Deep thoughts . . .

[FPF-DieHard]

Why would anyone invade Hydran space?   it's not like you could share planets . . .

[knightstorm]

There could be a few class M planets or moons, and if they're not habitable, that just means you don't have to consider whether or not you want to live there before you strip mine them.  Plus it would be cool to have a bunch of anthropomorphic octopi slaves.

[FPF-DieHard]

Would they taste good deep-fried with Marinara?   I'm still trying to find to logic between empires warring over resources they can't share.

[knightstorm]

I'm still trying to find to logic between empires warring over resources they can't share.

Its a little more complex to mine, but the hydran worlds probably still have a good deal of mineral wealth that would make them worth conquering.  And mining might be doable if you put your army of octopi slaves to work on it.

[Lieutenant_Q]

Most resources I would think are not actually found on the Methane covered surfaces.

If we take our own system for an example.  Would the Hydrans want our planet?  No.  They can't live on it, and while theres probably a lot of minerals still yet to be found, you'd have to dig pretty deep.  Everything that is easily accessible has already been mined, and used, over and over again.

However, at the present moment there is untold amounts of raw resources in the Asteroid Belt, on Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter's Moons, etc.  If they wanted them, they'd have to kill us, pacify us, or drive us off, because if they didn't we'd fight for our resources, harassing their freighters, and what not.

So while the Hydran Planets themselves may not be worth much to the Klingons, that doesn't mean their star systems are worthless.

[knightstorm]

Most resources I would think are not actually found on the Methane covered surfaces.

If we take our own system for an example.  Would the Hydrans want our planet?  No.  They can't live on it, and while theres probably a lot of minerals still yet to be found, you'd have to dig pretty deep.  Everything that is easily accessible has already been mined, and used, over and over again.

However, at the present moment there is untold amounts of raw resources in the Asteroid Belt, on Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter's Moons, etc.  If they wanted them, they'd have to kill us, pacify us, or drive us off, because if they didn't we'd fight for our resources, harassing their freighters, and what not.

So while the Hydran Planets themselves may not be worth much to the Klingons, that doesn't mean their star systems are worthless.

Yeah, but you're thinking about 21st century tech.  Also keep in mind that when we mine we have environmental restrictions to deal with, because we want to keep living here.  Since a Hydran world is otherwise unlivable, as long as you are not burdened by compassion for the native inhabitants, you can strip mine it to death.  Also, with all of those arms, the Hyrdrans probably give a nice massage.

[Capt_Pestalence_XC]

I would like to see how the planet does if someone lit a match on the surface.. Just to witness it from a high orbit.. just transport a flame in a container of Oxygen and watch the flash as the Methane enters the jar .. after that it could probably be terra-formed

[marstone]

I would like to see how the planet does if someone lit a match on the surface.. Just to witness it from a high orbit.. just transport a flame in a container of Oxygen and watch the flash as the Methane enters the jar .. after that it could probably be terra-formed

I always thought large O2 tanks launched at the surface would look awesome from space.  Should almost look like nukes going off.

[Tulwar]

I would like to see how the planet does if someone lit a match on the surface.. Just to witness it from a high orbit.. just transport a flame in a container of Oxygen and watch the flash as the Methane enters the jar .. after that it could probably be terra-formed

Actually, on a methane planet, they would probably have to drill/mine oxygen the way we do fossile fuels.  A Hydran would probably be amazed that we exist in such a caustic enviroment.  To them, oxygen would be a nasty, dangerous substance.  Look what it does to solid iron!

For space-faring people, asteroid belts and comets would be the best sources of raw material.  I think Lieutenant_Q got it right.  We might allow the Hydrans colonize Titan, but only at our mercy.  The Hydrans might not care for that situation and, over time, become resentful.  In SFB history, the Hydrans rebelled from the Klingon Empire.  It would make sense that the Hydrans and Klingons would have co-habitted star systems at an earlier, gentler time.  As the Klingons became increasingly facist, they would have demanded a greater share of common resources until claiming outright dominion.  Any self-respecting Hydran would naturally take up arms against the Klingon Empire, and a long war would ensue.  Empires always reject independence movements brutally, but will eventually relent when their resourses are exhausted.  That's not saying that they wouldn't reassert their claims in the future!

Empires have no problem sharing resources when abudant, but, as Robert Frost put it, "Good fences make good neihbors."