Well, you'll never make an officer if you can't hit the books, but if I know you at all you'd make one hell of a grunt. Sometimes that's what's most needed.
[Assuming Gideon still has a military career in mind, at least. But from what she's hearing, that might no longer be on her to-do list, or at least not so highly-ranked as before.]
Wars are... costly. Most enemies can be placated or intimidated, at least to a point— that's why Free Cities keeps such a big army, for example.
Real, existential war, conflicts where it's fight or die, are rare— but they have the advantage of being straightforward in purpose. But you're right: usually it's not about survival of the fittest, it's about not being willing to put up with the other side's shit any more.
[No point in existing as a sovereign government if you roll over and give up power the moment your neighbors start showing their teeth, after all. Pacifism is all well and good, but the rules only apply to those who agree to abide by them; war is the definition of what happens when all of society's fine rules go right to hell.]
Trade you stories? Tell me about the Lyctor fight. Make it good, and I'll tell you about the First Contact War.
no subject
[Assuming Gideon still has a military career in mind, at least. But from what she's hearing, that might no longer be on her to-do list, or at least not so highly-ranked as before.]
Wars are... costly. Most enemies can be placated or intimidated, at least to a point— that's why Free Cities keeps such a big army, for example.
Real, existential war, conflicts where it's fight or die, are rare— but they have the advantage of being straightforward in purpose. But you're right: usually it's not about survival of the fittest, it's about not being willing to put up with the other side's shit any more.
[No point in existing as a sovereign government if you roll over and give up power the moment your neighbors start showing their teeth, after all. Pacifism is all well and good, but the rules only apply to those who agree to abide by them; war is the definition of what happens when all of society's fine rules go right to hell.]
Trade you stories? Tell me about the Lyctor fight. Make it good, and I'll tell you about the First Contact War.