Military Democracy

[Petitioner]

//This is an experimental approach to roleplaying. I have a long-running ship, the INS-Klaxon (formerly LNS), and I want to continue its story even after the demise of the Insurgency. I have decided to give the community input into its storyline direction in a way that makes sense and is in-character for the captain, Cmdr. Augustus Howe, to pursue. This thread will occasionally pose certain issues as multiple-choice questions, and anyone is welcome to post as a member of the Klaxon's crew and vote according to the system laid out. Please do not participate maliciously or with simple +1s for certain options, but rather post and vote in a thought-out manner, as an actual member of the crew who has fought and suffered as a soldier and has a role to play on the ship. I will request moderation of posts that do not follow these guidelines.

Battleship Klaxon - Situation Report
08/09/830 AS

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The Ohio and its battlegroup are closing in on Veracruz. The Insurgent Navy is in tatters. Standing orders from Central Command are for units unable or unwilling to throw their lives away in a heroic last stand to disperse via Kansas, Cortez, or Texas; either to carry on the fight in the Independent Worlds however they can, or to abandon their equipment and slip into the shadows.

The Klaxon, from its position at the edge of the Guerrero field, has a birds-eye view of the carnage unfolding, with the last remaining Arbiters, Judicators, and Archer strike groups collapsing by the day as Liberty's search-and-destroy wings pick them off before they can even assemble into a coherent defense line. Every watt of power coursing through the nigh-decrepit Monument-class's circuitry, at present, is devoted either to life support or its overcharged sensor arrays; as far as Insurgent assets operating anywhere besides Leniex know, the Klaxon went dark weeks ago.

In all respects, the situation seems utterly hopeless. Commander Augustus Howe, who's been at the helm for a long and trying eight-plus years, has a hard time feeling anything besides regret over the entire affair; after all, not only did the Klaxon help enforce martial law in Texas during the Nomad War, the Insurgent Navy deposed the Commonwealth's civilian government and betrayed Liberty's ancient values once again in imposing military rule over the population of Veracruz.

"Never again", he vows. He leaves the captain's quarters, decorated with various medals issued from centers as diverse as West Point and Marshall, and enters the bridge. Howe ignores the inquiring glances of his command staff and a wandering atmospheric technician, approaches the command desk, and toggles the microphone on, leaning down to send a message to every single room, lobby, hall, and supply closet on the ship:


"All non-essential personnel, report to mess hall. Atmospheric technicians are advised to set regulators to auto. As many hands as possible are to find a seat or place to stand and await further instructions. Over and out."