Assassination Interrupted
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Not that this isn't a very dumb priveledge in the first place....
Who do I support?
Do I support Dulinor's aims?
Do I see Strephon as an impediment to progress?
Has Strephon slighted me or my family or has one of his major supporters?
Since the Empire has a legitemate Right of Assassination, I'm running a risk by intervening. I may be commiting High Treason. Do I know if Dulinor has the support of the Moot? Nope.
Plus on a practical note, am I better or worse off after the fact? Is my family's position affected either way?
And noting that the Illelish Gaurd are around, what exactly do I gain from dying here?
Pragmatism says I sit and see what develops. The law might also say that. This whole thing might benefit me... depending on the power politics in play.
None, because I assume that the IG are competent, if bought. I suspect most of them are on overwatch and some few are probably in 'shot blocking' positions. If anyone raises a fuss, meet Mr. FGMP or Mr. Laser Rifle....
And besides, I'm probably firing from 20+m away, which starts to get dodgy with a pistol.
Not if the IG is doing its job.
By my understanding Dulinor only has to assassinate the Emperor. Until the Moot rules, there is no Emperor thereafter. Therefore, in that period, if the IG were to kill the Grand Princess and the Empress... it isn't exactly treasonous.
And even if not, apparently the S3 detachment was for some reason stripped away, leaving the only defence as some poor old Aslan. Why exactly was that? Did Strephon not value the lives of his family?
I think, with a little more luck, this could have been as smooth of a transition of power as the original assassination. If he'd got Varian and Lucan, he'd have been the only real candidate and he could have lobbied the moot with a combination of high sounding ideals about advancing the empire, benefiting the people etc, and practial commitments to key nobles whose only real goal is personal power or stability.
Father Fletch
SOC-12
IIRC-It was a special semi-private audience and only the Aslan Ambassador was present, and I am not sure he was armed, not being a sworn member of the Imperial Nobility.
In addition Dulinor had the IISS special (PSI) bodyguard division pulled from screening duties at the palace by placing political pressure on Strephon. Some bit about "intruding on the privacy of sworn and faithful nobles, etc."
He also had managed to co-opt the seneschal or herald or chief of staff to make sure he was alone with Strephon, probably for just that reason. While you could certainly IYTU have it done in front of the full court, that was not the set-up in MegaTraveller.
IIRC the Aslan ambassador being present was a suprise for Dulinor
In addition Dulinor had the IISS special (PSI) bodyguard division pulled from screening duties at the palace by placing political pressure on Strephon. Some bit about "intruding on the privacy of sworn and faithful nobles, etc."
He also had managed to co-opt the seneschal or herald or chief of staff to make sure he was alone with Strephon, probably for just that reason. While you could certainly IYTU have it done in front of the full court, that was not the set-up in MegaTraveller.
IIRC the Aslan ambassador being present was a suprise for Dulinor
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
Obviously, I wait until he'd finished, then shoot him and proclaim myself emperor 
I think he has to get the heirs too. ISTR he killed them all (almost), in the correct order.
jchurchill
SOC-12
Obviously, I wait until he'd finished, then shoot him and proclaim myself emperor
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A very practical answer. Of course running over to Strephon's twitching corpse and firing a few more shots into it while yelling "two for flinching, motherf*cker" and then grinning at Dul. might get you a pretty sweet job with his lot.
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A very practical answer. Of course running over to Strephon's twitching corpse and firing a few more shots into it while yelling "two for flinching, motherf*cker" and then grinning at Dul. might get you a pretty sweet job with his lot.
Gents,
Phew... what a set of questions. I'll tackle Tom's queries (kaladorns) first.
"And even if not, apparently the S3 detachment was for some reason stripped away, leaving the only defence as some poor old Aslan. Why exactly was that? Did Strephon not value the lives of his family?"
You aren't going to like this answer; Where was S-3 when the Imperial family got slagged? Well, they didn't exist - yet . Yup, it's another 'retcon' failure within MT; the Traveller version that is chock FULL of retcon failures. S-3 is nowhere to be seen in CT's LBB:6 and, AFAIK, they only first appear in the two DGP books that became 'World Builder's Handbook'. So, as silly as it seems, the Assassination came first and S-3 came LATER.
They did the same sort of thing throughout MT; in the Rebellion Sourcebook they detailed what an Imperial fleet looks like and what an ihatei fleet looks like and then still insisted that the ihatei could lick the IN. A retcon failure in the same book, pretty good huh?
All the questions surrounding the implausible nature of the Assassination *as written* come down to one thing; The Emperor needed to die for MT's megaplot to begin. So he was going to die. Period.
Now for Mr. Bates questions...
"What would you do?"
I am the Emperor's man in a neo-feudal society. I will defend my sworn liege lord or die trying. Anything else is unthinkable, except perhaps to traitors and 21st Century Terrans!
"If you act, how many 9mm, 9mm magnum, 4mm gauss, (or in the case of Ditzie's second favorite uncle) 11.4mm pistol rounds will you fire before you are cut down by Dulinor's Guards?"
None, unless I'm one of those kung-fu-psi monks being bandied about on the TML. Dulinor and the Guard have the upper hand because they know what will be happening. I will die in a hail of gunfire as soon as my hand touches my weapon because there will be guardsmen assigned to watch me for just that possibility. (Please note, I skipped two questions because I believe them to be non-starters; I will not hit Dulinor and the Princess is already dead - she just doesn't know it yet.)
"What will be the long term consequences for the Imperium?"
Same as the MT-Rebellion timeline with (perhaps) an additional martyr to flog Dulinor with.
Now, your two questions I felt were non-starters...
"How many of your rounds will hit the assassin?"
Enough to kill him before the Guard kills me in return.
"Will Ciencia Iphegenia survive?"
Yes. The Guard will be in confusion with their leader, Dulinor, dead.
I'm assuming 'Uncle Dennis' is going to be the armed bystander in this episode of FHIP. He's enough of a 'gun-kung-fu-psi-monk' to get a shot off before getting ventilated in return. Besides, it wouldn't be much of a story if he didn't get a shot off, right?
So, Ditzie's keeper pots Dulinor just as the Archduke is blowing the Empress' head off. (Dulinor gets the Emperor for 'free' thanks to the surprise factor) Dulinor goes down with Uncle's bullet in him and manages to wing the Aslan ambassador who had stepped in front of Ciencia. Uncle goes down with most of the Guard's bullet in him. Everyone takes a breath.
Why?
Well, it is the 'Right of Assassination' and not the 'Right Of I Told My Men To Kill The Emperor And His Heirs'. You only get to be emperor IF you pull the trigger. Dulinor would have instructed the men with him that he, and he alone, needed to kill the Imperial Family. Anything else would render his claim worthless.
With Strephon, Iolanthe, and Dulinor dead, the enlightened self interest most respondents to this thread have expressed comes into play. Once he pulled out his ceremonial magnum, Dulinor intended that only one real heir would soon be left in the Throne Room; himself. Now that the smoke has cleared, there is only one real heir left in the Throne Room; Ciencia Iphigenia. It's time to cut your losses and get your story straight. Sure, if your man had survived you could have looked forward to that barony or dukedom off in New Absurdistan but the chips fell where they fell and it's time to work another angle.
Someone may pot Ciciencia out of shear bloody mindedness, but that alarm has been raised. I'm betting that most will be looking for civilian clothes and little known exits.
Just my 0.02 CrImps worth.
Sincerely,
Larsen
Phew... what a set of questions. I'll tackle Tom's queries (kaladorns) first.
"And even if not, apparently the S3 detachment was for some reason stripped away, leaving the only defence as some poor old Aslan. Why exactly was that? Did Strephon not value the lives of his family?"
You aren't going to like this answer; Where was S-3 when the Imperial family got slagged? Well, they didn't exist - yet . Yup, it's another 'retcon' failure within MT; the Traveller version that is chock FULL of retcon failures. S-3 is nowhere to be seen in CT's LBB:6 and, AFAIK, they only first appear in the two DGP books that became 'World Builder's Handbook'. So, as silly as it seems, the Assassination came first and S-3 came LATER.
They did the same sort of thing throughout MT; in the Rebellion Sourcebook they detailed what an Imperial fleet looks like and what an ihatei fleet looks like and then still insisted that the ihatei could lick the IN. A retcon failure in the same book, pretty good huh?
All the questions surrounding the implausible nature of the Assassination *as written* come down to one thing; The Emperor needed to die for MT's megaplot to begin. So he was going to die. Period.
Now for Mr. Bates questions...
"What would you do?"
I am the Emperor's man in a neo-feudal society. I will defend my sworn liege lord or die trying. Anything else is unthinkable, except perhaps to traitors and 21st Century Terrans!
"If you act, how many 9mm, 9mm magnum, 4mm gauss, (or in the case of Ditzie's second favorite uncle) 11.4mm pistol rounds will you fire before you are cut down by Dulinor's Guards?"
None, unless I'm one of those kung-fu-psi monks being bandied about on the TML. Dulinor and the Guard have the upper hand because they know what will be happening. I will die in a hail of gunfire as soon as my hand touches my weapon because there will be guardsmen assigned to watch me for just that possibility. (Please note, I skipped two questions because I believe them to be non-starters; I will not hit Dulinor and the Princess is already dead - she just doesn't know it yet.)
"What will be the long term consequences for the Imperium?"
Same as the MT-Rebellion timeline with (perhaps) an additional martyr to flog Dulinor with.
Now, your two questions I felt were non-starters...
"How many of your rounds will hit the assassin?"
Enough to kill him before the Guard kills me in return.
"Will Ciencia Iphegenia survive?"
Yes. The Guard will be in confusion with their leader, Dulinor, dead.
I'm assuming 'Uncle Dennis' is going to be the armed bystander in this episode of FHIP. He's enough of a 'gun-kung-fu-psi-monk' to get a shot off before getting ventilated in return. Besides, it wouldn't be much of a story if he didn't get a shot off, right?
So, Ditzie's keeper pots Dulinor just as the Archduke is blowing the Empress' head off. (Dulinor gets the Emperor for 'free' thanks to the surprise factor) Dulinor goes down with Uncle's bullet in him and manages to wing the Aslan ambassador who had stepped in front of Ciencia. Uncle goes down with most of the Guard's bullet in him. Everyone takes a breath.
Why?
Well, it is the 'Right of Assassination' and not the 'Right Of I Told My Men To Kill The Emperor And His Heirs'. You only get to be emperor IF you pull the trigger. Dulinor would have instructed the men with him that he, and he alone, needed to kill the Imperial Family. Anything else would render his claim worthless.
With Strephon, Iolanthe, and Dulinor dead, the enlightened self interest most respondents to this thread have expressed comes into play. Once he pulled out his ceremonial magnum, Dulinor intended that only one real heir would soon be left in the Throne Room; himself. Now that the smoke has cleared, there is only one real heir left in the Throne Room; Ciencia Iphigenia. It's time to cut your losses and get your story straight. Sure, if your man had survived you could have looked forward to that barony or dukedom off in New Absurdistan but the chips fell where they fell and it's time to work another angle.
Someone may pot Ciciencia out of shear bloody mindedness, but that alarm has been raised. I'm betting that most will be looking for civilian clothes and little known exits.
Just my 0.02 CrImps worth.
Sincerely,
Larsen
Ah yes. Here is a point where my disbelief suspenders emit a loud *twang*.
As far as I am concerned, 'Right of Assassination' is a euphemism for 'Right of Coup'.
The personal combat thing is a convention, intended to make violent seizures of power seem "honourable". It doesn't prevent a "legitimate" heir from seizing the throne through secretly murdering the previous ruler - all it does is rationalise seizures of power outside the hereditary process.
The Civil War left 'Right of Fleet Control' with a bit of a bad reputation. In reality, though, it is the only claim to the throne that matters. As long as you have the Fleet behind you, no other 'Right' matters.
On the other hand, the 'honourable' nature of personal combat no doubt makes a proper, formal, face to face assassination helpful in winning and keeping the Fleet's loyalty.
I also don't regard 'Right of Assassination' as being a 'Right'. If such an assassin does not have sufficient support in the Fleet and Moot, they have no 'Right' to the throne. Nobody is obliged to recognise such a claim to the Throne. On the other hand, a well planned coup/assassination will ensure that nobody is in a position to reject the claim either. If it's really well planned, only a small group of hardliners are likely to support the target of the assassination. (See Cleon the Mad for further details.)
A general thought on MT: nobody assassinated Lucan. An obvious oversight. Archduke Tranian seems to have been the problem, although he doesn't seem to have appeared outside the Rebellion sourcebook. It's a shame, since he was obviously a key figure. Even if Lucan had had him killed, the consequences would have been critical to the outcome of the Rebellion.
And, of course, Tranian would have been the obvious candidate to succeed Lucan if someone had filled the little punk with hot plasma. This would be true though Tranian himself seems to have been too much of a loyalist to do the job himself. 'Right of Moot Election' is a perfectly adequate basis for a claim to the throne, when it is accompanied by massive battle fleets.
Alan B
alanb wrote:
"Ah yes. Here is a point where my disbelief suspenders emit a loud *twang*."
"As far as I am concerned, 'Right of Assassination' is a euphemism for 'Right of Coup'."
Mr. Bradley,
Well, yes. I never said I found the whole Assassination story plausible.
For the MT metaplot to begin *as written*, Strephon needed to be killed. Period.
All the other stuff; no S-3s present, the Ilelish Guard being completely suborned without incident, an entire Domain's naval command structure suborned without incident, large portions of a Domain's nobility suborned without incident, a craven Moot, Archduke Tranian being a boob, Lucan being a opportunistic murderer, all of it, every jot and tittle is moot because the MT megaplot demands it. Period.
It's silly. It's wildly implausible. It beggars disbelief, snaps various mental suspenders, and just makes no damn sense but it happened and we're stuck with it.
Unless you play GT that is!
Sincerely,
Larsen
"Ah yes. Here is a point where my disbelief suspenders emit a loud *twang*."
"As far as I am concerned, 'Right of Assassination' is a euphemism for 'Right of Coup'."
Mr. Bradley,
Well, yes. I never said I found the whole Assassination story plausible.
For the MT metaplot to begin *as written*, Strephon needed to be killed. Period.
All the other stuff; no S-3s present, the Ilelish Guard being completely suborned without incident, an entire Domain's naval command structure suborned without incident, large portions of a Domain's nobility suborned without incident, a craven Moot, Archduke Tranian being a boob, Lucan being a opportunistic murderer, all of it, every jot and tittle is moot because the MT megaplot demands it. Period.
It's silly. It's wildly implausible. It beggars disbelief, snaps various mental suspenders, and just makes no damn sense but it happened and we're stuck with it.
Unless you play GT that is!
Sincerely,
Larsen
Ben Harrison
SOC-9
Hmmm. Am I a noble who has served in any of the Armed Forces or am I a pure admin type?
If the former very likely 7 to 8 rounds of 9mm 3 to 4 if 11.4 and for gauss round, most likely most of the clip if I can go full auto.
If the latter there is a good chance I would shoot myself by accident trying to do a quick draw. If not, I'm likely get one round/burst off. No bets on hitting Dulinor
If former Armed forces about half of the rounds fired (3-4 for 9mm, 1 for 11.4 and about 20 for the gauss pistol)
It depends on how many other nobles are going to make the sacrifice. Most likely with the distraction of now multiple targets firing back Ciencia OIphegenia will, but be wounded
Much smaller civil war as Dulinor's hardcore followers try to avenge him/choose to go down fighting vs. a trial
daryen
SOC-14 1K
Two points.
One:
If Dulinor gets taken out after killing the Strephon and Iolanthe, the guards kill Dulinor's assassin and stop firing.
Yes, this whole "right of assassination" is a crock of sh--. But the fact of the matter is that with Dulinor dead, no one in the group has the position to advance a claim in the coup. Fundamentally, they are all screwed.
Therefore, they do not kill the only bargaining chip they have left: Iphegenia. They will not kill her because she is their only (slim) chance at survival.
Two:
Dulinor was an idiot. He basically planned on performing a coup with no backup. He also sent a single man to kill two people with no backup.
The only reason that others had succeeded at the "right of assassination" was because they had the force of arms to make it stick. Killing the emperor was merely the formality. The fleets floating over capital were what made the claim stick.
Dulinor incorrectly believed the formality was what mattered. He was wrong. It was the fleet that mattered. Even if he had killed Lucan and Varian, his claim was null and void the moment he left capital. The only way for his claim to succeed was for him to stay and make his claim stick.
Also, even if killing Lucan and Varian mattered, why did he only send one guy to do the job. There should have been a full marine squad killing everything in the room. Sending only one guy is just plain stupid.
One:
If Dulinor gets taken out after killing the Strephon and Iolanthe, the guards kill Dulinor's assassin and stop firing.
Yes, this whole "right of assassination" is a crock of sh--. But the fact of the matter is that with Dulinor dead, no one in the group has the position to advance a claim in the coup. Fundamentally, they are all screwed.
Therefore, they do not kill the only bargaining chip they have left: Iphegenia. They will not kill her because she is their only (slim) chance at survival.
Two:
Dulinor was an idiot. He basically planned on performing a coup with no backup. He also sent a single man to kill two people with no backup.
The only reason that others had succeeded at the "right of assassination" was because they had the force of arms to make it stick. Killing the emperor was merely the formality. The fleets floating over capital were what made the claim stick.
Dulinor incorrectly believed the formality was what mattered. He was wrong. It was the fleet that mattered. Even if he had killed Lucan and Varian, his claim was null and void the moment he left capital. The only way for his claim to succeed was for him to stay and make his claim stick.
Also, even if killing Lucan and Varian mattered, why did he only send one guy to do the job. There should have been a full marine squad killing everything in the room. Sending only one guy is just plain stupid.
jchurchill
SOC-12
All the other stuff; no S-3s present, the Ilelish Guard being completely suborned without incident, an entire Domain's naval command structure suborned without incident, large portions of a Domain's nobility suborned without incident, a craven Moot, Archduke Tranian being a boob, Lucan being a opportunistic murderer, all of it, every jot and tittle is moot because the MT megaplot demands it. Period.
It's silly. It's wildly implausible. It beggars disbelief, snaps various mental suspenders, and just makes no damn sense but it happened and we're stuck with it.
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having finally found and read the rebellion sourcebook [albeit quickly] you certainly are correct.
It's a bit like Queen Elizabeth having a private audience with a famous Welsh Nationalist/separatist while the Welsh Guards are doing ceremonial duty. Except of course that the Welsh Guards would probably be loyal to QE II.
Wouldn't the Household Guards be vetted for loyalty? Perhaps even --as the cousins over the waves do -- have a team of security people other than the Welsh --- er -- Illish Guards?
I did enjoy the brief analysis of the various intelligence services of the warring factions though.
PS. I'm still sticking by my "two for flinching" rule. Most of the nobility suffer from generations of inbreeding and tertiary syphillis symtoms and are a most erratic lot. I sometimes envision the Imperial Moot as something very much like row upon row of contestants from Monty Pythons Upper Class
of the Year regatta.
There is a reason CSPAN doesn't televise the proceedings of the House of Lords, you know....
It's silly. It's wildly implausible. It beggars disbelief, snaps various mental suspenders, and just makes no damn sense but it happened and we're stuck with it.
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having finally found and read the rebellion sourcebook [albeit quickly] you certainly are correct.
It's a bit like Queen Elizabeth having a private audience with a famous Welsh Nationalist/separatist while the Welsh Guards are doing ceremonial duty. Except of course that the Welsh Guards would probably be loyal to QE II.
Wouldn't the Household Guards be vetted for loyalty? Perhaps even --as the cousins over the waves do -- have a team of security people other than the Welsh --- er -- Illish Guards?
I did enjoy the brief analysis of the various intelligence services of the warring factions though.
PS. I'm still sticking by my "two for flinching" rule. Most of the nobility suffer from generations of inbreeding and tertiary syphillis symtoms and are a most erratic lot. I sometimes envision the Imperial Moot as something very much like row upon row of contestants from Monty Pythons Upper Class
of the Year regatta.There is a reason CSPAN doesn't televise the proceedings of the House of Lords, you know....
secretagent wrote:
"I'm still sticking by my "two for flinching" rule. Most of the nobility suffer from generations of inbreeding and tertiary syphillis symtoms and are a most erratic lot. I sometimes envision the Imperial Moot as something very much like row upon row of contestants from Monty Pythons Upper Class of the Year regatta."
Mr. Agent,
Bingo! Give the man a cigar! Throw in the abominable Roderick Spode from P.G. Wodehouse's 'Jeeves' stories and you've got MTU's Imperial nobility too. For that matter, throw in Bertie Wooster, Gussie Fink-Nottle, and the rest of the Drones.
Men that are chinless, bucktoothed, panty waists who can't pronounce the letter R and thus sound like a nasal version of Elmer J. Fudd. Pallid and vapid women who either make Kate Moss look fat or resemble Victor McLaghlen with his legs on upside down. All with the interpersonal skills of a pack of 'dain bramaged' lemurs and totally at sea whenever they find themselves outside of their cozy to the point of incestuous private and privileged world.
We're born to DROOL... errr... rule? That's it! RULE! Right Snuffy?
Sincerely,
Larsen, Duke of Earl, Gin of Rummy, Milk of Magnesia, Quarter of Ten, and Baron of Gray Matter.
"I'm still sticking by my "two for flinching" rule. Most of the nobility suffer from generations of inbreeding and tertiary syphillis symtoms and are a most erratic lot. I sometimes envision the Imperial Moot as something very much like row upon row of contestants from Monty Pythons Upper Class
of the Year regatta."Mr. Agent,
Bingo! Give the man a cigar! Throw in the abominable Roderick Spode from P.G. Wodehouse's 'Jeeves' stories and you've got MTU's Imperial nobility too. For that matter, throw in Bertie Wooster, Gussie Fink-Nottle, and the rest of the Drones.
Men that are chinless, bucktoothed, panty waists who can't pronounce the letter R and thus sound like a nasal version of Elmer J. Fudd. Pallid and vapid women who either make Kate Moss look fat or resemble Victor McLaghlen with his legs on upside down. All with the interpersonal skills of a pack of 'dain bramaged' lemurs and totally at sea whenever they find themselves outside of their cozy to the point of incestuous private and privileged world.
We're born to DROOL... errr... rule? That's it! RULE! Right Snuffy?
Sincerely,
Larsen, Duke of Earl, Gin of Rummy, Milk of Magnesia, Quarter of Ten, and Baron of Gray Matter.
"Long live Emperor Dulinor!", in the sniviling yet proud voice.
Looking at the Aslan ambassador..."Aw...look at the mess the kitty made."
I have always found the whole assassination drama to be a setting for the Claudius drama (as wonderly executed by Derek Jacobson). Although, we were stuck with Lucan rather than a triumphant leader emerging at the end of the Rebellion.
As it has been revealled on the TNE board, Lucan is going to play a lasting legacy. For me, it would have been much more interesting if the drama between Lucan and Dulinor could have been played out more in MT. Rather, we get all sorts of space battle engagements and the portrayal of Dulinor as a dasterly vilian and Lucan just being a clone of Dulinor but dedicated for power for himself over others.
Whereas, Dulinor began as a man of vision, even if flawed, it had hubris and courage to carry it out. I would have liked to seen Dulinor the dreamer more fleshed out.
Looking at the Aslan ambassador..."Aw...look at the mess the kitty made."
I have always found the whole assassination drama to be a setting for the Claudius drama (as wonderly executed by Derek Jacobson). Although, we were stuck with Lucan rather than a triumphant leader emerging at the end of the Rebellion.
As it has been revealled on the TNE board, Lucan is going to play a lasting legacy. For me, it would have been much more interesting if the drama between Lucan and Dulinor could have been played out more in MT. Rather, we get all sorts of space battle engagements and the portrayal of Dulinor as a dasterly vilian and Lucan just being a clone of Dulinor but dedicated for power for himself over others.
Whereas, Dulinor began as a man of vision, even if flawed, it had hubris and courage to carry it out. I would have liked to seen Dulinor the dreamer more fleshed out.
jchurchill
SOC-12
Throw in the abominable Roderick Spode from P.G. Wodehouse's 'Jeeves' stories and you've got MTU's Imperial nobility too.
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An army of pasty faced goosestepping Brownshorts [sic] stealing cow creamers, eh?
Pallid and vapid women who either make Kate Moss look fat
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you must have met my ex-wife.
or resemble Victor McLaghlen with his legs on upside down.
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Bit harsh there, aren't you old man?
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An army of pasty faced goosestepping Brownshorts [sic] stealing cow creamers, eh?
Pallid and vapid women who either make Kate Moss look fat
=================================================
you must have met my ex-wife.
or resemble Victor McLaghlen with his legs on upside down.
================================================
Bit harsh there, aren't you old man?
secretagent wrote:
"An army of pasty faced goosestepping Brownshorts [sic] stealing cow creamers, eh?"
Mr. Agent,
But of course! And they all discretely own a ladies lingerie shop too. Eulalie ring any bells?
Ain't Plum wonderful? I wish I could just a teeny-weeny bit like that... (sigh)
"... or resemble Victor McLaghlen with his legs on upside down."
Another of P.G.'s I'm afraid. I did add the legs bit though. The mother of one of Bertie's many betrothed was said to resemble Victor McLaghlen. My one and only actual, real life, spit take occurred when reading that passage. Lager exited violently through both my mouth and nose.
Sincerely,
Larsen
"An army of pasty faced goosestepping Brownshorts [sic] stealing cow creamers, eh?"
Mr. Agent,
But of course! And they all discretely own a ladies lingerie shop too. Eulalie ring any bells?
Ain't Plum wonderful? I wish I could just a teeny-weeny bit like that... (sigh)
"... or resemble Victor McLaghlen with his legs on upside down."
Another of P.G.'s I'm afraid. I did add the legs bit though. The mother of one of Bertie's many betrothed was said to resemble Victor McLaghlen. My one and only actual, real life, spit take occurred when reading that passage. Lager exited violently through both my mouth and nose.
Sincerely,
Larsen
Of course it is. And Imperial Encyclopedia (IIRC) comes right out and says so. It's something that Dulinor dragged out of 500 year old history. It would be like me defending regicide by pointing to the death of Knud the Holy (Killed by an angry mob). It will work if I happen to have a lot of armed men backing me, in which case people will hum and haw and start spouting off about precedence and how it had to be done. Otherwise I'm heading for the slammer or the chopping block.
Hans
I'm charged with the safety of the Emperor of 11,000 worlds and Trillions of sentients... I'm going to let a little thing like the will of His Imperial Majesty or His Grace the Archduke interfere? I think not. Maybe the Emperor has no 'obvious' gaurds, but he's under tacit surveillance and I've guys hiding behind the curtains ready to whisk him and his next-heir away instantly. Maybe officially I have no psi-guys at hand. But you can bet they'd still be there, or I'm (as head of the S3 detachment) as big of a traitor as the IG.
Note also that the Emperor should be armoured (low profile). And there should be nearby med facilities that will revive anything but an insta-kill head shot and even some of those. Remember, at TL16, Dead isn't dead... most of the time. It's just Mostly Dead, with a nod to Miracle Max.
Now, I assumed head shots, and computer augmentation (perhaps even having modelled the situation in VR beforehand and developed reflex conditioning... kind of a combat trance). I also assume all 4 shots happened in significantly less than 4 seconds. Still, pretty phenomenal shooting, but he might have been training for a year and chipped-up to Pistol-7 to boot.
And some of the security 'lack' ought to have been accompanied by a TNS piece about the Head of Imperial Security resigning for 'unspecified reasons'. (Real reason: Not happy with people forcing him to allow more and more open shots at the Emperor...)
Things to ruminate on (I posted a whole whack to the TML):
1. Did Dulinor think he had the support of the Moot? Did they lead him to think that? Was he manipulated by his advisors? Or by his own monomania?
2. Did they send more than one guy to take out Varian? Who knows if the real IG didn't stop another unit of assassins somewhere and detain them (letting them go later if they had no evidence) or taking them out in an unreported gunfight?
3. The Right of Assassination served a role. It helped deal with a seemingly sane heir that was confirmed as Emperor then went off his (admittedly already wobbly if he was an Imperial Noble) rocker while in office. There is no other provision for unseating a sitting Emperor 'for the good of the Empire' and modern medtech might have seen him hold the job (loony and all) for a long long long mad mad mad time period. So, as much as we frown upon it, it was one attempt to solve this problem. It set a precedent.... ooops.
4. Have their been cases of Empresses succeeding Emperors (their husbands)? If not, does Iolanthe matter? Do we know succession moves laterally (not directly to Ciephegenia)?
5. If Dulinor had pulled it off smoothly, would it have been a bad thing? The Empire might have churned on smoothly and Imperial policy might (I say might) have even become a bit more enlightened or progressive.
I sort of think of the Imperial Nobility as a sort of Dune-esque version, with maybe a little bit of all of the medieval and Imperial courts I've read about from Europe and the East thrown in. Those historical courts were full of loons, incest, plotting, murders, indiscretions of huge orders, insanity, and the occasional thing that was actually really useful to the country or to the world. And of course, when I think of Imperial Nobility, I think of Yes Minister and my time in the Army (with a touch of the Paranoia bureaucracy thrown in).
1. Did Dulinor think he had the support of the Moot? Did they lead him to think that? Was he manipulated by his advisors? Or by his own monomania?
2. Did they send more than one guy to take out Varian? Who knows if the real IG didn't stop another unit of assassins somewhere and detain them (letting them go later if they had no evidence) or taking them out in an unreported gunfight?
3. The Right of Assassination served a role. It helped deal with a seemingly sane heir that was confirmed as Emperor then went off his (admittedly already wobbly if he was an Imperial Noble) rocker while in office. There is no other provision for unseating a sitting Emperor 'for the good of the Empire' and modern medtech might have seen him hold the job (loony and all) for a long long long mad mad mad time period. So, as much as we frown upon it, it was one attempt to solve this problem. It set a precedent.... ooops.
4. Have their been cases of Empresses succeeding Emperors (their husbands)? If not, does Iolanthe matter? Do we know succession moves laterally (not directly to Ciephegenia)?
5. If Dulinor had pulled it off smoothly, would it have been a bad thing? The Empire might have churned on smoothly and Imperial policy might (I say might) have even become a bit more enlightened or progressive.
I sort of think of the Imperial Nobility as a sort of Dune-esque version, with maybe a little bit of all of the medieval and Imperial courts I've read about from Europe and the East thrown in. Those historical courts were full of loons, incest, plotting, murders, indiscretions of huge orders, insanity, and the occasional thing that was actually really useful to the country or to the world. And of course, when I think of Imperial Nobility, I think of Yes Minister and my time in the Army (with a touch of the Paranoia bureaucracy thrown in).
(Snippage)Originally posted by Larsen E. Whipsnade:
Now for Mr. Bates questions...
"What would you do?"
I am the Emperor's man in a neo-feudal society. I will defend my sworn liege lord or die trying. Anything else is unthinkable, except perhaps to traitors and 21st Century Terrans!
A good answer, sir!
I'll just add some Denniverse spoilers here:
Dennis Sterling was a troubleshooter for Duke Norris, and his father Duke William the Elder. While resident on Capital as Ditzie's guardian, Dennie did a few troubleshooting jobs for the Emperor. Some of which simply involved introducing Ditzie to the problem individual.
Dennie and Lisa Holland get married on Capital (by the Planetary Chief Magistrate, Strephon What's-his-name, he can do that you know) on the day that the news of the 5th Frontier War arrives. (The page with the hardcopy enters the hall just as Lisa says "I do.")
In 1116, Dennie is sitting in the Moot with the proxy of Norris and other Regina Subsector nobles. On 132-1116 he was lobbying His Majesty on behalf of Norris concerning the position of Archduke of Deneb.
Dennie's 11.4 mm autopistol is part of a His-Hers matched set that they received as a wedding present from His Majesty. For Dennie to not wear his in Strephon's presence would be a bit of a faux-pas.
If, as Mr. Urbin has suggested, Dulinor had decent body armor and had stuck around to present his claim to the Moot, Lisa, the Dowager Baroness Windhaven, would have been standing in the front row with her half of the wedding present (loaded with the TL15 version of the cyclone round) or with one of Ditzie's "toys." (And pay no attention to the "fifteen year-old" dark haired girl standing next to her.)
Dulinor is [expletive deleted] dead. Period.
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