srwug_alpha_rp | 01: To Grow and Learn, As a Bondsman Becomes a Brigadier

[1]

Matthew should be happy. He has risen from the status of bondsman to become a Mechwarrior again, proven himself to his new clan in combat twice, and acquired many potent (well, zany) comrades and allies. His star is truly on the rise, even more so because the Gurren Brigade is a small group.

And yet, he finds himself troubled: by moral quandaries, elaborate philosophical dilemmas, the conflict between the traditions he came from and the urgings of his heart.

More immediately, though, he is troubled by his Nova, which is...wrecked. An arm blasted off, the armor is pitted and cored, and the gyro system half near pretty much melted.

He notices certain techs in the hangar bay glaring at him.

"Ah..."

[2]

Matthew has organized a discussion group in one of the lounges, for a very specific group of people: former Jade Falcon Clansmen taken as bondsmen. The topics on discussion are varied: how people are settling in, what interesting things have happened, gossip about the more infamous members of the Chalice...and culture shock, of course. The massive culture shock. And the shouting of attack names: what's with that?

There are refreshments of course. And booze. And cookies.

Matthew chats with a few fellow former Falconers. He really perks up, however, when Trothkin from his former Star show up.

[I figured this would be a good way to develop plot related to all the Clanner shenanigans, as well as explore characters both pc and npc. Anyone who has/is connected somehow to a bondsman, feel free to come over. And everyone else, too. There are cookies.]

[3]

Matthew walks down the hallway, whistling a merry tune.

Then he stumbles midstep, his eyes widening as he realizes the awful truth.

"I...I uttered a contraction in the midst of battle!" He cries out.

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[The thing is, if you look at Battletech Clan Canon...Josh has hit Matthew's problem on the head, and not just literally. The history of the Clans and their society is something ugly.

But as a fellow RP fellow said, convincing a Jade Falcon to question tradition is harder than teaching a monkey to read....Let's give it a go, shall we?]

"Ow! Stravag!"

Matthew rubs his head, and glares at Josh. Mostly because he caught the jist of his argument.

"Hmmph. And I would suppose you and your scientist father know better than we do, quiaff? From your vantage point, from your shallow glimpse of the ways of the Clans, you so immediately term us 'backward'! You do not know our history nor understand that values that lead to our dogma...so do not dare to judge us with such arrogance!"

[And Josh's eyes narrow. Maybe if you hadn't gotten so defensive he might've eased up. But that kind of reaction is like that of a cornered animal.]

"Immediately?"

I've seen Resnick declare Bian Zoldark a fraud and a schemer for trying to unite us against the Inspectors simply because he didn't have all the answers. The bondsman system isn't that far away from a system of slavery. And you're bemoaning the usage of a grammatically correct word.

Besides.

[His stare grows a bit icier.]

Any culture that is heavily tradition-based runs the risk of letting those traditions interfere with progress. It's arrogant to think the Star League's exempt from this danger.

Can you say, with absolute, 100% certainty, that despite all the similarities between the Clans and the rest of humanity, that this problem I've discussed has not, is not, or will never interfere with social progress?

[This is your chance to prove Josh wrong, Matthew. Can you?]

[Matthew will give it a go, at least.

Pity he's operating on really bad initial assumptions]

Matthew grits his teeth.

"Savarshi! You have gotten so many things wrong about the Clans, that I know not where to start!"

He ticks them off his fingers.

"One, The bondsman system is not slavery: it is an honor, a way for people to be accepted into the Clan society." [False.]

"Two, the Star League created an era of peace and prosperity for all mankind. It makes sense to revere it and it's language." [False.]

"And Aff...the traditions of a society can weigh it down and mire it in vile practices...but tradition also forms the strength of a society!"

He spreads his arms. "I believe in the traditions of the Clans. I have seen the brutality and greed of the Successor States out among the stars, their petty wars for profit that lead to nothing but the suffering of their civillians. I have seen the corruption, cowardice, and incompetence of your precious Earth Federation first hand, and read much of the mercenaries and paramilitary groups that terrorize a planet already wounded by disaster and orbital bombardment."

He meets your eyes. "Your traditions have led to this state of affairs. The traditions of the Clans have prevented these atrocities." [False.]

"They have restrained the war-like nature of mankind and given order and purpose to all our members. So why should I fear my tradition wehn my tradition works?" [...All the False. Josh, take him down.]

Edited 2013-01-11 19:32 (UTC)

You didn't answer my question.

[Not that he's going to let the rest of that go unanswered, but he did want to say that first.]

And in response to everything you said? Let's compare. There was no bondsman system needed when the Irgelions surrendered in the Earth Sphere after they were defeated. There were some negotiations about them being granted citizenship but they have just as many rights as everyone else nowadays.

Regarding language, all I can say is look at the poetry and other works of literary art over the course of Earth's history. Languages have changed and rules have been broken all the time. Those works aren't inherently vulgar.

[Unfortunately Josh doesn't have a copy of e.e. Cummings' works.]

And lastly...

Even if everything had been going right for the Earth and Second Impact had never happened... we still would've had to worry about the Invaders, the Festum, the Angels, the Jovian lizards, the Black Lodge, the Percolatii, probably that Infection crap, the Inspectors, and plenty of problems that we certainly couldn't have done anything to prevent.

Hell, nobody on Earth ever asked to be dragged into the conflicts between the various Clans. And you can't very well say they haven't made our life a little more problematic.

Yes the Federation's a corrupt bunch of nutjobs and Britannia's not much better judging by what they've done in Area 11. But then you've got all the people who formed the AEUG. You've got the Divine Crusaders. You've got Orb and the Yapan Exodus and everyone else. You've got the Dai-Gurren Brigade even.

Warts and all, the Earth Sphere at least tries to get its shit together when something needs addressing. And I'm sure everyone's favorite historian would love discussing the history of civil rights movements with you.

"I did answer your question." Matthew replies scornfully.

"I acknowledged that tradition can be harmful...when it is done wrong. I do not worry about the ways of the Clans because the ways of the Clans are–"

He blinks as as he processes all of your response, and raises a hand. He suddenly looks contrite.

"Ah. I did not mean to say that all freeborns were corrupt, or that there were not groups willing to fight for justice. That was–"

He searches for an analogy.

"–Too much like Star Captain Resnick. Pardon. I am confused, though. Who are the Irgelions? Further, why have so many alien cultures tried to attack Earth in such a short while?"

The genetically engineered super soldier from a Clan sworn to reclaim Terra asks.

"And which favorite historian are you talking of?"

Edited 2013-01-12 07:15 (UTC)

[Well, at least he apologized for that.]

The Irgelions were a race that tried to attack the Earth Sphere a few years after Second Impact. Contrary to some of the other alien attackers though they were stonewalled and when their back was to the wall they surrendered. They were allowed to leave under the condition they inform their race to not attack Earth again, and those that chose to stay were allowed to undergo a naturalization process and be recognized as citizens. We have two Irgelions onboard, even.

As for why so many are taking potshots at us? Who knows. Maybe some think they smell blood considering how bad Second Imapact set us back. Maybe it's something else. Since you're in the same boat as a lot of them, your guess'd probably be better than mine.

Now... about that bit you were saying before though?

Matthew purses his lips in thought.

"Perhaps they believe Terra to be a sacred planet as well? In future battles we should ask those we take as bondsman whether this is true?"

He blinks and focuses again as you ask him the pertinent question.

"The bit I was saying before–Ah yes."

He clasps his hands behind his back.

"I do not fear Clan tradition, nor do I believe that it is holding the Clans back, because I believe that it works. To many non-Clansmen, it seems harsh and stern, but it provides order and purpose for all it's members, allows all within it to achieve new stations and heights based on merit, and most importantly, creates a society that restrains the avarice in the heart of humans and prevents corruption and abuse of power."

[False. But heartfelt.]

He spreads his hand wide.

"You have talked of how the coming the Clans has destabilized things. This may be true. But the Clans have brought good things to this world as well, quiaff? Clan Wolf in Exile has fought many of the foul abominations that plague Terra, helped overthrow the Tyrant Richard Hawk, and freed the Domepoli of Inner Sibera from the exploitation of the Railway Company."

His eyes shift side to side.

"Do not tell Resnick I said that, though."

01: To Grow and Learn, As a Bondsman Becomes a Brigadier

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