Agreed. US reaction to Lusitania scared Germany into following prize rules for quite a while, but desperation drove them back to the unrestricted submarine campaign and they actually started sinking US vessels in 1917.
What Constitutes and Act of War in Star Trek?
- Thread starter valkyrie013
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Agreed. US reaction to Lusitania scared Germany into following prize rules for quite a while, but desperation drove them back to the unrestricted submarine campaign and they actually started sinking US vessels in 1917.
Much the same as in real life: an act of war is anything that one side or other considers worthy of going to war over.
There's no automatic trigger that means "you do that, we're at war."
If one side's feeling aggressive, or at the end of their tether, they might choose to declare war over a customs search or "questionable" arrest. If they're feeling weak, or timid, or peaceful, then they might even consider a "land snatch" to be something that could be negotiated over.
dJE
There's no automatic trigger that means "you do that, we're at war."
If one side's feeling aggressive, or at the end of their tether, they might choose to declare war over a customs search or "questionable" arrest. If they're feeling weak, or timid, or peaceful, then they might even consider a "land snatch" to be something that could be negotiated over.
dJE
An act of war is only considered such if you believe you are going to win it
The latest version of Star Trek - "Discovery" had its first season developed around an act of war. Its protagonist killed the Klingon torchbearer. She compounded this action by mutiny when she disabled her Captain and friend and tried to fire first on the Klingons. These were not surprisingly seen as 'acts' of war. Sadly for the narrative it was the threat of another weapon of war, more threats of mutiny from the same protagonist, and the use of a sadistic prisoner as well as direction from a murderous ruler from some mirror universe, that ended the war. Morality play?? 
And what are you gonna do about it?
The latest version of Star Trek - "Discovery" had its first season developed around an act of war. Its protagonist killed the Klingon torchbearer. She compounded this action by mutiny when she disabled her Captain and friend and tried to fire first on the Klingons. These were not surprisingly seen as 'acts' of war. Sadly for the narrative it was the threat of another weapon of war, more threats of mutiny from the same protagonist, and the use of a sadistic prisoner as well as direction from a murderous ruler from some mirror universe, that ended the war. Morality play??
Burnham didn't cause the war, it just appeared that way from the perspective of the Federation. We know as the audience the Klingons intended to wage war one way or the other, and the only thing that might have deescalated that situation is if she had successfully fired the first shot.
Ironically "We come in peace" was the message that guaranteed violence. It came off as a metaphor for some countries' attitude toward what they consider American 'Cultural imperialism', or Michael Eddington's accusation that the Federation is here to assimilate you.
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