Combined diplomatic thread --Direction needed

[Nubclear]

Bolshoi Sovietski Soyuz

[FlameFlash]

Tass,

Maybe I'm just oblivious, but the one time I remember Herc getting upset with Googlie it was in regards to the CyCon war ruling, etc.

I would appreciate it if you would keep retorts to a dull roar and maybe take them PM. I know Herc would have appreciated a PM prior to your posting as it should be obvious to you that he never bothered to authorize you and would feel slighted by a sudden appearance.

[Nubclear]

[FlameFlash]

Eh?

This eventuality was obvious even though you've had the position for how long and you just got authorized?

Now had your post actually been useful, such as mentioning the fact about Enigma being ousted I'd have different feelings on Herc's reaction to your first post among us, but as useless as it was, there really was no defense in simply hopping in unannounced and Herc was justified in his reaction.

[Nubclear]

Oh bah. My mood improves regardless of this and I see little point in arguing.

[johndmuller]

If I might be permitted to violate the rancor to resume the thread . . .

I think our days are pretty much numbered without any real allies, so we need to either quit or take up one of their offers.

For me there is no possibility of asking the time of day from the &*^&$#in' Cycon, let alone anything further, so I would be going for the Hive offer instead. I wonder if we could actually get a Colony pod to them, but one never knows; perhaps we are truly free of Cycon DL'ers and/or other illicit spying and would actually be able to do it secretly. If we plan to do it, we should escort it with several warships as we don't seem to be able to do anything else with them anyway.

[foolish_icarus]

can our ambassador ask the hive for a map so we know where to send our escape pod?

[Hercules]

The general feeling seems to be to accept the hive offer as set out by Octavian.
I ffel we also need to sendthem Doc Ini this turn so that they can build a protective vessel.

Foolish we already have good maps and a reasonable idea of where we are heading. But swapping maps is also a good idea.

I am disappointed that we lost L L (and our probe unit) so quickly, I believed we had a MP left. There must be questions about their ( borg) accuracy. we know they have infiltrated us but they play an questionable style of testing forward moves. Maybe also a DL.

I will contact Voltaire with our acceptance I will ask him to keep silent about it, so as not to alert teh cycon as to our sailing directions. Also I will ask for exchange of maps and Biogenetics ( re hopeful probe)

[Hercules]

Maki please confirm that you sent Doc Ini to the Hive before I contact him.

[Makahlua]

pre-accepted to the hive and game saved.

[Hercules]

I snt this to Ambassador Octavian X



Greetings Hive Comrades.

We have discussed your offer in our forums and it is the overwheming consensus that we accept the
Hive-Drone offer of protection and safe haven.

We are doing our fastest to build a sea colony pod and or a colony pod for transport to your shores/ general
terrority.

In the meantime we send you Doc:Ini pre accepted in order that you might build a faster craft(s) to
escort/protect us as we approach your waters.

There is the vague possibility that we can build a probe unit in time to probe Data Roze for non linear. But we
lack Biogenetics. If, when you examine the turn you see a probe foil under construction in Atlantis then the
possibility becomes real.

In the meantime we look forward to co-operation with you.

Btw Of the Pirates who passed an opinion, they all opted for the Hive offer.

We hope this offer is genuine.

Yours Cap'n hercules

[Hercules]

And this to Chairman Voltaire.



I have sent a longer replyto Octavian but in essence we accept your kind offer of protection and role of junior
colleague.

Do not broadcast/communicate this acceptance to the Cycon until we are safe within your territorial waters.
we have pre accepted Doc: Ini to you this turn.

We would hope to send over all our techs and maps in due course.

[Makahlua]

Most recent message from Maniac and my reply:

Hi Makahlua,

Makahlua wrote on 29-01-2004 03:09:
It's been posted to our diplomacy thread and we're rolling out the kegs and sharpening our knives for discussion.

Thank you for doing so. I hope to hear from you soon, as this is a rather urgent matter as you understand. Sorry I didn't offer this proposal earlier, but I didn't know before it was allowed.

Btw, I received a PM from foolish_icarus where he simply replied "no" to my unification proposal. Is that an official opinion, or is he one of many voices?

Also could I please ask what PEACE members are still active these days? That way I know to who I should send further correspondence about this matter.

Thank you,

Maniac

My reply:

Btw, I received a PM from foolish_icarus where he simply replied "no" to my unification proposal. Is that an official opinion, or is he one of many voices?

He's just one voice among the captains; any -official- word would come from myself, Herc or FlameFlash.

Also could I please ask what PEACE members are still active these days? That way I know to who I should send further correspondence about this matter.

Myself, Hercules, FlameFlash, foolish_icarus, johndmuller, H0bbes. and Gert have been the most active posters recently.

(end of reply)

May I take a moment to impress upon the rest of the Cap'ns that we must not give them any hint whatsover of the plan to head for Hive waters or it could deepsix it before it even gets going?

[Hercules]

I have been thinking about that probe ship under construction. If we can finish it we could sail with it to Hive waters and with borrowed nmoney from somewhere or facs traded in, with their permission mind control a Hive base.we would repay once we became established there.

But I fear it could be curtains for us soon. By the way just send the Hive, everything we have, techs and maps.

[FlameFlash]

I concur with Cap'n Herc. Worst come to worst I'll simply see all of ye in the Hive after it's said and done, as if we pirates do go down, I know I'm not going out!

[Hercules]

Also here a thought, that schooner we have in the southern ocean ( that just popped a pod. I don't think the Cycon knows where it is. If we order it back to Hive territory we may 'capture' a Hive base. Long shot I suppose.

[FlameFlash]

With the Hive's approval... of course.

[Googlie]

Well the problem would be that you'd have to get the Hive to empty the base, then declare Vendetta to let your cruiser enter it.

But upon Vendetta, all your units would be moved automatically from Hive territory (and vice-versa) so you'd be sailing from scratch again.

And remember the PBEM protocol - if your colony pod is still sailing to Hive secure territory when your last base is capable of being captured by the CyCon (ie, demonstrated to Tass's -or my - satisfaction that they have the ability to destroy the defender and enter the base unopposed) then you are obliged to self-destruct it, thus terminating your faction

(otherwise, as those of you who are active in PBEMs know, upon their terminating your faction the game eliminates you but jumps to the start of the next mission year, thus depriving any unplayed players their turn that year - only the Drones are affected, but I'd guess they'd object if they missed a turn)

G.

[foolish_icarus]

The cycon and PUT have "unified"--pretty sucky


Its a fair bet this means PUT will declare war, which means Hive might back down on their offer

damn, damn borgs


nichevo

[Hercules]

This from Voltaire:



Greetings from the Human Hive,

I’m afraid that this communication comes at a time of great peril for all factions
on Planet, and though I am certain that you are aware of the situations it
needs restating. As you have heard the University will become subject to
CyCon rule, with the University under CyCon domination the rest of Planet
faces the peril of having to face the warmongering CyCon empowered by the
Universities research. As such the Human Hive, the Drones, and PEACE must
combine their efforts to stop the menace of the CyCon. I will personality
request of all faction leaders to allow for a special War Council to be
establishes so that we may best coordinate our efforts.

We have accepted Doctrine: Initiative. On the coming turn we will have a
cruiser ready to escort your colony pod to safety of our territorial waters.

The Drones have expressed their consent that you receive SFF now, and the
DAP when the CyCon receive it (in order to prevent them form gaining it
earlier). You will have to contact the Drones directly for we currently do not
have the SFF ourselves.

You need also consider the inevitable fact that the CyCon are gaining against
you, action needs to be taken to preserve your sovereignty. We suggest that
you may want to cede some of your bases to ourselves and the Drones in order
to protect them for the time being.

Please think about what has been stated and respond to us ASAP, the urgency
of this must be stressed.

-Chairman Voltaire

[Hercules]

When we get the turn we need to examine very closely how we can best survive and reach Hive territory.

I am not sure how we can cede bases to the Drones and Hive in the sense of how to actually do it. It is not like in SP.

Let's open the 2154 turn again and experiment if we can cede a base. Can we upgrade all our transports (1 /2 ?) in the design workshop. Maybe we need to have built a prototype already. SFF will be handy if we survive.

I will PM Voltaire with acceptance (after I hear views) and ask for map co-ordinates we should sail for or if the Hive have a craft near our area.

If we didn't send everything last time we need to do so this time including our maps

[foolish_icarus]

Mechanically, We could allow them to mind control us. I assume our consent would negate the mandated declaration of war. Although i don't see why that is necessary, they can just move ships in to prevent the 'borgs from attacking.

[FlameFlash]

They probably don't have enough ships...

I like the rest though. To the Hive!

[Hercules]

I checked and as I thought there is no simple mechanism as in SP games to cede bases.

No this one has to be done the hard way. Note what Googlie has said about last base and CP. So if need be we unload the pod on that uninhabitated? island north west of Atlantis and then grow another CP. Meanwhile build the base on Yardarm where we think it will be safe for two turns. and build another CP in this new yard arm base. Hopefully that will buy us time.

[FlameFlash]

Sounds good... though how close are we to being beaten down?

[Googlie]

You could let a base go into continual drone riots where it would then have a 75% probability of joining the Drone Faction (but to offset that would be a 25% possibility of its joining the CC, PUT or Hive - the latter one being not too bad, I imagine)

In PBEMs the only way to transfer control of a base is through emptying it, declaring Vendetta, and letting the erstwhile pactmate waltz in - but on dissloving the pact his units would be rehomed at their base - you'd need a turn or two for them to get close enough to take over the base.

Re: mind-controlling a base, I don't know if a PBEM pactmate is given that as an option - I think it's just steal tech, but I can't be sure.

G.

[Hercules]

In light of the Cycon - PUt merger ( PUT surrender) maybe we will consult with the Hive about Peace joining the Hive _ Drones Alliance. With the rider that continuing war with Peace would be viewed as war with the Hive - Drones.

I wonder would the Hive go along with that.

Views

[foolish_icarus]

Isn't that what they offered?

[FlameFlash]

That was something that we dirked a while back that may be needed now...

[Hercules]

No we dirked an outright surrender.

This added rider is to try to make Cycon think about stopping the war because they will be in vendetta with two powerful factions.