NationStates Jolt Archive

....for any mods that might delete this thread because there is already another on this topic by me, i have asked for it to be locked HERE (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=379661)


I have revised my original resolution, revised my proposal which unfortunately failed, and have come up with this as my best middle ground so far. Please comment freely, productively, and NICELY. I'm open to suggestions that don't call me a fathead, and thanks to all that have helped me thus far.


First Contact Protocol
Category: International Security
Strength: Significant

Whereas, there is a possibility that NSUN Nations may come into contact with new alien species; and,

Whereas, unsanctioned military force upon newly discovered species could bring about interstellar war;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the NS United Nations, in protection of all species, human or otherwise, does adopt the following protocol for the discovery and first contact of an alien species:

The following protocol will be used by all NSUN Members upon the first contact of a new species:

1) It will be assumed that any single vessel of an unknown alien race is on a peaceful mission.

2) No weapons shall be fixed upon any unknown alien craft as it lands unless the craft is threatening the safety of innocent bystanders.

3) If any incoming vessel of an unknown species does not appear to have weapons armed and ready, no weapons shall be made ready against them, but shields may be raised.

4) Under NO circumstance is any UN Nation to fire first upon any unknown species. Nations may only fire back after a direct attack from an alien vessel.

5) If any incoming vessel appears to have weaponry on their ship, defenses may be raised, but weapons shall not be armed.

6) After formal greetings have taken place in an NSUN nation, any new species shall be introduced to the General UN Assembly at NSUN Headquarters in physical or virtual form for formal greetings from all member nations.

7) No weapons shall be armed against an unknown alien species’ planet.

8) If fired upon by an unknown alien species’ planet, vessels are required to retreat until diplomatic relations may be attained, and not fire back unless pursuit is given.

9) Units may be armed upon leaving their craft upon an unknown planet, but may not have them drawn unless fired upon.

10) Under NO circumstance may an NSUN Member Nation declare war on an unknown new species without first bringing said species before the NSUN -physically or virtually- and/or providing proof of hostility.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandon J Yad
President of Granbia

.......Alright then.... is there anyone here who happens to be from 10k islands that would like to drop me another endorsement so that i might submit this? (I just returned to the region after a little overseas trip).

Thanks!
Brandon J Yad
President of Granbia

.......Alright then.... is there anyone here who happens to be from 10k islands that would like to drop me another endorsement
This sort of message is better sent via Regional boards or telegram. The UN General Assembly doesn't deal with Endorsement swapping issues.

Thanks for the heads up, though i wasn't looking towards giving an endorsement away, just finding someone ......maybe.....if there is anyone......that actually likes my proposal and wants to see it at least make the proposal list.

More or less I can agree with this one.

However, before I lend my support; I need some clarification on point #4. Is this situation based upon an alien vessel firing upon your ships itself, or upon another.... ie. would Tekanian or other vessels be allowed to defend an unknown or an allie from another unknown firing upon them? I'm just not sure if the wording is that clear on that point.

1) It will be assumed that any single vessel of an unknown alien race is on a peaceful mission.

How can you possibly make an assumption like this? If we assume this, then all FT nations may as well just not bother arming their vessels when they go out exploring the galaxy! Unfortunately, not everyone in the galaxy will be peace-loving and intent on 'Seeking out new life and new civilisations...'

2) No weapons shall be fixed upon any unknown alien craft as it lands unless the craft is threatening the safety of innocent bystanders.

Standard proceedure should be to raise defensive capabilities, but not directly lock weapons on an unknown craft. I agree with this in part, but waiting until the craft threatens civilians...not a fantastic idea...

3) If any incoming vessel of an unknown species does not appear to have weapons armed and ready, no weapons shall be made ready against them, but shields may be raised.

Agreed

4) Under NO circumstance is any UN Nation to fire first upon any unknown species. Nations may only fire back after a direct attack from an alien vessel.

Agreed

5) If any incoming vessel appears to have weaponry on their ship, defenses may be raised, but weapons shall not be armed.

Agreed

6) After formal greetings have taken place in an NSUN nation, any new species shall be introduced to the General UN Assembly at NSUN Headquarters in physical or virtual form for formal greetings from all member nations.

Only if alien species consents

7) No weapons shall be armed against an unknown alien species’ planet.

Agreed

8) If fired upon by an unknown alien species’ planet, vessels are required to retreat until diplomatic relations may be attained, and not fire back unless pursuit is given.

I'd like you to specify that the pursuit would be by ships/fleet of the alien species in question. But yes, a retreat out of weapons range would be the better part of valour.

9) Units may be armed upon leaving their craft upon an unknown planet, but may not have them drawn unless fired upon.

If entering into a potentially hostile, or inhospitable environment, I think it would be better if hand weapons were drawn. This clause is situation specific, and should be the decision of the mission leader.

10) Under NO circumstance may an NSUN Member Nation declare war on an unknown new species without first bringing said species before the NSUN -physically or virtually- and/or providing proof of hostility.

This would amount to kidnap, which I am fairly sure is against UN Resolutions somewhere (would check - but too tired). But I agree that no NSUN Member Nation should declare war on an alien species - UNLESS IT IS SPECIFIC TO THEIR OWN ROLEPLAY

2) No weapons shall be fixed upon any unknown alien craft as it lands unless the craft is threatening the safety of innocent bystanders.


As long as I can have a few innocent bystanders around, because this means if it was only the military who were greeting a landing alient craft then I would not be able to fix weapons on them if they attacked :}

Quote:
Originally Posted by Granbia
2) No weapons shall be fixed upon any unknown alien craft as it lands unless the craft is threatening the safety of innocent bystanders.




As long as I can have a few innocent bystanders around, because this means if it was only the military who were greeting a landing alient craft then I would not be able to fix weapons on them if they attacked :}

This point is covered in #4, which grants the right to fire upon them after a direct "attack," whatever your interpretation of "attack" might be.

Quote:
1) It will be assumed that any single vessel of an unknown alien race is on a peaceful mission.



How can you possibly make an assumption like this? If we assume this, then all FT nations may as well just not bother arming their vessels when they go out exploring the galaxy! Unfortunately, not everyone in the galaxy will be peace-loving and intent on 'Seeking out new life and new civilisations...'

Of course you are going to arm your vessel. Just because you can't fire unless attacked doesn't mean you won't need any armaments.....Unless you want to be completely obliterated without any chance of defense.


Quote:
2) No weapons shall be fixed upon any unknown alien craft as it lands unless the craft is threatening the safety of innocent bystanders.



Standard proceedure should be to raise defensive capabilities, but not directly lock weapons on an unknown craft. I agree with this in part, but waiting until the craft threatens civilians...not a fantastic idea...

A provision is outlined in #4 which allows for retalliation after a "Direct Attack."

Quote:
8) If fired upon by an unknown alien species’ planet, vessels are required to retreat until diplomatic relations may be attained, and not fire back unless pursuit is given.



I'd like you to specify that the pursuit would be by ships/fleet of the alien species in question. But yes, a retreat out of weapons range would be the better part of valour.

I think that "pursuit" inclines a reasoning towards ships. However, if this would include missiles or maybe even their whole planet moving, then certain parts would be left out. Again, I know this sounds very FT, but why not have everything in place just incase?

Quote:
9) Units may be armed upon leaving their craft upon an unknown planet, but may not have them drawn unless fired upon.



If entering into a potentially hostile, or inhospitable environment, I think it would be better if hand weapons were drawn. This clause is situation specific, and should be the decision of the mission leader.

Yeah, I was kind of sketchy about this myself when I wrote it. What about ".....may not have them drawn unless entering a hostile environment?" This may make a lot of loopholes, but of course each action would be reviewed by the UN on a case by case basis to verify compliance.

Quote:
10) Under NO circumstance may an NSUN Member Nation declare war on an unknown new species without first bringing said species before the NSUN -physically or virtually- and/or providing proof of hostility.



This would amount to kidnap, which I am fairly sure is against UN Resolutions somewhere (would check - but too tired). But I agree that no NSUN Member Nation should declare war on an alien species - UNLESS IT IS SPECIFIC TO THEIR OWN ROLEPLAY

Well, if you have a POW (I know that TECHNICALLY you don't), that's one thing, or if you have an individual that wants to rant and rave about bringing death upon the NSUN, then you can go that way. Or, if you are not in that situation, simply provide proof of hostility

More or less I can agree with this one.

However, before I lend my support; I need some clarification on point #4. Is this situation based upon an alien vessel firing upon your ships itself, or upon another.... ie. would Tekanian or other vessels be allowed to defend an unknown or an allie from another unknown firing upon them? I'm just not sure if the wording is that clear on that point.

I believe that it's really open to interpretation. However, the way I see it, if you are allied with a nation and they are attacked, isn't that an attack on you as well? As for seeing an attack of two unknown species, that get's pretty sketchy. If you try to intervene and get fired upon, thats simple, but if you don't get fired upon, I guess that you'll have to find out what's going on and determine which species is really the hostile one before you choose sides, which is kind of the underlying point in the resolution: Don't go shooting at people without knowing what's going on. It is a little unclear, but I don't think that any more words are going to make it any better. If you can prove that they are hostile, then you won't be regulated by this resolution.

This point is covered in #4, which grants the right to fire upon them after a direct "attack," whatever your interpretation of "attack" might be.


But having the innocent bystanders around means that I can fix weapons on the landing ship before they actually attack me. Which is nice, since it cuts down the time between them attacking and me being able to fire back :}

There is a loophole there, as you are interpreting it, but remember, the NSUN will be reviewing each case, so it's not up to me if you get in trouble.....

There is a loophole there, as you are interpreting it, but remember, the NSUN will be reviewing each case, so it's not up to me if you get in trouble.....

Erm - who will be reviewing it? How can I be assured that the people who are reviewing it have no ulterior motives to get me in to trouble?

I would assume it would be a group formed under the definitions found in the Genocide Resolution.

.

2) No weapons shall be fixed upon any unknown alien craft as it lands unless the craft is threatening the safety of innocent bystanders.

3) If any incoming vessel of an unknown species does not appear to have weapons armed and ready, no weapons shall be made ready against them, but shields may be raised.




Correct me if I am wrong: let's assume a landing alien vessel with no apparent arms at all is threatening innocent bystanders simply by attempting to land in the midst of them, then I would have the right to fix weapons upon the aliens (as per 2), but these weapons must not be armed and ready (as per 3)??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

If a ship is landing amongst a group of citizens, which is going to harm them, then the ship is a weapon and it is a direct attack.