Chapter 37

[Jim Vassilakos]

(I may add some sort of dream sequence to the beginning of this, but for now we’ll start with…)

The acrid smell of bleach filled my nostrils, and I reflexively blinked.

“Are you okay, sir?”

A marine with an INS Jaqueline patch on his shoulder leaned over me. He had some sort of scanner in one hand, and in the other was a small red tube of standard issue respiratory stimulant; i.e., smelling salts. Needless to say, my wrists and those of Captain Masa were no longer cuffed, but as for the two guards who’d arrested us, they were now prone and cuffed to each other, hands to feet, which looked rather uncomfortable, not to mention a bit kinky.

“Our perimeter is secure, Captain,” Force Commander Fa’Linto said from off to my left, “but the locals are starting to get rambunctious.” He was in full battle dress with a built-in FGMP.

“Come out with your hands up!” a loudspeaker blared somewhere off in the distance. “This is your last warning!”

“I don’t want to have to kill them all, sir, but if that’s your wish, just give the order.”

“Negative,” I replied, shaking my head. No killing, not for this. “We’re not dead, and at least some of them are just following orders. Status report. And where’s our ride out?”

(OOC: Let’s pause here to see if Timothy would like to jump in as the marine force commander or another NPC.)

[Conrad Rader]

"How much of a mess did you make coming in Commander?"

I began issuing commands over my wristcom, telling the Jackie to put me in touch with the local forces using whatever Navy override was applicable for the situation. Imperial policy was to let worlds govern themselves, but they were all part of the Imperium, and the Navy had broad rights to intervene when situations arose that threatened Imperial supremacy. I was fairly sure that tasing a uniformed captain over a visa irregularity  counted in that respect.

I checked in on Masa.

"What the hell kind of hospitality was that?"

I checked in on the psychic link. I needed to figure out what the hell Jodefeen meant calling me a manipulator. And what had happened. Dealing with local authorities was easier than dealing with my strange Intelligence lieutenant.

[[OOC just had some free time before the holiday break to add in some of my future actions.]]

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[Jim Vassilakos]

“I don’t want to have to kill them all, sir, but if that’s your wish, just give the order.”

I looked around, trying to shake the fog from my mind and see if my link with Josefeen was still intact. «You there?» Several marines were standing around us in their coats and slacks, their military salad bars prominently displayed, but a few others were, like their commander, dressed to kill, their powered armor giving no hint of their ranks or decorations.

“Sir?”

“Negative,” I replied, shaking my head. No killing, not for this. “We’re not dead, and at least some of them are just following orders. Status report. And where’s our ride out?”

“I’m working on the ride.”

“Oh? How much of a mess did you make coming in, Commander?”

He tilted his head slightly. “Hardly any, sir. Thanks to Captain Masa, we were already on site when your call came in.”

I turned to Masa. He shrugged. “I thought it might be appropriate to include some of your marines in the ceremony,” he explained.

“In battle dress?”

“That was my idea, sir,” Fa’Linto said. “In any case, the only mess we made was scaring a few bystanders and…” — he gestured to the cuffed guards — “this.” As for any political mess… not my problem.

That last part, albeit unspoken, was typical marine “I’m not paid to worry about politics” logic, and he was, of course, correct. He was paid to follow orders, and that’s exactly what he did, but there would be political fallout, and as the one who called for help, that fallout would most certainly fall on me.

I began issuing commands over my wristcom, telling the Jackie to put me in touch with the local forces using whatever Navy override was applicable for the situation. The voice on the other end of the line sounded familiar, and I could, for a brief moment, picture Spacehand Blodder panicking as her fingers dashed over the comm station controls as she tried to figure out who to call.

Imperial policy was to let worlds govern themselves, but they were all part of the Imperium, and the Navy had broad rights to intervene when situations arose that threatened Imperial supremacy. And I was fairly sure tasing a uniformed captain over a visa irregularity violated that general rule. But, of course, the devil was always in the details, and I didn’t know the specifics of every worlds’ articles of membership.

During all this, the air began to stink, and Masa looked up at the ventilation ducts.

“They’re piping in air from outside,” he said.

I’d left my filter mask in the Kinnuki. “What the hell kind of hospitality is this?”

“Hospitality designed to put us in a hospital, I’m guessing.”

«Josefeen, are you there?»

“Sir,” my wristcom chirped, “I have a Lieutenant Muuna of the HPSS on the line.”

[Conrad Rader]

On Sat, Nov 25, 2023 at 11:15 PM Jim Vassilakos <jim.vas...@gmail.com> wrote:

“I don’t want to have to kill them all, sir, but if that’s your wish, just give the order.”

I looked around, trying to shake the fog from my mind and see if my link with Josefeen was still intact. «You there?» Several marines were standing around us in their coats and slacks, their military salad bars prominently displayed, but a few others were, like their commander, dressed to kill, their powered armor giving no hint of their ranks or decorations.

“Sir?”

“Negative,” I replied, shaking my head. No killing, not for this. “We’re not dead, and at least some of them are just following orders. Status report. And where’s our ride out?”

“I’m working on the ride.”

“Oh? How much of a mess did you make coming in, Commander?”

He tilted his head slightly. “Hardly any, sir. Thanks to Captain Masa, we were already on site when your call came in.”

I turned to Masa. He shrugged. “I thought it might be appropriate to include some of your marines in the ceremony,” he explained.

“In battle dress?”

“That was my idea, sir,” Fa’Linto said. “In any case, the only mess we made was scaring a few bystanders and…” — he gestured to the cuffed guards — “this.” As for any political mess… not my problem.

That last part, albeit unspoken, was typical marine “I’m not paid to worry about politics” logic, and he was, of course, correct. He was paid to follow orders, and that’s exactly what he did, but there would be political fallout, and as the one who called for help, that fallout would most certainly fall on me.

[[Well, at least I did not have to explain holes in the local architecture from a hot combat drop. That was something. Plus we could still make some holes. I noted that the FGMP was fully charged.]]

I began issuing commands over my wristcom, telling the Jackie to put me in touch with the local forces using whatever Navy override was applicable for the situation. The voice on the other end of the line sounded familiar, and I could, for a brief moment, picture Spacehand Blodder panicking as her fingers dashed over the comm station controls as she tried to figure out who to call.

[[The evaluating officer in me noted the panic, and reminded myself to note competence under duress, but also to evaluate with some more stressful situations. Blodder might do well moving up into a combat controller, rather than just handling comms.]]

Imperial policy was to let worlds govern themselves, but they were all part of the Imperium, and the Navy had broad rights to intervene when situations arose that threatened Imperial supremacy. And I was fairly sure tasing a uniformed captain over a visa irregularity violated that general rule. But, of course, the devil was always in the details, and I didn’t know the specifics of every worlds’ articles of membership.

During all this, the air began to stink, and Masa looked up at the ventilation ducts.

“They’re piping in air from outside,” he said.

I’d left my filter mask in the Kinnuki. “What the hell kind of hospitality is this?”

“Hospitality designed to put us in a hospital, I’m guessing.”

«Josefeen, are you there?»

“Sir,” my wristcom chirped, “I have a Lieutenant Muuna of the HPSS on the line.”

[["Lieutenant Muuna. This is Captain Plankwell. It seems we have a situation."

I checked my wristcom for the override that Blodder had used.

"According to Planetary Code, Section 678, I hereby order you to stand down your forces and cease offensive operations. The surrounding area out to 1 kilometer is hereby placed under Imperial Military Jurisdiction on the basis of offenses done to a serving officer of the Imperial Navy, to wit the assault by planetary security officers to serving officers. I declare such actions interdicted, until resolved to the satisfaction of a Navy Tribunal that said actions were not an incipient attack on the sovereignty of the Imperium."

"Jaqueline, you are ordered to route retrieval assets to my position. You will keep an open channel and record and deliver a real time notification to the local authorities that Section 678 has been invoked and link them to the real time channel."

Not bad, Blodder. A little heavy handed but maybe called for in the circumstance. Section 678 was standard to all organizational treaties that the Imperium used to relate to worlds that claimed Imperial status. It was most often used when local situations grew out of control and Imperial interests were damaged. It was the pretext clause that anyone that allowed harm to come to Imperial interests did not have the wishes of the Imperium foremost in their hearts. Imperial law on the application of 678 was pretty solid and if I considered myself, and Captain Masa as interests (which we were) then injury had been done. The only interesting wrinkle was that I had survived the injury to invoke 678. That was usually done from orbit after the obliteration of the interests in question had been recorded.]]

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[Jim Vassilakos]

“Lieutenant Muuna. This is Captain Plankwell. It seems we have a situation.” 

“Indeed, Captain, it seems we do,” a woman’s voice replied. Something about her tone told me this would not be easy, so I decided to hit her with my trump card.

“Pursuant to Interplanetary Code, Section 678, I hereby order you to stand down your forces and cease offensive operations. The surrounding area out to one kilometer is hereby placed under Imperial Military Jurisdiction on the basis of offenses done to a serving officer of the Imperial Navy, to wit the assault by planetary security officers to serving officers. I declare such actions interdicted, until resolved to the satisfaction of a Navy Tribunal that said actions were not an incipient attack on the sovereignty of the Imperium.”

“Captain, with all due respect, we both know you don’t have authority to invoke Section 678. You’re not even a member of the local fleet. If Admiral Karneticky wants to play that game, fine. We’ll stand down. But until then, you need to release your hostages or we’re coming in to get them.”

[Conrad Rader]

"You'll find that the Navy does not share that attitude. I am in full command of my vessel in detached operations. I have all the authorization I need to prosecute this being the assaulted officer in question. I have detained your officers, they are not hostages, you can come on in and get them. Send a medic with two unarmed officers. I have transportation inbound, it will not be detained or harassed. Any further action against myself or any Navy personnel will be construed as an act of rebellion and responded to as such by the forces at my command. I don't know who decided to let this get out of hand, but I will be the one to end it."

I decided not to mention the exterior air coming in. Fa'Linto cocked their head at me and I nodded, the unspoken question answered. If I died or anything happened that they considered a hostile action, the leash was off. "Respond in kind, Commander. The Navy might still need this as an operations base, and it costs to put a planet under military rule." But then, that too was something the Navy was used to doing.

"Lieutenant Muuna, please believe me when I say I do not wish this to escalate further. I am on the surface to mourn the passing of Navy personnel that died defending the Imperium. Both Captain Masa and myself were complying with unreasonable demands from your personnel, when force was applied, that's when we stopped being polite guests. I can imagine that you and I are no strangers to violence, but do not for one moment think I am unwilling to employ it. Jewell has assaulted the Navy, and on our honor, it shall not pass."

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[Jim Vassilakos]

A bulky gravcar with HPSS emblazoned on its side floated down from the ceiling shaft at the far end of the garage. Then its doors opened and out came two people, one of them clearly a medic. The other was a young woman, no firearm, but she wore a helmet and flak vest.

“Captain Plankwell?”

From her voice, I could tell she was the HPSS lieutenant I’d just been talking with. She glanced down at the two guards who were still on the cement, their wrists cuffed to each others’ ankles, then put out her hand for a shake, though I sensed annoyance over how my marines had bound her comrades.

[Conrad Rader]

"Lieutenant." I shook the hand offered. A firm grip.

"Commander, release our detainees into the Lieutenant's custody. We will be retaining the weapons as evidence. Lieutenant, I appreciate your professionalism. We have a full record of the entire interaction my marines had in quelling the assault. We will, of course, share this at the Tribunal. We have also taken a full biometric assay to confirm the identities of these officers." Both of these things were standard procedure in operations. The Navy liked to know its enemies.

"I will be maintaining Imperial Military control over this entire area until the conclusion of the memorial, and then I will be returning to my ship. I perfectly understand if Jewell decides to not invite me back to the surface. I doubt I will desire to. In any case, Jewell civilian forces are granted the right to operate in the interdiction area during the period of military control. Force Commander Fa'Linto here will be the liaison officer if anything is required."

Fa'Linto waved the FGMP in our general direction. I liked this marine. A lot.

I idly wondered if this had reached the Countess yet. The way things were going, it looked like our next interaction would have a lot less deference on my part. 

Cragshabullen, I was done with being a toady for Admiral Idiot.

<<Josefeen, still alive?>>

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[Jim Vassilakos]

 “Lieutenant.” I shook the hand offered. A firm grip. “Commander, release our detainees into the Lieutenant’s custody. We will be retaining the weapons as evidence.”

His soldiers moved quickly to comply, uncuffing the two guards, and as they stood up without assistance, it became apparent they’d suffered no injuries save perhaps to their pride.

Thanks be to Cleon, Lt. Muuna thought.

“Lieutenant, I appreciate your professionalism. We have a full record of the entire interaction my marines had in quelling the assault. We will, of course, share this at the Tribunal. We have also taken a full biometric assay to confirm the identities of these officers.” Both of these things were standard procedure in operations. The Navy liked to know its enemies.

Tribunal?

“I will be maintaining Imperial Military control over this entire area until the conclusion of the memorial, and then I will be returning to my ship. I perfectly understand if Jewell decides to not invite me back to the surface. I doubt I will desire to. In any case, Jewell civilian forces are granted the right to operate in the interdiction area during the period of military control. Force Commander Fa’Linto here will be the liaison officer if anything is required.”

Fa’Linto, smiling grimly, waved his FGMP in our general direction, prompting wrinkles to form along the young woman’s forehead.

I found myself liking my Marine Force Commander all the more and idly wondered if this had reached the Countess yet. The way things were going, it looked like our next interaction would involve a lot less deference on my part. Likewise with the Admiral. I was done being a toady.

Lt. Muuna was either a telepath or she could read the expression on my face, as rather than argue with me, she took the two guards and left without another word. To be fair, she might have questioned my sanity, as invoking Section 678 was arguably beyond my authority, since I wasn’t the senior naval officer on the planet. But I was the senior naval officer from my fleet, and it was my fleet (and, more specifically, my person) who’d been physically attacked. Regardless, it wasn’t her place to tell me no. She’d no doubt let her superiors address it with mine, and a complaint would be sent to Admiral Vasilyev, by which point, with any luck, I’d be long gone. Speaking of people long gone…

«Josefeen, are you alive?»

But there was no response. Our psychic bond had apparently been severed courtesy of the Canon’s holy sacrament. I could hope she hadn’t OD’d.

“Do you still want to reach out to the Countess?” Captain Masa asked.

[Conrad Rader]

[[OOC So sorry about the delay; my counterpart at the other campus library is leaving, and I have been named Interim Manager of that library as well as managing my own, oye, no rest for the capable. I am also short staffed due to a COVID outbreak, so things have been jumping. Knock on wood, I am OK so far, just so so tired...]]

"Um, no, I don't think that will be necessary. How far off schedule has this incident thrown us?"

Technically, since I had capped the area with an Imperial interdict, everyone had to apply for permission to enter the zone of control. I suspected that the Countess would be contacting me, or at least her staff.

I tapped my comm

"Lt Abbonnette, report in. We are changing our plans and returning to the staging area."

"Jaqueline, orders. This area is under 768 Interdiction. Please assemble a Tribunal, Commander Nizlich to preside. Coordinate with Jewell Control to reroute airspace traffic around the interdiction zone. Begin recalling all shore leave personnel. Coordinate with Force Commander Fa'Linto to begin assembling evidentiary timeline and exhibits. Request additional resources from Jewell and inform them of the proceedings against their officers.Move to General Operations, Condition 2"

General Operations put the Jaqueline back in an operational stance. Condition two indicated on-going operations. Mostly it was to shore up my use of 768. and a response to having navy personnel under threat.

I knew I had overstepped by using the threat of rebellion to enforce my order, it was time to start walking it back. Something was off about that one officer, though, and I had a lot of leeway in investigating the circumstances leading to the incident.

I turned to Masa. "Not how I expected today to go." I noticed some charring on his uniform where the bolt had struck, and I looked down to where my own uniform was similarly marked. "This was brand new."

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[Jim Vassilakos]

 “Do you still want to reach out to the Countess?” Captain Masa asked.

“Um, no, I don’t think that will be necessary. How far off schedule has this incident thrown us?”

He glanced at his wristcom. “We’ve still got over fourteen deplars… uh… about an hour and a half for you spacers.”

“You’re a spacer too,” I replied.

“Yes, but I’m assigned to a base,” he said, brushing himself off with his hands until his fingers located the two small holes in his uniform where the taser’s barbs had penetrated. “Great Cleon, I can’t believe that happened. I knew there was some anti-Navy sentiment among some of the population, but even in the HPSS? They literally stunned us over what? A technical problem over what port you’re allowed to enter? It’s obscene what this planet is turning into. I promise you, Captain, I am going to deal with this.”

“I intend to deal with it myself,” I said.

Technically, since I had capped the area with an Imperial interdiction, everyone had to apply for permission to enter the zone of control. Nonetheless, I didn’t have the manpower situated to achieve that. As far as I knew, the HPSS was still doing their job. But at this point, who really knew? Regardless, I suspected the Countess would be contacting me, or at least her staff. Hence, there was no reason for me to try to contact her.

I tapped my wristcom.

“Lt. Abbonnette, report in. We are changing our plans and returning to the staging area.”

No response. Either Josefeen was still flying the psychedelic skies or something terrible had happened.

I tapped it again.

“Jaqueline, orders. This area is under 678 Interdiction. Please assemble a Tribunal, Commander Nizlich to preside. Coordinate with Jewell Control to reroute airspace traffic around the interdiction zone. Begin recalling all shore leave personnel. Coordinate with Force Commander Fa’Linto to begin assembling an evidentiary timeline and exhibits. Request additional resources from Jewell, and inform them of the proceedings against their officers. Move to General Operations, Condition 2.”

“Aye aye, sir,” Blodder replied.

General Operations put the Jaqueline back in an operational stance. Condition 2 indicated on-going operations. Mostly it was to shore up my use of Section 678 as a response to having navy personnel under threat.

I realized I’d overstepped by using the presumption of rebellion to justify my order, and it was time to start walking it back. Something was off about that one officer, though, and I had a lot of leeway in investigating the circumstances leading to the incident.

I turned to Masa. “Not how I expected today to go.” I looked down to where my own uniform was similarly punctured. “This was brand new.”

“I’ll talk to the Admiral,” he said. “With his approval, the 678 will stick, and then we’ll nail those bastards to a wall. By the way,” he added, “invoking it was act of genius, the sort of move Olav himself would have made.” Masa, albeit a senior captain, saluted me, the junior one.

(So you head back to the elevator?)

[Conrad Rader]

I nodded and returned the salute. Sudden exhaustion flooded me as the adrenaline began to recede.

"Thank you, for everything."

I gestured for him to lead the way back to the elevator.

"Commander Fa'Linto, can you task us with a bodyguard? Preferably in armor, and no, not you. You are to clean up the scene and take the transport to stationkeeping overwatch. Lt Abbonnette hasn't reported in and I am mildly worried."

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[Jim Vassilakos]

Masa, albeit a senior captain, saluted me, the junior one, and though surprised, I nodded and returned his salute. Sudden exhaustion flooded me as the adrenaline began to recede.

“Thank you, for everything.”

I gestured for him to lead the way back to the elevator.

“Commander Fa’Linto, can you task us with a bodyguard? Preferably in armor, and no, not you. You are to clean up the scene and take a transport to Stationkeeping Overwatch. Lt. Abbonnette hasn't reported in and I am mildly worried.”

“Aye aye, sir,” he replied. (What is Stationkeeping Overwatch?)

Masa pushed the button for the elevator, and when the doors opened, Admiral Karneticky was standing there holding small case with the Imperial Starburst prominently emblazoned on one side. Was that Josefeen’s diplomatic pouch?

Oh shit, he thought as he looked at me, but quickly recovered.

“What in Cleon’s bunghole is going on?!”

[Conrad Rader]

[[Stationkeeping overwatch positions a vehicle where it has clear sensor views and ability to keep watch over a designated area, as opposed to a patrol overwatch where the vehicle follows a path. I am putting them in a reaction position. Overwatch also implies authorized reaction to threats, i.e. sniper counterfire. Technically Jaqueline is overwatching both of us, but Fa'Linto can respond quicker. I assume Jackie is connecting a real time feed to the transport to supplement their own sensors]]

I reached out and took the case from him.

"Thank you, Admiral, for securing our dispatches. Where is my lieutenant?"

[[I intend to get the pouch back from him, and will hang on regardless of what he does. Interesting that my telepathy is still working]]

[[Let Masa deal with the Admiral, I have an interdict to administer]]

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[Jim Vassilakos]

 “Thank you, Admiral, for securing our dispatches,” I said, reaching out and taking the case from him. It was obvious to me he didn’t want to relinquish it, but he let go.

“I had no choice but to take it,” he explained. “Your lieutenant decided to partake in a religious sacrament that rendered her quick insensible, and I couldn’t just leave this there unguarded.”

“I quite understand. Where is she?”

“Physically, she’s in the green room sitting next to the Canon, but mentally… oh, mentally only Cleon knows where she is, and perhaps not even he. You see, the Canon’s faith requires the use of — oh, how shall I put this? — it requires the ingestion of substances of a mind-altering nature. As for your lieutenant, I’d keep her on a short leash if I were you. Now you tell me what’s going on down here. What’s this I hear about our people having some sort of altercation with the HPSS?”

“We were attacked,” Masa said, pointing out the two tiny holes in his uniform. “It was completely unprovoked, and Captain Plankwell invoked Section 678.”

“What?!” Karneticky turned to me, his mouth falling open.

[Conrad Rader]

"Relations with that Navy have indeed fallen low that I was forced to take such a stance."

I fingered my own uniform holes.

"In any case, I have empanelled a Tribunal, begun collecting evidence and have informed HPSS that for the time being, we are in charge of this area. An HPSS Lieutenant Muuna seemed doubtful, but I assured her I was well within my rights. I shall, of course, keep your office informed of the progress. The interdict will continue until the tribunal resolves the charges of assault on Naval personnel. Unless of course, new information comes to light."

I stopped rubbing the holes in my uniform and straightened my stance and focused all my attention on him.

"Oh, you mentioned the Canon using mind altering substances in a religious ritual? Being aware of that, did you, by chance, warn my lieutenant that would be the case? I can certainly understand disciplining her if she ignored a clear warning while on duty."

My eyes remained focussed on the Admiral as I awaited an answer, and I listened to his scrambled thoughts. Oh yes, I was done. Between the financial fraud, the altogether distasteful interest in my female officers, and questionable conduct in his personal life, I had had enough. I was a Plankwell, a captain on an independant command, and freshly assaulted in a supposedly safe harbor. That was one of the other reasons for independent commands, the Navy watches itself. If I had allowed any more shenanigans to pass, and I was the one being rated, my career would be over. In this instance, Naval Intelligence protocols made sense. We needed independent verification and control. I tried hard not to think about who watched NavInt, but in this case, my duty was clear, and the Navy had many use cases to justify the intervention.

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[Jim Vassilakos]

“What?!” Karneticky turned to me, his mouth falling open.

“Relations with the locals have indeed fallen so low that I was forced to take such a stance,” I said, fingering my own uniform holes.

“What did they attack you with? Toothpicks?”

“Stun guns,” Masa replied.

I stopped rubbing the holes in my uniform and straightened my stance.

“I have empaneled a Tribunal, begun collecting evidence, and have informed HPSS that for the time being, we are in charge of this area. An HPSS Lieutenant Muuna seemed doubtful, but I assured her I was well within my rights. I shall, of course, keep your office informed of the progress. The interdict will continue until the tribunal resolves the charges of assault on Naval personnel. Unless, of course, new information comes to light.”

“Major,” the Admiral said to Fa’Linto who was probably awaiting transport. “Come here for a moment, will you?”

Fa’Linto glanced toward me, and I nodded. “This is my Marine Force Commander, Sandy Fa’Linto.”

“What happened?” Karneticky asked.

The marine briefly explained how they were summoned to their Captain, and how already being onsite and equipped for combat enabled them to reach their target in a matter of minutes. “The two HPSS officers had both of them stunned and cuffed. Their weapons were not at the ready. We took them by surprise. They never even got off a shot.”

“Are you aware we are outside the extrality line?” Karneticky asked.

“Yessir, but I was called to rescue my Captain.”

“And you achieved that, Major, but you also attacked local law enforcement outside the extrality line. That is Imperial intervention. At this point, we have one of two scenarios. Either the local government is in rebellion, in which case the action is justified, or it is not, in which case…” — he paused to sigh — “…it’s mutiny against the proper legal authority.”

“They attacked us,” Masa said.

“Stay level-headed, Captain. Is the local government in rebellion? Is it?” Karneticky looked at me.

(I'll continue with the part about Josefeen after this gets resolved.)

[Conrad Rader]

"Local authorities were in rebellion the moment their officers shot us. We, as active naval officers, are subject to local authority as our courtesy to them, not as their requirement to us. When I was here on shore leave, yes, and I submitted to all their laws, as did my crew. The tribunal is for the local authority to prove that they are not in rebellion, to my satisfaction and to provide reasons why I should not commit to corrective action."

I took one step closer.

"I am not at all convinced that there is not a pattern of resistance to the Navy here, and I believe that as the wounded party, I am the one that needs to be convinced otherwise."

I lowered my voice.

"Do not mistake my deference to you as a dereliction in my duty, sir. I have apologized to the local nobles to save face for you, Someone thought that it was all right to put a serving Navy officer in detention for a bureaucratic mistake. I will have answers, and by the dark, you should want them as well, as your captain was also shot, shot first, and HE. WAS. IN. COMPLIANCE."

I let a little of the fury I was feeling bleed into the psychic tendril I was extending towards the admiral's mind.

"If we are lucky, the local nobility will realize they have subjects that have overreached, and settle things down. If we are unlucky, then I will have to root out treason and rebellion, force the local Imperials to reswear their oaths, and call for a local Moot to place this matter for judgement. Arms in the hands of the local authority have been raised against us. This is not going to go away any time soon."

--
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[Jim Vassilakos]

 “Stay level-headed, Captain. Is the local government in rebellion? Is it?” Karneticky looked at me.

“Local authorities were in rebellion the moment their officers shot us. We, as active naval officers, are subject to local authority as our courtesy to them, not as their requirement to us. When I was here on shore leave, yes, and I submitted to all their laws, as did my crew. The tribunal is for the local authority to prove that they are not in rebellion to my satisfaction and to provide reasons why I should not commit to corrective action.”

“Corrective action? If anyone is to take any corrective action on behalf of the Navy, it will be me, not you!”

(Does Gus respond to this or just continue as follows?)

I took one step closer.

“I am not at all convinced that there is not a pattern of resistance to the Navy here, and I believe that as the wounded party, I am the one that needs to be convinced otherwise.”

“So you intend to put the government on trial in your capacity as a visiting captain on detached patrol, completely bypassing the commanding officer of the garrison fleet? Who outranks you by a considerable margin, lest you forget. Are you perfectly mad?”

(Does Gus respond to this or just continue as follows?)

I lowered my voice.

“Do not mistake my deference to you as a dereliction in my duty, sir. I have apologized to the local nobles to save face for you. But someone thought that it was all right to put a serving Navy officer in detention for a bureaucratic mistake. I will have answers, and by the dark, you should want them as well, as your captain was also shot, and he was in compliance.”

“He’s right, sir,” Masa said. “If we were a pair of drunks causing some sort of incident, I might let it slide, but over this…? The locals have forgotten what we do for them and how much power we can bring to bear against them should they forget to treat us accordingly. If not for us, Jewell would be in the hands of the Zhodani. We must not let them forget that.”

As Masa spoke, I let a little of the fury I was feeling bleed into a psychic tendril, which I then extended towards the admiral’s mind, and suddenly I could see a woman, a beautiful woman, being horribly maimed by some beast while he stood by, practically pissing himself in terror. He flinched, as though a little psychic grenade had exploded somewhere deep within his brain.

“Any fight between us and the local government would likely get kicked up to the Countess,” he said. “She’d refer it to her magisterial court, of course, but she could easily put her thumb on the scale.”

“If we’re lucky, she’ll realize her subjects overreached, and she will then take steps to settle things down. But if we’re unlucky, then I will have to root out treason and rebellion, force the local Imperials to reswear their oaths, and call for a local Moot to place this matter for judgment. Arms in the hands of the local authority have been raised against us. This is not going to go away any time soon.”

“It would be prudent to talk to her first,” Karneticky said, “to gauge the temperature. Show her your evidence, and see what she says. If it was as you said, completely unprovoked, then we should have no trouble spanking an apology out of the HPSS.”

 “An apology won’t cut it,” Masa said. “I want their badges.”

“We’ll have them, if it was as you said. But we cannot try civilians in a naval tribunal without a declaration of martial law, and I am not going to support one without seeing this evidence first, and if you try to go around me, Captain,” he said, now looking at me, “if you ignore my authority and declare one yourself, then you are on your own. Everything you want to accomplish can be accomplished behind closed doors, but if you bring it to a head openly, calling for a military tribunal…. Captain Masa, you of all people should be aware of the potential political repercussions.”

Masa opened his mouth but then closed it again.

(It’s Gus’s turn to say something.)

[Conrad Rader]

On Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 2:10 PM Jim Vassilakos <jim.vas...@gmail.com> wrote:

 “Stay level-headed, Captain. Is the local government in rebellion? Is it?” Karneticky looked at me.

“Local authorities were in rebellion the moment their officers shot us. We, as active naval officers, are subject to local authority as our courtesy to them, not as their requirement to us. When I was here on shore leave, yes, and I submitted to all their laws, as did my crew. The tribunal is for the local authority to prove that they are not in rebellion to my satisfaction and to provide reasons why I should not commit to corrective action.”

“Corrective action? If anyone is to take any corrective action on behalf of the Navy, it will be me, not you!”

(Does Gus respond to this or just continue as follows?) [[ I think at most I look surprised and beging to probe his mind]]

I took one step closer.

“I am not at all convinced that there is not a pattern of resistance to the Navy here, and I believe that as the wounded party, I am the one that needs to be convinced otherwise.”

“So you intend to put the government on trial in your capacity as a visiting captain on detached patrol, completely bypassing the commanding officer of the garrison fleet? Who outranks you by a considerable margin, lest you forget. Are you perfectly mad?”

(Does Gus respond to this or just continue as follows?)

[["I intend the local government to answer for its two agents who used violence against naval officers, in my authority as an independant captain and in the absence of action from the local garrison. I am well within the regs on this, it is you who is failing to act."]]

I lowered my voice.

“Do not mistake my deference to you as a dereliction in my duty, sir. I have apologized to the local nobles to save face for you. But someone thought that it was all right to put a serving Navy officer in detention for a bureaucratic mistake. I will have answers, and by the dark, you should want them as well, as your captain was also shot, and he was in compliance.”

“He’s right, sir,” Masa said. “If we were a pair of drunks causing some sort of incident, I might let it slide, but over this…? The locals have forgotten what we do for them and how much power we can bring to bear against them should they forget to treat us accordingly. If not for us, Jewell would be in the hands of the Zhodani. We must not let them forget that.”

As Masa spoke, I let a little of the fury I was feeling bleed into a psychic tendril, which I then extended towards the admiral’s mind, and suddenly I could see a woman, a beautiful woman, being horribly maimed by some beast while he stood by, practically pissing himself in terror. He flinched, as though a little psychic grenade had exploded somewhere deep within his brain.

“Any fight between us and the local government would likely get kicked up to the Countess,” he said. “She’d refer it to her magisterial court, of course, but she could easily put her thumb on the scale.”

“If we’re lucky, she’ll realize her subjects overreached, and she will then take steps to settle things down. But if we’re unlucky, then I will have to root out treason and rebellion, force the local Imperials to reswear their oaths, and call for a local Moot to place this matter for judgment. Arms in the hands of the local authority have been raised against us. This is not going to go away any time soon.”

“It would be prudent to talk to her first,” Karneticky said, “to gauge the temperature. Show her your evidence, and see what she says. If it was as you said, completely unprovoked, then we should have no trouble spanking an apology out of the HPSS.”

 “An apology won’t cut it,” Masa said. “I want their badges.”

“We’ll have them, if it was as you said. But we cannot try civilians in a naval tribunal without a declaration of martial law, and I am not going to support one without seeing this evidence first, and if you try to go around me, Captain,” he said, now looking at me, “if you ignore my authority and declare one yourself, then you are on your own. Everything you want to accomplish can be accomplished behind closed doors, but if you bring it to a head openly, calling for a military tribunal…. Captain Masa, you of all people should be aware of the potential political repercussions.”

Masa opened his mouth but then closed it again.

(It’s Gus’s turn to say something.)

"I have called and empanelled a tribunal already, on my authority under 678. With the current interdict in place maintained by the Jaqueline, I already control ths area and I have limited that area of control voluntarily. Everyone knows that we could expand it as we wish. We are not trying anyone, we are assembling the evidence as you say, but we need the leverage in order for the locals to remember their oaths and their duty as citizens and turn over evidence related to the two offenders. You know that I could grab it at my will with the comm gear we have. I do not believe the locals are in rebellion, it may very well be that a couple of HPSS decided to get one back on the Navy for whatever. But I have seen how the Countess conducts her business, and in the short time I have been associated with her, she values image over everything.

Consider this image, Captain Plankwell, handpicked by the Countess to serve as escort to her daughter, and who recently performed an official apology to the nobles of Jewell over the matter of an insubordinate AI representing the Navy" 

I raised my eyebrows to make sure he got the point that I was covering his ass

"was today shot by members of the HPSS while on the way to consult with the Countess over the protocol of confirming her desire to participate in a Navy Memorial service. Of course she will want to do it behind closed doors. If you are worried about political repercussions, I have already handed you the excuse you need to disavow me. Publicly send a report to Vasileyev outraged about my conduct. I will be out of here in any case and you can do all the repair work you want, using me as a scapegoat. But if you are not acting on this due to political repercussions, you can grudgingly go along with me, admit that I am in the right according to regs, and be sad to have to preside over such matters, and let me get to the truth of the matter. I in turn applaud your support of a delicate situation, and once again, I will be leaving the area. This is the Navy making the point we take care of our own.

I stepped back slightly.

"I have already set the table sir. You need to decide if you are going to kick it over, or take a seat and see what gets served."

--
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[Jim Vassilakos]

 “Stay level-headed, Captain. Is the local government in rebellion? Is it?” Karneticky looked at me.

“Local authorities were in rebellion the moment their officers shot us. We, as active naval officers, are subject to local authority as our courtesy to them, not as their requirement to us. When I was here on shore leave, yes, and I submitted to all their laws, as did my crew. The tribunal is for the local authority to prove that they are not in rebellion to my satisfaction and to provide reasons why I should not commit to corrective action.”

“Corrective action? If anyone is to take any corrective action on behalf of the Navy, it will be me, not you!”

I took one step closer, extending a telepathic tendril as I replied.

“I am not at all convinced that there is not a pattern of resistance to the Navy here, and I believe that as the wounded party, I am the one that needs to be convinced otherwise.”

“So you intend to put the government on trial in your capacity as a visiting captain on detached patrol, completely bypassing the commanding officer of the garrison fleet? Who outranks you by a considerable margin, lest you forget. Are you perfectly mad?”

I didn’t need telepathy to sense his anger.

“I intend the local government to answer for its two agents who used violence against naval officers, using my authority as an independent captain and in the absence of action from the local garrison. I am well within the regs on this; it is you who is failing to act.”

“You are a newly minted captain!” Karneticky sputtered, his jowls quivering in rage. “You’re still wet behind the ears, and you’re lecturing me, a fleet admiral, and you next to nothing of Jewell! You know nothing of its politics. Have you bothered to look at the local Status of Forces Agreement? I’m guessing the answer’s no from that blank look on your face.”

(See https://www.simplelists.com/tml/msg/22711150/ & https://www.simplelists.com/tml/msg/23838110/ & https://www.simplelists.com/tml/msg/23897398/ )

I lowered my voice.

“Do not mistake my deference to you as a dereliction in my duty, sir. I have apologized to the local nobles to save face for you. But someone thought that it was all right to put a serving Navy officer in detention for a bureaucratic mistake. I will have answers, and by the dark, you should want them as well, as your captain was also shot, and he was in compliance.”

“He’s right, sir,” Masa said. “If we were a pair of drunks causing some sort of incident, I might let it slide, but over this…? The locals have forgotten what we do for them and how much power we can bring to bear against them should they forget to treat us accordingly. If not for us, Jewell would be in the hands of the Zhodani. We must not let them forget that.”

As Masa spoke, I let a little bit of my fury bleed into that psionic tendril, which I then extended into the admiral’s mind, and somewhere in there I could see a woman, a beautiful woman, being horribly maimed by some beast while he stood by, practically pissing himself in terror. He flinched, as though a little psychic grenade had exploded somewhere deep in his brain.

“Any fight between us and the local government would likely get kicked up to the Countess,” he said, gritting his teeth. “She’d refer it to her magisterial court, of course, but she could easily put her thumb on the scale.” [See “538vas - Traveling Imperial Magistrates (re-updated version).pdf” at https://mega.nz/folder/hGYliCKK#a0fr1dDhy3no6Ey5xNPukQ ]

I shrugged. “If we’re lucky, she’ll realize her subjects overreached, and she’ll then take steps to settle things down. But if we’re unlucky, then I will have to root out treason and rebellion, force the local Imperials to reswear their oaths, and call for a local Moot to place this matter for judgment. Arms in the hands of the local authority have been raised against us. This is not going to go away any time soon.”

“It would be prudent to talk to her first,” Karneticky said, “to gauge the temperature. Show her your evidence, and see what she says. If it was as you said, completely unprovoked, then we should have no trouble spanking an apology out of the HPSS.”

“An apology won’t cut it,” Masa said. “I want their badges.”

“We’ll have them, if it was as you said. But we cannot try civilians in a naval tribunal without a declaration of martial law, and I am not going to support one without seeing this evidence first, and if you try to go around me, Captain,” he said, now looking at me, “if you ignore my authority and declare one yourself, then you are on your own. Everything you want to accomplish can be accomplished behind closed doors, but if you bring it to a head openly, calling for a military tribunal…. Captain Masa, you of all people should be aware of the potential political repercussions.”

Masa opened his mouth but then closed it again. I could tell I was beginning to lose him.

“I have already called for a tribunal on my authority under 678,” I said. “With the current interdict in place and maintained by the Jaqueline, I already control this area and have limited the area of control voluntarily. Everyone knows that we could expand it as we wish. We are not trying anyone; we are assembling the evidence as you say, but we need the leverage in order for the locals to remember their oaths and their duty as citizens and turn over evidence related to the two offenders. You know that I could grab it at my will with the comm gear we have. I do not believe the locals are in rebellion. It may very well be that a couple of HPSS decided to get one back on the Navy for whatever. But I have seen how the Countess conducts her business, and in the short time I have been associated with her, she values image over everything.”

Karneticky rubbed a hand over his face, clearly beside himself.

“Consider this image,” I continued. “Captain Plankwell, handpicked by the Countess to serve as escort to her daughter, and who recently performed an official apology to the nobles of Jewell over the matter of an insubordinate AI representing the Navy…” — I raised my eyebrows to make sure he got the point that I’d recently covered his ass — “…was today tased by members of the HPSS while on the way to consult with the Countess over a matter of protocol.”

“After which he invoked a section of the Interplanetary Code reserved for worlds in rebellion,” Karneticky said, again gritting his teeth. “The Countess will shit her pants. And then she’ll shit in mine.”

“Of course, she’ll prefer to handle this behind closed doors. If you are worried about political repercussions, I have already handed you the excuse you need to disavow me. Send a report to Vasilyev, outraged about my conduct. You can even leak it to the media.”

“Oh, I will. I will distance myself so far from you, it’ll be like we’re in separate galaxies.”

I grinned. He was a bit funny when he got angry.

“I will be out of here in any case,” I said, “and you can do all the repair work you want, using me as a scapegoat. But if you are not acting on this due to political repercussions, you can grudgingly go along with me, admit that I am in the right according to regs, and be sad to have to preside over such matters, and let me get to the truth of the matter. I, in turn, applaud your support of a delicate situation, and once again, I will be leaving the area. This is the Navy making the point: we take care of our own.”

“You are mad.”

“No, sir, he’s brilliant,” Masa said. “Think of it. With any luck, we can get those idiot bureaucrats to drop visa requirements for Imperial military personnel. I’m sure General Dakhir would be in favor of this as well. To make a big stink is not only sometimes justified, but it could be to our benefit if we play our cards right.”

“It’s a big if,” the Admiral said. “I’d prefer to discuss it with the Countess first, and given what just happened in the miltown, I doubt this is the right time to press our luck.”

“Captain Plankwell just offered to take the heat if this fails,” Masa replied. “What better opportunity will we ever have?”

“I have already set the table, sir. You need to decide if you are going to kick it over or take a seat and see what gets served.”

(This seems like a good place to end the chapter. But I still want you to look at those TML links up above and specifically at https://www.simplelists.com/tml/msg/23899086/ . I’m currently operating under the assumption that Jewell is a straight down the middle “MI” world, where local law enforcement can arrest and detain but not prosecute or punish active duty Imperial Navy personnel. However, if either of you think this is insane or if you can find anything in the Traveller literature addressing this issue, please let me know.)

[Conrad Rader]

On Wed, Dec 13, 2023 at 7:47 PM Jim Vassilakos <jim.vas...@gmail.com> wrote:

 “Stay level-headed, Captain. Is the local government in rebellion? Is it?” Karneticky looked at me.

“Local authorities were in rebellion the moment their officers shot us. We, as active naval officers, are subject to local authority as our courtesy to them, not as their requirement to us. When I was here on shore leave, yes, and I submitted to all their laws, as did my crew. The tribunal is for the local authority to prove that they are not in rebellion to my satisfaction and to provide reasons why I should not commit to corrective action.”

“Corrective action? If anyone is to take any corrective action on behalf of the Navy, it will be me, not you!”

I took one step closer, extending a telepathic tendril as I replied.

“I am not at all convinced that there is not a pattern of resistance to the Navy here, and I believe that as the wounded party, I am the one that needs to be convinced otherwise.”

“So you intend to put the government on trial in your capacity as a visiting captain on detached patrol, completely bypassing the commanding officer of the garrison fleet? Who outranks you by a considerable margin, lest you forget. Are you perfectly mad?”

I didn’t need telepathy to sense his anger.

“I intend the local government to answer for its two agents who used violence against naval officers, using my authority as an independent captain and in the absence of action from the local garrison. I am well within the regs on this; it is you who is failing to act.”

“You are a newly minted captain!” Karneticky sputtered, his jowls quivering in rage. “You’re still wet behind the ears, and you’re lecturing me, a fleet admiral, and you next to nothing of Jewell! You know nothing of its politics. Have you bothered to look at the local Status of Forces Agreement? I’m guessing the answer’s no from that blank look on your face.”

(See https://www.simplelists.com/tml/msg/22711150/ & https://www.simplelists.com/tml/msg/23838110/ & https://www.simplelists.com/tml/msg/23897398/ )

[[OOC: I kinda knew this would go out on the mailing list for reaction; I'm kinda impressed that my actions developed the depth of conversation. I lean towards the interpretation that the Imperium rules the spaces between the planets, but that starts at ground level. The principle of extraterritoriality already implies agreements where local jurisdiction does not apply. My reacting the way I did was informed by the psionic image that I knew the situation was escalating, that they were planning to do violence and that I was already using extralegal (yet sanctioned by NI) powers to gain more information about the situation. I tried to work it out peacefully but also called in the Marines once violence was a forgone conclusion. I understand the Admiral trying to salvage his position, thus my effort to give him a way out regardless. I think there are definite differences in perception of the level of reaction. From my point of view excess reaction to a minor violation is certainly reason to be concerned. I don't know if I am entirely fabricating the anti Navy plot, but I am chaining together the events that it looks that way (really, the fire caused by my crew in reaction to being drugged, the whole Army general as replacement suitor, the Countess trotting out the Army as well behaved, the entire Great Impregnator scenario, all to my perception is provocation to the image of the Navy. So that's how I'm playing it. I haven't quite decided to what extent the Admiral is involved, but he is certainly part of the issue]]

I lowered my voice.

“Do not mistake my deference to you as a dereliction in my duty, sir. I have apologized to the local nobles to save face for you. But someone thought that it was all right to put a serving Navy officer in detention for a bureaucratic mistake. I will have answers, and by the dark, you should want them as well, as your captain was also shot, and he was in compliance.”

“He’s right, sir,” Masa said. “If we were a pair of drunks causing some sort of incident, I might let it slide, but over this…? The locals have forgotten what we do for them and how much power we can bring to bear against them should they forget to treat us accordingly. If not for us, Jewell would be in the hands of the Zhodani. We must not let them forget that.”

As Masa spoke, I let a little bit of my fury bleed into that psionic tendril, which I then extended into the admiral’s mind, and somewhere in there I could see a woman, a beautiful woman, being horribly maimed by some beast while he stood by, practically pissing himself in terror. He flinched, as though a little psychic grenade had exploded somewhere deep in his brain.

“Any fight between us and the local government would likely get kicked up to the Countess,” he said, gritting his teeth. “She’d refer it to her magisterial court, of course, but she could easily put her thumb on the scale.” [See “538vas - Traveling Imperial Magistrates (re-updated version).pdf” at https://mega.nz/folder/hGYliCKK#a0fr1dDhy3no6Ey5xNPukQ ]

I shrugged. “If we’re lucky, she’ll realize her subjects overreached, and she’ll then take steps to settle things down. But if we’re unlucky, then I will have to root out treason and rebellion, force the local Imperials to reswear their oaths, and call for a local Moot to place this matter for judgment. Arms in the hands of the local authority have been raised against us. This is not going to go away any time soon.”

[[OOC: I know I harp on this, but the Imperial Navy does not tolerate challenges to its authority. It is responsible to the Emperor, and as Agent to the Imperium has shown, it will take drastic measures to suppress any challenge to its authority. My reading of the Civil War is that the Navy fought itself to determine the course of the Imperium and there is ample provenance of officers taking that level of action (I'm a freaking Plankweel, of COURSE, it's what peopl ehave been worried about me from the beginning. I believe the line about the US being a republic because the military believes and lets it be, there are numerous RW examples of juntas taking over democratic governments]]

“It would be prudent to talk to her first,” Karneticky said, “to gauge the temperature. Show her your evidence, and see what she says. If it was as you said, completely unprovoked, then we should have no trouble spanking an apology out of the HPSS.”

“An apology won’t cut it,” Masa said. “I want their badges.”

“We’ll have them, if it was as you said. But we cannot try civilians in a naval tribunal without a declaration of martial law, and I am not going to support one without seeing this evidence first, and if you try to go around me, Captain,” he said, now looking at me, “if you ignore my authority and declare one yourself, then you are on your own. Everything you want to accomplish can be accomplished behind closed doors, but if you bring it to a head openly, calling for a military tribunal…. Captain Masa, you of all people should be aware of the potential political repercussions.”

Masa opened his mouth but then closed it again. I could tell I was beginning to lose him.

“I have already called for a tribunal on my authority under 678,” I said. “With the current interdict in place and maintained by the Jaqueline, I already control this area and have limited the area of control voluntarily. Everyone knows that we could expand it as we wish. We are not trying anyone; we are assembling the evidence as you say, but we need the leverage in order for the locals to remember their oaths and their duty as citizens and turn over evidence related to the two offenders. You know that I could grab it at my will with the comm gear we have. I do not believe the locals are in rebellion. It may very well be that a couple of HPSS decided to get one back on the Navy for whatever. But I have seen how the Countess conducts her business, and in the short time I have been associated with her, she values image over everything.”

[[ So about being in mutiny, I disagree that is an option, we have already established that Navy Fleets are independent units, and independant patrols have even more leeway. I was the wounded party and my actions have been metered and limited. If the Marines had come in FGMP blazing, that would be one thing, but they didn't.  If Karneticky forced the issue, he could place me under arrest and override my independence, I'd have the whole fleecing the other fleet in my pocket for that, plus the part about not warming my lieutenant she was about to be drugged. Also, Plankwell fever could work for me, I am thinking of the people in a police state, might forment a popular uprising]]

Karneticky rubbed a hand over his face, clearly beside himself.

“Consider this image,” I continued. “Captain Plankwell, handpicked by the Countess to serve as escort to her daughter, and who recently performed an official apology to the nobles of Jewell over the matter of an insubordinate AI representing the Navy…” — I raised my eyebrows to make sure he got the point that I’d recently covered his ass — “…was today tased by members of the HPSS while on the way to consult with the Countess over a matter of protocol.”

“After which he invoked a section of the Interplanetary Code reserved for worlds in rebellion,” Karneticky said, again gritting his teeth. “The Countess will shit her pants. And then she’ll shit in mine.”

[[Ahhh, Admiral Doesnt want problems...]]

“Of course, she’ll prefer to handle this behind closed doors. If you are worried about political repercussions, I have already handed you the excuse you need to disavow me. Send a report to Vasilyev, outraged about my conduct. You can even leak it to the media.”

“Oh, I will. I will distance myself so far from you, it’ll be like we’re in separate galaxies.”

I grinned. He was a bit funny when he got angry.

“I will be out of here in any case,” I said, “and you can do all the repair work you want, using me as a scapegoat. But if you are not acting on this due to political repercussions, you can grudgingly go along with me, admit that I am in the right according to regs, and be sad to have to preside over such matters, and let me get to the truth of the matter. I, in turn, applaud your support of a delicate situation, and once again, I will be leaving the area. This is the Navy making the point: we take care of our own.”

“You are mad.”

“No, sir, he’s brilliant,” Masa said. “Think of it. With any luck, we can get those idiot bureaucrats to drop visa requirements for Imperial military personnel. I’m sure General Dakhir would be in favor of this as well. To make a big stink is not only sometimes justified, but it could be to our benefit if we play our cards right.”

[[It's nice to have Masa on my side]]

“It’s a big if,” the Admiral said. “I’d prefer to discuss it with the Countess first, and given what just happened in the miltown, I doubt this is the right time to press our luck.”

“Captain Plankwell just offered to take the heat if this fails,” Masa replied. “What better opportunity will we ever have?”

“I have already set the table, sir. You need to decide if you are going to kick it over or take a seat and see what gets served.”

(This seems like a good place to end the chapter. But I still want you to look at those TML links up above and specifically at https://www.simplelists.com/tml/msg/23899086/ . I’m currently operating under the assumption that Jewell is a straight down the middle “MI” world, where local law enforcement can arrest and detain but not prosecute or punish active duty Imperial Navy personnel. However, if either of you think this is insane or if you can find anything in the Traveller literature addressing this issue, please let me know.)

[[I don't nearly have the coverage or awareness of Traveller literature to support a different position, but I think if I had kowtowed to local authorities in the first place, I would be getting the lecture about upholding Naval honor from the other direction. I don't want to call it a no-win scenario, but if the Navy is to remain the strong fist of the Imperium, and to modify the Jefferson quote "The tree of dominion must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." I would think that there are more examples of the Navy acting with impunity than the importance of any single world taking precedence. I think that the Navy seizes on examples like this to remind everyone they are the big fist, all the time. It is also in the forefront of my mind that I have confirmation that there is Zhodani infiltration, so technically, unless Abbonette is WAY off base and paranoid, I am serving Imperial interests further. Depends on if I can thread the needle. ]]

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[Timothy Collinson]

Just to let you know that although I've been quiet I have not only been enjoying this, it's been fascinating watch it develop.

As for literature on other views, I really can't think of any but am aware that it's probably high time I reread the GURPS books that I think would be mostly likely to cover that kind of thing (although I don't recall anything on it), but I need to get out of bed for something else momentarily so I'll fetch one back up with me to browse through before I call it a night.

tc

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[Timothy Collinson]

It's not quite relevant, but this is the closest I've found so far:

[after a bit on Duke Norris not (usually) having authority to relieve Admiral Santanocheev, but being able to do so by virtue of having an Imperial Warrant]

"From about the fourth century Imperial until recently, the archdukes were often bypassed in the military chain of command; civilian control of the Imperial military was usually left in the hands of the sector and subsector dukes. Under the Emperor's reformed system, archdukes are now expected to take supreme command of all forces within their domain, or to designate a suitable commander if they lack sufficient military expertise for command. Sector and subsector dukes still play an important role in military command and administration during peacetime, but their former role as wartime leaders has been much reduced."

GURPS Nobles, p.63

[Jim Vassilakos]

Thanks, Timothy. Do you happen to know what year (approximately) the "until recently" is referring to? When did the Emperor's reforms take effect?

Conrad, assuming the Admiral agrees to let Gus do what he wants (and he really can't stop him without doing some damage to interfleet relations), what will Gus do next?

One thing to keep in mind is that Gus just ordered the recall of all Jaqueline personnel on shore leave. If he wants to continue with the ceremony, he might want to reverse this order (assuming he wants his crewmates in the stadium). Of course, he can walk away from the whole thing and take his crew with him if he wants. At this point, the ceremony is supposed to start in a little over an hour.

[Conrad Rader]

Ah right, I meant that to apply to all personnel outside the interdict I just set up. part of my thinking was if this was a kickoff to rebellion, my crew would be a target, i would like to amend the order to all Jaqueline personnel outside the interdict. All personnel inside, should elevate their alert level though and activate lifesign monitoring, and start recording, those with the capability that it

Next is to contact the Countess before she calls me, i'm on the attack, might as well carry through.

unless things go further into the crapper, i'd like to make the memorial happen. There's still a zhodani agent i have to be on the lookout for too and my training officer is sidelined...

On Dec 15, 2023, at 4:48 PM, Jim Vassilakos <jim.vas...@gmail.com> wrote:



Thanks, Timothy. Do you happen to know what year (approximately) the "until recently" is referring to? When did the Emperor's reforms take effect?

Conrad, assuming the Admiral agrees to let Gus do what he wants (and he really can't stop him without doing some damage to interfleet relations), what will Gus do next?

One thing to keep in mind is that Gus just ordered the recall of all Jaqueline personnel on shore leave. If he wants to continue with the ceremony, he might want to reverse this order (assuming he wants his crewmates in the stadium). Of course, he can walk away from the whole thing and take his crew with him if he wants. At this point, the ceremony is supposed to start in a little over an hour.

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[Conrad Rader]

BTW, a thought occurred to me while I was listening to the Star Trek II soundtrack (James Horner and his horns, whew) that I seem to be playing Gus along the lines of Honor Harrington, the early days. Not quite to the level of shoot it and let the Board of Inquiry sort it out, but very much regs forward and worried inside that I might not measure up, or in my case be outed as a psion.

Not that it will be a map for my future behavior, but this feels very much like a young Honor scenario, and yeah, maybe some dueling to come...

CR

On Dec 15, 2023, at 4:48 PM, Jim Vassilakos <jim.vas...@gmail.com> wrote:



Thanks, Timothy. Do you happen to know what year (approximately) the "until recently" is referring to? When did the Emperor's reforms take effect?

Conrad, assuming the Admiral agrees to let Gus do what he wants (and he really can't stop him without doing some damage to interfleet relations), what will Gus do next?

One thing to keep in mind is that Gus just ordered the recall of all Jaqueline personnel on shore leave. If he wants to continue with the ceremony, he might want to reverse this order (assuming he wants his crewmates in the stadium). Of course, he can walk away from the whole thing and take his crew with him if he wants. At this point, the ceremony is supposed to start in a little over an hour.

[Timothy Collinson]

On Sat, 16 Dec 2023, 03:36 Conrad Rader, <conrad...@gmail.com> wrote:

BTW, a thought occurred to me while I was listening to the Star Trek II soundtrack (James Horner and his horns,

Ooooh....yes!!

, and yeah, maybe some dueling to come...

Ooh, ooh!  <excited mode>

I do live a bit of duelling.  (See SecondaryScions' Society and The Merry Widow - both of which feature it heavily).

<Goes off to find Honor Harrington books in attic to consider a reread.  It's been too many years.>

tc

[Timothy Collinson]

On Fri, 15 Dec 2023, 22:48 Jim Vassilakos, <jim.vas...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks, Timothy. Do you happen to know what year (approximately) the "until recently" is referring to? When did the Emperor's reforms take effect?

Hah!  That was exactly my question when I read the line.

I'll look again when I can turn the light on (6am here and the house won't stir for another hour but I'm awake writing an overnight sleeper train journey to Amali on Zila in my head) (from the Zilan Wine chapter of _The Traveller Adventure_) but I'm relatively confident it didn't say.q

My guess is that it was the author leaving some referee wiggle room.  I kind of had the sense that it was within the last few years so let's suppose the turn of the century.  (i.e. around 1100) but perhaps 'recently' when you're looking back over a millennium of Imperial history could mean more like the last hundred years.

 him if he wants. At this point, the ceremony is supposed to start in a little over an hour.

There's a part of me that now sees The Ceremony in the same light as I used to see 'leaving Jewell'.  A kind of Zeno's Paradox where you get ever closer but never quite arrive.

:-)

Have a good weekend.  I want to be writing (or sleeping) but suspect 'tidying the study so it can become a dining room when the French relations arrive on Wednesday' is going to be order of the day.  

tc

[Jim Vassilakos]

Regarding Zeno's paradox, yes, we may never get there depending on what happens, but that's part of the fun.

Conrad, which Honor Harrington novel would you just someone start with?

 Also, I'm hearing that you want to try to contact the Countess immediately?

But before we get to that, you said you wanted to amend the general recall. If it's okay with you, I'll just amend the paragraph where Gus communicated to the Jaqueline as follows:

 “Jaqueline, orders. This area surrounding me out to one kilometer is under 678 Interdiction. Please assemble a Tribunal, Commander Nizlich to preside. Coordinate with Jewell Control to reroute airspace traffic around the interdiction zone. Begin recalling all shore leave personnel outside the interdicted area, and tell those inside this area that they are to turn on their watchcom video recorders, maintain tactical awareness and remain on high vigilance before, during, and after the ceremony. Coordinate with Force Commander Fa’Linto to begin assembling an evidentiary timeline and exhibits. Request additional resources from Jewell, and inform them of the proceedings against their officers. Move to General Operations, Condition 2.”

“Aye aye, sir,” Blodder replied. (probably shitting a few bricks)

Let me know if that's okay.

Also, since we're sort of on the topic, what does "General Operations, Condition 2" mean, not only definitionally, which you sort of described, but what does it means in terms of any change in the Jaqueline's current operations or posture?

Finally, regarding Gus wanting to contact the Countess, how does he want to go about doing this?

[Jim Vassilakos]

One more question for Conrad regarding this part:

"You will keep an open channel and record and deliver a real time notification to the local authorities that Section 678 has been invoked and link them to the real time channel.”

So does this mean that everything Gus has said to the Admiral has been recorded and conveyed to "local authorities?" He said to keep an open channel and record and deliver... real time... to local authorities. Hmm... Do you care to clarify this one?

[Timothy Collinson]

On Sun, 17 Dec 2023, 06:02 Jim Vassilakos, <jim.vas...@gmail.com> wrote:

Regarding Zeno's paradox, yes, we may never get there depending on what happens, but that's part of the fun.

Oh yes.  Certainly.  Now I've understood the style and the pacing of this!  (It took me a while!)

Conrad, which Honor Harrington novel would you just someone start with?

Yes, good question.  Having read them so long ago I don't recall them well enough.

This gives publication order:

https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/honor-harrington/

In fact looking at that list, I'm fairly sure I've not read them all.  Definitely time.

And this gives a timeline order:

https://websites.umich.edu/~jimw/Honorverse/Booklist.html

As I'm on a phone I can't easily compare the two and need to get moving anyway, but it might help.

tc

[Conrad Rader]

I always read them in publication order, the build in her character is what I find most interesting, and the escalation of scenarios. it kinda goes off on certain political worldviews in ways that I don't always agree with, but at least I understand where they are coming from, and Weber does a pretty good job of illustrating ways that certain viewpoints come to dominate, and plays with a lot of logical consequences to momentous actions. I usually don't delve into the side stories with co-authors (some of the early history ones are pretty good, but there was a lot of enthusiastic writing going on then, I have read them all multiple times but I reread the main line once every couple of years) I just burned through On Basilisk Station and The Honor of the Queen in the last few days.

The amended recall order is fine. Poor Blodder.

General Operations, Condition 2; in my head the alert levels for ships are as follows;

Deactivated; ship is shut down, zero combat effectiveness, skeleton security and maintenance crew

Yard Refit; ship is under repair, drives deactivated, minimal combat effectiveness, power systems sufficient for maintenance, any number of systems offline; majority of crew engaged in repair / refit or training cycles

Yard Operations; Major repairs complete, drives active, weapons offline but capable, power systems ready, crew engaged in readiness drills and able to go to combat effective

General Operations: ship is self reliant, all systems active, on operational standing and able to respond to directions, level 1 normal ops, Level 2 readiness to move to Alert or Battle in place, heightened alertness

Alert Operations: maximum sensor readiness, looking for trouble, weapons systems 25/25/50 (25% active, 25% standby active, ready response; 50 5 rest/refit repair)

Battle Stations: active engagement with hostiles, all hands, all systems, highest operational tempo

Going to ask Masa if contacting the Countess via Jaqueline a better option.

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[Conrad Rader]

Oh hell no. Real time channel is the comm channel established for communicating with people under the interdict. I think I meant it more as the emergency alert channel, where people can tune in for information, or where I can push information. Nobody gets real time intel data, except the computers doing intercept work look for rebellious chatter like, did you get that Impie? or master Zho doesn't like what happened

I do believe I am recording everything now, but Captains have secured, encrypted storage that I can wipe later if necessary, but also save my butt. So yes, I have recorded the Admiral, but for my own use so far.

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[Jim Vassilakos]

Chapter 37 is ready for your suggestions and suggested edits.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fO-nOXZ_NVKNBrtC2FvaaG8_tZ3S1x0_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113687616933633107445&rtpof=true&sd=true

PLEASE REMEMBER to change "EDITING" to "SUGGESTING" (near the upper right-hand corner) before doing any edits.

[Jim Vassilakos]

Ch 38 started: https://groups.google.com/g/plankwell-pbem-s1/c/yn3k4fzy9uc

[Timothy Collinson]

On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 at 17:57, Conrad Rader <conrad...@gmail.com> wrote:

I always read them in publication order, the build in her character is what I find most interesting, and the escalation of scenarios. it kinda goes off on certain political worldviews in ways that I don't always agree with, but at least I understand where they are coming from, and Weber does a pretty good job of illustrating ways that certain viewpoints come to dominate, and plays with a lot of logical consequences to momentous actions. I usually don't delve into the side stories with co-authors (some of the early history ones are pretty good, but there was a lot of enthusiastic writing going on then, I have read them all multiple times but I reread the main line once every couple of years) I just burned through On Basilisk Station and The Honor of the Queen in the last few days.

OK, will start from the first written.  Cheers.

 

The amended recall order is fine. Poor Blodder.

Indeed!  I'm glad she's made a reappearance, I can churn out NPCs at the drop of a hat but she stuck with me for some reason (as have a couple others of the J crew although I won't say which in case it derails things).

<says he, unable to see the tracks anymore in any case...>

 

General Operations, Condition 2; in my head the alert levels for ships are as follows;

Deactivated; ship is shut down, zero combat effectiveness, skeleton security and maintenance crew

Yard Refit; ship is under repair, drives deactivated, minimal combat effectiveness, power systems sufficient for maintenance, any number of systems offline; majority of crew engaged in repair / refit or training cycles

Yard Operations; Major repairs complete, drives active, weapons offline but capable, power systems ready, crew engaged in readiness drills and able to go to combat effective

General Operations: ship is self reliant, all systems active, on operational standing and able to respond to directions, level 1 normal ops, Level 2 readiness to move to Alert or Battle in place, heightened alertness

Alert Operations: maximum sensor readiness, looking for trouble, weapons systems 25/25/50 (25% active, 25% standby active, ready response; 50 5 rest/refit repair)

Battle Stations: active engagement with hostiles, all hands, all systems, highest operational tempo

Oooh, good list.  I like that.  Well thought out.

(Plus, and maybe you intended it, it has the true Traveller brilliance of six items so you can randomly roll for a level.)  (Although I'm struggling to imagine when I would *ever* need to randomly assign such a level.  Surely it would be obvious from the scenario...) [1]

You may both be interested to know that I've seen a Tweet from Mongoose that their _Imperial Navy_ book is in the country and I've just had an email to say that my copy is in the post, so it could arrive any moment.  I will, of course, let you know if there's anything germane to our current situation.  (THough if I'm honest I've probably already got the ebook from pre-order)  (But I never get on with reading PDFs if I know the print is coming).

I should also warn you both that my daughter was home from Cornwall today and my French relations arrive from Grenoble tomorrow for a week, so Christmas is really starting here in Stubbington and my 'free' time will become very curtailed (not to mention my study will be turned into a dining room for the weekend so books/papers/PC/laptop will all become much harder to access).

I may be able to keep up on my phone in odd moments of down time, but not promising.

Merry Christmas, have a great break if you get one and all the best for 2024.

tc

[1] Of course, I've just been writing a bit of my own thing where a PC was hunting for a spare part on a ship in a scrapyard.  She was directed to three potential vessels that might be worth looking at.  One recently desposited which still had power (and small skittering critters which unnerved her); one which was inert and empty; one which was pretty much just 'ribs'.  So I suppose I could imagine a level 0c of 'shut down, no crew, systems off but functional', 0b 'shut down, no crew, systems off and may not function, but spaceworthy', 0a 'shut down, no crew, systems stripped, hull not spaceworthy' or something but I guess, even if the Navy stored such, they'd not consider those 'alert levels'.  Still, I'm going to print your handy list out and stick it in my rulebook for any time I'm asked something that requires that kind of thing.  CHeers.

 

[Timothy Collinson]

OK, I've looked through your comments on my suggestions and I don't think there's anything to really respond to save for a couple of remarks I've made.  Do with them what you will as ever.

Also, see previous email about Christmas starting.

All the  best

tc

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