Ho Rob,
I think that was one of those issues the alliance treaty set aside for further discussion, probably with the SEM willing to consider their reinstatement into the RoH as valid referendums if it could visit and spot check to confirm they were truly freely voted in.
Given Eloise and Tom etc, I kinda suspect they were as free of coercion as such wartime plebiscites could be.
NTM, thanks to Ariel, Elizabeth knows that now as well as Honor.
L
Armed Neo-Bob wrote:SWM wrote:*quote="JeffEngel"*
Could be. I think Manticore is still regarding annexation as a special case rather than as the default expectation, in the fashion of the Andermani Empire, Solarian League, and People's Republic of Haven.*quote*
Agree that they do not consider annexation a default expectation. But they are definitely open to it, and expect some systems to request to join; we know because they specifically wanted to give captured Havenite systems the option to join if they wanted. And that was under the High Ridge administration!
I remember President Pritchart was unhappy at the prospect of systems close to Haven joining the Star Kingdom; I don't recall anyone in the HR side discussing annexing any of the liberated, formerly Havenite Systems. Didn't hear whether they became Havenite systems --officially, anyway, they are probably "protectorates" for now--after Thunderbolt "liberated" them again. Just that idiot Younger being all belligerent at the treaty negotiations.
Rob