[TML] Politeness (was: Space 1999 )

[Richard Aiken]

On Nov 24, 2007 5:09 AM, Glenn M. Goffin <glenn.goffin at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >From: Eris Reddoch <erisred at bellsouth.net>
>
> >ObTrav:  The OTU, in particular, strikes me as a society
> >that greatly values politeness...any society that
> >typically has men and women walking around with revolvers
> >and swords on their hips better be. :)
>
> Agreed on politeness, but revolvers? How delightfully
> quaint.  You're much more likely to see autopistols and
> laser pistols in my Traveller universe.

I'll go along with the autopistols, but not the lasers.  At least, not
for my Imperial nobles.

IMTU, what a particular noble carries as armaments depends upon the
interaction between family traditions and current factional
allegiances.  During the Ziru Sirka, Vilani nobles didn't normally go
armed; if they had to personally defend themselves, their authority
was already lost and what noble would live after suffering that fate?
But during the Rule of Man, the Solomani ex-naval-officer nobles
imposed their own views, such as using their issue sidearms
(autopistols) as a symbol of their authority.  Most Vilani families
adopted the Solomani style, at least as long as the RoM retained
significant power.  During the Long Night, swords became a practical
implement of war again in some regions and a symbol of power in many
more.  Noble families which managed to attain or retain power during
these centuries wear/use swords in addition to the autopistol as a
reminder to the rest of that achievement.  Families of more recent
vintage attempt to pass themselves off as of ancient lineage, and so
also wear/use swords/autopistols.  Families which date from
Arbellatra's Regency tend to favor dressed-up Marine cutlasses (mute
testimony to her using Imperial marine cadres to install them).

Energy weapons as sidearms are strictly an affectation of "young"
nobles who've not yet inherited and of a few extreme liberal types.
On the other end of the political spectrum are reactionary Solomani
conservatives who carry magnum revolvers, precisely because these are
very visibly different and incredibly archaic.  The Vilani
ultra-conservatives who vigorously press for a return to "traditional
Imperial values" (read "letting the megacorps run the Empire") don't
wear any personal sidearms.

Of course, none of this applies to any noble's bodygaurds, who'll be
equipped with the very best weapons tech that bottomless pockets can
buy . . .

-- 
Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident."  Robert A. Heinlein