Tribute to Traveller

Above the world of Inarl, within the Third Imperium, numerous ships leave for destinations anew; most are free traders looking for means to earn a living like selling goods or transporting cargo and ferrying passengers; others are mercenaries and smugglers looking for the swift big paycheque and adventure; some pursue nobler and safer ventures like escort and interdiction, whilst others look for aggression.

However there is one ship among this lot that is the exception.

Aboard a Frontier TJ Transport, the vessel is carrying passengers and goods to a known destination with the correct details and has no real cause for concern; had it known of the stowaway aboard, that cause would become blind panic.

Trained by the best to become undetectable, hiding in the hold hoping that discovery will not be the case on this voyage is the second most wanted individual in the Third Imperium: one Naval Intelligence Sub-Lieutenant, Trace Windhook.

As he sat there he contemplated his thoughts; had someone told him a year ago that he would be involved in the fall of the Third Imperium he would have called the person a variety of mocking terms.

Now if anyone said “you will make it” he’d believe them.

At least he had the chance to put his side of the story at one of Inarl’s Computer Information Agencies; and the fact many hated Lucan, has given him hope.

All he now has to do is stay alive long enough to see justice come to pass…

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This is a depiction of a number of vessels that belong to the Traveller – or Megatraveller - Universe.

It is also MY FAVOURITE science fiction story - ever.

Of all the franchises I have ever known, grew up with, watched, and encountered, there are few I can take or leave; Traveller is the exception – it to me is the best
Science Fiction franchise/universe/story I have ever come across in my life.

There are those who will say Star Trek is, or Star Wars, hell even Star Gate. Like I said there are those I will sit and watch, debate about, and even enjoy; but on a heartfelt personal level, Traveller is that to me.

There will be clowns who will try and dismay my passion for this, by pointing out “poor writing” or “similar to so-and-so”; to them I say nothing will ever change my mind.

Nothing.
No doubt there are those who wonder a few questions on this not-so well heard of universe, and more why am I so passionate about it. Okay I will answer them as best as I can.


So what is Traveller about?

To those who are unfamiliar, Traveller was a Role Playing Game that appeared during the 1980’s. It was set in an era known as the Third Imperium, a sort of royalty ruled federation. The creator of this franchise described it as a “Dungeons and Dragons set in space.”
I would more compare Traveller as thus – think Star Wars without the Force, Jedi Knights, the Sith, silly planet killing space stations, and no sign of George Lucas; or Star Trek without the pomposity, smugness, schmaltz, and its magical technology.

Traveller is set in a distant future where humanity was ruled by the said Third Imperium; something akin to Rome in space. It has ruled mankind for over a thousand years. It was founded and driven by strength, vitality, and ambition; to explore, to advance, and to prosper.

However, after a thousand years, the strength and vitality had died – only ambition remained – and alas that was to be channelled inwards in a way no one expected.

Like with any Imperium, it is ruled by an Emperor or Empress; in this case Emperor Strephon. Strephon is assassinated by a close friend called Archduke Dulinor Astrin Ilethian.

Dulinor claims the title of Emperor by assassination. By eliminating any heirs and his guards seizing the palace, in theory Dulinor would be ruler of the Third Imperium.

His motive is not out of revenge or power but to give all a chance – welfare, equality, sharing benefits to worlds – not the space between worlds; I suppose think ‘socialism’.

This is also a fine example of some of the most diabolical things ever done in the name of good intentions.

What I love is how this plan goes to pot and things take a turn for the unbelievable. Instead of his dream coming to pass, it goes belly up when not one but two things fail; an accident discovers the set up during mid-flow, and the attempt to murder two of the heirs fails, leaving one alive.

This forces Dulinor to flee.

In theory it should end there but thanks to the brilliant writing of Marc. W. Miller, this is just the beginning of things spiralling out of control. The heir, one Lucan Martin III Alkhalikoi is a spoilt brat of a leader who becomes so authoritarian that he does not care how the defeat of Dulinor is achieved, as long as it’s achieved; failure or a lack of commitment means the loss of everything one has worked for.

Think ultimate asshole boss threatening you with your job, pension, and bonuses. I suppose an aggressive form of capitalism.

Again in that brilliant twist, Dulinor is no weakling and has set up a formidable defence against Lucan. Lucan needs fleets and ships to crush Dulinor, alas many sectors refuse because the loss of fleets makes them exposed to their own hostile threats. As a result, the Third Imperium shatters.


So why am I so passionate about Traveller?

To answer this, one has to have experienced the 1980s, especially being a teenager leaving school at that time; I left my school with shit exam results, no hope, no chance, and feeling angry with the world. I was let down by people we “should respect” because they were our elders – yeah, right.

To take my mind off the dread of my teenage life of nowhere going fast, I delved into sci-fi; alas sci-fi was rather scarce in that era – we may have had Dr Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, Blake’s Seven, Space 1999, and other famous brands, but these were repeats; we had seldom anything new.

To find my fix I went to the only RPG shop there was and loved browsing through the books there – much to the resentment of the sellers. It is here that I found the world of FASA’s Star Trek and Battletech; and also Traveller.

I love Traveller because it offered a universe based on common sense – no gimmicks, no flash ideas, or anything pseudo. It is a complicated universe which has NO clear choice, NO heroic side like say Star Fleet or the Rebel Alliance; NO easy fix, NO “sinister forces” mind controlling the state of play, and a universe that makes sense; it is a place that has solid foundations for storytelling, adventure, and expansion.

The factions involved in the dying Imperium are sensible with clever, ingenious yet lucid ideologies; the aliens are truly alien, and there is no winner.

However, the most important factor about Traveller/Rebellion is that it’s that rare gem, that precious stone of what Science fiction and storytelling should be – that it makes you THINK for yourself – it’s an eye-opener. To me, the book revealed and put in deliciously lucid terms why governments work, why they are what they are, and why we should question them; even more is the fact that there is no favouritism, no bias, no single solution – and these things makes Traveller a joy to me.

I always measure every science fiction show and story ever made by Traveller standards and the only one that has come close was partly Blake’s Seven; but B5, DS9, new BSG and such do not even skim the skin let alone cut the mustard.

This is why I am so cold to most sci-fis because I have read something so excellent.
If anyone stumbles on its sourcebook, read and judge it for yourself; to some it may not come as rewarding, to others you may be like me; make up your own mind, but whatever the case, I enjoy Traveller better than any other sci-fi arc that exist. In fact I will probably do more Traveller art in the future,

I learn also to my utter joy that and worked on this fabulous story’s artwork – please check them out – they are phenomenally talented people. It’s like meeting pioneers – that is the best way to describe it.

On a final note the writer of Traveller/Rebellion - to Marc W. Miller – wherever you are, you have a fan here (not a nutjob), thank you for educating me in the truth about those who rule and why life is such.

Enjoy – I did