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Traveller-digest     Tuesday, November 30 1999     Volume 1999 : Number 1415<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
(R)1996. Traveller is a registered trademark of FarFuture Enterprises.<BR>
All rights reserved.<BR>
<BR>
The following topics are covered in this digest:<BR>
<BR>
Re: Low TL Medicines (was: Re: Rule of man coin)<BR>
Re: Rule of man coin<BR>
RE: Traveller-digest V1999 #1414<BR>
Re: Re LEO's<BR>
RE: Sci fi films<BR>
Re: early christian writings and roman rumors<BR>
Re: Rule of man coin<BR>
re: early christian writings and roman rumors<BR>
RE: Low TL Medicines<BR>
Re: early christian writings and roman rumors<BR>
Police Career<BR>
Re:  Low TL Medicines <BR>
RE: Police Ranks<BR>
<BR>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:33:44 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Low TL Medicines (was: Re: Rule of man coin)<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Bringing this back to Traveller:<BR>
><BR>
> At least here on Terra, advances in medicines have often been aimed at<BR>
> reducing the side-effects of otherwise-effective drugs.  Thus, paregoric<BR>
> (which was often prescribed to relieve diarrhea, as opiates tend to<BR>
> cause constipation) was replaced by compounds which also relieved<BR>
> diarrhea, without the narcotic side-effects of paregoric.  Similarly,<BR>
> there has been a trend in antihistamines toward compounds that are less<BR>
> likely to cause drowsiness.  Presumably, as a general rule, as TL<BR>
> increases, drug side-effects decrease.<BR>
><BR>
> The question then become:<BR>
><BR>
> To what extent (if any) does the Imperium regulate the interstellar<BR>
> transport of medicinal compounds between worlds, if said compounds are<BR>
> legal on the world of origin?  If there is no formal Imperial regulation<BR>
> of such compounds, does the Imperium at least attempt to help worlds<BR>
> maintain their own regulations on importation of medicinal compounds?<BR>
><BR>
> In other words, are PCs who purchase laudanum on a TL-4 world subject to<BR>
> Imperial sanctions if they sell said laudanum on a TL-13 world that<BR>
> strictly regulates opiates?<BR>
<BR>
The impression *I* have always gotten is that the Imperium doesn't care<BR>
much about local restrictions. You can haul anything that isn't under<BR>
*Imperial* proscription (say, thionite) from anywhere to anywhere. But<BR>
at your destination, if their isn't a port (complete with extrality,<BR>
which BTW seems to be an idea borrowed from Norton's SF) then you are<BR>
subject to local laws as soon as you leave the ship. Possibly as soon<BR>
as you land. <BR>
<BR>
If there is a port, then as long as you are inside the extrality line,<BR>
you aren't subject to local laws. You can sell your cargo to anybody<BR>
*inside the port*.<BR>
<BR>
If you cross the extrality line, you are under local law, and could get<BR>
arrested for selling the wrong thing to a local. <BR>
<BR>
Thus, there will be notices listing the more important contraband<BR>
posted near the exits with terminals (high TL worlds) or printed lists<BR>
(low TL) giving the entire list. Even so, it's still possible to run<BR>
into a situation where you are the first person to discover that the<BR>
locals consider the harmless X you are trying to sell to fall into<BR>
prohibited category Y.<BR>
<BR>
Unless things are really bad, being the first person *should* get you a<BR>
warning, and the product confiscated. You *may* be abler to petition<BR>
for its return if you promise to take it offworld. <BR>
<BR>
After all, in most cases neither the locals nor the Imperium want<BR>
traders to get surprised. But there may be times when it isn't that<BR>
simple. :-)<BR>
<BR>
The Imperium will *always* want trade to go smoothly. Thus they'll<BR>
always be in favor of local laws being *clear* about products and<BR>
activities that are forbidden, so as to avoid surprise for traders and<BR>
visitors. <BR>
<BR>
Most worlds will agree, since even under "guilty until proven innocent"<BR>
type legal systems, it's both harder to get a conviction, and *very*<BR>
bad publicity if someone can legitimately claim that they had no idea<BR>
that the law meant *that*...<BR>
<BR>
Some worlds won't like visitors. And they'll resent the Imperium. So<BR>
there, you've got the local Imperial officials trying to keep an eye<BR>
out for legal boobytraps even as the locals try to construct more of<BR>
them without being obvious. Just the sort of place a GM likes to make<BR>
players visit. <BR>
<BR>
And, of course, even if the contraband list is posted and clear, there<BR>
are people who will smuggle things across the line because of the<BR>
profits. The Imperial officials are likely to give reasonable amounts<BR>
of help to the locals, unless the locals are some sort of fanatics, or<BR>
otherwise annoy the hell out of the officials. <BR>
<BR>
So on worlds where there are good relations, the exits from the port<BR>
may have "average Interstellar" tech sensors scanning for contraband,<BR>
even if the local TL is lower. The locals will have either paid for the<BR>
installation and maintainence, or they'll have made some sort of<BR>
concession to the Imperials.<BR>
<BR>
On worlds with strained relations there may be "customs inspectors"<BR>
*manually* searching everything going in or out of the port. <BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:26:57 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Rule of man coin<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net><BR>
><BR>
>>> >Alum makes a pretty good mordant, especially for goldenrod.<BR>
>>><BR>
>>> Different pronuncation.  And if you put it in your mouth, you'll<BR>
>>> make it very, *very* small.  <g><BR>
>><BR>
>>Why is my mental image of this based on classic Warner Brothers'<BR>
>>cartoons? ;-)<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
> My brother ingested some alum once when he was young, and it had that exact<BR>
> effect. He and his friends tried to get unsuspecting neighborhood kids to<BR>
> ingest it, but to no avail...<BR>
><BR>
> Ah, the trials and tribulations of youth.<BR>
<BR>
When I was training for a job once, we were using citric acid in<BR>
*bulk*. And since this was training, they were using the cheaper "large<BR>
crystal" form. Instead of being like granulated sugar, this was lumps<BR>
the size and shape of rock candy!<BR>
<BR>
Which led to a prank. Citric acid *is* very sour, but it's not going to<BR>
hurt you to eat a crystal or two of it. <BR>
<BR>
So we offered some friens some rock candy (and popped a piece or two<BR>
ourselves to allay their suspicions). If you are *expecting* this<BR>
super-sour taste, it's no big deal. Thus we smiled away as we sucked on<BR>
them. Our friends were expecting *sweet*... <eg><BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 10:00:02 -0600<BR>
From: Steve Lieb <steve@necadon.com><BR>
Subject: RE: Traveller-digest V1999 #1414<BR>
<BR>
	[/lurk]<BR>
> Bonus points to Chris for pushing the loaded term level from "biased" to<BR>
> "brainwashed", with extra points for adding the "slander" label to <BR>
> a fellow TMLer's opinion. <weg><BR>
> <BR>
	[Steve replied]  No kidding...<BR>
<BR>
> Without a personal belief that the Bible is a highly significant <BR>
> document, you will not study it rigorously enough to produce any<BR>
> insights sufficiently developed to be accepted by respected Bible<BR>
> scholars as significant. The majority of people performing these studies<BR>
> are of a religious bent, even if they are currently in a doubting or<BR>
> skeptical phase.<BR>
	[Steve replied]  I'd dispute this very stronglt - there are a number<BR>
of historians, sociologists and anthropologists (ignoring for the moment the<BR>
obvious religious scholars, who quite clearly don't HAVE to be religious to<BR>
study the development of religions, etc.) that study the bible and related<BR>
texts as it is useful for them: the compilation of oral histories of a<BR>
single ethnic group over the span of thousands of years.  No matter your<BR>
religious bent (or non-bent, as the case may be) it is a priceless<BR>
ethnography and historical text, as much for what it says as what it<BR>
doesn't.  Same goes for any number of religious writings (Book of Mormon,<BR>
Tripitaka, Qur'an, etc.) - one simply does NOT have to be religious to<BR>
appreciate what these texts have to say, or to value them for other reasons.<BR>
That's like saying you have to be a communist to read Lenin or Engels, or an<BR>
American to appreciate the Federalist papers.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
	[Steve replied]  ObTrav: Is there a list somewhere of the collected<BR>
religious permutations (or, let's say at least the ones that could be<BR>
considered mainstream, e.g. more than 1 billion adherents) of the 3I?<BR>
<BR>
	[lurk/]<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 08:32:40<BR>
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Re LEO's<BR>
<BR>
At 08:43 PM 11/29/1999 -0900, you wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>In almost all cases, for state crimes, the State Police or State Troopers<BR>
>can get involved. Also, most state trooper agencies are specifically<BR>
>charged with highway patrol duties. (California also has a separate highway<BR>
>patrol, if I understand california correctly).<BR>
<BR>
Nobody understands us.  It's why we're all in therapy.<BR>
<BR>
But yes, we do have a seperate Highway Patrol.<BR>
<BR>
http://www.chp.ca.gov/<BR>
<BR>
Along with their duties patroloing the highways of the state, the CHP also<BR>
serves as backups for local LEO.  The state also has a tiny State Police<BR>
force, but they don't do much outside of Sacramento, the state capital.<BR>
<BR>
Interestingly, there's a corner of San Francisco that is under the<BR>
jurisdiction of no less than five different police agencies.  The Presidio,<BR>
fomerly an Army base, now a National Park has the following agencies in it:<BR>
<BR>
San Francisco PD<BR>
San Francisco Sheriff<BR>
National Park Police<BR>
US Army Military Police (some units remain, along with some housing)<BR>
US Postal Service Police (major sorting staion)<BR>
- -- <BR>
<BR>
Douglas E. Berry       gridlore@mindspring.com<BR>
http://gridlore.home.mindspring.com/index.html<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 16:42:55 -0000<BR>
From: "Trevor, Peter" <Peter.Trevor@rb.cwplc.com><BR>
Subject: RE: Sci fi films<BR>
<BR>
Shadow wrote:<BR>
> With civilian ships, you'll see a lot less "spic and span", but<BR>
> most of the time you'll see *neat*. Even when things are greasy<BR>
> and grimy. Why? Because improperly stowed gear onbard a ship<BR>
> can *kill* you. And even if it's "merely" lightweight personal<BR>
> possessions in your cabin, you'll stow them or fasten them down<BR>
> securely so *they* don't get damaged.<BR>
<BR>
While I liked Outland I preferred the BBC series Star Cops  (only<BR>
ran 9 episodes).<BR>
<BR>
    "In space, anything you forget to  bring  with  you  will<BR>
    kill you.  Anything you *do* remember  but  doesn't  work<BR>
    will kill you.  If in doubt assume everything's going  to<BR>
    kill you!"<BR>
<BR>
Workers in zero-G had a 'swear box' and had to put in a $1  every<BR>
time they let something drift away.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> The same should go for spacemen. Even moreso. On a habitable<BR>
> planet, if things stink, it's a nuisance. In space, if things<BR>
> stink it's either fault life support, or somebody not cleaning<BR>
> up stuff that might compromise life support later.<BR>
<BR>
In CT the original Type-S had a  nuisance  fault  with  its  life<BR>
support that would make the ship stink after only  a  few  weeks.<BR>
Either you had to keep changing the filters or replace  the  life<BR>
support system (and loose 1dt cargo capacity into the bargin).<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> Y'know, that ought to be a "world classification" like<BR>
> Non-industrial" or "Agricultural". Say, "habitable",<BR>
> "marginal", "artifical". With the "habitable" types and the<BR>
> "artifical" types *really* not understanding each other. The<BR>
> marginals won't take things for granted, the way the habitables<BR>
> do, but they aren't as paranoid as the artificals. (after all,<BR>
> on a marginal world, forgetting (say) your filter mask may<BR>
> "merely" put you in the hospital. <BR>
<BR>
Hmmm, how about this:<BR>
<BR>
    Mod = local Pop digit + TL digit - 17<BR>
    (more than zero equals 0, less than -8 equals -8)<BR>
<BR>
    Apply  Mod  as  penalty  to  reaction  rolls  of  spacers  to<BR>
    outsiders.  Local Pop digit is *local* pop digit (so if on an<BR>
    orbital base of 500  people  then  local  pop  digit  is  3).<BR>
    Reduce penalty by sum of Zero-G-Environment skill, Vacc  Suit<BR>
    skill, and years of service in Scounts or Navy.<BR>
<BR>
Thus, the higher the TL the more robust the  environment  is  and<BR>
thus the less paranoid spacers are.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> > Reminds me of that great scene in "Armageddon" where<BR>
> > the Russian cosmonaut claims he can fix the American<BR>
> > equipment, they say, "No, it's American components,<BR>
> > you won't know how to use them." He barges in and<BR>
> > starts hitting the equipment: "American components<BR>
> > (bash!) Russian components (bash!) all (bash!) made in<BR>
> > (bash) Taiwan! (bash! machine starts up again)" Sounds<BR>
> > right to me.<BR>
><BR>
> A semi-rational attitude. If you *need* the equipment, it's not<BR>
> working, and you don't have "proper" tools or instructions<BR>
> "bashing" it (not hard enough to break it, but hard enough to<BR>
> jostle loose connections and stuck valves) *is* a reasonable<BR>
> response. If you *do* have tools, manuals and parts, you go by<BR>
> the book (unless you've learned the book is wrong,, or that 90%<BR>
> of the time the problem is a bit of corrosion on a connector.<BR>
> Then a "bash" may be the "right" fix again. :-)<BR>
<BR>
I've found lots of engineering PCs (and non-engineering PCs  too)<BR>
bash things as a first resort  ...  "Emergency  Repair  Procedure<BR>
number 1" they call it.  Just to keep them on  their  toes,  next<BR>
time they bash  some  misfunctioning  piece  of  equipment:  have<BR>
something drop off!  <evil grin><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Regards PLST<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 12:16:01 -0500<BR>
From: "Chris Seamans" <semo@pil.net><BR>
Subject: Re: early christian writings and roman rumors<BR>
<BR>
From: Walter Smith <SmithW@HARTWICK.EDU><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> Bonus points to Chris for pushing the loaded term level from "biased" to<BR>
> "brainwashed", with extra points for adding the "slander" label to<BR>
> a fellow TMLer's opinion. <weg><BR>
<BR>
Yes, you used the term biased. On the other hand, you also made the claim<BR>
that, "...most of the people who pay serious attention to the Bible believe<BR>
that it is accurate (or at least truthful) before they even learn to read,<BR>
much less learn how to study history."<BR>
<BR>
In my estimation, such a statement goes beyond mere bias into the realm of<BR>
"brainwashing". My apologizes for the mischaracterization if the above<BR>
statement is not what you meant, and yes I do find that to be "something of<BR>
a slander" on those who have participated in the scholarly study of the<BR>
Bible.<BR>
<BR>
How I read your statement was that it is impossible for anyone who studies<BR>
the Bible to be incapable of being in anyway impartial.<BR>
<BR>
> Without a personal belief that the Bible is a highly significant<BR>
> document, you will not study it rigorously enough to produce any<BR>
> insights sufficiently developed to be accepted by respected Bible<BR>
> scholars as significant.<BR>
<BR>
What do you mean by that exactly? I'm not trying to trip you up here, but<BR>
your statement can be read in several ways, and there are many levels within<BR>
Biblical study: theology, biblical archeology, and the fuzzy areas where<BR>
several disciplines merge.<BR>
<BR>
>The majority of people performing these studies<BR>
> are of a religious bent, even if they are currently in a doubting or<BR>
> skeptical phase.<BR>
><BR>
> How about this: the majority of those studying the Bible have a<BR>
> spiritual bent, as those without one generally dismiss it out of hand.<BR>
<BR>
With all due respect, I'm unsure how any student of history, specifically<BR>
Western and Middle-Eastern history could dismess the Bible out of hand. Even<BR>
those who don't follow a faith or creed that is based on the Bible can see<BR>
that it is the work with the most influence on Western culture. The Old<BR>
Testament alone is central to three of the world's major religions. I'm<BR>
betting you said that with a straight face, too. ;)<BR>
<BR>
> With a spiritual bent - either for or against Chrisitianity - the Bible<BR>
> has value, either as a basis for a belief system, or as a weapon<BR>
> against belief systems (including Christianity).<BR>
<BR>
It also has value on many, many other levels. Which was my original point.<BR>
Even in theology, which is perhaps the study of the Bible at its most<BR>
"religious" is marked by a great debate concerning interpretation itself.<BR>
Still, the statement above is a complete turn around from your original<BR>
statement.<BR>
<BR>
>If spiritual matters<BR>
> are unimportant, then the Bible is a historical and literary artifact,<BR>
> more valuable as a source of indirect historical/social information<BR>
> (as the Greek myths provide context to Mediterrenean cultures)<BR>
> rather than for it's limited direct historical references.<BR>
<BR>
This is the case for many people to whom spiritual matters *are* important<BR>
as well. It's been that way ever since the early 18th century! Even so, it's<BR>
not a terribly indirect document. There is no doubt that the Bible was<BR>
*written* by people who lived in antiquity, and has over the course of<BR>
millenia remained pretty much unchanged. If my memory serves me well, the<BR>
fragments and books of the Old Testament known as the Dead Sea Scrolls don't<BR>
differ significantly from other later versions of the books of the Old<BR>
Testament. This is of real importance, as you're dealing with a text that<BR>
has remained unchanged nearly from the beginning of recorded history.<BR>
<BR>
If that's not a direct voice from the past, I don't know what is. ;)<BR>
<BR>
Now, on the other hand, the study of the Bible's "limited, direct historical<BR>
references" is only one small part of the study of the Bible, even though it<BR>
is the one which is most popular. Everyone loves books like "The Passover<BR>
Plot," and the evidence of the "real" flood discovered in the Middle-East<BR>
makes for great news filler...<BR>
<BR>
Ach, this is terribly off topic. ;) If you want to move it to private mail I<BR>
surely won't object.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 12:19:05 -0500 (EST)<BR>
From: Kenji Schwarz <schwarz@fas.harvard.edu><BR>
Subject: Re: Rule of man coin<BR>
<BR>
On Mon, 29 Nov 1999, Glenn Goffin wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> Kenji, you've been told wrong.  The convention in<BR>
> Latin, followed today in other gendered romance<BR>
> languages, is that, in general, if a plural inflected<BR>
> word (typically noun, pronoun, adjective, or past<BR>
> participle) refers to both men and women, the gender<BR>
> of that word is masculine.  So Smith can have an<BR>
> alumnae association, but Swarthmore must have an<BR>
> alumni association.  (Exempli grati:  compare "Jean et<BR>
> Marie sont venus" with "Marie et Janette sont<BR>
> venues".)<BR>
<BR>
Yes, you're right, and I phrased my response poorly -- the original post<BR>
about PCness was referring to singular forms, which is what I meant to be<BR>
replying to.  To which I meant to be replying, as long as I'm being a<BR>
pedantic idiot.<BR>
<BR>
Kenji<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 13:34:41 -0500<BR>
From: "Smith, Walter" <SmithW@hartwick.edu><BR>
Subject: re: early christian writings and roman rumors<BR>
<BR>
Robert has reminded me that this kind of thing really shouldn't be<BR>
on the list. I was more interested in the subjects of bias and<BR>
*perception of bias* than attacking or defending anyone's religion,<BR>
thus my ObTrav on interacting with divided and highly prejudiced<BR>
societies. I should have been more perceptive as to where such a <BR>
discussion would naturally go. I apologize for not being more <BR>
considerate, both of the theists on the list and the other list<BR>
members.<BR>
<BR>
Walt Smith<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 13:52:51 -0500<BR>
From: Ian Ferguson <ian@vax2.concordia.ca><BR>
Subject: RE: Low TL Medicines<BR>
<BR>
The Roc writes:<BR>
>>In other words, are PCs who purchase laudanum on a TL-4 world<BR>
>>subject to Imperial sanctions if they sell said laudanum on a<BR>
>>TL-13 world that strictly regulates opiates?<BR>
>Because of real world examples, I'd have to go with "yes."  Here<BR>
>in Australia for example, there are drugs commonly found in the<BR>
>U.S., U.K., and Europe for such things as diverse as impotence<BR>
>to cancer related pain-relief, that are not "approved"  by the<BR>
>AMA (the Australian Medical Association).  This means that such<BR>
>drugs cannot be imported (or manufactured here) for sale here.<BR>
<snipped><BR>
<BR>
	Your reasoning works for explaining why some drugs may be<BR>
	illegal on some worlds and not others, but I can't see the<BR>
	Imperium being interested.  IMTU, even Psi drugs are not<BR>
	explicitly banned by the Imperium, though any significant<BR>
	trade in these drugs is likely to attract attention.<BR>
<BR>
Peez<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 14:14:29 -0500<BR>
From: "Chris Seamans" <semo@pil.net><BR>
Subject: Re: early christian writings and roman rumors<BR>
<BR>
From: Smith, Walter <SmithW@hartwick.edu><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> Robert has reminded me that this kind of thing really shouldn't be<BR>
> on the list. I was more interested in the subjects of bias and<BR>
> *perception of bias* than attacking or defending anyone's religion,<BR>
> thus my ObTrav on interacting with divided and highly prejudiced<BR>
> societies. I should have been more perceptive as to where such a<BR>
> discussion would naturally go. I apologize for not being more<BR>
> considerate, both of the theists on the list and the other list<BR>
> members.<BR>
<BR>
Honestly, I really wasn't getting to the point where I was going to blow my<BR>
top or anything. It just so happens that right now, literally as we speak,<BR>
I'm composing a paper for class which is concerned with biblical<BR>
interpretation. I didn't see you as attacking anything, but it seemed as if<BR>
you were painting a picture that was at odds with reality.<BR>
<BR>
I'm not offended, although raised in a Christian household, I'm not overly<BR>
zealous of it, and frankly, I'm not too terribly fond of the concept of<BR>
religions in general. *However* there is a heck of a lot of discussion out<BR>
there that's been going on over the last two centuries or so on this<BR>
subject, and I honestly feel that you mischaracterized this in your first<BR>
post.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 13:52:03 -0600<BR>
From: Alex Ingram <ingram@airmail.net><BR>
Subject: Police Career<BR>
<BR>
Jeff Zeitlin wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> I can't comment on the Rogue or PI careers, but I can comment<BR>
> on the Police career, since my job puts me in daily contact with<BR>
> police on the job in all aspects.<BR>
<BR>
I really liked what you have proposed and find several new ideals which I<BR>
may integrate<BR>
into MTU. I've also been working on a Police career system for several<BR>
years.<BR>
Here are some of my ideals:<BR>
<BR>
There are local (planetary) and Imperial police within my game. I am<BR>
dealing here with the<BR>
Imperial Police Force (IMPOL). It is a comprehensive organization with<BR>
many responsibilities.<BR>
I see the Imperial Police operating only on Imperial worlds and starports<BR>
and not just any planet. IMPOL functions like a national police force. I<BR>
have<BR>
studied many different law enforcement organizations: the FBI, Interpol,<BR>
ATF, DEA, Secret Service,<BR>
Bureau of Prisons, NYPD, LAPD and Scotland Yards and have added many of<BR>
their duties and<BR>
roles to my system:<BR>
<BR>
Imperial Police Force<BR>
<BR>
Enforcement Branch - Uniformed patrol officers<BR>
<BR>
     Enforcement (Traffic and Foot Patrol / Police Storefront Operations)<BR>
     Bomb Squad (Bomb & Explosive Ordnance Disposal)<BR>
     Hostage Rescue & Negotiation (Special Weapons & Tactics Teams /<BR>
Hostage Negotiators)<BR>
     Animal Teams (Formerly K-9) (there may be other types of animals used<BR>
in police work)<BR>
     Air Patrol (may include a Parachute Wilderness Rescue & Recovery<BR>
Team)<BR>
     Harbor Patrol (may include a Water Rescue & Recovery Team / Scuba<BR>
Team)<BR>
     Liaison Affairs (Special Details / Ceremonial Units, Community<BR>
Relations)<BR>
<BR>
Investigative Branch (Detectives)<BR>
    Major Crimes (Homicide / Grand Theft / Robbery / etc.)<BR>
    Career Felon Apprehension Teams<BR>
    Gang Unit<BR>
    Vice Squad<BR>
    Special Task Forces<BR>
    Cyber Crimes<BR>
    Sex Crimes<BR>
    Behavioral Science (Psychologist, Profilers)<BR>
<BR>
Security Services Branch<BR>
     Executive Security (includes Court Security and Special Executive<BR>
Protections Details)<BR>
     Witness Protection (protection and relocation of witnesses)<BR>
     Corrections (Imperial Prisons & Jails)<BR>
     Parole Office (monitoring progress of released prisoners)<BR>
     Customs / Immigration (generally at starports)<BR>
<BR>
Special Branch (Criminal Intelligence)<BR>
     Internal Affairs<BR>
     The Inspectorate (police with noble titles dealing with crimes<BR>
involving other nobles)<BR>
     Terrorism / Counter Terrorism Task Force<BR>
<BR>
Support Services Branch<BR>
     Communications<BR>
     Motor Pool<BR>
     Evidence / Property Room<BR>
     Crime Lab<BR>
     Personnel<BR>
     Accounting<BR>
     Logistics<BR>
     Contract Services (licenses and overseas Private Investigators and<BR>
Bounty Hunters and assigns<BR>
            felon recovery and other cases as needed)<BR>
<BR>
Imperial Police Academy<BR>
       Instructor<BR>
<BR>
Office of the Commissioner<BR>
        Special Liaison or Aid<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
New Police Skills:<BR>
<BR>
Truth & Identity Analysis - Using techniques and technology that help<BR>
identify either victims or criminals<BR>
by standard laboratory techniques such as fingerprints, dental records,<BR>
DNA matching, rental patterns,<BR>
brain waves, etc. as well as using polygraphs, stress detectors, hypnosis<BR>
and truth drugs in determining facts<BR>
and data.<BR>
<BR>
Surveillance / Counter Surveillance - Using a variety to surveillance<BR>
technologies to monitor and record criminal activities.<BR>
<BR>
Forensics - Crime Laboratory<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Alex Ingram<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 12:11:43 -0800 (PST)<BR>
From: Glenn Goffin <gmgoffin@yahoo.com><BR>
Subject: Re:  Low TL Medicines <BR>
<BR>
>From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net><BR>
>Subject: Low TL Medicines (was: Re: Rule of man coin)<BR>
<BR>
>Bringing this back to Traveller:<BR>
>At least here on Terra, advances in medicines have <BR>
>often been aimed at reducing the side-effects of <BR>
>otherwise-effective drugs.  <BR>
<BR>
That's only sometimes true, and only in very recent<BR>
times.  The history of drugs -- and medicine in<BR>
general -- is by no means a simple, linear advance.  <BR>
<BR>
>Thus, paregoric (which was often prescribed to<BR>
>relieve diarrhea, as opiates tend to cause <BR>
>constipation) was replaced by compounds which also <BR>
>relieved diarrhea, without the narcotic side-effects <BR>
>of paregoric.  <BR>
<BR>
Of course, before paregoric, one treated diarrhea with<BR>
large amounts of water (to replace fluids lost) and,<BR>
if I recall correctly, ginger and chamomille, which<BR>
are stomach tonics.  Water, ginger, and chamomille<BR>
have no side effects at all, and they don't stop the<BR>
diarrhea very quickly.<BR>
<BR>
>Similarly, there has been a trend in antihistamines <BR>
>toward compounds that are less likely to cause <BR>
>drowsiness.  <BR>
<BR>
Of course, you won't get drowsy at all if you don't<BR>
take anti-histamines.  Acupuncture, vitamin C, and<BR>
water all help clear the sinuses with no side effects.<BR>
<BR>
>Presumably, as a general rule, as TL increases, drug <BR>
>side-effects decrease.<BR>
<BR>
It can go either way, actually.  It depends on the<BR>
drug culture more than anything else.  As TL<BR>
increases, it's possible to isolate more and more<BR>
specifically what extrinsic chemical is affecting what<BR>
part or system of the body.  Isolated effects can<BR>
cause severe side effects in other systems.  On the<BR>
other hand, as understanding of the body's systems<BR>
improves, it's likely that treatment will focus on<BR>
helping the whole person be healthy, not just getting<BR>
rid of a particular symptom.  <BR>
<BR>
>The question then become:<BR>
>To what extent (if any) does the Imperium regulate <BR>
>the interstellar transport of medicinal compounds <BR>
>between worlds, if said compounds are legal on the <BR>
>world of origin?  <BR>
<BR>
I've said it before, and I'll say it again:  The<BR>
Imperium does not regulate drug traffic, except to the<BR>
extent that drugs become a threat to the security of<BR>
the realm.  If opium is legal on Efate and illegal on<BR>
Pyasadi, Efate and Pysadi have some tension to work<BR>
out between themselves, but it's not the Imperium's<BR>
problem.  <BR>
<BR>
>If there is no formal Imperial regulation of such <BR>
>compounds, does the Imperium at least attempt to help<BR>
<BR>
>worlds maintain their own regulations on importation <BR>
>of medicinal compounds?<BR>
<BR>
Nope.  That's why you have the Imperial Rules of War. <BR>
If Pysadi hires the PCs to take out the drug barons of<BR>
Efate, that's not a matter of Imperial law nor a<BR>
subject for Imperial intervention.<BR>
<BR>
>In other words, are PCs who purchase laudanum on a <BR>
>TL-4 world subject to Imperial sanctions if they sell<BR>
<BR>
>said laudanum on a TL-13 world that strictly <BR>
>regulates opiates?<BR>
<BR>
Nope; see supra.  <BR>
<BR>
How about this situation?  <BR>
<BR>
A plant grows in a certain rich soil on a certain<BR>
world.  When cooked properly, the plant makes a tea<BR>
that is very effective in treating a certain serious<BR>
disease.  SuSAG, LIC, makes a drug utilizing different<BR>
chemicals that is also effective in treating that<BR>
disease.  SuSAG's drug is far more expensive than the<BR>
plant, but it can be manufactured anywhere.  SuSAG's<BR>
drug may or may not have severe side effects.<BR>
<BR>
1) SuSAG has been able to get the world where the<BR>
plant is grown interdicted.  The PC are hired by a<BR>
rival company to bring back seeds and soil samples, so<BR>
that the company can compete with SuSAG in this<BR>
market.<BR>
<BR>
2) An epidemic of that disease has begun, and SuSAG is<BR>
unable to manufacture the drug fast enough.  Can the<BR>
PCs harvest enough of the plant to help?<BR>
<BR>
3) SuSAG started the epidemic.<BR>
<BR>
4) The interdicted world where the plant grows<BR>
regularly gets its stuff off-world and onto the drug<BR>
market, which drives SuSAG crazy.  SuSAG hires the PCs<BR>
to wipe out that world's agricultural sector.<BR>
<BR>
- --Glenn<BR>
__________________________________________________<BR>
Do You Yahoo!?<BR>
Thousands of Stores.  Millions of Products.  All in one place.<BR>
Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 14:08:58 -0600<BR>
From: Dan Roseberry <rosebee@troi.csw.net><BR>
Subject: RE: Police Ranks<BR>
<BR>
Glenn Goffin wrote:<BR>
>Before we get too far into Yanks-and-Brits in Space,<BR>
<BR>
Yes. Please can't we all get along ;-)<BR>
<BR>
>let's remember that law enforcement can occur under a<BR>
>large variety of paradigms.  In rural areas today, for<BR>
>example, law enforcement may be in the hands of a<BR>
>locally-based person or organization <abridged snip><BR>
> or of a representative of the central government or of<BR>
>the military, or of paramilitary organizations<BR>
<BR>
Yes again! In my locality we have at least 15-16 seperate<BR>
public and private law enforcement organisations ranging<BR>
from the city police to National Park Rangers to the<BR>
Secret Service and state game wardens. On the lakes<BR>
we have city, county sherrif, and Coast Guard Auxilliary<BR>
boats (although I don't know what the extent of the<BR>
Coast Guard Auxilliaries powers are).<BR>
<BR>
Twilight:2000 (1st ed-I don't have the 2nd) always had<BR>
good rank tables for different services and countries--<BR>
I'm especially thinking of the RDF Sourcebook. Any<BR>
examples of police ranks in a similar fashion? Also,<BR>
you gotta know that the Vilani did things different from<BR>
us upstarts; how might they have done things?<BR>
<BR>
Dan Roseberry(plop101) yeah yeah yeah I have'nt forgot<BR>
about the SMC ship(s); I'll post something latter this wk.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
End of Traveller-digest V1999 #1415<BR>
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