Drone Diplomatic Exchanges

[Drogue]

Any news on offer of 200 ec for SFF?

[Maniac]

I forwarded my latest PM to jtsisyoda because buster apparently hasn't visited Apolyton the last four days, and asking him to post in the drone forum. I got this back:

Posted as requested.

"...if you gave us both SFF & D:AP (as you indicated you would be willing to do)"

I may be splitting hairs, and this is just my opinion, but "willing" seems a little overstated, unless Buster told you something he didn't say in our forum. "Open to the possibility if the price/exchange is right" seems more accurate. Just trying to avoid a misunderstanding...

I've forwarded him the last PM I got from buster, so he certainly knows of all our negotiations.

However I begin to fear they're not at all interested in giving us SFF and are simply trying to stall time (despite buster claiming he isn't). After all, the only reason why the SFF issue is still more or less alive is because we keep asking the drones about it. They have not shown much initiative in trying to work out a deal.

[Drogue]

True, but I don't think they're allied with PEACE. Either they have designs on attacking us in the future (very possible) or they think we may attack them. Or they suspect a PUT/CyCon alliance. Have no idea which yet.

[Maniac]

Is it ok if I send this PM to jtsisyoda? We need to get a clear picture of our situation asap, so we can start discussing with other factions re SFF.

---

Hi jtsisyoda,

I noticed the speed of response to my diplomatic messages to the Drones is much slower than normal. As a consequence I get the impression there isn't much enthusiasm in the Drone faction regarding any trade involving Synthetic Fossil Fuels. Is that true, or are you interested in a deal after all? If there isn't any interest, could you please inform us so clearly instead of leaving us in incertainty any longer.

Thanks,

Mani Alpha-3
External Affairs Function of the Cybernetic Consciousness

[Impaler[WrG]]

You know if they trade us SFF we can trade them AirPower on the turn they would be completing it and they could tec switch at the last minute and get something else in addition to Air Power. They likly do not realize this is possible and that may be one of the resons their hesistant. Buster may not realize that diplomacy gets resolved before research alowing you to tec switch even on the turn you will be completing a project.

Unfotunatly we run the risk of letting them take MMI if they are able to steal NuralG from the University on their next turn.

[Drogue]

Imp: We can't. We get AP in 2154, they get it in 2153. We asked them about it and they told us they can't

Maniac: Send it

[Maniac]

Sent.

Btw, Drogue, what would you think about it if you mentioned to HongHu in a chat that - despite our (so we claim) dislike of PUT - we plan to trade SFF to PUT if the drones don't trade SFF to us? Hopefully she will mention it to the Drones, and make them more willing to trade SFF. Though of course the Drones could perceive it as a threat and it could have the opposite effect.

[Drogue]

I could casually mention somethign hinting at that. "While we don't like PUT, they have offered us a very good trade for SFF. If the Drones want a non-prolif, we will of course honour that, but would it anger the Hive if, presuming we have to research it, we trade it with PUT?" or something like it. Sounds more Hive related, not wanting to annoy them, but may well inform the Drones through it

[Maniac]

That would be great.

I recently received a PM at last though from buster. I sent him a copy at CGN of the PM I sent on Poly to jtsisyoda. Here it is:

buster wrote on Today 02:39:
It is currently being discussed - generally though cash is not really what were after - it would be a tech for tech deal.

regards
buster

My reply:

Hi buster,

Thanks for the answer.
A tech-for-tech deal would be great, as we prefer that as well over a tech-for-credits deal.

Greetings,

Maniac

[Drogue]

Sounds good When I get home, I'll ask HongHu for a quick chat

[Maniac]

Less good news. jtsisyoda's reply from my PM to him at Apolyton. I guess buster and he don't know of each other's messages.

Maniac,
I posted your message. Sorry about any slow response. I'm not an official ambassador, but my impression is that we don't need this trade right now, so I wouldn't plan around it.
-Yoda

Btw, what if buster asks SFF<->AdapEcon? Will we accept?

[Impaler[WrG]]

Only with Nonproliferation and No Secret Project but we could throw in a second additional tec too to even it out, like Doc:Init. Lets see what they ask for.

[Drogue]

Maniac: The Hive have propsed (or rather Enigma has) a Doc Loyal and Eco Eng for Adapt Econ and the PEG trade. If buster wants Adapt Econ, then do both trades on the same turn. We then give one tech and one SP to he Hive/Drones, and get 3 in return. There are plenty of SPs to choose from, and we should beeline for the CBA IMHO, not the PEG or AV. We could throw in an agreement notto build the AV (we won't anyway) if it will sway it with the Hive.

I wouldn't trade Adapt Econ for SFF unless we can also trade it with the Hive. We want the PEG, unless we can get two techs for it. However if we trade with Hive, the Drones will get it and build it, so a dual trade, with PEG (we get extra) is best, since I reckon one of those two will get the PEG whatever we do.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Impaler[WrG]
Only with Nonproliferation and No Secret Project but we could throw in a second additional tec too to even it out, like Doc:Init. Lets see what they ask for.

I'd rather let them trade it (they will anyway) and build it (if they don't, the Hive will) and not give them cruisers personally. We need to keep sea power, especially with Enigma and the Drones flexing muscle ATM.

[Impaler[WrG]]

I am still hesitant at giving away the one project that we are likly to be able to build in the near future but I must admit that a duel trade sounds very nice and geting thouse 3 tecs would be very nice.

Lets start seeing what Uni will give us for it too. They have both Eco Eng and Env Econ and might be intersted in trading. What if we promised a delayed exchange with UNI, they give us a tec now and we promisse to send them weapons as soon as our war is over. We also need to coperate with UNI if we want to get MMI before the builders.