Something I was thinking about. Are the Black Lance better fighters than "normal" humans? There's certainly no doubt that they themselves think that they are. Their comm messages are packed with themes like "Admit it, you are the weaker" or Die, Inferior!". There is also no doubt that Project members such as Tolwyn believe they've created a fighting elite. OTH, their combat record is pretty darn unimpressive. They had the Vesuvius (which was light years ahead of anything the Border Worlders had), they had the Dragons (ditto), they had frontline Confed fighters, they had all the training Confed could offer. They had had the advantage of carrying out their own plan and had the initiative (which is to say, they were able to engineer the conflict, rather having to react to it as the Border Worlders were doing) and had Confed's fleet to run interference for them. All that, and they still lost. I mean, you would at least expect the "Master Race" to win in a situation like that, wouldn't you?
Best, Raptor
Best, Raptor