Part Two, in which is found a shrubbery.

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:04 pm

No. 42 is the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.

MikeVanPelt · Post by **MikeVanPelt** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:09 pm

Rokas wrote: 2. Centauri and Mountain Dew? The galaxy is doooooomed!

BWAA HAA HAAA HAA HAAAA

RHJunior · Post by **RHJunior** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:19 am

Openly attacking the humans-- no. They wouldn't be likely to do that if they have any sense.

Appealing to an alien races' "better natures," solely relying on that--- foolish.

Carefully tipping the scales in their own favor, organizing themselves to resist coercion--- a definite necessity.

<I>Negotiation from a position of weakness is indistinguishable from begging.</i>

As to "recharging," if there are living things about there should be ambient lux, if only a trickle.

The reason Quentyn had to use a spark-striker to try and light the lamp was because he was, at the time, completely drained of lux, in an environment that was being actively and constantly drained by the wights, and had deliberately stripped himself of anything with any sort of lux charge, right down to his buttons. So yes, they can cast sparks and ignite objects.

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:48 am

MikeVanPelt wrote:
Rokas wrote: 2. Centauri and Mountain Dew? The galaxy is doooooomed!
BWAA HAA HAAA HAA HAAAA

Londo killed Arrrrgh?

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 1:26 pm

Never heard of Nova Roma, and totally did not catch the 'sub-orbital bombers' that someone mentioned, but I do like this. Its awesome. I very much liked how they are adjusting to the sheer size that everything is. Good detail.

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 1:41 pm

Madmoonie wrote:I totally did not catch the 'sub-orbital bombers' that someone mentioned, but I do like this.

Comes from this comment:

“Good. Now, go see to that. As for myself, I need to call the Minotaur and tell captain Larson that she can stop having her fighters sweeping low orbit ‘fore one of them hits a commsat. Dismissed.”

Things we can pick up from that comment:
1. This country has a significant military space presence.
2. This country allows females high-ranking command positions (I don't think the USN allows women to command ships yet?)
3. Minotaur is capable of carrying space fighters.
4. There are a lot of commsats in low orbit, as there is a significant chance of a fighter colliding with one.
5. Greco-Roman mythology is a big influence on this culture (Nova Roma, Pegasus, Minotaur).

We might have grounds to argue for an alternate history "Rome never fell" culture. They do, however, tend to have a sprinkling of non-Roman names such as Larson and Johnson which point to a strong northern European presence.

Rokas · Post by **Rokas** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:18 pm

...OR, y'all could wait 'til the next part or two, where things are discussed. :p

Also, Pegasus and Minotaur are Greek, not Roman.

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:15 pm

Rokas wrote:Also, Pegasus and Minotaur are Greek, not Roman.

Which is why I said Greco-Roman, if you'll notice...

Rokas · Post by **Rokas** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:53 pm

...No, I didn't. *Smack forehead*

I swear, my hair's the color of dirt at night!

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:03 pm

In any case, the Romans were masters of borrowing - they picked up stuff from a lot of the cultures they assimilated, predominantly Greek stuff, but also culture from the Etruscans, the Carthaginians... Like they say, Civilized Greece defeated her savage conqueror.

Rokas · Post by **Rokas** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:07 pm

As any moderately astute student of history knows. :p

Jupiter = Zeus
Minerva = Athena
Mercury = Hermes
Ceres = Demeter
Venus = Aphrodite

Etc.

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:20 pm

Rome rose to power for two major reasons, as best I see from history: it was the first nation to ever field a full-time national army, and it had a fair sight of political savvy. Those two qualities combined to make Rome the power of the era.

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:45 pm

What amazes me about the Roman army is that they were THE dominant military force for hundreds of years. Until all the in-fighting that destroyed it, they could have probably toe-to-toe with most military powers after them, even to the advent of gunpowder and perhaps a little beyond. A standing army that trained its soliders, armored them, gave them cavalry, artillary, and archery support that made them the military standard that still impacts the modern military. Its amazing. Something intersting a teacher once supposed is that one reason they were so effective that they were carrer soliders, not warriors. They wanted to go home, not fight (or perhaps not as much as a warrior). And the world forgot these these revolutionary tactics and other things until practically halfway through the first world war. After the Romans, everyone just ran at each other and cut each other until everyone was dead. The Romans acted as unit, which in my (most likely uninformed) opinion made them sode effective.

In case you case you can't tell, I really like the Roman Army. They impress me.

Also, the thought occured to me that is this story another one of universes that the Romans never fell? Time will tell. Of course things obivously change somewhat since they have names like Ramirez and Fort Kandinsky or whatever. Can't for the next chapter.

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:57 pm

Ft. Kerensky, yes. Alexander Kerensky was a prime minister of Russia from whom Vladimir Lenin seized power. Of course, Alexandr Kerensky also shows up in the BattleTech universe.

Madmoonie, you might be interested in reading... oh brigger, where'd I save it *hunts for link*. Aha, here we go: "De Re Militari" by Flavius Vegetius Renatus. Basically, towards the end of the empire, Vegetius wrote down the "Manual" for the Roman army, which is our chief resource on them today. Oddly, his tactics and strategies were "outmoded" in his own day, and not until the 1400s was he actually popular. His entire book is on that website, btw. The Roman's version of Sun Tzu.

Rokas · Post by **Rokas** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:04 pm

BrockthePaine wrote:Ft. Kerensky, yes. Alexander Kerensky was a prime minister of Russia from whom Vladimir Lenin seized power. Of course, Alexandr Kerensky also shows up in the BattleTech universe.

Someone got it. Nice. ( And I mean the reference to the Protector of the Realm, Commanding General of the SLDF, Regent Aleksander Kerensky of the Terran Hegemony.

)

Of course, Kerensky isn't all that uncommon a name. Still, I like to sprinkle an occasional reference for the hoopy froods to grasp.

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:19 pm

Well, I've never had the honour of playing anything BattleTech, but a quick search of the name "Kerensky" got me two choices: PM Kerensky, and BattleTech Kerensky. I suspected the BattleTech Kerensky was the one I was actually after

Rokas · Post by **Rokas** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:24 pm

Very well. I shall refrain from a batchall then, but know that to trifle with Clan Wolf is to invite disaster, as the Jade Falcons so recently discovered, when we reaved them like the freeborn surats they are!

...

*Raises hand* Hello, my name is Andrew, and I'm a recovering Battletech-aholic.

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:28 pm

Rokas wrote:Very well. I shall refrain from a batchall then, but know that to trifle with Clan Wolf is to invite disaster, as the Jade Falcons so recently discovered, when we reaved them like the freeborn surats they are!

Ain't my place to claim otherwise so I'll take your word for it :shrugs:

Rokas · Post by **Rokas** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:33 pm

It was a bit of a joke, playing on the fact that even though my fanboyism over BT is gone, I still remain profoundly affected by the universe.

Also, a way of seeing if any other BT fans are on this board, since half the fun of it is arguing whose hairbrained, militaristic faction is the best.

BrockthePaine · Post by **BrockthePaine** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:42 pm

Rokas wrote:Also, a way of seeing if any other BT fans are on this board, since half the fun of it is arguing whose hairbrained, militaristic faction is the best.

"Hellooooo. Is anyone okay? Are there any survivors? Preferably any Red survivors? Don't let that discourage you from speaking up if you're blue, I won't step on your neck or anything like that..."

"Am I allowed to answer?"