RoS: is defeating a single zone-mind always a Pyrrhic victory?

[fchase8]

Originally Posted by Johnny1A.2

But note that the passage of a little more time might change that. It's noted in the canon that z-Caracas and z-Washington, for ex, are beginning to think a human zone might be preferable to z-MC. Beginning. They're not there yet, but if things keep getting tenser they might arrive there. If z-Zaire got wild enough, z-Paris might start thinking a human buffer would be useful.

Wouldn't it be ironic if a human buffer zone was set up in the former zonemind area least capable of supporting human life? Even if Mexico City zonemind was removed, most of the zone couldn't support humans (beyond the designated kill-test areas).

If Mexico City fell, its area would likely just be divided up among its neighbors (hell, maybe Orbital would try to grab some territory, so close to the equator, lie the radio array in Puerto Rico). But Zaire's territory is further from the other zoneminds (and has more native humans) - decapitate and maybe humans could take over parts that are far from Paris & Tel Aviv, like the Congo & South Africa.

Though South Africa is a major source of rare minerals, which have to be important to the AIs. Maybe Dehli, Caracas, Overmind, and/or Brisbane would invade that part.

What if humans took over Madagascar? It's far from other zoneminds, isn't strategic in terms of geography or geology. Maybe Brisbane & Caracas (backed by Berlin, Washington, and London) support some eco-friendly human administration there.