Ships moving at high fractions of light speed can still face light-speed limits on sensors and communications. When formations span great distances, commanders must plan ahead because their information and orders take time to travel. Large fleet actions therefore depend on how quickly participants can learn what is happening. Glynn Stewart says he generally avoids the scale at which this dominates, because keeping participants informed becomes difficult when a battle involves a thousand ships.
Notable Point · 3:40:31-3:41:39
Fleet command with light-speed communication delays
Large space formations require advance planning when ships move at high fractions of light speed but their sensors and communications remain limited by light.