Marian wrote: <I'm inclined to consider Vila's statement as a typical example of his improvisational boasting that can't be taken seriously.>
and Jacqui: <He was probably also trying to annoy Tarrant.>
But Tarrant isn't there to hear it - Vila is talking to Avon and Cally, who've known him a long time, remember - and there's no evidence that he ever brought it up again in Tarrant's hearing.
I'm inclined to think [a] yes, he could have bought a grading to stay out of the military, but the bit about captains is an exxageration inspired merely by the fact that he's thinking about one as he's burbling; and [b] Tarrant IMO told the truth, but as there was no proof one way or the other, neither Vila *nor* Avon is taking it for gospel at this point (after all, what does it *matter* what rank he used to be?). _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
--- Sally Manton smanton@hotmail.com wrote:
I'm inclined to think [a] yes, he could have bought a grading to stay out of the military, but the bit about captains is an exxageration inspired merely by the fact that he's thinking about one as he's burbling;
I thought that Vila had a slight inferiority complex around Tarrant. There's the whole business about how he could have made Space Captain if he wanted to in Volcano. In Moloch he tells Tarrant that the fact he's been issued a Federation Uniform, makes him as good as Tarrant. And, of course, when Soolin remarks that Vila didn't have a lot of time for Tarrant, Avon observes that Tarrant is "young, brave and handsome" which are three good reasons to dislike him. Tarrant is sublimely confident that he has got the better of life - remember his comment in Sarcophagus - whereas Vila suspects that life is apt to get the better of him. Hence his recourse to the electric soup. So I suspect his comment in Volcano was a piece of bravado.
Having said this it is quite amusing to imagine Vila scoring highly on his intelligence tests and lying his way through the psychological tests only to find, to his horror, that he has been promoted to Alpha grade and is being sent to join the Federation's crack death or glory assault force.
"Who me ? No there must be some kind of mistake. I don't want to be an Alpha ! I know my place !"
Stephen.
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Sally Manton -
Stephen Date