RE: Communication and Travel

> You wrote: 
> 
> >A general slowness in interstellar travel might also justify the use 
>by >larger powers of mobile "amphibious" forces, perhaps with most of 
>
>>This could give rise to assorted FT scenarios such as recce to find a
>>lurking phibron, recce in support of the phibron, skirmishes to stop
>>couriers or drop raids etc.
>
>Minor peeve--note that it's only possible to actually conquer a small, 
>small colony from space.  Once you get a couple million colonists with 
>a homegrown industry, it becomes impossible to physically land enough 
>troops to do more than raid.  Example:  Israel, with 6 million 
>inhabitants, can field 13 armored divisions, and one parachute division

>(or is it 12 and 1?  I don't recall).	Taking down a force that big 
>would require either massive and indiscriminate use of orbital support 
>(trashing what you're supposed to be trying to conquer!) or one even 
>larger--which would be prohibitive to transport.
>
>John M. Atkinson

Israel is not a colony so I can't see the comparison.  When I think of
colony I think of early settlers/homesetters much like colonial america
ie - not a lot in terms of weapons, small arms for sure, but nothing
comparable to a 'Space Marine' force.

When you get to the size of 6 million inhabitants I would consider the
planet habitated.