The Scorpion Empire : Plus Ultra

[Col.Hengist]

I hope they don't bite the dust. I like this faction. Maybe I shouldn't sine I don't have a good track record.

[ArkRoyalRavager]

I love this faction, but they'll probably bite the dust and return in some form...like the Visigothic Kingdom into the Principality of Asturias

[Col.Hengist]

Hopefully not... I'd hate to see the Marians take them out. The Scorpions do have a leg up over the conquering germania tribes. ... the iron wombs. They had  no reinforcements, the scorpions do, and if it's the clans that come a calling I think everyone will fight against them.

[ArkRoyalRavager]

Huh? The Marians? They're a thousand leagues away man.

I'd like to see the Scorps get re-armed by other "interested parties", but we really don't know the status of the Imperio's relations with the IS and Periphery. They do not fall under the communications ban enforced by the Council of Six on the Homeworlds, so should have relations with the others.

[Col.Hengist]

I love this faction, but they'll probably bite the dust and return in some form...like the Visigothic Kingdom into the Principality of Asturias

The Visigoths were taken out by the eastern Roman empire. Closest thing we have are the Marians...

[ArkRoyalRavager]

Uhhh no...a slice of the southern coastlands of Spain were taken and held by the eastern Romans for a period but was gradually reconquered by the Visigoths.

The Visigoths fell to a Muslim horde from North Africa. Which is kind of like falling to a Homie horde.

[Weirdo]

Hey, take a look at what factions can now be looked up on the MUL...

Nothing current day, but still quite useful. O0

[ArkRoyalRavager]

I see the Clans and the Stone Lions' cool symbol, but no Imperio yet...

[Weirdo]

Exactly what I meant by "nothing current day". Still very useful for getting a clearer look at the Scorpions just prior to getting kicked out.

For one thing, it finally gives me something to do with a Kodiak mini I've had for years...I'm thinking Borodino Garrison colors. O0

[rebs]

I love this faction, but they'll probably bite the dust and return in some form...like the Visigothic Kingdom into the Principality of Asturias

And then that puts our indigenous citizenry into the role of being the Celtic peoples of the historical region.  Proudly enduring subjection, so might as well keep learning whichever new language becomes dominant.

La sigh...   Wonder how long Star League English could stay in use in the Imperio without a former Clan to make it so? 

More seriously, I hope this great newer faction doesn't bite the dust, though I certainly have no money for betting on it.  Even though I just got paid and I have money.  And good to see some more love for it, however not current.

[ArkRoyalRavager]

English would remain as the lingua franca of the diverse peoples...while Spanish would be an official second language. Or vice versa. I expect German and Norse would be common too, as a means of facilitating trade with the Hansa and Jarnfolk.

[Archangel]

English would remain as the lingua franca of the diverse peoples...while Spanish would be an official second language. Or vice versa. I expect German and Norse would be common too, as a means of facilitating trade with the Hansa and Jarnfolk.

The only interactions the Imperio had with the Hansa were at the point of a PPC and it isn't likely that the Imperio have any interactions with the Jarnfolk (their aerospace technical expertise is dated by Clan standards and they aren't likely to have the expertise or equipment to work on the Imperio's WarShips even if the Imperio allowed them to touch the WarShips).

[glitterboy2098]

the jarnfolk are unlikely to be interacting with the Imperio. sheer distance. the jarnfolk are a long way away from Imperio space..

[Dead Monky]

I don't see the problem. That's just a quick jaunt around the corner.

[glitterboy2098]

it's over 3000 light years away. at a week per 30 light years average, that's almost 2 years one way. possibly longer depending on star placement, star types, etc.

[rebs]

Yes, the Home Clans ward away all but the most desperate of anyone; pirate, trader or mercenary.

The upper crust and those who work to preserve knowledge would probably learn Star League English, as it would make sense to want to be the one who does control outside contacts at the expense of those who cannot.  Always a good position from which to bargain.  But that would probably just be a small relative handful of the population.

That was my take. Love seeing the map, as always.

[ArkRoyalRavager]

English would be like a language for the educated and elite at first, for trade and government functions. I expect Imperial merchants to range far and wide for trade with the Hansa and Jarnfolk, as the other likely partners the Homies aren't talking as far as we know.

Besides, the Seeker culture has ingrained in the Scorps a willingness to explore the unknown and range far and wide in search of treasures.

[Dead Monky]

it's over 3000 light years away. at a week per 30 light years average, that's almost 2 years one way. possibly longer depending on star placement, star types, etc.

I know. But you see, I plot all my jumps with the Sarcasm-9000 NavPuter. It's very good at calculating the quickest, optimal route between two systems. Or at least it tells me is. I think. It's user interface could use a little work (or a punch in its douchy virtual face), but it's worth every penny. Probably?

[Drewbacca]

Where did all that stuff on the bottom of the map come from?

[Archangel]

Where did all that stuff on the bottom of the map come from?

If you are referring to the worlds at the bottom of the map then ISP3 as did most of the other systems/states that now clutter up the deep periphery.

[glitterboy2098]

and apparently Jarnfolk have been found pulling salavage ops as far as Wark and Trinity, so i guess they do range fartherthan i thought.

still.. given the long distances involved, i doubt the Imperio could have much real interaction with them.

[Archangel]

English would be like a language for the educated and elite at first, for trade and government functions. I expect Imperial merchants to range far and wide for trade with the Hansa and Jarnfolk, as the other likely partners the Homies aren't talking as far as we know.

Besides, the Seeker culture has ingrained in the Scorps a willingness to explore the unknown and range far and wide in search of treasures.

Extremely doubtful.  The Scorpions don't have the resources to do that (either to conduct the trade or to protect the vessels that would do that), what resources they do have are needed to get the Imperio going at home (transporting goods, raw materials, personnel, etc between Imperio planets) and protecting the Imperio.  Not to mention that there are few possible trading partners in that region of space that would welcome them.  The Hansa are fiercely anti-Clan and knowing nothing about the Wars of Reaving would have no reason not to immediately attack any Imperio envoy (not to mention the fact that the Scorpions had been considering launching attacks against the Hansa to unite the three factions in the Imperio.  The Jarnfolk have little to offer other than their skills at repairing/maintaining old aerospace vessels and the Imperio really only needs assistance in repairing/maintaining their WarShips which is an area that the Jarnfolk can't help them with.

[ArkRoyalRavager]

and apparently Jarnfolk have been found pulling salavage ops as far as Wark and Trinity, so i guess they do range fartherthan i thought.

still.. given the long distances involved, i doubt the Imperio could have much real interaction with them.

I wonder what a specially-commissioned Skaret Cluster can do to the commanders of any Homie invasion force in the Imperio  }:)

[Col.Hengist]

I know. But you see, I plot all my jumps with the Sarcasm-9000 NavPuter. It's very good at calculating the quickest, optimal route between two systems. Or at least it tells me is. I think. It's user interface could use a little work (or a punch in its douchy virtual face), but it's worth every penny. Probably?

I use the infinite improbability drive... Much more efficient.

BUTTONS AREN'T TOYS!!!

[Dead Monky]

I tried. But it kept leaving various marine mammals behind the ship. Those fines for killing endangered species really add up after a while.

[rebs]

I wonder what a specially-commissioned Skaret Cluster can do to the commanders of any Homie invasion force in the Imperio  }:)

I'd love to find out!  [skull]

[ThatPirateGuy]

I have a question about the Imperio's ability to maintain her touman.

1) Do we still have everything (personel, materials, etc.) to maintain the eugenics program?

2) How capable are we of maintaining clan tech and clan mechs if we did fight and beat a clan opponent would we be as capable of repairing a disabled but not beyond repair mech as a normal clan? Or would even obtaining several pristine clan mechs as isorla be difficult for us to keep in proper condition?

3) are there any weapon systems that are essentially irreplaceable for us? I.e. When that ER large laser gets broken we can't replace it.

[Archangel]

I have a question about the Imperio's ability to maintain her touman.

1) Do we still have everything (personel, materials, etc.) to maintain the eugenics program?

"Maintain the eugenics program?"  Probably not.  Maintain some form of eugenics program?  Probably.

2) How capable are we of maintaining clan tech and clan mechs if we did fight and beat a clan opponent would we be as capable of repairing a disabled but not beyond repair mech as a normal clan? Or would even obtaining several pristine clan mechs as isorla be difficult for us to keep in proper condition?

3) are there any weapon systems that are essentially irreplaceable for us? I.e. When that ER large laser gets broken we can't replace it.

Very little is known about the Imperio's capabilities, but what is known is not good.  During their withdrawal, the Scorpions focused much of their efforts on saving SL artifacts over equipment that would be invaluable in rebuilding.  Per ISP3, they started manufacturing low-tech 'Mechs as a stopgap measure until they completed their manufacturing facilities (which were critically behind schedule largely due to worker unrest).  Unfortunately, last indications were that the Imperio were unable to repair/maintain their WarShips and JumpShips (an IE agent noticed that there was no work being done to repair damage to one of their WarShips).  The writers have left everything else extremely vague.

[ThatPirateGuy]

"Maintain the eugenics program?"  Probably not.  Maintain some form of eugenics program?  Probably.

Very little is known about the Imperio's capabilities, but what is known is not good.  During their withdrawal, the Scorpions focused much of their efforts on saving SL artifacts over equipment that would be invaluable in rebuilding.  Per ISP3, they started manufacturing low-tech 'Mechs as a stopgap measure until they completed their manufacturing facilities (which were critically behind schedule largely due to worker unrest).  Unfortunately, last indications were that the Imperio were unable to repair/maintain their WarShips and JumpShips (an IE agent noticed that there was no work being done to repair damage to one of their WarShips).  The writers have left everything else extremely vague.

As a dinosaur nut my alt universe take is that to help round out the touman during this resource deprived time they turned to local wild life and their genetic expertise to create trueborn dinosaurs and mounted weapons and armor.

For T-Rex I have them adding eletric eel dna and getting something that has the performance profile of the basilisk quad.

The smaller allosaurus has some micro lasers added and it uses the Sylph (enhanced) rules.

I figure the clans have the genetic expertise to modify an existing genome better than any in the Btech universe and the Escorpion Imperio seems desperate enough that they might try it at this point.

[Knightmare]

Dino Riders?! Yes.  O0

"Maintain the eugenics program?"  Probably not.  Maintain some form of eugenics program?  Probably.

Given what ISP3 said about the Scorpions governance and how they've created the Imperio's military, I'd think otherwise. The real question, is whether or not the Imperio can survive long enough for their new breeding program to become viable? With the internal pressures of the Imperio mounting, a devastating civil war would likely destroy any chance the new eugenics program has of surviving.