Colonel Wong's orders strongly discourage interference in local planetary affairs. The ambassador judges that the evidence points to an external attack, which falls within the mission's objectives, and formally requests military assistance. Wong then asks whether the enemy has also prepared an attack from space. The former imperial rulers took their ships when they departed, leaving only orbital platforms and a small fighter force. Hostile orbital support would therefore endanger the entire defence. Wong sends his ground troops down by shuttle and prepares to return to his own ship to address the threat in space.
Notable Point · 1:54:45-1:56:11
When a peacekeeping mission can intervene
Diplomatic authorization permits intervention, but protecting the government also requires attention to a possible enemy attack from orbit.