*** ALERT - ALERT *** Contact with the CyCon

[johndmuller]

Our Schooner is anchored in Pi Square Harbor (Pi Square itself being at (68,56); it popped into view on its last move). I believe it constitutes an 'official' meeting as our status with them is now at 'Truce' whereas the other 3 human factions are -(blank)-. Other evidence of another faction's presense (a tile with solar enhancements on it) had previously been discovered at (70,72) by the Gunship in the SE off what is apparently another shore of the Borg landmass. They are quite close to us. I guess that makes it likely that there is also a faction near Morgan's Boot.

I would propose that we offer them a Treaty and a trade of Doc:Mobility in exchange for InfoNets (Applied Physics would be OK with me also, but I gather from previous posts that our Council would likely prefer InfoNets). If someone could come up with a suitable greeting and interesting language to introduce ourselves, that would be cool also.

Do we need to poll anything with respect to this?

I'm sending out a copy of the .sav file showing the map as we now know it and the turn pretty much completed, except for the build matter mentioned above and in the first e-mail eaarlier in this turn.

Feedback is requested.

A copy of the turn is also here.

[Googlie]

Yes - you have now officially met as per the game rules.

I'd suggest that you communicate with other factions via PM to its leader (or by your Foreign Affairs Commodore with their designated Foreign Affairs minister once protocols have been stablished.)

In-game communications can be read by anyone (just open the gameturn with Word, then scroll to the end, and there are all the interfaction screen messages) and should be used in PBEMs for planting of misinformation (re tech trades, alliances, phony transferr of credits or units, etc etc)

Of course actual trades still have to be executed thru the in-game diplo screens

G.

[foolish_icarus]

cool

looking at save now

[Makahlua]

I'm for getting something -other- than InfoNets, actually as it's only got 4 years to finish (I think all the research would roll over, but I'd rather have something not in the planned research path) Do we want to trade maps as well, or is that still top secret?

[foolish_icarus]

Probably not a good idea to trade maps. We already know where they are, but they don't know for sure where we are. Perhaps after we find all the other factions

[johndmuller]

Trading for something being reserched is generally a good idea, especially if we expect that we may be cooperating with the Borgs in tech matters - the two of us independently acquiring the same tech would be a waste of our research efforts, considered jointly with the Borgs (or so the Cuspidore's University Slave Advisor appears to be saying - note to all Cap'ns: be sure to keep any Cyborg Slaves Advisors out of sight during these negotiations).

For sure we would carry forward our accumulated research points if we were to receive this tech before we finish it ourselves. Our Tech Cost would also remain the same and we would finish the new tech at the same time as we would otherwise have finished InfoNets. We will, however need to be ready to select our next tech a little sooner than we had thought, as it will ask us to select the next target shortly after we receive the traded tech (we can delay it to the beginnin of the following turn if we do not "accept" the tech until after our turn is underway - i.e. after the 'pre-turn' is over - but if the trade timing is such that we "accept" it first, we will get the tech when they accept it so we will have to choose at the beginning of our next turn).

The only techs that we know they have are their starting techs (Infonets and Applied Physics, IIRC), and Centauri Ecology, which would otherwise show up in the list if you "offer all techs" in the trade window if they did not have it. It is possible that the have researched two techs already or acquired tech(s) in some other trade (both they and the University have recently taken extended periods of time to move if that means anything more than that they were bogged down in RL or other internal matters).

I bellieve that we are planning to hoarde Doc: Flex for a while at least (certainly not trade it when there is other stuff to trade unless the offer is too good to pass up on), so that leaves us either not trading or trading them Doc: Mobility, which is also a nice tech and should be worth a decent return.

Speaking of returns, we may want to get more than just a level 1 tech from them if possible (or at least point out that 'they owe us - tradewise' if we get a level 1), but haggling over the relative value of techs is a can of worms (and we all know that the worms belong in the tequilla, not the can); it is worth bringing up though for both our discussion and probably in the negotiations with the Borg.

Speaking of the negotiations, we should start doing something soon as the clock is ticking and it will take a while to do any of this. Does anyone know any of their email addresses? They show 10 members, but 12 people are on their list (we have a similar phenomenon.

Since Drogue was shown to be online, we took the liberty of sending him the following noncommital PM; we hope the Council approves):

Ahoy Prime Function:

That Schooner off your coast at Pi Square is the P.E.A.C.E. Military Services vessel Montezuma's Revenge of Tripoli, or PMS-003, in your more intimate referents. The Cuspidore BrownBeard greets you as a Brother-of-thep-Sea and has suggested that the crew refrain from coarse and crude behavior in your line of sight.

We have dispatched a bottle to Tripoli requesting "proper" (whatever that means) diplomatic instructions, but meanwhile, in the interests of time, the Cuspidore feels authorized to open negotiations somewhat, so that you may plug in (or whatever it is that you do) to your higher command and initiate the proper routines.

The Cuspidore expects to be able to offer "proper" (whatever that means) trade relations to your "people" and expects to be able to offer the tech "Doc: Mobility" for your consideration. We would wish to know what trade goods you might have to offer in exchange for that knowledge.

We may also become authorized to discuss a Treaty-Between-Brethren-of-the-Sea, should you be similarly inclined. Coordinated efforts to discover improved xenorum distillation technologies, and the breeding of better brewers yeast are also possible items of mutual interest.

So as not to irritate the other factions too much, your prompt evaluation of this matter would be appreciated. Meanwhile, we will of course refrain from coastal raiding, lewd behavior or target practice on that lovely little town of yours. We would, however, wish to allow some of the crew to experience the pleasures of the seamier side of Cyborg life (there are many popular shanties already being sung aboard the Revenge in anticipation of shore leave) should you be able to direct us to the appropriate Quarter of Pi Square.

The Cuspidore, (his Mark)

[johndmuller]

After I sent the message to Drogue, it developed that he was no longer online, so I sent it to TKG and Corellion also (since they are also in North America).

I agree that trading maps is probably not a good idea at this point.

[johndmuller]

Reply from CyCon to initial contact message

RE: That Schooner off Pi Square in the ACDG
Greetings Cuspidore,

We salute the logical proposals of the most honourable PEACE, and are currently debating options. We believe we would like to sign a peace treaty with such a friend, and would like to trade techs, although we are looking at what you do not have and need, that we can provide. Do you posses the great knowledge of Information Networks? We could provide that. Also, would yourselves be open to the sharing of maps? We have some interesting things we would be happy to reveal, and could benefit from your great knowledge of the ocean. This is all subject to the end of the poll, but we believe that it will be accepted by all as the logical conclusion. Together, we can rule the land and sea

While we do not partake in the consumption of alcohol, we believe we have found stimulants that are far more... enticing.

Prime Function Drogue Beta-8

------------------------------------

Is anyone interested in being Cap'n of the Diplomatic Corp?

[Atlantian]

I would love to be the captain of the Diplomatic Corp, but I will not beable to take those duties officially until July 10 IRL.

((I am still keeping my other title!))

Tech trade is a good idea, and I beleive that Mobility is a level one tech, though it is relativaly more usefull then InfoNets and Applied Physics.

To better preform my duties, I am going to go learn how to learn machine language.

Cap'n Dameon McPherson 'aka Atlantian'

((I am In AZ for three weeks right now. I will be back the tenth of july. I am lucky I am getting to come to the thread now. In two days, I will be visiting the technologically impared grandparents. I would be extreamly lucky to c you again. You might hear something from me this 4th-of-july weekend, as I will be seeing my technologically gifted uncles. Good luck without me... I'm going to miss the xenorum. Don't forget to give my 'special batch' (aka: Black Spot) to the hive if we meet them before I get back. May Neptune guide you safely to port.))

[johndmuller]

I'm not getting a completely clear picture, but I think that if there is a consensus, it would be for a Treaty with the Borg, a Trade of our Doc: Mobility for their InfoNets, but no exchange of Maps. Barring feedback to the contrary, I will proceed along those lines tomorrow.

[Mark123jansen]

Agreed

[johndmuller]

Dispatched this bottle to the Borgs:

RE: RE: That Schooner off Pi Square in the ACDG
Ahoy Prime Function Drogue Beta-8,

Due to unexpectedly favorable winds tween here and Tripoli, we have received a bottle from the Cap'n's Council containing diplomatic authotizations and suggestions. As you can see from our signal flags (please disregard the second from your right, it is mistakenly flying upside down, it is actually the flag for "Down the Hatch", not the flag for "Up Yours" as it may appear due to the Pirate's Fair Warning Code mistake; the sailor who raised that flag is being toasted disciplined below decks at this very minute.), and the lack of incoming cannonballs, we are prepared to engage in a mission of peace.

As expected, we are empowered to offer the Consciousness a "Treaty-Between-Brethren-of-the-Sea", which we hope you are able to ratify in your network.

We are also empowered to offer you the Tech: "Doctrine: Mobility", in exchange for your Tech: "Information Networks", should your ratification routines return an affirmative on this issue as well.

We are in the process of finalizing our Fleet Orders for the current year and will Log these in the Official Diplomatic and Trade logs respectively, when the orders are finalized, unless we hear from you to the contrary in the meanwhile.

At this time, due to the constraints of the P.E.A.C.E. "Chart &^$@#ing Confidentiality Consensus", we are unable to engage in an exchange of Maps. The "Chart &^$@#ing Confidentiality Consensus" protects the security of each Cap'n's Charts and Logs - binding every Cap'n to destroy all P.E.A.C.E. Charts and Logs rather than let them fall into the hands of others. However, the PMS %^$#ing Commercial (off-line) Charts while closely held by the Pirate Maritime System's board of licensing, may become available for renting, when the proper bottlework has prepared, (so there would be some significant delay and they would not be bound by the same official Pirate Code to deliver completely true headings in all cases for competitive reasons). Nevertheless, the Progressive Pirates Party is pushing for modernization of the Pirate Code in certain areas, and we may be able to offer true charts at some point in the near future. Meanwhile, the PMS %^$#ing Commercial (off-line) Charts may be made available for leasing by your trading routines in a few years; Cap'n Makahlua may be in touch with your cartographers in the near future to suggest terms.

May the winds and the tides always be with you,

The Cuspidore BrownBeard, his mark [IMG}http://apolyton.net/upload/files/johndmuller/skull2.gif[/IMG]

[johndmuller]

(Their Reply):
-----------------
Diplomacy in the ACDG
Cuspidore

We are pleased that you have agreed to that tech trade, and to the treaty. We understand your reservations about the maps too. Would you be interested in trading Doctrine Flexibility too, possibly for Centauri Ecology? Or maybe another tech if you have that? We believe that the sharing of knowledge leads to our mutual gains, and is the logical path.

Prime Function Drogue Beta-8
----------------

I suppose we should find out what they have to offer somehow.

[foolish_icarus]

We shoudl ask them if perhaps they would be willing to enter into an agreement that forbids their settlign the seas and our settling on their continent? Otherwise no doc: flex for the borgs.

[Mark123jansen]

If they would be willing to agree to that we might also enter a pact with them, use those landlubbers to do our research for us