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Viceroy Gunray:

  A prosperous new year to the members of the council.  We have certainly enjoyed our own prosperity.  The trade with the Gnolam went well, with us offering Xeno Medicine in exchange for Diplomatic Relations and 87bc.  Using the new technology, we were able to complete the Diplomatic Translators on Fortuna and open up the way for more beneficial exchanges.

  Our current economic situation.  Over the course of the quarter, our positive income has steadily decreased as our worlds have developed.  The high value shown is due to the number of idle worlds.  After next quarters work orders are placed, we expect income to drop by half.  Spending is also likely to fluctuate, moving away from the high research allocation.

  Also, our first trade route has been established and is already turning a profit.

  A proposed trade with the Yor.  There are other arrangements that could be made, but those would require a fair number of additional technologies instead of our trade techs.  Not a bad trade, overall.  Colonizing the four known barren worlds would increase our influence and allow our population to continue robust growth, increasing our tax base.

  Potential trades with the Drath Legion.  Our economic planets are nearing full development.  I would like for us either to develop Trade Centers on our own or exchange with the Drath for either Trade Centers or Banking Centers.

Thank you for your time.

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Greetings, Everyone,

For research, I would like to see Research Centers, Advanced Diplomacy, and Advanced Computing, researched this quarter, and being researched in that order would be nice.  The reasons I want Research Centers to be researched first are; 1) Our research would be increased for the rest of this quarter.  2) The sooner we start building more advanced research buildings the more benefit we gain.  3) Possibility of increased research potential to allow another tech like Weather Control.  The reasons I want Advanced Diplomacy to be researched are; 1) Increased diplomacy will allow for more beneficial trades with other races.  2) Increasing diplomacy before making any trades this quarter will make them more beneficial.  And the reasons for wanting Advanced Computing should be obvious.

On trade, I fully support the tech trade with the Drath, no matter what.  Obtaining Trade Centers from them would save us the time of researching them for ourselves.  I also support the continued construction and use of freighters.

For construction, I suggest that we start building economy starbases as soon as possible near clusters of our colonies to increase production and trade revenue through the later modules for economy starbases.  I would wait until we have more expendable income before equipping our starbases with weapons.

On ethics, I stress that we remain ultimately neutral, because neutrallity would benefit us greater in the long run.  To remain neutral only make neutral decisions on ethic choices, or for every good choice choose an evil one, and for every evil one choose a good one, depending on the benefits or penalties for the choices.

Also, Commander, I would like to see our current ethical standing.  I believe it would be slightly leaning toward good right now.

That is all,

Councilor SarcFa

Ministers and fellow Councillors pressing matters on my homeworld demand that I be brief so in short:

1. I believe we should indeed buy or trade Trade Centers with the Drath and do so soonest to continue to boost our economy
2. I believe weather control is also an urgent requirement so that we can fully develop all of our worlds
3. I would also urge that we start thinking of arming our ships-it will not be long, I feel, before our neighbours start to declare their hand militarily and if we are perceived to be weak we might be inviting attack or worse...

Minister Andimus: please elucidate on the spec and capability of this new 'Visionary Class' ship that you mention earlier

Yours, 

Councillor Mambaman

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Cmdr Mekoides:

  In the interest of time, I'll address the concerns of the council.

On the issue of treaties, we've broached the subject during our latest communications and it seems the diplomatic climate is still a bit cool for serious negotiations.  I couldn't give an exact timeline, but there are hints that some of our neighbors may be ready to move on the issue.  Our agents and diplomats are constantly alert for developments and we'll notify the council when appropriate.

  Our ethical standing.  Though trending toward good, we are still considered a neutral civilization.  We were fortunate enough to have the financial means to deal with the precursor war machines effectively.  Our handling of the situation raised goodwill toward us, essentially buying us some leeway for the next difficult decision.

  The Visionary, the first of its kind.  Built with the best in propulsion and sensor technologies, it will lead a fleet of exploratory vessels to uncover secrets long hidden by the dark energy storms.

***END TRANSMISSION***

I agree with Councilor SarcFa on the benefits of neutrality. Faster terraforming, better relations with the powerful Thalans, improved trade, better research centres later...we can't pass that up.

To combat the income-draining improvements we've built, more trade and more economic planets is a must. A strong economy is the most important part of a successful civilization.

Advanced Computing, Weather Control, Advanced Diplomacy, and Sensors III are my recommendations for research. If we can complete Sensors IV quickly, it will open up the invaluable Eyes of the Universe. That will make sensors on ships unnecessary and let us know the locations of ALL ships in the area. As well, I highly recommend we complete Missile Weapon Theory soon, as well as Stinger I. We should have weapons technology ready in case we are unexpectedly attacked. I am indifferent to Research Centres, but they should be researched very soon.

The trade with the Yor is a good idea, and obtaining Trade Centres is smart as well, but wait for Advanced Diplomacy and do not get Xeno Banks (they take a long time to build).

Space mining should be done by cheap, engineless craft. It is worth it, just have the mine beam to a planet that is constructing something.

Thank you for your time.

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G'Norlisk:

  We will now present the ballot.  Though there seems to be broad consensus on a number of issues, we must still proceed with voting.

To vote, please copy the the most recent ballot then add your votes and sign at the bottom.

For research, please number the proposed technologies in the order you would like to see them researched.  For other issues, please mark your vote as follows:

In favor: +  Against: -  No opinion/abstain: 0

Regarding the weapons techs, Missile Weapons have been proposed.  If there are any objections or further comments, you may add them at the bottom of your ballot.

Research

Advanced Computing   :

Advanced Diplomacy    :

Basic Logistics             :

Missile Weapon Theory :

Research Centers        :

Sensors III                 :

Stinger I                     :

Weather Control          :

Foreign Relations

Tech exchange with Drath for Trade Centers                                   :

Wait for Adv. Diplo for Trade with Yor (else will proceed immediately): 

Send freighter to Gnolams                                                           :

Starbase and Mining Operations

Arm Starbases                       :

Construct Economic Starbases :

Resume Space Mining            :

Signature:   

Research

Advanced Computing   : 5, 2, 7, 4, 1, 2

Advanced Diplomacy    : 6, 1, 8, 2, 4, 3

Basic Logistics             : 4, 6, 3, 6, 6, 8

Missile Weapon Theory : 3, 7, 1, 5, 3, 4

Research Centers        : 8, 4, 6, 1, 2, 1

Sensors III                 : 7, 5, 4, 8, 8, 7

Stinger I                     : 2, 8, 2, 7, 7, 5

Weather Control          : 1, 3, 5, 3, 5, 6

Foreign Relations

Tech exchange with Drath for Trade Centers                                   : +, +, +, +, +, +

Wait for Adv. Diplo for Trade with Yor (else will proceed immediately):  +, +, +, 0, +, 0

Send freighter to Gnolams                                                           : +, +, +, 0, +, +

Starbase and Mining Operations

Arm Starbases                       : +, +, +, 0, 0, 0

Construct Economic Starbases : +, +, 0, 0, +, 0

Resume Space Mining            : 0, +, +, 0, +, +

Signature:   Mambaman, NikolaiOmega, TMS2224, SarcFa, qrtxian, Noctilucus

***INCOMING TRANSMISSION - SECURITY LEVEL ALPHA***

***FROM: COMMANDER MEKOIDES, EXTERRA COMMAND***

***TO: INITIATIVE COUNCILORS AND ROYALTY, TOLMEKIA PRIME***

***SUBJECT: QUARTERLY REPORT, APRIL 01, 2229***

Cmdr Mekoides:

  Councilors, there is much to discuss this session.  We have made incredible progress, but have suffered a few setbacks along the way.  Our growing fleet of survey vessels has thrown open the veil obscuring this region, delivering treasure to our republic and uncovering hidden resources.  Together, they have collected over a dozen valuable artifacts and anomalous materials.  Their explorations have also nearly doubled our diplomatic contacts, reaching five additional galactic powers.  This opened the opportunity for a very beneficial trading arrangement with the Krynn, with other potentially promising trades yet available.

As for our setbacks, they have been entirely at the hands of the Thalans.

First, you can see that the Thalans managed to claim the second planet in the Dester system.  There was another colony ship that we hadn't detected heading in from the west.  Our colony ship proceeded west, finding the Iconian and Krynn planets.  It was only this last week that the Bulrathi colonized that third planet and the Trilarian scout ship entered sensor range.

  Here you can see the resource discovered by the Eye of Sauron. These energetic crystals could have greatly enhanced our military capabilites.  Our own constructor is just off screen to the south.  The Thalans claimed this resource before we could move on it.

  There is one other setback that raises some concern.  Our agents informed us that the Thalans have developed Electronic Counter Measures (ECM).  These are advanced defenses against missile type weapons.  We have no knowledge of what prompted this development.  There are suggestions of espionage, some going so far as to suggest that the defection of Exterra II to our republic was merely a means to infiltrate our networks.  It is a minority opinion, but is sure to generate some tension with our Thalan population.  We are monitoring the situation closely and have increased security measures.  Fortunately, our agents brought us this information before we started work on Missile Weapon Theory.  We have delayed weapons research to allow the council to evaluate the matter.

  The explorations of the Farscape survey vessel.  We discovered an unstable wormhole near Fortuna and sent the Farscape to investigate, along with a constructor for logistic support.  They emerged just north of Korx space, beyond our maximum range.  The constructor established the Sentinel I military starbase to support the Farscape and establish our claim on the area.

We already have a constructor en route, with another ready to launch.

  The galactic map, edited to show expansion and our current range estimates.  Expansion has slowed across most of the region, with the notable exception of the Torians.  Our agents have reported that the various powers are researching colonization and invasion technologies.  Given the scarcity of unclaimed habitable planets, it seems many intend to continue expansion one way or another.

Sentinel I and our new Life Support technolgy obtained from the Krynn now allow us access to a majority of the galaxy.

I'm sure you have questions.  The staff will now present their material, which may address some of them.

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