Lieutenant Windhoek history

[BRJN]

Have you actually read the Rebellion Sourcebook?

Yep. And applied thought to what I read. (You may criticize the second part if you find it needful.)

The Twin Princes do have such a bodyguard and one whose a submachinegun already has real ammo. Imprey, the man tasked with killing the Princes, is himself killed by a 9mm SMG round through the head. That guard, Varian, and Elia are all killed with 7mm pistol rounds.

Another problem with Dulinor's planning, accidentally exposed by Lucan: what if a squad of bodyguards is in / near the Princes' apartments - maybe because The Plan's security was infringed?

The Way of the Gun beats the Way of the Hand.

Palace Security has no way to know Dulinor is going to send only one assassin after the Princes. But their job is to be paranoid. Why was the ammo tampered with? My paranoia sends a squad/platoon/company trained in both Way of the Hand and Way of the Knife (and Way of the Gun but I don't trust that at the moment) for a careful look-see. I'll apologize to the Princes personally if it really is nothing.

 

[Whipsnade]

If I were he I would head to the Julian Protectorate after laying a false trail.

That's an option. Would he continue to head for the Protectorate after the invasion of Lishun begins?

Get some saps to take messages, report sightings etc.

The upload on Inarli, etc.

 

[BRJN]

Why are we assuming he (Windhoek) runs for Norris? Does it say that?

Not that I know.

"Wounded Colossus" has Windhoek find Emperor Strephon while HE is travelling undercover. That's a really good trick, and suggests there is more to Windhoek / his position than he ever wants to speak aloud. In Rebellion Sourcebook, Windhoek "posts his story on the Internet" and subsequently disappears from history.

If I were in Windhoek's shoes, I would think about heading for Vargr space first (because it's closest). But I really want to get out to non-Imperial and non-client-state interstellar space. The galaxy is huge and unoccupied to Rimward. Maybe I can pull off Marooned Alone ...

 

[Whipsnade]

Yep. And applied thought to what I read. (You may criticize the second part if you find it needful.)

Then why are you still focusing on the ammo? Why are you still ignoring the timing? Why don't you realize just who the duty guard regiment is?

Another problem with Dulinor's planning, accidentally exposed by Lucan: what if a squad of bodyguards is in / near the Princes' apartments - maybe because The Plan's security was infringed?

Where do you think that squad would come from? Maybe the guard regiment currently on duty in the Palace? You know, the Ilelish guard regiment? The regiment whose officers are all part of the plot?

Palace Security has no way to know Dulinor is going to send only one assassin after the Princes.

You're overlooking the timing. Security has no way to know Dulinor has sent any assassins because the broadcast of Dulinor killing Strephon in the Throne Room is the signal for Imprey to kill the Princes. It isn't that Strephon & Co. get gunned down first and the Princes are killed later. They're supposed to happen at the same time.

Why do you think Imprey suddenly bursts into the Princes' quarters after previously waiting for several with Windhoek outside in the corridor? It's because Dulinor's meeting with Strephon is being broadcast live on view screens throughout the Palace. He cools his heels waiting for the screaming match to stop and only burst in when he knows the Gunfight in the Throne Room is about to occur. Imprey's signal to kill the Princes is Dulinor killing Strephon.

Why was ammo tampered with?

Once again, only the other guard regiments' ammo was tampered with and not the all ammo being used by everyone else in the Palace. When an accident reveals training rounds have been issued to guard regiments, live ammo starts being issued in it's place.

My paranoia...

... is presuming knowledge no one has and is presuming actions no one loyal is in position to take.

... sends a squad/platoon/company...

A squad from the Ilelish Guard regiment? They're the active duty regiment, they're part of the plot, and they're not even suspected yet.

... for a careful look-see.

That careful look see is going to assigned to the troops who are part of the plot.

 

[Whipsnade]

"Wounded Colossus" has...

I wrote Wounded Colossus. It's fanon. Don't cite it to support your theories.

Windhoek meeting Strephon is a deus ex machina, nothing more. Go to Travellermap, look at the location of Capital, look at the location of Corridor, and look at the location of Longbow II. I stretched plausibility past the breaking point by having the course Strephon is taking to return to Capital will intersect the course Windhoek is taking to reach Corridor.

If I were in Windhoek's shoes, I would think about heading for Vargr space first...

Even after news of the Lishun invasion begins to arrive?

 

[mike wightman]

That's an option. Would he continue to head for the Protectorate after the invasion of Lishun begins?

It may be too late for him to turn back - I'll have to date check.

Besides, if he is travelling by tramp freighter what better way to disappear than in the confusion of a major fleet action - assuming the Impies don't just nuke all civilian traffic...

The upload on Inarli, etc.

Yep, a false trail or six eventually culminating in the data release on Inarli, which just happens to be in almost completely the opposite direction to the Protectorate.

Yet more adventure opportunity for PCs being unwitting saps in the false trail(s)

 

[Whipsnade]

It may be too late for him to turn back - I'll have to date check.

We figured he'd be thwarted from crossing though Corridor because of the invasion there. Lishun is closer, so he can get to it get there quicker despite having to "sneak" for most of the trip.

I'll also point out that Protectorate member states are the ones invading Lishun. A human Imperial naval officer claiming to be a refugee might not receive a warm welcome.

Besides, if he is travelling by tramp freighter what better way to disappear in a plasma-hot ball of expanding gas than in the confusion of a major fleet action...

Fixed that for you.

... - assuming the Impies don't just nuke all civilian traffic...

Or board and seize civilian traffic while detaining all crew and passengers while checking on their identities.

What was it again that Windhoek didn't want to happen to him?

Yep, a false trail or six eventually culminating in the data release on Inarli, which just happens to be in almost completely the opposite direction to the Protectorate.

Yet more adventure opportunity for PCs being unwitting saps in the false trail(s)

Exactly. The longer he's still in the borders of the Imperium, the more adventure opportunities for the PCs.

 

[mike wightman]

Another thought - what if Windhoek is a PC?

 

[robject]

Another thought - what if Windhoek is a PC?

And those three other officers he met up with could also be PCs. I've thought about that. It's like Marooned (or Across the Bright Face) blown up to galactic extremes. Could be a lot of fun, with the right referee!

I'd like to add The Brothers of Varian to the mix.

Along with skills, Windhoek might also have information [e/g deep calibration points] to trade.

...remove the more floridly "Whipsnadian" [tone].

Nice. Will add.

Yes, I have to rewrite it. We're at Phase I: gathering data, extrapolating, and deciding on the course.

Phase II matures the text, identifies important people/places/things, and assembles the scenario hooks nicely.

 

[Whipsnade]

We're at Phase I: gathering data, extrapolating, and deciding on the course.

Gotcha. Time to do some thinking while swimming laps.

 

[mike wightman]

I have to say that this is great fun

 

[robject]

I have to say that this is great fun

Seconded. I like seeing these sorts of conversations, especially because they can be useful to anyone.

 

[mike wightman]

Here is another odd thing, this is a direct quote:

Windhook waited uncomfortably by the main door until the exchange ended. Meanwhile, Sublieutenant lmprey arrived. Because Windhook and lmprey knew each other, they exchanged pleasantries while they waited When the naval aide burst into the twin Princes’ apartments, he started firing immediately, forcing everyone - Lucan, Varian, Elia, and a guard in the room - to dive for cover.

Remember this is Windhook's version of events.


Questions - what was he doing when Imprey burst into the room?

Why didn't Imprey consider Windhook a threat?

Why didn't Windhook attack the assassin from behind?

Like I said earlier there are three versions of this - Lucan's, Windhook's and the real truth.

 

[Whipsnade]

Here is another odd thing...

It is odd. The rest of this assumes Windhoek's version is the truth.

Questions - what was he doing when Imprey burst into the room?

He'd been cooling his heels waiting for the Princes to finish their "discussion". Imprey arrived and waited with him until the live feed from the Throne Room meant Imprey had to burst into the room regardless.

Dulinor's arrival in the Throne is the signal to the rest of the plotters in the Palace to begin the previously planned overt actions. Up until then, their actions had been covert. The Palace's own news feed system signaled everyone when to start.

Why didn't Imprey consider Windhook a threat?

Windhoek isn't armed and isn't a bodyguard. Imprey probably marked him for a bullet, but the guard and the Princes were his primary targets.

Why didn't Windhook attack the assassin from behind?

First, he isn't a bodyguard and wouldn't react that quickly. The fact that Imprey muttered something like "It's time..." and entered the Princes' quarters without permission would have stunned Windhoek.

Second, he doesn't have a chance because Imprey is killed almost immediately. He bursts in drawing attention to himself, begins firing immediately, and is taken out by the guard just as quickly.

Imprey rushed his end of things by fixating on timing rather than results. Because Dulinor is going to be killing Strephon momentarily, he can no longer wait in the hallway and violates protocol by entering the quarters without permission drawing attention to himself. He then starts shooting immediately instead of coming up with some patter that would let him get closer and get the drop on the guard.

A section from the Ilelish Guards would have got the job done, but maybe Guards in that part of the Palace would have raised eyebrows and maybe Guards couldn't get to that part of the Palace from their usual posts quickly enough to make sure the Princes couldn't escape once the Assassination was broadcast.

It's all poorly planned which makes me wonder if it was something added at the last moment. I wonder if the Princes had been scheduled to be out of the Palace only to change their plans within a week or few days of 132?

 

[khadaji2002]

I have *not* read the source material, so I will refrain from comments about that. What I do want to say is that I really enjoy this type of thread as it gives all kinds of hooks for me to use in my games.

Thank you all!

 

[McPerth]

If I were he I would head to the Julian Protectorate after laying a false trail.

That's an option. Would he continue to head for the Protectorate after the invasion of Lishun begins?

According MT:RS, Lishun fleet received transfer ordersearly in 1117. After the fleet leaves, it is also said that"for a few months, Lishun remained stable".

So, how far could Windhoek have gone already when the invasions began?

 

[Enoki]

Bet he got nicknamed "Lieutenant Windsock" PDQ. :rofl:

You, know, a hollow tube the wind blows through and changes direction at a whim... That and it takes a really strong breeze to get him up and stiff...

 

[mike wightman]

According MT:RS, Lishun fleet received transfer ordersearly in 1117. After the fleet leaves, it is also said that"for a few months, Lishun remained stable".

So, how far could Windhoek have gone already when the invasions began?

The maps also show there is a safe passage to Julian space that avoids the conflict zone.

 

[Whipsnade]

The maps also show there is a safe passage to Julian space that avoids the conflict zone.

I'll point out again that some Julian Protectorate member states are among those which will invade Lishun.

Windhoek can get to and through Lishun faster than Corridor and get to the Protectorate faster than the Marches and points "west". However, the idea behind the supplement is not to "save" Windhoek as quickly as possible. The idea is to provide several potential adventures for a referee and a framework for many more. When all this started, I considered and discarded shorter escape routes to closer borders for that reason. I should has explained that choice rather than assuming - a shocking habit - the reasons for that choice were obvious.

Windhoek's choice to flee spinward rather than coreward or trailing can be explained away by something as prosaic as his naval service means he's more familiar with the Domain of Vland than the Domain of Antares.

 

[robject]

I have *not* read the source material, so I will refrain from comments about that. What I do want to say is that I really enjoy this type of thread as it gives all kinds of hooks for me to use in my games.

Thank you all!

You're welcome. And I'd also like to say Thank You Again to everyone who has contributed so far.

Now khadaji, IF you're interested, read on.

If, by any chance, you have MegaTraveller, and in particular the Rebellion Sourcebook, take a few minutes and read pages 8-10 (or so), and you'll know everything we know about the situation.