Hi all,
[ WARNING: IMPERIAL VIRUS HAS INVADED SUNBANE!]
Well, seems like it anyway :-)
This didn't seem to get through first time, so I'm resending. Thanks to
Pierre (609/7649) - yes, a currency-killing virus would be devastating. I'm
sure I've heard this one before, I'll have to see where from... a book? TML?
Anyone know?
GREEN VIRUS
I'd just like to explore a 'green' virus (601/7543) a little further. Thanks
to Steve for his input (602/7555), I'd like to ask the following (of him and
TML as a whole):
> First, viruses tend to be *very* species specific.
My biology knowledge (at the limit) tends to zero, so I can't argue, merely
propose:
a) I used the word virus. Would any virulent form of bacteria or other
organism be more suitable as a biological warefare agent?
b) The virus could afford to be specific if it targeted the correct victim.
There might be a suitable common factor among most worlds (type or species of
livestock, crop type, human type, etc.) that would allow it to hit all worlds
hard. If not, perhaps this might explain why some worlds have survived better.
Surely some 'agent' which affected humanoids in a generic manner (e.g.
respiratory) would affect all the human species and could still be quite
lethal to Aslan and Vargr. Perhaps the Hivers don't use the same blood
oxygenation techniques that our bodies rely on. Perhaps (like Asian flu), the
virus (oops, used that word again), can cross between apparently dissimilar
species in certain cases?
> Second, if it destroyed the ecosystems of planets, the Imperial core would
> be essentially rendered uninhabitable, especially if the "virus" was
> persistent in nature.
The species-specificity probably prevents total annhilation of an ecosystem.
Assuming the 'agent' was intended as a biological weapon (rather than some
strange disease that dropped off a passing asteroid or was sent by the
ZHhhasjycgerh from a nearby hostile galaxy), the makers would not have
intended to wipe out an entire planet's flora and fauna as this would make the
world useless to them (assuming they were intending to take control of it).
On the same lines, the 'agent' would be reasonably short lived (weeks to
months) once active, otherwise the planet would again be unusable by the
'conqueror'? Of course, if the Hivers sent it, or somehow had a hand in it,
perhaps they already have the neutralising agent and are just watching
everyone else squirm?
> Third, unlike the computer virus, direct physical contact would be required
> to spread the virus. Fourth the rate of spread would either be slow enough
> to save outliers (like, say, the Solomani Confederation),...
Even if the 'agent' were spread by contact, it ought to be able to cover the
majority of the Imperium eventually - after all, most worlds are contacted by
starships. On major traffic routes with several hundred or thousand ships a
day passing through, landing, etc. the chances of contamination ought to be
high. If the 'agent' can be airborne, or can stick to the outside of a ship
(somehow surviving atmospheric entry, vacuum of space, solar radiation, etc.)
or anything along these lines then it could still spread widely. Of course,
if the incubation (or inactive) period of the 'agent' is too short then it
would start showing up before it had spread very far. Perhaps this was
intentional - find a potentially hostile planet, sow the seeds, leave planet
innocently and then a year later when the war has started the inhabitants
wonder why their crops/livestock/etc. have all just died.
With regard to the Solomani (and Zhodani, Aslan, Vargr, et al), I'm not sure
how bad they've been hit anyway [FACT ALERT: I don't have TNE!] and it would
only require one trader to smuggle his goods (and hence the 'agent') across
the border to a source who then carries the goods to an A-class starport,
providing a central distribution point for the 'agent' to all the surrounding
worlds.
An airborne 'green' virus certainly doesn't require physical contact to the
degree that the computer virus does (even if it were spread by data networks
and radio links).
> It might be possible to work up a plausible scenario of some sort,...
I'm trying:
a) just out of interest (knowing little about such warfare methods),
b) in case any TNE virus-haters find this more useful than the computer virus,
c) in case I can use this 'agent' on a smaller scale in other games (hell, I
ain't even had the Rebellion yet!).
The GDW virus has already taken some direct hits in all the flak that's been
thrown at it. It's still flying, because it's the official version, but I
think it's probably less plausible than a 'green' virus, especially when it
appears that some people are wondering if the computer virus is psionic, in
order to explain it's methods of contaminating low tech computers, etc.!
> ... but it would be substantially different in form than the TNE scenario.
Why? My initial thoughts were that an 'agent' would be designed to mostly
knock-out a planet (killing crops, livestock or people) without destroying its
useful factors (flora, fauna, natural resources, man-made structures). Once
discovered it could be defeated (eventually) but progress would be gradual and
even once a counter-agent were discovered, it would be difficult to distribute
to every world affected. In those areas where the 'agent' had died out
(possibly intentionally, possibly due to over-gorging itself on the available
victims - a bit like yeast dies off in brewing), people would get together
pretty quickly and set up quarantine areas. These would have to be big
because, just like the computer virus, a single infected ship or person could
bring back the virus.
Right, I've lit the fuse, let's see what pretty colours the fireworks are. Any
CONSTRUCTIVE replies (direct or to TML) would be much appreciated. I'm not
interested in long arguments on why a 'green' virus wouldn't work. Instead
replies of the "this factor would be a problem... but perhaps the virus was
engineered to get around it like this..." would be much more useful.
SHIELA-X (601/7539) - Thanks Pete. I know some players who'd love to
play/meet her.
L'OEUL D'DIEU (601/7538) - My French knowledge is as extensive as my
Biology. If this is God's Eye (or something) where's the Mote? Thanks Steve,
another set of data to add to my collection.
EARTH COLONIES (603/7566, 7567) - More useful background (I don't play
anywhere near the Solomani but the organisations, etc. will still appear in
my games near the Spinward Marches). Keep it coming, Dave.
DEEP SPACE STATIONS - Nice discussion, especially 602/7554 and 603/7565
(err, lost the name and Steve again, respectively). Just where does every
tenth supply ship go after it leaves the Naval depot? It seems to jump in
the wrong direction for any of the known naval bases... ah! Just imagine the
embarrassment finding Zhodani naval bases in 'empty' sectors of the Spinward
Marches, Imperial bases in the middle of the Solomani Rim, etc.
REGENCY SOURCEBOOK - Just wish I had TNE and could contribute in some
manner. Oh well... What we need is another mailing list, say tml_beta? :-)
AND THE LATEST BIWEEKLY MAILING
Looks like lots of other messages got lost as well as mine.
BLASTER - Yummy
DEEP SPACE STATIONS - Keep talking guys
LONGBOW - Interstellar psi networks - old hat. My 3I campaign uses them
between all Imperial subsector capitals, especially those in threatened or
rebellious areas. Of course, the populace don't know this and it's pain of
death to let the news leak out. Since I play a Scout Corp special agent
(with my colleagues posing as Imperial counts and countesses) we
occasionally are allowed to use the psi post service if we need urgent
direct contact with the central intelligence office of the Emperor (who
hasn't been killed yet!).
AIR AND BREATHING - Gasp... splutter... I knew I should have checked that
air pressure gauge on my vacc suit oxygen tank!
EARTH COLONIES NEWS - Keep it coming Dave
AEROI - Remind me from whence the Aeroi originated? Was it a JTAS or are you
the originators?
DAKAAR - Ship plans! Ship plans! What's on sunbane at the moment (rather
than me having to search for it), what's going to be on there and do we have
a standard drawing format yet? GIF?
NPCS - Thanks Tariq.
HIWG - Roger Myhre - can you give us details when you get the HIWG stuff on
sunbane, so we know where to look? Thanks
ENOUGH WAFFLE
Signing off,
Andy
Commander Lilly, PITS (Political Intelligence Team, Scout)
Nothing I say or do in any way reflects the views of my very kind and
generous employers.