Re: Mil vs. Civ

> > In Alarishi space, the Imperial Fleet requests that people
> > refrain from using Beam-3's or higher, or salvo missiles.
Some
> > people install them anyway.  Jack Old Ron is an example, but
he's
> > noted as being a little, um, emphatic about his privacy.
Anyway,
> > if you install them, you're listed as a navigational hazard.
>
> No Beam-3 or *higher*? The Alarishi government clearly doesn't
follow
> 'monopoly on force' the way most governments do - must be
interesting
> sometimes.
>
> I'd imagine that most governments would list you as more than a
> navigational hazard if you installed shipkiller weaponry on
your vessel or
> installation...

  Well, partly it's pragmatic--the AE is spread out over a lot of
planetoids so it's easier for each sovereignity to build its own
defenses than to have the Fleet try to cover everything.  "He who
defends everything, defends nothing."
  Mostly, though, it's philosophical. If the government is upset
by your ability to defend yourself, it may be because the
government doesn't want to be impeded if they decide to use force
on you.  The government may decide it's really necessary to use
force on its citizens, but it's a step taken a lot less casually
than by some modern governments.