Scout service Bureaucracy

[gchuck]

Aaah, Bureaucracy. The most loved/hated NPC's in the known universe.

What do the bureaucrats of the IISS know? What kind of training have they received?

Can they operate a life scanner? What about an ACR? Do they have cursory knowledge of how to do a basic survey?

Every service has basic training, i.e. weapons, first aid, or basic maintenance.

How do you handle your IISS bureaucrats?

 

[Enoki]

Says it all...

 

[McPerth]

Aaah, Bureaucracy. The most loved/hated NPC's in the known universe.

What do the bureaucrats of the IISS know? What kind of training have they received?

Can they operate a life scanner? What about an ACR? Do they have cursory knowledge of how to do a basic survey?

Every service has basic training, i.e. weapons, first aid, or basic maintenance.

How do you handle your IISS bureaucrats?

According both CT:LBB6 and MT advanced CharGen, most IISS bureaucracy are former field operatives that are transfered to burocracy (the mai nexception are those coming from college).

So, I guess in most they underwent the IISS basic and advanced training, and so, yes, the probably can handle most things you ask, and most of them probably can handle some starship funcions.

 

[Timerover51]

In my Rim Scout Career progression, they alternate between field and admin assignments. I do not get that detailed however, as I use basically Book 1 with Cepheus Engine for the skills.

The rank progression is as follows:

Scout, Scout Pilot, First-In Scout, Planetary Scout, System Scout, Survey Scout

This represents a blend of Andre Norton and Christopher Anvil with respect to ranks. Planetary Scouts, when in the field, will typically command a planetary survey team, while the System Scouts will command either a Scout Base or Way Station (not exactly the same as in the rules) or a full star system survey.

Survey Scouts will normally supervise Scout operations in an entire sub-sector, and also make the decision on Amber and Red Zone classification. There is no Travellers Aid Society on my new sector. Amber Zone normally means that the Rim Scouts have lost personnel on the planet, while Red Zone means that they have lost ships and personnel. There are a fair number of both in the sector.

 

[GypsyComet]

The upshot of Book 6 was that the Bureaucrat was the only S4 career to get extended generation officially.

 

[jcrocker]

How do you handle your IISS bureaucrats?

Some of them wish they were back out in the field. These ones are quite happy to let forms go through with, gasp, an 'i' that wasn't dotted. Or tell you, "go see Marge, in accounting. By the way, she likes grav ball, but box seats are hard to afford on a clerk-5's salary, know what I mean?"

At the other end of the spectrum you find the ones afraid of everything and everyone and live to make it to their pension. "No, there is no one else to talk to about this, and I don't know Marge in accounting or anyone else for that matter. Without you completing this form, your request will not be considered."

Needs of plot, modified by die roll, determines who the players talk to.

 

[Condottiere]

Cat herders and cost accountants.

 

[McPerth]

At the other end of the spectrum you find the ones afraid of everything and everyone and live to make it to their pension.

Wrong career for this, as Scouts get no pension pay...

LBB6, page 16:

Retirement: Scouts are not eligible for retirement or pensions.

 

[McPerth]

Cat herders and cost accountants.

Well, all too often the tail funcions are understimed, but it is vital for any corps to function, and the bureaucracy branches of the scouts handle it.

This include from having the charts and files updated, to disseminate them (and so their information, vital for the space travel), to supply the field units, to maeage the bases and way stations...

IMTU, as commented in some other threds, the IISS also acts as an Imperial CDC/WHO, so to say, keeping records of most illnes known in the Imperium and helping in fighting epidemic outbreaks. This is moslty handled by the technical and operations branches.

 

[Timerover51]

Well, all too often the tail funcions are understimed, but it is vital for any corps to function, and the bureaucracy branches of the scouts handle it.

This include from having the charts and files updated, to disseminate them (and so their information, vital for the space travel), to supply the field units, to maeage the bases and way stations...

IMTU, as commented in some other threds, the IISS also acts as an Imperial CDC/WHO, so to say, keeping records of most illnes known in the Imperium and helping in fighting epidemic outbreaks. This is moslty handled by the technical and operations branches.

Hmm, that brings to mind the Med Service series by Murray Leinster. Those were a very good series, and do have some interesting ideas for a Traveller referee.

 

[jcrocker]

Wrong career for this, as Scouts get no pension pay...

Whoops! Thanks.

I guess why that's the reason so many are so timid, they don't want to get fired.

 

[King Midas]

Whoops! Thanks.

I guess why that's the reason so many are so timid, they don't want to get fired.

Scouts never retire: They just go on detached duty.

That said, IMTU, Hefry is a retirement home for Scouts. When a Scout becomes unfit (mentally or physically) for field work, they are re-assigned to the bureaucracy, and eventually to Hefry.

There, they are put to work as bureaucrats. After a while put on limited duty status, and finally moved into inactive reserve: Where they do the usual things; gripe about the new kids, and write memoirs.

Which leads me to the other use Hefry has. More often than they would like to admit, the "No one can ever know what happened here" event takes place. The Scout is quietly transferred to Hefry where no spy or assassin can get to him. He usually writes his memoirs. In one hundred years, the monograph is released to historians - who finally find out (for example) what in blazes happened during the "Baffling Johnston Landing Incident".

 

[gchuck]

Scouts never retire: They just go on detached duty.

That said, IMTU, Hefry is a retirement home for Scouts. When a Scout becomes unfit (mentally or physically) for field work, they are re-assigned to the bureaucracy, and eventually to Hefry.

There, they are put to work as bureaucrats. After a while put on limited duty status, and finally moved into inactive reserve: Where they do the usual things; gripe about the new kids, and write memoirs.

Which leads me to the other use Hefry has. More often than they would like to admit, the "No one can ever know what happened here" event takes place. The Scout is quietly transferred to Hefry where no spy or assassin can get to him. He usually writes his memoirs. In one hundred years, the monograph is released to historians - who finally find out (for example) what in blazes happened during the "Baffling Johnston Landing Incident".

Or shipped out on some 'Extra Imperial' mission to the middle of nowhere.

 

[King Midas]

Or shipped out on some 'Extra Imperial' mission to the middle of nowhere.

Old Scouts don't die, they just fade away?

 

[mike wightman]

Depends on how fast the transition to jump space is...