Jamison's Catalog: Xboat Route Transports

[robject]

Now there's an interesting pickle. Something able to commandeer any resources for any purposes (irresistable force) meets the Imperial bureaucracy (immovable object).

I imagine the resistance would be less obvious, and come from the structure of the bureaucracy itself. In other words:

"We'll get right on it, sir!!"

Whereupon the ranking official contacts half-a-dozen other ranking officials to start the wheels in motion to get the embassies of all concerned worlds to ratify the route. We will have to go through all the channels. The Warrant has allowed us to cut through applications processes and authority-related procurement issues.

In fact, that could be what's going on in Regina-Rhylanor now. There could be a Warrant involved. (Otherwise, I suspect the Xboat route would never change in the Marches).

Hengabar Spofulam: "Good My Liege, we present to you this item which we have recovered from a derelict 1200-ton cruiser in a local planetoid belt."

Duke Norris: "Thanks, Hengie. You say your cousin found the ship?"

Hengabar: "Quite so, My Liege. imarush*, actually, but our family isn't so Vilani about familial terms. She was, er, testing some prototypes, when she detected a weak signal and followed it to its source."

Norris: "Well well. I hope she didn't encounter any -- difficulties?"

Hengabar: "None at all, My Liege."

Norris: "Hmmmmm...."

Later that day...

Norris: "Branj, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Branj: "Archdukedom?"

Norris: "Quite. And while I'm at it, might as well make things interesting... how about an Xboat route through Yori to Inthe?"


* imarush: sibling's child of the opposite sex as yourself; i.e. nephew or niece.

 

[robject]

Now there's an interesting pickle. Something able to commandeer any resources for any purposes (irresistable force) meets the Imperial bureaucracy (immovable object).

I imagine the resistance would be less obvious, and come from the structure of the bureaucracy itself. In other words:

"We'll get right on it, sir!!"

Whereupon the ranking official contacts half-a-dozen other ranking officials to start the wheels in motion to get the embassies of all concerned worlds to ratify the route. We will have to go through all the channels. The Warrant has allowed us to cut through applications processes and authority-related procurement issues.

In fact, that could be what's going on in Regina-Rhylanor now. There could be a Warrant involved. (Otherwise, I suspect the Xboat route would never change in the Marches).

Hengabar Spofulam: "Good My Liege, we present to you this item which we have recovered from a derelict 1200-ton cruiser in a local planetoid belt."

Duke Norris: "Thanks, Hengie. You say your cousin found the ship?"

Hengabar: "Quite so, My Liege. imarush*, actually, but our family isn't so Vilani about familial terms. She was, er, testing some prototypes, when she detected a weak signal and followed it to its source."

Norris: "Well well. I hope she didn't encounter any -- difficulties?"

Hengabar: "None at all, My Liege."

Norris: "Hmmmmm...."

Later that day...

Norris: "Branj, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Branj: "Archdukedom?"

Norris: "Quite. And while I'm at it, might as well make things interesting... how about an Xboat route through Yori to Inthe?"


* imarush: sibling's child of the opposite sex as yourself; i.e. nephew or niece.

 

[boomslang]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
"Hmmmm. Very good, sir. Can you wait right here while I have this authenticated? It shouldn't take more than a few months to get back to Capital [via the XBoat route]. Of course, the Emperor is supposed to be out in Star's End sector on a big diplomacy jaunt around that time, so it might be a while."

Heh, heh...

However, Imperial Warrants are self-authenticating (via the Imperial Seal), so it's one's duty to assume it's genuine, and doing otherwise is, in fact, treasonous...

No wonder they're so popular...




"One should be careful what one writes, and to whom one gives it." -- Cardinal Richelieu, after D'Artangan has hoisted him by his own petard

 

[boomslang]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
"Hmmmm. Very good, sir. Can you wait right here while I have this authenticated? It shouldn't take more than a few months to get back to Capital [via the XBoat route]. Of course, the Emperor is supposed to be out in Star's End sector on a big diplomacy jaunt around that time, so it might be a while."

Heh, heh...

However, Imperial Warrants are self-authenticating (via the Imperial Seal), so it's one's duty to assume it's genuine, and doing otherwise is, in fact, treasonous...

No wonder they're so popular...




"One should be careful what one writes, and to whom one gives it." -- Cardinal Richelieu, after D'Artangan has hoisted him by his own petard

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by robject:
Now there's an interesting pickle. Something able to commandeer any resources for any purposes (irresistable force) meets the Imperial bureaucracy (immovable object).

I imagine the resistance would be less obvious, and come from the structure of the bureaucracy itself. In other words:

"We'll get right on it, sir!!"

Whereupon the ranking official contacts half-a-dozen other ranking officials to start the wheels in motion to get the embassies of all concerned worlds to ratify the route. We will have to go through all the channels. The Warrant has allowed us to cut through applications processes and authority-related procurement issues.[/qb

Which was why I had my hypothetical warrant holder give the man in charge a deadline. His posterior is now on the line, making it in his interest to get things done as fast as possible.

[qb]In fact, that could be what's going on in Regina-Rhylanor now. There could be a Warrant involved. (Otherwise, I suspect the Xboat route would never change in the Marches).

Actually, several early CT adventures have references to plans for changing X-boat routes (even at least one activity in progress). Sadly, later authors forgot, overlooked, or ignored all this.

Hengabar Spofulam: "Good My Liege, we present to you this item which we have recovered from a derelict 1200-ton cruiser in a local planetoid belt."

Duke Norris: "Thanks, Hengie. You say your cousin found the ship?"

Hengabar: "Quite so, My Liege. imarush*, actually, but our family isn't so Vilani about familial terms. She was, er, testing some prototypes, when she detected a weak signal and followed it to its source."

Norris: "Well well. I hope she didn't encounter any -- difficulties?"

Hengabar: "None at all, My Liege."

Norris: "Hmmmmm...."

Later that day...

Norris: "Branj, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Branj: "Archdukedom?"

Norris: "Quite. And while I'm at it, might as well make things interesting... how about an Xboat route through Yori to Inthe?"


* imarush: sibling's child of the opposite sex as yourself; i.e. nephew or niece.

Branj: "Excuse me, but I don't quite see how a warrant issued to twenty years ago, before you were even made duke, will help you in the long run. I don't think the Emperor will appreciate you using it. Are you even sure it's genuine? I've never heard about any Emperor being stu... complacent enough to issue a warrant to 'Bearer'. Anyway, didn't you ask the Emperor for a warrant of your own? Wouldn't it be better to wait for that one to arrive?"

Norris: "Good point about 'Bearer' warrants, B. Good thing it didn't fall into the hands of some hapless group of adventurers. Can you imagine the trouble someone like that would have been in if they'd tried to use it? I guess you're right about waiting for my own. The only trouble is, it should have arrived by now. I'm begining to wonder if anything has happened to the light cruiser that was carrying it. I think you'd better put a team on tracking it down."


Hans

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by robject:
Now there's an interesting pickle. Something able to commandeer any resources for any purposes (irresistable force) meets the Imperial bureaucracy (immovable object).

I imagine the resistance would be less obvious, and come from the structure of the bureaucracy itself. In other words:

"We'll get right on it, sir!!"

Whereupon the ranking official contacts half-a-dozen other ranking officials to start the wheels in motion to get the embassies of all concerned worlds to ratify the route. We will have to go through all the channels. The Warrant has allowed us to cut through applications processes and authority-related procurement issues.[/qb

Which was why I had my hypothetical warrant holder give the man in charge a deadline. His posterior is now on the line, making it in his interest to get things done as fast as possible.

[qb]In fact, that could be what's going on in Regina-Rhylanor now. There could be a Warrant involved. (Otherwise, I suspect the Xboat route would never change in the Marches).

Actually, several early CT adventures have references to plans for changing X-boat routes (even at least one activity in progress). Sadly, later authors forgot, overlooked, or ignored all this.

Hengabar Spofulam: "Good My Liege, we present to you this item which we have recovered from a derelict 1200-ton cruiser in a local planetoid belt."

Duke Norris: "Thanks, Hengie. You say your cousin found the ship?"

Hengabar: "Quite so, My Liege. imarush*, actually, but our family isn't so Vilani about familial terms. She was, er, testing some prototypes, when she detected a weak signal and followed it to its source."

Norris: "Well well. I hope she didn't encounter any -- difficulties?"

Hengabar: "None at all, My Liege."

Norris: "Hmmmmm...."

Later that day...

Norris: "Branj, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Branj: "Archdukedom?"

Norris: "Quite. And while I'm at it, might as well make things interesting... how about an Xboat route through Yori to Inthe?"


* imarush: sibling's child of the opposite sex as yourself; i.e. nephew or niece.

Branj: "Excuse me, but I don't quite see how a warrant issued to twenty years ago, before you were even made duke, will help you in the long run. I don't think the Emperor will appreciate you using it. Are you even sure it's genuine? I've never heard about any Emperor being stu... complacent enough to issue a warrant to 'Bearer'. Anyway, didn't you ask the Emperor for a warrant of your own? Wouldn't it be better to wait for that one to arrive?"

Norris: "Good point about 'Bearer' warrants, B. Good thing it didn't fall into the hands of some hapless group of adventurers. Can you imagine the trouble someone like that would have been in if they'd tried to use it? I guess you're right about waiting for my own. The only trouble is, it should have arrived by now. I'm begining to wonder if anything has happened to the light cruiser that was carrying it. I think you'd better put a team on tracking it down."


Hans

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by boomslang:
"One should be careful what one writes, and to whom one gives it." -- Cardinal Richelieu, after D'Artangan has hoisted him by his own petard

Good point, although the analogy only goes so far. The 'absolution' that the Cardinal gives to Mylady is not the equivalent of an Imperial Warrant. It didn't give her the authority to to anything. It was a 'get out of jail free' card that ensured that she wouldn't be punished for any crimes she committed in his service. An Imperial Warrant, OTOH, gives immense authority, but it doesn't allow the bearer to commit crimes[*].


Hans

[*] Oh, sorry. That last bit is only surmise if you don't acknowledge GT sources.

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by boomslang:
"One should be careful what one writes, and to whom one gives it." -- Cardinal Richelieu, after D'Artangan has hoisted him by his own petard

Good point, although the analogy only goes so far. The 'absolution' that the Cardinal gives to Mylady is not the equivalent of an Imperial Warrant. It didn't give her the authority to to anything. It was a 'get out of jail free' card that ensured that she wouldn't be punished for any crimes she committed in his service. An Imperial Warrant, OTOH, gives immense authority, but it doesn't allow the bearer to commit crimes[*].


Hans

[*] Oh, sorry. That last bit is only surmise if you don't acknowledge GT sources.

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by rancke:
"Why don't you just take a look at this? That's right, it's an Imperial Warrant. The Emperor has sent me to cut through all the obstructionism and red tape and special interests. As of Holiday next year you will have a new direct route from here to Regina up and running, or you will be out of a job. Any questions? I didn't think so."

"Hmmmm. Very good, sir. Can you wait right here while I have this authenticated? It shouldn't take more than a few months to get back to Capital [via the XBoat route]. Of course, the Emperor is supposed to be out in Star's End sector on a big diplomacy jaunt around that time, so it might be a while." </font>[/QUOTE]"You're sure you want to do that? You're that tired of your job? Well, I could have you arrested on the spot for interfering with the holder of an Imperial Warrant, but I'll give you 24 hour to think about it. And I'll be using Navy couriers to send my report to the Emperor, so we'll get the answer considerably faster than by X-boat. Oh, and you're on notice that if the Emperor backs me up, your rank, pay and perquisites are terminated as of today, any pay you receive between now and your effective removal to be repaid out of your own fortune. And I'll recommend to the local government that they take a look at your income. Imperial salaries are not subject to local taxes, but bribes paid by X-boat manufactures are. Have a nice day."


Hans

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by rancke:
"Why don't you just take a look at this? That's right, it's an Imperial Warrant. The Emperor has sent me to cut through all the obstructionism and red tape and special interests. As of Holiday next year you will have a new direct route from here to Regina up and running, or you will be out of a job. Any questions? I didn't think so."

"Hmmmm. Very good, sir. Can you wait right here while I have this authenticated? It shouldn't take more than a few months to get back to Capital [via the XBoat route]. Of course, the Emperor is supposed to be out in Star's End sector on a big diplomacy jaunt around that time, so it might be a while." </font>[/QUOTE]"You're sure you want to do that? You're that tired of your job? Well, I could have you arrested on the spot for interfering with the holder of an Imperial Warrant, but I'll give you 24 hour to think about it. And I'll be using Navy couriers to send my report to the Emperor, so we'll get the answer considerably faster than by X-boat. Oh, and you're on notice that if the Emperor backs me up, your rank, pay and perquisites are terminated as of today, any pay you receive between now and your effective removal to be repaid out of your own fortune. And I'll recommend to the local government that they take a look at your income. Imperial salaries are not subject to local taxes, but bribes paid by X-boat manufactures are. Have a nice day."


Hans

 

[Fritz_Brown]

I really suppose this hinges on whether the bureaucrat concerned is a Bwap or not. I would think the Bwap would find a way to make the bureaucracy come out on top.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

I really suppose this hinges on whether the bureaucrat concerned is a Bwap or not. I would think the Bwap would find a way to make the bureaucracy come out on top.

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
I really suppose this hinges on whether the bureaucrat concerned is a Bwap or not. I would think the Bwap would find a way to make the bureaucracy come out on top.

That might work -- until Strephon sends a Bwab with a warrant!


Hans

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
I really suppose this hinges on whether the bureaucrat concerned is a Bwap or not. I would think the Bwap would find a way to make the bureaucracy come out on top.

That might work -- until Strephon sends a Bwab with a warrant!


Hans

 

[parmasson]

I love conflicting orders issued by officials of roughly the same level. One of our PCs is a lawyer, red tape is the greatest enemy of all.

Anyway, X-boats could be a great way to authenticate paperwork, like certified mail! The message could show that it had the correct provenance as well as the correct seals making the order that much more believable.

 

[parmasson]

I love conflicting orders issued by officials of roughly the same level. One of our PCs is a lawyer, red tape is the greatest enemy of all.

Anyway, X-boats could be a great way to authenticate paperwork, like certified mail! The message could show that it had the correct provenance as well as the correct seals making the order that much more believable.