Comments on the Forgotten Faction

[Mr. Maddog]

I just wanted to say that The Forgotten Faction is the coolest SMAC story I ever read! It's so funny and yet it's something that can actually happen. Keep up the great work OldCodger

[OldCodger]

Maddog, I am glad you are enjoying the story. I'm finding that actually writing something like this is a bit more difficult to do than I originally thought it would be. However, I am having a lot of fun writing it.

If you thought the story was wierd or maybe a little crazy before, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

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Old age and treachery: the perfect cure for youth and ambition...

[Bearcat]

I like the story. It's getting really good. I especially liked the part with the Planet Cult.

[President Jakjon]

I've read up to chapter twelve, and I think it's the best yet! Often, the portrayal of the Morganites has been too positive- yours, well, isn't. However, the Usurpers seemed a tad cowardly. These are beings "engineered for combat" after all. However, in general, their aggression was good. (Hey, my portrayal of the Believers is a bit positivist so far.)
My story... I've been writing, but I haven't transferred my draft to here. Eventually I'll post more...

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--President Jakjon
--Datalinks

[Jasonian]

This is definitly an awesome story. My attention is divided between this one and your rival, the Wizard of Chiron. I can't decide!

It also appears I've made my only appearence in the story. Dang!

[Raging Mouse]

I must say, I thought this forum was getting abandoned, but hey! It's filling up with darn good stories! Had I a hat, it would be off to you, OldCodger.

[OldCodger]

Wow! I can't believe this comment thread is up to two pages! And filled with so many nice things!

A couple of brief comments:

First, the second "nod" to Babylon 5 has been posted. The description of Aki Zeta 5 as the fifth and final in the Aki Zeta series uses a description similar to that of the Babylon 5 space station.

Second, the character of Andrew Jasonian will be reappearing in the story line very soon. EdgeCrusher will also make another appearance or two. Both of these characters have somewhat pivotal roles in the remainder of the story. Gayle Storm and Paula Forbes are definitely in this for the long haul.

Third, all of the pieces are now in place to finish this tawdry little tale.

One of the things I've tried hard to do is to have each faction act in a manner that is fairly consistent with how they play in the game. For example, every time the Usurpers show up in a game I play, it seems like they always get to Doctrine: Air Power way before anyone else. Brother Lal is about as stable as water. But, I'm trying to give an even handed protrayal of their motivations as well. Each faction is capable of aiming for some "higher cause", yet each is capable of "baser" instincts as well. Thus, to me it is entirely consistent that Miriam might be concerned on the one hand with wrestling with the idea of having no moral right to subjugate the Hillbillies, wanting to convert them to save their souls, and yet wanting to subjugate them because of a very real threat to her own faction, and then also "happening to notice" that in accomplishing that goal, it would make hers the dominant faction. Similarly, Morgan sees the Usurpers as a very real threat--and they are, just ask the Hive and the Free Drones--and drawing the conclusion that what is good for the Morganites is also good for humanity on Chiron. Nevertheless, the Morganites are not warriors, so they will choose an approach more suited to their way of thinking. Similarly, what matters to the University and Believers will be different and therefore their approach will be different as well. The fact that all three approaches would "happen" to make that faction dominant is simply serendipity to them.

As far as the Usurpers are concerned, I don't think my portrayal of them is cowardly at all. There are "themes and patterns" in the way each faction behaves and what each leader does, that I don't really want to describe just now, but will once the story is completed. Suffice it to say that to me anyway, Conqueror Marr's behavior is very consistent. The Usurpers have conquered two human factions already. He knows how the leader of a conquered faction is treated. He knows that he has lost the best part of his military. He therefore sees himself as a giant target. What he thinks he knows about this situation indicates to him that he is clearly and most definitely beaten. The only question he needs to answer is how much blood does he want to shed before he is either destroyed or taken captive. I suppose suicide would be an option, but that would mean yielding victory to the hated Caretakers. So, from his point of view, his options are to either get his faction eradicated, or try to find another way to achieve victory. There would be no victory in death. This way, he still has a shot at something.

Obviously, everyone will have a somewhat different view of how the various factions "ought" to behave. That's quite all right. The key in writing about them is to have a clear view yourself and keep them consistent. This is one of the things I like in "The Wizard of Chiron"--which I am really enjoying and think is a particularly good piece of writing. Raging Mouse has a different view of Zhakarov than I do. My Zhakarov is a bit arrogant and short-tempered. The Zhakarov of Raging Mouse is much more even-tempered. His Cybernetic Consciousness is much "darker" than mine; I find them rather disturbing. But they are consistent and they have motives that I can understand and relate to in some way. I'm very anxious to see what he does with the other factions.

I hope to see some of the other stories resume as well. The Timescape story was getting interesting. Hydro's story was very well done and interesting. The Drone story was also getting very interesting. The key thing in all of these stories is the characters. Good stories need characters that are consistent--and inconsistent as well--and characters the reader can get to know and be concerned about. Put them in a set of challenging circumstances and weave a tale around them. Let them "do the right thing" and let them make mistakes. Let them choose the moral high ground and then be mean and petty. If this is accomplished, the reader will gladly follow them through trials and tribulations.

I guess it's time to get out of my pulpit. Writing for Sister Miriam somehow gives me a strong urge to preach .

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Old age and treachery: the perfect cure for youth and ambition...

[iMac722]

Its great I cant wait to see what will happen when the planet Cult comes to the hillbillies.

Oh and also I'm planning on making a "Forgotten Faction Scenario based on this story and I need to know where the factions would placed.

[OldCodger]

Just bumping this thread back up to more recent times.

Perhaps you will never look at Cha Dawn the same?

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Old age and treachery: the perfect cure for youth and ambition...

[Jasonian]

Oh yum... did you really have to have me eat those?

[Vi Vicdi]

I was kind of hoping Cha Dawn might seal the pact with a, um, "Diplomatic Marriage," what with the Hillbillies being so good at it and all

[Velociryx]

::whistling:: damn, I'm sorry I missed this! Moving to find the story now!....

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

::grin::

That was awesome!

-=Velmon O'Cyrix=-

[edgecrusher]

VEL!!!!! you're back! coolness.

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i've become impossible
holding on to when
when everything seemed to matter more
the two of us
all used and beaten up
watching fate as it flows down the path we
have chose

[Jasonian]

Geez... lurk low for a while, and you get me married to a cyborg! There are easier ways to flush people out, ya know.