Mr Johnson:
I too have enjoyed thse discussions about the Star Viking background. There
is one thing which bothers me, though. You are effectively trying to lead a
discussion about this without yourself having done any research on the
subject. You haven't read Path of Tears, or any of the material in the rulebook
which pertains to the RC. This would be much akin to trying to lead a literary
discussion without knowing anything about the author or his/her writings. Time
and again, I can't help but think your understanding of these issues-and even
your ability to play Devil's Advocate-would be enhanced if you would simply buy
Path of Tears and read it. If you then decide you don't care for TNE, I know
two people you could sell your copy to if no one on the TML wants it.
You seem to be interested in this "good vik, bad vik" thing. The RC is
like any other government; it can fall prey to corruption and infighting, and
the danger of this is already evident in the war of words between the Centrists
and the Federalists. However, the RCES sets standards for it's troops;according
to the book, they want to avoid the reputation for being as bad or worse than
the invaders from previous times (the Solomani and the Imperium) were. They
are spread very thin, however, and must sometimes hire freelancers and THEY
don't have to follow accepted RCES procedures. This combined with propaganda
from the Star Guild (who coined the name "Star Vikings" to conjure up just the
sort of negative imagery that it seems to invoke in many people around here)
is what results in the view that history will have of the RCES, as denoted in
several "future history" extracts in both the TNE rules and Survival Margin.
As is the case with any organization, there will be "bad apples", but the
stated goal of the RC is to be the "good guys", according to what has been
written thus far.
Someone else (Cynthia, I think) mentioned the inevitible collapse of RC
ecomomies if they continue to be based solely on recovered technology. This is
very true, and the RC knows this, which is why the recovered tech is often used
to allow an enhancement of local manufacturing techniques. Aubaine is the only
starport in the RC which can build starships which are jump-capable, largely
because of Hiver technical assistance and recovered technology. RC worlds ARE
working on building up their manufacturing techniques and recovering lost tech
levels;they simply feel that they don't have 200-300 years to wait. Will it
work? I don't know; that's part of what we'll find out, I suppose. The Regency
has a similar problem; they have better manufacturing tech, and a higher
overall technology level, but are simply running out of room for their economy.
Their overly paranoid fear of Virus has locked them in, and the economy will
bottom out soon unless they expand. So, the RC has to move beyond "chicken
stealing" (again, POT is fairly clear that the RCES does NOT take tech from
planets that need it! They take it only from dead worlds (now we'll hear the
accusations of grave-robbing...), despots and derelicts!) and into a more
profitable manufacturing mode, and the Regency simply needs more room, more
trading partners. A recipe for trouble when they meet? of course! It would
not be any fun otherwise...
As for the criticisms which seem to say that the RCES has no right to
force planets to join-no one does! However, it has happened many times, not
only throughout our history, but through the fictional Traveller universe's
history as well. Students of this fictional history will recall the years
76-120; the Pacification Campaigns, during which the Third Imperium told many
worlds within it's sphere of influence, "Hello. You're going to join our Empire
now. And if you don't, we'll blockade you and have our diplomats harangue you
until you join. And if that doesn't work, we'll just invade you and MAKE you
join." They were not alone in this; the Vilani Consolidation Wars starting in
the year -5400 were essentially the same thing. I'm sure the Rule of Man did
likewise. So why is the RC any different?
Is the RC more "enlightened" than the Imperium? Probably not, but they THINK
they are, just as we call ourselves "the land of the free" when large parts of
our population still experience problems just because of some stupid little
thing like the presence or absence of a chemical called melanin in their skin!
Can they BECOME more enlightened, or will internal pressures replace idealism
with cynical practicality? We'll see...
Allen