The strategic importance of Quar and Mizan-fel

[Jack2288]

I am not that clued up on the OTU or the 5th frontier war (I am assuming it will happen soon in MGT) but why is there no reference to these systems in any of the literature I have read?

From my understanding the Zohdani held Quar at the end of the 4th war and have never taken Mizan-fei in any of the 4 wars. They gave up Quar at the end of the 4th, and allowed an Imperial Navy base to occupy the system.

To me this raises questions as to the security of the Querion sub sector as far as the Zohdani are concerned.

I am basing this on the following:

The location of gas giants, the Zohdani only having jump 4, and the ease of the 3rd Imperium of cutting off Querion by laying siege to the systems Ninjar and Sheyou.

Not only that, if they lay siege to the above they have access to Mizan-fel at only jump 3.

Have I got this wrong, is there something I am missing (apart from lots of gaming opportunity's javascript:emoticon(':twisted:')) or will this be explained in the coming war?

Again i am not that clued up.

What do you think?

 

[rinku]

Couple of points. Zhodani Navy has access to Jump-4, even with local production (TL13). My understanding is that TL14 is considered to be their military cap, which allows Jump-5. In any case, it is normal warship design to allow tankage for two jumps and navies operate tanker ships that are basically all fuel; even a J-3 ship could stage from Atsa to Sheyou with either double tankage or fleet tanker support.

Secondly, Ninjar is a trap waiting to happen. No gas giant, 10% ice caps. An invading fleet has no refuelling option - they have to take it, carry enough fuel for a retreat jump, or die trying. Given it's an A starport and Zho naval base and has the strategic position you note, you can expect major fleet assignments there. Sheyou is actually a more attractive target to my mind.

Thirdly, what have you cut off? The Zho holdings in Querion are not particularly noteworthy. The Imperial sector it "threatens" (Vilis) is itself a backwater of little importance apart from as a buffer. All the real action happens in Chronor and Jewell.

 

[Captain Jonah]

What he said

The only real reason that I can see for the Zhodani to be concerned about this whole area is access to the sword worlds.

When the 6th frontier war breaks out (for those not going rebelion/TNE etc.) this whole area will either be snipped off to prevent outflanking by the Zho of the fleets that are crushing the Sword Worlders into a thin goo or it will be ignored.

Imperial strategy has evolved to the Norris school where by the big fleets are based away from the frontier and the critical worlds near the fighting are self supporting fortress systems.

Not a lot worth turning into a fortress in this region of space and not much that is so important to the Zhodani that it would justify the fleet strength to take it.

I suspect that apart from local schirnishes this will be one quiet backwater come the next war.

As Rinku says, the big stuff will be happening in Chronor/Jewell and across with the soon to be renamed as under new ownership no longer the sword worlds now the smashed flat and conquered worlds.

 

[rinku]

Another point (data taken straight out of MGT Spinward Marches) is that the Imperial base on Quar is held by treaty. In peacetime it hosts only a small flotilla of patrol ships. The Zho are better placed to overwhelm Quar than the Imperials are to attack from it (though a sneak attack is CERTAINLY possible).

Access to the Sword Worlds? Pfff.

The Sword Worlders are IMHO a sometimes useful political stooge that the Zhodani tolerate in order to allow access to their true point of interest in the Marches - Andor and Candory.

 

[Captain Jonah]

Access to the Sword Worlds? Pfff.

Shush, if the sword worlders hear you talking like that they may not join in the next war and where else will the Zhodani find such a fine bunch of idio... erm allies to worry the Imperial flank and tie up those fleets.

 

[rust]

Shush, if the sword worlders hear you talking like that they may not join in the next war and where else will the Zhodani find such a fine bunch of idio... erm allies to worry the Imperial flank and tie up those fleets.

I do not think so. With such a history of declaring war on the Third Impe-
rium again and again, and being hammered into the ground by Imperial
fleets for this again and again, the Sword Worlders have demonstrated an
extremely flat learning curve.