Security assumptions after twelve centuries of peace

Ships caught unprepared during the Nietzschean rebellion reveal a force shaped by long peace as well as a tactical failure. A strong peace movement had even argued that the High Guard had become unnecessary, reinforcing the belief that major threats belonged to the past. Mixed crews, capable AIs, and personal friendships should have generated warning or resistance, yet too many ships remain vulnerable to sabotage and surprise. Trust is necessary inside a military organization, but it must be paired with verification and people trained to anticipate hostile action. A security culture that treats suspicion as unnecessary can lose excellent ships before their combat power is brought to bear.