by now....

[Velociryx]

you have no doubt seen the unauthorized transmission I made.... Hope it didn't ruffle any feathers here, as that was not my intent at all....rather, it was my hope that my unofficial voice in the forums might help sway Lego and Vox more firmly to our banner, and to that end, I have prepared a second "unauthorized" transmission.....'cept I wanted to post it here first (thus the "" around unauthorized).....if there's disagreement about it's appearance in the public forum, then it shall remain here!

-=Vel=-

Unauthorized Transmissions II: Letter to Lego and the Voxians

Hail and fair greetings to your worthy nations, and please to forgive the unorthodox nature of my communication with you.

I know full well that all formal communications must occur between “official channels” and certainly do not seek to deny the validity of that, however, there is such a thing as “keeping the back-channels open” and fostering trust and good will, and that is the spirit in which this letter is written.

First, to Vox, and the dauntless Lord Beta, of the New Voice, in Voxtavia.

A personal apology for your recent troubles.

The unfortunate war which we both participated in should never have happened, and it pained me to ply my skills, combining them with those of my fellow Stormians against brothers who once shared the same lands.

It was an awful, terrible war, and one which we were dearly unprepared for when we suddenly found ourselves neck-deep in it. Your courage and audacity are to be applauded, and the world is a better place that your light has not been extinguished. My hope is that despite our unfortunate past together, our two peoples can one day draw close again, as we once were in the ancient past.

I realize full-well that this will not be a simple matter, nor will it be quickly accomplished, but it is a hope in my heart.

And to the proud folk of the resplendent Empire of Lego….what can I say but that I have been a long-time admirer of you and yours! The glittering Pyramids are surely a sight to behold, and it is my fond wish to one day get to see them as I visit your fair land. It was right, and honorable, and noble to extend your protective wing around the Voxians, and it pleased me greatly to see such kindness in the world. Obvious circumstances prevented such kindness from my fellow Stormians, but events of late have taken a turn which makes it possible to assume that noble mantle.

I refer to the ongoing war with Spain, of which my brothers and I are now a part. It is no secret that before the Stormians joined the unjust war against Spain, she was sadly outmatched by two savage and well-armed opponents, at least one of whom has called for Spain’s utter extermination.

This cannot be allowed to stand.

Just as Lego extended a protective arm around the Voxians, so too, do we now offer that same protection to Spain, in hopes of not only helping her throw off this heinous attack against her sovereignty, but also to prosecute the war in such a way that Spanish strength returns to a level greater than it was previous to the attack, so that Spain may never again fear her enemies, and stand on her own, not as a vassal of Stormia (as some have nonsensically claimed), but as a proud, free, independent nation as is her right.

We MUST do this, not only because honor demands it, but because Spain has done nothing to warrant her extinction.

No matter our past disagreements (and there have been some), she is a fine, proud nation….a people who deserve to BE….a people with a right to exist.

We go now, to help ensure that right, and I would ask the honorable men of Lego to consider your own just and proper position regarding the Voxians, and understand that our aims now bear some similarity to yours, regarding Vox and the New Voice.

The goal is not hegemonic domination, but preservation. Spain must live. Spain will live, and we will help ensure that with our blood. Our very lives.

It is perfectly understood if you feel that this fight is not yours. Having already assisted a nation in need, and having your own concerns to attend to, I am quite certain you and yours have a full plate already, but I would ask from your noble people, and the stout-hearted Voxians, tacit support of our massive undertaking, and our partnership with Spain. Stand with us in spirit, as brothers against those that would extinguish the light of a peer nation.

Yours respectfully,

-=Velociryx=-
Wayward son of Stormia

[DeepO]

Vel, I do object to posting this in public. What Lego did with Vox was mentioning that they from now on play the game as one team, with Vox the vasal of RP. While in reality this might be true with us and RP, there is no need to bring this into the open. Officially, we're still 'helping a friend' not 'helping a vasal'. And IMHO it should stay like that.

To Lego, we so far have said that we needed to keep RP alive, because otherwise the power balance would be gone. If we now tell them that we're doing this to ensure a vasal (or junior ally), it will destroy what little faith they have in us. So, no, I object to posting this publicly, I'm sorry.

Oh, and I missed your previous communication, I'll go and check it out

DeepO

[Velociryx]

Ahhh....gotcha....I have duly re-formatted the letter to reflect that telling difference, and offer it for your further consideration!

-=Vel=-

[DeepO]

hmmm... don't know, Vel... we also can't lie, and they are our vasals

DeepO

[Velociryx]

Ahhh, but are they our vassals in name only (ie - they've only got two cities and are only alive because we're helping), or are they our vassals by formal contractual arrangement? If it's the former, then.....it's not a lie...

-=Vel=-

[Arrian]

When in doubt, don't post. Just my opinion.

Not that I don't enjoy your writing, Vel.

-Arrian

[Velociryx]

Thanks guy!

You see....there is the kernal of a thought going through my head just now....

The beginnings of a plot.

First, I do not believe that Spain should ever become our formal vassal. No need for it. We can make them strong, and solidify their position on Bob, and to ensure it of course, we'll need to claim lands there as well (which will fuel our future growth!). Spain though, should be left free to pursue their own interests....of course, we should do all we can to see to it that our interests are often in alignment (england and usa, for example....England is hardly a vassal of the US, but our interests often coincide, so...we're on the same page together most times).

But the essence of the idea is this: If we can put this war in the light that we are trying to grow a stronger (and independent) spain and keep them from being extinguished, then it decreases the chances that they'll (Lego) get involved on the other side.

Further (and this will be a real coup, and the direction I'm heading in)....

* Vox is under Lego's protection

* If we can find a way to strengthen Vox (perhaps with a couple cities on Bob), then we might get them into the fight for Spanish existence, and....

* Since Lego has put Vox under their protection, they'd have little choice but to side with them....

-=Vel=-

[DeepO]

Vel, yes, our vasalage is kind of formal... it was never called like that (and we shouldn't think of RP as a vasal ourselves, more like junior partners. It might only be a name change, but it let them keep their dignity), but there is a treaty in which RP agrees to basically play our game, and do their best to let us win, as it would also mean a victory for them. You can find it in the RP diplo log thread, it's a good read

Vox-Lego is about the same situation, with the difference that Vox only was given land, not gold / techs / units. And, RP can grow back into a viable team, Vox is terribly hampered by their terrain. But, we know this, RP knows this, and all the rest can only suspect something going on. Within the boundaries of our 'honor', we've been trying to convince Lego that we needed to interfere because otherwise the balance of power was gone, and hopefully they don't think we're finding some vasals of our own. For as long as RP held a large territory, it would not be logical of them to simply hand their game to us, but now that they're down to just a coupld of cities, things have changed... they would be easy vasals for anyone to bind.

Which is why any mentioning of this is so tricky... certailny because we got burned in the public forum before.

Oh, as to Vox accepting any cities on Bob: I seriously doubt it. Lego will have its say in this, and even without them interfering, Vox will not be easily convinced into getting in the thick of battle. It's not that they have plenty of units or so

DeepO

[Velociryx]

I understand....and yep....will definitely go read that thread!

As to our partners (and I propose that we drop even the "junior" from that...it's implied via our relative size compared to theirs)....in short, yes...we should be grateful that they have agreed to play our game, but nowhere in our dealings with them should we ever make them feel the yoke of vassalage. In fact, we should, both to them, and to the world, acknowledge Spanish independence, and our help of a close ally.

As to the Voxians....excellent! They have lousy terrain, and would probably jump at the chance to better themselves! And we should give them that opportunity, offering them lands on Bob for help against our enemies who would destroy the balance (and if there's an island NEAR Bob that we find later, it'd be GREAT to build a city and gift the whole island to them!). That would be perfectly in keeping with their goal of helping Lego win (they're growing stronger to do that very thing, more effectively), and it would ensure that Lego comes down on the side we want them on.....

-=Vel=-

[DeepO]

Vox: I don't know, Vel... I really don't see them doing anything that in the long term will damage their relation to Lego. Also, Vox has far better contacts with Bob then us, they could probably be bullied into giving the city back to Bob, and no deal of ours could prevent that (they will break any deal, they have proven so much already)

Oh, and there is an island close to Bob, it's called little Bob and is occupied by GoW. Not that it is a luch place, it is also very poor terrain (no water available, just like Lego Minor)

DeepO

[Velociryx]

On the surface of it, every bit of what you say is absolutely true, but these are the same reasons why I feel that this plan, once put into motion, will work....

It's Machievellian, but in reverse.

Having defeated Vox in open battle, having displayed honor in letting them depart for Lego, we can use this time to firmly cement our ties with both Lego AND Vox. The Voxians still have some semblence of an army. Their Immortals are not yet outdated....and their presence on Bob, in support of Spain, would certainly not turn the tide, but it would be that much more global support. And if it so happened that the Voxian attack force included a settler which built a city to base themselves out of (which we could suggest....perhaps even suggesting that they strike at yonder isle first to secure such a base), then they would, of course, be keeping those cities. And, if GoW/ND threatened them, then they'd have to also deal with big brother Lego. We win Beta over to the idea, then we bring Vox on board....and I can win Beta...

-=Vel=-

[Shiber]

That's a very interesting idea.

Vox could easily overtake Yonder Isle. Whatever force GoW keeps in there is a token force, and Vox certainly has the immortals to overcome it (and perhaps even some elites). GoW must be ready to lose it (seeing that it does not contribute much to their war economy) and won't go overboard with actions (words we can expect, but not actions). Whatever counter attack GoW might throw at Vox, it will only come in several tens of turns, and may never come at all if we succeed. And what more, it will probably please Lego to see the joint Lego-Vox empire grow to include Yonder Isle.
Plus, it'll allow Vox to make some use of those units; make them earn their upkeep, y'know?

I say we go for it, and try to convince Vox to take what is theirs for the taking. Of course, we have to offer concessions on our part as well - how about the recognition of Gathering Storm that Yonder Isle is rightfully theirs, as well as some NAP or other agreement regarding that island and/or northern Legoland?

[Velociryx]

That's the spirit, Master Shiber! Yes...we offer recognition that Yonder Isle belongs rightfully to Vox, AND (since we're already at war with GoW/ND, proimise to help them keep it (they've got enough force to land there to keep the city, so our keeping that end of the bargain would amount to doing what we're already doing....that being, engaging GoW/ND in open battle.

We gain another (admittedly small) ally, and we put Lego in the position of not being able to declare war on us easily, since we're actively helping their vassal grow....

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

It's truer than true that in terms of productivity, the city or two they put there won't be paragons of productivity (too far away, and will probably suffer massive corruption), BUT...it will put the Voxians actively back in the game....they can expand their lands at the expense of our enemies....it will give them a much needed morale boost by way of victory in battle, and perhaps even enbolden them to make additional strikes at vulnerable points on the Bobian mainland (on the thinking that a strike to the coast of Bob from where the island IS would be a strike into lightly defended territory, as the bulk of their forces are likely streaming our direction as fast as they are completed. Thus....they will be....not a dire threat, exactly, but certainly more than a casual thorn in the side, and what's better (for them), is that they can prosecute this war without fear of serious retribution...with everything going on on Bob right now, no WAY would GoW/ND mount a serious (and probably not even a casual) offensive toward the Voxian homeland.

-=Vel=-
(MachiaVELli-in-training)

[Shiber]

So, I'm "Master Shiber" now in Vel's book, huh?
Cool!

Anyway,
Yes, I certainly think that this is the direction where we should be heading.
And it's a good thing to improve our terms with Vox now, we may need them to backstab Lego later . Vox would be natural allies for that cause, they already have one serious backstab behind them