penny wrote:At any rate, I just do not think the GA’s options will be clear-cut against this foe. Let’s say the GA fights its way into orbit around Darius. Only if a navy controls the orbitals can it demand a surrender.
What if it is not clear, or is disputed, who is in control of the orbitals? Against a totally stealthed enemy how do you know you have the upper hand? Especially if your fleet is still taking losses?
I’ve always questioned the specificity of it all. In other words, simply occupying the orbitals, like a pawn who has reached the eighth rank, should not in itself boil down to controlling the orbitals???
Regardless. What do you do if your enemy refuses to surrender regardless of the tactical situation? Personally, I would not be surprised if the MAN throws the planet under the bus.
Moreover, can the GA target a civilian structure on planet if said structure is the location of the civilian leadership/Onion?
Up until now the Edict was NOT a treaty, just a policy statement by the Solarian League. In the future it may become a treaty, but it does not matter if the Malign does not sign it. It is simply a statement of policy about what will be done to anyone who commits certain acts. That is similar to NATO's Article 5 which commits all members to treat an attack on one, as an attack on all; note that the treaty is not limited to only attacks by one member on another.
We have discussed in a previous thread the question of whether one can have command of the orbitals if the battle in space is still ongoing. I continue to believe that command of the orbitals requires the fighting in space to be over.
But once there is no more fighting outside the planet, then there are options beyond just bombardment; there are assault shuttles and sting ships and so on. There is even the option of what was done at Masada and just blockade/quarantine the planet until some future government asks for terms.