Chiron Chronicles: Planetary Council

[Guardian]

Ambassador Fuentes stands up again to address the Council...
(Lal appears content to listen and watch for the time being...)

She turns to face Lady Deirdre...
"Apology accepted. No offense taken. Misunderstandings do happen at times. Perhaps you thought Roze had swayed us ever so slightly with her speech. Alas, I am afraid she has done nothing of the kind so far."

She looks around and proceeds with a more general address...
"The UN Peacekeepers are not interested in 'choosing the lesser of two evils'. We will not support either candidate unless we can actually support one. As matters stand at the moment, we can not and we will not. However, we will insist that if the Cult should have a second chance to vote, then so should we. In that case, it would be up to the candidates to provide us with a reason to change our vote, as we will not simply turn around ourselves."

[Mr. President]

Morgan: I find it hard to believe that there is no regulation concerning a deadlocked vote. If there is sufficient demand for me to continue as Governor, I will accept the will of the Council. Otherwise, we must enact the appropriate procedures immediately.

[DarkCloud]

Originally posted by SMAC Fanatic
From: Lady Deirdre Skye
To: Planetary Council

My dear Zakharov, whatever happened to the 'repetition increases reliability' mantra so beloved of scientists? We do not believe the current results to be at all reliable, and as such believe that the vote should be repeated.

(She turns to Ambassador Isabella Fuentes)

My most sincere apologies, Ambassador Fuentes. Our information was indirect at best, and incorrect at worst. We did not intend to cause offence.

From: High Academician Prokhor Zakharov
To: Gaians

Repetition increases reliability, yes; however, when one repeats an experiment that is unlikely to be truely expressed the second time; then the repetition is likely going to wrong the results. Sometimes an experimenter must use common sense.

In the instance of Cha-Dawn... He may do as he wishes in his own faction, but, despite our cordial relations with the Cult, we wish that they would respect the well drawn and accorded rules- If ANY Faction may break the rules, then we should also be allowed to obey only the rules which we wish to follow.

-Zakharov

[Argonaut]

General Message
From: Ambassador Rebecca Katt
To: Planetary Council

Representative Solo,
Your constant attempts to turn this election into a means to get rid of Athen's Outpost are tiresome and quite revealing of your objectives regarding the Governership. Of course Datajack Roze would respond to any complaint put before this Council, whether it comes from an ally, enemy or anyone whatsoever. That is the duty of the Planetary Governor. Not to achieve tactical objectives that furthers the need of their own faction.

As for your complaint regarding Athen's Outpost. It is not new. You have had plenty of time to request Governor Morgan to handle the situation, yet you have not done so. Is it perhaps cause you realize you haven't a leg to stand on, seeing at Athen's Outpost technically resides in Free Drone territory? If anyone should be complaing about the Pirate presence, it should be them.

Do not think that, even if Colonel Santiago were to become Governor, that we would sit idly by while you used the position to further Sparta's means.

[Guardian]

Commissioner Lal finally stands up to address the Council...

"My friends, I have been watching and listening without intervening for a while now."
He looks around at the various delegations, his expression carefully neutral and balanced.
"I speak now because at least one thing seems clear to me at this point: The election deadlock has dragged on for long enough. We need to resolve it so that we can get over it and proceed to discuss other matters. As you know, we Peacekeepers have not been backing either candidate in this election and have chosen not to interfere in the discussion following the tie in votes. However, it appears the discussion has reached a complete standstill and that somebody has to make some kind of concession in order to get things moving forward again. Also, it appears..."
He pauses again and clears his throat.
"...nobody is willing to be that somebody. We're all standing our ground and so we're all going precisely nowhere. In a way, we're acting like we're a group of farmers standing in the middle of a wheat field starving ourselves while we argue about who's to pay for some small part we need for the harvester!

We can't go on this way. We have to find a solution, and we have to find it soon, lest we make fools of ourselves and a mockery of everything this body was supposed to represent.

So, we either accept the Hive proposal and don't elect a governor at all, or we do as Captain Svensgaard suggests and vote again. In order to help resolve the matter, we are willing to reconsider our position. However, we will not simply vote for one of these persons. What I'd like to see is a presentation by both candidates of what they hope to achieve if they are elected. Sort of like a... political agenda. That way, we can all vote for a policy and not just for a person we hope will run things more to our liking than the other one. The candidates have asked us to grant them power. I feel it is only fair they should tell us what they plan to do with it first."

[[LordLMP]]

To: Planetary Council
From: Captain Svensgaard

The Nautilus Pirates agree to Commissioner Lal's suggestion.

Captain Svensgaard

[Argonaut]

[Roze stands again]

I'm still waiting for Colonel Santiago's response to my acceptance of Chairman Yang's proposal. What do you say Colonel? Can we agree, yes or no? If not, is Comissoner Lal's new proposal acceptable? I am willing to commit to either, but we need to get the mattered settled. So please Colonel, what will it be?

[Sprayber]

Spartan Information Service

MEMO
To: General Distribution To Members Of Planetary Council
From: Spartan Representative Karl Solo

As an afterthought to yesterdays debates in the council chambers, the thought occurred to that none of the people here really have an accurate view as to what Sparta is all about. Most of you are operating under an assumption that Colonel Santiago has absolute power in Sparta and that we live in a brutal dictatorship. You have made the assumptions that since we are effective soldiers in combat and are not as interested in talk as you are, we are less civilized. This is an attempt to explain our government as it is in reality.

Spartan Citizenship. To be a citizen of the Spartan Federation requires service in one of Sparta’s armed branches of the Military. Any member that is currently serving, or has served in the Spartan military including the Spartan Militia is registered as a Citizen. No Spartan Citizen can claim other citizenships other than Spartan. To do so is to renounce Spartan Citizenship and be treated as a traitor to the Spartan Federation. A Citizen may vote for local members of the Apella. They may request trial by fellow citizens (except in cases of treason). And Citizens may participate in the Spartan Games. Non Citizens are those that for whatever reason cannot serve in the Spartan Armed Forces or Spartan Militia. Special non citizen magistrates are appointed to look over their affair and ensure that they are well treated. The institution of slavery is outlawed inside the boundaries of the Spartan Federation. People that are conquered by Sparta are held in non citizen status for five years. Whereupon they are allowed to join up in the Spartan military and become Citizens.

Government
Faction Leader--Colonel Santiago
Chief Civilian Authority (CCA)--Marshal Marcus Kessel

Colonel Santiago is the recognized faction leader of the Spartan Federation. Her power rests upon her formation and preservation of the Spartan state. She is the CIC of the Spartan Armed Forces and Commander of the Spartan Militia.

Marcus Kessel is the Chief Civilian Authority (CCA) for the Spartan Federation. He presides over the Board of Military Governors and directs Sparta’s queue of production during times of emergencies and periods of war. Marcus Kessel is also the Military Governor of Inner Sparta (MGIS). In this capacity, he commands Sparta’s Reserve and Militia forces under Colonel Santiago.

Colonel Santiago’s position is renewed every fifteen years. Her continued authority depends upon the will of the Citizen Assembly of Spartans or (Apella) in Spartan Standard. These honored citizens have been chosen from each base to represent the will of the citizenry in state matters. All members of the Apella are veterans of the Spartan military who have served their time for the Spartan Federation. Recently, members of the Apella have been chosen from the ranks of the medical and engineer corps.

During times of war, Colonel Santiago convenes the Council of War. The Council of War consists of eleven individuals.

Colonel Santiago
Chief Civilian Authority
Commander of Spartan Army
Commander of Spartan Air Force
Commander of Spartan Navy
Chief of Intelligence
Governor of Sparta Command
Governor of Commander’s Keep
Senior Three Apella Members

Board of Military Governors

Sparta Command:.......Fredrick Halifax
Commander’s Keep:.....Timothy Drake
Janissary Rock:...........Gregory Kell
Centurion Cave:..........Kendal Hines
Assassin’s Redoubt:.....Diego Santos
Fort Legion:...............Patricia Keller
Defiance Freehold:......Hans Needa
Ironholm:..................Peter Screed
Militia Station:...........James Piett
Fort Superiority:.........Hans Gruber
Survival Base:............Susan Conner
Hero’s Waypoint:........Alexander Powell
War Outpost:.............Diana Goldman
Blast Rifle Crag:..........Vincent Price
Bunker 118...........Alexander Tate
Parade Ground……..Maria Douglas
Hawk Of Chiron……Conrad Harp
Fleet Anchorage……Simone Yates

All base Governors are appointed by Colonel Santiago for a term of ten years. They form the Board of Military Governors which is presided over by the CCA, Marcus Kessel. Each governor can be removed at any time by Colonel Santiago at her discretion or if the bases Council of Magistrates formally asks her to remove the governor.

Council of Magistrates.--Each base has a governing council of eleven individuals including the governor. Five are elected by citizens and five are appointed by the base Governor for a period of five years. The governor acts as the president of the Council and exercises a vote. Each base council is allowed to choose which facilities or utility vehicle that is appropriate for their needs. The Base Resource Manager must coordinate with Sparta’s overall Resource manager for extra mineral allocation. During times of emergencies or special projects, the CCA may ask and require a base to provide necessary production for the good of the whole faction. During times of war, base production is directed by Sparta Command in the form of the CCA. During such times, the Council of Magistrates may advise on production goals but final authority lies in the hands of the CCA.


Base Chief of Security-------------------Appointed
Base Chief Engineer----------------------Appointed
Base Chief Doctor------------------------Appointed
Base Chief Urban Planner-------------- Appointed
Base Chief Resource Manager----------Appointed
Base Citizen Representative------Elected
Base Citizen Representative------Elected
Base Citizen Representative------Elected
Base Citizen Representative------Elected
Base Citizen Representative------Elected

[Sprayber]

OOC

[OOC: Argo: check your PM. Santiago agreed and thought that a joint statement by the two factions should be made annoceing the plan. ]

[Sprayber]

Spartan Information Service

To: Planetary Council
From: Colonel Santiago

After some thought by myself and Datajack Sinder Roze, we have agreed to forgo another round of voting that might jeopardize the future of the Council. We have agreed to joint guidance of Council functions. There will be no veto power exercised by either of us and we will serve only as guides in the running of sessions. Decisions will be reached through mutual acceptance by both factions. I would personally like to thank the Hive for pointing the way. It is not exactly what they had proposed but their suggestion did provide a stepping off point. I look upon this agreement with satisfaction and hope that this can be the beginning of a new era of cooperation between ourselves, the Data Angels, and other factions that wish to cooperate in the future. Again to those that supported me, I give you my appreciation. It will not be forgotten.

[Kassiopeia]

From: Father Theodore Deacon
To: Planetary Council

The Lord's Believers accept this motion, and hope that others will agree also, and thus prevent a possible crisis that could threaten Chiron-wide peace.

Since the election seems to have now come to an end, it is in the interests of the Believers and most likely of the Cult that the previously discussed peace negotiations be started as soon as possible.

Since we now have two Governors, or maybe "Hegemons", it is reasonable to suggest that both Datajack and Colonel host the accords, in a location or locations that are for them to decide.

The Believer delegation suggests Data DeCentral and Sparta Command, or optionally Planetary Council Base.

It is our greatest concern to stabilize the current situation.

Father Deacon

[OCC: Not the best possible call for the Believers, but the option was basically Roze winning. Will the negotiations be an event in history in the upcoming time warp?)

[Natan]

From: Chairman Sheng-ji Yang of the Hive
To: The Planetary council

I am here to endorse, on behalf the Human Hive, would like to endorse the proposal placed forward by the Spartan Federation and the Data Angels. I believe this arrangement will serve the interests of all Chiron. I would also like to thank Representative Karl Solo for his most informative brochure explaining his faction's form of government.

[[LordLMP]]

To: Planetary Council
From: Captain Svensgaard

The Nautilus Pirates, despite disaproving of a dual-governmenship, accepts this. Now, I suggest we go to other matters before the leaders here have to leave.

Captain Svensgaard

[OOC: Foreman Domai did invite Datatech Roze and Captain Svensgaard to go to Free Drone Central to discuss a possible three-way alliance. Captain Svensgaard will go, but what about Roze?]

[Argonaut]

General Address
To: Planetary Council
From: Datajack Roze

I would like to join Colonel Santiago in thanking the Hive for providing the key to the solution. While it is not ideal or what anyone had anticipated, it is the only viable option which maintains the authority of the Planetary Governorship and ensures that the decisions made in the Council are upheld.

As for the negotiations, Colonel Santiago and I have also discussed on the location issue. I think to great a difficulty would result in splitting the negotiations between Data DeCentral and Sparta Command as too much time would be wasted in travelling.

The Colonel informed me that Lady Deirdre might be willing to hold the peace talks at Gaia's Landing, providing a neutral ground where we can all meet and come to an agreement that is acceptable to all involved parties.

[Guardian]

General Address
From: Commissioner Pravin Lal
To: Planetary Council

The UN Peacekeepers accept the compromise that has been reached as a solution to the election deadlock.

We commend the Believers for their initiative and willingness to get the peace negotiations started as soon as possible. In return, as a show of good faith, the Assault Rover battallion stationed at New Hope shall stand down and begin preparations to leave the base. Also, the Naval Task Force currently stationed just off Redemption Base will be removed from that area and sent further north, where the ships will be in position to support a withdrawal from New Hope, which could soon be the order of the day.

Also, if - for any reason - the negotiations can not be held at any of the locations suggested so far, all of our bases - including New Hope - can be made available for such purposes.