On Tue, 25 Aug 2020 13:52:13 +1200, Rupert Boleyn <xxxxxx@gmail.com>
wrote to Freelance Traveller:

>On 25Aug2020 1033, Jeff Zeitlin wrote:

>> A world's System Defense Force that is _not_ part of (or cannot be co-opted
>> into) the sector/subsector "Colonial" fleets would be analogous to the
>> State Guard; one that can be so co-opted by Imperial order is analogous to
>> state detachments of the National Guard.

>I reckon that a world that wants to ensure that its fleet isn't ever
>co-opted by the Imperium needs to do two things. Firstly, don't have
>starships (i.e. no jump drives in your ships). Secondly, make sure all
>your SDBs of whatever size are of a size and shape that's incompatible
>with all of the Imperium's tenders and carriers so they can't be pressed
>into service as fighters or riders.

That's one way of doing it - but I'll note that being a member of a _State_
Guard in the US does not exempt you from compulsory Federal service in the
event that the Selective Service system is activated. Being a member of the
_National_ Guard (or the Reserve arm of services that don't have National
Guard detachments, like the Navy) more or less does, since you're already
_voluntarily_ in Federal service. As far as equipment, training, et cetera,
there need be no difference between State Guard and National Guard; the
important difference is the legal one - the Feds can say, "Your National
Guard detachments are now in Federal service", and they are; if they try to
say "We want your State Guard for Federal service", the Governor can say
"Get stuffed" and make it stick. There might well be an analogous
difference between the Colonial Fleet element and the System Defense Force,
depending on how lawful your Imperium's operation is.

(The Selective Service system is the formal name for what is known as 'the
draft'.)

>Meanwhile, the Imperium probably offers Standard Data Packages for SDBs
>that just happen to fit nicely on some of their tenders, or at least
>onto some LASH vessel that it intends to use as an SDB ferry in the
>event of a major war.

And honestly, even a SDF that can't (legally) be co-opted is likely to use
them, because Standard Designs Are Cheaper, Especially If I Have To Use An
Out-System Supplier.

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