[Public Diplo] The Planetary Council

[Iskender]

What are your intentions, Isk and Maniac? (and Sareln?)

I declared war and sent several subs on pillage missions. They didn't do much harm, but I believe I have to do something to stop the Pirates from terribly outgrowing everyone else.

[Mardoc]

I declared war and sent several subs on pillage missions. They didn't do much harm, but I believe I have to do something to stop the Pirates from terribly outgrowing everyone else.

Sareln, Maniac, any interest in helping stop Iskender before he kills me? Can't imagine he'll stop with just his fourth conquest.

[Maniac]

The size of his military is indeed worrisome. I'd prefer to align my foreign diplomacy with Sareln, so I'll await his response before deciding on my level of commitment. For now I've used my Privateer to sink one of the two Spartan subs around Harbor. My ship was severely damaged in the process, so I've docked at Harbor for repairs. For the future, I have lots of leftover troops from the Angel-Consciousness war that aren't on garrison duty. They aren't equipped with the latest military tech though, so they'd need an upgrade first, eg Marines to Drop Troopers if I can acquire Atmospherics.

You're fortunate that Iskender's empire is split over two continents. You could use your naval superiority to cut off Morgania from any help from his mainland, and then seize the former Morganic bases one by one.

[Mardoc]

You're fortunate that Iskender's empire is split over two continents. You could use your naval superiority to cut off Morgania from any help from his mainland, and then seize the former Morganic bases one by one.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

I don't currently have naval superiority. I intend to get it back, of course, and at that point your strategy seems appropriate. Still - perhaps Morgania would look better under an Angelic or Consciousness flag - at least the mainland portions? I have very little desire to leave the ocean.

[Maniac]

The problem is those bases are located very far from my headquarters, so the distance maintenance would be lethal. That could be solved by adopting Autarky, but that would kill my foreign trade routes. Fortunately there's a Concordat resolution which overrides Autarky and still allows trade routes with other Concordat signatories. So therefore my question is: did the Voice of Planet holy city switch to you, and do you intend to rebuild the shrine at some point?

[Mardoc]

The problem is those bases are located very far from my headquarters, so the distance maintenance would be lethal. That could be solved by adopting Autarky, but that would kill my foreign trade routes. Fortunately there's a Concordat resolution which overrides Autarky and still allows trade routes with other Concordat signatories. So therefore my question is: did the Voice of Planet holy city switch to you, and do you intend to rebuild the shrine at some point?

Yes, I have the holy city...at least I did as of last turn. I hadn't yet decided if it was worth spending a Transcend on the Concordat or not, but if that's your price, I can commit to using the next one I pop to rebuild the Concordat. I'm running a fair number of Empaths across my empire, so I'm sure I'll get a Transcend sooner or later.

[Mardoc]

To provide more information, Iskender pillaged, I think, 22 improvements last turn. His demographic lead is going to become huge if I can't stop his subs, and then it's just a matter of time before he rolls me over. The only reason I've a chance is that his army is optimized for land warfare and mine is focused on the sea, but enough of a hammer advantage will nullify that. At which point you and Sareln will get to enjoy both a hammer deficit and a land-optimized army comp.

[Maniac]

Yes, I have the holy city...at least I did as of last turn. I hadn't yet decided if it was worth spending a Transcend on the Concordat or not, but if that's your price, I can commit to using the next one I pop to rebuild the Concordat. I'm running a fair number of Empaths across my empire, so I'm sure I'll get a Transcend sooner or later.

My price for what precisely? I hope you're not suggesting I do the heavy lifting. Let's not get carried away here: I'm the smallest faction of them all. Hell, the population of Morgania alone almost matches my own. I am in no shape to form the bulk of an invasion of Spartan lands.

Regarding the Concordat idea: rebuilding the shrine would only be the first step. Getting that resolution accepted would requiring either relying on random chance that Lal offers the resolution, or would require the three humans combined outmatching Lal in Planet Attitude. Well, could probably be done by summoning Cha Dawn, but that would trigger a war with whoever has the lowest Planet Attitude. I was kinda thinking out loud possibilities re the concordat. It's probably not a very easy path. For Sareln on the other hand control of Morgania wouldn't form a problem, as he doesn't have distance maintenance costs.

[Mardoc]

My price for what precisely? I hope you're not suggesting I do the heavy lifting. Let's not get carried away here:

Well, I don't really know what you've got to play with. If we make it as far as an invasion of current Spartan holdings, I'm certainly willing to commit troops and turn over conquered bases to an ally. At the moment, though, I'd rate it as somewhat less likely than a successful invasion of me, so staving him off is my first priority. Even if you commit 100%, Iskender still is likely to crush us. And if you don't... at least he'll make your death quick.

[Iskender]

Sareln and Maniac, before you commit yourselves to anything, consider the following:

Yes, I have elimitated 3 factions and taken over their lands, but even with this advantage I'm economically outmatched by Mardoc, who keeps growing exponentially. There only factors limiting the Pirates' expansion at sea are the map size and us. I'm unable to do prevent this expansion directly, that is, by attacking bases, because I don't have any units that would match Drop Troopers at sea. I have decided to do this pillaging raid because that's one of the few options I have vs the Pirates. Make sure that preventing me from doing this is in your interest.