Was Marco Inaros Right to Attack Earth? | The Expanse

Today we take another look at The Expanse's political conflict by examining Marco Inaros' actions in season five. Is he helping the Belt or hurting everyone?

#theexpanse #expanse #marcoinaros

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[mnk]

Marco is solidifying the Belt into a single faction by making Belters the most hated demographic and essentially giving them the choice of joining him or getting wrecked alone, because no Earther will ever giva a single f*ck which faction they are with ever again. Basically Aeneas burning his ships after landing in Italy.

[jonnie]

No. It was short sighted and still didn’t bring The Belt the power and influence he sought, and they still lack essential resources they need to survive that they would normally get from Earth.

[tonycrabtree]

Welcome back! Marco is a mad man who did not think out the endgame.

[Briandnlo]

Dude, he launched NINE asteroids at Earth. Had they all hit, we’re talking extinction. Three missed, and the Watchtower/Sentinel satellites shot down the other three. But he went for total annihilation.

[arabian__]

Thinking about how earlier in the show avasarala was talking to her grandson about people who throw rocks and him saying "nobody throws rocks that big" checkmate kiddo

[dionemoolman]

In the books the answer is more sinister: Genocide. The rocks in the books are a lot bigger and faster, and the blasts are so big that they create earthquakes that go for thousands of kilometres, flooding across the entire Atlantic coast (all the way from Greenland to Brazil) and ashfalls that cause a global nuclear winter that blocks out the sun. While the death toll in the show are in tens of millions, Inaros manages to kill fifteen billion (well over half of Earth’s population) and the ramifications takes nearly thirty years to recover from. A death toll that big can only be justified out of racism against Earthers.

[spacecase]

I gotta say the Actor playing Marco is doing amazing job.

[jlokison]

Martian Ships might be better that UN ships... but Marco doesn't have as many as Mars does and he just made Earth angry. The only way Mars kept Earth at bay was its advanced tech to make up a numbers difference. Marco can throw stealth rocks but Earth knows what to look for now. Marco has the Proto molecule sample and it can be devastating but he doesn't have much and does not understand it. Earth UN has what it has always had, overwhelming numbers and supplies. This will not end well for Marco, or the rest of the Belters unless our heroes can convince Earth not to kill them all and send more people into space to replace them, because unlike the Belters and Martians, Earth has always had population to spare. Oh, and although some Martians were collaboratoring with the Belters those that weren't want Marco dead now also because of a couple of conventional bombs.

Earth is like a bear in a cave.

Earth was never trapped in a single star system with its enemies, its enemies were trapped in a single star system with Earth and are luck that it is kind of lazy and spends a lot of time sleeping... until you throw rocks at it.

[kaziaftab]

If marko wanted to defeat earth he should have gone few numbers big on the asteroids, what I am saying here is that he just pulled a perl harbour rather than a D-day.

[TheOwlofAthens]

Was it justified?

No.

Conversation over.

[unreasonable-man.bsky.social]

"If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared."

Earth's vengeance is still be something to be feared. Marco was a fool.

[nikolamarko]

I already read the book, so I know how it ends, but lets imagine alternative reality without our heroes in which protomolecule is not on the table.

Marco loose, belt loose, lots of people dead, Earth dominating humanity for foreseeable future, possibly begging of Earth Empire, or something like this.

How and why? Right after attack, Earth fully mobilize navy and start hunting Marco´s faction and because UN navy is bit heavy-handed, lot´s of innocent Belters die during process. UN have from get go more and heavier ships, shipyards and massive population concentrate in small, relatively well defended area. It can take some time, because Marco have contacts, know the terrain and is skilled in guerrilla warfare, but UN ships have numbers, are militarily more capable and Belt don´t have military-industry-complex and manpower due being spread all around belt. Resources can be problem, but Earth have moon within defended envelope, so it can be mined. Panic, outrage and desire for revenge from population basically force UN politicians to take hard line stance and up the military spending and research, because this is total war. Also Earth is able to feed its population. On the other hand, belt is dependent on Earth in that regard and I believe in full on war any shipment from Earth will be immediately ceased, which will have repercussion fro Belter´s. With 10+ billion population you have immense pool of talents and desperation breed progress. Marco can dominating Sol system for up to a year, but not more and even Belter´s own factionalism play against him due lack of tradition of military command structure - Belt is basically hodge-podge of tribes and interest groups and that can be exploited. UN too, but Earth is one single place with organized warfare tradition and generational wisdom in that regard. In the end Earth come out of this situation united like never before, pissed as hell, with stronger navy and possibly whittled Belt population.

And all this without Mars, which will eventually join to UN effort, because Marco attacked them too and due shrinking population (people leaving Mars for planets behind ring) Mars politicians eventually realize, that either they will play role of junior partner, or they will be forgotten and leaved in the dust and after some time absorbed back into UN.

[sketchtherapy]

Finally, more American Ben Expanse Videos, keep em coming buddy not every picture you paint with your words has to be La Giaconda though I do appreciate the subtle sfumato strokes with which make the cold dark space shine with the warmth & passion of humanity in the mind beyond what eyes can see.

[TheOfficialDector]

Mars was attacked too. In this scenario, it’s highly plausible that a united front against the belt could form between Earth and Mars and they launch nuclear strikes at the main Belt Asteroids, killing millions of belters with no real hope of escape. Protomolecule or not, Marcos has created a Defcon1 mutually assured destruction scenario.

[PantsuMann]

- I don't want to fight you, Ben. Please dont make me. Cause if we do, who's gonna make Youtube videos?

[andrewstrongman]

The logical response to Marco's act of war would be for Earth and Mars to send overwhelming forces to occupy all major Belt population centres. Declare Marco's 'Free Navy' a terrorist organisation, and hunt it while denying him the resources needed to maintain his ships. Dimmer would be the best option to support as the head of the OPA, along with recognition of The Belt as a nation. Earth and Mars would always need access to their vast resources, and partnerships are better than wars.

[Tzryylon]

Earth: Well, alright - you Belters are showing us you're trustworthy. We'll work together on this ring thing for the good of all-

Marco Inaros: WITNESS

[TomasMAcevedo]

The problem with Marco is that he wears too much eye liner...

[WarriorNoldor]

If the Expanse was in 40k universe the belters would be wipe to the last man by the Imperium.

[oltihajdaraj]

The opening of the ring gates is the blessing Earth has been waiting for. No wonder mars an the belt are being so reckless.