Hindsight is better than foresight - so much so that it's a cliche. Now that we've had seven years of perspective on the '39 War between Hanse Davion and Theodore Kurita, Battle Technology is printing some warrior's predictions from our contest back in 3035, just after the Ronin Wars. We asked what would happen to the InnerSphere if Davion and Kurita fought another war. Here are some of those predictions, with an editoria note as to the actual outcomes. ... First of all, Davion and Steiner would surely collaborate [on] a combined attack upon Kurita thus creating two fronts upon which Kurita must defend. The Kurita/Steiner conflict would be limited because of the Free Rasalhague Republic. Rasalhague at the present would have to remain neutral otherwise it would be squashed between the two giants. Let us not forget the other players: Marik and Liao. Liao would surely attack Davion because most of the Davion forces would be concentrated along the Kurita/Davion border thus leaving the Davion rear virtually open to Liao attack. The same holds true for Marik and Steiner. But let us not forget how cunning Prince Davion really is. Perhaps the Prince has made arrangements with other third parties. He may have made plans for the Duchy of Andurien to attack along with the Magistracy of Canopus and the Taurian Concordat against Liao and Marik thus keeping the two houses so busy they wouldn't be able to attack the Davion and Steiner rears. In conclusion I must say that if Davion has made the proper alliances he would surely win the war against Kurita. There is just no way that Kurita alone could stop both Davion and Steiner. But if he hasn't made those alliances he has probably made one of the greatest military blunders of all time. --Lt Donald Russell, LAM Lance, Company #2, Goldsborough's Ghasts What Prince Hanse did not anticipate was Theodore Kurita playing divide and conquer. Kurita's coup against the Steiner High Command, leaving the old fogies in charge during the Kurita counteroffensive turned the war in their favor. Romano Liao was consolidating her position and trying to wipe out St Ives. Quintus Allard's last real propaganda success was Romano's belief in the rumors which convinced her that the Federated Commonwealth had supported her sister's Duchy of St Ives with major weapons and personnel transfers. She seems to have believed that the reconstituted Wolf's Dragoons were to be set loose on the coreward borders. Jaime Wolf is reported to be amused by the propaganda power of his name. She has definitely declared war on the Kell Hounds; perhaps this dates to that time. The Taurian Concordat remains independent, indeed if they were to ally it would be with anyone against the Federated Suns. Thomas Marik isn't sure till whether to ally with Takashi or Theodore Kurita, and they weren't sure how much he was his own man, and how much he was ComStar's. Hmmm, Davion support for the recent Andurien independence movements? Now you mention it, we wouldn't bet against it. Sirs, It would appear that you are asking the question on many lips. Not IF, but WHEN and WHO will be involved in the next war. Your time frame of five years would be accurate, though I would put it closer, say 3037 or 3038. As to who will be involved, it should be a forgone conclusion. The allies of the main combatants will be noticeable quiet. Aside from covert aid, all will stay outside of the fray. Kurita and the Federated Commonwealth will be the forces at war. I say the FC because they are combining at a rapid rate, regardless of what is seen on the holovids. But I do feel it will be limited to the 'Davion' borders. The outcome will be inconclusive, though I dare say it will cause much reflection and study. I get the gut feeling that all is not as it seems. Whether it is the influence that the technology the NAIS will resurrect, or another hidden type of technology, I can't say at this time. Worlds will change hands. People will die. Friends will be lost. Of those things we can be certain. --Lt Col Edward W Markle, CO Co. C - 21 Bn, 472nd Merc RCT, Utah Base, Florida, Timbuctu Theatre Well .. it wasn't quite limited to the Federated Suns borders, and LtCol Markle didn't take the Lyran peace party quite seriously enough, but otherwise this writer called the shots rather well, especially in the last paragraphs. So - have we 'learned our lesson'? Is the Inner Sphere to see no more war? Let's put it this way -- I haven't quit my job to start a dove farm yet! -- Editor Back to BattleTechnology 12 Table of Contents Back to BattleTechnology List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1990 by Pacific Rim Publishing. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com