NationStates Jolt Archive

Across Izistan thousands of printers and email servers began to churn themselves out of slumber and set about getting a particular message out to the world.

Namely that of the Smythii Accords.

All known government and news agencies from Haven, Gholgoth, to those of the members of the Corporate Alliance began to receive dozens of copies (both physical and electronic) of this particular political and military agreement between the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan and the Incorporated States of Zeppelin Manufacturers. A fair portion of the civilian population was sent the same thing too (thanks to the efforts of marketing corporations on the government payroll, for capitalism is a wonderful thing).

- - -

The Incorporated States of Zeppelin Manufacturers and the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan, desiring to control access to translunar space, have for that purpose appointed as plenipotentiaries:

His Majesty Imperator Zedlacher I of Izistan.

Article I
There shall be firm and lasting peace and cooperation between the Incorporated States of Zeppelin Manufacturer and the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan in space (hence forth defined as 100 kilometers above the surface of the Earth).

Article II
The Most Serene Imperium and the Incorporated State will deny member-states and signatory agencies of the Corporate Alliance military and economic access to lunar orbit, the lunar surface, highly eccentric earth orbit, all five of the LaGrange points, and the rest of the bodies (surface and orbit) of the Solar System.

Article III
Translunar (hence forth defined as space traffic to the lunar surface and/or orbit as well as the five LaGrange points) assets (defined as a manned or unmanned space vehicles) operated by Corporate Alliance member states or signatory agencies, will be limited to unarmed missions (manned or unmanned) of a maximum of 50 tonnes mass and propelled by chemical rockets of a maximum vacuum ISP of 450 seconds. Assets of a military or hostile economic purpose (armed or unarmed) will not be tolerated.

Article IV
Interplanetary assets (hence forth defined as unmanned space vehicles operating outside of translunar space or Earth orbit) operated by Corporate Alliance member states or signatory agencies will be limited to 10 tonnes mass, chemical propulsion, and a maximum ISP of 450 seconds.

Article V
Unidentified (defined as “origin unknown” spacecraft or refusal to be in contact with authorities of the Incorporated State or the Most Serene Imperium will be considered hostile and engaged with maximum prejudice.

Article VI
Corporate Alliance member state and/or signatory agency weapon platforms (defined as any unmanned or manned satellite, spacecraft, or surface to orbit vehicle) shall be limited to 100 tonnes mass.

Article VII
Weapons systems designed to create a Kessler Syndrome situation are hereby prohibited and will be destroyed upon identification.

Article VIII
Creation of a Kessler Syndrome will result in declaration of total war, blockade, and issue of Letters of Marque and Reprisal by the Incorporated State and the Most Serene Imperium.


Article IX
Corporate Alliance member states or signatory agencies will be granted an 180000 second (sixty day) grace period to decommission and/or deorbit any existing weapons platform or space asset in violation of the Smythii Accords before action is taken.

Article X
The Incorporated States and the Most Serene Imperium will allow access to each other’s orbital and surface stations for the purpose of rearming and refueling allied non-terrestrial assets (defined as belonging to the Incorporated State and the Most Serene Union).

Article XI
For the purpose of maintaining compliance of the Smythii Accords, a regular translunar patrol will be established and jointly maintained by the Incorporated State Space Force and the Aerospace Force of the Most Serene Imperium. Member states will also deploy geosynchronous monitoring systems above launch sites of interest and share military intelligence as pertaining to the Accords.

Article XII
The Accords may be amended at anytime by the founding member states (defined as Zeppelin Manufacturers and Izistan).

Article XIII
The lunar mare of Smythii and the impact crater of Tycho are off limits to all foreign parties.

Article XIV
Violation of the Smythii Accords (non-compliance with the Accords) will result in economic action against Corporate Alliance member states and signatory agencies. Severe violations (defined as outright physical or cyberwarfare attacks against the Incorporated State and/or the Most Serene Imperium or non-compliance with military portions of the Accords) will result in declaration of war.

Signatories
In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this treaty and have hereunto affixed our seals.

[Seal of the Imperator] His Majesty Imperator Zedlacher I of the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan.

[Signatures] 242nd Concilium of the Incorporated State of ZMI.
Done in duplicate at Megacity One and Izistan City, the sixth day of September, in the Common Era of 2XXX.

[OOC: I will add ZMI's Plenipotentiaries when he posts tomorrow, but until that time please note he is in this. Also note the articles are not yet set in stone, and may change tomorrow as per ZMI input.
Please keep all OOC comments to a separate OOC thread. Or yell at me on IM or IRC. This thread is for IC reactions and news reports and the like.]

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From Channel NewsAsia Online

Izistani-ZMI alliance a "union of free markets at it's finest", say some, whilst others disagree.

Manila, State Capital of Northern Philippines, Southeast Asia - Political think-tanks are debating on the political repercussions to a "union of free markets at it's finest", describing the new alliance between the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan and the Incorporated State of Zepplin Manufacturers Industries. Southeast Asians have been questioning the Federal-Parliamentarian Government's decision to remain largely silent on this, wondering if the Union has betrayed it's anti-corporatist stance.

Spokespersons from the Emerald Executive Recluse have stated that "while [the Union's] foreign policy does not approve of expansionism, or imperialism, we are supportive of honorable governments which have assisted us in our war against corporatist aggression, and we can tolerate corporatists which do not go on rampant tactics or overtly malicious actions." Spokespersons from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have largely declined to comment on the joint declaration towards it's intended subjects: the geopolitical powerhouse regions of Gholgoth and Haven; and the Griffencrest-led Corporate Alliance.

"If there's anything certain about the socioeconomic repercussions for the Union, where both the economics teachers and I at this school can agree on," Professor Soukkongseng Mangnomek of the Vientiane University stated, "Southeast Asian people can take advantage of the opened free markets for greater economic prosperity ahead."

[OOC: Not my best effort, but I did what I could.]

[OOC: BUMP because Article's VII, VIII, and XIII apply to everyone. That more news coverage/IC response would be nice, ZMI should post sometime in the next two days. x_X]

The Ziggurat, MegaCity One, ZMI

The structure was nearly 10 kilometers to a side. Matt black. It was a leviathan, distorting the local geology, and far more than just a mere Arcology. Towering over its peak 4 huge obelisk shaped office blocks mark its corners there caps studded with antennae, and impressive in there own right but still the pyramid at the heart of it all was the centerpiece. A single huge corporate logo in blue neon was displayed on its sea side face, projected by thousands of laser LEDs at night it shone out over the surrounding citadel walls, over the sub sectors habitation high rises and there security cordons and over the bay. By far the largest single non industrial building in ZMI the Ziggurats armored flanks rose up as a metal and plascrete mountain a full 4 kilometers high, its slick sides only marred by the odd protrusion of a window washing platform sliding up a funicular railway like affair. It was all the more striking for the growing parkland it sat in which while crisscrossed by roadways and the odd rail link was a seething green cube at the heart of the mega city. Protecting all of this lay the citadel walls, designed not to keep an enemy out, but to support the megacity sector structures linked to them who suddenly found themselves without neighbors to lean on. It was massive and it still was not complete, a segment of its faces covered in scaffolding, cranes and massive plascrete spraying machines, leviathan pipelines in lurid primary colours crisscrossing up between the scaffolding. Beneath this city within a city, below its massive internal subway grid, warehouses and internal hydroponics bays, far beneath its civil emergency shelters and vehicle garages that could hold the best part of six armored divisions and the supplies to operate them for months all of which lay at the heart of a positive maze of service ducts and tubes lay yet another layer of bunkers, some quite literally going down miles. This one was not quite as deep as the emergency power supply system. But it still required a massive series of airlocks to ensure air pressure was maintained at levels that did not require its occupants to undergo decompression every time they left its confines.

The room was huge at least a hundred meters long, black onyx with gold inlays lined its columns while the floor was a nearly pure white marble. The massive rectangular columns were not needed for support as was attested to there bases where behind glass a tangle of optics, cables and coolant pipes could be seen entering each section of the cluster computer. The ceiling was covered in a vast series of projectors, scanners, and rails for more of the same to roll out of the walls. At its heart sat a single huge circular table a flickering plasma holographic display at its heart, its surface one vast high resolution smart screen. Towards the walls ranks of seating and desks. The walls were full of data, three walls showing endless streaming global market reports from a thousand nations, cascades of resource analyses and endless investment projection and conflict management charts. The rear wall was dominated by internal reports, everything from daily megacity traffic levels, reports on the finances of the latest hab pop diva, weather predictions, to one vast vector graphic of the combined data defence environment. The Data Net news channels were curiously absent, after all the people who worked in this room shaped what the channels showed the public.

This Conciliums chairman was jovial, Pavel Mitchell was Anglo Russian in decent, an odd mix that had produced an odd individual of great drive and terrible determination to succeed all hidden under the guise of the happy fat man from the blue collar habs who could "relate" to the common worker, and now with analysts and endless pol sci dep officials in his employ he did so with greater effect than ever before. Pavel was a mob politician, effective at using the lowest common denominator and proud of it. Just because of his humble origins however Pavel was far from limited in horizon, to become chairman you not only had to appeal to the primary workers, but the vast teeming middle class techs and admin groupings, the execs and independent sub corps and the so easily moved and so eratic students. These were not just social classes but political parties as far as the term could be stretched for representative groups, ZMI was an incorporated state, neo corporate at that, conventional political alignments existed in individuals but representation and party politics were not through such but instead through professional alignment. You may be anything under the political spectrum but your group came first above that. It was all simply a matter of national priorities.

Pavel as he was wont to do clapped his ring covered hands together just once to bring the Concilium to order, the metal ring overriding the hubub of semi inane chatter or strongly wording discussion between these the leaders of the various groups. While ZMIs day to day operations were run by the group known as the gestalt the Conciliums members effectively controlled the voting blocks within the citizen shareholder assembly.

His voice was utterly different from that of the public facade, gone were the gruff burr of the workers habs and instead the smooth corporate exec accent slithered out.
"Ladies , gentlemen to business"



PUBLIC DATA RELEASE, IMMEDIATE, TEXT ONLY, TO BE ARCHIVED.
From the office of the Executive

As of the 242nd Concilium the Incorporated state of ZMI by the authority of the Gestalt and in the name of the Citizen Shareholders does formally ratify this treaty and enshrine it in law and policy.

ATTACHED .AVI SPEACH BY CHAIRMAN PAVEL MITCHELL

Pavel stood at a lectern behind which was draped a simple flag bearing the stars and rocket of the ZMSF. His voice now had the familiar burr of the worker in it. It was taken as if he had been caught mid speech. In truth the sound bite was all that there was of this little stage production.

"Let it be clear that this treaty is not set to provoke or cease the peaceful exploration and mercantile exploitation of space but to stop what amounts to the effective pollution of space with arms by a group of nations who patently have proven time and time again there inability to use them constructively. These nations whoms military garbage has more than once caused collateral damage to civilian infrastructure worth quite literally trillions and indeed cost the lives of your own fellow techs. (insert angry cheer number 3, crowd scene index IV 4 ZMSF control crew Defence Tor Calypso).

"This is a warning simply put that we will no longer tolerate such a threat to resources so vital to our national interest and that we will actively seek to defend these resources to the best of our ability with partners who likewise see that the damage done to global orbital infrastructure by there errant projectiles simply cannot be tolerated any more than damage done to our national oil refineries or ports or roads could be by errant missile strikes"

END FILE

Attachment:

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Delete Y/N?

Official Allanean Reply

We congratulate our friends in Izistan and ZMI for signing that treaty. However we say again – we remain free to manufacture any weapons we choose, Kessler Syndrome or not. We do not recognize the treaty as binding on us in that respect.

[OOC: BUMP because Article's VII, VIII, and XIII apply to everyone. That more news coverage/IC response would be nice, ZMI should post sometime in the next two days. x_X]
[OOC: Does this mean that all the other articles, even if they do not state they are limited to the CA, are in reality only applicable to the CA? Eg.

"Unidentified (defined as “origin unknown” spacecraft or refusal to be in contact with authorities of the Incorporated State or the Most Serene Imperium will be considered hostile and engaged with maximum prejudice."

EDIT: Just to note, the below post has been approved by me.]

Editorial, published in the Praetonian Royal Standard as of Saturday, September 8, 20XX

ZMI and Izistan to rule over moon, accords claim

It seems that now, unsatisfied with earthly imperialism, some entities have chosen to claim extraterrestrial territories as well. As many of my fellow citizens in Haven and around the world undoubtedly know by now, the so-called "Smythii Accords", signed between the Incorporated States of Zepplin Manufacturers and the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan, give those two nations authority to regulate what practically everyone else does in the translunar corridor.

Naturally, no second-hand superpower would have the audacity to make such a claim; and indeed, ZMI is one of the world's largest megacorporations and Izistan a powerful and respected nation, and both have significant holdings on the moon -- more so than most nations. It is likely that both entities have the military and political authority to enforce their will. Nonetheless, it is obvious that these so-called accords have been enacted, first of all, to allow the Imperium and the Incorporated State to get back at their political enemies; second of all, to expand their own territory while denying others a chance at the space race, perhaps due to unfavourable environmental conditions at home. (I have never personally been to either Izistan or ZMI and cannot verify this, but due to the nature of unregulated industry across Haven, it seems likely.)

To prove this, simply examine the accords in detail. In the very first sentence the Izistani-ZMI Manifest Destiny is revealed: the two entities wish to "control access to translunar space". Obviously, this is merely a stepping-stone to future agreements granting the signatories control over the lunar surface, over mining and colonisation operations on other planets; perhaps giving them authority over interstellar travel to and from the solar system if such a thing is ever developed. And indeed, in the second article they are already attempting to prevent their political enemies from gaining a foothold in the space race, by denying signatories of an agreement known as the "Corporate Alliance" access to translunar space at all.

Articles III through V are even more ambitious. The wording of these articles are just vague enough that they could be taken to refer to controlling the space programs of all of the world's thousands of nations, and not merely those of signatories. Several more articles are also worded to control the orbital assets of the Corporate Alliance, although it seems that no Corporate Alliance member-entity is a signatory to the accords.

Here the difficulties arise. If ZMI and Izistan believe that they can regulate the activities of other entities, and enforce those regulations by right of military force, what prevents them from amending the regulations to apply to anyone else they take a dislike to? What prevents them from adding additional regulations if they so choose, and forcing our own sovereign nation to pay a high tax for its lunar thorium mine, for instance? True, at the present time Praetonia is friendly towards the signatories of these accords, but political winds are fickle....

Norbert Henderson first moved to Praetonia from the tiny, impoverished nation of Vojvodina-Nihon to study at Kingston University, and is today a professor of military history. He is best known for his blog at itdoesnthavetohaveapointitsjustranting.blogspot.com.

Message from the Toopoxican Capitolist Republic

The Toopoxican Capitolist Republic refuses to sign the accord, we look down upon the nations of ZMI and Izistan for such blatant imperialism in a territory that belongs to all, I have it in good knowledge that the CA shall not respect that articles of this treaty, we suggest you remove this "request" before further actions are taken to refuse your claim, good day.

Signed,
Consul Gallus Raexe

Official Clandonian Response
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Open Declaration:

His Majesty's Government, the Royal Air Force Space Command and the represented corporate and industrial aerospace bodies welcome this move in a bid to control space. The Imperial Crown Kingdom is currently in first stage Martian colonisation with a great deal of financial infrastructure being put into space on a weekly basis we find the actions of the Corporate Alliance and those associated nations with their weapon platforms under the control of unstable, violent, collectivist dictatorships as a threat to the Crown and her dependants.

We applaud our Havenic friends and neighbours of Izistan and Zepplin Manufacturers in their quest for peace in space and the continued exploration and technological development of space around Earth, the Moon and neighbouring planets. You have the Imperial Crowns word that should the Corporate Alliance not follow this ultimatum then they will be targeted by RAF weaponry. We also give our word that any Clandonian orbital assets are in full compliance of this treaty. Under the 1987 Clandonian Space Protection Act both state and private organisations are responsible for decomishioning of defunct satellites and orbital objects to reduce collisions, debris and the build up of space junk.


God save the King


Secretary of Space and Martian Command, Sir Lexington Charlton

OOC:Now you've done it...you've given me an idea for a Kessler Syndrome-inducing superweapon...

I believe that I speak for the entire Corporate Alliance when I say that this accord will in no way be followed. You can not and will not ban our satelites from space and we will defend our orbital rights to be there tooth and nail. At the present, the Griffincrest maintains well over a thousand unmanned weapons platforms, as well as several hundred manned assault shuttles and solar sailors. We also maintain mining operations on asteroids about our system, and several space stations. All of our space platforms and vessels have been put on high alert, and all fellow members of the CA have been advised to do the same. So, simply put, we will see you in hell, Mr. Zedlacher.

Sincerely,
Claudius Griffincrest

Official Reply from Virticon City, Kroando

While we applaud ZMI and Izistan on their sucessful peace talks, the Terran State shall in no way be hindered by third party agreements or negotiations, nor shall we alter our armed forces in the least to appease your nations.

~Signed,
Commissar Hector V. Davis

OFFICIAL IMPERIAL STATEMENT

We are amused at these meaningless scribbles. The Imperium has no intention of restricting its expansion into space and the upper atmosphere because of the declarations of infidels. How these nations intend to discern potential Kessler Syndrome-causing spacecraft from any others is puzzling, but any interference with peaceful Imperial space incursions will be regarded as an act of war. You have been warned. Be grateful we do not regard this treaty as an act of war of itself; it is a case of blatant intimidation, a futile attempt to claim the void of space wholly for your own. Again, we have no intention of abiding by these terms, and if you persist in your imperialism justice will be done.

Abram Vidann, Minister of Foreign Affairs

[Articles III and IV have been amended slightly because I forgot to mention that they pertain to the CA and not everyone. Article XIII is the really important one that applies to everyone. And now I work on reply. >_>]

This. Is. Funny.

~The Mandalore.
-Supreme Ruler of Maldorians.

This. Is. Funny.

~The Mandalore.
-Supreme Ruler of Maldorians.

It pleases us very much to see that you find the potential pending death of the majority of your service men and women and the destruction of your economy amusing! In fact, for a nominal fee I will have the Department of War forward your attempt to so rightfully negotiate to their forthcoming next of kin! That or we'll have our Clandonian friends handle that, as I understand they don't like your kind.

Sincerely yours!
Imperator Zedlacher I of the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan.

[Still working on a main post. X_x]

Frankly, I agree with my fellow leader the Mandalore. You haven't the power nor us the submissivness to enact these accords. What is left of the DT space arsenal, after the attacks made by Derscon and his allies, will continue in any orbits DT deems neccessary and no restrictions will be made to the size or any other aspects of our orbital platforms, military or not.

I am slightly dismayed that you jumped straight to an open declaration of your intention to block the space activity of the CA. Had it been me, I would have consulted you first, as a gentleman. We are resonable and might've even accepted to respect the space above your respective countries.

However, i'm afraid all other aspects of these accords are thoroughly unacceptable and I speak for the whole of the Corporate Alliance when I say they, Article I through Article XIV, will be ignored.

-The Sultan of the Sacrosanct Unholy Sultanate of Deserted Territories

The Ryou Empire and Sharkotth Oil, Inc Rejects this false treaty

Official Statement
Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy

While Manth has no plans to violate any of these lunar claims, station weapons on the moon, or engage in large-scale extraterrestrial economic activity, we nonetheless do not recognize the validity of this or any other treaty which would purport to restrict our activities without ourselves being party to the agreement.

Regards.

Official Prestonian Statement

The Prestonian Republic puts it's full support toward this treaty. While we will not be signing the treaty at this time, we nonetheless support it's aims. We believe the regulations, particularly those concerning Kessler Syndrome-inducing weapons, to be of utmost importance. It is important to keep space open and usable for the international community of the future. The only flaw we see in the treaty is Article XIII. In our opinion, barring actual terraforming and colonization, one cannot own a piece of a moon or satellite. If you could please provide reason for Article XIII's existance, we would be more than happy to reconsider our position on the matter.

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Kampfers to fall in line with Zeppers, Izistani policies

Following the release of the Smythii Accords by the Incorporated States of Zeppelin Manufacturers and the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan, the nation of Kampfers braced for a harsh public reaction. However, several days after the release, hardly anything bad has been said about the accords. In fact, the public ratings of the Most Serene Imperium and the Incorporated States has skyrocketed recently, evidencing the still lingering hate bred long ago in the hearts of many Kampferians towards the Corporate Alliance.

Fuhrer Richtoff was unavailable for comment, but the head of the Kampferian National Space Agency, Tom Reynolds, offered some knowledge into the matter. "Frankly, this treaty does not limit us [Kampfers] in any way, shape, or form. All it does is require that we identify our satellites, already commonplace, and not go top the locations of Smythii and Tycho. Frankly, we had no plans to go here, and as such could care less. Until they interfere with us, I see no problem with them dictating foreign policy." Reynolds also added "Articles VII and VIII are particularly good for us Kampferians. As Kampferians, we abide by strict standards upon the removal of debris from space, and find it quite irritating when we lose an asset due to another nation's debris. Quite frankly, the removal of all Kessler Syndrome inducing spacecraft is a great step foward for the world, and it will let civilian companies as well as national governments feel better about the safety of their space assets.

Also vocal about the document was former Foreign Minister Lyle Blake. "The nations who call themselves the Corporate Alliance have proven time and time again that they are not to be trusted. I commend the nations of Izistan and ZMI for their noble efforts to make space a safer place." He also, to paraphrase, advised the members of the Corporate Alliance to accept the accords, as they underestimate the strength of the signatories if they do not.

The impact of this has been far-reaching, as the looming war between the nations of the Corporate Alliance and the founders of the Smythii Accords could quite possibly knock another of the worlds preeminint alliances in the Corporate Alliance out of the world spectrum. Doing so would leave Kampfers and UFAN without a definitive foil alliance, despite having numerous unallied foils such as Doomingsland.

It was also rumoured that Kampfers would be willing to aid the nations of Izistan and Zeppelin Manufacturers with the identification of Corporate orbital assets if such help was required. The information is sketchy at best, yet quite intruiging. However, it is doubtful that the two nations will require said aid, due to the immense number of orbital assets they possess. It is important for our audience to remember that this is soley speculation, and that such an offer is not official, even if it does make for an intruiging possibility.

OOC: A meh post, but I have more pressing issues to deal with. Oh, and Izi, that offer is for real, talk to me on IRC if you want to actually do something with it. If not, then its like the article says, speculation.

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Adygean Foreign Ministry

+++It is with great relief that I review the Smythii Accords, recently signed in to action by ZMI and Izistan. In these dangerous times, I, my government and its military leaders are all gladdened by the bold moves made in the Accords, the first of its kind wherein responsible nations have the courage and fortitude to guard against such rampant and dangerous militarism by neo-imperialist states. In truth, this in itself must be achieved by force, but it is the hope of Adygea--indeed one of the very few ideas that gives my nation hope--that when the belligerent and destructive have been weeded out by such measures, our nation shall be assured of its continued peace and prosperity.
+++Without question I support fully the Smythii Accords in their ideals and implementation by Izistan and ZMI. Unfortunately for myself, I cannot commit any military support for such a broad and daring policy, for my country's military is far behind in technical parity, as compared to such nations as these two; however, the diplomatic support that I can give I give freely and enthusiastically, to the ends that nations so empowered with sage governments may once and for all curtail the irresponsibility of rogue nations, so that smaller, less-endowed nations will be at last safe from warmongering.

Signed,
Motya Niyazov
Adygean Foreign Minister

[The Imperator appears on screen behind a large desk; the flag of Izistan and the somewhat psychedelic slowly rotating symbol of the Mekugian Commonwealth are present behind him on softscreens.]

+++My fellow Izistani and Havenic comrades, I am certain that many of you have heard that our recent Accords signed with our Havenic brothers in the Incorporated State have attracted much ire and scorn from some nations, for the most part members of that vile organization known as the Corporate Alliance. However some non-affiliated parties have still displayed concern, and even a little anger. In this regard I will be frank: we do not intend to restrict the activities of said peaceful nations. However, we will not tolerate activities which put our space activities at risk.

+++And yet, we have been threatened. For example, I quote the so-called “Toopoxican Capitalist Republic” which orders us to “remove this "request" before further actions are taken to refuse your claim”. As ridiculous as this is, I feel that in lieu of teaching them a lesson with force, all I shall do is ask them: what do they intend to do about it? By all means they are welcome to come and try to show us the error of our ways in person by force. But making claims and then having the testicular fortitude to attempt an entry into Havenic waters are something else entirely.

+++All we ask is that you abide by these simple demands, so that every nation may go about its business in safety, because contrary to the beliefs of the Sultan of Deserted Territories, although I must praise him for his diplomatic skills, we do have the means to carry out our demands by force if necessary. The Incorporated State is even more prepared to enforce the Accords then we are, and we are in communications with a few other powers with regards to the Accords, powers which want to assist us. This isn’t even considering the damage we would do to your economies if you tried anything; we are already in direct consultations with the Willink based Chatham Oil and other corporations of interest. Please enjoy fighting us and trying to maintain civil order at home when Adam Smith so rudely yanks your market share from underneath your feet.

+++I must thank those who have joined our cause; Clandonia, Kampfers, and Adygea. You will not be forgotten if you need assistance in the future. Furthermore I wise to encourage all nations who have not chosen sides to come forward and support us. You have very little to lose and much to gain.

[The video ends here and the screen shifts over to a image of the Izistani flag and the MekWealth symbol while the Izistani anthem plays. However about a thirty seconds into the song it is suddenly replaced by Phil Collin's In The Air Tonight, no doubt done by some production office wit.]

Open Declaration of the Dictorial Republic of Sumer

The Dictorial Republic of Sumer does not recognise the right of the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan or of the Incorporated States of Zeppelin Manufacturers to claim their ability to police space for all.

That said the Dictorial Republic does recognise the need for such actions within a limited scope. And as we additionally believe weapons designed to clutter the use of space for all to be inhumane and a crime against the planet which we live, the Dictorial Republic will not interfere with this accord.

As long as our limited space based activity is left alone, we feel there is no reason that this accord should have any issue with us, and thus we wish the states of the Smythii Accords well in the task which they have ahead of them. The cause of restricting states such as those belonging to the CA is noble one indeed when it is nessecary, we just hope that it does not become a weapon of conquest and exploitation.

- A Joint Letter,
The Popular Senate of the Dictorial Republic of Sumer

Message from the Toopoxican Capitalist Republic

You misunderstand, Toopoxia does not wish a conflict, despite the contrary we are not a violent nation, we merely ask that the accord be removed before a far more threatening nation does their best to destroy your nation, there are nations out there who are obviously far more powerful than your own, this is evident in their inability to make demands on global powers.
IndentLet me leave with this piece of information, The GASN stood against us, we annihilated them and their brothers, the NPE stood against us, we sent them reeling across the globe, do not stand against us or you shall face Corporate Alliance might and fury on the battlefield, and pray thee this, you shall not be as fortunate as the NPE!

Signed,
Consul Gallus Raexe

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From the Desk of the Rightly Elected Praetor Jonathan William Keiso

It is not without some deliberation that I sign this accord but the the outright attempts at belligerence by such an Insolent group do tend to raise my Ire. We also find it funny the amount of nations not so blessed with the art of literacy seeing this document as an attack on the moon, and ALL who traverse the space, this obviously is an incorrect assumption, as this accord is direct at and enforced against only one offender, the so-called 'Corporate Alliance' in truth a group of socio-anarchists who have sought constant conflict and imperialism the world round. The 'Buck' as they say stops here.

On Behalf of the People of the Armed Republic, and those in the Mekugian Commonwealth I sign this document and have dispatched at the time of writing, the Draco, and its associated Frigates and Corvettes to assist in the enforcement of this accord.

We strongly suggest the 'Corporate' Alliance re-read this document, comply to its terms and attempt to negotiate with the nations such involved. As we can already see the fires burning in Zeppelin Manufacturers from here, and they are quite willing to do what it takes to secure your removal with a vengence...

Loss of life is not needed here, but it can be found here with continued belligerence. Do not sign your own peoples death warrant...

-Praetor Jonathan William Keiso

-Sealed and Signed by the Armed Republic-
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I have just witnessed your address concerning the Smythii Accords, Imperator of Izistan, and I wish to make a few points concerning the position of the CA on the accords.

Firstly, my fellow leaders and I in the CA are with you in the goal of keeping space a safe place for all countries to conduct their business. We are all in the intrest of keeping space free of the ravages of war, seeing as how space conflicts quickly get out of hand, disrupting the business of many fair nations. However, we in the CA are hurt that you lay so much blame on us. The CA has never pursued the satellites of any nation, save those who beleive we are vile and should be forced into submission. I feel it is neccessary and prudent to point out that every space-born conflict of this decade (involving the CA) was instigated by our enemies, who favor themselves so righteous. I would like to bring special attention to the conflict with Derscon and Rosidivan who's attacks not only hit the satellites of neutral, even allied nations, in their attempt to destroy our space assests, but also created more space debris in the course of a few minutes than has been made in the last century. Surely they are somehow in violation of your Accords? Or perhaps there is some double standard hidden within your articles?

As for your economic threats, the CA has undergone far worse. Deserted Territories itself is already barred from trading from dozens of nations (if memory serves me correctly TPF was the first to cut us off) and our economy continues to thrive. Also, if I understood you correctly, you mentioned working with someone in the oil industry to cut us off? May I remind you what industry the CA was built upon, the same industry our founder continues to lead and the industry that new member nations go into every day of the week.

My fellow Corporate Alliance members and I are old, and set in our ways, and we have never taken kindly to learning any lessons.

I hope you will not construe anything in this message as hostile or disrespectful.

The Sultan of the Sacrosanct Unholy Sultanate of Deserted Territories

Official Hegemonic Responce:

The Hegemony hereby declares it's support for the Smythii Accords as defined by the nation of Izistan, noting that the restriction and control of orbital weapons stations is a noble goal that, if succesful, will do much to ensure future peace and stability in the world.

-Lord Sumguy

OOC: Too lazy to post icly, but I will sign the accords.

+++Again I must thank you Sultan, for your continued excellent diplomatic behavior, in contrast to that of some of your allies. But I believe you have misunderstood me, a common error by our opponent throughout our history, please understand that we do not seek to blacklist from our respective markets. It just happens to be that there are more effective ways to hurt an economy then it seems.

+++With one phone call sir, the floodgates will open. Please keep that in mind.

Respectfully yours,
Imperator Zedlacher I of the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan.

The Greater Empire of Undershi is a signatory of the Corporate Alliance Treaty. We have fought against TWSP and Kampfers in the name of economic liberalism, of the Free Market and of the rights of nations to do as they please without interference from holier-than-thou international treaty orgnaizations. You offer us no peace beyond the atmosphere - we accept. No peace in space until all nations may freely seek their fullest potential, no peace in space until the tyranny of interventionism has been broken. No peace in space from this day forward, until either your nation has retreated from its tyrannical demands. We will not retreat from space, and we will not meekly allow you to destroy our assets therein. From this moment on, your satelites and space stations are fair game - just as our own orbital assets were "fair game" for the Prussians when they violated unwritten international law and launched their attacks against us.

We will not yield, we will not retreat and we will not be cowed by threats. We Will Prevail. And that is all.

Signed,
Aleksander Miller, Leader of the Greater Empire of Undershi.

VIDEO DATA TRANSMISSION
ORIGIN: SATURN
ALEXANDER DREXEL CLASS SPACEY DDGN ZMSF STOCK TAKER
(DEEP SHOT VARIANT)

It starts out as a spurt of static then it roars, a transmission of fearful power spilling out across the system like an avalanche of revenge for decades of MTV being poured against the music of the spheres.

The video feed is high definition, startlingly so. A metal floor juddered and broken by boxy protrubences, gas tanks and docking points. And a suit standing there alone against the backdrop of eternity. It looks much like any other ZMSF hard suit, oh the rank barcode is somewhat larger, and a heavy duty com pack sits in its left shoulder point but the impression of what you are looking at is mostly that of a man. The view zooms back, and then keeps on receding till the structure the man is on is a mere speck of a metallic spider web and what fills the sky are the great roiling masses of clouds so real you could just reach out and touch them. Thunderheads roll, the edge of the night side is just visible and you can see the individual crackling points of lightening below.

"The rings are the first and last thing you look at every day out here. There light is unnaturally perfect, there form sculpted by the very curvature of the universe in such perfection from a distance, but just as with our own troubled world get up close and you see that they are no more than dirty and in some cases yellow snow."

"In the face of this we ask you what do you think you are doing? The press has spoken mockingly of manifest destiny, and it is there place and right to mock, but here on the edge how dare nations do so to our species. We know you have invested in the high frontier, we know you too have felt the drive to reach upwards and seek the very face of god amongst the stars and yet you fall back to Earth, an entire alliance of Icarus’s. You fall because you carry with you so much baggage, so much garbage that you fill the very skies with uncommon ordinary death that seeks out any nations spacer and could put our races conquest of this system behind by decades"

The view snaps back to the suits face instantly, without pause, the backdrop is reflected in the cold hard gold of the face plate, within it the reflection of the ship can be seen, massive stacks of fuel tanks and spars, huge radiator panels dotting a massive VASMIR drive all topped of by what seems a tiny mission segment.

"You ask how?"

"How? How will you prevail against we who have for so long invested so much in the justified exploration and exploitation of space? With "Solar Sailors" which are quite frankly nothing more than a sour tasting bad joke in terms of close orbital warfare? or "assault shuttles" the mere concept of which causes the mind to shudder in how suicidal such vessels are?"

"You claim we are a holier-than-thou international treaty organization and it is true what our Nations have ratified is just that, with aims and aspirations that are high in tone and purpose but who and what we are in truth and in full you seem to underestimate or care not to contemplate in any depth. We are representatives of powers that can will and shall dictate to you by if necessary force majeur for the good of our national interests. We are not only that but we are powers which have the means to do so. It is not in our national interest to have you bunch of yahoos capering around orbit in armed death traps, making a mockery of necessary realpolitik and filling our communal planetary skies with so much garbage that even civilian stations must now carry the enormous expense of major whipple shields and active defences."

The figure pauses, the view has receded somewhat and the platform rotated to face the rings.

"You purport to support the free market the very corner stone of our state and national identity. Where is the economic sense in causing all of our civilian infrastructure such terrible increased cost with your damnable choice of weaponry? "

"We are no third rate gathering of the remnants of those who were once mighty, we are no group without resources or will or assets. We are the ZMSF, the military arm of the Incorporated States of who’s technological exports your militaries have already relied upon. We do object to lost profit but the rational first choice action would be your complete denial of purchase or support for any ZMI produced system. We would like you to fully contemplate what this would imply."

"We as a species shall tread the dark paths between the stars and find our fortunes amongst them in the future, but for now we require and we demand and we shall enforce to the best of our group ability a peaceful sky, a sky upon which your alliance has sought to impinge with weapons that are unconscionably indiscriminate."

The view zooms out again and now it spins and you can see its not just one ship, but five all hauling a vast atmospheric drop probe, there bodies marking out a pentagon around the huge stubby one way object designed to plunge deeper into the heart of the giant world below than any had gone before.

"We are the ZMSF and we defend and embody the free market you claim to represent. Accept no substitute, no third party generic brand, no mere facsimile and remember just who and what you face before making bold statements of matters of national power and prestige before we who have chosen and have the ability, determination and strength to sit in judgment of your past actions in this realm act."

"In the name of our allies, to defend our citizen shareholders, in the word of the gestalt and for the honor of the Incorporated state and all within her."

The transmission ends with a white hot hail of static to be replaced by a simple white signature that vanishes in an blink

Comodore Peter S Vernum
Deep Shot Field Program Commander
ZMSF

In the meanwhile, Allanea partied. While the Kravenite propaganda machine has not yet acknowledged it, the attack on Kravenite cities (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12977005&postcount=71) had been a cause for celebration for Allanea’s men and women. Alexander Kazansky, the Field Marshal of Allanea, had spent a hundred million dollars of his own money to distribute drugs and alcohol to partygoers. The Mayor of Liberty-City ordered huge LCD screens to be erected at key intersections, displaying high-resolution satellite images in which hundreds and thousands of nuclear explosions blossomed over Gradenko, Gossen and Belsen.

In the streets of Liberty-City, in her back yards and parks, thousands of tiny parties broke out spontaneously soon merging into a giant street party from hell. Young men in sparkling suits danced in the streets, pickup trucks drove by at a crawling pace, men firing assault rifles into the air from aboard the vehicles.

The sky over Liberty-City was on fire – fireworks were set off, flares dropped, laser light shows initiated. And the main attraction of the evening were the flashes of five nuclear firework warheads that were set off in low orbit off over the Greater Prussian Bay, allowing the locals to enjoy a marvelous flare event that would dwarf the Polar Glow itself.

In the meanwhile, in orbit and on the ground, the military prepared. Gorgon Flight I and Ocelot craft were taking off in formation, escorted by the Wellington orbital combatants. The Marine divisions that beat Atopiana’s troops in Iragia and elicited the surrender of a 44-million-man Slave State’s army, the shuttles that vaporized and entire Atopian fleet, the Airborne troops that beat Kraven’s Capitol Police – all were ready for battle.

And Alexander Kazansky sought out, and received, authorization from President Goldwasser to make another address on behalf of the Allanean government. He made the address naked and sitting in a foam bath while holding a cup made from the skull of a Kahanistani high command officer:

Greetings, Corporatists.

Do you people even know what a Free Market is? Let me give you hint: the nonsense you engage in has nothing to do with Free Markets. It is mercantilism of the most base form – and in some of your nations, it is simply communism under another name. Take Kraven, where the government owns all means of production – how is this not communism?

We Allaneans despise corporatism and communism. We have fought against these things for decades – ask your own members. Ask the Kraventies, whose homeland we nuked, killing over a billion of them – and who were too wimpy to even declare war on us for it. Ask the Atopians, whose Sixth Fleet we blew off the face of the ocean.
The Allaneans oppose treaties such as the Stygian accords, but we support our allies the Zeppelin Manufacturers, and we promise you: if you attack ZMI, you will die. We Allaneans will come and kill you. We will make the last days of your nation’s sovereignty a living hell, a giant bacchanal of death and destruction.

The Kravenites claim that the future of mankind is a boot stepping on a human face forever. The Allanean People agree. Your future is a boot, and it is indeed a boot stepping on a human face forever. Specifically, an Allanean army boot and it is the face of Claudius Griffincrest that we will rest it on.

That is all.

May God bless Allanea.

For all your righteous talk of protecting the world by ridding it of such ruthless characters as those in the Corporate Alliance you seem to have no problem in threatening the lives of millions. I can assure you few in the Corporate Alliance would be as hasty as some of you to enter into a conflict of such magnitude. As it goes, it seems to be from your side that most of the ultimatums are coming, and as such are disrespectful in the fact that you assume so boldy and arrogantly that you have the power to carry them out with such ease. I suggest you spend more time choosing your words, for the Corporate Alliance is not so easy a nut to crack as you think it is.

And may I state that no matter what your personal opinion may be, nobody in this world has the right to sit and pass judgement on anyone else. Not you, not I, nobody. Try as you may to force your judgement upon us, you will find your words and demands falling on deaf ears and your actions met with fierce resistance.

The Sultan of the Sacrosanct Unholy Sultanate of Deserted Territories

Aboard aircraft carrier USS Richard Bruce Cheney

Marine One begins to circle above the deck – one circle, two circles, three circles. Below, on the deck of the supercarrier, black GLI Falcon and SU-25AL Flying Tux aircraft were arranged neatly, bombs armed and ready on the racks of attack aircraft, air-to-air missiles on wing pilons of the fighters. Near the noses of the aircraft, pilots stood at attention, saluting the craft the bore President Goldwasser down to the deck.

The aircraft landed, and as the door opened, the President spoke from the door itself, microphone at hand:

Greetings, soldiers!

I would like, first and foremost, to thank you all. The military of Allanea is the first barrier between foreign communists, corporatists, fascists and the life, freedom, and property of Allanean Freemen. I thank you for putting your lives on the line to protect individual liberty in Allanea and to promote it world-wide. I thank you all. May so bless you God.

Let me address the recent concerns about the Corporate Alliance. As President, I don’t have the authority to declare war. It is the prerogative of Congress to declare war – and when we declare war, we will fight it and we will win it. We will take our marching orders not from a foreign enemy threatening us, but from the very Constitution itself.

This fellow abroad – the so-called Sultan of Deserted Territories – says we have ‘no right to judge anybody’s action’. That is idiocy of the first degree. It is the right – nay, it is the indispensable duty of every sapient being on Earth to exercise moral judgment, to separate good and evil, right and wrong, freedom and slavery. If people did not do that, civilization as we know it would not exist – though in the Corporate Alliance civilization does not indeed exist.

And so we have people in the Corporate Alliance – people who endorse senseless wars of enslavement, who endorse cutting off the arms and legs of women and transforming them into birthing machines for mindless troopers, who endorse every kind of immorality known to man, from imperialism to outright genocide, who endorse death camps, human chattel slavery, slaughter and torture of every kind – these people are calling us too judgemental!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am a graduate of the Concord University in Liberty-City. In front of our School of Philosophy, where I attended my MA, there is a plaque with a simple qutoe from Alissa Rosenbaum: "It is not justice or equal treatment that you grant to men when you abstain equally from praising men's virtues and from condemning men's vices. When your impartial attitude declares, in effect, that neither the good nor the evil may expect anything from you - whom do you betray and whom do you encourage?"

Let me say it now:

I am judgmental. I pronounce death camps, slavery, genocide, forced lobotomy evil. I refuse to give moral sanction to the Kravenites, the Blackhelmians, the various other fools that comprise the alliance.

Yes. Good and evil exist. Kraven is evil. Blackhelm is evil. The Corporate Alliance is evil.

I hope that you, my fellow Freemen, will be as judgmental as I am, when the time comes – as, given events, it will – to wreak our judgement on them.

This is all.

And may God continue to bless Allanea.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/allanea/characters/goldwasser.gif

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From the Desk of Emperor Taichi Kamiya, Ruler of the Republic of Ancient Terra

The Republic of Ancient Terra, as always, fully supports and congratulates the Most Serene Imperium of Izistan and the Incorporated States of Zeppelin Manufacturers in reaching such a comprehensive and well-structured agreement, and wholeheartedly wishes for the best of luck in implementing the aforementioned measures. We also applaud the great nation of Allanea, long a steadfast friend of Terra, for pledging their involvement to ensure that the agreement is welcomed by all concerned parties. Truly are their rulers wise, their peoples blessed to live under such beneficent rule.

That said, on behalf of the Republic of Ancient Terra I strongly suggest that the Corporate Alliance seriously consider abiding by the articles set forth in the Smythii Accords. The militarization of space continues, curtailing the boundless research possibilities offered by zero-g laboratories and creating a potentially explosive situation in orbit; we will not stand for this self-destructive behavior. The great nations who came together to draft these measures have their reasons, and you will see that in the past they have been deadly-serious in enforcing their wise edicts, as many that have witnessed their terrible wrath can attest to.

Their words are wise, and therefore the Republic of Ancient Terra announces that it is fully willing and able to oppose those who refuse to follow the Smythii Accords to the letter. Although we pray that the peaceful solution will be recognized by the Corporate Alliance, it would be foolish of us to stand idly by and allow them to continue profiting by exploiting those nations which are too young to speak with one voice. For the sake of millions, perhaps billions of lives, accept the wisdom of the Accords and prove the world's assumptions wrong.

~Emperor Taichi Kamiya, Ruler of the Republic of Ancient Terra~
~Talus Karn, Prime Minister of the Republic~
~Lord Admiral Yamato Ishida, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff~

Message from the Toopoxican Capitalist Republic

Toopoxia still refuses to sign this treaty, but we fail to see why we, as civilised humans, cannot come to a more diplomatic arrangement, rather than force upon us the choice of neuturing or open warfare you should have instead presented the option of the Smythii accords so that we might be able to respond with feedback.

As it is the treaty specifically targets members of the Corporate Alliance into submission, and until each article has been fully discussed the members of the Corporate alliance will continue to subvert this treaty, if it does come to war then it shall be a sad day, when the so titled "Good" nations of this world would rather pummel their enemies into submission.

Signed,
Advisor to the Consul, Wendal Rande

I see the ultimatums, threats, and insults continue to pour from our oppositions mouths. I also see stories of the horrors of the CA emerging that have been unknown to me. "Birthing machines," death camps, slavery? I have heard of none of these notions. Granted there are nations withing the CA whos' practices may be unsavory to some, but it is all a matter of perspective and there are plenty of nations whos' practices appear unsavory to us.

And as long as we are quoting famous thinkers I feel I should bring up the words of John Locke, one of the great Philosophes of the Enlightenment, "Men being... by nature all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate and subjected to the political power of another without his consent." I will let that statement carry on for me, as it is the basis of our claim here against the nations who favor themselves so much better and higher than us.

As for the insults made upon me and my position by the President of Allanea, and all those insults made upon the Corporate Alliance made by other nations here, I will forgive them in entirely and apologize in advance for any unsavory comments that may have slipped from my pen.

I will also make the point that the Corporate Alliance will not pay heed to any plead to sign these accords. The Smythii Accords are unacceptable, and as such won't be considered, though as my Toopoxian allies contributed, we are open to alternate diplomatic courses, should you see fit to persue them.

The Sultan of the Sacrosanct Unholy Sultanate of Deserted Territories

OOC: You know, Allanea, pretty much all the crimes you mentioned only apply to Kraven, who isn't even an active member of the CA anymore.

OOC: You know, Allanea, pretty much all the crimes you mentioned only apply to Kraven, who isn't even an active member of the CA anymore.

[OOC: And I should point out that Allanea isn't a member or signatory of the accords.]

[OOC: And I should point out that Allanea isn't a member or signatory of the accords.]


OOC: I knew that, I just wanted to point out that Allanea isn't basing its judgment on solid facts.

[OOC: This ain't dead folks. I had to take a break from NS for personal reasons and school. But I have some time these days so I suppose I can make a limited return. :p ]