Re: Kra'Vak, inclinations of (LONG)

John Atkinson writes:

[Could Kra'Vak...]
>A)Be bribed into attacking one particular group of humans vis another? 

>(And if so, how?  I don't see aliens being particularly tempted by 
>small flat pieces of Element 79 stamped with the image of political 
>leaders)
>B)Hire on as mercenaries for Hoo'Mans.

     Considering what I have read so far - some notes in the FT games, a
little fanfiction on webistes, there may or may not be a great,
over-weening
KV (Kra'Vak) gov't.  They seem to be oriented in family/clan groups,
some
quite large, and somewhat matriarchal.	I think that after the First
Contact
is finally settled (a few wars fought, systems exchanged, etc., KV &
Human
could work together, as long as mutual differences are observed.  Humans
may
fight for cash money, glory or duty, but KV may be very different. 
Territory?
Resources?  Their economy is not very well defined yet, and may be very
similar, or very different.  
     Maybe the leader-types come to a decision on what to do, and all of
the
KV in that clan work towards that end.	Money is not a concept, because
some
work to feed others, make ships, whatever.  Labor is allocated as needed
by a
particular endeavor.  The more labor the better.  Slaves are desirable.
Leaders may be judged on how they provide for their family members.  If
you
don't wnat to follow the leaders orders, tough.  Leave, find a new clan,
whatever.  A Leader is checked by enough followers saying 'Bye!' that
very
unpopular leaders have no-one to order around.	Families/Clans may be
absorbed
by others, or new alignments may surface out of older organizations. 
Barter
might exist between clans.  Espionage would be very important.	Humans
could
contact the Leader(s), and offer them something they need in return for
services of the Clan.
     I tend to like this view of them, because an evil alien empire
seems so,
well, cliche.  Maybe the Humans have run into one powerful Clan, or a
Clan
alliance.  I also don't like to project Human assumptions onto aliens,
especially psychological (which economics is, in the end; 'What do you
want?'
(said Mr. Morden)).  
     This would also make them interesting in battle - they start losing
too
many troopers/tanks/ships, they start changing leaders, and maybe
confidence
states.  Probably more than one KV Clan war has dissolved into
splintered
internecine squabbling, as the various groups decide to settle
differences by
force of arms...the one who wins, obviously can provide the best, so
they pick
up more followers who want to become family members.  KV probably
believe in
luck very strongly, as a personal trait.  Strong leaders do their best
to
minimize it.  Who wants to be replaced because of bad die rolls?
     KV military organization would be all over the place.  Every unit
is a
'kampfgruppe'.	They would be quite familiar with the military principle
of
economy of force.  Intelligence gathering would also very important.  To
properly choose 'enough to get the job done', they would have to know
what
they are up against.  KV may be naturally cautious, prefering not to
risk
resources and family members on a unsure venture that may not work.  The
concepts of entrepeneurism (sp?), forlorn hopes, and other treasured
Human
concepts may be competely, well, alien to the KV.  Such caution has made
them
build good ships, have excellent equipment, and train competent, yet
cautious
soldiers.  Flexibility may be key to their doctrine.  With proper C3I
equipment, a commander (+ staff) might be able to command nearly any
group of
soldiers.  KV may be able to reorganize into different size units very
quickly.  They may also be more susceptible to EW attacks.
     OK, I realize now that I'm way off the original questions; sorry.
A) Humans could probably exchange something for KV attacks on other
Humans -
to them, it would be a Clan war with proxies - nothing new.
B) KV would probably need to have a better long-term prospect than cash
to
fight for Humans as mercs - but it could still happen.

Noah V. Doyle