Imperium Culture

[GrayPennell]

Kell Duoka TAS Holo News Reporter
Regina Regina 1101

In the background, lit by the Regina sunset, is the Regina Ball Stadium with crowds of people mostly teens streaming into the stadium. A handsome reporter steps into the shot.

“I am Kell Duoka reporting on the latest Zhodani Invasion—Sensemusic and the Zhodani band High Nobles. Its reported these Zhodani kids are banished nobles using their psionic abilities to entertain the kids of the Marches. Lets see what the locals think of them.”

The reporter moves over to woman wearing a military style coat with her medals hanging over her left breast pocket. “Excuse me mam. I am Kell Duoka, reporting for TAS Holo News. I am wondering if you have time to chat with us?”

The blond woman turns to face the reporter, “Sure I guess. What do you want to talk about?”

Kell gives a full tooth grin, “The Zhodani band High Noble.”

“I am here looking for my kids. They are not supposed to be here. They snuck-out. These kids don't know what they are getting into. Have you ever fought a Zhodani noble? Well I have. In the last war me and my platoon broke through to a regimental HQ. Your talking about a bunch of soldiers in full combat armor with FGMP-13s vs a few noble brass. We should have nailed them. But Jo Jo's helmet was cracked or something. The Zho got into her head and she started to attack us. First Berry, then Mel went down. I had to fry Jo Jo with my FGMP-13. I watched her head melt. So do I like this crap? Plankwell's ass I don't. These High Nobles should be roundup and sent to Newcomb to rot.”

“Thank you mam. “Well, that's one side of the story. Lets see what these kids think.” The reporter walks off and heads to cut off two guys wearing Zhodani style turbans along with their street clothes. “Hey Guys, can I talk to you about the High Nobles?”

“Sure man sure! What do you want some tickets? Sorry all sold out!” the guys laugh.

“Thanks but I have a pass. No I am from TAS Holo News and I want to know why you like these guys.”

The taller of the two guys speaks up. “Well man they use instruments and play amazing songs but that doesnt compare to their use of psionics. They mold the music with it--sending in into your senses. It just makes you want to dance and sing.”

The second young man says “It's not just the mind shit. When Velzp the lead singer pops its amazing!”

The report looks at the guy, “Pops?”

“Yea Velzp is a teleporter One minute he is on stage, the next he is in the crowd or maybe at the bar trying to make it with some girl. It's great to see him pop. And Savrai the Ilnovo player. She is a telekinesis expert. You might be making eyes with her, the next thing you find your pants down around your ankles and shirtless. She is a riot.

The first guy speaks up and is all hands. “And thats nothing compared to the all Psi shows. Those really psi out.”

“All psi shows?” ask the reporter

“Yea, I only know what I hear. Its shows were only psionic users are allowed in. It seems the waves of psionics come from the band and get amplified by the crowed which shoots it back at the band. This goes back and forth like waves.” Those psionics got it lucky.”

The second guy breaks in “Oh Hojov did I tell you about last night at the bar? I walked in there was this girl all by herself at the bar. She had a turban on and her drink it was hoovering in front of her. I swear no hands man. Anyways I went to talk her. It was like I wasn't even there. She then turned to me and said 'If you're not psionic you dont exist.' It was cold Hojov so cold. But boy if I had them we would have psi out for sure!”

The first boy responds, “Yea I wish I had psionics, I would psi out boy would I psi out.”

The two guys head off screaming psi out psi out. High Nobles psi out.

The reporter takes control of the show. “Well, as you can see the High Nobles cause great emotions regardless of whether someone has psionic abilities or not. Recent reports from Mora, the capital of the Spinward Marches, says they have a home-grown sensemusic band the Teleports. Additionally psionic schools around the Domain have reported ten precent increase in applications since the High Nobles hit it big. It appears the Zhodani have invaded! This is Kell Duko for TAS Holo News”


*****

Sensemusic comes from Pat Cadigan short story “Rock Out” found in Mirrorshades the Cyberpunk Anthology

 

[rancke]

Darn it . Here I was hoping to cheer this great initiative on with a positive comment.

Ah, well...

That must be an alternate universe where psionics are not banned and anyone suspected of being a psionic adept isn't in grave danger of being lynched.

Perhaps if psionic concerts were an clandestine subculture existing in secret and pursued by the authorities. That might work.


Hans

 

[GrayPennell]

Hans

This doesnt surprise me at all because you are picky However I wrote this to open up the debate on psionics and Zho/Imperium relationships. How big is the psionic suppression how deep does it go. My read is that by the 5FW the band was left, the schools are re opened. However, there is enough suspicion that its like homophobia/drugs in the 50s. This post mimics the British pop invasion with all the uncertainty that came with it.

And Hans why dont you go for it with something from you.

 

[darue]

Hans

This doesnt surprise me at all because you are picky However I wrote this to open up the debate on psionics and Zho/Imperium relationships. How big is the psionic suppression how deep does it go. My read is that by the 5FW the band was left, the schools are re opened. However, there is enough suspicion that its like homophobia/drugs in the 50s. This post mimics the British pop invasion with all the uncertainty that came with it.

And Hans why dont you go for it with something from you.

I think it's great. Well done!

Given the probable need for a lasting peace with the Zhodani, in Deneb at least, some acclimatization to psionics is likely to be tolerated, whether the ban is fully lifted or not. Of course, there's still the local "rural sheriff" types who may not go along, and the possibilities of mobs and the like. A cool campaign idea. Of course "Cultural Exchange" would be something attempted at least. A 3I ship with a couple bands and other artists may well be making it's way around Zhodani space too.

 

[rancke]

Hans

This doesnt surprise me at all because you are picky

If by being picky you mean that I really, really dislike discrepancies, then I plead guilty as charged.

However I wrote this to open up the debate on psionics and Zho/Imperium relationships. How big is the psionic suppression how deep does it go. My read is that by the 5FW the band was left, the schools are re opened. However, there is enough suspicion that its like homophobia/drugs in the 50s. This post mimics the British pop invasion with all the uncertainty that came with it.

My take on psionics is that the Psionic Suppressions were a result of a failed psycohistory experiment that fanned an already existing distrust of psionics into a groundswell of anti-psionic hysteria that forced the Imperial authorities and the planetary governments to nip in from of the parade and lead it, so to speak.

Once anti-psionic sentiments had become established, they became self-sustaining. "If psionics are criminalized, only criminals will have psionics". So there were no longer any positive role models to counteract anti-psionic distrust.

I also think there is a fairly strong correlation between lack of education and anti-psionic sentiments. The authorities would love to be able to use psionics to aid in their purposes, but they are forced to keep it secret because any public awareness of any such thing would lead to riots. IMTU there are strong similarities between psionics in the Classic Era and witches in the Middle Ages.

And Hans why don't you go for it with something from you.

I've posted quite a few bits over on the SJG Traveller forum. I've been thinking about porting at least some of them to the wiki. Perhaps I should get on with it and post links here.


Hans

 

[rancke]

Book report: The Three Guardsmen

The first culture bit I posted over on the SJG thread was a report on a popular book that is known Imperium-wide:

The Three Guardsmen.


Hans

 

[grondak]

Perhaps if psionic concerts were an clandestine subculture existing in secret and pursued by the authorities. That might work.


Hans

Could be done like that, too, with the psionic equivalent to the British Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994 (also known as the Anti-Rave act), which is vigorously enforced.

 

[GrayPennell]

Davout Engineering connecting the Imperuim

A male voiceover starts while the logo for Davout Drives comes into view. “For over 5000 years we and other sophants have been traveling between the stars.” A series of small videos play out.

A beard, middle age, Vilani male, in agriculture wear, speaks as he walks outside of an open cargo bay of a Free Trader patting lovengly. A multitude of heavy farm equipment and bots are in the cargo bay. He speaks into the camera, “Last month, my wife reminded me it was harvest season for her sister on Adele and we promised to help. I had the farm's old Beowolf checked out. Besides the farm equipment others have paid us to bring odds and ends for friends or family on Adele. Me and my farmhands will be there in just under a week.” The farmer walks away as the voice over starts again, “Davout's Main Drive bring you closer to family.”

The holo cam zooms in on an Imperial Scout Ship bridge through its bridge window. The camera moves through the ship as a man works. It continues through to the engineering room were a second man is working on the engines. The voice over begins again. “Davout engines carrying the Imperium into the future for hundreds of years!”

This scene opens with a series of happy passengers and cargo being loaded on to a cruise ship docked at a highport. The Ship takes off and is later seen with its jump grid firing up. As the ship passes into jump space the voice comes on again. “The Davout Jump 3 Drive setting the standard in drive technology.”

A worn out hulk lands on class E pad. The crew comes out of the airlock meeting a gathering of locals. A local speaks up. “Thank you, thank you, we are so far out we might as well be living in a rift, we have not seen a ship in six months. I do hope you brought medicine and some spare parts for our power grid.” The merchant prince smiles “We have a Davout 4 Drive we can go anywhere we want.”

The screen is then lit up by a series of explosions as the holo camera passes through a fireball to show warships exchanging fire. As the Imperial Anthem plays the voice begins again. “Davout Engines supplying our fleet with the latest drives, insuring our way of life.”

With the battle scene over the ad switches to a vast city that could only be Capital. The camera follows a sleek expensive craft to the royal downport. As it lands and several officers and nobility disembark to awaiting grav limos the voiceover begins again. “The Davout 6 is one of the most advance engines in the Imperium.

The voice of woman ends the commercial. “Davout Drives do more than connect worlds they connect people.”

 

[grondak]

[cue generic music with imperative beat]
Ren Fostell thinks he will make a great governor. In the last six years as inventor-general, Fostell has failed to allocate funding to jump 3 technologies for our shipyards. Our planet is falling behind because Ren Fostell squandered resources on medicine for noncontributors and products he called high efficiency but really just turned out to be loans to his partners. Nothing useful has come out of his term as inventor-general. We all know technocracies are meant to improve the capability of a planet, not to line the pockets of a select few. Tell Ren Fostell he isn't qualified to be our technocrat. Tell him we will not agree to be led by him. Vote your conscience. Anyone is better as governor than Fostell!

 

[Ulsyus]

How big is the psionic suppression how deep does it go. My read is that by the 5FW the band was left, the schools are re opened. However, there is enough suspicion that its like homophobia/drugs in the 50s. This post mimics the British pop invasion with all the uncertainty that came with it.

It would be a generational thing to change the thinking.

Two of my grandparents hated Japanese as a result of WW2. My parents were ambivalent to them. I learnt Aikido and Kendo, so have quite a different view.

While attitudes can change in less time, a change in social policies towards psionics, steady in public attitudes for a couple of hundred years, isn't going to change very quickly.

Too, given that the worlds of the Imperium are quite individual, increased tolerance on one world doesn't guarantee replication on other nearby worlds.

 

[Carlobrand]

I tell you, it's that whole business about sharing Esalin, is where it started. That was a big mistake. "Cultural exchange" is a plot, I tell you! A plot to lull us into a false sense of security while they brainwash our children!:nonono: