- Location
- USA
[x]- SKATE OUT
HOW TO TURN A PROFIT OUT OF CRISIS: A SF FRONTIER ADMIRAL QUEST
- Thread starter Laplace
- Start date
- Original
tankdrop24
Tread First into Hell
- Location
- The Center of the Universe: Toronto, Canada
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[x]- BETRAYAL: He wants to ice you. No two ways about it. Think, Marquis, he's friendly with Alessandro, and so is Luca. What did Alessandro do? Try to get you fired. You think just because you lavished that fuck with a rank and a cursorary help, he's suddenly your ride or die? Please! Yon triple threat is going to ice you out of your position, sooner or later. It might be lethal, it might be bureaucratic, but it all portends in your power, your vast and awesome control over the Northern Front, being denuded. So do something about that!
Consider that fun of relentless over paranoia.
Consider that fun of relentless over paranoia.
bookwyrm
Doom of Public Libraries
- Location
- Wichita, Kansas
[X]- INDEPENDANCE: The rank of Lieutenant Admiral is too small for Seubi, who is a prince nevertheless. He's pissed that his birth rank never gave him shit in the Empire, which one, it shouldn't, given that he joined the military where everyone's a maggot (unless you aren't a maggot), and two, is totally understandable. Does he want your job? Either Chairman of the United Shipping Board or Marquis-Admiral, both impossible ranks for this shrub to achieve. Yet you get the feeling he's reaching for it. His alliances with two gens, one a meathead, the other disfavoured, points to him as a burgeoning kingmaker within your army.
I mean for all intents and purposes even before we got our greasy hands all over it a frontier fleet like ours is just a floating mob outfit, if you've climbed all the way to consigliere and number two of the don themselves, never made yourself only because you weren't born in the right neighborhoods to ever become a part of the family, then even skating out isn't really skating out- just settling for never getting a bigger piece of the cut and siting around in bullshit consultant jobs in the periphery of that edifice of organized crime called a navy. I feel like its honestly just more Seubi to reach for the actual peak of his power and properly build his own syndicate of graft and light treason in our image, to go out with style and at last with his head held high and without having to look over his shoulder, before then skating out.
I mean for all intents and purposes even before we got our greasy hands all over it a frontier fleet like ours is just a floating mob outfit, if you've climbed all the way to consigliere and number two of the don themselves, never made yourself only because you weren't born in the right neighborhoods to ever become a part of the family, then even skating out isn't really skating out- just settling for never getting a bigger piece of the cut and siting around in bullshit consultant jobs in the periphery of that edifice of organized crime called a navy. I feel like its honestly just more Seubi to reach for the actual peak of his power and properly build his own syndicate of graft and light treason in our image, to go out with style and at last with his head held high and without having to look over his shoulder, before then skating out.
Last edited:
Evaunit02mark1
S-s-smell the Prey, S-s-start the Hunt.
[X]- INDEPENDANCE: The rank of Lieutenant Admiral is too small for Seubi, who is a prince nevertheless. He's pissed that his birth rank never gave him shit in the Empire, which one, it shouldn't, given that he joined the military where everyone's a maggot (unless you aren't a maggot), and two, is totally understandable. Does he want your job? Either Chairman of the United Shipping Board or Marquis-Admiral, both impossible ranks for this shrub to achieve. Yet you get the feeling he's reaching for it. His alliances with two gens, one a meathead, the other disfavoured, points to him as a burgeoning kingmaker within your army.
As @bookwyrm pointed out it just makes sense for him to be trying to reach for his own crown.
It's literally in his blood, sap, whatever.
Hell it's not even a bad thing, at least not entirely. A rising tide raises all ships, so long as we keep making the right plays he'll stay loyal, if only because that way he gets an even bigger slice of the pie.
Don is nice, but being his right hand is almost as sweet.
As @bookwyrm pointed out it just makes sense for him to be trying to reach for his own crown.
It's literally in his blood, sap, whatever.
Hell it's not even a bad thing, at least not entirely. A rising tide raises all ships, so long as we keep making the right plays he'll stay loyal, if only because that way he gets an even bigger slice of the pie.
Don is nice, but being his right hand is almost as sweet.
- Location
- an unseen void
- Pronouns
- Any
[X]- INDEPENDANCE: The rank of Lieutenant Admiral is too small for Seubi, who is a prince nevertheless. He's pissed that his birth rank never gave him shit in the Empire, which one, it shouldn't, given that he joined the military where everyone's a maggot (unless you aren't a maggot), and two, is totally understandable. Does he want your job? Either Chairman of the United Shipping Board or Marquis-Admiral, both impossible ranks for this shrub to achieve. Yet you get the feeling he's reaching for it. His alliances with two gens, one a meathead, the other disfavoured, points to him as a burgeoning kingmaker within your army.
grimely
Twink Death Sufferer
[X]- SKATE OUT: You think he's planning to quit. This is going to play merry double triple hell on your org chart. Really! The nerve! You need him, one to interface and smooth over any issues with the auxilae, two to be your number two. Imagine a world where people forsake their sacral duty for a plum pension and maybe a no-show consultancy job. It would be hell! In any case, you gotta figure out what to do. Maybe dangle a couple of juicy assignments to him, or drown him in work, anything to stop him from handing in his notice of retirement.
[X]- SKATE OUT: You think he's planning to quit. This is going to play merry double triple hell on your org chart. Really! The nerve! You need him, one to interface and smooth over any issues with the auxilae, two to be your number two. Imagine a world where people forsake their sacral duty for a plum pension and maybe a no-show consultancy job. It would be hell! In any case, you gotta figure out what to do. Maybe dangle a couple of juicy assignments to him, or drown him in work, anything to stop him from handing in his notice of retirement.
- Location
- boundless optimism
Votes closed for Seubi taking after you way too much in all the worst ways (sloth, wagie thieving). Update this Monday or Tuesday.
UPDATE TWENTY ONE: MEET AT THE ICE RINK
- Location
- boundless optimism
The conversation gutters out after that. Seubi begs his leave, he has to do something about his troop deployments. He's on the hook for providing a couple barb divisions to savage the shit out of the ENEMY's rearlines as well as several totally legitimate military targets known as 'oops what a shame there goes your orbital installments. Thank the heavens that we have a service for that, eh?' on the rapidly diminishing number of fence sitters with Lyinsan Arpeggio. The auxilae are all for it. Settle old grudges and nab a bit of territory for uncle while the current Marquis-Admiral is a corrupt bastard who's ok with that sort of thing.
You've seen some of the new maps. Some of them have been doing quite good for themselves.
Anyway, you need to find out what Seubi's planning on. Well, it's obvious what he's planning on. He's planning to leave, retire early, into a sinecure. Maybe in United, and if he wants that, he has to convince you. Or at least make his exit as smooth as can be. Which means having a guy already, or making noises around his command to sort out how they feel about that. Also, he's probably working the United side as well, given what he said.
There you go, that's your plan. You'll poke around his staff and some of the United guys and see what he can do. First on your list is the latter, because you do have legit reasons to do that but not so much with Seubi's guys. He'll spook, and you don't want that.
You're renting office space to United, who as a contractor entity for your logistics is paid in part by the Northern Fleet. You have seen more convoluted schemes, but you still giggle a bit when you see the money zooping from one account (that you own) to another account (that you own). Their space is a utterly soul sucking and depressive grey-beige outgrowth nestled in one of your citadel sub spires. Normal corpo places would have nice looking offices for the execs, but worse luck, all of United execs are your officers, so the officers kept the nice officer berths and left no swanky CEO suits for the bean counters to look up to in their office space.
A cube of smaller cubes of smaller cubes, each with a living thing inside. Taking data in, putting data out. Some of these people, ever since they were locked up here, have yet to see the outside world. Begging for leave from corporate types was hard enough, and it's doubly hard to wrench an iota of time in atmosphere from the military.
"Sir!"
Finding an appellation for you was tricky. If you were just a corporate type, you could be called Mister. But since you're simultaneously the Chairman of the Board and the Marquis-Admiral people have a hell of a time finding out what to call you. Granted, that's mostly the non-military types. "At ease," you tell a chickenneck doing his best to do a salute. B for effort. "Has Lt. Admiral Seubi been around?"
"Oh, yes, sir. With Lt. Admiral Idrine as well."
Huh. "What for?" The chickenneck turns his terminal towards you. A brief and violent series of clacking sounds ensue and up goes some of the reports. A cursory inspection while the files are downloaded to your terminal.
"They're doing real good work," he explains. "We're seeing treble returns on investment." You see why. They're also running a gangster cartel on the Empire, not just the barbs. Two gens equals a lot of social heft that you can't just argue around, and combined they speak for twenty eight divisions, which is a force that can't be contested on civvie street. And so United Shipping has extended tendrils into the Empire, turning other shipping concerns into subsidiaries and wrestling privileged contractor status from a range of entities in the civilian industries.
All this portends to the chaos being absolute. In any other time, there would be a shitload of bricks falling on you, with Inspector General Ploskiy Tan in the vanguard. But it's all approved. Oh, not by Ploskiy Tan, but you're checking the timestamps and you've definitely spotted someone from his Inspectorate checking the orders over. So you're (or Seubi and Luca and Alessandro) are operating under a haze of murky legality and you-looking-at-me-pal-I've-got-warships. And Centre's not doing anything.
Utter freedom. You can do anything. You can lie, you can cheat, you can steal. Convive with the ENEMY and shake down nations. Who's going to stop you?
You realize, more and more, that right here, this moment, is the apex of your career. All that's left is a crown and that's just branding. You are the undisputed tyrant of the Relative North. Except for the ENEMY, but you gotta keep 'em around. Nice big stick to rattle at anyone who gets uppity.
DREAM
[]- You could do with a kingdom. Oh, not the Centre, they can have it. But Relative North is quite a rich and prosperous place, if you look at it clearly. Now, you're not saying you're going independent, not yet. But if Centre isn't going to tell you to stop doing whatever you're doing you see no reason to keep on keeping on. Slowly you will expand. You have taken their shipping, next you will take their security. Then you will strangle their kings and incorporate their fiefdoms into a greater structure.
[]- It's too rich for your blood. Your net worth is currently best expressed through scientific notation, and that's just hard currency. Why do you want to risk that playing politics? Seubi's right, he has a good plan. You've peaked and you don't mind saying that. After you've made it so that the next Marquis-Admiral won't chop you up for fucking up their life you're bouncing out of everything but ease and comfort.
[]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
You've seen some of the new maps. Some of them have been doing quite good for themselves.
Anyway, you need to find out what Seubi's planning on. Well, it's obvious what he's planning on. He's planning to leave, retire early, into a sinecure. Maybe in United, and if he wants that, he has to convince you. Or at least make his exit as smooth as can be. Which means having a guy already, or making noises around his command to sort out how they feel about that. Also, he's probably working the United side as well, given what he said.
There you go, that's your plan. You'll poke around his staff and some of the United guys and see what he can do. First on your list is the latter, because you do have legit reasons to do that but not so much with Seubi's guys. He'll spook, and you don't want that.
You're renting office space to United, who as a contractor entity for your logistics is paid in part by the Northern Fleet. You have seen more convoluted schemes, but you still giggle a bit when you see the money zooping from one account (that you own) to another account (that you own). Their space is a utterly soul sucking and depressive grey-beige outgrowth nestled in one of your citadel sub spires. Normal corpo places would have nice looking offices for the execs, but worse luck, all of United execs are your officers, so the officers kept the nice officer berths and left no swanky CEO suits for the bean counters to look up to in their office space.
A cube of smaller cubes of smaller cubes, each with a living thing inside. Taking data in, putting data out. Some of these people, ever since they were locked up here, have yet to see the outside world. Begging for leave from corporate types was hard enough, and it's doubly hard to wrench an iota of time in atmosphere from the military.
"Sir!"
Finding an appellation for you was tricky. If you were just a corporate type, you could be called Mister. But since you're simultaneously the Chairman of the Board and the Marquis-Admiral people have a hell of a time finding out what to call you. Granted, that's mostly the non-military types. "At ease," you tell a chickenneck doing his best to do a salute. B for effort. "Has Lt. Admiral Seubi been around?"
"Oh, yes, sir. With Lt. Admiral Idrine as well."
Huh. "What for?" The chickenneck turns his terminal towards you. A brief and violent series of clacking sounds ensue and up goes some of the reports. A cursory inspection while the files are downloaded to your terminal.
"They're doing real good work," he explains. "We're seeing treble returns on investment." You see why. They're also running a gangster cartel on the Empire, not just the barbs. Two gens equals a lot of social heft that you can't just argue around, and combined they speak for twenty eight divisions, which is a force that can't be contested on civvie street. And so United Shipping has extended tendrils into the Empire, turning other shipping concerns into subsidiaries and wrestling privileged contractor status from a range of entities in the civilian industries.
All this portends to the chaos being absolute. In any other time, there would be a shitload of bricks falling on you, with Inspector General Ploskiy Tan in the vanguard. But it's all approved. Oh, not by Ploskiy Tan, but you're checking the timestamps and you've definitely spotted someone from his Inspectorate checking the orders over. So you're (or Seubi and Luca and Alessandro) are operating under a haze of murky legality and you-looking-at-me-pal-I've-got-warships. And Centre's not doing anything.
Utter freedom. You can do anything. You can lie, you can cheat, you can steal. Convive with the ENEMY and shake down nations. Who's going to stop you?
You realize, more and more, that right here, this moment, is the apex of your career. All that's left is a crown and that's just branding. You are the undisputed tyrant of the Relative North. Except for the ENEMY, but you gotta keep 'em around. Nice big stick to rattle at anyone who gets uppity.
DREAM
[]- You could do with a kingdom. Oh, not the Centre, they can have it. But Relative North is quite a rich and prosperous place, if you look at it clearly. Now, you're not saying you're going independent, not yet. But if Centre isn't going to tell you to stop doing whatever you're doing you see no reason to keep on keeping on. Slowly you will expand. You have taken their shipping, next you will take their security. Then you will strangle their kings and incorporate their fiefdoms into a greater structure.
[]- It's too rich for your blood. Your net worth is currently best expressed through scientific notation, and that's just hard currency. Why do you want to risk that playing politics? Seubi's right, he has a good plan. You've peaked and you don't mind saying that. After you've made it so that the next Marquis-Admiral won't chop you up for fucking up their life you're bouncing out of everything but ease and comfort.
[]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
Kaboomatic
Where the Wild Things Are
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
It's not like there's really another option.
It's not like there's really another option.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]- It's too rich for your blood. Your net worth is currently best expressed through scientific notation, and that's just hard currency. Why do you want to risk that playing politics? Seubi's right, he has a good plan. You've peaked and you don't mind saying that. After you've made it so that the next Marquis-Admiral won't chop you up for fucking up their life you're bouncing out of everything but ease and comfort.
All According to Ultimate Pension Keikaku.
All According to Ultimate Pension Keikaku.
- Location
- Somewhere in the area
- Pronouns
- He/She/They
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
bookwyrm
Doom of Public Libraries
- Location
- Wichita, Kansas
[X]- It's too rich for your blood. Your net worth is currently best expressed through scientific notation, and that's just hard currency. Why do you want to risk that playing politics? Seubi's right, he has a good plan. You've peaked and you don't mind saying that. After you've made it so that the next Marquis-Admiral won't chop you up for fucking up their life you're bouncing out of everything but ease and comfort.
I really like the idea of some shit always happening two days from retirement, and it'd be interesting to have a real tension between us and our subordinates when elsewise we run a pretty tight ship/freely hand them their cut, one that's almost halfway philosophical, like the mob movie clash between the traditional old guard and the young hitters branching out into international syndicates and drug cartels and shit.
I really like the idea of some shit always happening two days from retirement, and it'd be interesting to have a real tension between us and our subordinates when elsewise we run a pretty tight ship/freely hand them their cut, one that's almost halfway philosophical, like the mob movie clash between the traditional old guard and the young hitters branching out into international syndicates and drug cartels and shit.
- Location
- USA
[x]- It's too rich for your blood. Your net worth is currently best expressed through scientific notation, and that's just hard currency. Why do you want to risk that playing politics? Seubi's right, he has a good plan. You've peaked and you don't mind saying that. After you've made it so that the next Marquis-Admiral won't chop you up for fucking up their life you're bouncing out of everything but ease and comfort.
What's the point of amassing all this wealth if we're not going to enjoy it in safety and luxury?
What's the point of amassing all this wealth if we're not going to enjoy it in safety and luxury?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[x]- It's too rich for your blood. Your net worth is currently best expressed through scientific notation, and that's just hard currency. Why do you want to risk that playing politics? Seubi's right, he has a good plan. You've peaked and you don't mind saying that. After you've made it so that the next Marquis-Admiral won't chop you up for fucking up their life you're bouncing out of everything but ease and comfort.
- Location
- New York
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]- It's too rich for your blood. Your net worth is currently best expressed through scientific notation, and that's just hard currency. Why do you want to risk that playing politics? Seubi's right, he has a good plan. You've peaked and you don't mind saying that. After you've made it so that the next Marquis-Admiral won't chop you up for fucking up their life you're bouncing out of everything but ease and comfort.
To hell with the empire business.
To hell with the empire business.
tankdrop24
Tread First into Hell
- Location
- The Center of the Universe: Toronto, Canada
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
grimely
Twink Death Sufferer
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX
THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX THRAX
- Location
- an unseen void
- Pronouns
- Any
[X]- You could do with a kingdom. Oh, not the Centre, they can have it. But Relative North is quite a rich and prosperous place, if you look at it clearly. Now, you're not saying you're going independent, not yet. But if Centre isn't going to tell you to stop doing whatever you're doing you see no reason to keep on keeping on. Slowly you will expand. You have taken their shipping, next you will take their security. Then you will strangle their kings and incorporate their fiefdoms into a greater structure.
The vote of my heart, the perfect combination of ambition and profit.
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
But if no one else wants perfection, this is easily second best.
The vote of my heart, the perfect combination of ambition and profit.
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
But if no one else wants perfection, this is easily second best.
- Location
- Malaysia
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
- Location
- USA
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
Just think of the pension we could get as Archon!
Just think of the pension we could get as Archon!
Evaunit02mark1
S-s-smell the Prey, S-s-start the Hunt.
[X]- It's too rich for your blood. Your net worth is currently best expressed through scientific notation, and that's just hard currency. Why do you want to risk that playing politics? Seubi's right, he has a good plan. You've peaked and you don't mind saying that. After you've made it so that the next Marquis-Admiral won't chop you up for fucking up their life you're bouncing out of everything but ease and comfort.
Let kings have thrones and let fools have empries.
Everyone answers to the tax man.
Let kings have thrones and let fools have empries.
Everyone answers to the tax man.
[x] - It's too rich for your blood. Your net worth is currently best expressed through scientific notation, and that's just hard currency. Why do you want to risk that playing politics? Seubi's right, he has a good plan. You've peaked and you don't mind saying that. After you've made it so that the next Marquis-Admiral won't chop you up for fucking up their life you're bouncing out of everything but ease and comfort
Remind yourself that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.
Remind yourself that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
I WANNA SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING
I WANNA SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING
- Location
- England
There are two votes in contention. First of all, there's a reasonable, logical, and sensible answer.
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
And second of all, there's the right answer.
[X]- What's next on the list, after Kingdom? Empire. What a word. What a magnificent, breath-taking word. You see the way to achieve this. Make nice with the ENEMY, just enough to get her off your back with promises of peace. And then turn to Centre, with your army at your back. Kick down the doors of the Archonate Ascension and restore the heavens. You have history on your side. You would simply be another soldier Archon, but even that is an exalted, rarefied achievement.
And second of all, there's the right answer.