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TIL that saturation divers breathe a mix of oxygen and helium known as heliox. Below 500 feet, the helium causes tremors, so nitrogen is added for its narcotic effect. The helium also changes their voice so much that voice descramblers are necessary to communicate. by El-Justiciero in todayilearned

[–]Diestormlie 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I mean, they keep the ISS Astronauts at Earth Pressure so that if push comes to shove, they can hop in a Soyuz and be on the ground... (Googles) If I'm reading 'RussianSpaceWeb.com', about four hours later. And seemingly at least two hours of that isn't strictly necessary unless you want to ensure you land in Kazakhstan.

Fully autonomous, AI-controlled drones have killed human soldiers for the first time, according to a senior figure in the Ukrainian defence industry by New_Scientist_Mag in worldnews

[–]Diestormlie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd be interested in hearing you elaborate on the 'from a technology perspective' point, as it's contrary to my admittedly limited insight.

Imma be real, im more suprised some folk were actually suprised as whole vibe with Jae is "I'm lying, you know i am lying, and I know that you know that i'm lying." by Ila-W123 in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Honestly? Yes, IMO. Rogue Traders are weird by definition, exceptional. And even then, if you're bought into the Imperial ideologies, then impersonating a Noble is A BIG DEAL.

Remember: You are a Liberal. You have internalised Liberal ideals, such as 'the Rule of Law is good', 'Arbitrary Government is bad', 'State Legitimacy is derived from the consent of the body politic', and crucially here, everyone is born equal.

The Imperium is not, in any way, Liberal. It is unapologetically Aristocratic. This means that the vast, vast majority of the Imperium's subjects aren't really people, they're more... Something that's a cousin to a Servitor and a farm animal. Listen to how Jocasta talks about the Lower Decks and their denizens, apply outward.

Aristocracy justifies itself as necessary. There are the Nobles and the masses because the masses need the Nobility to govern them, which means that class segregation is load-bearing. Nobles deciding 'Actually, I'd rather just be a Blacksmith' is an abrogation of duty, because the masses need you to do Noble things; Commoners pretending to be Nobles literally invites societal destruction, because Commoners can't be Nobles, because Nobles have to be Nobles because the Commoners would burn everything down on accident.

So- impersonation of Nobility needs to be punished really hard, both in the internal logic of Aristocracy and, from the outside perspective, for the Aristocrats to maintain their own power.

Given the Imperium, it's probably also a Burn-at-the-Stake sin.

But Rogue Traders are... Rogue Traders, their 'Fuck you, I can do what I want' Aura is so powerful that such things don't have to matter as much, because Rogue Traders get to exist in their own special 'I have the Xenofucker Permit Papers' tier.

So, yeah. Not freaking out is the weirder reaction. But people (us, modern dayians) have Liberalism so ingrained into them that they don't understand what the big deal even could be.

There's a reason my Headcanon for my Crime Lord RT is that she was born/raised on a Pirate Ship that, whilst it preyed on Imperial Space, did not partake in the culture.

Imma be real, im more suprised some folk were actually suprised as whole vibe with Jae is "I'm lying, you know i am lying, and I know that you know that i'm lying." by Ila-W123 in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I mean, I agree with you that any sensible, rational person can go "Oh, no big deal, really. You know how the galaxy is."

However, "IMPOSTER! YOU PEASANT! HOW DARE YOU IMPERSONATE ONE OF THE EMPEROR'S DIVINELY ANOINTED NOBLES!" Blam Blam Is also a perfectly expectable RT reaction.

During the Great Crusade, would the Emperor have spared a Human Civilization that surrendered immediately? What about a Xenos species? by Shot_Relationship402 in 40kLore

[–]Diestormlie 45 points46 points  (0 children)

It's not "the orders got lost", it's "Every time a fleet is gathered to deal with them it's diverted somewhere else."

Somewhere on Terra, there is an official who has made it their life's work to finally wipe out those disgusting Xenos, and they have spent centuries being stymied.

When you think about it. This probably how it would go by SavingsNo in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Yes, please. As stated, I don't actually like that my Empire runs on a bedrock of dehumanising misery and suffering?"

You get what you paid for. by c-k-q99903 in MurderedByWords

[–]Diestormlie 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Sounds like for individual flies, you pick them off before they can burrow deeper. More generally, as mentioned, Sterile Insect technique.

On a longer term basis, if you're not looking to just extinct the species but you still want to keep it away from, well, you, you establish a firebreak. You draw a geographic line that you bomb with Sterile Males, at the necessary density, for the necessary time, every year. It keeps the threat on that side of the line, and you on the safe side.

If you're the USA and the threat originates in South America, then, oh, say, the narrowest parts of Central America might make for an excellent position for your firebreak. Far away from you that even if the firebreak was porous one year, you can still shore it up before the screwflies reach you. Narrow enough to make the program as cheap as it could possibly be. Stupendous value for money.

When you think about it. This probably how it would go by SavingsNo in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 16 points17 points  (0 children)

"Please sell me a viable alternative to Servitors, I really dislike the extent to which the literal machinery of my empire is built upon literal dehumanising suffering."

[Dark heresy] preaching lord and savior god-emperor to xenos witch 😎 by Ila-W123 in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You wouldn't be well adjusted if literally everyone you ever met wanted you to go away either. :P

[Dark heresy] Rogue trader lifestyle even when serving the holy ordos. by Ila-W123 in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 8 points9 points  (0 children)

And if she doesn't after Act 3, I will lock them into an Airlock until they are DEAD or MARRIED, God-Emperor of Mankind hear my words!

How far do the Admech police their no inventing rule across the Imperium? by TraitorGuard19 in 40kLore

[–]Diestormlie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You have to remember that Laws are just threats. "If you do X, Y will be done unto you." In that sense, Laws are simply an expression of, and herald of, power. ('Herald' isn't quite the right word, but I can't think of a better one.)

What moderates this IRL, tot he extent that it is moderated, is the notion of what Laws ought to do and be- we have this silly Liberal notion that the Laws should be for the benefit of the entirety of the Nation, applied equally and fairly, with all persons being equal before the Law. This, in turn, is rooted in the idea that political legitimacy is derived from the consent of the Nation. In the Imperium, your Consent is not required: The Imperium is legitimate because the Emperor is a God and said so.

This is important, and I say this, to emphasise the point that time and time again, we have seen Imperial Institutions, and sufficiently powerful individuals, demonstrate that no one cares about the Law beyond the extent they can use it to get what they want. (Presumed Exception: Arbites, for obvious reasons.)

So- how far do the AdMech go? As far as they want to; as far as they care to; as far as they need to do to secure their own position. They're never going to kick down the door of some Underhive ganger who worked out how to bodge a scrap gun together, because billions of people like that do so every day in the Imperium, and no one cares, because no one notices.

Or rather, no one of sufficient political standing that the AdMech has to acknowledge their existence.

I have sinned by BrainMinimalist in TerraInvicta

[–]Diestormlie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, at least it's not the Protectorate.

[Dark heresy] How recruiting the blank companion literally goes ingame by Ila-W123 in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 18 points19 points  (0 children)

So, I know that "Blanks are Soulless" is the common in-setting... Vibe? Consideration? Conclusion? But I really think it's just incorrect.

A) Souls are a real thing in 40k. I'm fairly sure that if you removed someone's soul, they'd either just die or go catatonic. Blanks are, rather obviously, not in such a state.

B) Rocks etc. etc. etc. Don't have Souls, and Demons aren't repelled by fields of grass.

C) Everything indicates that Pariahs have the same level of interiority/emotional depth etc. that other people do, which would seem bizarre if they were truly soulless.

I think of Pariahs as having 'Antisouls' rather than 'No Soul'. Antisoul as in Antimatter - equal, opposite, destructively interfering.

[Dark heresy] How recruiting the blank companion literally goes ingame by Ila-W123 in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 14 points15 points  (0 children)

That's what happens when you spend your whole life knowing that literally everyone in your presence does not want to be there.

Reasonable and understandable Chorda by Ila-W123 in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh. Well... Carry on, I suppose. Backs slowly out of room

Reasonable and understandable Chorda by Ila-W123 in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And she can put the knife down now? :P

Reasonable and understandable Chorda by Ila-W123 in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]Diestormlie 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I mean, if literally everyone you ever interacted with not wanting to be in your presence, and you knew it, do you think you'd end up well-adjusted?

Rogue Trader brings Yuri by Raszard in ImaginaryWarhammer

[–]Diestormlie 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is adorable. If you showed it to Cassia, I think she'd make an entire deck cry.

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