When I first joined Ancient Worlds, I was in Okinawa, serving on the last overseas deployment of my naval career.

After serving in the Navy 32 years (man & boy), I must admit I had serious misgivings about becoming a privatus, a quirite again.

Happily, retirement hasn't been so bad! One nice mitigating factor is that I am now employed as a defense contractor, working with the same people I had before, so I'm not completely away from the Navy that I love. Not a bad gig, all in all...

What an odd cognomen. It's true. I readily admit it. It is derived from the word "Tacron," which really isn't a word at all. It's an acronym, standing for "Tactical Air Control Squadron." Our speciality is air control of helicopters and close air support aircraft during amphibious assaults. In fact, the motto of one of our squadrons is "Dirigimus," or "We control."

"Tacronicus" is more of a cognomen than a praenomen, but that is the way in which the game set me up.

I am a vir militaris in true life, having served in the Navy of the American Republic since the days of my youth. Soon, all too soon, I shall be reduced to status of one of the quirites. After 32 years of service, man and boy, I shall be forced to retire.

...but not yet. Not yet.

And now, by chance, I have stumbled upon "Ancient Worlds." So much I do not yet understand, but so much that I wish to learn.

One must needs begin someplace, though, and I have begun with this journal. "Who has begun has half the job done," or in the language of the Virgil, "Dimidium facti qui coepit habet."

I weep for the res publica...for the Republic that once was, long ago, and the Repubic that now is.

Friend, if you happen to read this, please respond and share with me your thoughts.
-- Tacronicus