Sparta-Angels relations

[KrysiasKrusader]

Don't offer any energy credits. No need to pay for something that will hinder instead of help us.

[Maniac]

Okay. For the record, I wasn't suggesting we buy Biogen from the Angels. Just wanted to indicate to them that tech really isn't worth much for us.

I'll post the message while leaving out the "25c" sentence.

But if they refuse a straight IndEcon<->Gene Splicing, should we or should we not accept a Biogen<->Gene Splicing deal after all? At least we get something out of Gene Splicing, and it's a probe less we can lose trying to steal technology from Zakharov.

[Kassiopeia]

How likely is it that we'll end up with BioGen when probing Zak?

[Maniac]

Currently the techs that Zak has but we lack are Biogenetics (pretty useless for us) and Social Psych (prerequisite for DocLoy!). So a 50% chance we get that tech with our next techsteal operation.

If we can acquire Industrial Economics, and sell it through to Zak - who is currently researching that tech - he'll switch research to another tech we don't have, and we'll have an extra new tech to steal.

[Googlie]

I'd play hardball, and accept only Ind Econ.

And if they won't budge (and they get GS from the Gaians in 2149, then never trade anything to the G's with less than 15 years embargo)

[Googlie]

I guess events have been overtaken by the Morgan's cave-in on the deal terms.

So we'll get Ind econ from Morgan.

Originally posted by Maniac

But if they refuse a straight IndEcon<->Gene Splicing, should we or should we not accept a Biogen<->Gene Splicing deal after all? At least we get something out of Gene Splicing, and it's a probe less we can lose trying to steal technology from Zakharov.

Shall we then accept biogenetics from the Angels (better than nothing) - and trade Ind Econ to Zak for Social Psych?

That way when next we send a probe his way it's gotta be stealing something the others likely won't have

(And our research rate will take a hit for our next tech , as it's a relative formula, not an absolute one (our techs/total techs researched) so ours will increase by 3 while the total doesn't change (but everyone else's will go up too, after this round of trades)

[Kassiopeia]

Okay, I'll propose Biogen<->GS.

[Googlie]

It appears that we have a deal - they will send Biogentics with the current turn, pending, for us to input Gene Splicing and approve

(I wonder why they wouldn't just send it pre-accepted ............................. ? Ah, yes - the Angels are the Pirates re-incarnated ............. )

G (still on dial-up, waiting for this damned DSL to get activated)

[Kassiopeia]

I don't think Biogenetics is worth swindling us for Gene Splicing... it'd risk too much. We'd never trust them again, and burning bridges at this point is just stupid. Unless they are absolutely sure that they can rely on the Gaians in any circumstances.

[Snoddasmannen]

If they wanted to swindle us, and could rely on the gaians, the gaians could just give it to them and it wouldn't be as obvious to us. So I think the trade is safe.

[Googlie]

Gene Splicing has been put on the diplo table, in negotiating status, pending their adding Biogenetics on their side and accepting the deal

[Kassiopeia]

Should we offer them Social Psych for something? Hardly anything on them we could get out of it though, save for credits. The same applies with the Morgans, pretty much.

[Googlie]

Maybe it's time to say "We'll lay our techs on the table if you do the same and let's see where we could profitably trade or direct our research towards"

Alernatively, we could just sit smug in our current tech superiority, knowing we'll get HEC from Lal thru a probe action and something equally yummy from Zak afetr he's changed (of course we'll need to get a trannie with a couple of probes out to Lal for that to happen)

[Googlie]

In response to a GeoModder query as to why we were silent on the GS for Biogen trade offer, I posted in the Embassy:

Posted by Googlie in the Embassy
Our apologies

I had expected to see biogenetics on the table in "pending" mode following your earlier post, but only the Treaty had been consumated.

Of course we accept the trade. In the current turn (presently with the Gaians) I have put Gene Splicing on the table (pending) for you to add Biogenetics and accept.

Again, my apologies - and those of the Junta - for not confirming sooner.

(And I believe that our Commanding Officer, Diplomatic Corps - Major Kassiopeia - will be contacting you soon regarding further trade opportunities as we have just come into possession of additional technologies which may be of interest to the Data Angels)

Perhaps we need to think big - a 3 -way trade that catapults us thru SFF and Silksteel to Air Power and Fusion (except that we currently have a significant tech lead and wouldn't have if we did a deep 3-way, as we'd be supplying many of the needed inermediate techs to get the leapfrog going)

Maybe we need another "Fortress Sparta" poll?

Do we get in bed with Morgan for some serious leapfrogging?

Do we try an ambitious 3-way co-ordination with the Gaians and Angels?

Do we get Doc Init, and adopt a "go-it-alone" strategy that sees us get HEC and plasma armor from a Lal probe, and other goodies from comquering Zak and setting him up as a research puppet

Do we feel strong enough to take on Yang thru probes (he gets Gatling level-5 weapons in 8 turns)

[Googlie]

To which GeoModder has replied:

Posted by GeoModder in the Embassy
The Commerce Ops Center is far from sure we have anything worthwhile left to trade for what the Spartans probably can offer, but we're certainly interested in hearing out the good major.

And I have replied:

Posted by Googlie in the Embassy
Well, it's more along the lines of a co-ordinated future research effort between our two factions and possibly that of the Gaian Federation as well, rather than a simple sale or exchange of current technologies.

A combination of successful diplomacy, and the outstanding results of our covert operations agents has left us in possession of some worthwhile technologies. But, as you know, our faction is not renowned for its self-research efforts. In order to keep pace with the burgeoning Morgan Industries, the Junta is exploring new paradigms - one of which might involve technology "leapfrogging" (where the techs we contribute would not necessarily be self-researched, but perhaps obtained through our investment in our special operations units)

But I'll leave proposals and discussions of possible terms to Major Kassiopeia.

I trust that this clarifies (somewhat) my earlier cryptic comments.

Lt. Col Googlie

(I gave myself my old rank back, just for the heck of it, as the faction is doing so well, terraformers are terraforming, a crawler comes on line next turn, and our covert ops have been exemplary)

GGLIE