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November 13, 2005 Note: This was originally posted on Baen's Bar in the early morning of November 11, 2005.
What this post contains is a summary (with some brief comments) of each chapter, plus some general observations at the end.
First, the 6 chapters in the sample pages.
Prologue:
The Republic of Haven pushes its advantage; Theisman is confident that Haven will build a decisive margin of superiority.
Chapter One:
Honor reads a book to the children in the Mayhew nursery (BTW, this is an actual mid-20th century children's book - not only is it the book on the cover, per the afterword David Weber still has the copy he read when he was 6). However, there are ominous allusions; finally confirmed, see chapter Three. Benjamin also lectures Honor on her dynastic responsibilities (and this in a book with a baby on the cover).
Chapter Two:
The Mesa All Highest and his Innermost Circle meet and plot. The stories about the evils of Manpower are revealed to be protective camouflage to disguise both their ambition and their even greater evil. Discussion of their plans to upset Manticore in the Talbott cluster (see The Shadow of Saganami) reveals that the All Highest is not overly confident of the plan's success (but they spent billions upon billions of credits on it anyway). There is comment about contacts, other plans, and method of assassination (instant adjust?) as well. November 13, 2005 Note: See also the more extended comments I did on chapter 2 earlier.
Chapter Three:
A funeral for a grand old dinosaur. The mold was broken when he was born and Grayson will not see the like of him again. Also, the Harrington clan gains a subsidiary.
Chapter Four:
Honor returns to Manticore and the White Haven estate. Conversation with Emily reveals that the Hamish-Honor affair is on.
Chapter Five:
Secretary Giancola plans damage control for edited messages (see War of Honor) with a henchman (but is using one henchman to "neutralize" a previous henchman a good thing?).
Second, the remaining 31 chapters from the 1st month of the Webscription.
Chapter Six:
Honor at dinner with Hamish and Emily; Honor at breakfast, but with an upset stomach (an ominous sign in a book with a baby on the cover).
Chapter Seven:
Honor and Hamish visit the Queen; Elizabeth has a present for Honor (there is also a promise to upgrade her knight status). Later, all three, along with Prime Minister Grantville, are briefed by Admirals Caparelli and Givens on the strategic position - it is NOT good (see also Theisman comments in the Prologue).
Chapter Eight:
A raid on Zanzibar; the local and commanding Admiral wants a more extreme response than the Manticorean admiral had planned.
Chapter Nine:
The Haven probe of Zanzibar takes a bigger licking than expected, but gains more information about Zanzibar defenses than some would wish.
Chapter Ten:
Honor meets with some of her command team for Eighth Fleet; Hamish has an unsatisfactory meeting with the Foreign secretary. Honor visits her doctor about her persistent upset stomach - oops, sorry about that error with the contraceptive implant.
Chapter Eleven:
Honor discusses complication with her parents (newly arrived from Grayson) and, afterwards with Hamish.
Chapter Twelve:
Hamish and Honor confess all to Emily; they discuss what to do and consequences at and after dinner.
Chapter Thirteen:
Honor takes measures to deal with the complication with as low as profile as possible (too low for LaFollet's comfort).
Chapter Fourteen:
Giancola's henchman has all the pieces in place for his cover up. However, Usher has smelled a rat and has loosed an investigator on the trail.
Chapter Fifteen:
Honor activates Eighth Fleet, what there is of it. Henke has doubts on why she is present; Honor delivers a light chiding.
Chapter Sixteen:
Allison visits Emily; they discuss regen problems and ways to fix it before conception (Allison's family even more important on Beowulf than previously hinted). Meanwhile, Giancola authorizes henchman's removal of Grosclaude. But the method!
Chapter Seventeen:
Usher (and investigator) discuss their problem with Pritchart. Grosclaude was the only known link and he was dead, very dead. Usher notes odd DNA in one sample and remarks on speculation in Solarian League publications on viral nanotech (but theory only, is this what Mesa has working results on?, see chapter two). So, how did Giancola's henchman get ahold of it?
Chapter Eighteen:
Tremaine and Harkness discuss how to whip LAC groups into proper shape. Honor and staff plan Eighth Fleet's upcoming operation. Honor briefs Caparelli on operation (Caparelli has news on Silesia and Talbott, see also The Shadow of Saganami); Honor visits White Haven; her parents are there as well. Emily mentions her recent activities.
Chapter Nineteen:
Honor arrives at her target for the first operation; target greatly outclassed.
Chapter Twenty:
Alice Truman arrives at her raid target; target also greatly outclassed.
Chapter Twenty-One:
The Giancola brothers suffer a mid-air accident (a genuine accident, really, scout's honor). Pritchart and Usher explain all to Theisman (and a few other cabinet members). Usher can't prove that Giancola changed the diplomatic messages, but that he did so is the conclusion. Summary of Eighth Fleet's raid (5 systems, complete elimination of defensive forces and space industry).
Chapter Twenty-Two:
Theisman's staff, who were going to brief selected members of the cabinet (see Chapter twenty-one), have their own conference discussing Honor's raid and what they should do.
Chapter Twenty-Three:
Honor and Bingham review the most satisfying results of Eighth Fleet's raids. Start planning for next series. Meanwhile, Manticore's most notorious gossip columnist (see chapters 5-9 of War of Honor) gets a very interesting tip from a favorite source (both Honor and Emily at Manticore's most prestigious baby clinic?). Honor reports to a pleased Caparelli on results of Eight Fleet's first raid.
Chapter Twenty-Four:
Hamish and Honor meet Emily over breakfast and the news: the gossip columnist went public. Emily coaches Hamish on his least damaging reaction.
Chapter Twenty-Five:
Honor's domestic staff entertains various ideas (all illegal, unfortunately) on what to do to the columnist. Honor leaves the task of ... disciplining ... the columnist to the newsie's new owner, Stacy Hauptman. The clinic's head doctor, on the other hand, is out for blood. On a more pleasing note, Honor inspects one of Eight Fleet's new reinforcements, the new "Nike" (more of a small battleship than a battlecruiser in my opinion). Meanwhile, the clinic is under siege by reporters. Honor returns to Eighth Fleet and briefs her subordinates on the next series of raids. Reverend Sullivan meets with delegation of conservative Grayson steadholders - they express concern over various matters, especially bastardy - Sullivan smites them with historical precedent.
Chapter Twenty-Six:
The targets of the next series of raids by Eighth Fleet endures the reconnaissance; then Eighth Fleet arrives. The two most seriously overmatched system defense forces abandon their posts.
Chapter Twenty-Seven:
One force sees a chance to do real damage and sticks it out. Managed to fool both Truman and Henke long enough to do some damage.
Chapter Twenty-Eight:
Reverend Sullivan visits Manticore and the Archbishop. Allison insists that Sullivan stays at Honor's mansion. She also deduced his real reason for the visit.
Chapter Twenty-Nine:
Theisman gets report on Eighth Fleet's raid. Two defense forces tried to fight it out, but only one did any real damage (but lost just about everything in the process). Theisman and his chief of staff discuss possible reactions (chief did have a ray of hope).
Chapter Thirty:
Honor, back at Trevor's star, gets message from Allison. On Manticore, expecting to go to her mansion, discovers that everybody is at White Haven; at White Haven, discovers that mastermind Sullivan is ready to solve all problems; all she has to do is answer one question. But, her flag lieutenant is involved in a strange incident. On the other hand, Manticore's most notorious gossip columnist has legal problems (coincidence? or not!).
Chapter Thirty-One:
Honor tells Henke what happened; Henke is briefly annoyed that she wasn't invited. Honor's flag lieutenant returns from Manticore with an unauthorized modification; a completely involuntary assassin reflex. Only Honor's hold out unfickle finger of finality saves her.
Chapter Thirty-Two:
Honor deals with the investigators; anybody who doesn't accept Nimitz's report is not acceptable to her.
Chapter Thirty-Three:
Plans for the 3rd series of raids by Eighth Fleet are made; Hamish visits Honor. They discuss the assassination attempt. Adjustment (at least any that anybody knows about) is completely ruled out. Hamish also points out that incident is basically identical to what earlier in the Anderman Empire (see chapter 51 of War of Honor for more detail, see also chapter two where it is mentioned as a Mesan op).
Chapter Thirty-Four:
Tourville reviews his orders (a response to Eighth Fleet's raids - anything you can do, we can do bigger), a raid on Zanzibar. Honor heads out for her next raid; the target of that raid is rather unconcerned about the reconnaissance.
Chapter Thirty-Five:
Honor arrives at target and moves in. But something about the response looks wrong to her and she activates the bug out option. But Giscard was still able to spring his trap.
Chapter Thirty-Six:
Giscard finds that the new RMN SD(P)s have a surprisingly strong anti-missile defense (even just one division). But, he manages to inflict serious damage, but only by using all of his missile pods.
Now for the 18 chapters of the 2nd month of the webscriptionChapter Thirty-Seven:
The rest of Giscard's trap (a special present from Shannon) closes on Honor's task force; half of it was able to get away, but not Henke's flagship.
Chapter Thirty-Eight:
Honor limps back to Trevor's star and meets with Hamish and Caparelli. Truman had done very well at her target; but Tourville had trashed Zanzibar. Caparelli promises reinforcements, but says that Eight Fleet must resume operations as soon as possible.
Chapter Thirty-Nine:
Giscard proves to be a very modest man, not interested in superfluous medals; but Theisman and everybody else is quite pleased with his victory over Harrington.
Chapter Forty:
Honor accepts the apology from the clinic's head doctor on the publicity leak; assigns LaFollett (the last surviving member of her original set of 12, see Field of Dishonor) to be the commander of the heir's guard detail when he is born. The Mesa All-Highest and his wet work deputy discuss why the hit on Honor failed. He and both Mesa contacts with the Talbott cluster operation (see The Shadow of Saganami - this scene probably takes place immediately after the briefing with "Firebrand" in chapter 39) review that as well. The All-Highest authorizes a hit on the SKM ambassador to the Solarian League (Webster was being too competent).
Chapter Forty-One:
Her majesty, Elizabeth Winton, suggests that it is time for Hamish, Emily, and Honor to go public (I am somewhat curious on how she found out, options are Ariel, the Archbishop of Manticore, and her own intelligence services). She also has some wedding presents.
Chapter Forty-Two:
Honor returns to Trevor's star and her temporary flagship. She and Mercedes discuss possible effects of the Zanzibar raid (I would suspect that Haven would have to sign off on Zanzibar leaving the Manticorean alliance; Zanzibar might find that a bit painful). Eighth Fleet will have to stand down until reinforcement arrive, and damaged ships are repaired. However, there is no reason that the light forces couldn't drop in possible target systems, just to keep the RHN from being bored. Hamish sends a special message about the newest Haven POW report; Henke is alive. Pritchart visits Henke in the hospital.
Chapter Forty-Three:
Honor is reviews the repairs on her official flagship (this is 8 weeks after chapter 38). Eighth Fleet finally is getting reinforcements (only possible because 40+ Andermani SD(P)s had finally finished their refit). Honor is planning a heavy duty raid on Lovat (which has a respectable garrison force). Caparelli and company are a bit dubious, but Honor wants to test Hemphill's newest brainstorms which are just ready for operational deployment (but what are they?)
Chapter Forty-Four:
Honor is ready to go, but Admiralty delays operation; it is the crisis point in The Shadow of Saganami, see chapter 55 of that. Kevin Usher reports to Pritchart that his investigator has exhausted all leads. They discuss the attempted hit on Honor and its resemblance to Grosclaude's death. They wonder on why somebody would want Haven and Manticore to stay at war.
Chapter Forty-Five:
Pritchart has meeting with her entire cabinet. They are briefed by Usher on most of the Grosclaude/Giancola escapade (especially the forged diplomatic messages). General consternation ensues. Pritchart, who opposes following some unknown's script, wants to put a spoke in the war and proposes direct negotiations between her and Elizabeth. She has heard about the crisis in the Talbot cluster and believes it is a big enough lever.
Chapter Forty-Six:
Henke finds herself delivering Pritchart's message; after 4 days of heated discussion, the lever proves big enough. Elizabeth nominates Torch as the neutral site and suggests that Erewhon be asked if they are willing to provide security for the summit.
Chapter Forty-Seven:
The Mesa contacts on the failed Talbott cluster op return to Mesa to face the music. After twisting in the breeze for a few days, they retain their positions of authority. After the debrief, the Mesa All-Highest discloses the newest problem - Pritchart's peace offense. Frank discussion between Pritchart and Elizabeth with treecats around could easily cause a general outbreak of peace. Compare enough notes, and Mesa might emerge as a common target of intense interest. The wet work expert suggests simultaneous hits on Webster and Berry (even if they don't work, the attempts should be enough to derail the summit).
Chapter Forty-Eight:
Honor and staff discuss the news from Monica (see chapter 58 of The Shadow of Saganami). Pritchart and the new Secretary of State discuss the Manticore response to Pritchart's proposal. Pritchart expresses admiration of whoever (we know who) suggested Erewhon as the security guarantee. Giancola's surviving henchman cultivates the Secretary of State's personal secretary (I wonder how many henchman hats he has worn, since he has to be Mesa's high level contact in Haven).
Chapter Forty-Nine:
Born on this day is Raul Alfred Alistair Alexander-Harrington, the baby on the cover.
Chapter Fifty:
Pritchart plans her voyage to Torch; but elsewhere, Webster is killed and the hacker who planted the evidence that the assassin was paid by Haven is also killed. Elizabeth is barely restrained from precipitous action.
Chapter Fifty-One:
One of Berry's self-appointed bodyguards (one of the Amazons from Crown of Slaves) makes the ultimate sacrifice and saves Berry from a very bad case of overkill (only because a treecat just happen to be present did she even have a chance to do that). Web, Thanda, and others were not present.
Chapter Fifty-Two:
Elizabeth's temper goes critical (she's got the cabinet too scared of her; somebody should have been shouting Mesa right back at her - the amount of overkill on the attempted hit on Berry had to mean an attempted decapitation of the entire government). Eighth Fleet is authorized to activate the previously delayed operation.
Chapter Fifty-Three:
Pritchart and cabinet receive Elizabeth's rejection of summit proposal; Usher briefs them on his discovery of the assassination of King Roger (Elizabeth was never much of a forgiving person). Trajan (Foreign Intelligence chief), reports that he believes that attempts on Honor, Berry, and the Anderman Emperor's brother (see chapter 2 for reference), the successful assassination of Webster, and Grosclaude's "suicide" were all done with the same method. He has thought of Mesa, but hasn't thought of a reason on why they would be doing it. Pritchart tells Trajan to look very hard on who and why. Theisman is directed to come up with a military response to whatever Eighth Fleet does.
Chapter Fifty-Four:
Theisman briefs Pritchart on two options. One, if Eighth Fleet is repelled, is a knock out raid on Alizon. The other is a full tilt, all out strike on Manticore itself. Pritchart authorizes the necessary force concentration for the strike on Manticore.
and, finally the final fifteen chapters, plus appendicies, from the 3rd month of the webscription.Chapter Fifty-Five:
Arnold Zilwicki and ... associate visit Honor on her flagship. Arnold is quite convinced that Haven was not responsible for the attempted hit on Berry. His associate, who was taking extreme precautions, has good reason to believe the same. They were keeping an open mind on whom was really responsible, but Mesa was the first name on the list.
Chapter Fifty-Six:
Honor has a very private talk with Prime Minister Grantville (a talk that could have gone seriously wrong). She passed on Zilwicki's (and associate - Willy almost choked on that detail) thinking on why Haven wasn't responsible for Webster assassination and attempt on Berry. Since resigning would not do a bit of good, she leaves to lead the next raid (an ambitious one, see chapter 43).
Chapter Fifty-Seven:
The Haven commander at Lovat is quite confident of the strength of the system defense she commands. There are dedicated battle squadrons and massive arrays of missile pods (with 3 rings command stations from Shannon to rule them all). And besides, there are other forces on hand. Honor with part of Eighth Fleet (what she had before reinforcements) moves in as if she hadn't a care in the world. Giscard emerges from hyperspace behind her with three task forces, each substantially stronger than Honor's lead taskforce. Then Honor springs her trap; the rest of Eighth fleet emerges behind Giscard's own task force and destroys it with several volleys of missiles that go through defenses like nothing that had been seen before. It then microjumps behind a second taskforce and repeats. Honor springs her second surprise; the command stations for the missile pods and most of missile pods as well are destroyed by reconnaissance drones equipped with either laser heads or big nukes.
Chapter Fifty-Eight:
Theisman briefs a grief-stricken Pritchart of the results of the Battle of Lovat (a terrifying amount of damage at so little cost to Honor's Eighth Fleet). Admiral Theisman is convinced that once the new missile system (he has deduced what it is) is widely introduced, Haven is toast. He suggests suing for peace or gambling much of Haven's soon to be obsolete (even though newly built) superdreadnoughts on a do or die attack on Manticore system (see chapter 54) before that system is widely introduced. He has a plan on how to ambush Eighth Fleet if it intervenes from Trevor's Star and if the attack works, Haven would win the war.
Chapter Fifty-Nine:
Honor has a rather tumultuous return to Manticore (lots of excitement over the Battle of Lovat). Has a private session with Emily's newest production (she, Hamish, and Manticore's most prestigious baby clinic do good work). Meanwhile, Tourville returns to his flagship after a long discussion with Theisman and staff. He briefs his staff on that.
Chapter Sixty:
Honor and Hamish, along with Elizabeth Winton, meets with Caparelli and Givens to discuss Lovat and subsequent operations (still not ready to strike at the Haven system). Givens also discuss the search for Bolthole and wonders if it is a project dating back to the Legislaturists and whether it is even inside the Republic's official boundaries. Caparelli has a new target for Honor, a very tough one, but also promises a large number of Andermann navy reinforcements, all completely refitted, for Eighth Fleet.
Chapter Sixty-One:
Honor gets a call from Cathy Montaigne; she relays a message from Arnold Zilwicki and associate; they are hot on a trail, but are operating undercover. Honor returns to Eighth Fleet with baby pictures and starts planning the next big raid. Truman reports that after action analysis indicates that Haven has 1 or 2 new LAC designs. One is a Shrike knockoff, though with a less powerful energy weapon.
Chapter Sixty-Two:
D'Orville awaits the arrival of "Hexapuma" and "Warlock" from the Lynx terminius (see the end of chapter 58 of The Shadow of Saganami. An infodump of the basic defense posture of Home Fleet fills time. Honor, who was invited to the festivities but declined, is at Trevor's star drilling three Anderman battle squadrons newly added to 8th Fleet. Meanwhile, Tourville's fleets have gathered (330+ SD(P)s, 7/10ths in 2nd Fleet, 3/10ths in 5th) and he starts final preparation for "the biggest naval battle in human history."
Chapter Sixty-Three:
More exercises at Trevor's Star (the Anderman units were doing better this time around), but it is show time. Tourville's 2nd Fleet has arrived at Manticore and tBNBiHH is under way.
Chapter Sixty-Four:
Rear Admiral Diamato's battlecruisers are monitoring the junction for Tourville; he expects to use a lot of drones. The commander of the traffic control at the Junction orders an immediate clearing of the Junction space; she is anticipating Kuzak (and probably Honor as well) transiting large fleets through the Trevor's Star terminus. D'Orville, facing a near direct attack on Sphinx, decides that he can NOT allow that force into firing range of the ship yards, filled with nearly finished warships. If only a death ride could stop the threat, a death ride it will be. Honor is summoned from the training mat by the Case Zulu alert. She sends message to Kuzak that she is attaching McKeon's and Truman's squadrons to Kuzak's Third Fleet. The rest of Eighth will follow (but its exercise area is several hours flight time away from the terminus).
Chapter Sixty-Five:
First exchange of fire in tBNBiHH; Tourville has more Shannon specials. They allows him to both launch a lot more missiles per volley and more volleys than D'Orville anticipated. D'Orville had a trick or two as well; but Home fleet is destroyed. 2nd fleet took serious losses, but over half the SDs are still there (but with much reduced missile pod loads). Kuzak is almost ready to micro jump into range; Honor is still heading toward the Trevor's star terminus. But some of the battlecruisers will get there first; Honor wants them to clear out the Haven battlecruisers watching the Junction.
Chapter Sixty-Six:
Kuzak microjumps from the junction to close to the hyper limit and pursues 2nd Fleet; the Home Fleet LACs strike 2nd Fleet; they shatter the screen (cruisers and LACs), but too few are left to do much to the SDs. Diamoto's battlecruisers are chased away from the Junction. Kuzak recommends to Caparelli that the Sphynx defenses do not launch on 2nd Fleet (unless of course, 2nd Fleet launches on them). She is concerned with a stray missile hitting the planet. Honor wonders why the Haven attack was done the way it was; she fears a 2nd shoe. Doesn't think it is an attack on Trevor's star (that required too good of coordination, and Theisman avoids overcomplication). Chin's 5th Fleet comes out of hyper in position to attack Third Fleet (the ambush was intended for Eighth, but Tourville can't wait any longer for Honor to show up). Honor orders the those SDs and CLACs still at Trevor's Star to make a mass transit. She sends message to Kuzak promising to be able to intervene in 15 minutes, orders a microjump to her desired postition.
Chapter Sixty-Seven:
Both Chin and Tourville launch repeated multi-thousand missile strikes on Third Fleet; all of Third Fleet's (and Truman's as well) Shrikes and Ferrets are sent out of the death zone to strike at 2nd fleet. Kuzak launches on 2nd Fleet (since it could, in theory, attack Sphynx and Manticore long before 5th Fleet). Tourville withholds 2 squadons to save their missiles to deal with Third's LACs. McKeon's squadron is attacking 5th Fleet; because it has the new system, it was able to destroy several SDs in 5th fleet, before the rotation of 5th's bombardment of Third Fleet shattered McKeon's squadron (only his flagship survived, barely). Kuzak's flagship suffers a hit on the compensator.
Chapter Sixty-Eight:
Truman finds herself in command of the wreck of Third Fleet as it approaches the limits of 5th's missile range. Honor arrives, apparently far out of range. She launches an immense missile storm at 5th Fleet (and about 50 missiles at 2nd Fleet). The missiles have to coast before the activation of the 3rd stage. Chin doesn't understand what is going on, but then realizes (but too late) what it is. She orders an immediate transfer to hyper, but before this can be carried out, a wave of over 60 thousand missiles, all under direct control because of FTL communication links, wash her formation away. The equivalent of 2 squadrons apparently lasted long enough to escape to hyper. Honor's demonstration strike goes through 2nd Fleet's entire formation; the 1/3 that survived everything that 2nd Fleet could throw at them fire their laser heads perfectly, at nothing. Honor sends Tourville a demand to surrender or die (via an FTL relay), Tourville surrenders, ending tBNBiHH. Honor discovers that while McKeon's flagship survived the battle, McKeon (and his entire bridge staff) didn't.
Chapter Sixty-Nine:
Fleet Admiral (acting) Honor Harrington is reading a book (the same one she was reading in chapter 1) to her young siblings (this is the scene that is the foreground of the cover).
Afterword:
David Weber discusses his discovery of David and the Phoenix when he was 6; it was the first book he had read (and also how he has kept that copy, even though it was originally his older brother's).
Glossary & Cast of Characters:
These include all the new hardware and people in At All Costs
My General Commentary:
I decided to refer to Albrecht Detweiler as the Mesa All-Highest because I consider Mesa to be an equivalent to Boskone (or even Eddore) in the Honorverse. Similarly, I decided to refer to the Battle of Manticore as tBNBIHH (the Biggest Naval Battle in Human History) because BoM was already used for the Battle of Monica.
Except for Honor's death in battle, this book finishes up all of the hints that I know of which have leaked out the last 7-8 years or so. It also fulfilled the promise in More Than Honor of "military operations on a scale no one had ever previously contemplated."
While both Crown of Slaves and The Shadow of Saganami dealt with Mesa as a problem; this book brought it out of the shadows and explicitly presented it as a threat to the Star Kingdom's security.
Questions:
The official word is that first David Weber and Eric Flint will be doing the next Torch novel. An obvious part of its plot is the quest by Arnold Zilwicki and Victor Cachat for the conspirators behind the assassination attempt on Berry (and the successful hit on Webster). There is also the question on when Mannerheim (Mesa's presumably secret ally) will show up to play. Weber will follow with the next Saganami title (I have wondered if it will be the further adventures of Abrigal Hearns and Helen Zilwicki or whether it will pick up on other new or recent graduates from Saganami and be set in Silesia, parallel to AAC). After that, will be Honor #12.
In chapter 58, Eloise Pritchart expressed considerable doubt that Haven's Senate would accept a surrender. Perhaps the loss of over 300 SD(P)s will lower their resistance to that action. On the other hand, if Arnold and Victor produce enough convincing evidence that Mesa was behind the assassination attempts (and wasn't paid to do it), then maybe, maybe Elizabeth will suggest peace talks. I think Arnold is going to have to deliver prisoners to do this. Isabel Bardasano would be ideal, if they could reach her (note that there is a Manticore warrant out for her arrest because her actions in the Talbot cluster); however, anybody from Mesa who was involved would probably do (I am assuming that Detweiler is untouchable by anything short of a major Marine assault). If peace with Haven breaks out, then the next opponent has to be Mesa and its allies. However, Mesa is still missing the hardware it needs to reverse engineer Manticore's military technology (and that is before Apollo). Because of this, setting up that war so that it would last longer than one task force's visit to the Mesa system will be a problem.
Conquest of course. I wonder where Mannerheim (the chosen lackey) is; the name does not appear on a map of the Everwhon-Torch region that David Weber provided some time ago. It might be close to one of the terminii of the Congo junction. And speaking of which, I wonder how close Mesa is to any of those terminii as well.
Besides surrendering? They need to copy it; this will be put very high on Shannon's to do list, but I believe that she has to improve the bit rate for Haven's grav com system first. As for interm defensive measures, I wonder what would happen if a large nuke went off "close" to an Apollo drone. How radiation resistant is one? Once this system because widespread, all SDs equipped with it will be eggshells armed with hammers (after all, 1 SD(P) could put enough missiles in space in one volley to destroy a battle squadron). This means that the defenses on every new SD design has to be upgraded. Start with doubling the mass allocated to the sidewall generators; also increase the thickness of the armor and add more PD clusters and counter-missile tubes.
They have to be able to track the drones in order to destroy them. Failing that, anything without local, dedicated, active defenses is dead meat. I also noticed in chapter 58 that when Theisman was reporting on the armed drones, he did not mention his own efforts along that line when he was the commander at Barnett (Duquesne Base).
Since Tourville agreed to not order a data purge for the computers on the surviving ships in 2nd Fleet; it is possible, even likely that the location of Bolthole will be recoverable from them. So, I expect that Weber will disclose this in the early chapters in Honor #12. As to where it is, I have wondered if the People's Navy found a terminus in Haven controlled space that connected to a junction outside the boundaries of human settled space. Which means that Bolthole would be practically inaccessible without controlling that terminus (and the fortifications on the other side).
The corrupt bureaucracies might object to a task force visiting Mesa. The elder Kalokainos is going to be very annoyed when a certain letter arrives at his office (as for what's in the letter, my guess is a lease agreement, complete with payment voucher). Won't guess on what will happen, but the OFS officials responsible for the area nearest the Talbott cluster are said to be in the family pocket. Aldona Anisimovna was of the opinion that they wouldn't risk a military confrontation with Manticore (at least, not without support from other OFS districts), but if she knew about that letter and the probable effect it will have on Kalokainos pere, she might be of a different opinion. We have to wait for the 2nd Saganami title.