Sparta-Gaian relations

[Googlie]

Edit by Maniac:

Ambassadorial forum

password "warlock"

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We have met the gaians

What do we want to do?

Obviously, get Ind Auto from them (they are running "wealth" so have it)

Here's what we have to offer:

[Googlie]

Firstly, do we want to Treaty or Pact with them?

(if the latter, let's not get dragged into a war with Yang until a time of our choosing)

Regardless, we do want Ind Auto, and have some good tradebait:

The 2 that would be most valuable to them (in my opinion) - and I'm suggesting that we trade only one of them for Ind Auto - would be:

Gene Splicing - gets the nut restrictions lifted, and is a building block for Ecol Eng and Fossil Fuels

or

Doctrine Flexibility - gives them seafaring capability, and lets them pod pop for IoD's and other goodies

but ....... as they already have Ind Auto, giving them Doc Flex brings up Doc Initiative as a future tech choice (with its SP, the MCC, which we want), so on balance I'd be in favour of trading Gene Splicing for Ind Auto (and both are B3 techs, so there is a certain logic to that)

thoughts?

G.

[Googlie]

I just checked the Sparta-Hive diplomacy.

As a personal favour to us, Yang will call off his vendetta against the Gaians (and he'll also sell us Doc Mobility for 100 ec's)

It's got to be worth something to the Gaian team not to have a Yangfight on their hands right now, so maybe we can get away with offering a lesser tech, plus a negotiated cessation of hostilities with the Hive for Ind Auto (instead of giving away good bargaining chips like Doc Flex or Gene Splicing)

Do we need a poll?

[KrysiasKrusader]

Let's "feel them out" first in the upcoming negotiations.
If we enter a mid to long term pact, for example, then we could probably work out a more complicated deal...

[Googlie]

I suggest a starting bid (from us) of:

Applied Physics, plus getting Yang to call off his vendetta, in exchange for Ind Auto. I think we should flatly refuse Flex (if they ask for that)

Doc Mobility in lieu of Applied Physics would also get my vote.

If they want Gene Splicing plus a Yang intervention, I think we should ask for Ind Auto plus Industrial Base (which they'll have as an en route to Ind Auto. If we get those, that'll bring up High Energy Chemistry as a future option (Plasma Armor)

G.

[KrysiasKrusader]

Originally posted by Googlie
If we get those, that'll bring up High Energy Chemistry as a future option (Plasma Armor)

Plasma Armor?
That's not nearly as important as nerve gas!

[Kassiopeia]

If we really want to pact with the Gaians, we should really make friends with them by getting Yang off their backs. That would give them insurance for future as well, what with our apparent weight in Yang's "mind". Adversely, we can use it as a Damocles' sword above their heads; if they mess with us, they risk having Yang back at them again.

Of course the AI, especially the Hive one, isn't renown for its integrity in keeping ceasefires, but by all means we should milk it for all its worth. I also favour tech trading, but I'll leave the details of that up to you to decide on.

I, however, *should* be shooting off a PM to the Gaians soon. I need to decide to whom, and what I'll say it in. I'll try a cordial approach and hope they'll appreciate it.

I should also open up dialogue on getting Yang off their backs and asking what they'd like to offer in return. They can tell what techs we are missing, but we shouldn't appear too desperate for anything. Then again, who *isn't* desperate for IndAuto in a demogame. Let's just hope they'll let it slip through their fingers.

[Kassiopeia]

Oh, what about The Phalanx? Does it serve our goals to let everyone know that we've met the Gaians? Does it serve the *Gaians'* interests - if they don't want it to leak but it won't hurt us, there's another bargaining chip in our pocket.

*******Zeiter Edit:*******

Concerning the Phalanx, I'll think about it...I may have to rework some of the stories, depending on the actual course of events in the game...

Also, I suggest we pursue a rather long-term diplomacy of cooperation and/or alliance with the Gaians. Like I've said before, if it has to come down to two teams left, I'd rather have to face the Gaians than the other two. This means, if we want to follow this course of diplomacy, then we should lay off most of the bribing/extortion/other bad stuff that could lead to bad relations, and instead just try for a straight-up diplomacy of equality and respect (at least for now... )

[Zeiter]

Woohoo!!! Alright, how about this trade: NLmath and Doc:flex for IA. Yang already has NLmath and doc:flex, right? Well then, the Gaians will soon probe that off of him anyway, so we can give them those right now, and it will be of little importance. And they would probably very much like that trade because of the impact weapons.

[Googlie]

Well, I haven't heard back from Drogue (maybe not yet internet-connected in Oxford) nor Method regarding a time extension.

Thus I need to get the turn passed on within the next 2 hours

I'll therefore make the builds as indicated (I'll change back to rover probes) and offer the Gaians a pre-accepted Treaty. That way we can "buy" anothewr 48 hours as they are next in line and will have 2 days to continue trade negotiations with whomsoever is the appropriate Spartan Junta member

[KrysiasKrusader]

Well...

That's not good. It would be nice to get things rolling now. Every turn counts. Especially with first contact.
(In regular PBEM's I have no qualms about holding turns in these kind of circumstances).

[Googlie]

I have posted the following in the Ambassadorial Forum:

Reply to : Lady Deirdre Skye

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We are interested in research cooperation and establishing trade routes with you. We propose Treaty of Friendship in light of cooperation and peace with your faction.
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My Dear Lady Skye:

While I will not be the official Ambassador to your goodselves (I am merely the Officer Commanding the Spartan Engineering Corps - but am also the Recording Officer to the Junta, responsible for ensuring the timely execution of Orders of the Day) I am pleased to advise you that we will pass on the 2141 turn with a Treaty of Friendship pre-accepted for your approval.

We are indeed desirous of trading technologies and of forging closer links with you and your colleagues, but I will leave the discussion of same to aour accredited representatives (it should be Major Kassiopeia)

(We did request of the appropriate aurthorities for more time to enable our two factions to finalize a trade of a technology or two as expeditiously as possible, but apparently our pleas fell on deaf ears)

In friendship:

Major Googlie, Recording Officer to the Junta, The Spartan Federation

[Kassiopeia]

I don't think immediacy is as important in diplomacy right now. To the contrary, it'll give us a sort of air of indifference that can be helpful, we won't appear desperate for anything.

Oh and when did I become Major?

[KrysiasKrusader]

Okay.
Another post of mine got lost...


Well.
That's not good for us, Googlie.
Especially with first contact giving us a chance to get a much needed and vital trade going.

And if another faction made contact, would they be hampered by the same conection problems, or the CMN's not responding?

I just can't help feel that it would be fair...

[Snoddasmannen]

Originally posted by Googlie
I have posted the following in the Ambassadorial Forum:
While I will not be the official Ambassador to your goodselves (I am merely the Officer Commanding the Spartan Engineering Corps - but am also the Recording Officer to the Junta, responsible for ensuring the timely execution of Orders of the Day) I am pleased to advise you that we will pass on the 2141 turn with a Treaty of Friendship pre-accepted for your approval.
(...)
Major Googlie, Recording Officer to the Junta, The Spartan Federation

With all due respect to our foreign office, this sounds like Brother Lal diplomacy to my spartan ears If we were going to wait til next turn to trade techs then we might as well have made them sweat for a turn and not immediately accept the treaty.

Remember, they are probably afraid of us, we are a danger to them, being the most militaristic human faction, and we are also friendly with the Hive. This treaty might have been good leverage in tech trading, as would a potential pact with the Hive against the gaians. So there will no doubt be cheering in Gaia tonight.

Of course, I guess we were going to be friendly with the Gaians no matter what, I'm just saying we might have had a chance to use our dodgy reputation to get a favourable trade. Maybe we should try to use it next time.