Bandit LOAF said:
My point, which I *knoW* you are not too stupid to understand, is that "we shall use it" is an entirely non-specific statement. Claiming that he will use the bioweapons is not inherently claiming that he will use them *everywhere* or *immediately*.
I'm just trying to say that maybe there's something more here than we understand - a more elaborate plan than the "suddenly kill everyone, universe gets better" scenario that we've all repeated... so I'm trying to get a discussion going as to whether or not that it an automatic. Do we ever learn specifically that what we've always assumed is Tolwyn's plan is true (I don't know - my Wing Commander IV materials are packed)?
Like it or not, there is no inherent statement of magnitude in "we shall use it"; rather, there is no way to use the weapon *at all* without making such a claim. We *knnow* he's going to use it, I quoted the orders; what we want to know now is how and to what extent.
Well, I understand it, and I also know you are not too stupid to understand my point, too.
Of course I’m willing to debate the extent of use of the bio-weapons that was being planed by the Black Lance. Perhaps we could do that on a different style than the classic knife-fight. Now, I've found a neat page with the entire speech, so let's take a look at it. Following each number is a commentary of mine to what I think about it. It’s just an opinion, of course.
http://home.iprimus.com.au/Wedge009/WC4/Axius.html
Black Lance star base, Axius system.
Seether: …we came from a life of hiding, many of us sought after some… murdered at the hands of savages. But one forward-thinking man – a genius, our benefactor, an equal – found us, nurtured us, and has given us the tools to fulfil our birthright as the natural rulers of the universe! *1 Our operations in the Telamon system were a rousing success. *2 I congratulate all who were involved. And, before we close, I give you our esteemed leader…
Tolwyn: Thank you. I am here, my fellow soldiers, to commend you on your valiant efforts. You – the Black Lance – will be Humanity’s first line of defence. *3 Now, various enemies of the Confederation *4 have already met with you: they know very well what you are capable of. Soon now, I can reveal your existence to all the Confederation, and you will get the praise which you so richly deserve.
Black Lance: YYYAAAHHH
Tolwyn: I also wish to extol the efforts of your great commander – a fine example of what the Genetic Enhancement program promises for the future.
Black Lance: AAARRRGGGHHH
Tolwyn: “The strong shall survive”: the primary universal law. The species that is weak, faces extinction. *5 You know, not so very long ago our species faced extinction. Now the truth is – our victory over the Kilrathi was not a clear verdict of our superiority. *6 It was a fluke, a temporary purchase of time. We will, someday, face an enemy far worse than the Kilrathi, and it is our duty to prepare: to remain strong and to remain vigilant.
Black Lance: YEEEEHHH
Tolwyn: Even if that means, er… discarding certain elements. Or separating the wheat from the chaff. <chuckles> *7 Now, in the Gen-Select device, we have a tool to do the job. We have tested it, and we shall use it! *8
Black Lance: AAAHHH
Tolwyn: As you all know, the Border Worlds are an enemy birthing in our midst. They threaten our unity, our strength, our… Humanity. We all have a duty. My own is now with the Great Assembly, where I shall ratify the foundation that we have lain. When the moment comes, my fellow soldiers, you must fight, and fight hard. Thank you. *9
Black Lance: YEAAAAHH
Notes:
1) Seether considers “them”, presumably the result of the G.E. program, as the natural rulers of the universe, unlike the weak mankind. That’s in line with the paradigm of someone who is genetically ‘superior’.
2) The bio-weapon attack on Telamon had the intended result.
3) Mankind and Confederation are basically interchangeable terms.
4) Black Lance will protect Humanity by striking the enemies of Confed. The enemies of Confed are the enemies of mankind, even if they are human, as is the case of the Border Worlds or opposing Confed forces.
5) Now he lays the darwinistic principle as the universal law. Also, Confed not only represents mankind, but also a species. It’s not merely a political body.
6) Under this worldview Confed was not stronger then the Kilrathi, and would probably not have a good chance against a far worse enemy.
7) Nasty reminder that the victims of this plan are not considered worthy. Not only the end justify the means, but it’s almost as if the ‘impure’ are not even humans, or are “enemies” of mankind. This group is the target of the Gen-Select device.
8) The job is to eliminate the target, the bio-weapons are the tool to be used.
9) Now here’s the tricky part. Fighting the Border Worlds would not require hard-figthing, bio-weapons or stealth fighters. Fighting a much weaker opponent would not make Confed stronger, or have significant lasting effects.
What we get here is that Tolwyn wants to make Confed stronger in other to defeat an opponent worst than it has ever faced before. Simply nuking the BW would hardly accomplish that goal, by his own terms. It’s not merely destroying an enemy, but how this changes mankind.
The presumption is that Tolwyn would use the Gen-Select device to eliminate the “weak” within Confed and, according to the ideology, make Confed “stronger”. That sometime during the wars he would use the stealth fighters to deploy canisters all around Confed. The large amounts of those weapons stockpiled on Axius corroborate this view.
But can elaborate other possibilities. Maybe he could be aiming at a long-term plan, and would use the gen-select slowly as to not cause more damage than Confed could sustain, gradually putting his own people on positions of power. This kind of subtle grasp of power can prevent the kind of drastic response that would meet a more violent attempt.
Whatever it was, we know it would certainly involve constant conflict, a cultural shift and genetic purifications. Mankind would be radically altered on a genetic and social level in accordance with Tolwyn’s ideological objectives.