BlackRider (Needs No Introduction; confirmed ID)
Posted on April 21st, 2025
So nice to see that people's opinions of me never change.
Regarding my say on the matter of what to do about Asmodeus and Profeta... Keep in mind I'm only one voice here. We are still a democracy, people, and I only control one operation in the grand scheme of things. My vote doesn't hold any more sway than anyone else's.
Though Mamabear does raise a cogent point that I'm willing to concede to - if Asmodeus can pull something out of his ass, then I'd be willing to call for us to ameliorate his sentence.
To The All Seeing Eye, let me assure you: as someone who has received classified orders and issued them as well, it's a lot more complicated than just "Don't fuck up." And while we try to be as transparent as possible in everything we do, there are limits to what that transparency can entail given the critical importance of operational security. There is a such thing as 'Too much of a good thing'. I dare you to try and do what I do on a daily basis (successfully, I might add) and -not- keep someone in the dark about what's going on.
And also, there's only so much you can plan for. That's why orders like this -do- have -some- leeway. WE EXPECT OUR OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE JUDGEMENT CALLS. For example, Haruhi is a good strategian, no doubt. Under her leadership we managed reasonably well, especially considering that not terribly many of us had any actual military command experience. But when you're the boots on the ground and Murphy's Law is lurking around the corner like ten-thousand live rounds, all of them labeled 'To Whom It May Concern'.... Well, you definitely want someone like Jet in the mix. She's well experienced at handling outside context problems. Problems very much like why her very own brother got killed while doing something that can't even be qualified as a milk run in what is widely known as safe territory. (And really, that is what pissed me off the most about this whole thing.)
You can't plan for that shit, but Jet is exactly the person that can handle it. Why do you think I had her as an instructor at one point in time?
As for me being a Texan... Really, you make that sound like such a horrible thing. You forget so quickly that we make for good neighbors and wonderful hosts. We're the sort of people that if a tree falls on your house, we show up with chainsaws and tackle to remove it, and tarps and plywood to cover the holes in your roof until you can get it repaired.
You see, we're not just about beating up the bad guys. Most of the distress signals we respond to are usually some variation on near-relativistic impacts. Usually on domes. I made the Outlaw-class a thing because we needed something that could be quickly mobilized and get straight to work the very moment it arrives on-site.
All this said, I wouldn't be surprised if Jet did decide to simply retire - and to pack up her toys and take them home with her. Which would be a damn shame, given that they've built some of my favorite toys. And all because you folks are a bit squeamish at some of the things she's done.
You guys want a conspiracy? I got one for you. We, the SMOFs, are all conspiring so you guys can live a life of freedom and opportunity without fear of what lurks behind every rock in space. We do this not for our own personal gain, but because we helped build good things out here, and we want people to continue to come up from Earth and live a good life out here. Yeah, there's your conspiracy. Have fun with that one.
Posted on April 21st, 2025
So nice to see that people's opinions of me never change.
Regarding my say on the matter of what to do about Asmodeus and Profeta... Keep in mind I'm only one voice here. We are still a democracy, people, and I only control one operation in the grand scheme of things. My vote doesn't hold any more sway than anyone else's.
Though Mamabear does raise a cogent point that I'm willing to concede to - if Asmodeus can pull something out of his ass, then I'd be willing to call for us to ameliorate his sentence.
To The All Seeing Eye, let me assure you: as someone who has received classified orders and issued them as well, it's a lot more complicated than just "Don't fuck up." And while we try to be as transparent as possible in everything we do, there are limits to what that transparency can entail given the critical importance of operational security. There is a such thing as 'Too much of a good thing'. I dare you to try and do what I do on a daily basis (successfully, I might add) and -not- keep someone in the dark about what's going on.
And also, there's only so much you can plan for. That's why orders like this -do- have -some- leeway. WE EXPECT OUR OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE JUDGEMENT CALLS. For example, Haruhi is a good strategian, no doubt. Under her leadership we managed reasonably well, especially considering that not terribly many of us had any actual military command experience. But when you're the boots on the ground and Murphy's Law is lurking around the corner like ten-thousand live rounds, all of them labeled 'To Whom It May Concern'.... Well, you definitely want someone like Jet in the mix. She's well experienced at handling outside context problems. Problems very much like why her very own brother got killed while doing something that can't even be qualified as a milk run in what is widely known as safe territory. (And really, that is what pissed me off the most about this whole thing.)
You can't plan for that shit, but Jet is exactly the person that can handle it. Why do you think I had her as an instructor at one point in time?
As for me being a Texan... Really, you make that sound like such a horrible thing. You forget so quickly that we make for good neighbors and wonderful hosts. We're the sort of people that if a tree falls on your house, we show up with chainsaws and tackle to remove it, and tarps and plywood to cover the holes in your roof until you can get it repaired.
You see, we're not just about beating up the bad guys. Most of the distress signals we respond to are usually some variation on near-relativistic impacts. Usually on domes. I made the Outlaw-class a thing because we needed something that could be quickly mobilized and get straight to work the very moment it arrives on-site.
All this said, I wouldn't be surprised if Jet did decide to simply retire - and to pack up her toys and take them home with her. Which would be a damn shame, given that they've built some of my favorite toys. And all because you folks are a bit squeamish at some of the things she's done.
You guys want a conspiracy? I got one for you. We, the SMOFs, are all conspiring so you guys can live a life of freedom and opportunity without fear of what lurks behind every rock in space. We do this not for our own personal gain, but because we helped build good things out here, and we want people to continue to come up from Earth and live a good life out here. Yeah, there's your conspiracy. Have fun with that one.