JNES- Space NES

[foolish_icarus]

hm. The moon will think of something to do soon.

[Jack_www]

ooc:
anyone still arround?

[Jack_www]

Is this NES dead? Does anyone want to conitnue?

[Cyclotron]

To: The European Union
From: Imperium Martianae

The Imperium Martianae recognizes the basic rights of all its citizens and is willing to cooperate with other nations in securing international agreements on human rights. The Imperium, after all, stands foremost for the preservation of human dignity and a new, prosperous future for all mankind.

The Imperial government is a constitutional, elective monarchy, served by a technocratic senate and constituted by numerous Coloniae that each have their own democratically elected, self governing council. While the EU may have the luxury of inefficient popular sovereignty, the nature of man's settlement on mars requires a firmer hand to direct national policy and provide capable stewardship for our planet as we develop it into a more liveable world. In the same way that colonizing missions need a resolute mission commander, the Martian people need a strong Emperor. The EU should be more concerned about dictatorial terran regimes, less democratic than our own and possessing large stockpiles of nuclear and conventional arms which they have used as threats against other nations.

The Senate of Engineers notes that the nature of current Martian settlement is characterized by survival, not wealth production. We simply do not have the resources to compensate the EU or any other nation for losses related to our independence movement. We look forward to reconciliation with the EU but will not impoverish our homeland to secure it. It is exactly that attitude of viewing offworld colonies as a means to Terran enrichment which precipitated our independence in the first place.

The Imperium Martianae supports in theory a supervising organ and charter for all mankind, but will reserve its final decision for when more information on this proposal is made available. The Emperor views the Terra Nova Project, as well as the planned Martian colonization of the asteroids under the auspices of the IMMBA, to be non-negotiable and will not accede to any treaty limiting these ventures in significant ways. Any treaty, of course, must be confirmed by the Emperor and ratified by a majority of the Senate of Engineers.

[Rand Al'Tor]

Europe had been relatively quiet during the last decades. Much attention had gone to expansion and integrating of the new member states. Until that had happened though, the European Union remained paralyzed for any large scaled operations. Even the absorption of Turkey, a longtime candidate for EU membership. in the Persian Empire was left with no more than economic sanctions, that persist to this day.

But the tenacious nationalism was finally about to give the ghost, the monarchies been given a 'retirement home' in the mostly irrelevant Council of Kings and the Prime Minsiter of the European Union and the European Parlement now actually could provide a coherent policy.

The current PMis Marcel Dubois, of the ESP (European Socialist Party), with the parlement being about 31 % Socialist, 24 % liberal, 17 % Abrahamic-democrat, 4 % communist, 6 % far right (including several nationalist seccesionist parties) 10 % seccesionist parties, 8 % greens

Foreign Minister Pjotr Zelansky

To: Imperium Martinae
From: The European Union

The European Union is severely worried by the recent changes of the Martian administration. No good has come from any nation seeking to compare itself to the Roman Empire. We strongly suggest that the Emperor enacts democratic reforms.

We accept the Martian declaration of neutrality, and greatly support their abstinence from nuclear weapons.

The Union would also be willing to provide Hydrogen, provided that certain civil rights could be guaranteed. Also, we require restitutions for all NATO resources, private and public, that were taken or destroyed in your independance.


To: United Lunar States
From: European Union

While your plan is ambitious, and the European Union has, up till now, not seen any dangers in it, we do see problems in the precedent this creates. Something that does not affect you, but everyone at large.

It is undeniable that we are on the doorstep of new possibilities and challenges, with new oceans we can sail and new lands to discover. However, to avoid lasting damage to the environment as well as unnecessary conflict, we cannot allow each nation to just claim, adapt and destroy at their leisure. There must be a regulating organ to approve such large-scale undertakings.

Therefor we will suggest an international commitee to be formed to judge such undeertakings upon legality and dangers, so that this time does not degenerate into a renewal of the wild west.

In this spirit, while the independence of Mars and Luna is a fact, we do not feel that it would be in humanity's best interest to fracture further. This would lead to fragmented policies, with massive disasters and pointless wars as a result. As such, future endeavours off world shall receive additional attention to maintaining contact with Tera to avoid a repeat of the actions you felt were called for.

In the spirit of reconcilation, we would appreciate if restitutions could be made for NATO equipment and resources that were destroyed or misapropriated during the conflict.

To all:
A new time is upon us, and humanity has wider horizons than ever. But with more power comes a greater ability to unwittingly cause enormous damage. That is why we feel we need a supervising organ to prevent any one nation from causing irreversible damage to all of us, as well as a charter limiting the practices that are permissible, in peacetime as in wartime.

[Cyclotron]

For the sake of continuity with the traditional Latin names of the Martian landscape, the Martian Empire wishes hereby to be known as the Imperium Martianae.


To: North American Union
From: Imperium Martianae

The pledge of reducing nuclear arms so long as all others do so as well is functionally useless; however, the Senate of Engineers, cognizent of the great importance of hydrogen for our terraforming efforts, has made a recommendation to the Imperial Authority that we accept your offer with the following stipulations; 1) That the NAU accepts and affirms Martian sovereignty and neutrality in Terran affairs, 2) that the NAU recognize that IM exports to Terran powers, including the NAU itself regardless of preferential trade agreements, will never include weapons, or direct components thereof, 3) that the NAU acknowledges Martian sovereignty exending to asteroids claimed as mining outposts by the Imperium Martianae Main Belt Authority, and 4) that any preferential trade agreement between the NAU and the IM shall be immediately waived should the NAU use, or knowingly cause the use of, nuclear weapons against human beings.

To: All Nations
From: Imperium Martianae

The Imperium wishes to point out the preposterousness of China's claim of the neccessity of nuclear weapons being due to the presence of the members of the ETDF. Neither the United Lunar States nor the Imperium Martianae possess nuclear weapons, and the Imperium furthermore renounces their use, as well as claiming neutrality in all Terran affairs. The logic that a buildup of nuclear arms is required to "deal with" the ETDF is patently false, and is obviously language of provocation and aggression. For its part as a founding member of the ETDF, the Imperium assures all nations that any attack on any ETDF colony, vessel, or installation, with or without nuclear weapons, will be considered a declaration of war by the aggressor upon the Imperium Martianae.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by Micha


This oughta be deliberate. As you surely know, greece was the only nation the Persians ever succumbed to. So invading Greece would surely be the agenda of any Persian Empire...

That was indeed a mistake on my part. I will fix it latter today.

[Micha]

Originally posted by Rand Al'Tor
Before I make my first post, one thing that would make a huge difference to my first post. Greece seems to be part of the Persian Empire. Is this deliberate or an oversight?

This oughta be deliberate. As you surely know, greece was the only nation the Persians ever succumbed to. So invading Greece would surely be the agenda of any Persian Empire...

[Jack_www]

From: People's Republic of China
To: North American Union

South America is our ally, and we have every right to help their millitary with training. You have no standing what so ever to demand anything of us. China does not wish to be the enemy of the NAU, but you should be more carefull of the messages you send to other nations. We have many economic agreements in place, but if you continue to pressure us like this we will be forced to reconsider them.

As for out Nuclear Weapons, we see many threats on the horizon. THese included the United Lunar States and Mars. China believes the only way we can defend earth is through nuclear weapons. Thus we will not stop our build up.

[Rand Al'Tor]

Before I make my first post, one thing that would make a huge difference to my first post. Greece seems to be part of the Persian Empire. Is this deliberate or an oversight?

[Nubclear]

Chairman Proposes Soviet-style Reform

Today's leading story, brought to you by premiere news agency Itar-Tass, details the Chairman's ambitious new proposal to officially amend the entirety of the Constitution of the Russian Federation to return more to that system of the former Soviet Union.
While it was indeed expected that our Chairman would attempt to bring about socialist reform, few people expected that he would attempt so quickly to return to the system of over 100 years ago.
Among his proposed changes would be:

-Change the name of the country to the "Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics"
-Change state symbols to that of the former Soviet Union.
-Replace the State Duma and the Soviet of the Federation with the Soviet of the Union and Soviet of Nationalities, the former to be elected based upon proportional representation and the latter to be elected based upon elections within the various Soviet Socialist Republics.
-The division of the Russian Federation into several Soviet Socialist Republics roughly corresponding to nations.
-Greater state involvement in economic affairs

The Chairman has stated that he will hold a referrendum on the subject. If passed, this would be the most radical reform to the constitution since Chairman Zakharov transferred many powers of the President to the Chairman.

Internal opinion polls reveal that the Chairman may or may not have the support he needs to reform the Constitution in this manner. Polls suggest that anywhere from as low as 40% to as high as 57% support the initiative, with a 55% affirmitive vote of participating voters required.

The Chairman gave a speech in Red Square on Wednesday promoting the reform, saying:

"It is time that the Russian people cast behind them the vicious deception promoted by the western captialist forces, that somehow the Russian people are inferior and consigned to live in poverty and decay. The zenith of all the nationalities of the Russian state was the Soviet Union, and it is time that we embark on the great journey of socialism once more in order to rebuild our powerful union under the banner of democracy and freedom."

The reform has already passed in the Federal Assembly.

===

FROM: The Russian Federation
TO: The People's Republic of China

The Russian Federation thanks the People's Republic of China for the offer, and expresses its wishes for greater relations in all spheres. However, the Russian Federation believes that, due to the impending constitutional debate, it should not sign foreign agreements quite yet.

[Tassadar500]

To: People's Republic of China
From: North American Union

Your communist imperialism stops now. North America views your militarisation of South America as a grave insult, as well as a threat to our autonomy. Withdraw every single one of your advisors, if you wish to have a peaceful relationship with the Union. An immediate consequence if you fail to meet the request will be the denial of all Chinese and South American ships that wish to pass through the Panama Canal.

Stop expanding your nuclear programme. An arms race would not be beneficiary to your state. In the end, you would lose to the combined might of the capitalist powers.

To: Martian Empire
From: North American Union

The North American Union is willing to supply the Martian Empire with hydrogen as long as they agree to giving the Union preferential trade status in the future. Due to the ever-expanding Communist-Imperialist threat, we are unable to disband our nuclear programme. We will pledge to halt all further production of nuclear weapons if all other nations were to agree. Unfortunately, China seems to be against the notion of world peace.

[Jack_www]

From: People's Republic of China
To: Russian Federation

We would like to have much more closer ties with your nation. As for you economic problems, we would set up a free trade zone between our two nations.

[Nubclear]

The Present Situation of the Russian Federation

After Western-sponsored terrorist attacks against the Russian Federation in response to both the Agreement of Federation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of Kazakhstan, the partition of Mongolia, and the victory of Russia in the war against the combined powers of Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus, the Russian Federation transitioned to a de-facto despotism. While regular elections are held every four years, strong social pressures combined with nationalism and anti-Western backlash regularly result in the Unified Russia party taking power by a wide margin of victory. The last election results indicate a 97% victory in Parliamanet and 94% victory in the Presidential elections (though the position of President has largely become ceremonial).

The real power of the Russian Federation, then, lies with the Chairman of the Central Continuing Committee of Unified Russia Party. The Chairman is typically selected by tradition and political support of influential members of the Party. As well, the support of the Council of the Military (organised to protect Russia from attack by Western forces) tends to be required for succession to the position.

The economy of the Russian Federation has had its 10th straight year of negative growth, and standards of living across the entirety of the Federation continue to decline. This can be blamed in part due to the sharp tension in relations between Russia and the West, and partially due to the leadership of incompetent officials in both providing incentives for foreign investment and mismanagement of state-run agencies.

National unity remains a tense subject, as various areas of the Federation have expressed a desire to gain more autonomy from the centralised government in Moscow (though de facto they often operate in an autonomous fashion). National morale has been extremely low for upwards 30 years as Russia has stagnated, and Russian national identity has begun to break down. The common man on the street tends toward believing that "Russian" means stagnation, failure, regression, and poverty. Xenophobia, anti-Western sentiment, and the strong military continue to preserve the Russian Federation as a political entity, however.

With the death of former Chairman Yuri Zakharov after 40 years of leadership, and with the ascention of Chairman Tassadar to the post of leader of Russia, the policies of the Russian Federation are likely to begin changing radically. While the previous administration followed Nationalist Conservative policies, it is widely regarded by observers inside of Russia that the new administration will likely follow more socialist principles. Chairman Tassadar once famously argued that Western-style capitalism had abandoned Russia and its quest for freedom, and thus it must be rejected in favour of a Russian system with influences from friendly nations such as China. Analysts do not except Russian foreign policy toward the West to change.

Polls on the street indicate that there is a majority in favour of radical reforms, and dissatisfaction with the direction the country is headed is around 63%.

===

Reporters clamoured inside the small room of the Kremlin in order to catch a glimpse of the new Chairman. After the death of Yuri Zakharov, the new Chairman would be required to take the oath of office in order to become the new de facto leader of Russia.

Chairman Tassadar has chosen to decorate the room with symbols of Russia's past, including paintings of historical events, important documents related to Russian history, and symbols of past regiemes of Russia. The Emblem of the Chairman for Yuri Zakharov was an Orthodox Cross superimposed upon the flag of the Russian Federation, however now sitting behind Chairman Tassadar was his new emblem: A hammer and sickle delivering down sunrays upon a map of Russia.

The clocks of the Kremlin towers began to ring, and Chairman Tassadar stepped foward. Two soldiers stepped forward toward Tassadar, one of them bearing the flag of the Russian Federation in his arms and another carrying the special copy of the Constitution.

Chairman Tassadar placed his right hand on the Constitution, and clenched his left fist in the air.

"I vow, in the performance of my powers as the Chairman of the Central Continuing Committee of the Unified Russia Party to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, to observe and protect the Constitution of the Russian Federation, to protect the sovereignty and independence, security and integrity of the state and to serve the people faithfully. I do solemly then affirm that I will faithfully execute the Office of the Chairman and will to the bes tof my ability preserve, protectand defend the ideals of the Russian State and the Russian people."

And with that, the leadership and direction of Russia shifted once again.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by GeneralTacticus
Hi all - having just returned from holidays and found a PM from Jack_www inviting me to participate, I'd like to join this NES.

With regard to nations, my preference would actually be for something not on the list - a space-based "Belter" type faction (vaguely similar to the Ousters from Dan Simmons' Hyperion novels, for those who have read them). If that's not acceptable, I'll take Japan.

A couple of other questions/comments/suggestions:

- I'm not sure I see the need for a magic light-speed drive at all. If this was a game about interstellar colonisation and politics, then some sort of FTL drive would be needed to make it work, but this seems to be focused on events in our own solar system. For that, travel by conventional means should be perfectly adequate. And if we did want to make this an interstellar NES, we'd need a much faster drive, because even a lightspeed drive would take years to reach the closest star systems.

- Given that this is set in 2105, what sort of general tech level are we looking at here? For instance, do we have AIs? (My preference would be for yes, because I like AIs.) Do we have magic-tech items like energy shields? Approximately how fast do our spaceships move (light-speed drive aside) - would they travel between planets in dayS? Weeks? Months?

In particular, if we're going to be having large-scale space combat going on, I'd expect nuclear weapons to be fairly ubiqitous - after all, they are pretty much the most efficient weapon available short of antimatter, and they're not that hard to make.

If you where a non human civ, you would be issolated for a long time. So I would like if you could take a earth nation. As for FTL, all you have to do is reasearch the technology for it. One possible thing I was thinking of was worm wholes or something else you can think of.

As for the time takes to travel the solar system with out light drives, they would Super Sonic speeds. Above moch 10.

As for weapons technology, we should have energy weapons, but no energy sheilds.

The AI thing. I dont know, but if you want it I dont see why you cant.