Mongoose 2300AD Progress Report

[Colin]

"Blatte" is the French word for the aliens known to Germans as "Kafers"

 

[Colin]

but have big hopes for Skylon - which seems to be generating some interest again, the ESA recently provided funding for a proof of concept of the air breating engines and their super-secret rapid cooling system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylon

Yes, I have hopes for the Skylon too - and it would be nice to have a super-high-tech *British* space plane! Though it does look like the sort of vehicle which will inevitably, at some point, get into trouble and need rescuing by Thunderbirds...

The engine used by spaceplanes in 2300 is an air-breathing rocket, similar to the proposed Skylon engines. The HOTOL, along with the defunct NASP, are the inspirations for 2300's spaceplanes.

 

[GJD]

"Blatte" is the French word for the aliens known to Germans as "Kafers"

Why the change in name? Kafer is the name the pesky critters are known by?

 

[rust]

Why the change in name? Kafer is the name the pesky critters are known by?

You do not really expect the French to use a foreign word - especially a
German one - if they can use one from their own language ? :shock:

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

WHAT! Aliens given more than one name!

What are we?

Human? Terran? Earther?

I'm sure that eventually, the buggers will get a "standardized" name, but at first contact, where they are meeting several different groups of humans (speaking different languages) they are going to get different names.

Also, remember in the original 2300 sourcebook, they didn't even HAVE a name. All we had was some problems out at Arcturus, with no explanation...

 

[locarno24]

What are we?

Human? Terran? Earther?

Or Giza, Menneskelige, Tao, Daonna, Binadamu, Dynol....

Depends what the alien's name for Earth is..... Most nationalities are called something different in every lanquage*.



* in addition to nationality-specific insults, I mean.

 

[Colin]

"Blatte" is the French word for the aliens known to Germans as "Kafers"

"Cucharachas" to the Tanstaafl colonists, "Rak" (pronounced "rruk") (crayfish) to the Ukrainian colonists, and "Bugs" or "Kafers" to the international mercenaries brought in to fight them.

Official documents refer to them as "post-Arcturus xenomorphs" or "sapient alien species #5"

 

[Colin]

WHAT! Aliens given more than one name!

What are we?

Human? Terran? Earther?

"meat-beings"

 

[barnest2]

Flesh-sacks?

 

[rust]

What are we?

Edible.

 

[zero]

Terran Parasites?

 

[GJD]

Why the change in name? Kafer is the name the pesky critters are known by?

You do not really expect the French to use a foreign word - especially a
German one - if they can use one from their own language ? :shock:

No, indeed, but if you ask any afficionado what the alien races are in 2300AD, they will say Kafer, not Blatte.

However, as an Englishman I, of course, have to choose whatever word will cause the French the most consternation

 

[GJD]

Also, remember in the original 2300 sourcebook, they didn't even HAVE a name. All we had was some problems out at Arcturus, with no explanation...

I suspect the colonists on Aurore certainly do have a name for them, seing as they were invaded in 2297.

 

[Colin]

Also, remember in the original 2300 sourcebook, they didn't even HAVE a name. All we had was some problems out at Arcturus, with no explanation...

I suspect the colonists on Aurore certainly do have a name for them, seing as they were invaded in 2297.

They do indeed. Some are even printable.

See my post, above.

 

[zero]

'kay, I'll bite - I have no experience with the old 2300ad supplement, so I dont actually know what type of alien this is...

What is a Kafer/Blatte?? :?

 

[Colin]

An alien race from past Arcturus that invaded a distant human colony world in 2297. Bigger than human, though vaguely humanoid, with a tough carapace on their backs and a face like a Predator (or a lobster). Vicious, with weird metabolism. The original "Big Bad" in the setting.

 

[Jame Rowe]

Flesh-sacks?

Fleischweisen, to quote the Kafers who learned German.

Damn those Germs, taught the nasties to talk like humans.

 

[rust]

Flesh-sacks?

Fleischweisen, to quote the Kafers who learned German.

Damn those Germs, taught the nasties to talk like humans.

I plead not guilty, "Fleischweisen" may look like a German word, but it is
definitely not one. Whoever taught this to the Kafers certainly was not a
German. So ask the French or the Ukrainians, they were the first ones
to meet the Kafers ... 8)

 

[Mithras]

Rust might also be interested in this SeaLaunch material:

http://www.fas.org/spp/guide/ukraine/launch/APPDX-A3.pdf (diagram)

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/mega-machines-assembly-and-command-ship.html (video)

http://thelivingmoon.com/45jack_files/03files/Sea_Launch_01.html (photos)

I think its remarkable. I'm amazed I've never heard of it until today, and wonder why MI5 haven't got one of their top agents trying to infiltrate SeaLaunch right now. I'm sure its all part of some global domination plot....

 

[rust]

Rust might also be interested in this SeaLaunch material:

Thank you very much indeed.