> John M. Atkinson wrote:
> ...If
I'm pretty sure that NI would lend a hand in such an endeavor, but again, I'm
playing New Israel's advocate here. The NI of the late 22nd
and early 23rd century does _not_ have a blood feud with the IF, at
least the way I would like to write the future history. Between John,
Laserlight, and me, I've built a picutre of a fractured, only occasionally
organized IF that is, in fact, geographically not very close to NI or its
associated worlds (excpet for New Jordan and possibly
the ex-colony of Tzfat). NI at 'current' time is content with depriving
IF of the ability to pose a threat to NI interests - going after FTL
capable ships that are percieved as threats, and doing the odd commerce raid,
plus Mossad level activities.
Call me a revisionist, but I'm not content with NI being a bitter, vengeful,
bloodthirsty mercenary power in the Tuffleyverse.
Jon (GZG) - any chance I can win you over? I've got an NI timeline all
set up...
As for New Jordan, Thanks John, for including it in the Unofficial list.
They're quite minor, and non-expansionist. If the IF will let them be,
they'd probably be the only planet on the map able to peacefully coexist and
trade with both the IF and NI. They posess primarily patrol vessels,
orbital defense platforms stocked with old-style FT2 missiles, and a few
cruisers. Ships are a mix of older IF and recently purchased NI and other
ships. No capitals or carriers, though they do have a number of
sqadrons of air-to-space fighters purchased from NI.
As for lack of web presence, That's true of NI as well. I hope I can remedy
that someday.
> Izenberg, Noam wrote:
> I'm pretty sure that NI would lend a hand in such an endeavor, but
They might not. I'm not so sure the Islamic Federation is of the same opinion.
> least the way I would like to write the future history. Between John,
Well, it's more cohesive than, say, OPEC, but less so than, say, the UAR.
> close to NI or its associated worlds (excpet for New Jordan and
Tzfat? Who's Tzfat? Is this another one I need to put up, or is this something
NI grabbed from the IF?
> As for lack of web presence, That's true of NI as well. I hope I can
No problem... I might be able to whip something up subject to your approval.
> again, I'm playing New Israel's advocate here. The NI of the late
One emir or another has a blood feud with any group you care to name.
> Call me a revisionist, but I'm not content with NI being a bitter,
I agree, but I would say that they might be "opportunistically hostile" when
they could get away with it. You don't put aside that kind of fued in the
amount of time we're talking.
I see the NIS as a mercenary power that does alot of things that never see the
light of day. Not to say that they leave a bloody trail, but more like
information brokers who have a strong arm to back things up. If the
opportunity presents itself to get back at an old foe with a surety that no
one will ever find out...
----Original Message Follows----
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 20:18:51 -0800
To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
From: Sean Bayan Schoonmaker <schoon@aimnet.com>
Subject: Re: SW4 (and changing NI in the Tuffleyverse)
Reply-To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
I see the NIS as a mercenary power that does alot of things that never see the
light of day. Not to say that they leave a bloody trail, but more like
information brokers who have a strong arm to back things up. If the
opportunity presents itself to get back at an old foe with a surety that
no one will ever find out...
Schoon
Noa>> close to NI or its associated worlds (excpet for New Jordan and possibly
Noa>> the ex-colony of Tzfat). NI at 'current' time is content with
depriving
Atk> Tzfat? Who's Tzfat? Is this another one I need to put up, or is this Atk>
something NI grabbed from the IF?
In my NI history, I have Tzfat as an NI colony world that got sacked by the IF
in 2126. Now it's either empty or occupied by IF under a new name (They
certainly wouldn't keep "Tzfat").
Noa>> As for lack of web presence, That's true of NI as well. I hope I can
Noa>> remedy that someday.
Atk> No problem... I might be able to whip something up subject to your Atk>
approval.
Sounds great. Let's talk.
Atk> They might not. I'm not so sure the Islamic Federation is of the same
Atk> opinion.
Las> One emir or another has a blood feud with any group you care to name.
Granted, there will always be one or several actively belligerent groups, but
rarely the entire IF.
[From another thread]
Las> The Islamic Federation tends to use Thrust 1 or 2 tugs (often
requisitioned Las> civilian vessels) to carry their warships. Two Thrust 1
ships are more Las> efficient (in terms of merchant runs) than on Thrust 2
ship of the same Las> hauling capacity. Las> IF warships tend to be Thrust 6,
no FTL drives, and pretty dangerous for Las> their mass....
This sets up lovely scenario dynamics betwen the IF and NI. In a 'standard'
encounter, IF goes for maximum damage, NI wants to play 'kill the FTL' and bug
out, stranding the sublight ships. Scneario reflects the doctrines of the two
groups to a T.
Noa>> Call me a revisionist, but I'm not content with NI being a bitter, Noa>>
vengeful, bloodthirsty mercenary power in the Tuffleyverse.
Sch> I agree, but I would say that they might be "opportunistically hostile"
Sch> when they could get away with it. You don't put aside that kind of fued
in Sch> the amount of time we're talking.
"Opportunistically hostile." Certainly. But only when the security of NI is
threatened. Of course the perception of threat can have a very wide latitude.
The dynamic in the 22nd century is not the same as present Earth. NI and IF
are physically quite seperate and pose no active border threats to each other,
though even I have set up Tzfat as a possible territorial conflict. The only
other reasons for conflit are political, economic, and spiteful. Having been
burned and nearly destroyed twice in one century, NI cannot affort the latter
type conflict. It is paranoid up to a point, fundamentally dedicated to the
survival and security of
its people. Aggression without good reason and/or extremely low risk
undermines that security.
Sch> I see the NIS as a mercenary power that does alot of things that never
see Sch> the light of day.
Certainly there are operations like this. Others on the list have convinced me
that the make sense for NI as a source of training, intelligence, and income.
Bu it is one branch (and certainly not the main focus) of the NI.
Sch> Not to say that they leave a bloody trail, but more like Sch> information
brokers who have a strong arm to back things up. If the Sch> opportunity
presents itself to get back at an old foe with a surety that no Sch> one will
ever find out...
Yes. This I see too.
> Las> The Islamic Federation tends to use Thrust 1 or 2 tugs (often
Which is why I set it up that way. Design ships to fit philosophy, not the
other way around.