CAPNRAHN'S BLOG

CapnRahn

Answer to the question:" Why Dragonfly?"
Saturday, February 7, 2004

I have been asked (in various ways):
"Why are doing a spin-off of Firefly concerning the Alliance, aren't they the bad guys?"

The end of that question aptly illustrates my VERY reason for 'going to another perspective'.

Mostly it comes down to 2 points:

1) Most do not know that I am a Gulf War vet. Now you do.

2)
Quote:
"There are more shades of gray than stars in the 'Verse" -Marovech Rahn-



Point One
The idea that a government or military could betray their service members is close to my heart.

Most folks don't know that RIGHT after the GW, a 'cost-saving' proposal was passed to 'roll-out' 500,000 service members from EACH service. No matter the experance, skills or loyalty of the member. If there was a way -- roll 'em out.

So they did. Even offering soon-to-be-retirees a lump sum instead of their monthly (until death) retirement pay. Lump sums look good on paper, but dosen't come near what the retiree would get (then at 45% of exiting pay) if they lived for more than 8 or so years after they left the service. Don't invest smart, you end up working at Meijers as a 60 year old 'greeter' -- with nothing but social security and you retail store check for you to try to survive on. The 'help' seminars were just set dressing ... most of the investments they suggested were ... unhelpful.

Good, the 'government' is saving money -- right? Nope - the money 'saved' went elsewhere, most notably into the pockets of congress-members -- remember the 50% raise they gave themselves in '91/'92?

I am not here to debate this, I lived it. This is information about my reasons for doing Dragonfly, only. Savvy?

OK, now you know the barest minim, there many other reasons for my feelings concerning 'betrayal'.

Point Two
I feel that lumping EVERYONE exists/lives/participates in a system, government, corporation, religion or just plain fan group - into a bigoted pile, is wrong.

There is another story to be told here in the Firefly 'Verse. I am going to attempt to do so, with the help of the players/actors in the proposed RP.

Quick Synopsis of Dragonfly
During the Battle of Serenity Valley a group of intelligent and loyal Alliance elite military engineers {A.P.E.s} come across information that shows that the Alliance faked several incidents to precipitate a war with the Independents.

The Commodore in charge gets wind of this and insures the group is persecuted in various manners that cannot, or will not, be questioned {see point one for the tiny basis for this}.

Before the Commodore's plan can move to completion, the APEs decide to resign/break-out/accept-forced-retierment and attempt to right the wrong that they helped to perpetrate. They disappear to the mid/rim worlds. To one planet in particular - Arcade' {r K dee a}

They build a ship out of scrapped vessels (most notably Firefly class) while on this Alliance junk yard/trash-dump planet.

Arcade' was once a garden-world, one of the 'breadbasket' planets of the Alliance. It's biosphere was all but destroyed in one of the falsified incidents nearly 10 years before the incidents shown in Firefly. It is now a junk yard/trash dump planet.

The APEs spend 5 years building a ship. One they can utilize to fulfill their reasons for being in the military in the first place -- help and protect the citizens, regardless of their affiliation.

However, the loss of faith in the APEs ex-superiors has made a mark. One visible example is the name of the vessel they build - Justiciar.
{jus tish E air : to and of the dispensation and administration of justice.}

Well, there ya go... I hope that answers the question!

Shades of gray ...

COMMENTS

Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:06 PM

TEELABROWN


BTW, like the Outrider.

There's a such thing as too many $25 words? Man, what planet have I been on?

Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:05 PM

TEELABROWN


I can just imagine...

An angry mob gathers outside your house...and they start yelling "TO THE STOCKADES FOR TOO MANY $25 WORDS!"...and they drag you out of your house...

My what a funny scene...

Monday, February 9, 2004 9:03 PM

CAPNRAHN


Thanks Static!
Have ya seen the Outrider?

My Firefly verson of the FAC OV-10 well ... sorta...

Monday, February 9, 2004 9:02 PM

CAPNRAHN


LOL, certainly not you Teela ... general public may want to shoot me.

At least toss rotten fruits, veggies and an occasional table, at me.

'Member,I use "too many $25 words".

Monday, February 9, 2004 4:17 PM

TEELABROWN


Why'd I kill you for an acronym?

Monday, February 9, 2004 4:17 PM

TEELABROWN


Thanks Capn, didn't see this post, but another.

Monday, February 9, 2004 4:15 PM

TEELABROWN


Well, got the got the acronym.

Monday, February 9, 2004 7:09 AM

STATIC


I saw your designs for the "Dragonfly", and was impressed. Before I read about how they cobbled together their own craft, mostly out of Firefly parts, I was going to offer to design a combat craft for you, but I guess that wouldn't be necessary now. Still. . .as a soldier fighting in Afghanistan currently, I know exactly what you're talking about. You got MY support!

Sunday, February 8, 2004 10:38 PM

DRAGONFLYDIRECTOR


Bleah ... yor gonna KILL me for the acyronym ...

I liked the CO Lt. Razak calling his troops 'apes' so much, from the CGI show called "Roughnecks:Starship Trooper Chronicles", I had to ... ahem... borrow it.

So get yer guns and get ready to shoot me...

Just keep in mind the Alliance seems to like their wordy labels and titles!

A.P.E.s = Alliance Protean Engineers

StJ {he is playing in DF} jokingly asked the APEs made protein ... had to laugh!
Chuckling aside, I figgered I better define Protean a'for I get shot!

Protean {pro tee ann}
1)Readily able to take on varied forms or shapes - 2)exibiting considerable variety or diversty.
synonyms: adaptable, flexable or multifaceted.

Sunday, February 8, 2004 10:34 AM

TEELABROWN


Thanks for the info, Capn!

Note: I'm not quite getting the acronym...but I'll worry about that later.

Saturday, February 7, 2004 9:00 PM

VENA


That sounds like a fantastic idea. I am not only truly impresed by how much thought you have put into this, but I am moved by the fantastic angle you taking.

The 'Verse is nothing but angles and to make it lovily you only need see it from the right one.


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