Don't forget that the Swamp Portal out of Hell's Gate represents a major logistic problem for both sides. One that Arcana actually has the edge on at the moment: they have a 'water-proof' heavy lift capacity immediately available, where Sharona doesn't. If I'm correct in thinking that the swamp in question is the Amazon Basin, it's not going to be nearly the impediment that the Arcanans probably think it is, but it's still going to be a royal pain. Sharona will have to build track from the portal to the nearest major branch of the river, and unless they're very lucky there will be many miles of terrain needing 20-30 feet of fill to keep the track stable and above high water. That's engineering on a par with the Traisum cut - if rather less spectacular - but the Sharonans have already demonstrated that they are up to it. Even assuming that they have complete control of the area and can work unimpeded, however, I'd not be surprised if it took a year after the railhead reaches Hell's Gate before they could get boats on the river and reach the sea. And they won't be unimpeded, because in the mean time the Arcanans can fly what they need [or what they have available, at any rate] into whatever operations bases they set up outside the reach of Sharona's guns.
Down in the mud, again Arcana has the edge - as long as they have enough accumulators - in moving men and equipment. Sharona, OTOH, probably has the better kit when they can get it where they need it.
All in all, even should Sharona gain uncontested control of Hell's Gate, something I'm _not_ betting on, breaking out of it will be a slow, messy process.
brnicholas wrote:I think I disagree that Sharona can't advance much beyond Hell's Gate. Assuming Arcana doesn't manage to effectively interfere (yes that is a big assumption but given how little we know about Arcanan capabilities and strategies I don't see any way to account for that in this speculation) and chan Geraith is right about Sharonan railroad building capabliites I think Sharona can meet the following schedule.
Double track railroad to Hell's Gate within 9 months. From their they will build up a major city in Hell's Gate very quickly. For how fast, take a look at the movement of Russian industry from West to East of the Urals during World War II. I expect massive military production, in a city with millions of residents, to be taking place there within two years. Even before large scale production starts in Hell's Gate it will be a massive supply depot.
At that point the question isn't how far from Sharona can Sharona support an army but how far from Hell's Gate can Sharona support an army? We know the answer to that is measured in the tens of thousands of miles.
Nicholas
n7axw wrote:
I agree. But I also think that much beyond Hell's gate toward Arcana will prove "A universe too far" for Sharona, given the reality of logistics at current tech levels.
Don
