Rambos a la Timothy Zahn

[BillDowns]

Has anyone tried using rambos as used in some of Timothy Zahn's books?

For those who don't know, "rambos" (

the derivation is just what you think) are long-term special forces. During initial training, which was several years IIRC, they receive massive amounts of 3 drugs. The first speeds up their reactions to several times normal; the second is steroids; the third controls adverse effects of the steroids. Also, IIRC, there may be gold wire overlays on the main nerve routes, again to speed up reactions.

Drawback: they are hooked on those drugs. Without regular doses, they begin to deteriorate.

 

[mbrinkhues]

You are refering to the "Blackcollars"? Those (complete with backstory) would fit nicely into the SwordWorlds

 

[kafka47]

Rather than Sword Worlders, I simply see the Answerin, in their quest to overcome all inhibitators and make themselves fearless.

 

[mbrinkhues]

Okay, that's it. I had an MG-3 saturday and I was willing to use it. So from now on DIS BOAD SPEEKS GERMAN!

Now, what I wanted to express was:

I could see Zahn's "Blackcollars" as a project of a Sword World to enhance/upgrade soldiers without the use of (visible) Cybernetics[1]. Since the background is "Earth lost the war, the Blackcollar fight a low-key guerilla action" this would also fit in a post 5th Frontier war Sword World setting.

Now, enhanced Answerin are ... interesting!


[1] So no implanted anti-tank lasers!

 

[BillDowns]

I don't understand the Answerin reference, but Michael, I think you're on to something. I also wonder if the Darrians might try something similar?

I acutally was thinking of either a Solomai underground group or a human system isolated by Aslan when I first put this out - just didn't finish my thoughts

 

[kafka47]

The Answerin are Minor Human Race developed by the great James Maliszewski. There is an article in Challenge, GT Interstellar Wars, GT Humaniti but also for free more details can be found here.

 

[kafka47]

The Answerin are Minor Human Race developed by the great James Maliszewski. There is an article in Challenge, GT Interstellar Wars, GT Humaniti but also for free more details can be found here.

 

[DaveChase]

Originally posted by BillDowns:
Has anyone tried using rambos as used in some of Timothy Zahn's books?

COBRA's I have used them.

Dave Chase

 

[Sifu Blackirish]

I haven't read any of those books, but the concept seems similar to one I saw on a STAR TREK TNG episode.

Soldiers had been programmed to assume a 'combat mode' by drug use, along with intense training and psychological modifications. Problems ensued when these 'super soldiers' could not suppress their programming at will.

With the Solomani penchant for genetic engineering IIRC, it might be a great adventure hook. Someone finds a cargo pod filled with frozen soldiers...

 

[Lochlaber]

Do you mean the blackcollars, aided by intense martial arts training, coupled with the drug backlash to increase their respone/reaction time or the Cobra's, humans with pencil lasers in their forearms and a heavy anti-tank type weapon in on leg, coupled with nuero-processors,etc.. Of the two, I think that the black collars are the easiet to fit into the traveller universe, since they did not require a way to put a energy source for 3 lasers into a human body.