ISO: Canon Imperial NGO's from the CT era

[Liam Devlin]

My next quest "in search of" (ISO) for the pursuance of a writing project for this game is that of the Imperium based Non-Governmetal Organizations (NGO's) with which one might encounter as a patron to look into a "serious matter" about, but not from the usual side of the table many campaigns see use of.

NGO's specifically like...

:arrow: Charities, (ones popular with the Nobility, e.g. or any other Dilettante career class character)

:arrow: Humanitarian Groups, (Imperial watchdog groups looking at Human rights Violations, genocide, Nuclear proliferation, etc)

:arrow: Faith-based NGO's (Imperial anagrams of the Red Cross/ Red Crescent), especially those that serve during wartimes, might have the chance to own a few Hospice-Mercy class Hospital vessels and the like (Traders & Gunboats)

I look forward to your help, and thank you for all you've done so far!

 

[steelbrok]

I did a write up of the the future Red Cross/Red Crescent (as the "Red Diamonds") that was published in SJ Games JTAS a few years ago. Not sure how it stands now regarding canon or rights to re-use

 

[RichardP]

Pan galactic friends of life from CT Adv 9 nomads

Cheers
Richard

 

[RichardP]

Don't forget TAS, TNS and ENS (expanses news service). They are certainly not govt and may have charitable status.

Cheers
Richard

 

[RichardP]

How about:

AAB (the vilani library people), v
argr church of the chosen ones (for worlds on the border with new vargr refugees),
Disciples of the bright way see MGT library data,
The octagon society from twilights peak - now defunct,
the vilani supremicist group the Rachele society,
Rhylanor Taioseach (see MGT library data)

Cheers
Richard

 

[Liam Devlin]

I did a write up of the the future Red Cross/Red Crescent (as the "Red Diamonds") that was published in SJ Games JTAS a few years ago. Not sure how it stands now regarding canon or rights to re-use

I was toying with that name myself recently, but the "Interstellar Red Star" (IRS) has other connotations not associated with the initials that would be distracting the to the players. (Okay, an amusing to an OMG groan from those seeing it as a play on Internal Revenue Service anyways).
:twisted:

Possibly better put as the "Galactic" or "Panstellar Red Star" (GRS/ PRS), if I wish to give it an across the borders appeal (Like the Doctors Without Borders" group of RL/RW).

In the absence of canon rights however, one can write a lot oneself in the 'creation aspect' that adds to the fabric of the game I have learned since 2001.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Pan galactic friends of life from CT Adv 9 nomads

Cheers
Richard

Your Traveller-Fu is stronger than mine in this instance, Richard! 8) Can you give me any details. Apparently they're so obscure even Traveller Wiki hasn't caught on to them...

 

[Liam Devlin]

Don't forget TAS, TNS and ENS (expanses news service). They are certainly not govt and may have charitable status.

Cheers
Richard

Yes, they definitely are all NGOs--

TAS of course is perhaps the more famous of the three;
Although TNS & ENS are 4th estate News outlets, much Public Broadcasting. Good catch Richard!

TAS is known to be privately owned & operated, and of course has patented the phrase "membership has benefits" with a High PSG ticket available/ month to members. Definitely a group that promotes safe travel to A & B-class port worlds. Probably backs several charities I am supposing.

Not sure if there is a relationship between TAS & TNS /ENS though I can see them hand in hand on many levels.

 

[rust]

Possibly better put as the "Galactic" or "Panstellar Red Star" (GRS/ PRS), if I wish to give it an across the borders appeal (Like the Doctors Without Borders" group of RL/RW).

This would be a bit of an anachronism. Since 14 January 2007, when the
third additional protocol to the Geneva Conventions entered into force,
the internationally recognized neutral (= non-religious) symbol is the Red
Crystal, also known as Red Diamond.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Possibly better put as the "Galactic" or "Panstellar Red Star" (GRS/ PRS), if I wish to give it an across the borders appeal (Like the Doctors Without Borders" group of RL/RW).

This would be a bit of an anachronism. Since 14 January 2007, when the
third additional protocol to the Geneva Conventions entered into force,
the internationally recognized neutral (= non-religious) symbol is the Red
Crystal, also known as Red Diamond.

Herr Rust,

I DO live in a cave! :lol: Thank you my friend, I really should read more often!

Red Diamond it is...Thank you once again!

 

[Liam Devlin]

How about:

AAB (the vilani library people)

Definitely an NGO, though they tend to be more educational-based. Still, they have many learned patrons though their funding comes from their sales of the Encyclopedia. Widespread, and omnipresent on many Imperial worlds--yep, a keeper! 8)

I can see them wanting to preserve schools & personnel and such on war torn/ disaster stricken worlds...yes, they'd be a subtle player at the NGO table, but one with a long reach and purse!

Vargr Church of the Chosen Ones (for worlds on the border with new vargr refugees),

Almost as splintered a faith as the CoSD. Hmmm. Most of thier aims would be directed at the poor downtrodden, sufering among the Vargr of course... Forgot about them, but again--Good catch mate 8)

Disciples of the Bright Way see MGT library data,

Yeah, definitely an NGO, but probably in the CT-era reduced to cult-status as a church. They do a lot of fundraising between going off and "speaking to god's face in Jump", might even have shell charities in some conservative worlds that dimly view taking taking drugs and going on trips with the windows open while in jump transit...

The octagon society from twilights peak - now defunct,

Hmmm... might could use them as a model for an NGO...

the vilani supremicist group the Rachele society,

Well true, but these were a "Secret Society" NGO. Not that they couldn't have members in other more legitimate ones of course.... :twisted:

Rhylanor Taioseach (see MGT library data)

I only have the CT-Library books, so I see I must to DTRPG go once more... :roll: 8) Time to update my sources!

 

[Rick]

Just thinking of a couple of other examples that you could use:

- Political pressure groups - groups set up to either change particular laws for their own gain (either financial or for what they think is the common good) or to highlight some specific injustice, might have a lot of contacts in high political circles.

- Corporate foundations. Set up as a 'tax break' by a corporation for research, good works, etc. Strong links to a corporation/business and might actually do some good occasionally.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Those who read these boards,

I was thinking also of the many Charitable Foundations for disasters tend to be rather fluid and short-lived (like the nature of the disaster they form/ pool monies to go render aide for). Many take on the name of the disaster/ war zone.

Other Charitable NGO's I've pondered and ones that should be included-- universities.

Now, if we say there is a NGO "umbrella-group" like the Galactic/Panstellar/ Interstellar Red Diamond in existence for multiple faiths and other Secular NGO's like "Doctors without Planets", this does not take away from those widespread, popular Faith-based groups that undertake these things as part of their mission in life already.

Churches like the Stellar Divinity (CoSD)...
and any anagram of any Terran faith brought into Known Space that renders to the poor, sick, and needy.

Now we look at the examples of the type C & D governments that are Theocracies in Canon nearby--

In the Marches:

Pysadi/ Aramis 0608 C4766D7-4--Imperial/ Planet is their goddess
Jokotre/Mora 0604 B6548D9-7--Imperial/ ???
Pavabid/D-268 0408 C6678D8-6--Non-Aligned/ Heretical sect of CoSD
Dodds/ Trins Veil 0309 C4439DE-7--Imperial/ ???

In the Trojan Reaches:

Tlazolteotl/ Dpres 0604 D5409CD-7--Non-Aligned/ Aztec Terran variant, Barbaric
Scaladon/ Tobia 0206 AAD98DK-A--Imperial/The Chosen, Monothesitic, Harsh.
Simok/ Tobia 0703 DAA08CC-5--Imperial/ Pharoah-God Kings
Goertel/Goertel B6688DC-6--Non-Aligned/ The Church of Nom, Psionic Cult.

Deneb Sector:

Deneb/ Usani 0305 B537ADD-C--Imperial/
Endup/ Gulf 0406 D6939DG-9--Imperial


The Reft Sector:

Lintl/ Vestus (Reft 0503) B739ADE-F--Imperial/ A trancendental unity of sophonts equals God.

Obviously these religions are primarily focused on their own worlds, and not out proselytizing new members elsewhere, or sending out relief ships, etc... with maybe the exception of the Faith on Deneb.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Just thinking of a couple of other examples that you could use:

- Political pressure groups - groups set up to either change particular laws for their own gain (either financial or for what they think is the common good) or to highlight some specific injustice, might have a lot of contacts in high political circles.

- Corporate foundations. Set up as a 'tax break' by a corporation for research, good works, etc. Strong links to a corporation/business and might actually do some good occasionally.

I can think of two off the top of my head in Vilis subsector advocating for planetary unity, and another acting as a watchdog over "occupational abuses of power" vs. the native population. Good work, Rick!

 

[rust]

Other Charitable NGO's I've pondered and ones that should be included-- universities.

Yep, in previous versions of Traveller the Lab Ship mustering out benefit
for scientists was a research grant, and there have to be organizations
awarding those research grants.

For example, the Glisten Institute of Planetological Studies, famous for its
achievements in terraforming, could well have an attached foundation ai-
med at providing scientific support to poor colonies which wish to improve
the living conditions on their planet, but cannot afford to hire the services
of a commercial terraforming corporation.

There are also many other fields where scientific institutions could help to
spread knowledge (e.g. a "flying university" visiting remote colonies for a
few months to teach the newest agricultural, surgical etc. methods) or to
engage in various kinds of development aid.

By the way, there could also be purely cultural NGOs with the intention to
improve the cultural exchange (e.g. with the Darrians, the Zhodani ...) or
to offer some "high culture" to the remote colonies which are too small to
have their own cultural institutions or to poor to support them.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Those who read these boards,

I was thinking also of the many Charitable Foundations for disasters tend to be rather fluid and short-lived (like the nature of the disaster they form/ pool monies to go render aide for). Many take on the name of the disaster/ war zone.

Other Charitable NGO's I've pondered and ones that should be included-- universities.

Now, if we say there is a NGO "umbrella-group" like the Galactic/Panstellar/ Interstellar Red Diamond in existence for multiple faiths and other Secular NGO's like "Doctors without Planets", this does not take away from those widespread, popular Faith-based groups that undertake these things as part of their mission in life already.

Churches like the Stellar Divinity (CoSD)...
and any anagram of any Terran faith brought into Known Space that renders to the poor, sick, and needy.

Now we look at the examples of the type C & D governments that are Theocracies in Canon nearby--

In the Marches:

Pysadi/ Aramis 0608 C4766D7-4--Imperial/ Planet is their goddess
Jokotre/Mora 0604 B6548D9-7--Imperial/ ???
Pavabid/D-268 0408 C6678D8-6--Non-Aligned/ Heretical sect of CoSD
Dodds/ Trins Veil 0309 C4439DE-7--Imperial/ ???

In the Trojan Reaches:

Strend/ Menorial 0505 B436ADA-F--Non-Aligned/ Cybernetic gods rule & dictate who gets augmented or not over the unaugmented masses
Tlazolteotl/ Dpres 0604 D5409CD-7--Non-Aligned/ Aztec Terran variant, Barbaric
Scaladon/ Tobia 0206 AAD98DK-A--Imperial/The Chosen, Monothesitic, Harsh.
Simok/ Tobia 0703 DAA08CC-5--Imperial/ Pharoah-God Kings
Goertel/Goertel B6688DC-6--Non-Aligned/ The Church of Nom, Psionic Cult.

Deneb Sector:

Deneb/ Usani 0305 B537ADD-C--Imperial/ ???
Endup/ Gulf 0406 D6939DG-9--Imperial/ ???


The Reft Sector:

Lintl/ Vestus (Reft 0503) B739ADE-F--Imperial/ A transcendental unity of sophonts equals God.

Obviously these religions are primarily focused on their own worlds, and not out proselytizing new members elsewhere, or sending out relief ships, etc... with maybe the exception of the Faith on Deneb.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Other Charitable NGO's I've pondered and ones that should be included-- universities.

Yep, in previous versions of Traveller the Lab Ship mustering out benefit
for scientists was a research grant, and there have to be organizations
awarding those research grants.

For example, the Glisten Institute of Planetological Studies, famous for its
achievements in terraforming, could well have an attached foundation ai-
med at providing scientific support to poor colonies which wish to improve
the living conditions on their planet, but cannot afford to hire the services
of a commercial terraforming corporation.

There are also many other fields where scientific institutions could help to
spread knowledge (e.g. a "flying university" visiting remote colonies for a
few months to teach the newest agricultural, surgical etc. methods) or to
engage in various kinds of development aid.

By the way, there could also be purely cultural NGOs with the intention to
improve the cultural exchange (e.g. with the Darrians, the Zhodani ...) or
to offer some "high culture" to the remote colonies which are too small to
have their own cultural institutions or to poor to support them.

Not only "mobile-Universities", but mobile temples, and Hospitals as well I can see here. I think in the spinward Marches, the BIG Five universities are located at Regina, Rhylanor, Glisten, Mora, and Trin.

The University of Regina is the better known of six within the system, having all major fields of study except... theology!

The University of Rhylanor of Rhylanor is

"A technically oriented planetary institution to support industry and commerce on Rhylanor. Its primary programs include the hard sciences: biology, chemistry, electronics, gravitics, mechanics, physics.

On Mora,

"the Hi-technology industries there heavily support MTI (Mora Technical Institute) which specializes in the gravitics, electronics and manufacturing technologies. Oveshadowing them is IMU (Imperial University at Mora), which is heavily funded by the wealthy families of the planet, and deals with History, Political studies, etc."-MgT, SM, p104

On Trin, not only is there ITU (Imperial University at Trin), but also

ITIC (the Imperial Trin Institute for Commerce), the premier school for training Merchant spacer crews. MgT, SM, p.119

Notably save for Regina, the remaining four worlds in the Marches are all TL-15, and the Imperial Navy has an academy for officers there at each location as well.

Definitely room for such educational 'Foundations' supporting a starship mobile laboratory or a wandering "correspondence course" college to the low pop, poorer worlds looking for scholarship awardees... 8)

 

[Rick]

I suddenly had a vision of a PC's ship being chartered by a university for a Professor's "Summer Field Trip" with a selection of helpful, naive students!

 

[Liam Devlin]

I suddenly had a vision of a PC's ship being chartered by a university for a Professor's "Summer Field Trip" with a selection of helpful, naive students!

Well, I know a certain Amber-zone adventure in the soon-to-be-released Spinward Encounters does sorta follow this idea, but the ship belongs to the University Professor, and the players are his "crew"...

 

[Liam Devlin]

Ships used by NGO's

One of the benefits of these NGO-operated vessels is of course the ownership and upkeep is usually not a concern to the players (some of whom have enough paperwork in RL not to be burdened with more in-game). The Foundation, or Trust, or Organization itself holds the title and responisbilities of ownership usually, or they maybe tax-write-offs from a wealthy patron to the same group.

But those aside, and looking for some canon examples, the 400dt Lab Ship (TMB, pp121-122). of course provides the scientific/ academic fielded NGO's a portable base (it does indeed resemble a small circular space station when set in orbit) in which to operate from. As it is unarmed, where it is sent of course has a lot to do with it--its not a frontier ready vessel, and being unstreamlined, the ship's away vessel gets the chore of any wilderness refueling if needs be. Generally safe systems within the Imperium as a rule.

One can even see them as the mobile base-hub for a multi-ship effort!

For the aforementioned Glisten-planetological research NGO, one can see anything as small as a 100dt Seeker, or even a former 100dt Scout vessel(TMB, pp114-116). Small versatile, and can be armed if need be (hard point installed). Larger vessels of standard types will probably be modified variants of the same, equipped for the job/ task assigned.

The Academic Xenological NGO's make use of the Safari vessel (T & G, pp50-51) as well (right folks--its not JUST for big Game Hunters!), for those expeditions requiring landings and getting one's boots muddy in the back-40. The defensive weaponry of the dual sandcaster is not to be discounted when dealing with hostile life forms on the ground...

For the Medical-NGO, the 300dt Sanatorium Hospice class (T&G, pp52-53) suffers the same problem the Lab Ship doies--it is utterly defenseless. It must be escorted to the system, and while its markings and transponder codes define it as a Non-combatant vessel, over say an Imperial border to a troubled client state world, there are those willing to hit and attack such ship for their own purposes. Overlooked however, and not to be underestimated is of course attacking such a vessel on a mission of mercy is very dimly looked upon by most Interstellar powers.

Within the Imperium, they are the mobile hospitals for many poor low populated worlds in the subsectors, IMO, and one can see some of these tied ot larger hospitals of worlds with median to High population within a subsector.

Larger vessels again, of standard types can be modified for large-scale disasters (planetary pandemics, tsunamis, earthquakes, asteroid strikes, etc). The Modular Clipper (T & G, pp 46-49) serves well in this role; a few Large Freighters (T & G, pp 44-45) can bring in the supplies, and have the benefit of being Jump-3. These latter two at least come armed to some degree, and could be seen as larger shepherds of the smaller unarmed Hospice vessels.

Not to mention that across a border to a Client State, a small handful of Imperial Navy warships assigned to keep the wolves from preying on the innocent is not unheard of.

Just some thoughts tonight.