Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:03:45-4:07:18

Could a BattleTech drone fleet deter the Succession Wars?

A villain-choice question turns into a dispute over whether 120 automated capital ships could change BattleTech's political conflicts.

Autonomous WarshipsBattleTechFiction Battletech Star LeagueMilitary CommandNaval Deterrence
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Which science-fiction villain would each panel member choose to be, and why?

Short answer

Megamind offers a happy ending, while control of a BattleTech drone fleet offers military power whose political usefulness the participants dispute.

Notes

One choice is Megamind because his story ends well. A more military proposal takes control of the battleship commanding Amaris's drone fleet during the fall of the Star League. Its 120 automated capital ships would leave rather than fight Kerensky, preserving a force intended to discourage later fleet losses. That deterrent argument is challenged on the grounds that the Succession Wars would still induce factions to fight. Further disagreement concerns whether ComStar would accept the force and how the Clans' warships would respond.