Demarquis wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 2:27 am
You really need to read the book--it's significantly better than the movie (although the movie wasn't necessarily bad). In the book you see Ender's progression as a strategic thinker evolve from his own point of view. The fact that the enemy had a hive mind, or that there was a super-weapon available were convenient, but by the time those became important factors Ender had already overcome an entire series of increasingly difficult tactical and operational challenges. The computer game that the battleschool made available to the cadets is a good example--no hive minds or super-weapons were available there. Ender's approach to testing and overcoming an opponent is basically independent of the technology involved, or the specific tactical circumstances. So I find it highly plausible (assuming that strategic level combat works the same way in the Outsider universe, of course) that Ender would simply adapt to the new conditions relatively quickly and find other weaknesses to exploit.
There are no perfect species.
From the movie it would seem that Ender's go to tactic is to look for weak points and exploit them.
The problem with trying that against the Umiak is...
1. They are not fools. They actually do net rely on zerg rushing 24/7. They even use probing attacks... which are attack and run away.... just to see how you will respond.
2. If Ender replaced Alex he only has a limited amount of time to take down the Umiak before they steamroll the. Loroi anyway.
Basically... barring some major weakness the Loroi find on the Umiak or something else that makes them prefer peace to fighting, Ender has no chance.
Without some major exploit weakness the war will be over before Ender even has a chance to tackle the Umiak.
He simply does not have the time.
Fortunately for our comic heroes, they by a series of unfortunate events seem poised to find a Umiak weakness to exploit.
Which is why Tempo was likely smiling near the Umiak as she mind wiped him.
'We can stop the Umiak advance right here if we pkay iur cards right... maybe even end the war... I will get a massive promotion if I survive... yippeee!'