The Maurai ships, instruments and weapons are far superior to those of the Northwest Union:
"The battle was done in less than two hours. Afterward the wind died away, as if awed into silence, and the rain fell softly, as if weeping for men dead and treasures lost, hope lost." (3, p. 37)
Well... Quite often, Poul Anderson writes (something like) "wind died, rain fell." From such an account, I would infer that the dying of the wind matches the cessation of hostilities while rain falling suggests nature mourning. Here, however, we are explicitly told that the wind dies as if in response to the end of the battle and that the rain falls as if weeping. Always watch what wind does in works by Anderson.
Before declaring war, the Maurai:
"...had made ready for a conflict that the realists among them knew was ineluctable." (1, p. 29)
There is a self-fulfilling prophecy: this war is inevitable so let's wage it.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Well, "ineluctable" because the Maurai were determined to MAKE the war inevitable.
The smart thing for the Northwest Union to have done after the Whale War would have been to tacitly concede most of the Maurai demands, to avoid another war with the Federation. Because the Maurai were going to be much more carefully prepared and ready for the next conflict. Better to make concessions on favorable terms and focus on building up the Union's strength.
Ad astra! Sean
The old Roman saying: "If you want peace, prepare for war" is always true. You're more likely to get peace that way, and if you don't... you're ready.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
That's straight from Flavius Vegetius Renatus' DE RE MILITARI, a classic military work. And I agree with him and you!
Ad astra! Sean
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