Forging Ahead (GURPS Interstellar Wars/Celestial Forge)

[SemiSaneAuthor]

You know, what happens if a Feudal State, stuck to FTL Couriers with Slow FTL gets FTL Comms?

The Vilani Empire ... How likely would a full scale civil war be, if all those Feudal leaders below The Emperor declare they don't actually want to listen to him in real time? They were quite happy with how The Empire was ruled before that. And while people are saying, "If the Emperor declares Jump, then his citzens will already be jumping," that ... Well, The Vilani are biologically human, right? Humans don't work like that, and an Empire ruled by a far off and distant Emperor suddenly having The Emperor able to properly rule?

This does sound like the recipe for, "Civil War!" in my opinion, if thinking realistically.

 

[Jordisk]

You know, what happens if a Feudal State, stuck to FTL Couriers with Slow FTL gets FTL Comms?

The Vilani Empire ... How likely would a full scale civil war be, if all those Feudal leaders below The Emperor declare they don't actually want to listen to him in real time? They were quite happy with how The Empire was ruled before that. And while people are saying, "If the Emperor declares Jump, then his citzens will already be jumping," that ... Well, The Vilani are biologically human, right? Humans don't work like that, and an Empire ruled by a far off and distant Emperor suddenly having The Emperor able to properly rule?

This does sound like the recipe for, "Civil War!" in my opinion, if thinking realistically.

Click to shrink...

The way their society works, the Emperor can't even say jump. The Emperor is just the head of the council. IIRC, it is something like the Emperor can appoint most of the council, and serves for life. When the emperor dies, the council then votes one of its members into the position. Non-emperor-appointed positions include the heads of the military and such.

Looking it up, the council was made up of the Army Head, Navy Head, three appointees from each of the three major government bureaus, and four people appointed by the Emperor himself. The Emperor can only interact with the 15 council members, not anyone lower on the totem pole. Similarly, the five factions of the council each could only interact with each other through the Emperor and the Council. When the Emperor died, the Council promoted from within itself, while each group would select to replace their councilman.

 

[Blade4]

I dont think they would even comprehend revolting like that. The empire has been around thousands of years by extremely precise social engineering. Hyper conservative both biological and by culture. Deliberate rule by precedent because the government is designed so only the most important issues even have time to be addressed by leadership and the Shadow Emperor. Collectivism that exalts the group and their culture specifically as triumph that must be maintained and anything that harms the whole will see you deposed. Ambition is channeled to strive against each other for power but inside the system. Trying to leave is near inconceivable and they have a well funded police to root out anyone who would want it.

 

[Jordisk]

I dont think they would even comprehend revolting like that. The empire has been around thousands of years by extremely precise social engineering. Hyper conservative both biological and by culture. Deliberate rule by precedent because the government is designed so only the most important issues even have time to be addressed by leadership and the Shadow Emperor. Collectivism that exalts the group and their culture specifically as triumph that must be maintained and anything that harms the whole will see you deposed. Ambition is channeled to strive against each other for power but inside the system. Trying to leave is near inconceivable and they have a well funded police to root out anyone who would want it.

Click to shrink...

I mean, less police than Secret Police, but I agree.