get experience that they may not otherwise get. And
to those it regards as staunch allies, the UN may be a little less likely to
notice small, well, transgressions. The UN would probably be a more common
sight in the Minor Powers than in the Major Powers. The big guys can be a
little touchy about somebody else's warships in their backyards, and they can
get away with telling the UN 'no' occasionally. This background sets up a lot
of interesting possibilities. UN vs.
pirates/smugglers, UN vs. belligerent 1 vs. belligerent 2, UN + support
vs.
Power (major or minor), UN + Humans vs. Bugs; the list goes on.