2014 STGOD OOC Commentary Thread 1

[Simon_Jester]

I think somebody figured it out, or at least sounded pretty sure. Which may not be the same thing.

I believe it was either Timothy_C or Beowulf.

It was actually madd0ct0r, though he used an older version of the map.

Ah. Right. Lothal would now be pretty much smack in the line of fire of all the typhoons that would otherwise have hit Apelia (or whatever the Turkey-shaped country on the equator is).

[Siege]

Could those who plan to run the Olympus Has Fallen fun times perhaps give some idea of what date it would be set at? The conference is at the 5th of May, so the 6th or 7th, maybe?

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

Could those who plan to run the Olympus Has Fallen fun times perhaps give some idea of what date it would be set at? The conference is at the 5th of May, so the 6th or 7th, maybe?

7th sounds good. There should be a little more time for people to settle their affairs before the fun times really begin.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Indeed. Also, who is pulling this stunt?

[Steve]

....you're having the conference attacked, aren't you?

[Simon_Jester]

It's his country, he can screw up the security arrangements if he wants to. I brought an amusingly notcommando commando, so who knows.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Hey it's Shinn's idea, let him come up with the details.

EDIT: Anyhoo, whilst we're still talking in-universe, is everyone involved in the conference willing to agree to the intelligence-sharing treaty? What else will people agree on?

[The Romulan Republic]

I doubt Corona will. There might be some countries Corona would be willing to share intelligence with, but their are others it would not be willing to share intelligence with. Most likely I'll seek to negotiate sepparate agreements with specific countries.

I'll try to post something in the next couple of days, but I'm having problems with my computer right now, so my availability is unreliable.

[Simon_Jester]

Intelligence on what?

[Steve]

Terrorist groups, presumably.

[Simon_Jester]

Sorry to be asking all these one-line questions, but... terrorist groups as defined by who?

[Eternal_Freedom]

Yeah,sorry, intelligence on terrorist groups. Defined as (this is the definition the King will propose) "groups or individuals planning violent attacks against civilian and/or government targets for a political or ideological cause, either in your state on another."

[madd0ct0r]

I've got an exhibition post to get up first, so I'll try and get that written up tonight.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Sorry to be asking all these one-line questions, but... terrorist groups as defined by who?

You do realise that such definitions are very subjective right?

[Simon_Jester]

Exactly. Remember Dr. Mahogany's speech about the Boxer Rebellion. While the actual discussion in the thread has moved toward the Lothal issue, on the matter of defining 'terrorist' groups, the Umerian foreign minister will be advocating the formation of an international commission, possibly with rotating membership, to define what organizations constitute "terrorists."

[RogueIce]

As a practical matter - no matter what the treaty, if formed, actually says - I suspect our various definitions of 'terrorist groups' will largely depend upon one simple factor, "Do we want to share this intelligence with So-and-So Nation(s)?"

[Siege]

Share intelligence? Like, on the house? Ha! There ain't no such thing as a free lunch, boys. That information is worth money. You wanna play, you gotta pay. You know our rates, so get in line.

Also, needless to say we have very little desire to see such an international commission formed. Because the next item on that commission's list is inevitably going to be who you can and cannot sell guns to.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Nah, Orion has no problem with the international arms trade, we just don't want terroristsblowing up our buildings again.

[Siege]

One man's terrorist is another man's loyal customer.

EDIT: I'm also somewhat tempted to have Malachy De La Warr appear in a cloud of smoke in the middle of the room, saying "did someone say... international insurance?"

[Eternal_Freedom]

You wouldn't want to be seen to make a profit from giving people the means to indiscriminantly slaughter civilians would you? It would be such bad PR.

[Siege]

You wouldn't want a Knight Errant representative sidle over to your delegate whispering we have concrete proof The Service engaged in terrorist activities in Cali, would you?

Seriously though, I suppose not. Then again, that just means it's hard to do business, instead of illegal.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Fair point...although i didn't think those guys had broken?

[Siege]

Probably not yet, no. Wouldn't expect a breakthrough until June. Oddly enough, after they're pumped for information KE probably just releases them. Or they get set up with cushy new black ops jobs, shiny corporate passports and seriously nice contractor's salaries courtesy of Sybiline-Hargreave.

After all, I'm certain their ordeal has cured them of the surprisingly common misconception that nation-states are owed some kind of... loyalty.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Now that is an interesting idea.

[Simon_Jester]

For Umerians, a chemical weapons ban is a fairly sticky sticking point. They have considerable stockpiles of tear gas, mustard gas, and a couple of nerve agents, and Army doctrine has always called for using whichever of them seems appropriate when the circumstances demand.