Defending earth against the Posleen (RAR!)

[Zor]

They had a similar thread to the effect of which on Spacebattles and Shep had his ideas in regards to this.

In this scenario, the Galactic Federation comes in about today and tells the world about the Posleen, which are going to invade earth (with the exact same forces they had in the book) to try to take over earth in the same period of time that the Humans in the LotA when they were given the bad news while all knowlege from the series of books is lost to everyone but you. The world's powers have whatever they have now as a starting point. You will get as much help and hinderence from the Galactics as they gave in the books.

In this scenario, you are given the ability to influence the world to do certain things, to make people do certain decisions that they otherwise did not do in the books or prevent them from doing stupid decisions they did in the book to better defend the homeworld from those reptile-like yellow blooded centauriod bastards.

What do you do?

Zor

[Ford Prefect]

Shep had his ideas in regards to this.

Shep has psoted his ciriticisms and strategy for fighting the Posleen a couple of times. It's basically as close to ideal as you can get.

[Samuel]

Mostly military those. So if we have the power, Shep gets unlimited power to do whatever is necesary to defend humanity. Additionally,

-Have nations coordinate their defenses- no seperate Spain/France/Italy armies.
-No SubUrbs. We cannot assume the Posleen are mentally retarded.
-Place nuclear mines on the drop points. We know exactly where they are landing
-Have Weber executed- no space fighters dammit!
-Find out effects of jumping into solid objects- move debris into Posleen warp in point.
-Station fleet away from planet- fire at Posleen from long range. They probably don't dodge.
-Get asteroids to orbit planet. Drop on Posleen troop concentrations. Completely unguided
-Go to total war footing- no hippy camps, idle prisoners or any other waste that can be avoided.

[DrStrangelove]

1)Build lots of tactical nuclear shells.
2) Actually use them

[MKSheppard]

Mostly military those. So if we have the power, Shep gets unlimited power to do whatever is necesary to defend humanity.

Yay!

Have Weber executed- no space fighters dammit!

I'd like to point out that space fighters DO make sense.....within a limited operational area; like within the orbital space of planetary bodies, and some extension past the orbital space; depending on how much propulsion magitech you have.

For example; a orbital fighter can be used (if it's properly designed) for ground support; in which they dive into the upper atmosphere, fire their missiles onto ground targets like enemy troop concentration points, and then skip back into orbit without going all the way down the gravity well.

Basically, you can use them as intelligent, adaptable reusable booster stages for your weapons.

However, as the distance they have to traverse goes up; their utility goes down; meaning a long range space fighter-bomber capable of flying several AU becomes pointless, you'd be better off at that point building a proper space corvette which would be more efficient.

It's just like powered armor for infantry -- they have their uses; but are immensely wanked out by Sci Fi Authors -- look! we don't need artillery, armored support, or air support because our power armor troopers pass a OMGHARD training program and are ZOMGAWESME.

Have nations coordinate their defenses- no seperate Spain/France/Italy armies.

This already exists. It's called NATO. Most likely NATO would form several new Army Groups, like SPAINAG, UKAG, etc to complement CENTAG and NORTHAG.

[Thanas]

Shep, could you link to some of your earlier criticisms?

[Samuel]

I'd like to point out that space fighters DO make sense.....within a limited operational area; like within the orbital space of planetary bodies, and some extension past the orbital space; depending on how much propulsion magitech you have.

Yeah, but we have a situation where we want to maximize internal volume for power plants because we have shields that stop enemy fire.

For example; a orbital fighter can be used (if it's properly designed) for ground support; in which they dive into the upper atmosphere, fire their missiles onto ground targets like enemy troop concentration points, and then skip back into orbit without going all the way down the gravity well.

That isn't a space fighter- that is a bomber. Unless you want to stop your enemies from doing that as well...

Shep, could you link to some of your earlier criticisms?

http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic. ... o#p3086486
http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic. ... o#p2108280
http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic. ... go#p767935

[Jonen C]

For example; a orbital fighter can be used (if it's properly designed) for ground support; in which they dive into the upper atmosphere, fire their missiles onto ground targets like enemy troop concentration points, and then skip back into orbit without going all the way down the gravity well.

That isn't a space fighter- that is a bomber. Unless you want to stop your enemies from doing that as well...

The idea I myself find most acceptable has a simple role for space (or rather Aerospace) fighters. Interface - surface to orbit/orbit to surface.
Shuttles and the like - landers, dropships, lift vehicles... And the combat vehicles for killing them/supporting them.

So there'd be two types of Aerospace fighters:
1. Interceptors that start out on planet and go up to shoot down enemies that come from orbit. They can achieve and fight in orbit, but real, dedicated space warships do a better job of it. In orbit they are mostly delivery vehicles for ASAT weapons, escorts for orbital insertion missions and the like.
2. Attack craft that start out in orbit and do ground attack missions. Or rather, support missions - they escort dropships and the like, kill interceptors going up to challenge them, provide initial suppression of air defense (assuming orbital superiority isn't enough to silence the ground batteries, or if you don't want to rely on orbital bombardment to take out AAA that can't threaten things in orbit)...

Of course, as you'd have dedicated conventional aircraft and dedicated conventional spacecraft doing most of the jobs in their respective environments - the ASF has one task and that is to provide combat capability in between those two environments - your attack craft would ideally be able to function as interceptors, or your interceptors would be able carry out the missions of an attack craft. Which kind of craft you build would depend on your doctrinal preferences.
You'd also build at least a couple of types of dropships and shuttles, and some of these would be armed for ground support.

Against the Posleen... Start building Interceptors, but don't build to many of them and don't waste them.