Size of Imperial warships and psychological warfare

[Darth Wong]

True enough, but I'd think the size issue would be secondary compared to the capability of the vessel to virtually come from no where and demand surrender.

As Yoda once said, size matters not.

Within reason. If a very small ship did that, they'd probably chalk it up to a cloaking device and figure that it got by their various gravitic sensor nets and tachyon detection grids by virtue of being small. But if a behemoth does that, they won't have that explanation to comfort them. It will mean that this enemy can bring virtually unlimited force to bear anywhere they choose, at any time. That will make you shit your pants much faster than a little scout ship which evades detection and mysteriously shows up in orbit.

[Robert Walper]

True enough, but I'd think the size issue would be secondary compared to the capability of the vessel to virtually come from no where and demand surrender.

As Yoda once said, size matters not.

Within reason. If a very small ship did that, they'd probably chalk it up to a cloaking device and figure that it got by their various gravitic sensor nets and tachyon detection grids by virtue of being small. But if a behemoth does that, they won't have that explanation to comfort them. It will mean that this enemy can bring virtually unlimited force to bear anywhere they choose, at any time. That will make you shit your pants much faster than a little scout ship which evades detection and mysteriously shows up in orbit.

But like I was saying before, it's the displayed capability of the vessel that would give pause, rather than just the sheer size of it, which was the suggestion of the OP. And as to the force the ship can bring, that would be determined either by scans or demostration rather than the simple thinking "it's big, therefore it 'must' be powerful".

[Darth Wong]

But like I was saying before, it's the displayed capability of the vessel that would give pause, rather than just the sheer size of it, which was the suggestion of the OP. And as to the force the ship can bring, that would be determined either by scans or demostration rather than the simple thinking "it's big, therefore it 'must' be powerful".

No, you're missing the point. In this case, the act of appearing in orbit is a more impressive feat for a larger ship. If you went in the SkyDome and saw it empty, then walked out for five minutes and came back in to find a car sitting in the middle of the baseball field, you wouldn't be that impressed. If you went in the SkyDome and saw it empty, then walked out for five minutes and came back in to find a 10 storey apartment building sitting in the middle of the baseball field, you would be much, much more impressed. It's harder to sneak something past you when it's really big.

[Robert Walper]

But like I was saying before, it's the displayed capability of the vessel that would give pause, rather than just the sheer size of it, which was the suggestion of the OP. And as to the force the ship can bring, that would be determined either by scans or demostration rather than the simple thinking "it's big, therefore it 'must' be powerful".

No, you're missing the point. In this case, the act of appearing in orbit is a more impressive feat for a larger ship. If you went in the SkyDome and saw it empty, then walked out for five minutes and came back in to find a car sitting in the middle of the baseball field, you wouldn't be that impressed. If you went in the SkyDome and saw it empty, then walked out for five minutes and came back in to find a 10 storey apartment building sitting in the middle of the baseball field, you would be much, much more impressed. It's harder to sneak something past you when it's really big.

Ah, I see your point. *nods* In reference to that specific analogy, I would submit that the size of the apartment building alone wouldn't be impressive, it's the combined size and suprising ability demostrated that would have me kinda hanging my jaw. After all, I've seen much larger buildings and mobile artificial structures before, like ships. Likewise, the Federation has seen much larger spacecraft and structures than Imperial constructed ones, like Borg cubes, the Probe from ST4, Dyson Sphere, etc.

Essentially, I was merely disputing the OP's suggestion that the size of Imperial craft alone would inspire fear or surrender on part of the Federation, when previous encounters with larger enemy craft/objects has done no such thing. Naturally, encountering a Imperial object, whether craft or station, will inevitably have the Federation impressed in both scope and power. However, I just don't see Federation captains or personnel slack jawed is either awe or terror at the size of Imperial craft without first a demostratiom or inclining of their capabilities.

[Spice Runner]

I think many many captains in starfleet may give up hope and capitulate. But there are those like Kirk and Picard who will not give up so easily. They may keep on fighting knowing they are outgunned and outmatched in every way. They may even inspire others to follow them and resist. The diehards will fight to the death while the rest stop resisting when they realize how hopeless the situation is.

[Myrmidon]

The Federation aliens might decide to fight to the end, but Earth and the rest of the humans in the Milky Way Galaxy would have to think long and hard before opposing another human military power, especially an unstoppable colossus like the Galactic Empire.

The Federation exists as a security alliance. If the power of the Empire can make the human worlds more secure, then why not dump the Federation and get rid of the pain in the butt aliens? The hot green and blue Startrek chicks aside, would you really want aliens around?

The Federation has not really been all that successful in protecting the Earth and various human colonies. The whale probe, the Borg, the Dominion- all went right after Earth and were only stopped by tremendous human effort with inadequate equipment. Why was Earth never properly fortified? Why were Starfleet ships never upgunned and really built to fight? Would it be because the 'friendly' aliens in the Federation government didn't let them?

Human policymakers might just welcome the Empire as a potential savior. No Borg is going to waste effort contesting the unbeatable might of a Galactic Empire. Consider that when the Dominion was winning, most nonhuman Federation races were about as useful as mammary glands on a boarhog. The humans had to rely on their old Klingon and Romulan enemies to help them fight. Their friends were largely useless baggage.

With the Empire in charge, the sector capital, Earth, would have been fortified to a ridiculous degree the first time it was threatened and the threat obliterated in a way calculated to chill the blood of any other opponent plotting mayhem.