drothgery wrote:cthia wrote:One day Torch will be a bustling system. Is it too far-fetched to assume that the Torch Navy would be given free access to the MWJ? Because of the familial ties?
If Torch is a formal military ally of Manticore, the RTN will have the same free access to the Junction that the GSN (and other Manticoran Alliance members) have 'now'. However, at least at Torch's founding, Web Du Havel intended for Torch to be neutral in all conflicts other than those involving Mesa (and presumably the Alignment, now that they know it exists), so I don't know how that will play out. Torch's civilian traffic will of course pay junction transit fees; even Manticoran civilian traffic does.
Thanks for the info. I always thought the notion of a navy gearing up to go to war, but then having to stop to pay toll charges is funny. I wonder if the transits are made then billed. Or paid before transit, which could waste precious time if you are headed to war.
As far as civilian traffic, I assumed that the allies would be given a reduced rate to transit. Perhaps even 50 % off. I know that that would strain Manticore's resources now, with Lacoon in full swing, but the Havenites were all but starving before they joined the alliance. I would assume that that was part of the bargaining chip proposed initially -- to ease the financial strain the Havenite government had of feeding its people.
I assumed that the RTN would have free access, alliance member or no. They are a young system trying to get its feet in the door of the galaxy, so to speak. Surely Beth would do all she can to assist in that endeavor. Even allow free commercial transit to help Torch's businesses grow, before beginning to charge them. It would have been my guess, on a multiple choice test, anyways.