Spartan Diplomacy

[#endgame]

Note the name Modo Doctrine matches Modo44 (the Spartan who messaged us about our gator boat. They're being pushy about this, thinking that because they played a good card with the MCC, they can boss everyone around. Can we get another human faction on our side without tipping our hand to the Spartans?

http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/50.htm

Sparta:
...Following the example of the Old Earth American Monroe Doctrine...

The aforementioned Datalinks entry:
The United States would not interfere in European wars or internal affairs, and expected Europe to stay out of American affairs.

We could use this to our advantage. We leave them alone, they leave us alone. Then we try to get the Angels on our side. Fund their probe operations + a small% commission, say? Opening the channel will be risky, we don't know if Sparta have infiltrated them.

-- CTO #endgame

[jtsisyoda]

Here's Modo's response about the 'Gator Boat:

The Modo Doctrine clearly states, that a distance of 8 tiles should be kept at all times. This includes the distance of sea-going vessels from land bases, and vice versa. We want you to undestand that. You have been known to come closer than the proscribed distance in the past. It would be very unfortunate, if your Gator Boat ventured into territory you thought was neutral, and had to be destroyed because of this.

After all, as litigation and defence counsel both know, ignorance of the law is no defence.

[#endgame]

I am looking forward to the day we buy out Sparta Command. What does Modo mean by 'vice versa'? land vehicles from sea bases? Do they plan to restrict our movement by deploying sea colony pods near our island? That's just stupid.

-- CTO #endgame

[jtsisyoda]

From Googlie:

To: The Corporation:

The Junta has been "pricing" Ecol Eng, which we note you will self-research in 2155.

Your current cash flow - after resumed payments to Sparta - will be in the order of 125 per year for the next 4 to 5 years. Your current research rate gives you a technology every 5 years. Purchasing a technology should (obviously) be cheaper than self researching, or why bother.

So the Junta has decided that 500 energy credits for Ecological Engineering would be a fair price (4 years' worth of cash-flow). This could be amortized over 4 years.

Lt-Col Googlie (on behalf of The Federation

Ouch.

[#endgame]

I sense a bit of "Nya-Nya, we've got infiltration here."

Are they trying to sell us EcoEng!? How much rushing do you think they'll do with 500 e.c.s and no mineral restrictions? Or are they gearing up for a probe campaign? They want to sell a 5 turn tech for 4 turns worth of economy. We don't have the former power to effectively borehole or anything yet, so I'd say politely decline or offer a counter proposal that's slightly better for us, since we don't have the infrastructure to take advantage of lifted mineral restrictions yet.

-- CTO #endgame

[jtsisyoda]

Our tech cost is currently 431 lab points, info which they have access to. I wouldn't want to pay more than 431 ec.

[jtsisyoda]

I posted this in the Spartan Embassy:

This is too much. Our tech cost is only 431 anyway.

The question is, should we make a counteroffer, or give them a chance to lower the rate first?

[jtsisyoda]

Kassi's reply:

Well, we can then either keep on the guessing game with 10 credit increments to find out what your preferred prize would be, or you could tell us what it is you are willing to pay. Please keep in mind that we do want a good price out of that tech, the Federation is engaged in military maneuvres as you already know. (And may I add my personal thanks for your congratulations on our 'business acquisition', the Merchant Exchange.)

In fact, to prevent getting bogged down in time-consuming "negotiations" from now on, perhaps we could consider some sort of automatic formula to calculate a standard cost for a tech based on energy? Lt. Col. Googlie suggested to me:

"Like 80% of the research costs for the buyer, rounded to the nearest 25 ec's (that would then be 350 this time) or 30% of the combined research costs of both parties (that'd be 375 ec's), something like that which had a built in automatic escalator (as research costs increase, so does the price of technologies)."

I think this should be seriously considered, as it'd streamline interfactional trade immensely if made standard practice.

And my reply:

I agree with the formula principle. The board will need some time to convene on the matter.

If we went Dem/Green/Wealth, 100% econ, we could buy a bunch of techs, fully utilizing PEG, and allowing police and increased military escapades.

By the way, the Angels have all the techs we do. They probably got some from the Spartans.

[#endgame]

Do we even have the ME?

-- CTO #endgame

[jtsisyoda]

The Spartans have that one. They stole it from Zak.

[#endgame]

Well, then. The Spartans seem to make silly mistakes. We should not correct them, but wait and see if they make something more serrious later.

-- CTO #endgame

[jtsisyoda]

Kassi was thanking me for congratulating them. I don't think there was a mistake there, unless I'm missing your point.

[#endgame]

Oh right, I just can't read.

-- CTO #endgame

[jtsisyoda]

From Kassi:

Before you make any further considerations of price for the proposed trade of Ecological Engineering, be advised that the Federation will require at least 50% of the agreed price paid in a lump sum up front. A complete long-term payment plan for EcolEng is not acceptable.

It also appals us that you have withheld payments for Ethical Calculus while independently, without consulting us, you have docked us 50 ec's for your lost probe defender from mutually agreed standard payments. All the while you have been enjoying the use of Ethical Calculus.

The Junta has determined that this kind of unilateralism shall not happen again.

I believe they've telegraphed their intent to attack us. We should discuss stopping all payment immediately.

[AndiD]

Although I'm everything but a war-monger, I tend to agree. Simply because they aren't a benefit for us at all - their research sucks (Fundy), they aren't a reliable trading partner and we've got money coming out of our ears.

And with current state of affairs, I wonder whether they can afford a war against us right now... they are busy against Zak (and perhaps the Gaians or Angels, too?) and our bases in their hands aren't overly valuable (creating drones, inefficiency, losing the base square energy and also the PEG-Energy Banks (?))

We may research HEC and SFF in a few turns by ourselves (let's see what comes after EcoEng and how long that will take with Labs on 60%-80% if anything else fails...) and by that time we certainly won't be defenseless.