SOCL

A very good point! Now that would make a VERY interesting book! Though I doubt they would do it. Sadly...but, of course.

Again. That's why I'm the Grand Imperator of BEAK.

I'm not amused. He has addressed that question before and said that the reason he didn't was because most battles of the SW series seemed to fantastic and not real enough due to a lack of military knowledge on the side of the author. I'm not saying Zahn knows a lot about the military, because he even said himself he doesn't, but what I'm saying is that Zahn stayed away from that so he couldn't be accused of writing an unrealistic battle. You see, the novels are written on a broader view than most the others, were a battle was just part of an over-all plan, not the plan itself, thus the battle need not be detailed, for it is not as significant as it seems. Many authors do this to give you feel of the over-all view and not let you get cuaght up and in what is truly insignificant. Sadly, it's like the old saying goes: "All that matters are results." Ah, yes, the Battle of Sluis Van, an interesting battle I have run over and over again and have had Colonel Peterson, an active-duty U.S. Army officer, analyze. Lets discuss it, then. Okay, what's your point? I can have a thousand men and have them spread out, giving me but companies in different sectors, but when I finally amass them all together, I can say they are an army worthy of the glory days of, say, the Roman Empire. What's your point? He amassed a task force worthy of the glory days of the Galactic Empire...that means nothing in reference to resources. Okay, where did you get your degree in military tactics? Not to say that I have one, but what you just said means, truly, nothing. Small scale, hit and fade attacks can be planned for years and cannot be delayed, but that does not mean they have to be large-scale or quick. Now, the taking of the ships does show that it wasn't meant as a complete hit and fade, but did you happen to notice that it was characteristic of one since the destroyers did not engage in the true combat? Also, realize that when I said Thrawn had taken on a hit and fade tactic, I meant it as an over-all tactic, that's not to say he won't engage in long, drawn-out battles. I'm not going all pro-Zahn, but I will defend what I view, and when it comes to military tactics, I will defend my postion (that wasn't meant as a pun) on the topic. I never claimed you didn't.

Okay, so here you have it, who, in your opinion, was the greatest military mind of all time? I have listed a few dating from ancient times up until modern times. I have missed some, so the last selection will be other, and then I ask that you please specify who in a post. If you want, you can give some reasons of why and maybe even some links. I say Hannibal Barca of Carthage who served during the First and Second Punic War against Rome. The man nearly single-handedly defeated Rome, but committed one mistake that snow-balled to bring about doom. I have written a research paper I entitled "Hannibal's Folly" over it, and if you wish a copy, I would be more than willing to send you one. Here's a great website that'll tell you just about everything you need to know about Hannibal and the Punic Wars: HANNIBAL BARCA. By the way, this happens to be one of the people Thrawn is based off of.

That sounds like more of an assumption, Trej. You see, the way it seemed was that the Chimaera was just an other normal ISD at Endor, but due to the lack of commanding personnel toward the end, Pellaeon turned out to be the highest ranking person left in what remained of the fleet (or at least the one people would listen to). I never did understand that this particular star destroyer was important, much less prestigious until after the Thrawn era. The Chimaera was an ISD Mark I, but it was overhauled to meet the standards of an ISD Mark II, but then (sometime before Specter of the Past) it was modified further. A retired grand admiral? The only one is Grant. I could have sworn the Reaper was under the command of Grand Moff Ardus Kaine, the leader of the Pentastar Alignment.

Actually, you guys do know that some of the upcoming novels will include a story taking place between TPM and AOTC covering the events of the Outbound Flight and Thrawn's origin, as well as a Zahn's return to STAR WARS. Check out TheForce.Net's Books Section for more info on upcoming SW literature. The Grand Imperator of BEAK says: "You spelled 'what' wrong, it's not spelled 'whay'."

Actually, it's a tactic that was used by some of the military geniuses (Alexander the Great, Hannibal Barca, and Napoleon, to name a few). They all studied art and through art understood the enemy's psychology. It wasn't something just made up to look cool. Um...actually, Mr. Zahn, like many other SW fans, can practically recite the movies and knows how they work and how the characters act. Now, recall that Thrawn's tactic was not like the Emperor. The Emperor would have his fleet face-off with the enemy fleet and fight until who ever is left standing wins (this is called "Last Man Standing" tactics), whereas Thrawn took a different approach. You see, he knew he didn't have the same resources and such that the Emperor had at his disposal, so he waged a hit-and-fade war (kind of like guerrilla warfare). So, naturally, the battles weren't going to last as long. Ace, I think you should take a little more time to analyze the motives and such of novels and characters before jumping to so many conclusions and, subsequentally, posting them...it doesn't look good.

Oh, no, no, no. You see, my father is the one in the Army (yes, I am quite young). He stationed here at Fort Campbell in the state of Kentucky as part of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)...well, actually, he's currently with an airborne unit in S. Korea, but this is his at-home unit. No, I'm not in the military for I am too young. Actually, I had once planned to join the Army and be part of special operations with the Army's Delta Force, but have since decided to join the Navy instead (odd switch, ehh?).What unit were you with, dude?

Indeed she is lovely gal.

Ah, yes. Soon it shall not suck to be us!

A paratrooper? Interesting. You were once part of a unit that was once airborne, I live on an airborne base, and dude21 was once an airborne paratrooper (right?)...what's with airborne troops and SW?

Good, good, good! I'm quite sure you'll enjoy them!

Actually, you may be interested. It occured back when I had just joined/arrived, Trej had yet to become a Vong (or at least in avatar), and Scath had the avatar of a female Jedi Knight (which caused people to think he was a she). It's in the "Beeing Promoted in the Forums" thread in "General Discussion" back in the teen pages.

He has a point.

Trej and dude21, doesn't it suck to be us? Luckily, I shall soon be getting DSL! WOOHOO!!!

That would probably fall under armored cavlary. No, but seriously, what, dude21?

Of course. Only 400 more posts to go!

Me and Jahled always are!

Actually, I messed up. Mobile Suit Zeta GUNDAM won't be coming to the U.S. until 2004, same for F91. The coolest thing, though, is that F91 will be in theaters!!! YIPEE!!! Go here for the full report/article (no worries, it's not long).

I believe he means to say the game is still underway.

In think what Trej is referring to leads back to "something" Jahled "found" in Scath's harddrive, along with some others things (though I may be wrong).

Thanks for the reassurance, Antilliles.

In case all of you don't know, me and Scath (mostly Scath, really) have completed the new ranking system and insignia for the forums. We hope to release them soon, and when they do, be sure to thank Scath, he was the real one behind all this!

This is the first website forum I have ever joined where they only have one moderator (and none when I joined). I think Trej could be a great asset to the site as another forum moderator. Maybe put him in the RPG area....

Sadly, yes. The problem is that in democracy, the people lose the true idea of true representation and begin voting the aristocracy instead of those who really know what's it's like to be a true, average citizen. People are in a way "brain-washed" into believing that they have to vote for a certain type of person, which is exactly what democracy was founded to combat (sort of). It's gets the point where the people are no longer electing from amongst the people, but instead from amongst the upper/ruling class.It's all psychological and rooted in human nature. Nonsense! We are discussing "What is evil" within governments and such!