Researcher's note: a treatise by General T'roun of the Romulan Star Empire, written around Earth year 2137.
I. THE ENCOMPASSED CONCEPTS OF WARFARE
1. Warfare is the exertion of the State upon the Universe for realization of its goals.
2. In this, the role of the General is one of supreme responsibility. As war goes, so does the State.
3. Therefore, warfare must be considered with sober intellect and razor cunning long before war is declared.
4. A successful campaign is determined by these factors: Intelligence, Positioning, Alacrity, Precision, and Totality.
5. Intelligence being observation of the enemy's ways and means of war, information on their political and social state, and discovery of the means of exploitation with the goal of supporting the other factors while eroding the enemy's position.
6. Positioning being alignment of forces and resources in such a way that optimizes Intelligence and denies the possibility of surprise or overwhelming counterattacks.
7. Alacrity being the rapid deployment into planned Positioning, seizing opportunities presented through Intelligence, and preparation to response from the enemy's available avenues of recourse.
8. Precision being the most effective utilization of Intelligence, adroitly executed Positioning, the goal of each undertaking propelled by Alacrity, and capitalizing on the enemy's exposed weaknesses.
9. Totality being the culmination of the other factors in the complete annihilation of the enemy's ability to oppose the will of the State.
10. The General who knows, explores, considers, and wields these factors will succeed. He who does not will fail.
11. When beginning preparations for war, the General must therefore consider: How well do we understand the mind, heart, and goals of the enemy? What is the position of our forces and resources, and those of the enemy? How rapidly can we be deployed, and how rapidly can the enemy deploy? What is the most effective and devastating goal towards which our forces must be thrust? At what point do we determine if we have achieved total victory?
12. In the consideration of these questions, the General can predict victory and defeat with complete accuracy.
13. The General who presents such discretion and genius must be retained by the State. The General who does not must be eliminated.
14. Let not the enemy be aware of the General's deliberations, the utilization of the factors of warfare, nor by extension the mind of the State.
15. Obfuscation is the most vital weapon in the General's arsenal; through its use, the General may secure victory before war even begins. This is the pinnacle of effective warfare; the goals of the State must not be revealed until the enemy is utterly crushed.