On 4/7/07, Zoe Brain <aebrain@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Given that the assault on Manticore involved Mass Megadeath, not
Millions of casualties, but Millions of deaths, I think the
psychological effects on the two nations will be extreme. The RMN has
been destroyed, all but a rump (which fortunately for Manticore has the
UberWeapon du Jour so is unbeatable - just too tiny to do more than
defend). The RHN navy is having to build new factories to build the
factories to build the printing presses to print "The President of the
Republic Deeply Regrets...." notices for the mass slaughter.
No. The Republic of Haven is a lot bigger than the Star Kingdom of Manticore, they do not need to build factories to build the printing presses. There is more than enough capacity. Assuming navy personnel are drawn uniformly from each republican system, most people who have lost a loved one, but do not live on post, will not know anyone else who has. No single planet will have print runs exceeding several thousand. If they are not evenly distributed, you accept a notification delay and distribute the notice printing.
The size of the RoH is such that if they absolutely had to do remount Beatrice, they could do the second one in six or eight weeks, a third one in less than a year, and subsequent repeats every three years. The costs would be terrible, but it might work.
The Solarian League is in another class, entirely. The SLN would take over a year to organize the first attempt on siezing Manticore, but could do it every week until it worked, and never notice the casualties.