The “Hand of Starling”: Ghost Knights: Real or Myth? 10/27/3133
INN - Interstellar News Network
SHADOW: Hey there, Truth-seekers! And welcome again to The Hand of Starling,
the show The Republic doesn’t want you to see! I’m your host, Shadow. With me as
always are my fellow Illuminati, Phantom and Wraith.
PHANTOM: Question reality!
WRAITH: Watch your backs!
SHADOW: Welcome, gents. Before we begin today’s topic: “Ghost Knights – Real or
Myth?” the question of the week here comes from a viewer using the on-line nick of
Kurious. He (or she) says: “Starling Group, I just started watching your series, and I
have to say you guys weird me out--”
WRAITH: Cool!
SHADOW: Heheh. “One thing bugs me, though, why the whole neo-Goth theme?
Between the black face make-up, the poorly-lit basement set, and the cliché handles,
it's like your ‘Illuminati’ is nothing more than a group of new-age vampires. How do
you expect the folks to take you seriously?”
PHANTOM: Burn!
SHADOW: Cut him a meter, Phantom. Kurious is obviously new to the audience.
Kurious, the answer's simple enough – the black curtains, dim lighting, make up, and
monikers are all to protect our identity, and yours. The Hand of Starling is dedicated
to truth, whether folks want to hear us or not. Do you really think we could bring you
the quality facts as well if we were your basic syndicated, publicly recognized
journalist? Hell no! The Powers That Be would be onto us in a second! Our
anonymity is thus our shield and our license to dig through the chaff and bring you
the real news!
PHANTOM: Well said, Brother Shadow!
WRAITH: Right. Now, on to the topic.
SHADOW: Absolutely. The topic: Ghost Knights, those rumored Knights of the
Sphere who supposedly lurk in the shadows, watching us all, and reporting back to
the Exarch who’s been naughty, and who’s been nice. Are they real, or a myth?
PHANTOM: Definitely real.
WRAITH: No contest. They’re among us.
SHADOW: So you say, though The Republic government has denied them ever since
its formation. So, fellas, prove it!
PHANTOM: It’s basic governmental logic, Shadow, handed down through the
generations since mankind first crawled out of the deserts on Terra. No state can
stand for long without a powerful and secret internal security force to back it up. The
Combine has its ISF, the Lyrans have their Heimdall and Loki, the FedSuns has MI5,
and the CapCon has its Maskirovka.
WRAITH: Don’t forget ComStar still has its ROM, the Clans have their Watch, and
the dozen or so agencies throughout the nation formerly known as the Free Worlds
League.
PHANTOM: Exactly, Wraith. And just like these nations, The Republic government
has its layers of defensive measures in place to ensure not only its military security,
but also its own pre-eminence over the people. For military protection, we've got the
local police, then the militias, then the regular armed forces—Triarii, Hastati, and so
on—and the Knights and Paladins. The Paladins and Knights, of course, are like a
political military presence, with all the authority to subvert local leaders and laws for
the “good of The Republic”. If the Republic would go so far as to create these
modern day Lone Rangers, why not a secret version of the same, for those
“criminals” who just can’t be rooted out by flashing a badge?
SHADOW: Well said, Phantom. But where’s the evidence? How many of these Ghost
Knights are there? And who watches these watchers?
WRAITH: In that order, everywhere one looks, far more than there are real knights,
and they report only to the Exarch, like his own secret police.
SHADOW: Explain.
WRAITH: No problem! Take for instance the mess on Basalt, earlier this year.
Though the government tried to hush it all up, the little war that erupted between the
planetary rulers and some local entrepreneurs—using mercenaries, no less—still
managed to get out on the public forums. There are all the hallmarks of something not
kosher there, with opposing “terrorist groups”, in the employ of both sides, of course,
claiming the same attacks, then turning on each other while supposedly opposing the
government rule. Certain evidence that crept out suggests that, just prior to the rather
convenient arrival of a real Knight on the scene, a “shadowy agent” was playing both
sides against the middle, then exposed a ring of mercs that had been working the
same deal on other worlds, like Helen, and elsewhere. Better believe the “shadowy
agent” was a Ghost Knight. The outcome was too pat for anything else, unless you
want to factor in the Bannson angle.
Want more proof? Let’s look closer to home, then. Remember that “Little Luthien”
killer? In the midst of his spree a Knight-Errant gets called in to help local authorities
with the “crisis”. Then we find out its some heart-broken ex-military fisherman who
killed all those women. We needed a Knight-Errant for that? But he was here in time
to take part in an official investigation on the death of a BCA administrator who was
taken out by thugs masquerading as the killer, and here to coordinate a defense against
the Stormhammers, who we didn’t even know existed till that business in Port
Howard. Hmmm. Coincidence? I think not.
SHADOW: So, you’re saying these Ghost Knights have the same mandate as their
showpiece counterparts? To set up defenses and repel threats both inside and out?
WRAITH: Depends on the angle you want to take. From what I’ve learned—and,
Phantom, back me up here—the Ghost Knights aren’t all on the same “side” either. I
have learned enough on some of the more colorful personalities in the new military
factions throughout The Republic to suspect that they may even have Ghost Knights
at the core of them, directing their actions.
PHANTOM: Sounds about right. What better way to take advantage of the crash than
to organize the loose cannons into camps that can be easily controlled. It’s a herding
tactic.
SHADOW: Ah, so you’re suggesting that the likes of Bannson’s Raiders, Steel
Wolves, Dragon’s Fury, and even the Stormhammers, are all patsies of The Republic?
WRAITH: You see a better explanation? But it gets better. Not two months after the
HPGs go dark, there are no less than six new military factions running around seizing
planets. As they do, they eliminate the leadership or recruit those who didn’t like the
way the government did things. In the bargain, a lot of folks who’d would otherwise
be branded traitors to The Republic actually expose themselves to throw in their lot
with these independent groups, thinking they’re getting their chance for freedom and
power, when it’s only a matter of time till all of them are rooted out.
PHANTOM: Bingo! And once all of the corrupt leaders are thus exposed,
theoretically, The Republic’s Knights and armed forces appear on the scene to restore
order. A new local government can be established, and viola! The herds have been
thinned. With the HPGs down, none of these renegade elements can coordinate, and
the government can move more freely to keep on thinning! By the time the HPGs
come back on-line, several “questionable” leaders and factions throughout the state
are contained. Like swatting a hornet’s nest to flush out the bugs, then torching the
thing with a flamer.
SHADOW: Ah, so it all makes sense now?
WRAITH: Hehe. You’re missing the best part, Shadow. I’m talking the part that
really proves the Ghost Knights are among us. Think about this: would we have this
little weeding campaign going on without the HPG grid in disarray? The answer is no,
but in order to carry out the simultaneous crash of HPGs throughout the realm—and
across the Inner Sphere, to make it look like more than a national crisis—you need a
lot of secret agents in circulation.
PHANTOM: Wow.
SHADOW: Wow indeed! So, then, the Ghost Knights brought down the HPG grid?
WRAITH: If they didn’t, I’d like you to show me a better candidate.
SHADOW: A worthy discussion for next time, perhaps. And on that remark, we’re
out of time here. Come back next week, Truth-seekers, and the Hand of Starling
reaches out to pull back the veil of conspiracy and brings enlightenment to all!
INN - Interstellar News Network
SHADOW: Hey there, Truth-seekers! And welcome again to The Hand of Starling,
the show The Republic doesn’t want you to see! I’m your host, Shadow. With me as
always are my fellow Illuminati, Phantom and Wraith.
PHANTOM: Question reality!
WRAITH: Watch your backs!
SHADOW: Welcome, gents. Before we begin today’s topic: “Ghost Knights – Real or
Myth?” the question of the week here comes from a viewer using the on-line nick of
Kurious. He (or she) says: “Starling Group, I just started watching your series, and I
have to say you guys weird me out--”
WRAITH: Cool!
SHADOW: Heheh. “One thing bugs me, though, why the whole neo-Goth theme?
Between the black face make-up, the poorly-lit basement set, and the cliché handles,
it's like your ‘Illuminati’ is nothing more than a group of new-age vampires. How do
you expect the folks to take you seriously?”
PHANTOM: Burn!
SHADOW: Cut him a meter, Phantom. Kurious is obviously new to the audience.
Kurious, the answer's simple enough – the black curtains, dim lighting, make up, and
monikers are all to protect our identity, and yours. The Hand of Starling is dedicated
to truth, whether folks want to hear us or not. Do you really think we could bring you
the quality facts as well if we were your basic syndicated, publicly recognized
journalist? Hell no! The Powers That Be would be onto us in a second! Our
anonymity is thus our shield and our license to dig through the chaff and bring you
the real news!
PHANTOM: Well said, Brother Shadow!
WRAITH: Right. Now, on to the topic.
SHADOW: Absolutely. The topic: Ghost Knights, those rumored Knights of the
Sphere who supposedly lurk in the shadows, watching us all, and reporting back to
the Exarch who’s been naughty, and who’s been nice. Are they real, or a myth?
PHANTOM: Definitely real.
WRAITH: No contest. They’re among us.
SHADOW: So you say, though The Republic government has denied them ever since
its formation. So, fellas, prove it!
PHANTOM: It’s basic governmental logic, Shadow, handed down through the
generations since mankind first crawled out of the deserts on Terra. No state can
stand for long without a powerful and secret internal security force to back it up. The
Combine has its ISF, the Lyrans have their Heimdall and Loki, the FedSuns has MI5,
and the CapCon has its Maskirovka.
WRAITH: Don’t forget ComStar still has its ROM, the Clans have their Watch, and
the dozen or so agencies throughout the nation formerly known as the Free Worlds
League.
PHANTOM: Exactly, Wraith. And just like these nations, The Republic government
has its layers of defensive measures in place to ensure not only its military security,
but also its own pre-eminence over the people. For military protection, we've got the
local police, then the militias, then the regular armed forces—Triarii, Hastati, and so
on—and the Knights and Paladins. The Paladins and Knights, of course, are like a
political military presence, with all the authority to subvert local leaders and laws for
the “good of The Republic”. If the Republic would go so far as to create these
modern day Lone Rangers, why not a secret version of the same, for those
“criminals” who just can’t be rooted out by flashing a badge?
SHADOW: Well said, Phantom. But where’s the evidence? How many of these Ghost
Knights are there? And who watches these watchers?
WRAITH: In that order, everywhere one looks, far more than there are real knights,
and they report only to the Exarch, like his own secret police.
SHADOW: Explain.
WRAITH: No problem! Take for instance the mess on Basalt, earlier this year.
Though the government tried to hush it all up, the little war that erupted between the
planetary rulers and some local entrepreneurs—using mercenaries, no less—still
managed to get out on the public forums. There are all the hallmarks of something not
kosher there, with opposing “terrorist groups”, in the employ of both sides, of course,
claiming the same attacks, then turning on each other while supposedly opposing the
government rule. Certain evidence that crept out suggests that, just prior to the rather
convenient arrival of a real Knight on the scene, a “shadowy agent” was playing both
sides against the middle, then exposed a ring of mercs that had been working the
same deal on other worlds, like Helen, and elsewhere. Better believe the “shadowy
agent” was a Ghost Knight. The outcome was too pat for anything else, unless you
want to factor in the Bannson angle.
Want more proof? Let’s look closer to home, then. Remember that “Little Luthien”
killer? In the midst of his spree a Knight-Errant gets called in to help local authorities
with the “crisis”. Then we find out its some heart-broken ex-military fisherman who
killed all those women. We needed a Knight-Errant for that? But he was here in time
to take part in an official investigation on the death of a BCA administrator who was
taken out by thugs masquerading as the killer, and here to coordinate a defense against
the Stormhammers, who we didn’t even know existed till that business in Port
Howard. Hmmm. Coincidence? I think not.
SHADOW: So, you’re saying these Ghost Knights have the same mandate as their
showpiece counterparts? To set up defenses and repel threats both inside and out?
WRAITH: Depends on the angle you want to take. From what I’ve learned—and,
Phantom, back me up here—the Ghost Knights aren’t all on the same “side” either. I
have learned enough on some of the more colorful personalities in the new military
factions throughout The Republic to suspect that they may even have Ghost Knights
at the core of them, directing their actions.
PHANTOM: Sounds about right. What better way to take advantage of the crash than
to organize the loose cannons into camps that can be easily controlled. It’s a herding
tactic.
SHADOW: Ah, so you’re suggesting that the likes of Bannson’s Raiders, Steel
Wolves, Dragon’s Fury, and even the Stormhammers, are all patsies of The Republic?
WRAITH: You see a better explanation? But it gets better. Not two months after the
HPGs go dark, there are no less than six new military factions running around seizing
planets. As they do, they eliminate the leadership or recruit those who didn’t like the
way the government did things. In the bargain, a lot of folks who’d would otherwise
be branded traitors to The Republic actually expose themselves to throw in their lot
with these independent groups, thinking they’re getting their chance for freedom and
power, when it’s only a matter of time till all of them are rooted out.
PHANTOM: Bingo! And once all of the corrupt leaders are thus exposed,
theoretically, The Republic’s Knights and armed forces appear on the scene to restore
order. A new local government can be established, and viola! The herds have been
thinned. With the HPGs down, none of these renegade elements can coordinate, and
the government can move more freely to keep on thinning! By the time the HPGs
come back on-line, several “questionable” leaders and factions throughout the state
are contained. Like swatting a hornet’s nest to flush out the bugs, then torching the
thing with a flamer.
SHADOW: Ah, so it all makes sense now?
WRAITH: Hehe. You’re missing the best part, Shadow. I’m talking the part that
really proves the Ghost Knights are among us. Think about this: would we have this
little weeding campaign going on without the HPG grid in disarray? The answer is no,
but in order to carry out the simultaneous crash of HPGs throughout the realm—and
across the Inner Sphere, to make it look like more than a national crisis—you need a
lot of secret agents in circulation.
PHANTOM: Wow.
SHADOW: Wow indeed! So, then, the Ghost Knights brought down the HPG grid?
WRAITH: If they didn’t, I’d like you to show me a better candidate.
SHADOW: A worthy discussion for next time, perhaps. And on that remark, we’re
out of time here. Come back next week, Truth-seekers, and the Hand of Starling
reaches out to pull back the veil of conspiracy and brings enlightenment to all!
| October 27, 3133 |
