"Endgame: OOC Planning Discussion"

[Leitz]

No one said anything about them liking it. And there is no *formal* Mutual Aid/Treaty between the Guard and the SEMC. One on one is one thing, but organizationally, zip.

The instrument of status is the contract, and that is a thing, not a person. Thus the troops are assets, and not employees or subjects. Rowri really has no legal authority over them, except provided by the contract. He cannot "dispense justice" as he has no recognized authority.

So, stay on your track for just a moment. Let's look at this from the Big Dips perspective. The Baron who he has been detailed to negotiate with seems iffy. Sending out the Guard, building a nothing port, etc. Eccentric, but still something to work with. The man then looses assets based on his own very poor judgement. If he's a grown-up, he deals with it. If he insists on ordering death or demanding that his lost equipment be returned, even though he lost them due to his own ineptitude, then he is literally outside the bounds of sanity.

Now, from a negotiation perspective, if the Baron is sane then the Big Dip has a stronger negotiation position. The Baron's defenses are nearly non-existent and the Dip's are marginally stronger. A gentleman's agreement that the Baron gains the advantage of SEMC protection during the negotiations strengthens the Dip's position. On the other hand, if the Baron is not sane, then the Dip has the option of dealing with whomever best controls Inchin. Obviously an insane person is going to be short lived, and whatever concessions the Imperials need will not be upheld when dealing with an insane individual.

From the Baron's perspective, assuming sanity, the wounded and captured clearly couldn't hold up to real soldiers. No longer being financially responsible for them saves him from throwing good money after bad.

From the remaining Guard position, they see the SEMC looking out for allies when things are bad. The captives and wounded might not have been great friends, but there's a hope they might survive the next week or so.

Realistically, everyone benefits from the SEMC keeping the wounded and captives.

[Leitz]

In other news, Jørgen indirectly gave a good bit of intel. Hopefully smarter people like Liv are processing that.

[The Bindoner]

He gave us loads of intel.

Maybe too much....

[BackworldTraveller]

Sounds more like the Ukrainians that fought their way into Austria and were "repatriated" to the USSR!

Drat...several posts behind the story!

[Leitz]

A note for Jess, Beau has the recovery teams and Jakob gave good, clear, training.

Guaghan's people were integrated as soon as they showed up, and given as much training as we had time for. She should have a motivated and trained unit, even though they are from mixed sources.

[The Bindoner]

Oh god, Beau and Darragh to look out for? More gossip...

[Leitz]

So, an observation. Fast Eddie didn't flinch during the entire thing. The Big Dip and the SuSAG leads lost their cool. Makes me think Eddie has a better intel source than the other two. He may even be getting a cut just from raising the bid.

Likely something else is going on here, since the mineral rights would have a relatively known or guessed value. The big players would, or at least should, have been ready for that. Keening was taken off-guard when Eddy stayed in. So, something besides mineral value.

[shaidar]

Or something made him think Eddy didn't have the money, he is still a bit of a Dark Horse. Keening obviously has been doing some research on everyone to gauge what they could afford.

It's not just minerals rights, but a working space port.

[Leitz]

Wasn't there a section where one of the Guard leaders said that Vitt was an intel source for him? That would explain Erica East and company knowing what and when the Guard would be out. It might also explain the group of Guard hiding on the far side of the planet.

I don't think a star port is an issue here. There's really nothing to speak of, and if it's just a jump route then I'd park a refuelling base near a gas giant. Run cargo pods from the gas giant up to the station and then sell processed fuel without making customers go inside the 100 jump diameter.

[Leitz]

The effort with Eddie was to establish a contact. The SEMC is new, and if we can get connected to whomever is funding him then we're open for more business. Of course, we may already be connected, and Jakob isn't aware. Alluding to "we" as Liv and Jakob was meant to make it easier for Eddie to trust us. Trusting an organization is more difficult than trusting the nice couple right in front of you.

So, more options for SEMC.

[shaidar]

Options are always good.

Eddie is a real wild card, he seems to have been placed there to assist in the 'plan'. I can only assume he's known Liv's real identity from the start and was told by Erica, otherwise they've been in contact somehow.

That's some clever, long term, planning going on there.

[Leitz]

That's some clever, long term, planning going on there.

Thank you. Jakob isn't really an intelligence gatherer, but he has a high Int and Leadership. Tensions are high right now, and some folks are frazzled. While Liv can gather data ( and turn heads ) better than Jakob, he can actively listen and he inspires others to do their best.

SEMC is fulfilling its task. We have also defeated a pirate attack, prevented significant loss of life, let others take the limelight, and executed a battlefield rescue operation. Those 'in the know' know that we quietly tanked an Imperial embarrassment, and Frank successfully negotiated a cease-fire. While Jakob won't discuss details, or make commitments, he will relate well with each person and share one point of success for SEMC. With the recommendation that "If you need more information, or a helping hand, see Colonel Cross."

[Tiglath]

Merry Solstice to All however you celebrate it!

I may add the odd housekeeping post but nothing significant action/plotwise will now occur until "the bit in between" Xmas and New Year.

Even so we'll proceed at a pace consistent with avoiding indigestion ...

Happy Holidays to All!

[shaidar]

Agreed, Seasons Greetings to all. Have a good one, however you celebrate.

Thanks to Tiglath for running a great game and thanks to all the players for adding to the fun.

[Leitz]

Agreed, Seasons Greetings to all. Have a good one, however you celebrate.

Thanks to Tiglath for running a great game and thanks to all the players for adding to the fun.

What he said!

[The Bindoner]

Agreed, Seasons Greetings to all. Have a good one, however you celebrate.

Thanks to Tiglath for running a great game and thanks to all the players for adding to the fun.

Yep, that sums it up nicely .

Enjoy whatever you're doing, and I look forward to gaming with everyone in the new year.

[The Bindoner]

The reference to four of the "800" being here reminded me of the special unit designation attributed to Vitt. That was an 800 number wasn't it?

[Tiglath]

I'd say that sounds like a bit of a clue that should be de-briefed / a thread that should be pulled on IC...

You collectively have lots of "clues" collected and several in house experts not necessarily in possession of them.

But then what do I know...

I'll sling up a few "Previously on Inchin" posts as reminders to the possibly convoluted doin's that are afoot...

Or are they...?

You'll have to supply your own dispassionate "brown courduroy" voiceover.

[Tiglath]

Re: my last

Jess recalls:

Jess is ideally placed to watch the “enemy of her enemy” move out. The team displace professionally keeping a wary eye on Jess and her vehicle. She notes smart, professional economic movement – these guys are quality infantry (and Lift Infantry too – so nearly Cavalry).

The sniper moves first, lugging the scrim covered “beast” of a rifle on its carry handle – that thing’s nearly their height. The spotter hovers alongside and into the Gig – OK a drone/bot. Jess double takes as the “marksmen” with laser rifles(?) then move. Yeppers - there’s the power pack bulges under the camo but what/wait was the sniper a kid?

The Gig “backs” away from Jess as the rest of the scrim covered fire team board. Two more “riflemen” pop out of concealment (sneaky) and two more “legless helpers” before the Gig drops back into the crevasse.

Frank knows:

Liv replies “Colonel, you are asking me to discuss matters for which none of us have sufficient security clearance and people who, according to Naval Intelligence, do not exist”.

Then she sighs “However, the reality of the situation is that I owe you for rescuing me from the Purge and I’m not really sure about my ongoing future with my current employer. So I’ll say this about the current situation: Urvash Gudrun is an alias used by criminals implicated in anti-Imperial activities and high crimes in and outside Imperial space”.

“Any people backing him are likely to be very few in number and acting to influence events on Inchin to a certain desired outcome. It seems that what those events are or what that outcome is may not yet be clear but I would assume it impacts on Inchin’s political movement towards the Imperium”.

Then she changes tack “But maybe it's easier to deal with Sorag as a tactical problem here. They are ruthlessly professional and, although they have access to powers we don’t fully understand, their real talent is in psyops - the actual manipulation of cause and effect”.

“Two tips: their “Black Ops” are just a shade darker than ours. If you ever get to the stage where you think you understand what they’re up to – you’re usually not thinking big enough. These folk are strategic assets and can rate lots of "help". Makes the jobs I do penny-ante stuff”.

And Jakob knows:

Liv skims more AARs she suddenly says “Dammit!” then clarifies “Jakob are you sure the “one eyed man” badge that you saw was a unit insignia and not a personal charm or token? I know that these are cultural totems and I don’t understand enough context but I know that both the one eyed man and three inter linked triangles are used exclusively by Sword World special forces - specifically their “Hunting Commando” or “One Man Army” units. The literal translations are just that but explain their role and capabilities: deep strikes, long range recon, covert training cadres and that’s just what doesn’t actually fit under “Black Ops”. These people are elite, professional mercenaries - they would have a “force multiplier” effect almost entirely consistent with what we saw tonight”.

But ... as wise folk ... do you know what you don't know...???

[The Bindoner]

by Tiglath » Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:55 pm

I'd say that sounds like a bit of a clue that should be de-briefed / a thread that should be pulled on IC...

Fair enough.

I was going to discuss that when we were back together, but I was hoping for a pointer to where that post was ( because I gave up searching ). I think that this counts as confirmation enough though.