Posted by Gamemaster GM (Gamemaster) in Away Team Two

Posted by Lieutenant Thomas McGregor (COS) in Away Team Two
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“By the time we are seven, we will decide on a trade. Our trades could be further divided into different aspects of the trade. For example, in farming, we could develop further skills for farming crops, or livestock; skills for food processing; winemaking, and so on. For most of us, that would be the trade we are in until we die. For some of us, we would have the opportunity to change trades. I am one of the examples. I picked the trade of farming when I was seven. When I was fourteen, I switched to teaching and later, at eighteen, I switched to healing. That is where I am today,” Shou said as he gave a grin.

GM

Hmmm. Maybe they were being a bit paranoid there over the Pallosian style of governance. Ultimately that was not their problem but that of the diplomats. He changed tack as they were leaving. “You had mentioned that you are working at reducing your world’s pollution. Are there facilities that you have set up with this or are they more habitual in everyday things? As an engineer I’m interested in the former, though know that everyday habits are important too.”
- Dagen, CE

“Actually,” said Shou, “there are a few families who are not happy with the present system. They run certain businesses and concerns that aren’t in line with the government. Whilst the government leaves them alone in the countryside, these families also run businesses in the city that are not exactly legal. The authorities are keeping close tabs on them but these families have wide networks. There are scuffles but generally, the cities are rather peaceful. These families are the ones who are resistant to reduce pollution. The legal battles are still going on between these families and the authorities. Whilst we generally obey the regulations regarding the use of energy, these families usually find loopholes to circumvent those regulations.”

GM

Reia knew that there would always be elements like that in ever society.

• Reia, CIO

‘Interesting,’ thought Thomas. “So are there families that try and get their way by pressuring children into government roles, so that they can be in charge of creating, or at least enforcing, the laws and regulations, and do so in a way that benefits their family’s interests?”

COS

Dagen walked along with the group. He was thinking about all of this. Often a government would create a certain narrative that, true or not, was held up as that. Any deviation from that were called rogue elements. Farmers did not seem to be a great threat to planetary pollution. Everyone found loopholes. Just ask the Ferengi. Thomas’ question was interesting. Special interest groups were always the hangers ones of the government and if one could get one in power that could sway decisions? Somehow he didn’t see the Pallasian government to be like that. They had a planetary government, if still new. They wielded considerable control and could technically make an irritation go away. But then he didn’t know exactly what the state of the Pallasian government was at beyond what they had shown them.
- Deeg, being quiet

Bump for GM

OOC: Sorry I missed this.

IC: “We have laws that pay close attention to the possibility of conflict of interest,” began Shou. “For example, the president cannot be related to any of the judiciary. The cabinet cannot have any two members that are related. If two members in the same cabinet get married, one of them would have to step down from office. The system is rather complicated: good but not perfect. Inter-ministerial relations are also covered. Failure of declaration for conflict of interests matters may disqualify members of that family from entering political elections, and so on.”

GM

“That does sound complicated actually. Is there any way I could get a document that outlines these rules? Now you have me very curious.” Reia commented.

• Reia, CIO

To Dagen this was simply an elitist way of not letting others get ahead in forming familial alliances. Interestingly their conflict of interests were around family grounds rather than other political or partisan associations. “How large is your Cabinet?” Dagen asked. It could not be that large if they were concerned about one added family member tipping any kind of scales of voting. Reia’s inquiry for a document was good. It would provide a lot more information than one could just ask about here. But then, as he thought of it, Shou didn’t quite answer the question. He said that one couldn’t get two family into high levels of government, but didn’t say that families couldn’t work to get their ‘person’ into the cabinet or government roles to sway how things went. There were always complications with governments. Where there were people with their own agendas and ideas there was complications.
- Dagen, CE

“Sure,” said Shou to Reia. “How do I transfer data to you? It is a internet address.”

Turning to Dagen, he said, “The Cabinet now is made up of 12 secretaries. However, we have had cabinets with different numbers of secretaries. Each Leader elected has his own agenda and thus, his own set of departments. However, there are the usual portfolios for education, health, law and so on.”

GM

Reia had a feeling she would enjoy reading this document and took out a tricorder.

“I can link this to a PaDD and read it from there.” she explained.

• Reia, CIO

Shou took out a personal communication device, not unlike the early smartphones of earth. He fiddled about with it and the tricorder showed that he was using a EM spectrum frequency, somewhere in the range of radio waves in the 21st century Earth. The tricorder was able to pick up the files up.

“You have something like our world’s phablet. Only ours is a lot thinner,” remarked Shou.

Reia smiled and thanked him for the document.

“I appreciate the efficient transfer of information. Honestly, I don’t know what we’d do without these things.” she said looking down at the PaDD and tricorder.

• Reia, CIO

Thomas stood back and reflected. Sounded fairly standard from a government perspective. Varying Cabinet size as a way to show patronage to your friends and those who helped you get your position, and/or to snub those who oppose you.

And the trade-learning system, though it seemed to start fairly early, was interesting, and there were clearly opportunities for both advancement and expanding your skillset, to the point where you could even start a career in a different field, so they weren’t a system where the state controlled everything, which was another plus. They gave a certain value to the kinds of freedoms shared by the Federation, and had things to offer in trade.

Now they just had to get to a point where they could get off planet and call in the diplomats without the wheels falling off…

Crap, he’d just guaranteed the wheels were going to fall off.

COS

Shou finally led them to where they met Yeeker waiting for them. Shou bowed profoundly to bid them farewell. “Excuse me, I will have to return to my duties,” he explained.

GM