Author's note: I did this as an assignment for university this year. I got a high mark for it, the theme was about cults of celebrity but I twisted the premise to make it my own. Anyway my teacher was impressed so awarded it in the 80% range (so I got a high distinction which is pretty damn good, getting 80% and above is hard).
Disclaimer: this is a piece of Traveller fanfiction. No legal claims are being made by the author.
A TAS News Service special report:
Johan Archer: A Cult Of Celebrity?
From: Annabapar/Ley (1936-A4367A9-D)
Date: 150th day of the year 993
by Henri Vergil Managudeli
We are now in our third year of war with the Solomani Confederation. In my travels as a field reporter for the Traveller's Aid Society News Service, I have come across and reported many strange phenomena. Few have been as puzzling to this loyal Imperial citizen as the cult of celebrity that has surrounded the figure known as Johan Archer.
As open warfare rages many sectors to Rimward against the arrogant men of Sol, it might be tempting to feel a false sense of security and comfort. The conflict is far enough away from our home in Ley sector that many do not feel its presence. Lamentably, this attitude is as foolhardy and erroneous as it is increasingly common. War is on our doorstep, and it is spearheaded by Captain Johan Archer, master of the commerce raider CNS Rapacity and highest ranking soldier for the Confederation in the area. Who is this enigmatic figure?
What is known about the man can barely fit a paragraph. He was born on Earth, possibly of European descent, and is a distinguished ship commander for the Confederation Navy – that much is known thanks to captured enemy records. He is cunning but displays courtesy to his victims by occasionally providing quarter. Other times he has acted harshly to those who offer resistance. Captured crews report respectful treatment if they surrender. From what has been observed he is highly charismatic and his reputation for fairness continues to spread. There are rumours that he finds his task distasteful but no-less necessary to the Confederation's war effort. How substantiated these rumours are is anyone's guess; this reporter has certainly not had the opportunity to interview the man in question.
Under the Laws of War, commerce raiding is differentiated from piracy so long as certain conditions are met, and while Captain Archer is an enemy to the Imperium he has nevertheless followed those laws to the letter. Should this be mistaken for praise? Not at all. The line between commerce raiding and piracy is a fine line indeed. However, it is a line that Captain Archer has scrupulously respected, and that is important to note. One particular incident occurred to a merchant ship that was performing a gas-and-go in the Starfall system; the trader was caught unprepared by the raider who had been lying in wait for prey to fall into its lap, like a shark prowling the water. The difference between a pirate and Captain Archer is the latter allowed the merchant the chance to climb out of the gas giant's gravity well, while the former would never deign to do so. Although the ship would later be destroyed, its crew was spared and given safe transport to the system's mainworld.
Another incident occurred a few parsecs distant. This merchant ship was lured in by a false distress call, where it was promptly destroyed after the crew were allowed to abandon ship (ironically, setting off their own distress signal as a result). Radio transcripts were recovered from the incident:
During my weeks-long correspondence in the neighbouring Glimmerdrift Reaches sector, Captain Archer struck repeatedly at Imperial targets. Fleets of cargo vessels bound for the front-lines were attacked, disabled, or destroyed, while their Naval escort suffered the indignity of defeat. Material losses have exceeded the hundred billion credit figure, while Captain Archer strikes with impunity. His exploits have had a demoralising effect on Imperial morale:
"You don't know when or where he'll strike," said one crewman of an escort ship who elected to remain anonymous. "It's unnerving. It's a long trip to the front-lines and anything can happen. I don't know which I'd prefer: at least at the front you know where the battlefield is. Out here in the (Glimmerdrift) Reaches you don't know if you're going into a fight... well, until you do. It's sheer boredom 95% of the time and sheer terror the other 5%."
Petty Officer Rowan MacAllistair had this to say: "My ship 'n' crew made the run once before, and we dinnae encountered the devil. On the run back, we got hit – and lost 'alf the squad. Ye jus' cannae predict where or when he'll strike."
As can be expected, officers find themselves with a tough challenge to maintaining crew morale against such an enemy.
"We're disciplined," said Lieutenant Kaarin Gashugi, of Vilani descent, first officer of the patrol frigate INS Champion. "We're motivated. But this is a kind of warfare that is a challenge to fight." She quickly added: "That's not to say we can't handle it. We can. It's just difficult. Rapacity operates far from it's home yet it manages to keep resupplied, in good repair, and one step ahead of us. When we look for him we can't find him. Yet when he looks for us he doesn't need to search for long. It's like he's got a sixth sense while we're groping in the dark blindfolded." It's not the first time preternatural abilities have been attributed to Captain Archer; it only adds to his mystique.
This is a game of chess played out on a galactic board. While Imperial convoys follow a more or less predictable route, by contrast Captain Archer strikes at a time and place of his choosing. It doesn't take a genius to see the potentially devastating effect this can have on the brave men and women of the Imperial Navy and Merchant services.
If Imperial crews seem unnerved, it's sobering to see the attitude of people in the neutral worlds of the Glimmerdrift Reaches, where some seem enamoured by the roguish Captain. In a way, this is more alarming than the loss of ships and war materiel so far suffered. In the short time this war has raged the efforts of the Solomani in the Reaches has taken on a 'hearts and minds' type campaign. While commerce raiding seems to be Rapacity's main strategic objective, impressing local populations and showing the Solomani flag are also goals to be achieved.
And it's working. As I travelled from world to world I discovered that the prevailing attitude on these 'neutral' worlds is more or less favourable to the Solomani raider. And why not? The region has always had a stubborn independent streak to it, and that is one reason why Captain Archer has enjoyed success. The people of the Reaches can identify with the Solomani spirit if not the Confederation's ideology. And they haven't been preyed upon (yet) by Archer. Indeed, from all accounts he has gone out of his way to extend courtesies to every ship encountered, friend or foe. Even defeated Imperial crews are afforded respect. And bit by bit, the Imperium's security is undermined as the front-lines inch closer to home.
It gets worse on the lower tech worlds. There, with society reverted back – in some cases – to pre-industrial technology, a charismatic man with gadgets and gizmos can do much to influence the locals. It's not hard to see how someone like Archer can appear as a god to cultures that don't even have running water. The usefulness of such low tech planets might be counterintuitive, but in the kind of war that Rapacity and her master engage in the utility of a safe port of call, even if that port is nothing more than a marked spot of bedrock, cannot be disputed or underestimated.
It is interesting to note the difference in tactics employed by Captain Archer and agents of SolSec (the Confederation's clandestine security and intelligence gathering apparatus). Reports of assassinations of pro-Imperial leaders, sabotage of Imperial and friendly installations, and terrorism against pro-Imperial populations have all been made. In contrast, Captain Archer appears as a saint. This may in fact be one of the keys to his success so far. A charismatic personality can often make acts of terror seem justified, even necessary, to people who have been cowed by them. Although there is some good news for the Imperium, as some worlds have become firmly anti-Solomani in retaliation to these tactics – a feat helped along by Imperial Nobles acting as ambassadors to the Reaches.
This highlights an aspect of the war that has only been briefly touched upon: the arena of the diplomats. This war is as much about values and ideology as it is about ships and troops. The Solomani Confederation is nominally democratic, but it is in reality xenophobic and racist against anyone who isn't human. Non-humans are second-class citizens in the Confederation. By contrast, the Imperium may be lead by Emperor Gavin but individual worlds enjoy incredible autonomy, and though human-dominated there is no claim to racial superiority here. Indeed, this ideological difference is constantly pointed out by our ambassadors as we campaign to win over hearts and minds, and could be the difference between victory and defeat in the region.
It is at this point that the myth of Captain Archer begins to fall apart. While he has all the appearances of a modern-day Robin Hood, facing down an Evil Empire and depicted as the underdog, the reality is far different. Certainly his cultists strive to propagate this image. But the fact remains that Johan Archer preys on the weak, robs from the rich while neglecting to share his spoils with the poor. Men are turned into myths by way of historical circumstance, and they can be unmade by the same means. The way to attack Captain Archer is to not only find and destroy him and his ship – but to undermine the effect his charisma has had in the region. This could very well be more catastrophic as it is conjectured that Archer relies on friendly ports to keep Rapacity in fighting condition. The bottom line is this: we must attack and destroy the myth of the man as much as we must attack the man himself, for until we succeed in that the Confederation's tactics of terrorisation and legitimate piracy will continue unabated through his acolytes.
Of course, this humble writer can only assume Imperial strategists are aware of this need and are acting accordingly. There are signs to suggest this is the case. The recently appointed Archduke Marcus Aaron Erechs, a true patriot, has activated a Naval squadron that left the sector capital of Annabapar for the Reaches in the last week. He issued this public proclamation:
Ω
Disclaimer: this is a piece of Traveller fanfiction. No legal claims are being made by the author.
A TAS News Service special report:
Johan Archer: A Cult Of Celebrity?
From: Annabapar/Ley (1936-A4367A9-D)
Date: 150th day of the year 993
by Henri Vergil Managudeli
We are now in our third year of war with the Solomani Confederation. In my travels as a field reporter for the Traveller's Aid Society News Service, I have come across and reported many strange phenomena. Few have been as puzzling to this loyal Imperial citizen as the cult of celebrity that has surrounded the figure known as Johan Archer.
As open warfare rages many sectors to Rimward against the arrogant men of Sol, it might be tempting to feel a false sense of security and comfort. The conflict is far enough away from our home in Ley sector that many do not feel its presence. Lamentably, this attitude is as foolhardy and erroneous as it is increasingly common. War is on our doorstep, and it is spearheaded by Captain Johan Archer, master of the commerce raider CNS Rapacity and highest ranking soldier for the Confederation in the area. Who is this enigmatic figure?
What is known about the man can barely fit a paragraph. He was born on Earth, possibly of European descent, and is a distinguished ship commander for the Confederation Navy – that much is known thanks to captured enemy records. He is cunning but displays courtesy to his victims by occasionally providing quarter. Other times he has acted harshly to those who offer resistance. Captured crews report respectful treatment if they surrender. From what has been observed he is highly charismatic and his reputation for fairness continues to spread. There are rumours that he finds his task distasteful but no-less necessary to the Confederation's war effort. How substantiated these rumours are is anyone's guess; this reporter has certainly not had the opportunity to interview the man in question.
Under the Laws of War, commerce raiding is differentiated from piracy so long as certain conditions are met, and while Captain Archer is an enemy to the Imperium he has nevertheless followed those laws to the letter. Should this be mistaken for praise? Not at all. The line between commerce raiding and piracy is a fine line indeed. However, it is a line that Captain Archer has scrupulously respected, and that is important to note. One particular incident occurred to a merchant ship that was performing a gas-and-go in the Starfall system; the trader was caught unprepared by the raider who had been lying in wait for prey to fall into its lap, like a shark prowling the water. The difference between a pirate and Captain Archer is the latter allowed the merchant the chance to climb out of the gas giant's gravity well, while the former would never deign to do so. Although the ship would later be destroyed, its crew was spared and given safe transport to the system's mainworld.
Another incident occurred a few parsecs distant. This merchant ship was lured in by a false distress call, where it was promptly destroyed after the crew were allowed to abandon ship (ironically, setting off their own distress signal as a result). Radio transcripts were recovered from the incident:
Piracy or legitimate warfare? Does it matter? In terms of legality it does, but I doubt the merchant crews that were forced to surrender and held captive would appreciate the distinction. Though on the other hand, perhaps they would if they found themselves in a position to contemplate such distinctions – a luxury that true pirates rarely afford their victims.
During my weeks-long correspondence in the neighbouring Glimmerdrift Reaches sector, Captain Archer struck repeatedly at Imperial targets. Fleets of cargo vessels bound for the front-lines were attacked, disabled, or destroyed, while their Naval escort suffered the indignity of defeat. Material losses have exceeded the hundred billion credit figure, while Captain Archer strikes with impunity. His exploits have had a demoralising effect on Imperial morale:
"You don't know when or where he'll strike," said one crewman of an escort ship who elected to remain anonymous. "It's unnerving. It's a long trip to the front-lines and anything can happen. I don't know which I'd prefer: at least at the front you know where the battlefield is. Out here in the (Glimmerdrift) Reaches you don't know if you're going into a fight... well, until you do. It's sheer boredom 95% of the time and sheer terror the other 5%."
Petty Officer Rowan MacAllistair had this to say: "My ship 'n' crew made the run once before, and we dinnae encountered the devil. On the run back, we got hit – and lost 'alf the squad. Ye jus' cannae predict where or when he'll strike."
As can be expected, officers find themselves with a tough challenge to maintaining crew morale against such an enemy.
"We're disciplined," said Lieutenant Kaarin Gashugi, of Vilani descent, first officer of the patrol frigate INS Champion. "We're motivated. But this is a kind of warfare that is a challenge to fight." She quickly added: "That's not to say we can't handle it. We can. It's just difficult. Rapacity operates far from it's home yet it manages to keep resupplied, in good repair, and one step ahead of us. When we look for him we can't find him. Yet when he looks for us he doesn't need to search for long. It's like he's got a sixth sense while we're groping in the dark blindfolded." It's not the first time preternatural abilities have been attributed to Captain Archer; it only adds to his mystique.
This is a game of chess played out on a galactic board. While Imperial convoys follow a more or less predictable route, by contrast Captain Archer strikes at a time and place of his choosing. It doesn't take a genius to see the potentially devastating effect this can have on the brave men and women of the Imperial Navy and Merchant services.
If Imperial crews seem unnerved, it's sobering to see the attitude of people in the neutral worlds of the Glimmerdrift Reaches, where some seem enamoured by the roguish Captain. In a way, this is more alarming than the loss of ships and war materiel so far suffered. In the short time this war has raged the efforts of the Solomani in the Reaches has taken on a 'hearts and minds' type campaign. While commerce raiding seems to be Rapacity's main strategic objective, impressing local populations and showing the Solomani flag are also goals to be achieved.
And it's working. As I travelled from world to world I discovered that the prevailing attitude on these 'neutral' worlds is more or less favourable to the Solomani raider. And why not? The region has always had a stubborn independent streak to it, and that is one reason why Captain Archer has enjoyed success. The people of the Reaches can identify with the Solomani spirit if not the Confederation's ideology. And they haven't been preyed upon (yet) by Archer. Indeed, from all accounts he has gone out of his way to extend courtesies to every ship encountered, friend or foe. Even defeated Imperial crews are afforded respect. And bit by bit, the Imperium's security is undermined as the front-lines inch closer to home.
It gets worse on the lower tech worlds. There, with society reverted back – in some cases – to pre-industrial technology, a charismatic man with gadgets and gizmos can do much to influence the locals. It's not hard to see how someone like Archer can appear as a god to cultures that don't even have running water. The usefulness of such low tech planets might be counterintuitive, but in the kind of war that Rapacity and her master engage in the utility of a safe port of call, even if that port is nothing more than a marked spot of bedrock, cannot be disputed or underestimated.
It is interesting to note the difference in tactics employed by Captain Archer and agents of SolSec (the Confederation's clandestine security and intelligence gathering apparatus). Reports of assassinations of pro-Imperial leaders, sabotage of Imperial and friendly installations, and terrorism against pro-Imperial populations have all been made. In contrast, Captain Archer appears as a saint. This may in fact be one of the keys to his success so far. A charismatic personality can often make acts of terror seem justified, even necessary, to people who have been cowed by them. Although there is some good news for the Imperium, as some worlds have become firmly anti-Solomani in retaliation to these tactics – a feat helped along by Imperial Nobles acting as ambassadors to the Reaches.
This highlights an aspect of the war that has only been briefly touched upon: the arena of the diplomats. This war is as much about values and ideology as it is about ships and troops. The Solomani Confederation is nominally democratic, but it is in reality xenophobic and racist against anyone who isn't human. Non-humans are second-class citizens in the Confederation. By contrast, the Imperium may be lead by Emperor Gavin but individual worlds enjoy incredible autonomy, and though human-dominated there is no claim to racial superiority here. Indeed, this ideological difference is constantly pointed out by our ambassadors as we campaign to win over hearts and minds, and could be the difference between victory and defeat in the region.
It is at this point that the myth of Captain Archer begins to fall apart. While he has all the appearances of a modern-day Robin Hood, facing down an Evil Empire and depicted as the underdog, the reality is far different. Certainly his cultists strive to propagate this image. But the fact remains that Johan Archer preys on the weak, robs from the rich while neglecting to share his spoils with the poor. Men are turned into myths by way of historical circumstance, and they can be unmade by the same means. The way to attack Captain Archer is to not only find and destroy him and his ship – but to undermine the effect his charisma has had in the region. This could very well be more catastrophic as it is conjectured that Archer relies on friendly ports to keep Rapacity in fighting condition. The bottom line is this: we must attack and destroy the myth of the man as much as we must attack the man himself, for until we succeed in that the Confederation's tactics of terrorisation and legitimate piracy will continue unabated through his acolytes.
Of course, this humble writer can only assume Imperial strategists are aware of this need and are acting accordingly. There are signs to suggest this is the case. The recently appointed Archduke Marcus Aaron Erechs, a true patriot, has activated a Naval squadron that left the sector capital of Annabapar for the Reaches in the last week. He issued this public proclamation:
The Traveller's Aid Society wishes safe travels to all during this time of conflict.
Ω
