USH'S ORIGINAL TRILOGY GAME EPISODE I 'LANZAR'- Imperial Thread

Originally posted by Lord Melkor
"You are right, Captain, though the Osokan culture is more a problem than any single individual. Feel free to share any rumors that concern you, even Commisariat sometimes overlooks things." -Melkor answers Jahar( Observation- how he feels about Nidar).

Melkor raises an eyebrow upon the talk of retrieval misssion:

"I fear that Osokans will execute the Senators if we start bombardment, I would prefer the retrieval mission to happen before the attack. Rylis speaks wisely."

He seems quite professional with Nidar; he's not continually undermining him or anything like that.

"No more than that," says Jarke, "though the press reports about Drakkon have been very... severe. I had imagined that a war criminal warranted war crimes."

Originally posted by Ushgarak
"If you would excuse me," says Atar, "I thought I was merely a General, and therefore also merely your superior officer who may well be responsbile for planning any such operation. The nicities of the bombardment I leave to the Navy. All I can tell you is that my training and experience says that trying to launch a shuttle mission down to a city we are attacking from space is inevitably going to have high losses. Would you not agree, Commodore Nidar?"

"Of course," he says, "which is why it is not necessary. A precision bombardment makes the removal of the Senators a secondary consideration." Nidar turns to Rylis. "And that migh be true on whatever place you call 'home', but myself, my crew and my ship make no mistakes. Of course, if the Commissar wishses to arrange the removal of the Senators first, then that is all well and good, but I believe the sooner and swifter we strike, the better."

Hmm, did I ever read those press reports Jarek mentioned? What we know of Drakkon?

You know that there is favourable Senate Sympathy (check the thread) if Drakkon is arrested for trial...

And Senate Mission members are negotiating with wanted war criminal? How credible those negotiations can be? And does anyone believe Senate can enforce any terms?

Following the Conversation, Trebeis finally speaks up again " I don't see why so much preparation is being put into this when we are still half a Galaxy away from the actual hot point. May I suggest departing for Lanzar early to gain time to review the situation and make proper plans." Turning to Nidar, He scowled and continued "One must wonder how one so inexperienced could be so damn arrogant as to assume that nothing will go wrong. If thats honestly what you believe, then you are a damned fool." He slowly cracked a grin, and nodded for the others to continue.

Ah, well, see, he's not actually a wanted war criminal, Melkor. The press, under direction, has been screaming out about it, but there is no warrant and no charge. You don't have any evidence against him...

... except possibly for treason for the coup against Matadan. But that is most definitely one of the areas that the Senate is dealing with.

Finding evidence, of course, is another objective on the Sympathy track...

You have no idea how the Senate wants its terms enforced; finding a way to do so would be part of the mission's job.

-

"Captain Trebeis," says Nidar, reminding you that he has been appointed as your superior by authority derived from the Emperor himself, "I am sure that if you think this task force is being led by a fool, you can explain your opinion on the choice of its leader at first to the Commissar and then to the Emperor himself, if you wish. I can arrange that. And as some of our decisions- like the blockade I mentioned- will have to be out into action IMMEDIATELY as we arrive, then it is obviously relevant to talk it oer in advance."

Disrespect shown by that Captain, Melkor. You don't like that.

"General Trebeis, your concerns might be valid but I would advise you to treat Commodore with respect. I don`t want to hear such words again." -Melkor gives stony look to Trebeis.

Lyle, who is resting with his arms on the back of one of the tall chairs, looking toward the Commissar and Commodore, he asks,
"I would like to know something. How long will it take for any of these theorised landings to take place? An orbital bombardment I assume to be very brief, but all these other landings? 12 hours travel time, then however long a combat will be, will still leave us days to spare.

"Surely, then, it would be more sensible to use those days in an attempt to convince the Senators to leave, as well as find a way to bring down the shield generator."

Looking at Esgabeth directly, he continues,
"Is it specified that we have to use force to subdue the Osokan race? Might it not be more favourable for us to simply arrest this Drakkon, and put in place a leader with more respect for the Empire? Instead of using the crack commando team to retrieve the senatorial mission, we could use it to arrest Drakkon. Without their leader, the rebel Osokans would be forced to surrender."

"Well," says Atar, "a number of points there. First of all, 12 hours is the estimated time to go from any landing site to the target city. But that doesn't account for the time taken to get troops from our ships to the surface, and set-up camp down there for any such move to be administrated. These timeframes are harder to predict but could easily add on another half day, at which point we have to consider adequate time to rest.

"A bombardment to bring down the shields is an unknown quanitity, depending on the strength of the shield. Maybe hours, maybe a day, who knows?"

"It will not be more than a day," says Nidar. "Their technology is inadequate to the task. I will be surprised if it holds even for hours."

"Regardless," says Atar, "any ground solution would most definitely leave plenty of time for such things. Under an orbital bombardment, it is hard to see any form of negotiation being possible at all."

"It's not necessary," says Nidar. "And the added value of demonstrating the power of our new ships should not be ignored."

"Perhaps. As for Drakkon... as I said before, we have resources enough for ONE mission, with ONE objective. Not more."

"Maybe," says Jarek, "the Commissar's personnel could help in that department?"

Originally posted by Trickster
Lyle, who is resting with his arms on the back of one of the tall chairs, looking toward the Commissar and Commodore, he asks,
"I would like to know something. How long will it take for any of these theorised landings to take place? An orbital bombardment I assume to be very brief, but all these other landings? 12 hours travel time, then however long a combat will be, will still leave us days to spare.

"Surely, then, it would be more sensible to use those days in an attempt to convince the Senators to leave, as well as find a way to bring down the shield generator."

Looking at Esgabeth directly, he continues,
"Is it specified that we have to use force to subdue the Osokan race? Might it not be more favourable for us to simply arrest this Drakkon, and put in place a leader with more respect for the Empire? Instead of using the crack commando team to retrieve the senatorial mission, we could use it to arrest Drakkon. Without their leader, the rebel Osokans would be forced to surrender."

"You raise good points, Agent Lyle. But Emperor wants the problem to be definately resolved, I am not sure he will be satisfied with temporary solution. What if we take Drakkon, install new Guildmaster, than leave and Guildmaster is killed again?

But as I mentioned, I intend to speak with Drakkon to see the extent of his defiance. It will be beneficial if we prove the ineffectiveness of Senate`s negotiations. Indeed I will contact him and the Senators at once....

But before I do it, what is your opinion concerning the favourable strategy, General Jarek? And General Lomax?"

"Well," says Lomax, "I think it is disgraceful to not send in the troops. I mean, what does the Empire stand for if it is not the sight of our splendid legions bringing order to the Galaxy? Doing it all from space seems like the behaviour of a space rat."

"Personally," says Captain Jarek, "as Nidar called this meeting for in the first place, I want to make sure I know precisely what it is the Emperor requires before being certain on any strategy."

Lyle nods his thanks to General Atar,
"Indeed. That's why I am recommending extracting, or at least encouraging to leave, the senators and their staff before any military move."

Turning to the Commodore, he says
"Perhaps it would not be for the best if you enacted a navy blockade immediately. Leaving the routes open for a few hours would allow myself, Agent Stirge and the Comissar's companions to descend to the planet without immediately marking us Imperial troops. If we did that, whilst lacking clout, we could pose as simple merchants or civilians.

"An alternative way to get a recon team down there would be attaching us to the senatorial staff. Doing that would also allow you to move some stormtroopers as bodyguards to the senators. We could time it so that when the senators leave, through non-violent persuasion, the bodyguards - made up of crack troops, move in to arrest Drakkon.

"At the same time, Agent Stirge and I could attempt to shut down the shield generator, allowing for your bombardment of anti-air emplacements. The troopers and Drakkon could then meet with us for extraction by a brief landing."

(Ush, Emperor wants Lanzar to be pacified, not just Drakkon removed? What is his defintion of resolved, I assume the definitive solution. Melkor worked for him before, so he should know what is expected.)

Lyle nods in agreement with Jarek,
"Yes. What exactly are our goals here?"

"Delay on the blockade would simply give malcontents time to escape," says Nidar. "A better plan would be for those who do not wish to appear overtly Imperial to turn up in advance on their own resources."

Unfortunately, Melkor, you know too well that fudging with the Senate is a lengthy process. You could easily get an Imperial presence attached to the Senatorial one but that would quickly be seen as interference in the mission, and the Emperor has, in any case, decided on the simpler option ofnot biothering with said mission and leaving handling it to you.

The Senate has its own guard also, and it would also be seen as interference to mess with it whilst it is on site doing its mission. They would have to agree to it.

So attaching Agents to Senate mission will be too suspicious? Maybe if one of the Senators agrees to take them as his Staff...

Melkor, that is all you have to go on. But as I mentioned before, you know that the Emperor has no more plans for Lanzar. He doesn't care what happens to them so you have a free hand, as far as he is concerned, to make sure Lanzar never troubles anyone again, anywhere. And as you rightly say, no, he is not interested in trying to support Osokan leaders any more; he has no patience there. Your instinct of suggesting a 'definitive' solution is a good one, based on your time with him.

Drakkon MUST go, no question, and the Osokans must take at least a serious battering, and you suspect that the Emperor would have no trouble with genocide.

Anything is possible with the Senators if they agree to it.

"That sounds fair, Commodore. We will only do that, of course, if our abilities are needed," Lyle says.