Sure Merlin's actions "saved his friends" but Merlin also think "my actions started this terrible war".
Which IMO is why David Weber has established that Project Ark was the only successful one.
Maldorian wrote:What is if the storyline end´s because of Actions of OUTSIDEof safehold?
Who said, that safehold was the only surviving Project?
What is, if there is another colony who had an good leader at the beginning, like Halvesen or how ever his Name was (The one at the beginning as the others was sad because Longhorn get the Position).
What is, if that colony grow and develope their tec and after a few centuries, defeat the Gbaba.
What do you think how the People on safehold will react, if Humans in spaceships come down the sky?
"The Arkangels are Back!" ???
Another way would be, what if another Alien race who haven´t contact with the Gbaba find safehold. Could be interesting, too.
The Point is:
If some peaceful space travellers arrive at safehold it could Speed up the whole storyline.