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From: Talon Karrde, CEO Smuggler's Alliance
To: all peace-loving traders everywhere
Subject: Proposal for First Intergalactic Trade Wars Conference
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With the apparent defeat of Apolyton Corporation in yesterday's
engagements, the crucial issue before all of us is "what now"? I
believe now is the time to secure a lasting peace before things
escalate further. Here is the place to air your grievances and to
articulate your visions for the post-war universe.
ORIGINS OF THE CURRENT CONFLICT
Why do wars happen? The history of the present galactic
civilization has shown that wars result from foolhardy attempts
by oligarchical personalities to impose what is called
"one-universe-ism" onto the order of things. The current trend
toward galactic "assimilation" is an expression of this historical
error.
This movement has its origins on Old Earth with a particularly
kooky utopian writer named H.G. Wells. His manifesto, "The
Open Conspiracy", was dedicated to the idea of establishing
a world government in order to end conflicts between nations.
He called upon all beings of good conscience to participate in
the Open Conspiracy, to work actively with others to undermine
the sovereignty of national governments and bring them into
his world "commonweal".
Wells's utopian vision ended in the early years of the new
millennium, when Old Earth was plunged into its Third World
War. The aftermath of this catastrophe, as we all know, marks
the beginning of our present galactic civilization, when it became
necessary for pioneering merchants to venture out into the
depths of space and find the resources desperately needed to
sustain a devastated planet.
Now the key to long-term survival in today's universe is the
sustained development of planetary resources. Success in
this, however, is contingent upon securing a steady supply
of colonists from Terra. Unfortunately this supply has
diminished to a mere trickle in recent days, making planetary
development all but impossible. And here is where we locate
the proximate cause of the war. The long-term survival of
many traders was jeopardized by the colonist shortage, and
as a result conflict broke out over existing supplies.
Apolyton Corporation can make all the Hobbesian arguments
it wishes about "free trade" and "the dog that snaps the quickest
gets the bone" and the like, but the essential fact remains. As
a result of their accumulating the great majority of available
colonists, Apolyton could establish a one-universe system where
their generosity would be dispensed in exchange for "go along, to
get along" concessions from other traders. This potential "Pax
Apolyton" had to be resisted if civilization was going to survive.
INTERNAL CONFLICT INSIDE SMUGGLER'S ALLIANCE
It is no secret that aeturneus and I do not see eye-to-eye on
matters of policy. I prefer peaceful development with positive
diplomatic relations to perpetual war. aeturneus likes to destabilize
opponents with bold, often ill-advised, attacks; and usually with
disregard for the long-run strategic consequences. I also don't
approve of his long record of treaty violations. But I did agree with
him in one important respect, and that was regarding the long-term
danger posed by the colonist shortage.
So when war finally came, I agreed that it had to be fought. I didn't
agree with the way in which the war came about, but nevertheless
I decided we had to fight it and win. But not win it for the purpose
of establishing a new universal empire, rather to secure a just and
lasting peace. The events of the past few days must never be
allowed to happen again. Let's discuss ways of doing that. Thank
you.
This transmission ends now....
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========== VOICE OF SMUGGLER'S ALLIANCE ============
============================================
From: Talon Karrde, CEO Smuggler's Alliance
To: all peace-loving traders everywhere
Subject: Proposal for First Intergalactic Trade Wars Conference
=========================================
With the apparent defeat of Apolyton Corporation in yesterday's
engagements, the crucial issue before all of us is "what now"? I
believe now is the time to secure a lasting peace before things
escalate further. Here is the place to air your grievances and to
articulate your visions for the post-war universe.
ORIGINS OF THE CURRENT CONFLICT
Why do wars happen? The history of the present galactic
civilization has shown that wars result from foolhardy attempts
by oligarchical personalities to impose what is called
"one-universe-ism" onto the order of things. The current trend
toward galactic "assimilation" is an expression of this historical
error.
This movement has its origins on Old Earth with a particularly
kooky utopian writer named H.G. Wells. His manifesto, "The
Open Conspiracy", was dedicated to the idea of establishing
a world government in order to end conflicts between nations.
He called upon all beings of good conscience to participate in
the Open Conspiracy, to work actively with others to undermine
the sovereignty of national governments and bring them into
his world "commonweal".
Wells's utopian vision ended in the early years of the new
millennium, when Old Earth was plunged into its Third World
War. The aftermath of this catastrophe, as we all know, marks
the beginning of our present galactic civilization, when it became
necessary for pioneering merchants to venture out into the
depths of space and find the resources desperately needed to
sustain a devastated planet.
Now the key to long-term survival in today's universe is the
sustained development of planetary resources. Success in
this, however, is contingent upon securing a steady supply
of colonists from Terra. Unfortunately this supply has
diminished to a mere trickle in recent days, making planetary
development all but impossible. And here is where we locate
the proximate cause of the war. The long-term survival of
many traders was jeopardized by the colonist shortage, and
as a result conflict broke out over existing supplies.
Apolyton Corporation can make all the Hobbesian arguments
it wishes about "free trade" and "the dog that snaps the quickest
gets the bone" and the like, but the essential fact remains. As
a result of their accumulating the great majority of available
colonists, Apolyton could establish a one-universe system where
their generosity would be dispensed in exchange for "go along, to
get along" concessions from other traders. This potential "Pax
Apolyton" had to be resisted if civilization was going to survive.
INTERNAL CONFLICT INSIDE SMUGGLER'S ALLIANCE
It is no secret that aeturneus and I do not see eye-to-eye on
matters of policy. I prefer peaceful development with positive
diplomatic relations to perpetual war. aeturneus likes to destabilize
opponents with bold, often ill-advised, attacks; and usually with
disregard for the long-run strategic consequences. I also don't
approve of his long record of treaty violations. But I did agree with
him in one important respect, and that was regarding the long-term
danger posed by the colonist shortage.
So when war finally came, I agreed that it had to be fought. I didn't
agree with the way in which the war came about, but nevertheless
I decided we had to fight it and win. But not win it for the purpose
of establishing a new universal empire, rather to secure a just and
lasting peace. The events of the past few days must never be
allowed to happen again. Let's discuss ways of doing that. Thank
you.
This transmission ends now....
============================================
========== VOICE OF SMUGGLER'S ALLIANCE ============
============================================
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