Imperial Fringe Online Game Chat Session Log 15.12.2002

21:06:44 - Methuslah: OK. Now last week, on the Silver Sliver..........
21:06:59 - Kraiger: All set here... now, from memory, we just got through a big debate on aristocracy versus meritocracy...
21:08:03 - Methuslah: You have managed to evade the two Zhodani fighters, and are heading towards what you now know are three Imperial ships. You expect help within the next few hours. You have also found out another titbit of information - the Starbase Commander is a member of a top secret organization affiliated with the scouts called the 'Covert Survey Bureau'.
21:08:26 - Kit: Yup, all the while heading for the imperial ships with whom we will meet up about 5 minutes before the Zhodani warships will.
21:12:11 - Kraiger: (A question - I never really specified what I had with me, and whether I left possesions on the starbase - I assume that my Combat Armour, extra ammo, etc. are still on the starbase, right?
21:12:33 - Methuslah: I fear so.
21:13:19 - Kit: Yeah and those idiots also have my pet. grumble.
21:15:21 - Methuslah: "I caution you my friends - do not underestimate them.", says Silvaa.
21:15:54 - Kit: Underestimate? In how far are we underestimating them?
21:18:10 - Methuslah: "Calling them idiots. They are not stupid."
21:19:24 - Kit: Oh sorry silvaa, I forgot you people took things literally. By idiots I didnt mean they were dumb or so, only that they did something that i definitely don't approve ao. Its meant more as a kind of name calling than an estimate of their mental abilities.
21:20:10 - Methuslah: "Your language is...difficult...to get used to."
21:21:00 - Kit: Yeah, it probably is, even if you disregard such things as local dialacts and such
21:21:55 - Kit: But believe me, I have the same difficulty understanding the way your people think, and I haven't even tried learning the language.
21:22:58 - Kit: Many words in our tongue have different meanungs, depending upon the context they are used in.
21:24:26 - Methuslah: "Our tongue is different. A word has a meaning. Of course, the language of the nobility is more subtle. Telepathic powers make conversations faster."
21:24:27 - Kit: Idiot for example can be used as a evaluation of someones intelligence (or rather lack thereof) or simply as an indication that you dislike someone, regardless of his mental abilities.
21:25:40 - Kit: How many people on your world are actual telepaths, and how many are.. proles? was that the term, like you?
21:27:32 - Methuslah: "Maybe 1 in 8 are telepaths, about two-thirds Intendants. I am a prole, of the lowest order."
21:28:14 - Kit: I do assume that telepathic communication is faster, I mean you can skip the "translate thought into words, speak, retranslate into thoughts" process we use and you probably have less misunderstandings, but what about privacy?
21:28:58 - Methuslah: "Privacy is not a concept embraced in are society. It is viewed as a sickness? aberration?"
21:30:23 - Kit: I guess thats a fundamental difference to our society. We put much value on privacy, at least for our thoughts and private life. Now of cours if you happen to have caught the attention of the media, getting privacy may be hard...
21:31:42 - Methuslah: "The change in your society and mine is why I wish to emigrate. I am...sick...by the standards of my people."
21:33:14 - Kit: I do hope that you will be happier in our society. Though it too does have its little problems.. (glances at Kraiger) being an aristocracy and such? (grins)
21:35:06 - Kit: And with your people just having declared war on our people, you may have some difficulties being accepted.
21:36:27 - Methuslah: "I am used to an aristocracy."
21:37:02 - Kraiger: Silvaa, do you know of any others that may feel like you? Especially any nobles? If you could help the Imperium to recruit defectors from the noble classes, their gratitude would be profound...
21:37:18 - Methuslah: "At least here they cannot empty my mind."
21:37:20 - Kit: At least our aristocracy doesnt control your thoughts!
21:37:43 - Methuslah: "Why would nobles defect? They are the priviledged class - society is structured for their benefits."
21:40:23 - Kraiger: Yes, but even so, there may be those who have the same... ummm, aberation as you - that _want_ to be able to keep their thoughts private.
21:40:50 - Methuslah: "There are proles who would defect - if they knew that they could."
21:41:32 - Kit: Is there nos official system for your people to emmigrate?
21:43:03 - Methuslah: "Of course not. Too many would, but most do not even know that there is an alternative to the life they lead."
21:44:07 - Kit: Really? So a society that prides itself on its culture, knowledge and intelligence keeps the masses uneducated and unaware of the rest of the world?
21:44:42 - Kraiger: Hmmm, sounds like some aristocracies _I_ know
21:44:54 - Methuslah: "The nobles prize themselves on such traits. PRoles pride themselves on obedience."
21:46:32 - Kit: (ignoring Kraigers comment) So what about your libraries, media and such?
21:47:42 - Methuslah: "Proles are only granted access to edited material, with a few exceptions. The nobles have a complete library, but their education and mental contact keeps them in line."
21:48:29 - Kit: Another question just crossed my mind. If I understood you correctly, all nobles are telepaths or vice versa, and if a commoner shows telepathic talent, he can be elevated to noble status in some way, correct?
21:49:35 - Kit: I assume a mind controlled society doesnt have many dissidents surviving for any length of time. With or without access to information.
21:50:11 - Methuslah: "Correct. We hold an 'olymipics' at regular intervals, which test mental abilities. Winners are elevated in status. It keeps the nobilityat the peak of ability. New nobles are often given the most dangerou tasks, however, and tend to be fanatical - witness the Commissar."
21:50:24 - Methuslah: "Dissidents are not killed. They are reprogrammed."
21:50:27 - Kit: Back to my question. Are people who have telepathic power also always more intelligent than those without, or are there dumb telepaths?
21:50:55 - Kit: The comissioner is a new noble?
21:51:23 - Kit: Ans are the children of telepathic nobles always telepaths too?
21:52:04 - Methuslah: "Not often, but it is more likely than in the normal population. They will generally have some telepathic ability, more than proles - these make the Intendant class."
21:52:23 - Methuslah: "The Commissar is a noble of ten years standing. Before that, he was a prole."
21:52:49 - Kit: So your nobility is strictly based on telepathic ability, not on heritage?
21:53:26 - Kit: Doesnt that sound like some kinda Meritocracy (looks at Kraiger)?
21:53:42 - Methuslah: "To a degree, yes. However, those with good parentage will go further than those without."
21:54:22 - Kraiger: hmmm
21:54:29 - Kit: hey Kraiger, wanna emmigrate to Zhand?

21:55:58 - Methuslah: "NEVER jest about such matters."
21:56:24 - Kit: Sorry, couldn't resist.
21:56:41 - Kraiger: Sure - I'd teach those nobles a thing or two...
21:57:30 - Kit: We humand use MUCH irony and jests in our dealings. I assume the Zhodani don't, but you should get used to it, if you want to fit in.
21:58:04 - Methuslah: "We have humour. But after what the proles go through...."
21:58:07 - Methuslah: He shudders.
21:58:43 - Kit: Think they'd listen to you? After all, to my knowledge you are not a telepath, so you'd just be a prole, and we have seen how much value the Zhodani place on those.
21:59:51 - Kit: (To silvaa) hey, you're with us now, and I'll do my very best to keep you outa those mindbender's hands. 'Kay?
22:02:07 - Kraiger: Well, how do you know if you're a telepath or not - I often have these strange feelings that I know whats going to happen...
22:03:54 - Kit: I Dont know if im a telepath or not. I have never had any strange "intuitions" though, I'm a mechanic, not a soothsayser. But maybe you actually are a telepath. say Silvaa, how do you people find out if someone is a telepath or not?
22:04:36 - Methuslah: "There are tests. I doubt if they are avaliable in the Imperium."
22:04:58 - Kit: Psionics is illegal in the empire!
22:05:15 - Kit: Though of course there are rumors about secret schools and such.
22:06:28 - Kraiger: As I've always said, just because something is illegal doesn't make it wrong...
22:06:49 - Methuslah: "Another reason I am glad to be here. There are some powers not for man to use."
22:08:40 - Kit: But the problem is, how do you keep the telepaths from screwing over the normal people? I bet Silvaa can tell you a thing or two about psionic powers misused. And such things are easily misused.
22:09:56 - Kit: If there was some practicable way of making sure that telepaths don't turn into untrackable criminals and respect other peoples privacy, then I'm sure and ruler wirth his salt would quickly realize the usefulness of such abilities and legalize and support them.
22:10:36 - Kit: But as it stands, such a control is simply not possible, and thus it has to be illegal to protect the common man.
22:12:22 - Kraiger: Yes, and it _should_ be illegal. I'm just interested to know if I might be a telepath after all...
22:13:35 - Kit: Then I guess we... err, you'll have to find one of these secret schools to run a test. That is, once we get out of the current mess and have some time to spare

22:14:46 - Methuslah: "The Consulate is not the only body to practice psionics, though it has taken it the furthest. Perhaps an independant world might be of assistance?"
22:18:52 - Kit: I'm afraid though, we ahve a war at our hands which we'll have to get out of firs, preferably by winning it.
22:20:03 - Methuslah: The navigation console begins to sound.
22:20:05 - Kraiger: Yup - so, whats our position?
22:22:29 - Methuslah: Three hours to intercept with the carrier force. The two fighters are on your tail, and the three carriers at Trane have just left station and are heading your way. The alarm seems to be referring to a selection of objects ahead, that appear to be homing on you at low acceleration.
22:23:30 - Kit: We seem to being attracting a LOT of attention? So who are our newest guests Kraiger?
22:24:16 - Kraiger: Kid?
22:24:16 - Kit: Could this be the fighter escort from our allies already?
22:25:10 - Methuslah just entered this channel
22:25:59 - Methuslah: "Runnig a check - but they are moving awfully slowly for fighters - less than half a g. I now count twelve of them, all of intercept course."
22:26:09 - Kit: Check scanners and inform the captain of the imperial troups of the new situation.
22:27:00 - Methuslah: "Detecting point fusion reactor sources on each object. Power is building!"
22:27:03 - Kit: I guess I better get my improvised trash dum ready, just in case.
22:27:35 - Kraiger: Mines?
22:27:39 - Kit: Damned, what the hell is that. some kinda mines or rockets?
22:28:04 - Methuslah: "I'd say mines."
22:28:27 - Kit: Can we pass by them? We should be fast enough., if we can avouid them.
22:28:49 - Methuslah: "Better strap down - I'm going to try to evade. Kit - I need all the power you can give me. Kraiger - you'd beter get on the horn to the Skipper of those ships."
22:28:57 - Kit: I wonder whoever put up mines here (Meth, can my waste dump distractor work against the mines?)
22:29:41 - Kit: Okay, Power coming up (after making sure that my patient is well secured) 2D6: 9
22:30:25 - Methuslah: "It should confuse their sensors - it might buy you some time."
22:30:35 - Methuslah: "OK- here we go! Power coming up!"
22:30:40 - Methuslah: 2D6: 4
22:31:02 - Kit: (O, in that case I'll activate it at an appropriate moment)
22:31:23 - Methuslah: The ship slams over, pulling into a spin. The thrusters burn out of control and the ship continues on it's course. Impact estimated in thirty seconds.
22:32:07 - Kit: Oh damned, can I do something to get it back in control, if I can, I will 2D6: 7 (for whatever)
22:33:05 - Methuslah: You manage to correct the spin - but are out of time for a course change. First mine will impact in fifteen seconds.
22:33:24 - Kraiger: (Comm to imperial ships) Mayday, we have encountered mines, repeat, mines, at location xxxxxxx.
22:33:33 - Kit: activate waste dump and pray!
22:33:45 - Kraiger: Impact in 15 seconds!
22:33:54 - Methuslah: "We read you. We read you. State your position."
22:34:13 - Kraiger: Current position (fill in coordinates)
22:34:26 - Kraiger: (Can I get to a vacc suit?)
22:34:31 - Methuslah: The particles fire out of the waste dump, and the mine loses track - but that's just stopped the acceleration. You've bought anotehr thirty seconds.
22:34:32 - Kit: Just home in on the big bang
22:35:15 - Kit: Enough for evasive maneuvers?
22:35:39 - Methuslah: Time for a course correctin. The kid is sitting in his chair - looking at his hands in disbelief. "I failed!"
22:36:32 - Kit: Damned baby, c'mon, you can do it, push over ki take over controls, I already know this ship. Im on 2D6: 11
22:36:58 - Kit: C'mon baby! C'mon, Silver sliver!!
22:37:27 - Kit: Kid, dont stare ata your hands, no time for doubts now!
22:38:23 - Methuslah: With a deft flick, you scrape away from the mine, and push away at maximum thrust. At the end of the thirty seconds, the mine detonates, and the ships is rocked by the explosion. A few telltales blick from green to amber - but you can only guess at what might have happened if that had been in contact with the hull.
22:39:07 - Kit: So where are thjos other eggs. Meth, I need ya at the scanner!
22:40:12 - Kit: (Kraiger, not Meth of course

)
22:41:06 - Kraiger: (I'll try to figure out the scanner - ship's boat-0 is the best I have: 2D6: 8
22:41:11 - Kit: Damned minedroppers, cant they keep their junk to themselves? Littering free space. Damned!!
22:41:55 - Methuslah: Another eleven eggs, all homing again. First impact in one minute."
22:42:45 - Kit: Try evasive maneuvers, we gotta get away from the lot. 2D6: 11
22:42:59 - Kraiger: Holy shit!
22:43:06 - Kit: (wow, must be my lucky day today

)
22:44:11 - Methuslah: With a clever sideswipe, the ship dances away from the pack, which futilely begins to pursue. At only half a g, they should be out of range in a few minutes.
22:44:50 - Kraiger: Whew! Can we get any signature from them? Are they Zho?
22:45:02 - Kit: Damned space litterers. These people should all be forced to pick up their junk by hand... without a spacesuit!
22:45:30 - Kit: Kid, you Okay?
22:45:57 - Methuslah: "Mines are a standard Zhodani tactic. I remember! The Commissar was talking about a shipment of reactors that had come in - this must be their purpose."
22:46:39 - Kit: We better keep a lookout for more, Kraiger? You keep an eye on such trash?
22:47:32 - Kraiger: I'll do my best
22:47:43 - Kit: Kid?
22:49:08 - Methuslah: "I failed!"
22:49:56 - Kit: So, Kid, How many times you been on a small shuttle before being hunted by enemy forces and running through a minefield? For real i mean, not just in a sumulator?
22:52:01 - Methuslah: "You don't understand. I've never failed like that before - never! I've flown through asteroid clusters, gas giants, I even went through a corona once - I never messed up then!"
22:52:59 - Kit: Kid, EVERYBODY fails sometimes, especially under such stress as we are in now. Don't drown yourselves in self-pity, we need ya Kid.
22:54:15 - Kit: You're young, I shoulda known yue are not used to real war. I forgot how i was at your age. All green and cocky and completely unexperienced with working under REAL pressure.
22:54:35 - Methuslah: "But I've no good in Combat! To think I wanted to join the scouts."
22:54:59 - Kit: Have ya ever BEEN in combat 'afore?
22:55:37 - Methuslah: "no."
22:56:16 - Kit: Then how ya wanna know if yall ever be good at it. ya haven't been trained for such situations.
22:57:40 - Kit: The first combat I#ve ever been in, I almost got the whole team killed, and I HAD been trained. An I've known many a greenhorn wet his pants when the REAL bullets started zipping. Ya're definitely not alone!
22:58:39 - Kit: And even now, afta 36 years in the service I still fail...occasionally. Its only human.
22:59:38 - Kit: I bet Kraiger can tell ya 'bout the same kinda experiences
23:02:55 - Kraiger: You didn't fail Kid - you tried something that didn't work. Failure is sitting around lamenting something that didn't work, instead of coming up with the next plan that _might_ work.
23:06:02 - Methuslah: "I need a lie down. Kit, will you take over?"
23:07:12 - Kit: Kid, I gotta keep an eye on the engine and my patient already. The pilot seat is yours. You CAN do it, Now wipe thet sweat offfa ya bro, bite yar teeth together an get back in the saddle!
23:07:56 - Kit: Its not wront to fall, it IS wrong not to get back up again. And you ARE a good pilot, I KNOW that. So get back up here where ya belong!!
23:08:02 - Methuslah: "But you are the better pilot in this crate."
23:09:16 - Kit: No way, Im just better used to stress. I dont care to count how many times i've been in such situations before. this is your ship. You practically build it, you know every littel shudder it makes. So get back up here.
23:10:02 - Kit: And it is NOT a crate, it is one of the best ships I've ever seen.
23:10:10 - Methuslah: "I can't! I'll get you all killed!"
23:11:06 - Kit: No kid you won't, because you can do this. No get up here and quit crying like a baby! or I will trash this ship on the next asteroid i can find just to show ya!!
23:12:08 - Methuslah: The Kid sits back at the controls, his listless eyes scanning space.
23:13:50 - Kit: (shake him up a bit) Okay, boy. Nw shove crybaby away. You are the Califorbia Kid. You are the best pilot in this sector. And I wanna get back to my own ship eventually, so git a hang of yarselves and just fly us to the imperial ships 'kay!
23:15:41 - Methuslah: "Whatever you say. I'll get you there."
23:16:31 - Kit: Every kid has a breakdown of this kind when he first gets into a real fight. Thats only natural. Its the survivors that snap outa that fast enough to continue on. And you ARE a survivor Kid!! Believe me. I know a survivor when I see one ey! (give him a comarades nudge)
23:18:05 - Kit: And once we get to the next bar I'll treat ya to your first blood drink! You've earned it today!
23:18:12 - Methuslah: "If you say so."
23:18:48 - Kit: Trust me kid, I may be an old witch, but i DO know what I'm talking about!
23:20:51 - Kit: (I'll return to my patient and engineering, I'll keen an eye on the kid, but so that he doesnt notice. I wanne give him the impression that I trust his abilities absolutely (which incidentally I do) to strengthen his shaken ego)
23:22:53 - Methuslah: Well, we seem to have come to a natural breakpoint.
23:23:27 - Kit: (does the kid give the impression of getting a hold of himself again?)
23:24:11 - Methuslah: He seems to be pulling himself back together.
23:24:23 - Kit: (good, then we can call it a break)
23:25:15 - Kit: we didnt really get far today, as the story goes, but we had some interesting conversations I think. (and the gods of dice rolls were with me

)
23:25:55 - Kraiger: Hey, we usually break just _before_ we get out of a narrow scrape! :->