The Mail in T2K

[Raellus]

I've been thinking about how troops would behave when they arrived back home from campaigning overseas- in particular, U.S. troops. This got me thinking about the mail- the old fashioned paper mail.

By 2000, most troops on foreign soil (or in another state) wouldn't have received much (if any) news, personal or otherwise, from "The World" since the TDM. Once they return to their home country, a lot of them, I'd imagine, would want to get back to their loved ones ASAP. I, for one, would want to at least know for certain what had become of my family while I was away. For this reason, I think that desertion could become a big problem. Otherwise disciplined, loyal soldiers, would go AWOL to seek out their loved ones.

Anyway, one way to head this off and win over the general public at the same time would be to reestablish a mail service. "Snail" mail is quickly becoming an anacronism, but in '97, e-mail wasn't quite as widely used as it is now and, thanks to EMP and other effects of multiple nuclear strikes the world over, it would become nearly impossible to communicate electronically. So, good ol' fashioned mail would make a comeback. Only the military would have the resources to get the mail moving again.

In the U.S., both Milgov and Civgov would have ample incentive to reestablish mail service. It would help decrease desertion rates and improve the morale of the citizenry. An efficient communications network would also be crucial to overall reconstruction efforts as well as the prosecution of the civil war.

Lastly, escorting mail shipments between cities/states would make for some interesting adventure opportunities for players and GMs.

What are your thoughts on the mail in the Twilight Years? How have you handled mail in your T2K universe?

[natehale1971]

Actually, this was important in my groups home campaigns.

mail services was a TOP priority. In fact most postal services was handled on horse back or motorcycle couriers. and even in warzones postal service personnel where not harmed by even the most insane marrauders.

in Europe, postal service personnel go from one cantonment to the next, not worried about what allegiance they are part of. the neutrality of the post has been assured by all sides.

this is how 'communication' between enemies has been done. allowed for the exchange of prisoners and the like..

[Abbott Shaull]

What mail service there would be in 2000 would be highly localized, don't see interstate mail service.

Yes it would be one of the services that any government would try to reinstate, just to help get things back to normal.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Abbott Shaull

What mail service there would be in 2000 would be highly localized, don't see interstate mail service..

I agree. The PCs in my campaign were asked by MilGov forces in the Norfolk area to carry mail and military documents to the 78th Division HQ in New Jersey but it wasn't general civilian mail.

[headquarters]

Our campaogn has ebbed and flowed on the "encounter charts " going from anarchy to organizd to terrorized you might say .

There has been an operating postal service at times ,but the current situation means that people most likely have their condiments out and a firepit all light and ready as they wait for the mail man...

[Rainbow Six]

I would tend to agree with the view that international mail certainly would have pretty much ceased after the Tanksgiving Day Massacre. Certainly I always assumed that for US troops in Europe there would be no letters after that time.

One thing I am introducing in my alternative Survivors Guide to the UK is the concept of the King's Messengers. In real life there are currently Queen's Messengers, many of whom are retired military personnel, whose job is to travel around the UK's various Embassies and High Commissions as Diplomatic couriers; the King's Messengers in my SGUK will travel between HMG's various enclaves delivering by hand important messages and packages. (They are titled King's Messengers because in my timeline King William IV is on the throne).