[OOC] The Starship 'Fritjof Nansen'

[Adina]

I have no problem having Alastair and Tomiko know each other. However he's pushing retirement (or promotion), this is likely his last real command. So he's at least late 70's and maybe over 100. (I know Marines retire at 80 but I don't remember what the retirement age is for Navy 110?)

Originally Posted by Agemegos

110 years is correct.

Shall we say 98 and he's been fighting promotion, hoping for one last meaningful command?

Could even be a family connection through the MacArthurs.

Works for me if sir pudding is ok with it.

[martinl]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

Bodyguards probably aren't even an Imperial custom yet. America didn't go in for them until after Lincoln, and Australia didn't have them until so recently that it would surprise you. I've stood in line to be served in a food court behind the equivalent of a state governor in the US who was getting her own lunch. In 1988 Prince Charles was attacked at an open-air awards ceremony in Sydney, and his attacker was jumped and wrestled to the ground by the award recipient and the premier of New South Wales.

Bodyguards come into play as a response to assassination, kidnapping, and physical intimidation. Tomiko is safe from these things, there is no need for one. There are probably pretty nasty anti-imperial types who have plenty of resources and few ethics in the Colonies, but it seems she never goes there.

If she does go there without planning for the potential consequences ... well, um, I guess that's where adventures come from.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

So it's softly-softly catchee monkey, but they want her children in the Regulus School.

Her daughter did attend Regulus.

Devil's-Advocate Hat: She could get neurosis adjusted if she wanted.

I don't think she's neurotic enough for that, also she's not sure if she wants them adjusted.

Originally Posted by Agemegos

Unless sir_pudding wants to make her under about 35 she's too old for the Crèche, and the Paetorians aren't going yet.

60. Born in 472.

Originally Posted by Agemegos

I was rather looking forward to the unhappiness at the big table if she got kidnapped or whatever while on planet leave.

Quite a bit of unhappiness. Probably likely to interrupt Cpl. McAdam's sacrosanct free time.

Originally Posted by Agemegos

Could even be a family connection through the MacArthurs.

She could be married to one of Captain Lowell's relations, even.

[Adina]

Chief of Social Sciences / Social anthropologist (and morale officer)
Name: <something> Dayan or Rabin
Origin: Imperial Direct Jurisdiction

I think he's a bit too old for IDJ.

[Adina]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

Could even be a family connection through the MacArthurs.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

She could be married to one of Captain Lowell's relations, even.

I think Agemegos was suggesting that the Eichberger's and the Lowell's are both related to the MacArthur's. But yes she could be.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

60. Born in 472.

Or he could have been a friend of her parents, 'Uncle' Alastair.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by jmurrell

I think he's a bit too old for IDJ.

Oh, true!. My mistake. That ought to be "Eichberger Foundation Ships & Habitats".

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by jmurrell

I think Agemegos was suggesting that the Eichberger's and the Lowell's are both related to the MacArthur's.

I may have got myself confused. In an earlier version Lara Eichberger married Julius MacArthur, but it's not mentioned in the latest version of the detailed history, and now that it is out I am not inclined to put it back. There are sexist and other unwanted implications.

I'm going to swap the viking hat for my setting author hat for a moment, and establish a New Old Truth: Lara Eichberger never married. Her inamoratum, the presumable father of her children, was a paediatrician who never took any interest in politics or held a significant administrative position. He didn't even accompany her to most official entertainments, and there was a rather unkind joke that he ought to have been an anaesthetist. He was an extremely intelligent man and by most accounts a nice bloke, but historically a complete non-entity. Dr. Nyoman Carey.

Resuming the Hornéd Hat.

[Agemegos]

By the way, I think my viking hat is probably a venerable and somewhat battered khaki fur-felt Akubra with a broad brim and a puggaree of mammoth-fur. But I'm not sure about the horns. Teeth from some huge extinct land-crocodile? No, horns should be horns. Water-buffalo?

My setting-designer's hat for Gehennum would be a wide-brimmed, low-crowned petasos woven of fine white toquilla.

And what about my FLAT BLACK setting designer's hat? A matte black flight helmet? A broad-brimmed black fur felt impresario hat?

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by martinl

I feel vaguely violated, and I can't quite put my finger on why.

Don't put your finger there!

[Luke Bunyip]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

But I'm not sure about the horns. Teeth from some huge extinct land-crocodile? No, horns should be horns. Water-buffalo?

Teeth, Thylacoleo carnifex teeth.