Fwurg

[Senator Gregory Konev]

"Comrades of the Union"

"It has come to our attention that the Praetorian Empire have recently decided to give up their production of Mass Transit Cargo Freighters. And have instead decided to build Capital Ships this while the demand for Capitals Ships was being filled by my own government and the Teprogrenaian Consensus."

"If the Praetorians wanted Capital Ships so badly they could have easily bought them form us or the Teprogrenaians as they start there production at the same time our production went public."

"Also we find it a worrying matter that the economy of the Teprogrenaians is brushed aside like this by the Praetorian Empire and we would like to have an explanation from them why they chose to do this."

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"Dear Senator Konev.

Your assumptions are incorrect. The Praetorian Empire is not giving up there production in Mass Transit Cargo Freighters. The Praetorian Empire is only shifting part of their Mass Transit Cargo Freighters production to Capital ships.

Since the information market is locked our strategic planners have been looking for alternatives. When we received the news of the breakthrough in our crystal production our emperor approved the production of our own military fleets in 82.

Since we had not sold all our Mass Transit Cargo Freighters since 70, we could downsize our production. In 82 the Teprogrenaian Consensus started supplying the Veolian Commonwealth and your faction was still producing their own fleet, their were no advertised available Capital ships.

We never intended to harm the Teprogrenaian Consensus. In fact we support them in trade by supplying them the products that are required for their lagrange point conduit stations. We don't see any trade from Darya that is supporting the Teprogrenaian Consensus.

Are you sure that it is not the Unified Republic of Darya that is trying to brush aside the Teprogrenaian Consensus?"

[Senator Gregory Konev]

"Senator Eldrilith I would like to point out that the Unified Republic of Darya had started Capital Ship production as far back as 73. This was before the Teprogrenaians had even started building a drive yard to build Capital Ships.

Now I must admit our offer for selling Capital Ships came in somewhat late but we were unwilling to put up an offer for products if we could not guarantee a steady and sufficient production of them."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"First the Consensus likes to state that every faction is free to take his own path, as long it is not against the Union laws, so by Union law, the Teprogrenaian Consensus may not be angry.

Now: When we, the Consensus, started to supply ships to the Veolian Commonwealth, we already had a shipyard, but true, we hadn't released the advertisement yet. However, even now while we are supplying the Commonwealth with ships, our shipyards have enough capacity over for more production, and the Economical Consult has told me that this capacity can be relative easily be increased. The only problem is that we do not have enough materials for a higher production, but you, the Praetorian Empire, has." Although Tassar spoke the first part more in general into the Senate, he last sentence was clearly focused on the Praetorian Empire, while Tassar looked straight at Ardios.

"Now a set of consecutive actions has made the us a little disappointed: The Praetorian Empire didn't even bother to contact us and asked the very simple question if we can produce for the Empire, and what the possibilities are for co-operation. So Danar Torig of the Consensus then contacted Darael Noxim of the Praetorian Empire himself. Dareal Noxim then informed us that the Empire does not has sufficient capacity to transport the materials to us, and that the market for mass transit cargo freighters is not so big any more."

Danar Tassar paused a moment to let the words sink in before to continue: "So instead of using the turns to increase its trade capacity to the scale needed for material transport to the Parumecaetes System, The Praetorian Empire decided to do everything on their own.

Again, every faction has the freedom to manager their own economy as they like, but the Consensus is very disappointed that they choose for such an uncooperative way."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

A teprogrenus fecta aide, a full cyborg, entered the senate and walked to the Teprogrenaian senator. He whispered something in teprogrenaian language, and then handed over a document. He said something more, while Tassar took a look at the content of the document. The headflaps of the aide moved a lot and his headlight changed to several colours during the talk. It was clear the aide was upset about something. He and the senator exchanged a last few words, and the aide left the senate again.

"Fellow senators," Tassar said, "I just received a copy of a mail about a possible business transaction between the Teprogrenaian Consensus and the Praetorian Empire, and the content worried us, the Consensus, a little.

After senator Gregory Konev asked the Praetorian Empire why they chose their current economical actions, the Empire sent the Consensus a message with the following offer: We could loan some tax to refurbish one of our zones to produce more with some raw materials the Empire had left over. This was in their letter:

'We can make this available within 2 weeks. Together with the 571 from the Parallel Logistics Management Research that we are loaning your faction the loan will be 1071 in 90. We would like your faction to repay this sum before 100. Would this be a problem?'

Sounds a little selfish, but reasonable at least, however, the rest of their offer was: 'Then there of course is the matter of compensation for the raw materials. We valuate these raw materials at 0.25 each.'"

Took a moment of pause to let the other senators think about what was in the letter. Then he Continued: "Now am I not a marvel in mathematics and economics, but even I can see that with 6 sets the value of a good is indeed 0.25 , and with 3 sets it is 0.16 . The Consensus currently creates at most six sets, and some 3 sets, and the Praetorian offer did not guaranteed that the Consensus would make 6 sets with all the produced from this offer.

So instead to offer a deal to cooperate and split the profit, the Praetorian Empire sent a message where they kindly asked that the Consensus would pay for the full price, even if this means losses to the Consensus. Leaving the Consensus with a deal what would make our economy worse than without the deal, While the Praetorian Empire would get every single penny of it."

Tassar had to take a breath to calm himself.

"Please tell me, senator Ardios Eldrilith, does your faction trade with everyone like this, or is the Teprogrenaian Consensus just some sort of joke to the Praetorian Empire?"

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

Ardios Eldrilith gestured to one of his aides. The aide brought a data-pad with him and gave it to Ardios Eldrilith. He whispered to Ardios: "These are the messages between Dareal Noxim and Danar Torig that Danar Tassar mentioned."

After a minute Ardios stepped up. "The offer made by Dareal Noxim was reasonable. He offered an extension of the zero interest loan. I don't see how this is selfish.

Furthermore 0.25 is the value of a raw material in a six-set. When your faction is creating tax sets we think it is a fair offer. Adding these weapons will ensure that your own materials are taxed at six-set value, furthermore with your current trade capacity it should be easy to trade with other factions to create some nine-sets. This will value them at a higher price for your faction. I don't see how this is not profitable for both of us.

It is interesting that you chose to publicly present a part of our private conversation in the Senate. Since you chose to make this matter public I am wondering why your representative did not just propose a counter offer but responded with this disturbing message:"

Now concerning the possible deal: first your faction crashes into our, the Consensus and the Daryas, invested area like a mental ill Rancor without any regards for its surroundings, then you disregard our offer of cooperation and finally you offer us some left overs from your action and expect us to pay? Your faction sure has a different view on cooperation than we do. You can get 165 per turn and that's it. If you want more, your faction should first has a talk with our senator about this 'cooperation'

"I am afraid Dareal Noxim did not see any options for cooperation based on this insult and demand. We expected the representatives of the Teprogrenaian Consensus to negotiate like civilized people. I am not sure if it is in your faction's best interest to negotiate emotionally.

Danar Tassar, could you please explain to the senate what your faction is trying to achieve by discussing these insubstantial matters in the senate?"

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"We already said that the offer to grant us a loan for the refurbishment was reasonable at least.

Your faction want the cost of a six set so we can earn a six set? That does not sound logical at al, you have to see that yourself as well, we still have to pay taxes over the extra income. Also, it is far more likely that the will go into three sets instead of nine sets, as the Consensus don't yet have the trades for nine sets. Making it a ridiculous offer.

The message send by Torig was an answer after the economical Consult was getting frustrated by the joke offer from Dareal Noxim, and he did post a counter offer. The Consensus does not stand behind his choice to include the comparison, but it does describe our feelings about the current behaviour of the Praetorian Empire.

And we took it to the Senate as the Praetorian Empire did not shown any regard for the Teprogrenaian Consensus, but instead insulted us by their ridiculous offers, demanding outrageous costs for their goods and treating us like little children with fake candy. We brought this to the Senate to ask if the Praetorian Empire gives every faction this treatment, or if this is the kind of cooperation we can expect from the Praetorian Empire in the future?"

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"After considering the situation and receiving new information we wish to present a token of goodwill to the Teprogrenaian Consensus.

Although it is too expensive to revert the refurbishing of our own zones we will support the Teprogrenaian Consensus in refurbishing theirs. We would ask that your faction appoint a different representative to handle future negotiations with the Praetorian Empire. We can then forget about the statement posed by Danar Torig and offer you the 500 as a gift to refurbish your zone to a zone combined with a reasonable deal to exchange our left over materials."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"The Teprogrenaian Consensus accept the token of goodwill and will use it to refurbish the designated zone this turn immediately. We can use the leftovers from the Praetorian Empire to produce more goods and return an equal share of the profit made by the trades the turn of the trade, or set up a longer term trade partnership.

We cannot make any promises about Torig as we are still in debate about him, but I will personally see to it that the economical Consult will see the wisdom of honouring your wish."