ST, TA, and Dune

[pendell]

So, just finished the mission where you follow a rogue trader into an artifact dig site.   He escapes, having stolen an artifact and butchered his entire crew, then blows the elevator trapping our Templar squad behind. He goes to the surface with his new minions, overpowers the Templar ship there, and escapes. Our heroes are marooned on the planet until ANOTHER explorer shows up, at which point they pirate -- excuse me, commandeer -- his ship, presumably executing the explorer and his crew, and return to base.  

Thing is, in Star Traders Explorer is a respectable job. While trading in artifacts requires a license, and being caught with them without a license will result in their confiscation, it rarely results in the death penalty unless the faction who has caught you already hates you for other reasons.   Something about decorating every sector in the quadrant with the wreckage of Steel Song ships seems to offend them, for some reason.  

You don't ever encounter the Templars as adversaries in Star Traders. You can even sign them on as members of your crew, and go alien-squishing together.  

May I ask why this is? Do Templars recognize Faction licenses to trade in and explore for artifacts and electronics?  Are there anger at rogue traders confined  to, say, independents who murder their own crews?   If not, why are they neutral-to-friendly to explorers and merchants in ST but seem to be utter death on them in Templar assault?

Also, what is the Dark Age? Are those human ruins from a time before Shalun? Or extraterrestrial? Or both? 

Also, just an observation: The Templar ships we encoounter in the ST universe are RUBBISH compared to, say a Spear Cutter or some of the dreadnaughts.  If the Templars are supposed to be the only protection of humanity against outside threats, why do they have mediocre ships compared to the factions and even compared to Independents?



Also, I saw it mentioned that -- Cory, was it? -- is a huge Dune nerd. That was an awesome book. If you've got anything to say on how the book influenced your work, or anything ELSE about Dune, I'd love to read it. Does the Galactic War in ST correspond to the Butlerian Jihad, for example?



Respectfully,



Brian P.  

[fallen]

Here is another thread going on about the subject - startradersrpg.proboards.com/thread/7768/comprehensive-history-quadrant

[pendell]

Thanks,

At any rate, my question has been answered. A subsequent mention commented that "Only the most heroic captains will transport artifacts. A trade permit is required to transport or sell artifacts".

So the Templars DO recognize faction trade permits. Interesting. I would have thought ALL artifact smuggling would have been banned, and to be licensed by a faction meant that the faction was licensing you to conduct 'black' operations on their behalf, in contravention of Shalun Law. So you would have been in danger from Xenos, the other factions, AND the templars.

After all, it makes perfect sense for the factions to loudly proclaim their loyalty to Shalun law while scrambling for every advantage they could get through artifacts.

But evidently it doesn't work that way.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[fallen]

There is a good deal of tension between the Templars (mostly gone from the Quadrant) the and Faction leadership on this subject and others.