do very well.
What we have not done, and what we must do, is to acquire the capability to discharge the rest of our mission and our obligation. We must recognize that we cannot, as a single star nation of extraordinary wealth, afford to ignore the temptation we must present to less prosperous but militarily powerful star nations. As the ancient pre-space philosopher Machiavelli pointed out, gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can always get you gold. The Star Kingdom, and the Junction, are that gold, and it will require good soldiers—or, in our case, a qualitatively superior navy—to protect it. We cannot continue to embrace a vague, poorly articulated strategic and tactical doctrine based on an uncritical acceptance of the Solarian model as the best and highest available to us. We must accept instead that we will not be able to match the numbers of platforms an adversary may bring against us, and we must capitalize upon the most precious tactical resource we have: the tradition of independent judgment and responsibility taking we have inculcated into our officer corps ever since the days of Edward Saganami and Ellen D’Orville. We must value that initiative properly, cultivate it, and integrate it into our operational and tactical doctrine at every level. And we must provide that initiative with the tools it requires—the innovative approach to weaponry and war-fighting technologies—to make it fully effective.
Initiative thrives upon exploitable asymmetrical relationships, upon the ability to oppose qualitative superiority to quantitative predominance. It is not sufficient for us to accept that the gradual, stable evolution of war-fighting technologies which has typified naval doctrine and capabilities for the past several centuries is inevitable. It is time that we began significantly investing in an aggressive search for new capabilities, innovative applications, to provide an officer corps trained to think for itself with levers it can use to offset its almost inevitable numerical inferiority when confronted by a powerful aggressor. Our wall of battle’s ship strength must be increased, but it will never be possible for the Star Kingdom to produce, man, and maintain naval forces on the scale of a star nation such as the Solarian League or even the People’s Republic of Haven. Since we cannot have the most numerous navy in space, we must instead strive to have the most efficient one.
Commander Janofsky’s call to bolster our forward deployed presence in Silesia is clear, logical, and concise. Despite that, however, one cannot avoid the conclusion that from the perspective of our primary mission, it is time and past time for the Navy to look to its wall of battle and the acquisition of the true war-fighting capability absolutely essential for any single-star system nation to adequately defend itself against a much larger multi-star system nation.
(ED: Lieutenant Winton is currently assigned to HMS Wolverine, serving as her executive officer.)
—From “On the Event Horizon:
Letters from the Deck Plates,”
Proceedings of the Royal Manticoran Navy Institute,
Issue number 3675, 12/10/249 AL
CAPTAIN E. JANACEK—Lieutenant Winton’s comments on Commander Janofsky’s article (see “On the Event Horizon,” Proceedings, No. 3675) are as perspicacious and insightful as one might readily anticipate from a member of his family and an officer whose career to date has demonstrated not only intelligence and ability but diligence and dedication. Nonetheless, there are certain pragmatic realities to which he has attached insufficient weight.
While it is true that the Navy’s current mission formulation rightly emphasizes the security of the home system, it is also true that the actual work of the Navy requires a concentration upon the mission in hand, and the mission in hand is, in fact, commerce protection, as Commander Janofsky so ably pointed out. At this time, there is no realistic threat to the security of the Manticore Binary System itself or to the Manticoran Wormhole Junction. The completion of the Royal Winton class will provide the Navy with a powerful, flexible deterrent force capable of holding its own against any projected threat. Lieutenant Winton is quite correct to underscore the invaluable advantage of our officer corps’ flexibility, initiative, and independence of thought. That advantage, coupled with the enormous increase in combat power represented by the Royal Wintons and HMS Samothrace and backed up by our older but still perfectly serviceable dreadnoughts, is fully adequate to the mission of protecting our home space and our fellow subjects from any realistic threat. And while Lieutenant Winton is also correct to emphasize that initiative and operational innovation are most effective when provided with the tools
House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 1 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 2 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 3 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 4 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 5 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 6 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 7 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 8 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 9 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 10 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 11 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 12 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 13 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 14 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 15 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 16 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 17 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 18 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 19 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 20 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 21 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 22 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 23 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 24 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 25 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 26 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 27 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 28 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 29 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 30 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 31 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 32 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 33 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 34 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 35 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 36 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 37 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 38 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 39 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 40 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 41 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 42 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 43 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 44 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 45 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 46 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 47 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 48 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 49 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 50 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 51 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 52 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 53 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 54 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 55 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 56 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 57 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 58 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 59 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 60 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 61 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 62 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 63 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 64 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 65 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 66 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 67 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 68 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 69 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 70 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 71 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 72 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 73 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 74 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 75 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 76 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 77 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 78 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 79 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 80 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 81 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 82 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 83 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 84 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 85 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 86 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 87 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 88 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 89 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 90 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 91 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 92 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 93 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 94 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 95 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 96 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 97 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 98 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 99 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 100 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 101 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 102 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 103 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 104 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 105 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 106 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 107 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 108 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 109 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 110 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 111 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 112 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 113 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 114 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 115 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 116 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 117 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 118 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 119 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 120 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 121 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 122 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 123 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 124 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 125 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 126 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 127 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 128 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 129 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 130 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 131 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 132 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 133 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 134 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 135 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 136 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 137 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 138 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 139 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 140 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 141 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 142 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 143 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 144 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 145 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 146 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 147 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 148 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 149 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 150 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 151 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 152 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 153 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 154 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 155 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 156 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 157 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 158 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 159 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 160 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 161 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 162 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 163 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 164 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 165 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 166 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 167 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 168 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 169 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 170 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 171 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 172 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 173 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 174 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 175 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 176 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 177 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 178 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 179 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 180 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 181 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 182 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 183 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 184 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 185 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 186 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 187 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 188 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 189 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 190 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 191 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 192 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 193 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 194 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 195 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 196 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 197 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 198 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 199 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 200 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 201 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 202 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 203 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 204 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 205 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 206 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 207 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 208 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 209 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 210 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 211 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 212 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 213 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 214 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 215 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 216 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 217 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 218 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 219 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 220 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 221 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 222 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 223 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 224 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 225 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 226 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 227 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 228 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 229 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 230 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 231 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 232 House of Steel The Honorverse Companion - By David Weber - Page 233