The Operative

POSTED BY: mutt
UPDATED: Saturday, November 11, 2006 07:07
VIEWED: 4785
PAGE 1 of 1

MUTT

Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:26 AM

I've been thinking about some things, have had a few thoughts and wanted to get some general feedback.

I've read the current article pertaining to the 'Operative': "There are roughly one hundred Parliamentary Operatives that work to keep Alliance secrets. They are essentially government assassins tasked with eliminating human and paper trails from failed or compromised black projects. They are highly trained in martial arts and sword combat; some may be trained in other combat fields as well. These Operatives are born believers in the Alliance agenda of a utopian existence. They will stop at nothing to get their master’s agenda done."

I guess the first thought is that maybe the Alliance is not some evil empire. We have seen this universe though only one set of eyes; the scarred and defeated, those who lost the war, or those who have found themselves at the rough end of the Alliance stick (for the most part). I can appreciate that the Alliance would probably have some level of special forces soldier/assasin, but im thinking that, generally speaking, the position of 'Operative of the parliament' does not fulfil this role, that "The Operative" of BDM is not the normal sort of Operative.

Firstly, Dr Mathias seems to know what an Operative is, while still remaining hazy that he has "Neither name nor rank", implying that - generally speaking - operatives have both. In the conversation the two have, while it changes sharply toward the end, the Doctor is not fearful for his life. This would indicate that the Operatives function is far more investigative and widely acknowledged than an Assasin may be.

Next, the Operative has a team of Special forces soldiers at his beckon call, and command of entire fleets of warships. Sorry, but for me, an assasin generally has neither. While THIS operative no doubt has duties regarding the assasination of threats to the bodypolitic, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most Operatives are far more analogous with Soviet Style "Political Officers", with equivilent authority to say, a ships captain, authority within the military, and most importantly a political and ideological drive to defend the continued existance and properity of the state from threats.

Prove me wrong

BORNTOFLY

Saturday, November 11, 2006 2:59 AM

I don't wanna prove you wrong, mainly because I think you're right!

I agree with just about everything you said, and the part with Mathias..it does give the notion that this particular Operative is somehow unique.

Even Book, who knows what an Operative is (to an extent at least), seems to be caught totally unawares as to the lengths the BDM's Operative will go to, which further establishes the Operativeas someone very special indeed.

MARINA

Saturday, November 11, 2006 3:50 AM

Yeah, I also am not interested in proving you wrong, but as far as Dr Matthias goes, all the computer says (if I recall) is "Parliamentary override - full access" which wouldn't necessarily indicate that he's an operative. There are certainly other positions that would have the same access level - and Dr Matthias does get a slight look of confused concern when he is told that the operative has neither rank nor name.

In my opinion, the Dr is spending most of that conversation trying to figure out exactly WHAT role 'this guy' (the operative to us) plays and what he should be prepared for, rather than recognizing him as an operative right off the bat and not running for his life.

Don't make faces.

STORMWIND

Saturday, November 11, 2006 4:23 AM

All perfectly valid but i've got a couple of amendments/points. Perhaps that while this Operative is not quite of the ordinary type perhaps this is simply because of his high level of authority even for an operative of the parliment. this way both your asseration that he is not an ordnary operative is correct as well as the descrpition of an such an agent. there may be two or three others like him and maybe even others higher but his unprecedented amount of power within the miltary does seem to suggest a high level of authority.

The role of the Soviet 'political officer' does seem to be somewhat above the baord for an operative (especially if there is only a hundred of them) and i believe this function would be forfilled perhaps by another level of parlimenttary servant, perhaps an 'Agent of the Parliment'

Anyway just some random thoughts, that i hope contribute to the discussion. contridict me as you see fit.
CYA

Business man, see.

REDLAVA

Saturday, November 11, 2006 7:07 AM

I don't think Book or Mathias underestimated The Operative and his capabilities. I think they underestimated what length he and the Parlaiment would go to to keep River's secret unknown.

My opinion of the Operatives place in the grand sceme of things is as a "trouble shooter." They are the special forces of the Parliament in a way. Most things that crop up could probably be handled by a bounty hunter like in Objects In Space or the military. But occasionally there are some special circumstances that need to be resolved quickly and quietly, and a huge contingent of troops beating the bushes are not one of those ways.

Everybody always has the advantage over us, but that's what makes us special...and Browncoats.