What's with this computer virus story?

Hi,

I don't know about you folks, but In the few campaigns I have run, and
in my dealings with Trav, I have always assumed that the Imperium, and
the rest of the Trav universe are in a state of equilibrium.

By that I mean that in order change something You need a lot of power
to do so.  In order to assasinate Strephon you need a fleet, an extremely
fool proof plan, or yu have to be an arch duke.  Thing like that.
The point being that there is something to prevent the ordianary players
from taking over the galaxy.

For every thing that the players might think up, there exists a defence
to oppose them.  (Well, nearly everything... remember the high speed
projectiles train...)  Thus Joe Player can't just write a quick virus
that will take over the galaxy.

If Joe Player could do it, Then Donny Zhodani would have done it centuries
ago!  Therefore, when computer viruses started becoming the new fashion
wave a couple of years ago.  I just assumed that in 5000 years the Imperium
would have some damn good countermeasures against viruses.  I may be no
computer whiz but I don't think a virus can get to a computer that is
shut down!  Presumably the Imerials would have reserve computers on line
in case someone did get through with a virus.

So defences MUST exist, and they have been presumably overcome.  Well, If
traveller is going to work, you must have a functioning jump drive.  That
requires a functioning model 1 computer.  Now in my opinion, a functioning
model one computer should be able to clear a model 2 of viruses.  A model
2 can clear a 3, and once you have worked your way up to 9, then you are
done!  Problem solved!  The Imperium is now functional.  QED

I dislike the messing about in the universe GDW is rumored to be considering.
Frankly, I don't like the Rebellion either!  All the campaigns I have run
are pre-Fifth Frontier War!  I have used MegaTrav rules, but not the Rebellion.

If GDW comes up with a whole new history, I'm not gonna go along with it.
Frankly, I've been trying to figure out just how powerful these computers are
to use them to their full potential in games (Bio-interfaces and all that
that isn't covered in MegaTrav)  Now They are trying to take the computer
stuff away.  Big mistake.  Computers are gonna be much more powerful in the
future.  And right now, computers are playing more and more important roles
in Science Fiction being written and read by the people who either are or
in future may be interested in playing (or even Buying) traveller.  I'm
talking about how to integrate cyberpunk stuff in with Trav.

This looks like a BIG mistake to me.

Scott Kellogg
- -One of the three Hordesmen of the apocolypse