Imperial Fringe Online Game Chat Session Log 08.12.2002
20:35:27 - StewartBailey: Let's go.
20:35:41 - Methuslah: Last week.....
20:35:59 - Kit: If I recall correctly, I'b busy fixing a communicationws panel that some expert blew up 
adn will take some 3 hours to finish that.
20:36:24 - Kit: Thats three free hours of mumbled curses for all of you, free of charge 
20:36:28 - StewartBailey: And we're several hour away from potential help.
20:36:48 - Methuslah: After knocking out an enemy missile, you managed to outpace the Zhodani fighters - but they are still hot on your heels. You have picked up three unidentified objects at extreme range which you are heading towards - but your communication system has been knocked otu, so you have no idea whether you are walking into a trap, or towards your salavation.
20:36:57 - StewartBailey: Although when we start to decelerate, the bad guys may have a chance to catch us.
20:37:00 - Kit: (if it's help that we are heading for.)
20:38:54 - StewartBailey: I guess the bad luck with the comms is just making up for my good luck with the bad guys on the planet.
20:39:46 - Methuslah: Kraiger has gone to the back of the cabin for a nap.
20:41:54 - StewartBailey: What do you think, Kit? How can we get rid of that other fighter on our tail?
20:42:31 - Kraiger just entered this channel
20:42:54 - Kit: Trouble is, we don''t really have much material here. If we had more stuff to fiddle with, we might be able to rig something, but even I can't work with vacuum.
20:43:17 - Methuslah: The scanner starts to signal an alert - new traces at extreme range.
20:43:25 - Kraiger: Morning all! I needed that nap!
20:43:28 - Kit: Now if you happen to have a pound of bubblegum and some noodles around...
20:43:49 - StewartBailey: (I check out the new contacts r26d if needed)
20:43:56 - StewartBailey: 2D6: 8
20:44:37 - Kit: And didn't I ask for coffee?! Where's my coffee?!!
20:45:20 - Methuslah: Two traces, larger than the fighters, coming from a new direction, out in from the sun. They are on an intersect course with the three targets you are heading for.
20:45:53 - Methuslah: "We got some coffee powder in the back, Kit, but no hot water.", pipes up the Kid.
20:46:07 - Kraiger: (Throwing an emergency-ration tube of coffee to Kit) - here's your coffee..
20:46:36 - StewartBailey: Kraiger, do you think that you could use the plasma gun to fire some sort of Morse code message to those ships, telling them that we're friendly? They might be able to pick up the plasma shots on their sensors.
20:47:18 - Kit: thanks, better 'n nothin, and theres a heater in my pack for a cup o' hot water. Would you be so kind?
20:47:55 - Kit: And we'd probably run outa ammo 'afore they understand what we want!
20:48:34 - Kraiger: - I don't expect they'd pick that up over the signature of the fusion drives - but if you want to have ago, I'll show you how to fire it...
20:49:03 - Kit: What irks me most is the fact that Henry is still on the station. I hope he's a real pain in the ass for those stupid Zho!
20:49:37 - StewartBailey: (based on my knowledge of ships, sensors, engineering, etc, what's the likelihood of signalling with the plasma gun?)
20:50:46 - Methuslah: (They might pick the power signature up if they were specifically scanning your ship. At this range, it would be far to week for a passive scan.)
20:51:38 - StewartBailey: (OK, maybe I'll try it when we get closer.)
20:52:45 - Kraiger: (Kraiger will busy himself cleaning weapons, recharging all power packs, etc.)
20:53:09 - StewartBailey: It looks like all we can do is wait until either comms is back up or we get into a better range for sensors. Any other ideas?
20:53:10 - Kraiger: (Also tkae another look at the las pistols, _without_ pushing any buttons, and try to figure out what's what)
20:55:00 - Methuslah: (The three hours pass quickly, the occasional spark rising from the communications station only serving to break the silence. Three hours serves you to familiarize yourselves somewhat more with the pistols. You still have no idea of their function, but can recognize that they are much more powerful than ordinary pistols, but also with far fewer shots. There is no obvious recharge for them, either.)
20:56:10 - Kit: OK guys, Comm should work now, just DON'T blow it again!!
20:56:43 - Kit: (activating comm, listening for any signals)
20:57:30 - StewartBailey: (I'll try the sensors again, trying to get more data on the contacts ahead of us: 2D6: 10)
20:57:32 - Kit: Say Steward, any more info on our signals now? we should be getting closer.
20:58:30 - Methuslah: This is Azhanti High Lightning calling shuttle. Come in, please. This is Captain Powers of the AHL calling shuttle, please respond.
20:58:56 - Methuslah: The sensors indicate on AHL carrier, two smaller vessels, possible Kiniuir class.
20:59:58 - Kraiger just entered this channel
21:00:03 - StewartBailey: Azhanti High Lightning class! I spent many years on those! Those Zhodani are history!
21:00:16 - Kraiger: Woo-hoo, its the cavalry!
21:00:22 - Kit: Who wants to take the com?
21:00:26 - Methuslah: Testing, testing.
21:00:43 - StewartBailey: (Do I know Powers? In my character backgrond, I served on that ship for several years.)
21:01:20 - Methuslah: (He was First officer in your day.)
21:02:18 - Methuslah: (Bit of a stickler for orders, but a good chap.)
21:02:38 - StewartBailey: (Excellent! On the comm) "Captain Powers, this is Stewart Bailey on the Silver Silver. We're being pursued by hostile Zhodani. Can you assisst us?"
21:03:06 - Methuslah: (Commander Bailey? What are you doing on that ship?)
21:04:05 - StewartBailey: Running from the Zhodani right now. They appear to have declared war on the Imperium. We have the commander of their local task force aboard.
21:04:16 - StewartBailey: He's our captive.
21:04:37 - Kit: Steward, as soon as you can fit it in, have them prepare emergency medical stations for the Trane-Station commander. He needs immediate medical attention if he is to survive
21:05:25 - Methuslah: "Alright Commander. We are on approach trajectory now. Be with you in six hours, twenty-two minutes. I will have medical stations stanting by. Status report on the shuttle, and situation in general, please."
21:05:53 - Kit: And maybe you should mention those other two signals from the sun's direction!
21:06:18 - StewartBailey: Captain, the Zhodani also appear to have captured the orbital station.
21:06:34 - Kit: (With Communications fixed, I'll focus my full attention on the injured commander)
21:06:41 - StewartBailey: Kit, any status of the shuttle that our friends should be made aware of?
21:07:20 - Methuslah: "Damn! Our orders we to reinforce Trane in expectation of attack."
21:07:34 - Kit: Well, at this power, the Engine is working hard, but she'll hold, I think. It's a good baby. Besides that, there's no damage that I'm aware of.
21:08:11 - Methuslah: (The commander's condition appeasr to be worsening. He seems to be having difficulty with the acceleration - equivalent of 1.75g at present.)
21:08:40 - Kraiger: While we're thinking about it, better tell them the co-ordinates of the wrecked ship, with the weapons cache aboard...
21:08:55 - Kit: Trane Station captured by Zhodani, three Zhodani ships near there, Zhodani working with local smugglers/rebels?.
21:09:10 - StewartBailey: Captain Powers, our shuttle is holding up, but we're pushing it past its designed limits to stay clear of the Zhodani. We have a casualty aboard that is having trouble with our current acceleration.
21:09:43 - StewartBailey: (passing along all of Kit & Kraiger's info to Powers)
21:09:50 - Kit: Dammned, can we ease the G's a bit, the commander isn't taking it too well. (I'll try to stabilize him as good as I can under the present conditions, 2D6: 11)
21:10:28 - Methuslah: "I'll launch a squadron of fighters to bring you in, so cut your acceleration down to safe limits. They should be with you in about five hours. Anything else I need to know?"
21:10:48 - Methuslah: (The commander's condition immediately begins to improve - the effect is almost miraculous.)
21:11:33 - StewartBailey: (making sure Powers knows about the additional ships at coordinates xxx, yyy, zzz)
21:11:43 - Kit: two ships on interception course from the sun, also (whatever technical details I can tell about the Zhodani) and we have a Zhodani fugitiva aboard, low ranking scientist but may have some useful info.
21:12:05 - StewartBailey: Did we miss anything?
21:12:54 - Kit: I miss my coffee, maybe the Kid has some additional info about the situation on the station?
21:13:47 - StewartBailey: This might be a good opportunity to get the Navy on our side and against our commercial competitors. Is that worth trying?
21:14:10 - Methuslah: "Nothing much to add, sir, except that the station was taken mostly by infiltration. This was no normal raid."
21:14:50 - Kit: You're thinking about commercial competitors? We're at war!
21:15:51 - StewartBailey: Yes, but *we* are no longer in Imperial service.
21:16:39 - Kit: Well, as for me, I'm in the reserve, ships caretaker, whatever ya wanna call it, and 'sides, those Zho are heading for the marches which just happen to be my home.
21:16:44 - Kraiger: Plus the Technum were directly aiding the Zho - an act of high-treason!
21:17:33 - Kit: Thats something we missed: Tell the Captain all we have learned 'bout the Techum Zho connection!
21:17:44 - StewartBailey: Exactly, Kraiger, our competitors are also the emenies of the Imperium. Let's get the big guns on our side.
21:18:20 - StewartBailey: (back on the comm to Powers, passing on the commection between the Zho and the commercial interests)
21:19:34 - Methuslah: "What! An Imperial Corporation treating with those rogues!"
21:20:10 - Kit: Some part of them at least, that's what it seems like.
21:20:50 - StewartBailey: Kit, didn't we hear of a connection to the IISS also?
21:20:57 - Methuslah: "I can't believe it. YOu have proof?"
21:21:48 - Kit: except for the fact thet the IISS wants everybody to stay away from Egyrn, I don't think so.
21:22:47 - StewartBailey: (to Powers) We have the Zhodani commander as our captive. You can interrogate him yourself to verify our findings.
21:23:03 - Methuslah: The Commander starts to cough. He seems to be regaining consciousness.
21:23:15 - Kit: We have some data and first hand eyewitnesses (us) on the Techum Zho connection.
21:23:33 - Kit: (is thet the Zho commander or our man?)
21:23:55 - Kit: (if it's the Zho commander, I activate his newly modified hedband)
21:24:19 - Methuslah: Your man.
21:24:54 - Kit: OK, I'll keep an eye on him, ease his situation if possible.
21:25:30 - Kit: It's OK sir, we are safe, for now. Are you feeling ok (insert appropriate medical questions)
21:26:27 - Methuslah: "I'm sorry. SO sorry. (Cough, cough)."
21:26:52 - Kit: So sorry, for what Sir?
21:28:15 - Methuslah: "Miscalcuated. Decoy. So sorry. (Cough)
21:29:31 - Kit: Here drink this (give him something to strengthen him) What Decoy?
21:30:14 - Methuslah: "I feel tired."
21:30:49 - Kit: It's ok, you are badly injured. Unless there is something very importatnt you have to tell us now, just relax and rest.
21:31:30 - Methuslah: "Disc in my pocket. Give to Captain. Tell him orders of the CSB."
21:32:14 - StewartBailey: What's the CSB?
21:32:15 - Kit: OK, we will, just relax now (ease him to a comfortable position and search pocket for disc)
21:33:02 - Methuslah: You find a small holodisc in his pocket. YOu've never seen one of quite that ype before.
21:33:40 - Kit: Can it be read in a normal disc player?
21:34:07 - Kit: (And do I know what the CSB is?)
21:35:07 - Methuslah: (No. It requires a special reader, only found on large Imperial ships. As for the CSB - you know the meaning only, nothing else - Covert Survey Bureau.)
21:36:00 - Kit: Obviously some kinda secret service. Inform Powers 'bout the disc.
21:36:56 - StewartBailey: Roger. (doing it)
21:37:19 - Methuslah: "A encrypted holodisc? What have the Bureau got to do with this?"
21:38:14 - Kit: (say is Kraiger still with us or did we loose him somewhere)
21:38:52 - Kit: I wish I knew. This whole matter seems very complicated.
21:38:55 - StewartBailey: (to Powers) Unknown. Perhaps we can make more sense of it aboard the Azhanti.
21:38:56 - Kraiger: 0 (I'm here...)
21:39:46 - Kraiger: (CSB - sounds like something I may know about?)
21:39:52 - Kit: (are those zho still on our tail?)
21:40:20 - Methuslah: (They've fallen further back, but are still holding on.)
21:40:53 - Methuslah: (The name is not familiar to you.)
21:40:57 - StewartBailey: Can I make out anything more about the other sensor contacts? ( 2D6: 6)
21:41:12 - Kit: (keeping my attention on the commander, dont wanna loose a patient, be it machine or man!))
21:41:45 - Methuslah: Too far away - but they are definately on an intersect course, ETA in about six and a half hours.
21:42:44 - Kit: Thats shortly afte we'll meet up with them. As always we're goin right into the heat of the action
21:43:08 - StewartBailey: (on comm to Powers) Captain, do you know the intentions of the other ships that we have sensor contact with? Current location xxx,yyy,zzz, vector, aaa,bbb,ccc.
21:43:47 - Methuslah: (You do remmber something though. Once, back when you were a Lieutenant, your ship was ordered away from the planet Oros, in Foreven, but a scout ship. The captain obeyed without question, and you remember he muttered something about the 'Covert Survey boys'.)
21:44:12 - Methuslah: "We've been tracking them, Commander. Nothing else much we can do at the present time."
21:44:55 - StewartBailey: It looks like they're nor Imperial. That's probably not good.
21:45:17 - Kit: (they have something to do with the scout service and in all my years there I never heared of them? Woh, thats some seceret!)
21:47:03 - Methuslah: (The best secrets are kept close.)
21:47:42 - Kit: ( yes, but now they've piqued my curiosity!)
21:51:14 - StewartBailey: It looks like all we can do is wait to get to the AHL. Any other ideas?
21:52:08 - Methuslah just entered this channel
21:52:24 - Kit: I'm busy enough keeping my patient alive. Unless silvaa has something of possible use to tell captain Powers...
21:52:36 - Kit: (glance at Silvaa?)
21:53:19 - Methuslah: "I know little of military matters."
21:53:39 - Kit: (oh, yes, one more thing, I'll run a quick scan on the Zho commander to see wether he has any poison teeth or other dangerous stuff before he wakes up!)
21:54:15 - Methuslah: (You find nothing of that sort, except a rather vicious looking knife bound under his right thigh.)
21:54:35 - Kit: Even the little you know or might have ssen may be of use. (remove the knife)
21:55:45 - Methuslah: "I have told you what little I know."
21:56:01 - Kit: Nice butterknife, Now he probably didn't want to clean his fingernails with that! (proceed to empty all his pockets and remove anything that he might possibly use to escape or resist)
21:56:44 - Kit: Hey Kraiger, You into knives as well as guns?
21:58:09 - Methuslah: His pockets contain a few small cylinders, probably energy receptacles, a few datatapes, and a small book viewer, of unfamiliar design.
21:58:49 - Kit: See if I can read any of the tapes or the bookviewer, If It's Zho stuff, I'll ask Silvaa for a translation)
21:59:07 - StewartBailey: Does the book viewer look like it will work with the CSB disk?
21:59:10 - Kit: Hey Silvaa, you familiar with any of these?
21:59:41 - Methuslah: No - it appears to be a standard reader, the same as a basic Imperial design.
22:00:17 - Kraiger: (I'll take the knife) - sure....
22:00:27 - Methuslah: "The tapes are multi-lingual - put them in an Imperial reader and they will work in your tongue."
22:00:39 - Kit: Any way to read the tapes? Either in the bookviewer or with my player?
22:01:03 - Kit: (checking the tapes)
22:02:12 - StewartBailey: Kit, can you check for any covert data that might be hidden in those books?
22:03:01 - Kit: We'll see.
22:05:17 - Kit: (just in case the GM needs a roll: 2D6: 6)
22:05:18 - Methuslah: Your player will work fine with these tapes. The first few seem to be routine inventory reports, detailing food supplies. The final one appears to be a draft of a letter, being written the the 'Regent of Trojan Reach', at Berengaria. It talks about the successful takeover of Trane, and requests further instructions for hsi squadron - of FIVE ships.
22:06:50 - Kit: Forward that to the captain, those two blips are probably the two ships we havent seen yet!)
22:08:02 - Methuslah: "Thank you for the information. We can deal with two more light carriers."
22:08:02 - Kit: (try to estimate number of troops from the inventories if possible and forwarding that to the captain as well!)
22:08:32 - Kit: Lets hope they ARE of the same type!
22:10:01 - StewartBailey: Suspicious again. "Regent of Trojan Reach."
22:10:08 - Kit: So it seems they have teken berengaria already as well. I guess that pretty much ruins our plans, eh?
22:10:42 - StewartBailey: Maybe it's just a covert operation.
22:11:12 - Kit: Somehow I doubt that.
22:11:48 - Kit: Any hidden or coded information on the tapes? any memory in the bookreader?
22:13:30 - Methuslah: Nothing you can find,
22:14:49 - StewartBailey: I wonder why it's addressed to the Regent of Trojan Reach instead to the Regent of Idrflanta [the Zho term]. Maybe this person is Imperial instead of Zhodani. Maybe those traitorous merchants?
22:14:50 - Kit: That seems to be it. I guess the rest will have to be taken from the Zho Commisioner. I hope captain Powers has some interrogation experts aboard!
22:15:22 - Kit: maybe it's just the translator translating the term?
22:16:09 - Kit: These are multilingual tapes after all. Remember what Silvaa said?
22:16:13 - StewartBailey: Maybe. I'm not sure if the two are exactly the same. There's no reasaon for the Zho to draw boundaries just like we do.
22:16:33 - Methuslah: "That's right. Impressive, no?"
22:17:12 - Kit: Quite Impressive. But if it's for communication among Zho, Why bother with translations?
22:17:29 - Methuslah: "Humaniti is not the only race in the Consulate."
22:17:47 - Kit: Wouldn't that be counterproductive? unless you WANTED the enemy to be able to read your info?
22:18:19 - Kit: You have people who speak imperial standard in the consulate?
22:18:53 - StewartBailey: What does the letter to the Regent say? Maybe that will shed some light on what's going on.
22:19:23 - StewartBailey: Nothing else besides the reinforcements? Any names we can check?
22:19:35 - Kit: We had that already: It talks about the successful takeover of Trane, and requests further instructions for hsi squadron - of FIVE ships.
22:20:16 - StewartBailey: Wait a minute. Is the Comissioner the Regent?
22:20:40 - Kit: Say is there a date on the letter? The commisioner was on the planet during the takeover. So did he write the letter then?
22:21:16 - StewartBailey: (so "the the" was "to the")
22:21:39 - Methuslah: It is dated for tomorrow.
22:22:03 - Kit: But when was the file made?
22:22:44 - Kit: during his (short) time away from us on Trane or beforehand?
22:22:56 - Methuslah: The last time alteration is yesterday.
22:23:41 - StewartBailey: Let's inform Powers of this. The Comissioner probably knows who the Zho contact is on Berengaria, and can probably interrogate him more effectively than we can.
22:23:56 - Kit: So these guys were pretty sure of their victory. Well if it was an infiltration more than a military takeover, no wonder. They probably had all their agents in place already!
22:24:51 - Kit: I already informed Powell about the letter and everything in it, so he should know.
22:26:15 - Kit: (returning my attention to my patient)
22:27:12 - Methuslah: "I can't believe those damn Zho's managed to plan all this. How far has this gone?"
22:27:44 - StewartBailey: Interrogatin the Comissioner is probably the surest way to find out.
22:29:48 - Kit: They have prepared this for a long time. Quite impressive. layers upon layers of lies and screens, and with mindreaders being involved, paranoia will run wild among our forces. Quite clever, that I have to admit!
22:30:42 - Kit: This war aint gonna be easy! That's for sure!
22:31:41 - StewartBailey: I wouldn't underestimate the capabilities of the Navy. If we can just get some of those imcompetent nobles out of command positions, we can push the Zhodani all the way back to Zhdant.
22:32:21 - Kit: I sure hope you dont mean that as a general insult eh!!??
22:32:28 - Methuslah: "Maybe they'll let me join the service this time!"
22:32:49 - StewartBailey: Only if you're an incompetent noble in a command position.
22:33:35 - Kit: There may be a few nobles in.. say... not quite the right positions. But NO noble is incompetent!!
22:34:06 - Kit: And many of them are QUITE capable!!
22:34:53 - Kit: (to Kid) if it's any worth, I'll give you a letter of recommendation!
22:35:14 - StewartBailey: All nobles may be competent, just in different tasks. We just need to make sure that the ones calling the shots in the Navy are the ones with *that* particular aptitude. That's not always the case.
22:36:08 - Kit: So you apologize for the phrase "incompetent noble"?!
22:36:13 - Kraiger: Hmmphhh, same in the army - the nobles are given responsabilities irrespective of whether they are competent or not - the rest of us have to work to earn it!
22:37:09 - Kit: Every Noble is competent to lead. We are born that way. Some of us just choose different paths!
22:37:14 - Methuslah: "That would be welcome, Kit."
22:37:52 - StewartBailey: If "incompetent" means total lack of abilities. Perhaps "limited competence," is more accurate.
22:38:06 - Kit: (to kid) You are an excellent pilot. I'll do it as soon as I find the time okay?
22:40:02 - Kit: limited competence! Now you be careful what you say. I do agree that some leaders may not be in their optimal field or branch, but every noble is a competent leader.
22:40:36 - Kit: We are born and raised that way. It's in our heritage!
22:42:16 - Kit: (there is a rarely seen fire in Kits eyes when she says this. She's often complaining and grumbling, but thet seems to be more show. On this subject though, you seem to have struck a nerve!)
22:44:18 - Kraiger: So you think competence and leadership is hereditary? I'm surprised Kit...
22:45:11 - Kit: Leadership ability is hereditary, especially when combined with the appropriate training!
22:46:00 - Kraiger: Rubbish. Its no more hereditary than artistic tallent!
22:46:22 - Kit: Even a noble abducted at birth and raised among primitive barbarians would stand out among them through his blood and breeding!
22:47:34 - Kraiger: The problem is, that a barbarian abducted and raised as a noble is _still_ treated as if he had "hereditary competence"
22:48:06 - Kraiger: I've seen complete idiots promoted ahead of me, simply because their father was lord so and so, while mine was a commoner and farmer...
22:49:17 - Kit: I'm not talking about newly ennobled families. Though even those show some rare breeding that places them above the common man. Otherwise they wouldn't have been ennobled in the first place. But especially old families cannot help but be of noble blood and bearing, and competent leaders as a result of this!
22:50:21 - Kit: They probably had qualities of leadership that you are not aware off, and that made them a better leader than you would haven been!
22:52:11 - Kraiger: If things were are you said, why not implement a purely merit-based system? If your nobles are so comptent, they would still reach positions of power...
22:53:27 - Kit: But they are Kraiger, they ARE where they belong: In the leadership positions. Some may be in the wrong field of expertise, but never in the wrong place for their leadership qualities!
22:55:55 - Kit: The System as it is works quite well. Why change it? Why change a working system?
22:56:01 - Kraiger: OK Kit. You must be right - being a noble and all (returns to cleaning his weapons)
22:57:46 - Kit: (mumbling) there are some things that you commoners just don't understand. (returns attention to her patient)
22:57:50 - Methuslah: "What system would you replace the aristorcracy with, Kraiger?"
22:59:23 - Kraiger: Meritochracy. I don't believe that "all men are equal" crap, but neither do I believe that one man is better simply because of where he was born...
23:00:15 - Kraiger: Aristochracy may have started correctly, but nepotism is its fatal flaw...
23:02:48 - Kit: No system is perfect, but of all possible choices I'd take aristocracy over any other any day. Nobles are born with good genes, the result of generations of selective breeding, if you want to take the scientific view. They are also born into an environmant that insures a good education. the result is the best possible person for leadership. That is a fact!
23:03:10 - StewartBailey: Hmmm, Kit, have theZhodani violated any treaties by endangering the life on an Imperial noble, that is to say, you?
23:03:27 - Kit: And this they pass on to theyr descendants. Noble blood and all.
23:04:06 - Kit: Really Steward, The Zhodani hjave declared War on the imperium. Im pretty sure thats not covered by ANY treaty.
23:04:59 - StewartBailey: I don't think that declaration of war is expressly forbidden by any treaties. Endangering nobles, however, might be.
23:06:20 - Kit: I am no law expert. You may be right, or not. I would have to check that.
23:07:07 - StewartBailey: Anything to make things look better for us can't hurt.
23:07:13 - Kit: But I am pretty sure that if a noble chooses to place his life in danger in the line of duty, no one can expect the enemy to hoöd his fire because of that.
23:07:41 - Kit: But if it helps us and harms the Zho, be my guest!
23:08:17 - StewartBailey: I don't think that embarking on this mission was a clear choice to place youy life in danger. At least in the Imperium, that should be good legal ammunition against our competitors.
23:08:29 - StewartBailey: Endangering your life, that is.
23:08:35 - Kraiger: Of course _you_ would take aristocracy - being an aristocrat! My father turned his back on your stinking system, and I suffer forever for that. Tell me where the justice is in that???
23:10:10 - Kit: I do not know what your father did, that makes you suffer. If he commited crimes against the empire then it was his choice and you should blame him, not me. We all grow and suffer by the couces of our ancestors and families.
23:11:39 - Kraiger: He committed no crime - he just saw the aristocracy for what it was - a way of keeping your friends and family in positions of power.
23:12:36 - Kit: Whats wrong in keeping the leadership elite where it belongs and where it can do the most good?
23:13:09 - Kit: And even if your fatehr was against the system, as long as he did not commit any crimes, he should be fine.
23:14:36 - Kraiger: The problem is exactly what stewart mentioned - that politics and position become more important than ability and comptence - so we get _incompetents_ in charge, making decisions that benefit them and their other nobles.
23:16:49 - Kit: I already tried to explain to you, NO noble is an incompetent leader. I think you have no idea of the responsibilities that come with leadership. There are often choices to be made that may seem wrong to the common man who cannot see the whole picture or who may suffer as a result of said decisions.
23:17:29 - Kit: That is the way it is, sometimes hard decisions have to be made adn the result is that some people have to suffer for the good of all.
23:19:14 - Kraiger:
23:20:07 - Kraiger: Right - and for some reason, its always the people that _aren't_ nobles that have to suffer! I've seen thousands of innocents put to death, just so that one noble could avoid _embarasment_!!! Don;t tell me that that is for the good of all.
23:22:14 - Kit: It may quite well be! Even though I cannot expect a commoner to understand that. The Nobles are the leaders and thus it may be very important on a large scale to keep their reputations intact. maybe many people have to die, but maybe even more people would have suffered and died in the long run, had the noble in question lost his face!!
23:23:39 - Kit: Thankfully such extreme situations are rare, though hearing the critics and rebels, you'd think that all noble estates must be depopulated by now!
23:24:19 - Kit: Most of these reports by the way are blown way out of proportion by people who do nit know nearly all the facts.
23:24:32 - Kraiger: *sigh* and here I was thinking you were enlightened, when I see that you're just another noble (shakes his head and returns to his weapon cleaning)
23:26:23 - Kit: I consider myself a scout, mechanic and doctor, but i AM a noble. And I will never allow anyone to insult my bllod and my heritage. I simply cannot do that. ..... I guess thats part of the breeding and upringing too.
23:27:24 - Kit: And Kariger... Whatever happens, I still consider you a friend, and though I cannot agree with your opinion, I can accept that you have it.
23:27:29 - Kraiger: (Shakes his head and chuckles)
23:28:38 - Kit: So, are we still friends? (extends hand)
23:28:40 - Methuslah: Well, on that note, shall we call a halt for the night. It's getting late over here.
23:29:40 - StewartBailey: Next week?
23:29:53 - Kit: fine with me, I was going to ask that half an hour ago, but we were so well into our discussion, I didn't want to interrupt it)
23:30:12 - Kraiger: Sure, but don't expect me to cowtow to any of your noble friends - a meritochracy I stand for, and you have earned my friendship - _despite_ your heritage (offers hand)
23:30:20 - Methuslah: Next week's fine with me.
23:30:38 - Kit: (sakes hand) Good, and now lets kick some Zhodani ass!
23:30:40 - Kraiger: (Ahh, a good political discussion! See you all next week then...)