On 03/26/2013 11:19 AM, Onno Meyer wrote:
I'm assuming that one side holds the planet and the other side
wants it, reasonably intact. The assumption is that advanced
civilizations are unified.
The invader would need something like space superiority to drop
enough troops, while the defender has time to prepare defensive
positions. All other things being equal, the defender has more
ground forces, because he doesn't have to pay for transports,
while the invader can pick the battle area.
But how justified is that assumption? Could there be a world
where TL13 armies face each other across a fortified border?
How about this scenario:
Two TL13 civilizations want the same planet. The first one invades a
peaceful planet (so it has minimal military forces) and drops ground
troops while holding space superiority. They establish a beachhead and
begin holding territory. Then the defender gets its space fleet in order
and counter attacks. Heavy losses on both sides but the defender comes
out on top and begins dropping their ground troops to reinforce the
local militia.
This would get you two TL13 armies on the ground with fairly equal heavy
equipment. The defender might have nearly unlimited manpower and light
weapons for green untrained militia infantry. The attacker has surprise,
hardened veterans, battlesuits and tanks. The defender will have these
too after they get forces to the planet, but in limited numbers.
The space combat cycle can repeat as often as necessary. And one side or
the other gets supplies and reinforcements to their ground forces during
the repeated space fleet engagements.
It could also be a sort of Dune scenario where two Houses or
Corporations are fighting over a planet for the spice or whatever, but
there is an over-arching Empire which enforces rules of war and limits
what weapons can be used.
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