yeah, it makes sense the ROTS would want DF's head on a platter, but the Wolves are deserving of attention as well.

Choices, choices, so many choices... Gotta catch 'em all!

Where was that hinted at? I must have missed it.

The Q and A thread with Draddog (Goddard).

Steel Wolves and Liao seem to be the Republic's biggest problem these days. The only planet DF's taken in a year is Irian. I don't think they'll be too high on the list of butts to kick.

IIRC Draddog said in his Q&A that he recently got more control over what is posted on the INN. If that's true, expect to see more accurate and consistent updates in the near future.

As far as the scenario for the Exarch's successor goes, I vote for Victor too. He's an "all around" leader, versed in both the military and political ways...

Yes but Victor is so old...so so old.

But imagine this...what if Victor did become Exarch...and then Daoshen had him assassinated...oh yeah...think about that!

It would be cool if Victor became Exarch then died of natrual causes, tossing the ROTS into further turmoil. lol

lol!

thats mean. But Victor becoming the Exarch isnt out of the realm of possibility. i mean he has fought what, 4 or 5 war campaigns! now THAT is experience.

And your loyal friends here at the Combine will help you do that. Just let us keep Iran, and our might will help you fight back those unloyal to the Republic.

::chills run down his spine:: Wow... I just thought of something.


You guys remember the Hand of Sterling about Focht? Ok, keep that in mind.

The Republic is in turmoil. It needs a great military leader to rally behind, who should be chosen? Devlin Stone, of course, he beat the WoBbies, surely he can thrash Liao. he had to have known when redburn would be forced to resign when he left, so keeping that date in mind he couldplan his return... to co-incide with the crash of the HPG. This whole ordeal would give Stone, who would have to be then an agent of ComStar/WoB to invade andd conquer the Capellan Confederation thusly nearly doubling the size of his realm. The over arhing goal? As long as none of the other states can reveal he is tied in with Comstar/WoB he is fine and dandy and can go about planning (or rather carrying out) the conquest of another Inner Sphere State, logically Marik due to their small size and inorganization.


EDIT: Of course, if I, or anyone has thought of this, it is probably not the direction events will take, but theorizing is fun. =)

When I said coincide with the HPG grid crash I did not mean at exactly the time... had to give time to let the pot boil over so to speak. Or it could be the same idea, but instead of malicious intent it could eally have been a test of his 'great experiment.'

nahhhhh, first thing I did after conquering the CapCon would be force their military to attack the Jade Falcons by ransoming Daoshen.........

mwuahhahaha

Then again...Redburn could always refuse to give up the post of Exarch while in a time of crisis.

Think of the ramifications of that.

Does the Exarch have any "Emergency Powers" (like those of the old Captain-General's post in the former Free Worlds League) that would allow him to maintain his post beyond its normal term limitations in the event of a crisis situation (like now)?

Response Requested

Here's a little something more to throw into the mix. If the time of the election comes around and there are still only 16 Paladins, the possibilty exists for an 8/8 tie (there is no combination of 17 votes that can create a tie unless everyone voted for themselves).

If I wanted to throw the Republic leadership into chaos, I'd manipulate it so that the Paladins were deadlocked and you'd wind up with two potential exarchs fighting to be head cheese with a lame-duck exarch in office until the situation is resolved.

I'm torn on who I'd want to have the job as Exarch though. I'd say Jonah Levin would be an excellent candidate, but I suspect he's more useful to the war effort and morale of the troops as a Paladin than he would as Exarch. Victor might be good too, except for the age thing.

What the Republic really needs isn't a new Exarch, but a good leader in charge of its military and only its military. An Exarch is too side-tracked by civilian and public relations affairs to lead the armies of the Republic effectively him or herself.

Ideally the Republic needs an Exarch smart enough to delegate military matters to those who know those things best. He or she just sets the goals and leaves the rest to the military to determine the best way to reach those goals.

That said, I think we'll wind up with a career diplomat as Exarch who will wind up costing the Republic dearly with attempts at apeasement. Either that or we'll get a really good exarch who will be quickly assassinated, throwing the Republic into even greater turmoil.