[TML] Firefly, wait no it is a Subsidized Merchant ship.

[Bruce Johnson]

On Apr 30, 2008, at 5:37 PM, Knapp wrote:
>>
>> Get the T4 sourcebook "Milieu 0", read up on the Zhunastu School of
>> Contact (yes, named after Cleon I, the founder of the Third Imperium)
>> and marvel at the sheer unadulterated sociopathy displayed as  
>> official
>> policy of the 3I.
>
> I would love to but I use CT and don't have the extra money at this
> point (poor immigrant at this time) for more books. Can you sum it up?

Ground rules: These are lower tech worlds, balkanized, that have been  
homes to TL6+ civilizations for millenia. They're mined out...any  
easily convertible valuables (gems, precious metals, etc) backing  
local currencies are in circulation.

This started as the Zhunastu Industries School of Contact, then became  
Imperial doctrine when the then Senator Cleon Zhunastu crowned himself  
Emperor.

Step one: Start by offering the wealthy and powerful fabulous stuff at  
prices that will make their wallets hurt, and them look around for  
other sources of income. Your aim here is to strip the economy of  
anything the locals can use to trade with any other starfaring polity:  
gems, precious metals, whatever is the basis of their currency, and  
make them look around for more.

Step two: find several of the most promising, and offer to sell them  
weapons, so they can expand their holdings to get more money to buy  
your cool stuff. If you want to be extraordinarily cruel, offer them  
on credit. This makes them much more compliant later.

Rinse and repeat until one or two powerful autocrats are ruling.

Step three: now that you've reduced the sides, offer even higher-tech  
weaponry, but only in 'licensed and trained hands', ie: your own hand- 
picked mercs. (See: Blackwater, 21st century)

Step four: You have a single world government, but the continuous  
warring has depleted the economy. Now bring in modular automated  
factories; in direct competition with local industry. Your production  
costs are much lower, when the competition falters, offer to become  
their partner. (See: Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan, etc, 19th century)

Ultimately, you want your off-world interests to own a significant  
chunk of the world economy.

Step five: in /. parlance "Profit!"

You now have a word with a single base of political power beholden to  
the Imperium (whom you can now repay by making the local Imperial  
Noble) with an economy largely controlled by your own off-world  
interests.

You can make or bring in all sorts of shiny consumer stuff, sold at  
prices guaranteed to keep the citizenry working hard for your  
companies  to afford.

--
Bruce Johnson

"No matter where you go, there you are", B. Banzai