Greater Deregulation

Challenge #04039-K021: The Scapegoat Bites Back

The planet was polluted, the oceans were half-dead, the air was hazardous. The CRC were about to send in Pax Humanis to "begin the cleanup" when something ... strange happened. The planet was getting cleaned up, healthcare reform was happening, and people had proper equipment to survive the toxins. And who ordered this? Of all people, the NEW CEO who'd just taken over! -- Fighting Fit

The finger had been on the metaphorical trigger when the change in regime happened. It wasn't announced to the greater Galactic Alliance, merely celebrated as a "shining example" to other Deregger women. What they, too, could do with the right bootstraps.

Lies, of course. They picked her out as the highest-ranking representation of her gender so they could then push her off the Glass Cliff[1].

They did not figure on Thermidora Katafaulk's determination and resources. Her first order of business was to give all employees a thriving wage and therefore boost the economy enough for the next step.

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Challenge #04036-K018: Stay Sharp

Multiple CEO's get together and put a major bounty on the heads of known Pax Humanis members. The Pax Humanis is a too effective weapon for the CRC. They are determined to slow it down. -- Fighting Fit

Several critical misunderstandings were involved in the resulting mess. First, that Pax Humanis was smaller than it truly was. Second, that eliminating the members they knew about would end the threat to themselves. Third, that the bounty hunter they tried to hire was not

Challenge #04030-K012: Double Down Defeat

The Pax Humanis member decides not to kill the young CEO they were sent to investigate. Instead, they begin a proper education, after first killing those that lead hir astray. The cruelty was due to ignorance and inexperience, not deliberate. -- Anon Guest

People hear "Pax Humanis" and think of bloodthirsty maniacs that need to be contained for everyone's safety. They're not wrong, but there's also those among the organization who are a lot less extreme. The Justices, as we call ourselves.

Challenge #04022-K004: One Person's Nightmare...

The world had been a toxic sludge pit. The CEOs were all dead now thanks to the pollution that had caused that disease outbreak. The populace was rescued by the CRC. Now, nearly 5 centuries later, inoculated against it, some return to rescue their former homeworld, with the CRC's aid and blessing. -- Fighting Fit

Most of the volatile components left on the world had broken down to less harmful ones. The world once named Rykodaan was, at least nominally, safe for

Challenge #03857-J205: Taken For Granted

They never notice when we come to their world. Our bodies and faces are so nondescript as to be completely... forgettable. These nanomachines we carry, slowly going into their human resources, curing diseases, treating injuries, ensuring health despite the lack of infrastructure. And these healthy people rising up when they realize their CEOs are actively trying to keep them sick and weak. Breakdown of a society is sad, but the rebuild is always so satisfying. -- Anon Guest

Something horrible is happening

Challenge #03833-J181: Obligation to Duty

An SOS went out that ships of Thranatyr and Humans both caught. BOTH sets of warships showed up at the planet. Who was sending the SOS? Women and children trying to flee. Who were they fleeing? The militant CEO's that were using it as a slave planet. Imagine the CEO's shock when the Deregger warships met the angry ships of Vorax and Humans? -- Anon Guest

There was a plaque on the bridge of the ship. A reminder, said the owner and

Challenge #03813-J161: Where They Never Look

The Dereggers INSIST on inspecting my ship every single time I state I'm ready to take off. I don't mind. My cargo I get there is always strapped in properly. My living cargo? Well, heh, there's a reason that domicile-sized crate hasn't moved from Cargo Hold B ever since I started making my run. That reminds me, it's my turn to do laundry, gotta run! -- DaniAndShali

"Hello and good morning, Officer Croupki," cheered Trader Xiik, smile wide on their face. "How's

Challenge #03784-J131: Learn or...

CEO -- "It's not FAIR!"

"It's that or you go to prison"

CEO -- "Then how in the name of hell am I supposed to control them this way?"

"You could always try being fair and giving them what you promised."

CEO -- "THAT is blackmail!"

"You have your two choices, so choose."

The CEO is ordered by the CRC to either have all of their interactions live-streamed 24 / 7, including board room meetings, work in the office, and so forth, along

Challenge #03778-J125: Listen to the Echoes

The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, and expect a different result. Dereggers have that layer of insanity down in spades. These dereggers keep trying to find out why dereg empires keep falling. And then absolutely refuse to accept the results. -- Anon Guest

[AN: Because doubling down on bad decisions and ignoring replicable data is what that side of the political spectrum does best]

"Obviously our brothers in righteousness allowed themselves to become soft

Challenge #03723-J070: One Simple Request

If the women cannot have their freedom, then THEY cannot have more children! The women, almost all of them on the planet, agree to take a reversable treatment which leads them to be barren. And the only ones who can reverse it? The Alliance. The CEO's refuse to give them freedom? The CEO's population can vanish! -- Anon Guest

Of course the Alliance gave them the weapon in their battle. Something easy to smuggle in, easy to apply, and very very hard

Challenge #03720-J067: Important Standards

A highly arrogant Deregger decided to send to the "alliance scum" all of the "unwanted wastes of space." The elderly unable to work anymore, the "r-words" in their view who were not worth keeping alive, the disabled, the drug-addled wastrels, etc. Why? To try to swamp them with the "wastes of society" and prove that these individuals were too much for anyone to keep alive. It... backfired. -- Anon Guest

It seemed like a brilliant flash of genius to the Deregger community.

Challenge #03712-J059: Bootstraps Not Included

On the planet, the women disappeared, the CEO's replaced them with robotic women.

On the planet, the men and children disappeared, the CEO's replaced them with AI workers.

On the planet, the AI began to fade away, the workers began to stop working.

The CEO's demanded their people return.

The living, now freed, individuals shouted back "Use your bootstraps!" -- Anon Guest

"Nobody ever handed me anything on a silver platter," said CEO Zalmoxis Morong as he plucked a petit four offered

Challenge #03657-J004: Lessons From Ozymandias

This was a Deregger world, as cold, as harsh, as they came. This....WAS... a Deregger world... so... why was the new, young owner of this empire holding out a hand to the lowly plebian child who was thin and crying in the street? Why was he... carrying the child and handing the child to the family... wait.. was he... helping them? Helping them???? And how in the he... was he making all those profits? This was a DEREG world! WAS. --

Challenge #03656-J003: Without Orders

They sat Deathwatch as the entire polity's leaders refused the "evil" medicines that were desperately needed to cure the deadly virus sweeping their empire. The leadership died of the virus, the few people left, the sick and the very few immunes, reached out. The leaders are gone, please help us? -- Anon Guest

Greater Deregulation Lower Median North-Northwest was dying. Worse, it was dying of a preventable disease.

It wasn't often that a whole world died of Measles[1], but it was

Challenge #03646-I358: Welcome to All

Desperate, and hearing the Alliance gave medical care for FREE, Dereggers from many systems within the empire begin sneaking away, often with help, to save their families lives and get help. -- Anon Guest

They came in drifts. They came in droves. Freighters arrived with their holds full of the tired, the weak, and the huddled masses. The desperate, the starving, and the all-but-hopeless.

They had nothing but the clothing on their backs and the knowledge in their heads. They had risked

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A 114-post collection

Challenge #04039-K021: The Scapegoat Bites Back

Challenge #04036-K018: Stay Sharp

Challenge #04030-K012: Double Down Defeat

Challenge #04022-K004: One Person's Nightmare...

Challenge #03857-J205: Taken For Granted

Challenge #03833-J181: Obligation to Duty

Challenge #03813-J161: Where They Never Look

Challenge #03784-J131: Learn or...

Challenge #03778-J125: Listen to the Echoes

Challenge #03723-J070: One Simple Request

Challenge #03720-J067: Important Standards

Challenge #03712-J059: Bootstraps Not Included

Challenge #03657-J004: Lessons From Ozymandias

Challenge #03656-J003: Without Orders

Challenge #03646-I358: Welcome to All