RE: 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.