NationStates Jolt Archive

The Governor of Tiryns announced today plans for a series of new megascale engineering projects, aiming to open up diplomatic and trade relations with other inner-system nations and provide thousands of new jobs to bring in revenue and relieve the strain on the ever-inadequate Prison Barges.

The first portions of the Governor's speech focused on Mycenaean plans to claim a 20-kilometer wide strip of land circling Mercury's equator, for, quote, "Megascale engineering purposes", although exactly what plans are being made is not yet known to the public.

The largest portion of the speech, and likely to be the most remembered, detailed plans for a variable-gravity Island II Colony to act as a diplomatic city for the Guilds, housing foriegn embassies and offices of foriegn corporations, as well as acting as a portal into and out of the Guilds.

Finally, the Governor wrapped up by announcing the commensation of construction on the first Cytherian Orbital Tether, which will greatly reduce delta-v requirements going to and from Venus/Cytheria. Several Skherian shipbuilders have expressed interest in taking advantage of the project to begin tourist flights to the second planet.

Orbital Tether Statistics:

Depth: ~-8.2km
Terminal Gravity: 8.7m/s^2
Altitude: 3918km
Radius: 3750km
Absolute Tangential Velocity: ~5712m/s
Reverse Velocity: 3.8m/s

[tag for intel purposes]

"This is simply unacceptable. I don't care what their delta-vee problems are. Since when did delta velocity become the default excuse for tinkering with the planets of the solar system?"

"I suspect our recent interest in the planet has sparked secondary interests..."

"Then perhaps our disinterest in having our surface assets completely bisected will put that spark out. Have the Contact Agency reach the SOE and let them know what a problem this Spacer Guilds development would cause for us."

"Immediately, High Imperator."

[Quantum Encryption - Spacer Guilds]

Start

Your 20 km wide strip is unacceptable, as well as your orbital tether. That is, our assets have already moved in before you. We suggest that you contact this office immediately to resolve this dispute.

End

Our most current information indicates that you have no installations on the equator, and therefore have no authority there. If this is incorrect, please inform us, and we will arrange a meeting to resolve the matter.

As for the Venerian tether, there is no question that it will be put up. While Mercury may be disputable, it is indisputable that we have chronological precedence on Cytheria. No one who doesn't want to use the tether is going to be forced to, thus there is no possible negative effect on anyone.

~Peisenor of Tripolis

(OOC: Incidentally, might you have a better Mercurian map than I do? I was unable to locate a few of the craters you referenced. And the delta-v thing- it's always been that way. Elevators, rotovators, and tethers were all concieved for the sole purpose of reducing delta-v.)

OOC: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/mgifs/Mercurymap.GIF Kinda shows the relative positions. Caloris Basin is pretty big. The CSF has established landing zones and such already in some of the named craters and the un-named ones (I haven't worked out the naming system for bases yet..)

(OOC: That site does not appear to want to work. Oh well. I found a rather long list of features and their lat/long locations, so I suppose that will have to do. The equatorial claim is open to a lot of modification- the only requirement is that an unbroken ring around the equator be available for construction. What will be put there is rather sparse, and can even be raised off the ground if necessary, so there is a lot of room to accomodate the Seraphim.)

(OOC: Moving on with the RP)

Just behind the ciscytherian point, three asteroid tugs carefully pumped out streams of xenon gas, slowly adjusting the rotation rate and speed of their cargo as they nudged it through the gaping hole in the center of the Venerian Solar Shade. Once through and on the desired path, the three tugs broke off and headed for docks on the supporting struts of the shade. Individual 500 meter wide hexagonal mirrors slowly shifted back and forth, playing with the light pressure for stationkeeping. As the asteroid passed the parabolic focus, all of the mirrors aligned to superheat the tiny portion of space now occupied by the rock. The minute amounts of volatiles left in the regolith quickly boiled off, and the remaining rock and dust began to melt and flow. Within minutes, trickles of molten rock made their way through cracks in the crust down to the hollowed-out core, puncturing the aluminium canisters contained therein and flash-boiling the water they held.

Seen from the outside, the asteroid began forming into a slightly oblate spheroid of lava, when suddenly the glob expanded like a balloon, stretching the lava like latex. The former asteroid then calmly floated out of the focus, and the mirrors dealigned. Within a day, the multi-colored glass globe was again picked up by tugs, and started its journey back to the shipyards, just as another asteroid was being pushed through.

Our most current information indicates that you have no installations on the equator, and therefore have no authority there. If this is incorrect, please inform us, and we will arrange a meeting to resolve the matter.

As for the Venerian tether, there is no question that it will be put up. While Mercury may be disputable, it is indisputable that we have chronological precedence on Cytheria. No one who doesn't want to use the tether is going to be forced to, thus there is no possible negative effect on anyone.

~Peisenor of Tripolis

[Quantum Encryption - Spacer Guilds]

Start

Then your most current information is incorrect. Stand by for further information in regards to a meeting, if any.

End

OOC: Sorry, but is your tether extending from your own nation on Earth? I must have misread that part. I blame lack of sleep. :)

OOC2: Odd, the quote button went screwy.

tag

OOC: Sorry, but is your tether extending from your own nation on Earth? I must have misread that part. I blame lack of sleep. :)
See the tether statistics. 3750km is far to short to reach all the way from Earth. It's just a 7500km-long rotating cable orbiting at 3918km altitude that picks things up from and drops things off in the upper atmosphere.
Standing by....

OOC:

Okay. "Cytherea" is your name for "Venus", right? And you want to build a tether over Venus. But you also claim a 20 km equatorial strip of Mercury. I don't think you've built a tether there...yet.

IC:

[Quantum Encryption - Spacer Guilds]

Start

Very well. You may send two unarmed representatives to our main equatorial base on Mercury to meet with our staff. Other personnel, such as pilots, bodyguards, etc...must stay aboard the craft that you arrive in.

The landing coordinates and flight path are being transmitted now. Do not deviate from our instructions.

[Encode - Coordinates - Transmitting.........Complete]

End

OOC:

Okay. "Cytherea" is your name for "Venus", right? And you want to build a tether over Venus. But you also claim a 20 km equatorial strip of Mercury. I don't think you've built a tether there...yet.
Cytherea/Cytheria, either one works, and it is the name for Venus.

[Quantum Encryption - Spacer Guilds]

Start

Very well. You may send two unarmed representatives to our main equatorial base on Mercury to meet with our staff. Other personnel, such as pilots, bodyguards, etc...must stay aboard the craft that you arrive in.

The landing coordinates and flight path are being transmitted now. Do not deviate from our instructions.

[Encode - Coordinates - Transmitting.........Complete]

End

Much thanks.
~Peisenor of Tripolis

Were it not for certain other projects, flight times would be prohibitive. But fortunately, ships were already travelling within Mercurian orbit, and two ourbounds were easily diverted. In a few days, a cargo ship (http://timesurfer.linuxcowboy.net/nukerock.gif) and personnel transport (http://timesurfer.linuxcowboy.net/MinosSide.jpg) achieved Mercury orbit. A small Airless Ascent/Descent module shuttled between the two before falling to the surface.

Illustrious in name only, the main base did not look like much...yet. However, it and several bases similar in design if not in function were dotted throughout the entire planet. At least here the landing pad was near completion and the heavily shielded habitation module actually had a human crew. They were mostly here to supervise and direct the various drones and carry out emergency repairs if needed. Some were also engaged in preliminary research about the planet itself. Some SOE staff were already here, converting a small room into a type of conference area.

One would wonder why it wouldn’t be more convenient for all concerned to meet aboard one of the many Order ships that orbited Mercury. But it was felt that an actual visit to a facility planetside would reinforce the Order claim.

As the Spacer guild module descended, it could possibly discern several ships of various design orbiting the planet. Indeed, the cargo ship and personnel transport would have detected numerous ships of strange origin as they neared the planet itself. As well, depending on the type of scanning equipment available, and certainly as the module neared, various types of installations might be discerned.

A landing pad could be seen. Nearby, some drones were performing their various tasks. An automated turret swiveled, tracking the module.

They would certainly not have missed the lazy orbits of warships of the Joint Interplanetary Legion. About the same time the Spacer Guilds crafts arrived, the enormous bulk of a Cruentus class dreadnaught, one of only three yet constructed, made it's ponderous way through the ever-increasing volume of Mercurial space traffic.

Roughly seventy CSF vessels could be found, if you watched long and far enough. Recon drones continuously launched, returned, re-launched, in a tireless stream.

As if on cue, several more Sword of Damocles frigates achieved orbit over the innermost planet, making for a total of nearly forty.

As the Spacer Guilds transport arrived at the platform, it's occupants were warned that they would require spacesuits until they arrived at the habitation module, some fifty feet below the surface of a small, half-spherical hangar dome, which itself was below the landing platform after a short ladder. It was no longer day, so there was only the cold to worry about.

Of course, everyone figured that the CSF had planned for the possibility of Spacer Guildsmen not having adequate protection even for this short span, and had extra suits available somewhere.

OOC: Just a quick blurb here, Spacer Guilds. The SOE and Seraphim Military are not "nations" per say, but rather a representation of various Order governmental departments. The SOE is mostly concerned with diplomatic stuff while the Seraphim Military deals with military issues, as the names imply. Both are important for the story and will hopefully add to the experience.

Tiny attitude jets gently fired in sequence to keep the craft stable and descent slow; with a soft sigh of depressing shock absorbers, the Ascent/Descent module touched down on the pad.

A few moments later, a short ramp descended to allow the exit of a 5'6 dark green figure covered in polythene and capped with a bug-eyed one-way glass helmet, followed by a cylindrical tank on six thick-tired buggy wheels.

The cylinder's rocker-bogy suspension shifted up and down as it climbed the steps behind its more humanoid companion, and headed for the hangar dome.

Commander Brycoff received word that the Spacer Guilds delegate was arriving on the surface. He waited, trying not to allow himself the feeling of anger at being pulled away from an important assignment to babysit a diplomatic meeting in the Installations.

I mean really, on Mercury? We've got stuff to build and fleets to operate here.

Jason Brycoff also thought about the 'important assignment' he had just been pulled from. Sex in the lowish-gravity spherepool, actually. A luscious young orbie from one of the cargo crews. No matter what the old folks said, IW drives and their gravitational effects were a good thing.

The hangar dome was, after two compression/decompression/ventilation entryways, a simple, but sturdy and protected structure ordinarily used to house drone crafts.

Today it was largely empty, as the vehicles housed here were in operation, digging out bases in this region of Mercury. Sound echoed metallically off the walls. Guards protected both exits. The SOE representative stood nearby, collecting his thoughts.

The sound of the nearest entry chamber opening and operating signalled the arrival, any moment now, of the visitors from afar.

Commander Brycoff received word that the Spacer Guilds delegate was arriving on the surface. He waited, trying not to allow himself the feeling of anger at being pulled away from an important assignment to babysit a diplomatic meeting in the Installations.

I mean really, on Mercury? We've got stuff to build and fleets to operate here.

Jason Brycoff also thought about the 'important assignment' he had just been pulled from. Sex in the lowish-gravity spherepool, actually. A luscious young orbie from one of the cargo crews. No matter what the old folks said, IW drives and their gravitational effects were a good thing.

The hangar dome was, after two compression/decompression/ventilation entryways, a simple, but sturdy and protected structure ordinarily used to house drone crafts.

Today it was largely empty, as the vehicles housed here were in operation, digging out bases in this region of Mercury. Sound echoed metallically off the walls. Guards protected both exits. The SOE representative stood nearby, collecting his thoughts.

The sound of the nearest entry chamber opening and operating signalled the arrival, any moment now, of the visitors from afar.

The lone SOE representative that was sent to greet the Spacer guilds reps merely motioned with a hand signal as they were led to the main structure. He was, of course, not alone. Two rather large marines in power armour specially suited for hostile environments and carrying wicked looked guns also accompanied the SOE rep. Together, the small group made its way and, after entering complex codes, opened the last entry chamber blastdoor.

====

After the door closed, the SOE rep took off his helmet and indicated that the Spacer Guild delegates could likewise follow.

"Welcome. I'm Joseph Gruk. This," with a sweep of his hands, "is one of our bases here on Mercury. May I introduce to you Commander Brycoff and my colleague from the SOE, Envoy Kril Buy."

A temporary table had been set up with some utility chairs seated around it.

"Please sit down," said Kril Buy, "and perhaps you would like to tell us your names?"

OOC: For some reason when I did a search, I couldn't find this thread. Odd.

Quite obviously mechanical right-hand fingers snapped open a series of clips holding the base of the Spacer's helmet firmly against the collar ring. Finally removing the helmet revealed a generally Indian face, with quite out of place black almond-shaped eyes. A semi-rigid brace extended up the back of the neck, with two prongs terminating just behind the ears to support the weight of the Spacer's own head.

While the suited man sat, the wheeled cylinder simply took up a position around the table, and faded to transparency, revealing a gossamer humanoid floating inside, facial features obscured by an air mask.
"Alyosha Prokofievich and Vespa Senkova."
A water-distorted voice from the tank uttered a single "Zdravstvuyte."
The man opened one of many pockets scattered about the gravity suit, and removed a folded sheet of paper, which he unfolded and placed on the table.
"These are the formations we intend our claim to pass through. Those that deviate from the equator by more than one quarter of a degree latitude can be negotiated away. The rest, we will talk about."

Tir Planitia

Boethius Crater
Hun Kal Crater
Lu Hsun Crater
Lysippus Crater
Mena Crater
Polygnotus Crater
Yakovlev/Barma Crater

Phaethontias
Pieria
Solitudo Criophori
Solitudo Iovis
Solitudo Lycaonis
Tricrena
[Insert names of regions unmapped IRL/OOC]

Kril Buy bowed and said in his disarming way,

"A pleasure to meet you gentlemen. However, let's be perfectly clear from the onset. Your claim to the entire equatorial band on Mercury does not sit well with us at all - irregardless of how far these particular formations cut into the equator. Your claims bisect ours - and that's no good."


OOC: Map again from page 1. I don't see the formations that you list on there unless I'm missing something.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/mgifs/Mercurymap.GIF

"Aye. We understand that that matter was the impetus for this meeting. We are willing to make quite a few concessions to secure the band. As far as we know, you have no installations within the specified fifteen arcseconds. If this information is incorrect, please inform me. Ergo, your only apparent purpose for disapproving of our claim is that it would cut off transportation routes. We posit that land transport is unnecessary, but for the purposes of this discussion I shall assume that you have a good reason to wish for it. You will find that we will be using very little subsurface volume, and for a large stretch our constructions will by necessity be raised some distance above the surface, providing ample room for the construction of transportation conduits."

[OOC: Got the list by scanning this big list (http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/mercury/mercTOC.html) for all landforms within 1 degree of the equator. On a different note, this thread (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=140207) is indirectly related; might want to watch it for further developments down the line.]

OOC: A pox on the forums!

IC:

Kril smiled and inquired,

"Perhaps, Alyosha Prokofievich, you would like to enlighten us as to why you want the entire equatorial strip? You seem rather eager in this regard. And to say that we wouldn't form ground links would be rather ridiculous. Ground links are necessary for a number of things, such as moving resources. Besides, if you claim the strip and even go so far as to provide enough room for transit links, who is to say that you won't try to put forth some kind of toll? And I'm afraid that you are still misinformed again as to the location of our bases. There is a reason why we are meeting here. Or did you not realize this when we gave you the coordinates?"

He leaned back, with hands resting easily on the table - his blue eyes twinkling merrily.

[OOC: Whoops, that would be a player error rather than character error; since you didn't actually specify coordinates, I couldn't know if it actually was dead center on the equator.]
"Moving resources can be done with antigravs, rockets, many ways that do not restrict you to a single route. But that is irrelevant, as I am assuming for purposes of this discussion that you have good reason for wanting ground transportation. If the absence of a toll is what is necessary to acquire the land, we shall put it in the contract, thus making the Guilds legally bound not to charge one."
"The precise function of the equipment to be installed is sensitive information. For now, suffice to say that it will mostly consist of two large tubes forming as near to a perfect circle as possible around the planet."

OOC: Ah, my mistake. I thought I mentioned "equatorial base" somewhere. I must have presumed it in my head without actually writing it down. Okay to say that the base the meeting is being held at is right on the equator?

IC:

"Well, who is to say that we will be restricted to a single route? Besides, moving goods and equipment by rockets along the surface of a planet certainly would be more expensive than, say, a ground network. If we prefer a ground network, which we do, then we shall have it.

As well, we want to know exactly the purpose and function of your proposed structure since it may encrouch upon our interests, such as the immediate space travel near Mercury."

OOC: Just took another look. I did mention it but I didn't give out latitude and longitude. Bolded for reference.


Start

Very well. You may send two unarmed representatives to our main equatorial base on Mercury to meet with our staff. Other personnel, such as pilots, bodyguards, etc...must stay aboard the craft that you arrive in.

The landing coordinates and flight path are being transmitted now. Do not deviate from our instructions.

[Encode - Coordinates - Transmitting.........Complete]

End

OOC: Ah, my mistake. I thought I mentioned "equatorial base" somewhere. I must have presumed it in my head without actually writing it down. Okay to say that the base the meeting is being held at is right on the equator?You did, but 'equatorial' does not mean dead center on the equator. It means, to quote my handy dictionary, 'pertaining to or near the geographic equator', and I am a pedant. But it's all good, we can have it dead on the equator if you want.

As well, we want to know exactly the purpose and function of your proposed structure since it may encrouch upon our interests, such as the immediate space travel near Mercury."
"At peak usage, two lanes approximately one meter in diameter forming lines tangent to the surface of Mercury and to the solar equatorial energy collection ring will be hazardous to space travel. At certain times, we may redirect these lanes to a point in the outer system, with ample warning provided, of course. Such a miniscule space is easily avoided by any navigator worth his weight in salt. I would venture to say that it would take a navigator of higher worth to successfully intercept the lanes. And you can be quite sure that the lanes will not deviate from their prescribed courses. In nearly six hundred years, we have never missed a shot. If there is still worry to be had, the lanes can be shut down for several minutes at a time to allow the passage of spacecraft through the equatorial region."
"I am unable to reveal the precise purpose of the structure and its function at this time. A heavy ion accelerator and synchrotron will be two components, but without very good reason and assurance of security further information must remain secret."

OOC: Yeah, dead center would be great. That way we can argue more.

IC:

"I see," replied Kril Buy, "You'll have to forgive me, since I am a diplomat and not an engineer or scientist. However..."

He turned to his miltary counterpart.

"What do you think Commander Brycoff?"

All the while, Brycoff had stood in silent resolution, hands clasped behind his back.

There they encased each other in a death grip, as he felt anger build up like heat. Finally, he forced them to relax. He stood silently for a moment, his face incomprehensible. At last he forced himself to smile, broadly and wide, though it did not reach his eyes.

The grin then dropped, and he replied, in a very calm voice.

"So, let me get this right. I am not an engineer or scientist myself, after all," here he smiled a bit more naturally this time, "You want to build two, one-meter wide, thousands-of-kilometers long metal cables, extending from Mercury surface all the way around the planet; you can't say what this is all for, except that it will include... what was it, ion accelerator?"

He fixed the Space Guilds representative with an impassive glare.

-multi-

"Nyet, an ion accelerator and a synchrotron will be components of the apparatus, but the completed structures will be about as wide as a four-lane highway, including support components and maintenance access facilities. Da, the two rings will extend all the way around the equator, separated by a distance of between one and two kilometers."

"But these cables of yours in space. They are how massive, exactly?"

"Not cables, lanes. Definitions of areas of space through which objects will pass. The individual objects being transported may vary from a few moles to a few hundred grams."

"Not cables, lanes. Definitions of areas of space through which objects will pass. The individual objects being transported may vary from a few moles to a few hundred grams."

"And how far up from the surface will this...um... ring be?" asked Buy, trying to illustrate with gestures.

The other SOE rep asked,

"And can this structure be done if you didn't have the whole equatorial strip? Does it have to be the equator necessarily? Why not further up in latitude? Can it be done if the equator was broken up into, say, sections?"

He sketched out a rough diagram.

Like this:

=== === === ===

Instead of:

================

"The height of the ring will vary. It must be a near perfect circle, and as Mercury is ellipsoid the separation from the surface will change accordingly. The structure cannot be segmented. We must have an unbroken circle. And the structure cannot be be built on anything but a great circle."
Finally, the female showed some purpose in being there. Her water-distorted androgynous voice intoned "But it could be widened. The center must be on the equator, but though it would mean an increase in difficulty the two sections could be moved a few degrees higher and lower, as long as they are perfectly symmetric. This would still require passages through the equator, however, to connect the two components."

Kril Buy was able to get the general gist of the conversation, but still wasn't satisfied as to why the Spacer Guilds reps were being evasive about the exact purpose of the structure. Even a basic outline would be helpful he thought.

Then he straightened up in his chair and addressed the two.

"And to what extent do we expect you to press your claim to the equatorial strip? Because, according to our latest information, you have no structures whatsover here on Mercury, although I could be wrong."

"I have no idea what you expect. But what you should expect is that we will begin building as soon as we can be assured that we won't be shot at. Powerstations are scheduled to be installed everywhere along the strip where you have nothing yet within the next few weeks, but the larger bits which require an unbroken ring will wait."

"I have no idea what you expect. But what you should expect is that we will begin building as soon as we can be assured that we won't be shot at. Powerstations are scheduled to be installed everywhere along the strip where you have nothing yet within the next few weeks, but the larger bits which require an unbroken ring will wait."

Kril leaned foward ever so slightly and pursed his lips.

"I believe it would be most...unwise...on your part to start moving anything while the land is still in dispute. Keep in mind that we got here before you. Therefore, at the present time, I cannot guarantee anything."

"In that case, I suggest you provide a complete list of all of your current equatorial claims, so as we can avoid building over them. It is quite unusual for us to recognize any claim to any territory where you haven't built yet, but we'll be willing to make a small exception here. Provided you don't abuse it."

"A list? How about this one? Your lanes will require an equatorial strip of land. Will you have us just give up the base you stand in right now, to you? Or perhaps just bulldoze it. And so you can build some... object whose functions we may never know until it's too late. Just what propels you to build such a thing anyway!?"

The Commander had obviously been building up some steam, but what surprised even him was how little he had yet let off. His knuckles clenched involuntarily, his body thrilled just to feel the tension rise after so many weeks of either trafficking or overseeing engineering...

Maybe it was the heat getting to him.

Kril leaned back and laughed.

"Abuse? Why, you haven't been exactly clear on the purpose of your proposed structure. For all we know, it can be used as a weapon. As well, it may be unusual for you to recognize a claim to a territory that we haven't built a structure yet, but I am quite sure that my colleague," a brief gesture to his military counterpart, "Commander Brycoff is most able at securing Order claims."

OOC: Well, that was pretty good timing there Military. :)

"A list? How about this one? Your lanes will require an equatorial strip of land. Will you have us just give up the base you stand in right now, to you? Or perhaps just bulldoze it. And so you can build some... object whose functions we may never know until it's too late. Just what propels you to build such a thing anyway!?""But the powerstations won't require an entire equatorial strip. And no, we would not have you give up the base we're in right now. We have already presented two ways to get around it, and I'm sure we can come up with more. As for our impetus, it is an energy-based economy and the distance to Van Manaan's Star. Make of that statement what you will. And please note, it's not very diplomatic to blatantly display your anger. Heck, I'm broiling with rage, but I'm certainly not going to endanger good relations by punching you with a mechnized arm."
"Abuse? Why, you haven't been exactly clear on the purpose of your proposed structure. For all we know, it can be used as a weapon.""Yes, abuse. As in, add things to your list for the sole purpose of annoying us that weren't there before. Obviously it could be used as a weapon. There is very little that can't. But it wouldn't be. It's purpose is to accelerate small things to very high speeds, but I suppose you're more interested in our purpose for doing that, and you'll just have to wait to get that information."

"Yes, abuse. As in, add things to your list for the sole purpose of annoying us that weren't there before. Obviously it could be used as a weapon. There is very little that can't. But it wouldn't be. It's purpose is to accelerate small things to very high speeds, but I suppose you're more interested in our purpose for doing that, and you'll just have to wait to get that information."

Kril Buy merely smiled and said,

"So now listing concerns is abuse? Truly you are stretching the definition. My most sincere apologies for not sharing all of my concerns at the very beginning, but why is it surprising that during negotiations valid concerns may arise? Indeed sir, I find your tone most condescending and belligerent.

So far, there have been only two main issues that have been brought up: 1) land transport with territorial considerations and 2) the purpose of the structure. And yes, most anything can be used as a weapon, but certainly you would agree that some things are easier, dare I say even designed, to fulfill both roles of military and, for lack of a better term, civilian use with a minimum of hardship in changing roles.

Obviously, I will have to consult with my superiors about this matter since I haven't been given the necessary authority yet to sign any type of document. Perhaps you may have something in mind that I can take back? In the meantime, I cannot guarantee that you 'won't be shot at' as you so eloquently put it in the interim. Therefore, let us conclude this initial meeting."

Kril looked at the Spacer Guild rep, wondering what exactly he would do. A brief handsignal to the marines indicated that the meeting was basically over.

"Punching me," growled Commander Brycoff, "would endanger more than your good relations."

He clearly didn't see any need to be diplomatic here, but a sidewise glance from Kril seemed to cool him down some.

When the signal was given, a pair of CSF soldiers stepped loudly over to nearby the SG ambassador, and waited, their faces passive behind clear faceplates, rifles pointing off to the sides.

"They'll escort you to your ship," Brycoff said coolly.

"Punching me," growled Commander Brycoff, "would endanger more than your good relations.""As would growling at me, were I not at least somewhat concerned with being diplomatic.""So now listing concerns is abuse? Truly you are stretching the definition. My most sincere apologies for not sharing all of my concerns at the very beginning, but why is it surprising that during negotiations valid concerns may arise? Indeed sir, I find your tone most condescending and belligerent."Listing concerns is all good. We welcome it. We do not welcome other parties adding to their list not because it is necessary but only because they can. I would like to assume that you are more honorable than that, but it has happened before."
So far, there have been only two main issues that have been brought up: 1) land transport with territorial considerations and 2) the purpose of the structure. And yes, most anything can be used as a weapon, but certainly you would agree that some things are easier, dare I say even designed, to fulfill both roles of military and, for lack of a better term, civilian use with a minimum of hardship in changing roles."The purpose of the structure, as I said, is to accelerate small things to very high speeds. I'm sure you can agree that anything that big, even if we were to decide to use it as an enormous railgun, could not be easily re-aimed, and especially not at anything anywhere near the planet."

Obviously, I will have to consult with my superiors about this matter since I haven't been given the necessary authority yet to sign any type of document. Perhaps you may have something in mind that I can take back? In the meantime, I cannot guarantee that you 'won't be shot at' as you so eloquently put it in the interim. Therefore, let us conclude this initial meeting.""And hence we shall wait before landing near your structures. But unless you provide an accurate and honest list of your intended territories, we shall have nothing to go on but the things we have already seen, and I therefore cannot guarantee that my superiors won't start plant constructions. Far from your current structures, of course. I do, in fact, have something that you can take back."
The Guilder unbuttoned a second pocket and removed a 6cm wide glass disc. After holding it up between two fingers for a moment, the Guilder slid the disc acros the table to Kril.
"This disc is imprinted with holograms of relevant data, with each image occupying a separate 20 nanometer band in the visible spectrum. It includes site restrictions, that is the maximum latitudes at which the rings can be built, spacelane definitions, ring altitudes at various points on the equator, etc. Along with the list of our current intended claims, it should provide all the information you will need. If, however, it is at all lacking, any of our colonies can be contacted for additional information."

"They'll escort you to your ship," Brycoff said coolly.The two Guilders chorused "Spacibo" as the one stood and the other turned her tank walls dark again.

"And hence we shall wait before landing near your structures. But unless you provide an accurate and honest list of your intended territories, we shall have nothing to go on but the things we have already seen, and I therefore cannot guarantee that my superiors won't start plant constructions. Far from your current structures, of course. I do, in fact, have something that you can take back."
The Guilder unbuttoned a second pocket and removed a 6cm wide glass disc. After holding it up between two fingers for a moment, the Guilder slid the disc acros the table to Kril.
"This disc is imprinted with holograms of relevant data, with each image occupying a separate 20 nanometer band in the visible spectrum. It includes site restrictions, that is the maximum latitudes at which the rings can be built, spacelane definitions, ring altitudes at various points on the equator, etc. Along with the list of our current intended claims, it should provide all the information you will need. If, however, it is at all lacking, any of our colonies can be contacted for additional information."

Kril deftly picks up the disc and briefly eyes it. He then puts it into an appropriate container and says, "We'll be in touch. Be mindful of my earlier words, sir."

we shall get there first...FOR THE UNITED SOVIET ALLIANCE!!!

(if our technology works for once) :(

we shall get there first...FOR THE UNITED SOVIET ALLIANCE!!!

(if our technology works for once) :(

Er... except that I'm already there...

OOC: Hope it's okay to tie up this particular thread, Spacer Guilds.

IC:

The SOE rep (not Kril Buy) accompanied the two odd Spacer Guild dignitaries to their ship along with the imposing marines. At the edge of the pad, a half-hearted wave and then he safely distanced himself so as not to get roasted by the SG ship'ss thrusters. The cannon again tracked their upward progress.

Meanwhile, the entire meeting was sent back to SOE headquarters and passed on to the highest levels of the Order where it can be mulled over and help formulate a response.

For this business was certainly left unfinished...

(OOC: Hope it's okay to tie up this particular thread, Spacer Guilds.)Not a problem.