The Codexian Saga LP

[laclongquan]

We need more clarification on Wyrmhole tech.

Is each wormhole a natural phenomena in some systems? In all system? Is it appeared on the edge of system, or inside star's photosphere?

I assume that our tech is more like the way to detect and enter such wormhole, not open real wormhole as we wanted to?

 

[The Barbarian]

First the update, then a limited Q&A.

**

AUDIO DATA LOG #534.623/B1 - Turning Points

Prime Ha'grien:

"Ambassa-dohr Denver, be clarifying, please. Your government signals intent to approach lizard scum, despite our alliance negotiations. Why?"

Ambassador Denver:

"It is very simple, Prime. We must act to ascertain the intentions of the Turanei. We will not involve ourselves in a war, without knowing our supposed enemy. You must understand that this is absolutely beyond negotiation, for us. We have no choice in this, whatsoever."

Ha'grien:

"There is always choice, Den-VER! We offer you so much, but you spit on such treasures. Do you wish to side with the Turanei? Is this why you contact them? How are we to interpret this gesture of ill-faith?"

Denver:

"In every great friendship, my dear Prime, there must be trust. If the Turanei are truly as you say, there is no need to concern yourselves with our diplomatic mission into their space. Since, in that case, it will most certainly fail anyway - and we will be forced to begin our war preparations shortly thereafter. However, before that time comes, we MUST discover why they are attacking our border posts and vessels! It is imperative that we know, whatever the answer."

Ha'grien:

"If there was trust here, you would respect our word, Codexian. You do not. Our Council will be forced to reconsider this relationship, in the long term."

**

Not long after the minutes of the above meeting were taken, a Codexian diplomatic mission set off for Turanei space. News of it spread like wildfire, and it certainly went a long way towards easing public criticism of government inaction in the face of irritating attacks on Codexian ships, bases and personnel. On 3 January 203AU, however, the mission ceased transmitting its co-ordinates via wyrmhole launched communication drones. It was last reported to be somewhere deep in the largely unsettled space between the Turanei and the expanding Codexian frontier. Foul play was strongly suspected, though there was no way of finding out what, exactly, had happened to the diplomats and their escorts. The Codexian military institution expressed outrage, over the incident.

Numerous demands were issued, from across the political and institutional spectrum. The so-called 'Raumen' lobby of mercantile factions harped on vociferously about 'Phyr treachery' - stopping just short of accusing the Phyr of having ambushed the convoy themselves. Hawks in the military nearly frothed at the mouth, figuratively speaking, demanding a sustained and instantaneous response to the attacks, which they laid at the feet of the 'Turanei and their insectoid lackeys'. But there was no compelling evidence to be found, anywhere. Something was clearly amiss, but the culprit(s) remained well hidden by a veritable cloak of shadow. For its part, the best that Codexian military intelligence could offer amounted to little more than 'it was probably the Phyr'.

Though it was easy to dismiss those levelling accusing glances at the Phyr as conspiracy theorists, the subsequent embargo against Codexian goods and services certainly did not help the ursine alien cause in the public eye. Their indignation and bitterness over having their advances rejected by the Codexian government ran deep. Yet, strangely enough, the Raumen also recoiled at the human attempt to contact the Turanei. Emergency conferences with their elders yielded little concrete information, but highlighted for the Codexians just how badly the Raumen desired human neutrality in the conflict - one that they were not officially party to, themselves.

And, just when it all seemed beyond the ken, a Codexian spy struck the mother lode...

**

Do you... wish to be accurately informed of Phyr motivations and actions during this last period?

OR

Do you... wish to be accurately informed of Raumen motivations and actions during this last period?

OR

Do you... wish to discover the truth of the conflict between the Turanei and the Phyr?

NOTE: The above are not 'attempt' choices. Rather, the voting body WILL be given concrete information regarding ONE of the above. As such, You've Caught a Break (TM)!

 

[Jaedar]

A difficult choice.

Before that however: Why did we tell the furries we were sending an expedition to the turenai? We should have started a military build up, given them something along the lines of -we need some time to start a war effort before we join the war- and then scouted. Much lower chance of the bears intercepting our ship, as we must now suspect.

Personally, I believe our Raumen spies have finally found something of interest. I request we listen to what they have to say.

B.

C should be avoided, as either A or B will give us some insight into the war, no matter what.

 

[The Barbarian]

Firstly, the Barbarian must state that, in order to not get bogged down in microcosmic details (and to maintain this pace), we will keep this affair much more 'macro', than it could otherwise be. So, the Barbarian will answer questions as a matter of fluff, but please have no expectation that you will be notified when the 4415th Field Regiment receives the AK-754 scoped super-kinetic needler to replace its aging AK-712s. Our ingredients are fleets, systems and empires - not the cannons of our glorious battleships.

That said...

Re: Wyrmholes - They are generated by drives installed on vessels; encapsulating them and a small section of surrounding space in a 'bubble' built to 'fold' through space. For crews, the effect is instantaneous, but time does elapse outside of the bubble (a twenty lightyear trip, for example, taking about two weeks of real-time). Weaponizing wyrmholes is next to impossible, at this stage of development. The size of the wyrmhole generated is proportional to the power output of the vessel and its fold rating. Generally, it is only big enough to fold the vessel.

Re: Military - When it becomes pertinent, the Barbarian will assuredly inform you of the relevant details regarding your glorious armed forces. So far, in the post-Raumen War period, he has spoken only in the most general of terms. It has not yet been a terribly relevant issue.

Re: Furry FTL - The furries use FTL, but they are presumed to have the same FTL limitations as the Raumen: the smallest vessels (such as the one your brave patrol ships overtook) do not have them installed. Codexian sub-light propulsion does, indeed, seem vastly superior.

 

[Jack]

This choice is most difficult.
I might be a bit partial in these matters, as I most of all want to crush the Raumen clans.
But I abstain from voting until more councillors have spoken.

 

[laclongquan]

The nature of the conflict between the two is of great interest to us. it will decide whether we will jump into the fray or not. furries or bugs' motivations doesnt really matter, since what we need info is for OUR course of action. We send diplomatic convoys toward Turanei is to ascertain this question, after all.

So yes, lets aim our intelligence effort toward the history of this conflict.

 

[The Barbarian]

Also, regardless of when the next conflict takes place, fear not re: your military. The Barbarian plans to do an update concerning nothing but a voting body-decided organization of Codexian military forces. In one, fell swoop you will decide on many military parameters.

 

[treave]

I'm not terribly interested in what the Phyr are up to. We can smash them. They're probably desperate and dejected that Fair Codexia rejected their alliance anyway. We're hot, they're not.

I'm quite a bit more intrigued in what the Raumen are up to. Finally our spies have got one over them, those cunning bastards. This is a major victory for Codexian espionage! That they want us to remain neutral, at great cost, must signal that they know something we don't. Whether it is because of their trade opportunities, or of something far more sinister, we do not know. If the cause of their actions lies in some dark secret of the Turanei or the Phyr, this is something that willl greatly inform our further dealings with all three races in the future.

The history and cause of the conflict, is, I feel, relatively unimportant. The ONLY just cause is the Codexian cause. Who started the war between the Turanei and the Phyr (could be the Raumen for all we know) and why is not of primary interest to me.

Still, what I really want to know is what happened to our diplomatic mission. The destruction or waylaying of a diplomatic mission is tantamount to an act of war... once we find out who did it there will be CONSEQUENCES.

I guess for now, I'll vote:
B. Be accurately informed of Raumen motivations and actions during this last period.

Remember, the Raumen definitely know something that we don't regarding this conflict. Meta-gaming here, but seeing as the "truth of the conflict" is a separate option, what they know is likely something different. I want to know what that is. If it will gain us a strategic advantage over the thousand light-year Raumen Confederacy, we should take it - it is far, far more advantageous for us to subdue the Raumen, who are our superiors in trade, compared to taming the Phyrries or the Turanei.

edit: Of course I could be totally trolled and it turns out the Raumen are just doing it for shits and giggles, bunch of hyperindividualistic bugs that they are. That'd suck badly.

edit2: Also, our spies in Raumen space have been modified to look like Raumen? Victory of Codexian bio-modifications!

edit3: To expand upon possible paths to take should it turn out that the Raumen are doing it for mercantilist reasons - this is information we can either share with the Phyrries and the Turanei, or attempt to blackmail the Raumen with. If the Raumen are truly under the thumb of the Turanei, or vice versa, or if any of them are shown to be under the thumb of somebody, then obviously the only right thing to do is launch into a glorious liberation war to free our alien brethren under the yoke of whoever it is that's gotten their thumbs on them.

In Codexia we do things on our own terms.

 

[laclongquan]

Nuuh!

Master Treave, dont be too trusting of what our spy on Raumen tell you. I must admit to some grudgingly respects for those buggers, so misinformation tactic is also one thing to fear. I hate being patsy for any aliens, let alone them.

Also, the lizard scum is known to be xenophobes. We need to know if they are intended to purify the universe into the perfect image of them, with these furries as the 1st step. Playing ostrich like France prior to World War 2 is NOT my style.

 

[Jack]

The Raumen has kept us blindfolded long enough.
They were always holding us back.
Ever since my great grandfather fought them back in the contact war every descendant has sworn to someday get revenge.
This is our chance to finally gain the upper hand.
Finally we have been given a opportunity to acquire knowledge about their shady affairs.

I vote B.
At last we can break free from their manipulation and misinformation.

 

[wjw]

Personally I don't think that the Phyr have a grand scheme, trying to get us killed or keep us in control. They might have stolen some valuable technology (like the cloacking tech) but haven't mastered it entirely. Remember that the Phyr hadn't got a lot of Tech, but a lot of people. But they seem to have something other races do not...

In any case, the Phyr aren't the real threat. They haven't got the support of the Raumen (who seem to dislike the Phyr). So there is no real conspiracy against the human race.

--

The Raumen indeed some to have witheld a lot of information. With them (secretly) aiding the Phyr in their battle, they might make a lot of money. Remember that the Phyr were interested in our battle with the Raumen. They might have concluded that our combined forces might be strong enough to turn against the Raumen (in the long run) This might be known to the Raumen.

--

In any case, the true mystery remains the war between Phyr and Turanei. IF it was instituted by the Raumen, then we know they wanted to keep the 'minor races' (unfortunately still including us) in check, fearing our combined force, which might give us the option to combine the minor races and overthrow their 'mercantile rule'.

If we get the truth about the conflict, we might either REVEAL it, exposing the faction resposible for the conflict. Or we might keep it HIDDEN, blackmailing the responsible faction, and using this intell to our advantage.

For this, i say C.

 

[treave]

Ah, meta-gaming again, The Barbarian assured us we will get accurate information. So what we get will be real information that the Raumen have attempted to hide from us. Those sneaky bug bastards will learn that there is nothing that escapes Codexian eyes. :smugcodex:

As far as the Turanei are concerned, we will deal with them when the time comes, depending on what information we obtain. So far the Raumen have been our biggest rival. If the Turanei are weaker than the Raumen, we can smash them. If the Turanei are stronger than the Raumen, then it is folly for us to rush into battle against them just yet. Either way, their relative strength will determine their relationship to each other, and in that context I hope to find out just what that relationship is so we may know how to further approach either of the races.

I really do feel the Phyr are quite unimportant right now. They could've started the conflict by, as a straight-talking councillor so forwardly put it, parking their turd-ships on Turanei prime estate for all we know. Again, the truth of the current conflict is quite unimportant because the ONLY just cause is the CODEXIAN CAUSE. Our benefit is all that matters. We don't really need to know who's in the right, do we?

Because Codexia, fair Codexia, is always right.

 

[Jaedar]

Unless the Raumen are responsible for the conflict (a 1/3 chance), we can't blackmail anyone. Contacting the Turenai has failed, so we can't blackmail them, and they'd probably just shoot at us anyway. If the phyrries started it, it also won't matter. And if the Raumen did it, we get some neat stuff, that's true.

However, if we find out the truth about the Raumen, we definitely get something neat. I urge you, reconsider your vote wjw. The Raumen are the most powerful race afawk, we should try to gain the upper hand against them first.

 

[laclongquan]

We are talking about the long term survival of Codexia as a interstellar superpower here. And if we are arguing about it, intel about the war on our 'hood is important. If the bears are sorely pressed as all indicators show, it's possible that in very near future Turanei fleet could show up on our doorstep.

For this, I ask for ladies and gentlemen's cooperation: AIM our efforts toward this war.

 

[treave]

At any rate, I have no animosity against option C. It is a fair enough choice, and had I not been tempted by the chance of putting one over those smug bug bastards (they attempted to monopolize our markets, withheld much information, and are playing the enigmatic game right now, like elves. Bug elves with a lust for money.), I'd have picked it.

Option B may prove to be a red herring that gives us nothing valuable, such as turning out that the Raumen really care for us a lot and don't want us to fight anyone to protect us from harm (awwwwwwww), but I'll chance it for now. Sigh.

edit: Although we don't know the strength of the Turanei, how certain are we that we will need furriepower to combat the lizards? And how certain are we that at least some of the Raumen clans will not enter the fight on the Turanei side?

If we really do need furriepower to combat the lizards, then we should pick option A so that we may understand their furry hearts' true intentions, accept those intentions, and join with them.

If a number of Raumen clans will side with the Turanei if they attack us, or if we attack them, then we require leverage on the Confederacy to ensure that things are kept balanced, or even having the Confederacy on our side, if possible.

And if it is a matter of certain destruction should we face the Turanei without the interference of the other alien races... well, let us cross that bridge when it comes to it, shall we? Have faith in Codexian ingenuity and Codexia, my brethren. For surely we shall prevail, as we are always right and righteous.

 

[Jack]

The Raumen is evidently involved in the war some way or another.
This could also be the only chance we get to really understand them.

 

[laclongquan]

We are not paid to be optimists, but pessimists.

Should the Turanei eliminate the bears and start on us, where would we find ally? The bugs? Hah. And the enemy is one who had murdered one whole civilization. I dont know about you but the prospect of standing alone against such fearsome enemies doesnt exactly fill me with enthusiasm. We shall do what we have to do but that doesnt mean we will do it the stupid way.

C I ask again. From the bowel of Christ I beseech thee, gentlemen and ladies, just think, possibly, just possibly you are making a horrible mistake.

 

[Jack]

Remember that we haven't reject the Phyrries alliance proposal yet.
If the Turanei would be capable of eliminating the bears so easily they would already have done so.
We simply can't pass up this opportunity to finally have a peek at the Raumeni's cards.
Ever since we met them they have kept us in the dark.
The hour has come to gain knowledge about them.

 

[Maria]

I want to know why the Phyr are in our space in the first place and just how badly this conflict is going for them. On a bonus we will also get an absolute answer to if they had anything to do with the disappearing of our diplomats.
The glorious spies shall inform us about the Phyr threat once and for all.

I vote A.

 

[taplonaplo]

At the moment, it doesn't really interest me, who's side we want to take, but i must remind everyone, that we seeked out the Phyrs, because we wanted an ally, yet we seem to reluctant to really put ourselves into it, which will most likely prevent us from gaining anything from the conflicts too. If we want to have even odds against the bugs, action must be taken, we cannot always choose the "middle" option, for that it may seem most logical, but by not trying, we are wasting opportunities.

This time, I agree that we should spy on the Raumen, so i vote for option B as well, although i don't think we will find any relevant information. To me it seems, that the bugs simply play balance of power politics; they do not want alliances, for that it's simply not profitable for them, and weakens their position.

I understand that we do not want to involve ourselves in a war with an unknown enemy, but we can't get too far by jumping ships on the first sight of trouble, and by that i don't just mean this situation, but generally we don't seem to be taking any risks at all.

 

[treave]

We sought out the bears for trade, tested their worthiness to be our allies, and found them wanting.

Their markets aside, they have nothing we need.

But you are right, councillor taplonaplo. What is life without a few risks? I will make sure my next vote is not a calculated and considered one, but a vote for lulz and parties.

Next time, baby.

 

[TNO]

C.

We know nothing about the lizards. The other races tell us they are violent xenophobes. Yet their actions speak differently: why would the furries throw a fit us trying to establish this for ourselves? Why do the bugs want us to stay out of it if the lizards really do to kill everyone? Finding out the root of this conflict will better establish who the lizards really are, as well as shed some light on the angles the bugs and furries are working.

Secondly, finding out the state of the war gives us the best chance to intervene for our own profit. If, indeed, the Lizards are a threat to ourselves, then we should ally ourselves with the furries: letting them carve up the furries and use their resources is fool hardy as we are surely their next target. Contrariwise, if we do not have much to fear from the lizards, now would be time to strike the furries: to secure their resources for our own, and to contact the lizards as a potential ally rather than a threat. The embargos are more than sufficient provocation.

Finally, consider the threats Codexia faces. The Raumen, although undoubtedly playing a game, are not an existential threat. If they were, they would have wiped us out in the war we briefly fought. The Phyr are likewise not an existential threat: they are hard pressed against the Turanei, and have little in the way of tech. Whatever schemes these two are playing ultimately count for little. The lizards are the great unknown, and we must evaluate the threats - or opportunities - they pose.

C.

 

[Maria]

Option C might also give us "The Phyr thought they really could win" and nothing at all about the lizards. Because, how much did we know about our enemies and what motivated us during the first contact war?

Maybe they are just as lost as we where.

Edit: Also why would we be interested in that the war started because they have religious differences or land claims or the taste and consistency of space turd?
All we get is the original motives and that's exactly worth a sack of shit to us right now.

Option A or B are the only sensible options and I choose A

 

[praetor]

with his countless lived lives, councilor TNO's wisdom is boundless and i have to agree with his assessment. we invested too much resources into the lizards-furry conflict to back out now.

and thus i vote C

 

[lightbane]

I say C, there is too much secretism with this war, and assuming the xenolizards are not as aggressive as everyone else are saying they are, we would discover anyways some terrible truths about the Raumen and the furries...

PS: Mr Barbarian, Just to know, did you based yourself on something to create these alien species (I mean physiology, name, culture, etc.), or you did all by yourself?