Space Viking · Chapter
Consolidation and Planning explained
Trask and Harkaman work to integrate the crews of the Space Scourge and Lamia into their fleet, overcoming resistance through persuasion and political maneuvering.
What happens
Trask and Harkaman work to integrate the crews of the Space Scourge and Lamia into their fleet, overcoming resistance through persuasion and political maneuvering. After the crews vote to accept Trask and Harkaman's authority, Harkaman orders inspections and begins overhauling the Lamia, while dealing with the unreliable Captain Spasso. On Tanith, they repatriate enslaved locals, introduce trade tokens, and begin training the population in modern technology. Harkaman plans a three-stage raiding campaign against Khepera, Amaterasu, and Beowulf to generate wealth and prove Tanith's viability to investors, while leaving a skeleton crew to guard the base.
Themes in this chapter
Political Systems and Governance
The transition from a communal, diffused ownership structure to a feudal hierarchy under Trask and Harkaman, and the political maneuvering to secure the crews' loyalty.
The Cost of Raiding and Colonialism
Harkaman's insistence on upgrading ships and training crews for serious combat, moving beyond 'chicken-stealing' to profitable but dangerous raids, and the exploitation of Tanith's resources and people.
Technology and Progress
The reintroduction of technology to Tanith (detection equipment, contragravity lifters, trade tokens) and the training of locals to operate modern machinery.
Characters to notice
- Lucas Trask
Observes the integration of crews and the development of Tanith, agrees to Harkaman's raiding plan despite concerns about leaving Tanith vulnerable.
- Otto Harkaman
Takes command of the fleet, orders inspections and overhauls, devises a three-planet raiding strategy to build resources and train crews.
- Boake Valkanhayn
Retains command of the Space Scourge; is trusted by Harkaman as a competent spaceman.
- Garvan Spasso
Ineffective captain of the Lamia, considered a figurehead by Harkaman and Rathmore; plans are made to replace him.
- Baron Rathmore
Acts as a political advisor, makes speeches to the crews, and reports on the dysfunctional officer soviet aboard the Lamia.
- Alvyn Karffard
Given command of the overhauled Lamia and tasked with training officers; also assigned as Valkanhayn's exec with secret orders to supersede him if needed.
Key passages
“It took Valkanhayn and Spasso more time and argument to convince their crews than Trask thought necessary. Harkaman seemed satisfied, and so was Baron Rathmore, the Wardshaven politician. “It’s like talking a lot of uncommitted small landholders into taking somebody’s livery-and-maintenance,” the latter said. “You can’t use too much pressure; make them think it’s their own idea.””
Convincing the crews to join Trask's fleet required patience and subtle persuasion, as Baron Rathmore noted that they had to be made to feel the decision was their own.
Rathmore's political insight into managing the independent-minded crews.
““We aren’t going to spend our time sitting here on Tanith,” he told the two captains. “This planet is a raiding base, and ‘raiding’ is the operative word. And we are not going to raid easy planets. A planet that can be raided with impunity isn’t worth the time it takes getting to it.””
Harkaman declared that Tanith would be used as a base for serious, profitable raids against well-defended planets, not easy targets.
Harkaman's strategic vision for the fleet's operations.
““We’ll have to take the Nemesis and the Space Scourge out, first, and make a big raid,” Harkaman said. “We can’t send the Space Scourge back to Gram empty. When Baron Rathmore and Lord Valpry and the rest of them talk to Duke Angus and the Tanith investors, they’ll have to have a lot more than some travel films of Tanith. They’ll have to be able to show that Tanith is producing.””
Harkaman argued that a successful raid was necessary to demonstrate Tanith's profitability to investors back on Gram.
The economic motivation behind the planned raids.
