Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-4141313-20190126081959/@comment-14909251-20190206225634

73.Anon.52 wrote: While I do think they have been hinting a war might happen, I still agree with Blizzard, there just is no chance Vacuo initiates it before Atlas falls to some catastrophe. Wars initial phase requires offense, and a bunch of loosely associated Survivalists won't start something... but Salem can by making whatever she does look like a Vacuan attack, so a war is definitely possible after she moves, but not before. Oh, I agree it is unlikely either side will initiate a war on their own, at least not on purpose. Earlier in this thread I suggested they could stir up conflict between Mantle and Atlas. The other Kingdoms under Vacuo's leadership, more specifically Shade's leadership, could then intervene in this conflict in some fashion and go after various Atlesian outposts around Remnant, including SDC facilities. Given that Mantle is indicated to have a lot of Faunus labor, this is a way to suck Menagerie and the new Faunus militia into it as well or whatever remains of the White Fang.

We can reasonably surmise that the embargo is causing some economic pain in Atlas and that kind of pain falls most harshly on the least privileged, in this case people in Mantle. Not hard to imagine people beginning to protest or strike in response and Atlesian forces perhaps on their own or with provocation overreacting. If the situation in Mantle becomes such that other Kingdoms try to provide them humanitarian aid, but Atlesian military try to block it this could lead to shots being fired. The people responsible don't have to be either side, but a third party (Salem's minions) who take advantage of the tension.

However, I feel as if people are putting down Vacuo a bit too much and failing to consider some things. It is implied Vacuo has a lot of tough and rough people good for fighting. All that is genuinely required to use them for war is incentive. They could easily hire a bunch of them as mercenaries to bolster their numbers in the event of conflict. Something similar could perhaps be done in Mistral due to its seedy underbelly. Again, there is also the Faunus militia and if Faunus were to be harmed or killed due to a fight between Atlas and Mantle this could prompt their involvement.

Personally, this kind of scenario is one that makes me hope even more that Adam isn't really killed off. Were he recovered out of the water by some people evacuating Argus, given medical treatment, and then sent to toil in the mines in Mantle due to the SDC brand on his face, then he could be involved in this in a way that would allow for exploring his past without having Blake drop in exposition. He could be a critical part in some uprising in Mantle and still end up dead, only at the hands of Atlesian forces (or Salem's minions provoking things).