Investigative Report into the Fallen Angels
Issue 1: Jociam Giest
By Argon Viper
Introduction
The Fallen Angels. Ever since they came over to the Vast Empire, they've been a point of contention. Three of their members, even now, reside in Wraith Squadron, and there are many who still remember them fondly. But then there are those who think they were a menace, a group of radicals whose break-up should be celebrated.
In this series of interviews, I hope to get to the bottom of the Fallen Angels, what they were, what they did, and why they broke up.
With luck, we can avoid similar problems in the future, and begin to welcome individual groups from disbanded clubs.
For this first installment, I have interviewed former Major Jociam Giest, executive officer of the Intruder Wing Planetary Operations Division and later of the Fallen Angels.
Interview
Argon: Thanks for agreeing to do this interview.
Geist: No problem, I haven't had too much going on that would keep me away.
Argon: Can you describe conflicts between the Fallen Angels and Vast Empire?
Geist: You mean points of contention between the VE and the Fallen Angels? We came in with baggage, plain and simple. We came in with background and history (and lightsabers) that we wanted to keep. We came in with our own experiences together. Most important of all, we came in AS the Fallen Angels. We weren't a bunch of individual newbies, we had our own experience and our own way of doing things, and that didn't always mesh with the VE way of doing things.
That's not to say that we couldn't have been something great in the VE. When we shifted to being VEEC mercs, we got everything we wanted. We had freedom to do what we want and no threat of "the man" enforcing his authority over us, because we WERE "the man". The Fallen Angels answered to me (as director of special projects), and I answered to Daishi (as head of the VEEC). It was the setup we had wanted from the beginning with the added benefit of having ties to a fairly successful org.
Argon: Can you name any specific events or actions that led to the breakup of the Fallen Angels?
Geist: In the end, we did ourselves in. Early on we did great work and we had a right to be proud. After a while we just seemed to stop caring. Activity stopped and we just didn't do anything. Never forget that, in the end nobody but us deserves the blame for the end of the fallen angels. We had everything we wanted and nobody lording their authority over us, and we dropped the ball.
Argon: Can you name your personal reasons for participating in the breakup of the Fallen Angels?
Geist: Though I left before the final breakup, I might as well tell the truth about my own retirement. I left the Fallen Angels out of disgust and frustration. After we went VEEC I did my best to start up a new campaign, and though everyone kept talking about how it was a good idea and they were all behind it, nobody was actually doing anything (the only ones that showed real interest were Deathwookiee and a guy that was looking to join up). I have to admit that I felt a great deal like I was just being patronized. And after twice going through the same thing with the IW, I just decided I'd had enough.
Argon: Well, thanks for your time and for your opinions on these topics.
Geist: My pleasure.
-----------------------
Argon Viper
Sergeant Major/Senior Writer, VE Today
IW COL Argon Viper{ret}
Fallen Angel and Proud of It!
"History is on the move, those who cannot keep up will watch from a distance, and those who get in our way will not watch at all" - Grand Admiral Thrawn
"Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses" - Carl G Jung
