In the series to date, we've seen the Alliance primarily focusing on mobile assets to protect its member systems. But, what about immobile assets?
The Jung spend decades building battle platforms, but the Alliance could build much smaller fixed platforms in a much shorter amount of time. The Alliance could seed its member systems with a mix of antimatter mines in likely enemy approach lanes and plasma cannon/jump missile equipped satellites. The fixed defenses could be controlled either from space-based platforms (equipped with shields and point defenses) in orbit of member planets or from surface installations equipped with shield domes.
These fixed defenses could be augmented with small mobile assets too. All you would need would be airbases with Super Eagles and an orbiting base for Cobra gunships. The combination of light mobile assets and fortified immobile assets could conceivably slow an enemy until larger mobile assets like frigates or the Aurora could be summoned from outside the system.
The Best Defense Force is a Mobile Attack Force. (Why the Aurora a Cruiser could take on Battleships, it was more mobile)
If you put a Defensive Satellite in orbit, the Enemy knows its there and can deny it the opportunity to fire on them. It is a sitting target for when the Enemy decides to fire on it.
If you put a Defensive Ship in orbit, the Enemy knows it was there and can not easily deny it the opportunity to fire on them. It is not a sitting target for when the Enemy decides to fire on it.
Why would you spend 100s more on 1000s of the Satellites which cover a very small part of the star system.
When you could spend the same amount on 2-3 Ships which cover all of it.
When you attack Satellites you can hit them in sequence to minimize their ability to hit you. Its not that easy attacking mobile ships.
Please Ryk, the Karazara is enough of a Orbital Defensive Satellite. Do not deploy thousands of stupidly expensive stationary objects for target practice.
as stated, stationary wont work except for first strike aspects. If they are stealth platforms of say 50 missiles or plasma weapon, and in groups of say 10 platforms each, placed at locations of likely routes towards Sol, you get the first shot off with 500 missiles per shot...it wont stop an invasion, but will cause some tension at least and some revisions to tactical plan.
Admittedly a stationary defense could prove costly to establish, maintain, and replace (in the event of hostile attack). But, as you said @mike, it could conceivably slow a hostile invasion and cause the enemy to rethink their approach. Their entire purpose would be to deter the enemy and limit the damage they cause until mobile units could respond.
The Alliance presently has a limited number of ships to respond to attacks upon its members. Granted with the loss of Tanna, all members now lie within the "single one-minute double jump" envelope of Sol. But, eventually the Alliance with expand further, And unless Alliance warship production matches the rate of expansion, there will be more instances were systems are outside the one minute jump envelope.
The leads me to believe in two possible scenarios:
1) Pre-positioned concentrations of warships and their support infrastructure in selected nodal systems that can respond quickly to hostile actions in neighboring systems that lie within their area of responsibility. (Think Forward Operating Fleet Bases).
2) Extensive, though costly stationary defenses meant to delay hostile actions until mobile units can respond.
If Automated Stealth Platforms like those you describe would be a great tactical advantage, (automated defenses are less likely to be spotted by Jung scouts ships or infiltrators as there are no re-supple transports to them.)
