			    TRAVELLER Digest 223

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) The Darrians	by Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
  2) Terran wilderness.	by Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
  3) Re: TRAVELLER digest 222	by A.S.Lilly@bnr.co.uk (Andy Lilly)
  4) Re: TRAVELLER digest 222	by Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
  5) Re: TRAVELLER digest 221	by aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andrew Boulton)
  6) FF&S questions	by Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
  7) Re: TRAVELLER Digest 222	by "Harold D. Hale" <hdhale@smtpwpo.dayt.tasc.com>
  8) Re: Happy Endings	by PEDRO <PTREVOR@delphi.com>

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Date: Tue, 14 Mar 1995 09:28:40 -0500 (EST)
From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: The Darrians
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.950314091440.1985A-100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>


From: doc@eznet.com
> 
> The last I saw on the Darrians was from MegaTraveller or before.  As I 
> recall, they were (before the Chaos) in possession of the highest tech
level
> in known space (other than the Ancients -- and we know what happened to
them).

Not Exactly... theyr is a system (Samquis?) in Antares sector, inhabited 
by a civilization of self-repairing robots at TL 17, which is the 
highest-known TL in Imperial Space (or anywhere else, excepting 
Grandfather's little hideout over Lair).


>  They were also well known for the Star Trigger (once a bluff, but later 
> very real). That kept their stronger enemies at bay.  (Keep your enemies 
> close -- If I remember right, there were both Imperial and Zhdant bases 
> within the Confederation.)  Their weaker enemies, a much greater threat,
> were the Sword Worlds and the Belgardians.

If there are any foregin bases, they arn't on the starmaps...

> I got the impression that these inquisitive folk were more interested going
> their own way than getting directly involved with interstellar politics.  
> Though they were doubtlessly very involved behind the scenes.  (Case in
point 
> -- As long as the Frontier Wars kept everyone busy, nobody's going to notice 
> us.)

They were generally Imperial allies... the Imperium gave them a AHL 
cruiser, and a Kinnur (I think)

> 
> The problems come in when you notice that the Special Branch was very well 
> hidden.  

"Special Branch?"

> The main installation with its high TL ships was, as I understand the 
> documentation, never discovered.  This leads to some interesting possibilities 
> when you remember that Grandfather had a lot of involvement in the Darrian's 
> development.  (Pocket universes and jump gates come to mind...<snip>)

Jump gates in the Confederation?  Well, it's news to me!

> 
> What happened to them during and after the rebellion?
> 

Nothing much during the Rebellion, except grabbing a few worlds back from 
the Sword Worlders.

They still exist whole in the New Era: The Zhodani have gained no new 
worlds, while the Regency is growing quite nicely, esp in M-P sectors.
The Sword Worlders have blown up into four fragments, each centred on a 
major world, except the trailing systems: they are either Regency 
territiory (if they have a pop of "0" ) or allied with the Regency.  
See the HIWG files at ghost.cc.missouri.edu.

> If they survived, (They recovered after the first Star Trigger event), have
> they recovered their earlier tech level?

No information in the files: they _may_ be at TL D, if their TL was 
kicked up one level like everyone else (except the Zhodani). 

> Has anyone else worked on the Darrians since 1120?  I'd like some input.

Contact Mike Guatney... his email address is with the datafiles at ghost.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Plummer
"Preserve what we created, Norris, and remember what we stood for."
                               - Strephon, 179-1126

Reply to: alvin.plummer@SHERIDANC.ON.CA

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 14 Mar 1995 09:42:54 -0500 (EST)
From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Terran wilderness.
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.950314093827.1985D-100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>

From: "Harold D. Hale" <hdhale@smtpwpo.dayt.tasc.com>

> > Wilderness? On Terra?
> 
>    Vast stretches of tropical rain forest still exist (or were recreated)
> on Terra in the Amazon river valley and the Congo region.  Other
> forested regions exist in North America and presumably elsewhere.
> 'Wilderness' can also refer to the desert as well.  No one said they all
> had to hide out in Los Angeles (sorry, bad 'A-Team' reference), though
> the cities too would have provided a place for them to disappear.
> 

My favourate place of "Terran Wilderness" would either be undersea or 
Antartica (which does have a few cities, but not too many).

>    Gokhman, Boris (1056 - 1139).  Admiral, later Archduke of Sol (1121).
> Commander of the Imperial Rim Fleet from 1115-1130.  Founder of the
> Rim Concordat (q.v.).  First Regent of Dingir (1130 - 1139).  

A very nice bio.  Just make sure that he watches out for any ships from 
Daibei - or the Terran Empire...


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Plummer
"Preserve what we created, Norris, and remember what we stood for."
                               - Strephon, 179-1126

Reply to: alvin.plummer@SHERIDANC.ON.CA

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 14 Mar 1995 16:18:18 +0000
From: A.S.Lilly@bnr.co.uk (Andy Lilly)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: TRAVELLER digest 222
Message-ID: <199503141623.LAA04685@Mithril.MPGN.COM>

>Subject: Review of "The Death of Wisdom" (minor spoilers)

>First of all, the quality of the writing is extremely pedestrian.
>...
>Brunette does use a lot more female characters for ship's crew than I've
>seen in the Traveller games I've run, so that might strike you as odd, but
>it is a nice touch.
>...
>On the other hand, he constantly describes hardware
>in terms of whatever tech level it is.  It looks to me like he just went
>through the Equipment Guide and made sure one of everything showed up.
>...
>On the other hand, the plot is interesting, though not very complex.
>...
>Anyway, overall I give the book a C-.

A PURELY PERSONAL RANT FOLLOWS.
When GDW indicated they were interested in authors for Traveller novels a
year or more back, I applied, having just written a complete novel based
around a Traveller hijack played between two groups of players in about
1989. The main character is a well thought-through female smuggler who turns
mercenary, the plot is quite complex with more than one mean
twist-in-the-tail, the characters are realistic (because the interplay and
characteristics are based on the actual game play), a substantial amount of
authentic Traveller equipment, background, etc. is mentioned (although the
novel is set in a subsector generated by myself placed at the junction of
the Domain, Vargr and Zhodani spaces). I felt well-placed: (a) as a writer
of huge amounts of technical, RPG and sci-fi literature (the last on an
amateur basis), and (b) as a long-standing player (17 years) of Traveller...
to write a novel that would appeal to both Traveller-players and a general
sci-fi audience.

GDW weren't interested. I can only guess (from their half-year slow
response, losing of my first submission, eventual token 3-line reply letter,
etc.) that they were only interested in stories which advertise their new
TNE setting. Bingo, if I'd only had the RCES manual, copied out a few pages
and talked about the Virus a bit, I wonder how much better I might have been
received... IM(very)HO, plot was not high on their requirements list.
Judging by their current financial state, GDW was probably willing to accept
anyone as long as they worked for peanuts. ;-)

Oh, and if anyone thinks I just can't write, the novel has been reviewed and
highly praised by a professional writer. Incidentally, when I mention "I"
above, I must of course qualify this by saying that I ran the original game
but my wife played the heroine character and wrote substantial sections of
the book. Further, we're onto book 2. Book 1 is with an agent and hopefully
will eventually get into print with a few minor alterations to avoid GDW's
petty copyright crap. If it ever gets published I'll notify the list and
maybe Mark can review my book as well. :-)

Naturally all comments in this message are personal rants at having been
rejected by GDW and I have neither read (nor intend to waste my money) on
any novels produced in a blatant (and lame) attempt to drum up more
customers for GDW's RPG products.

NO DOUBT someone will flame me for this. If so, please send to my personal
e-mail address rather than irritating other users of the traveller mailing
list.

Yours, not particularly surprised at Mark Clark's review...

Andy
Cmdr Lilly, PITS (Political Intelligence Team, Scout)
PITS Team motto: "We are never outwritten."
* Nothing I say or do in any way reflects the views of my very kind
  and generous employers who have no interest in outgunning anyone
  and wouldn't recognise a good science-fiction book if it bit them. *


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 14 Mar 1995 11:36:53 -0500 (EST)
From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: TRAVELLER digest 222
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.950314105926.4136A-100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>

From: "Daniel F. Mendyke" <chadious@netcom.com>
> 
> I'm looking for more information on a minor race called the 'Keo Neseb'.  
> I understand a RICE paper on them can be found on Persephone.  What is 
> Persephone and what is a RICE paper?

A RICE paper is a full-blown TML description/travelogue of a Regency world.
Contact Jeff Zetlin for more info.  If you're interested in writing one, 
contact Zetlin for the framework: you'll need either DGP "World Builder's 
Handbook" or GDW's "World Tamer's Handbook".

The Keo Neseb info is part of the Persephone RICE paper: you can download 
it from ghost.cc.missouri.edu.

+ + + + + + +

From: "Paul Marini" <pmm118@email.psu.edu>

> So ... the Imperium has held Terra for @ 100 years prior to 1117 ...
> Some points I have to make:
> 
> 1) Knowing human nature, there must have been some resistance movement.
> There's always a resistance movement. I mean, c'mon, this is Terra - Terrans
> love their individuality - the 3rd. Imperium represent a threat to that
> individuality. And the Terran Rebels gotta have guts ...

Yep: however, you should remember a few things...

A) It's very likely that the Imperium send it's best, most able nobles to 
   govern Terra.  This implies that the Imperium didn't treat Terra like 
   the British treated Ireland, but instead did it's best to address 
   Terran concern's within the Imperial framework.  Even with 
   ultra-competent government, it still took over half a century before 
   civilian government could be restored

B) Where would the Terran Rebels get their equipment from?  Who's funding 
   them?  The Solomani Govt. had an "understanding" with the Imperium, 
   precluding that avenue.  And the Imperium would, again, send to Terra 
   the very best anti-terrorist groups that 11,000 worlds can provide.  

C) The Imperium would most certainly respect the Terran need for 
   individuality... not to do so would be mistreating this very valuable 
   prize, not only creating tension on the border but political unrest 
   within the Imperium (remember, a large percentage of Imperials >>are<< 
   Solomani's! 

> 2) Status Quo - First of all, Joe Citizen, although loathing the Imperium,
> probably would try to stay in line - after all, there is the threat of the
> Imperial Marines. Second of all, marriage between Imperial Marines and
> Terrans would be looked down upon by the Terrans - it's sleeping with the
> enemy.

It's certain that the locals would retain some animosity to the Imperium 
- no one likes to be conquered, even by `good masters'.  I doubt if the 
Imperium would ever incoroperate Terra into the mainstream: what they 
would aim for is to get a `passive acceptance' of Imperial rule, with as few
nasty images of occupational brutality as possible.  This aim was secured 
by c. 1100.
 
> 3) Solomani Occupation - The Solomani would treat Terra special - it's the
> homeworld. They gotta have SOME respect for the Solomani Homeworld.

They most certainly would -- remember, until Arabella (c. 620), all the 
Emperors were pure-blood Solomani.  Strephon himself has some Solomani 
blood, as does the majority of the human Imperial population.

+  +  +  + 

From: "Paul Marini" <pmm118@email.psu.edu>
> 
> I always figured the Solomani Confederation to be balkanized -
> planet-states - with a united military. How and why can they keep records on
> every citizen? Maybe on a planetary basis - and only on planets with high
> governments/law levels - but through the entire Confederation? You're
> talking billions of people!

You're quite correct.  

If you want something frightening, remember that all Imperial citizens 
have a Imperial PIN number... all 15.777 trillion of them!  Under the 
control of ONE agency!

The Imperium had a much stronger basis for totalitarianism than the
Solomani ever had: it's just that it was based on Noble Rule, not 
Solomani Ideology, so the politically persecuted could always move elsewhere
(if they had enough money, and didn't attack Noble Ideology).  However, note 
that there were no 'intervening' levels of sovergin governments; 
especially in interstellar relations, Imperial Law was the Only Law.

Moreover, the Nobility was generally educated in "the obligations of 
nobility", at least until 1100's where the nobility forgot obligations, 
and instead focused on expanding it's power.  With predictable results.

--- Long Aside ---

The Regency is striving to 'pension off' it's Nobles, but I doubt their 
possibility of success: too many nobles own too many corporations, and 
many nobles have a planetary basis of power, out of reach of the Regency. 
(ie: all those worlds with govt. codes "3", "5", "A", "B", or "C".  
Religious and bureaucratic govt's might be noble-based, as well as family 
govt's ("0")).

Moreover, the Regency is still a "Charismatic Dictatorship", ruled 
essentially by one man.  The "rule of law" is based on the Imperial 
Tradition, rather than a constitution, a religion, or public acclaim.
Democratic reforms will make themselves felt most forcably at the 
subsector level.

It will be policically interesting to see how the Regency operates, where 
many people can't vote for dogcatcher but can vote on subsector 
immigration...


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Plummer
"Preserve what we created, Norris, and remember what we stood for."
                               - Strephon, 179-1126

Reply to: alvin.plummer@SHERIDANC.ON.CA

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 14 Mar 95 20:32 GMT
From: aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andrew Boulton)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Cc: aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk
Subject: Re: TRAVELLER digest 221
Message-ID: <memo.39892@cix.compulink.co.uk>

In-Reply-To: <199503131436.JAA16878@Ambassador.MPGN.COM>


  > From: "Harold D. Hale" <hdhale@smtpwpo.dayt.tasc.com> To:
  >  
  > Andrew Boulton writes: 
  >  
  > Subject: Re: Battledress 
  >  
  > > But why would a civilian *need* BD? 
  >  
  > Some people might collect
  > it as a hobby (like people collect suits of armor); some might be
  > military enthusiasts who always thought the Imperial Marines looked
  > neat, and wanted to look like them; others might be historical
  > re-enactors who want a suit so that they can go out with their buddies
  > and recreate the Second Battle of Akiikharii (or whatever); some
  > people might be concerned about threats they have been receiving and
  > want the extra protection (and have the money to buy it).  Battledress
  > is not a practical item, people want it because it is *battledress*,
  > and it has a certain aura about it.  The same type of people who buy
  > it buy old Sherman tanks, P-51 Mustangs, Springfield rifled muskets,
  > or German Lugers.  

I would think that any BD bought by such people would have to have all
weapons and most of the electronics removed. You'd probably need a licence
for it too.

  > Hans Rancke writes about the Solomani occupation of Terra: 

Actually, it was me again...

  > > One big advantage was that the Imperial forces were pretty confused
  > > and demoralised - Strephon was dead, the Imperium was ripping itself
  > > apart, and nobody really knew what the hell was going on. In
  > > addition, in the past, the Imperium could always rely on
  > > reinforcements - this time, there weren't any. 
  >  
  > Hey, someone stayed awake through my Naval History lecture.  You get
  > an 'A' for the class.   :-) 

Thank you! :-)

  > From: mryan@foop.mit.edu (Michael Ryan) 
  >  
  > > Andrew Boulton writes: 
  > >  
  > > Subject: Re: Battledress 
  > >  
  > > > But why would a civilian *need* BD? 
  > >  
  > [large quantities snipped] 
  >  
  > I think the reasoning would depend on what you define as "battledress".
  > If you use a strict definition of it being a suit of heavy armor built
  > around a powered exoskeleton with other built-in enhancements, then
  > said civilian is going to need to do some fast talking to the local
  > authorities. 
  > However, if you use a somewhat broader definition that is alluded to
  > in some of the equipment info, then there are some valid reasons.

I wasn't including non-military exoskeletons in my definition of BD.


---
Andrew Boulton

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 14 Mar 1995 17:53:48 -0500 (EST)
From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: FF&S questions
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.950314174925.15015A-100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>


1) How would I armor aircraft (if I was silly enough to want to)?
   How would I determine the AV of aircraft?

2) Hw do I make "smart" space missiles?  Brilliant Lances (and the Basic 
   rulebook) speak of the missile having a gunnery rating-- how do I 
   build it?

3) What are the differences between controlled, semi-controlled and 
   independent missiles? (I read the book... any additional comments?)  And 
   what are the different requirements for them?

4) Do sandcaster turrents require a workstation?


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Plummer
"Preserve what we created, Norris, and remember what we stood for."
                               - Strephon, 179-1126

Reply to: alvin.plummer@SHERIDANC.ON.CA

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 14 Mar 1995 21:01:06 -0500
From: "Harold D. Hale" <hdhale@smtpwpo.dayt.tasc.com>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: TRAVELLER Digest 222
Message-ID: <sf6603bc.089@smtpwpo.dayt.tasc.com>

Paul Marini writes:

>1) Knowing human nature, there must have been some resistance
>movement.  There's always a resistance movement. I mean, c'mon, this
>is Terra - Terrans love their individuality - the 3rd. Imperium represent a
>threat to that individuality. And the Terran Rebels gotta have guts ...

   The Phoenix Project is mentioned by more than one source.  The plan
was to have caches of weapons, etc. placed on various worlds in the
Imperium which would be used by Solomani insurgents when their
brethern started the "Big Invasion".  Unfortunately, the Imperium found
out about it, and seized most of the caches.  During the round up of
Solomani agents that followed, a few of the caches were missed and
forgotten about.

   If anything in the game, the Third Imperium is protrayed as the protector
of individual liberty--this is certainly true when the Zhodani are
mentioned.

   No doubt there were Terrans who were whole-hearted supporters
of the Solomani Party in 1117.  No doubt when they heard about the
assassination of Strephon they pulled their pick-up truck off the side of
the rode, removed their shotguns from their gun racks, and went Vilani
and alien hunting.  Yee-haa.


Paul Marini writes regarding Solomani records:

>I always figured the Solomani Confederation to be balkanized -
>planet-states - with a united military. How and why can they keep
>records on every citizen? Maybe on a planetary basis - and only on
>planets with high governments/law levels - but through the entire
>Confederation? You're talking billions of people!

   With *extremely* rare exceptions, there is a birth record of every
person living in the industrialized world--at TL 7.  By TL 8 on Terra,
there is a birth record of the majority of the population of the planet
(which numbers in the billions).  In many industrialized countries it is
possible to get records of a person's birth, schools they intended
growing up, organizations they belong to, any criminal convictions, their
financial history including any credit problems they may have had, major
purchases they have made, even the magazines they subscribe to--all
from a few sessions in front of a computer.  By TL 14, it would be child's
play to accumulate all that information and more (including medical
history) in one central database which would be routinely updated.


Michael Bailey writes about the Second Solomani Rim War:

>Some more thoughts on Solomani performance during the Second
>Rim War.  If the Confederation was like most other totalitarian states,
>individualism and freedom of expression would not have been highly
>thought of, or even tolerated in many cases.

   Maintaining the "veneer of democracy" was important to the Solomani,
and remember, there were still member-states that were powerful
enough to force SolSec to work covertly within their boundaries.
Julius Caesar made a point of never openly declaring himself dictator,
because he realized that his people would never support a tyrant.
No doubt the hardliners within the Solomani Party always made a point
of keeping up appearances--while at the same time plotting coups,
assassinations, rigging elections, and supressing the opposition in the
name of state security.

>The Confederation in my campaign bears a strong resemblance to  the
>old Soviet Union (between 1960 and 1985).

   The left-leaning members of the secretariat would have never
permitted a Soviet-style government to exist.  This is not to say that
the Confederation government couldn't have had its Star Chamber....

>Power in the Confederation (as in the USSR) would rest on three pillars:
>the Party, the secret police and the military.  It is  in the interests of
>each group to ensure that no group dominates.

   This was the case in any event.  Control two of the above, and you
control the Confederation.  Control all three, and well, let's just change
your name to Uncle Joe.  All of the political manuevering would have
been done behind a veil of secrecy, least the masses suspect their
individuality was being violated....

>1/  Lack of initiative amongst field commanders.  The invasion
>    of the Imperium followed a set plan, where every commander
>    knew exactly what he must do.  As soon as events began to 
>    deviate from this plan, commanders had to refer to their
>    superiors for instructions.  The Imperial forces are 
>    analogous to the NATO armies, in that much greater emphasis
>    was placed on individual initiative.  Imperial commanders
>    were almost always quicker to react than their Solomani 
>    counterparts.  Furthermore, by specificly targeting and 
>    destroying Solomani command, control and communications 
>    assets, they were able to regain the initiative and hold 
>    the Solomani.

   I'm not so sure that the Solomani were that monolithic, but as I have
commented in the past, the Solomani seemed to be on a very specific
timetable with their invasion, and when the unexpected happened, they
seemed to have trouble dealing with it.  Actually, if there was trouble
within the Solomani military in the later stages of the war, it was that
individual commanders stopped listening to the high command and were
more concerned about: a) taking care of their people locally  b) getting
home in one piece.

>2/  Political control of military commanders.  Every Solomani
>    unit and ship had it's political officer.  His role was 
>    to monitor the reliability of Solomani soldiers and 
>    commanders.  He would have had the effect of further 
>    reducing the initiative ability of individual commanders.

   Monitoring of ships and crews was done covertly.  Your gunner
3rd class that operates laser turret number four could be a Solsec spy
and you would never know.  By 1125, many of these spys would have
been killed, found out for who they were, or changed their alligence.
that would help explain why many commanders rebelled: there was no
one monitoring their activities.


Django Upton writes about mass drivers:

>It is also used in calculating the muzzle energy which is used to
>determine  the penetration of KE rounds. The above formula produces
>rounds which are a  bit heavier than CPR/ETC rounds of the same bore.
>If you don't like the  energy requirement then build a smaller bore mass
>driver!

   Even if you reduce the bore of the mass driver, the power
requirements are still out of proportion with what they should be.  I can
propel a hypersonic grav tank with the energy required to power even
a modest mass driver. 

>The above will not change the performance of a KE round propelled by
>a  given energy input in the slightest. The energy requirement is
>DIRECTLY  proportional to the muzzle energy of the MD which
>determines the KE  penetration. The above change will require a larger
>bore weapon which will  improve the performance of other ammo
>types but will require greater storage  volume for the ammo.

   The change I proposed _does_ reduce the power requirement for
all mass drivers.  It is infinitely preferable to use a slightly larger bore
size and have the energy requirement at a level that justifies the
exsistance of the weapon.  It does little good to have a 3 cm gun capable
of penetrating 200+ rating of armor if the power plant required to use
it can't be hauled around by normal vehicle.

>BTW have you tried making an explosive power generation system part
>of your  MD design. That way your MD rounds arrive with their power
>plants attached.

   I thought about this, but doing so would defeat the design reasoning
used behind a mass driver.  Two things I did come up with: reduce
the energy input into the gun; and in the case of a mass driver autogun,
reducing the rate of fire.  Doing both these things makes a mass driver
a little more reasonable on power input, but not enough.


Hans Rancke writes once again about transponders:

>How do you keep a radio frequency jammed with signals a secret?

   The same way that every military organization today does. 

>>Fake someone out by having a merchant vessel in your hold?  Perhaps
>>in wartime.  It would probably work too, the first few times. 
>>Eventually the  bad guys would figure out what you were up to and
>>blow you out of space.
>
>Together with every legitimate merchant they own? Wonderful.

   I'm assuming you're implying they'd start blowing up their own
merchant vessels out of fear that they might be bad guys.  Presumably
before you issued any "shoot to kill" orders, you'd change your
merchant transponder frequencies.

>But a code provide just as much security as a transponder. 

   Which means a coded transponder would be even more effective
than either one alone.

>Two things: Everyone knows what's inside one of those black boxes.

   Yes, and everyone would know what was inside the Imperium's
blackboxes.  No one said that just because they incorporate
revolutionary new technology would mean that no one would be allowed
to look inside.  Any government that _did not_ want to look inside would
have to be gullible as hell.

>Secondly:
>You're turning the example the wrong way round. Imagine that no such
>boxes existed and that the US suddenly announced that no planes
>would be allowed inside the US without such a box, made and sold by
>an American firm, sealed and not to be opened by anyone else. They'd
>have a perfect right to do so, of course. But I think many other nations
>would inform the US that in that case no US planes would be allowed
>inside their airspace until further notice.

   No one said that other governments would not be allowed to make their
own--just that they had to be made according to Imperial specs.  Again,
it would be unreasonable for the Imperium to hand out such devices
and expect no one to pry them open.  The Imperium wasn't looking to
make money on the transaction--they simply wanted to establish a
standard in Known Space.  Because they did so in a reasonable
fashion, they were largely successful.

>You mean the Imperium told all its neighbours how to make those
>things? In that case they also learned how to fake them. Kinda ruins
>the whole idea, dosen't it? Where does it say that they did so, btw?

   I think you misunderstand the whole purpose of an "interstellar"
transponder standard.  The purpose is not to gain a military advantage,
your enemies would see through the ruse--the idea is to make it easier
for your spacecraft to visit their territory and their space craft to
visit your territory.  It was intended to foster interaction and make things
easier on the orbit and space traffic controllers.  It would be done for
the same reason that the US, the UK or Russia would on a planetary
level, and IMHO, it's just common sense.

He also says about Terra and the Solomani:

>Several generations ago. They would be Home-boys (;-) by now.

   Perhaps subconciously, but don't tell them that.  Remember, Home was
picked because of its similarity to Terra.  The Solomani intended to
recreate their homeworld as much as possible.  I always pictured Home
as having museums full of looted Terran art and monuments that were
recreations of those on Terra (Wanted: Construction firm to build exact
replicas of the Pyramids of Giza.  Inquire at Solomani Party Headquarters
before 31 May).  Children of the refugees from Terra would be
indoctrinated in Solomani Cause and be subjected to long boring
stories about the "good old days".  These stories and indoctrination
would be told and retold generation after generation.  I seem to recall
a people in Terran history who continued to believe they would regain
control of their homeland one day even after centuries of occupation
and exile...humm...I wonder who they could have been?  ;)  Of course
I would never compare the Solomani to the Jews, but the circumstances
were similar.

>It hasn't been long enough for a Taiwan-born generation to assume
>control of Taiwan. When that happens they may well drop their claim.

   Someone better tell the ruling party of Taiwan that--while native
peoples on Taiwan and some ethnic Chinese have come to believe that
the island should declare its independence, these people are in the
minority and are in no danger of coming to power anytime soon.


Harold


------------------------------

Date: Wed, 15 Mar 1995 03:00:36 -0500 (EST)
From: PEDRO <PTREVOR@delphi.com>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Happy Endings
Message-ID: <01HO5EC953S290O88X@delphi.com>


"Harold D. Hale" <hdhale@smtpwpo.dayt.tasc.com> wrote:
>>     2) What steps to take to prevent a future recurrence:
>>        a) Strengthen/legitimise the position of IRIS.
>>        b) Weaken the powers of  the  throne  (introducing  many  of
>>           Dulinor's proposed reforms) and  moving  part  way  to  a
>>           republic.
>>        c) As soon as a successor can be agreed  upon,  Strephon  to
>>           abdicate.
>
>   a) Seeing as how they were only suppose to be a MegaTraveller
>variant, never part of the actual storyline, it may be best for IRIS to
>disappear.  The Brotherhood of Varian (which I believe is what it was
>called) could serve the same function you had in mind.   
>
>   b) I'd have to say that the powers of the throne were fatally 
>weakened already, unless Strephon is willing to hand power over
>immediately to a regent until Norris arrives.  Even then Norris would
>have to agree to a laundry list of limitations to his power.   
>
>   c) Norris is the natural choice given the circumstances.
>

a) Yes and no.  Whilst the _original_  reference  to  IRIS  was  in  a
   Challenge variant it was also mentioned in 'Survival Margin'  in  a
   number of Stephon's diary entries.  But also from  this  source  it
   appears that IRIS wasn't everything it was claiming to  be (perhaps
   it _was_ the Brotherhood of Varian) hence the inclusion of the word
   'legitimise' in my original post.

c) Norris  is  too  'Denebiocentric'  a  choice.   Remember  that  the
   Imperial nobility is a hereditary institution.  Probably  the  most
   acceptable  choice  would   be   Margaret.   She   represents   the
   _conservative_ wishes of  the  central  Imperium,  and  she  has  a
   hereditary claim, ... with Strephon's endorsement  the  Moot  would
   probably  accept  her.   Norris,  whilst  being  the  _intelligent_
   choice, would be viewed by many  as  someone  from  the  periphery,
   unskilled  in  the  etiquette  of  high court!

Regards PLST

------------------------------

End of TRAVELLER Digest 223
***************************
