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IIRC, Dave Weber has stated that the first combat deployment of the Shrikes will appear in Echoes of Honor. I suspect that the PN personnel who have the dubious honor of facing this force will be surprised in many ways, let's try counting them:
That LACs were present and in such numbers (not applicable in the home system of a minor member of the Manticorean Alliance). This is especially true if the action takes place in an Haven controlled system. While they should know that Manticore was experimenting with LACs (and only in single squadrons of 12) as part of anti-piracy patrols in the Silesian Confederacy, that wasn't against the warships of a REAL navy (despites its problems, everyone should agree that the PN is a real navy). March 1, 2003 Note: "Real" as in competent in battle, that is.
How close the LACs got without being detected (this should also be the first combat deployment of Ghostrider), especially given their acceleration (and speaking of which...)
The acceleration the LACs could sustain. There is the distinct possibility that Haven has received reports from Silesia that Manticore had LACs that could reach 600+ Gs. But if they didn't (or if this information was stuck somewhere in State Security), this will be their first hint that these LACs aren't pigeons with delusions of prowess.
The course the LACs have taken (a near interception path that reaches deep into the energy weapon range). This will certainly confuse them; how can a LAC carry the sidewall generators to stand up to lasers? Let alone grasers (little do they know...).
That the LACs do NOT roll ship to fire off their missile load, the missiles are axially mounted and exit via the front of the LACs' wedges. For that matter, the fact that those missiles could acquire their targets would be an additional surprise. They might momentarily think that this was the reason for the LACs course; however, this is followed by
That the LACs do NOT shear off once they dumped their missile load (I don't believe that 20 missiles per LAC would be that surprising unless it is surprisingly low), but keep on boring in. An alert and imaginative Tac specialist (yes, I am thinking of Shannon) might suspect that the LACs are totally axially oriented and might even suspect that the throat of the wedge will be closed off for the close pass.
That missiles being fired at the LACs are being chewed up in great numbers and that the ones that do reach firing position are not quite as successful as they should be (a hint on the strength of the sidewalls). It is possible that this wouldn't be noticed until later, when the action is being examined in depth (assuming that there are survivors with good sensor data).
That the LACs don't roll for energy combat, they PITCH! (however, see comment above).
And they put up a "sidewall" closing off the throat of their wedges (the PN ship might never have a chance to see how strong that wall is because of ...)
That the LACs mount a Battlecruiser class graser!!!
Not pigeons, Butcher Birds.
June 25, 2000 note: After checking with Chapter 34 of EoH, I believe that the People's Navy was surprised at least 6 ways (and perhaps even 8).