Originally Posted by Whitestreak (Post 1513248)

Oooohhh, I like this.

I think I may steal, er, borrow the concept.

I know that at one point in time the Soviet Spetsnaz did, indeed, train with their entrenching tools for close combat.

Originally Posted by Voltron64 (Post 1513594)

The Field of The Damned

A field on Jaeyelya said to hold a mass grave not of the Ael Yael, but rather employees and mercenaries for McAteer Mining LIC who were executed by the Imperial Marines during their intervention.

(You know what the Soviets did to Nazi POWs after WWII? Think something along the lines of that.)

Originally Posted by jason taylor (Post 1518190)

Not bad....

Originally Posted by jason taylor (Post 1297690)

Trophy etiquette: The manners for dealing with battle trophies. Varies from place to place. In the Spinward Marches it is customary for officers swords and other such memorabilia to be ransomed by the vanquished units mess fund either at the cessation of hostilities or by cartel vessel. If the ransom is not forthcoming a trophy can wait for generations. Trophies are not normally mentioned in a peace treaty; it is up to the individual units to conduct negotiations for this, often by means of a corporation that specializes in such matters(the Ares corporation for instance is well known as a cartel broker and will do work for individuals and for units as well as for states). While it is common for a given state to subsidize the ransom of a trophy, it is often considered a matter of honor for units to handle negotiations themselves.

If a trophy is ransomed, often the victor will have a replica made to send to a military or naval museum in the place of the original. This will be marked with a heraldric stamp to show that the original was ransomed. During the return there is an elaborate system of ceremony to prevent the desecration of the redeemed trophy. If it is stolen or damaged in the process this is considered a disgrace to both parties. It is also considered a mark of philistinism even in the criminal world in some areas, at least according to rumor; while it is known for art thieves to attempt to steal ransomed war trophies, those that do lose respect even among their fellows. Cynics argue that this is just because it is impossible to fence such high-profile items. On the other hand it is not unknown for terrorists to make an attempt to disrupt the transfer for purposes of their own.

Accepted trophies can take a wide variety of forms. Traditional ones like swords and flags are often the most prized, however these are seldom taken into battle except in naval combat as such things are often to cumbersome for ground combat. Artillery pieces are valued as well, but they are also valued even more for their practical usefulness. Holographical representations of captured artillery pieces however are common. Other common items include plundered items from a government building or palace. Artwork is very often treated as a legitimate trophy of war when found in a captured ship, or a public building. Often times though, the conquerors will simply make a representation, especially if the artwork is easily damaged. Many cultures have a tradition of decorated weapons, sometimes including actual combat gear as well as the strictly ceremonial and these also are legitimate trophies of war. However the variety is remarkable, and some accepted forms of trophies are rather strange and even grotesque. Corpse mutilation is considered unchivalrous and unprofessional by most astralcracies in the Spinward Marches, but some places have a tradition of such, and even in civilized places one can find some rather odd trinkets if one looks hard enough. One regiment of Darrian Aslan has the skull of a Sword Worlder colonel as a flowerpot in it's officers mess; the more straitlaced Darrian humans and Aslan from other regiments think that rather distasteful but usually politely ignore it when invited as guests. Mercs, of course are often wilder about that sort of thing then government forces, but many mercs follow the accepted customs just as strictly as any standing military. If a trophy goes unransomed for long enough it might be captured by a third party. The record for this is the ceremonial throne of a Hertug that lived during the squabbling states era that was captured and recaptured eight successive times without once being ransomed. It is unremarkable artistically but according to legend it was made of cannibalized hull material from the Gram herself. Historians dispute that, but there is no doubt that it's history is interesting enough even if the legend is untrue. It is now sitting in the Imperial War Museum of Mora awaiting the conclusion of negotiations for ransom.

In the Imperial War Museum of Mora there is a large space dedicated to war trophies. Some of them are replications, either solid or holographic. Some are unransomed. The trophies are cataloged and sorted with a database telling when they were captured, what the significance of a given trophy is, and when, if ever, they were ransomed.

A war-trophy offers potential as a Macguffin with many possible adventures the most obvious being negotiating a delicate ransom, and carrying it back with due ceremony.

Originally Posted by jason taylor (Post 1532601)

And yes, St Joseph of Cupertino really is the Patron of Spacers.

Originally Posted by Catholic Encyclopaedia

Everything that in any way had reference to God or holy things would bring on an ecstatic state: the sound of a bell or of church music, the mention of the name of God or of the Blessed Virgin or of a saint, any event in the life of Christ, the sacred Passion, a holy picture, the thought of the glory in heaven, all would put Joseph into contemplation. Neither dragging him about, buffeting, piercing with needles, nor even burning his flesh with candles would have any effect on him — only the voice of his superior would make him obey. These conditions would occur at any time or place, especially at Mass or during Divine Service.

Originally Posted by Brett (Post 1532640)

Ouch!

I'm not sure I'd want him in the engine-room (or the control room) during a landing.