BETA SIM IC THREAD

[stitch626]

The Ferengi Alliance heartedly agrees.

[Mark]

THOLIA HAS MANY UNITS OF ORE WE ARE WILLING TO TRADE FOR ANTI MATTER. RESPOND PRIVATELY IF INTERESTED IN NEGOTIATING A TRADE.

[BigJKU316]

The Federation wishes to make it known on behalf of the Allied Powers (The United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire and the Ferengi Alliance) that talks for a long-term peace treaty with the Cardassian Union have broken down. Until such time as a lasting peace can be negotiated the Allied Powers will continue to operate under the terms of the cease-fire agreement which has no expiration date and absent the required notice from the Union that they wish to resume hostilities we do not see further armed conflict in the future. We will keep other powers apprised of the status of these negotiations so that they may plan accordingly.

[Mark]

THE THOLIAN EMPIRE IS CURIOUS AS TO WHAT EXACTLY SEEMS TO BE THE DIFFICULTY IN NEGOTIATING PEACE TERMS?

[BigJKU316]

Our allies the Ferengi Alliance object to being called "scheming little trolls" when asking that the Union simply agree to repay the money they rightfully owed and for which there is ample documentation. The Alliance powers are united in their desires for a peace treaty and believe that a precedent such as this (that one can void huge debts by simply declaring war) would simply encourage more aggression and further undermine the international economic system. We do not wish to set that precedent and until there can be agreement on that matter a lasting peace agreement will not be possible.

[Tyyr]

The Union has agreed to all of the "Alliance's" terms save that one. The territorial integrity of the Ferengi has been maintained. The Federation has chosen to go beyond defending the Ferengi and have decided to act as the Ferengi's debt collectors. The Union concedes defeat in the conflict but we will not be repaying the Ferengi anything. Your stated goals have been achieved and the acquiesced to your terms in regards to them.

2. If Union forces do not begin their withdrawl in 24 hours the President has asked for and the council has approved a Resolution for the Defence of Ferengi Space. Military operations will begin to carry out that resolution and will continue until the Cardassian military is removed from Ferengi and surrounding neutral space.

[Reliant121]

The Empire supports the Federation in its entirety. If the Union is unwilling to pay for it's debts which, as far as we can tell, are perfectly legitimate...then how can any nation trust them in business principles? How can any nation loan to them, when the Union rapidly finds a scheme or plot to evade paying the money they should rightfully return? The term debt collector is...inaccurate at best. The Federation has not taken any space from the Union, has not attacked the Union outside of its mandate to defend the Ferengi worlds.

Frankly, we are content to let the Union sit and boil in it's own stubbornness. When they have proved that they are a nation that can be dealt with in a manner accepted the quadrant over, then the "alliance" nations are quite willing to sit at the table.

[Tyyr]

If you don't feel you can do business with us then don't. Anyone who feels the same way is free to not do business with us as well. The Union has accepted the terms regarding the integrity of Ferengi space in accordance with the goals laid out by the Federation. Everything else is nothing but the Federation's imperial ambitions run amok and interference in the affairs of other powers.

[BigJKU316]

If you don't feel you can do business with us then don't. Anyone who feels the same way is free to not do business with us as well. The Union has accepted the terms regarding the integrity of Ferengi space in accordance with the goals laid out by the Federation. Everything else is nothing but the Federation's imperial ambitions run amok and interference in the affairs of other powers.

The Union is free to feel however it wants. The fact remains that simply allowing the Union to walk from its obligations in this manner would be little different than having the Ferengi pay you 17 million credits to end the war. Due to our treaty obligations with the Ferengi this is hardly interference with the affairs of other powers. Had the Union not breached the peace by attacking the Ferengi then we most certainly would not have gotten involved in such matters as a simple breech of contract. However the task now at hand is to restore normal relations. A condition of doing that is the Union making good on its obligations and restoring things to their stauts quo ante bellum state in regards to the Ferengi Alliance.

Considering the magnitude of the defeat inflicted on Union forces if we did indeed harbor imperial ambitions much more onerous conditions could have been offered the Union. That this was not done we believe amply illustrates our commitment to reaching a long term agreement on these matters. The Union is simply being asked to restore relations to the status they were in prior to the war. Nothing more and nothing less.

[Tyyr]

The peace was breached and the peace has been restored. Seeking to "normalize relations" is pure interference on your part. The Union's debt was a matter between itself and the Ferengi and has no bearing on whether or not the region is at peace. It is a purely economic matter between two powers neither of which is the Federation. If you can honestly say you would have gone to war with the Union to force us to pay back the Ferengi then your demands might have some legitimacy. If you cannot then they are nothing more than interference in a matter that does not concern you.

[Lighthawk]

MESSAGE TO ALL LOCAL INTERSTELLAR POWERS, PRIORITY 3
FROM THE SPEAKER, VOICE OF THE CONFEDERACY, REPRESENTATIVE OF HYLLUS GENERAL INTERESTS

The Confederacy respectfully wishes to address our local neighbors. We have largely remained apart of affairs since we announced ourselves, as we have felt ourselves too new to this larger stage. We have watched and listened though, and taken note of that which we have heard and seen.

The events leading to the recent war are mixed with many echos, and determining which are truth and which are merely phantoms is a task beyond our own resources. Yet the matter seems scant clearer to even the parties involved. In the end of it all, many lives were lost, much material destroyed, and incalculable harmful emotions formed. It would seem nothing was gained, and much was lost. The general status of the various powers involved has declined by their participation.

It is depressing to see The Federation and the Union return so readily to bickering, for it is as if neither has yet accepted that which was removed from each, that the parts of their whole that are gone are not yet missed. This seems a harmful thing to us, for how can any heal that which they won't addressed as injured?

We would urge all involved to put aside thoughts of something as intangible as mere currency. The Ferengi will not crumble into poverty without the intimidate repayment of what the Union owes it, and so such a matter need not be addressed and settled as a priority. A harmful rift has been formed by the recent violence, and a bridge of credits will not close it.

Seek understanding, mend that which was harmed, and when words can be exchanged without discord, less pressing matters can be brought to discussion. Money can always wait.

Thank you.

[BigJKU316]

The Federation largely agrees with the Hyllus but would point out once again that there exist at this time no active conflict between the parties. And there will be no such conflict initiated by the alliance powers so long as the Union abides by the terms of the ceasefire. Neither the Federation nor its allies will resort to war over an issue of debt. The ceasefire agreement has restored peace. A peace treaty is simply the next step in the normalization of relations that would restore the commercial and diplomatic ties broken by the war.

[Mark]

:::mutters in native language:::
carbons

THE THOLIAN EMPIRE HAS A SUGGESTION TO RECTIFY THIS ONGOING SPAT IF YOUR GOVERNMENTS WILL LISTEN TO REASON. WE HAVE A PROPOSED ACCORD THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY END HOSTILITIES.

1. THE CARDASSIAN UNION AND THE FERENGI ALLIANCE REACH A "SETTLEMENT". THE FERENGI NEED TO ACCEPT THE FACT THEY WILL NEVER GET ALL OF THEIR MONEY BACK, AND THE CARDASSIANS NEED TO ACCEPT THEY MUST REPAY A MEASURE OF THESE LEGALLY OBTAINED FUNDS, LEST THEIR GALACTIC NAME IN COMMERCE BE DRAGGED THROUGH THE INTERSTELLER MUD. A NEUTRAL PARTY SHOULD MEDEIATE THESE NEGOTIATIONS. AS WE WERE UNINVOLVED IN THIS AFFAIR, THE THOLIAN EMPIRE IS WILLING TO ACT IN THAT CAPACITY, AND FOR A REDUCED FEE PAID FROM BOTH SIDES IN THE INTERESTS OF INTERSTELLAR PEACE.

2. A MONITORED NEUTREL ZONE BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN CARDASSIAN SPACE AND FERENGI SPACE, AGAIN MANNED BY A NEUTRAL PARTY AT FIRST, UNTIL THE FERENGI CAN REBUILD FORCES TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, AT WHICH POINT AN AGREED UPON LIMITED FORCE FROM BOTH GOVERNMENTS GUARD THEIR OWN BOARDERS.

3. THE CARDASSIAN UNION AND THE FERENGI ALLIANCE AGREE NOT TO DO BUSINESS OF ANY SORT WITH EACH OTHER FOR A PERIOD OF NO LESS THAT 20 STANDARD YEARS. IT IS OUR FEELING THAT IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST THIS LONG TO BEGIN TO REBUILD ANY DEGREE OF TRUST.

[BigJKU316]

Notice from the United Federation of Planets

It has come to our attention that several powers have setup trade routes that pass through our space without informing us beforehand. We recognize our responsibility as a central location to allow such trade through but need to do so in an orderly fashion that allows us to provide security to those routes while they are in our space.

We would appreciate that any government negotiating a deal where trade would pass through our space to contact us to discuss final routing and terms of passage. We will move with all haste to approve the routes as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your time.

The Federation wishes to re-iterate this statement so that it is clear to all powers. We have been most flexible in allowing trade routes to pass through our space when notified. Several freighters were spotted passing through our space along un-approved routes. Please take steps to have any traffic passing through Federation space approved prior to such transit.

[Lighthawk]

MESSAGE TO THE UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS, PRIORITY 3
FROM THE SPEAKER, VOICE OF THE CONFEDERACY, REPRESENTATIVE OF HYLLUS GENERAL INTERESTS

We are aware that the war has ended, and we do not believe the Federation would reignite it for the sake of credits. That was not our concern. What does concern us is that while the Federation and Cardassian Union have put down their weapons, they have picked up their words with the same hands. You still attack each other and cause harm.

While a return to prewar conditions is a desirable goal, it is not something that can be forced. We spoke of putting aside the issue of money for the moment, because it is the least of things that must be put right. Most of all, all parties involved must want for things to return to how they were. The Cardassians are a proud people with a troubled history, they will not be forced, and they will push back against any who push against them.

Please, if you truly seek peace, then remove the venom from your words. Friends might be an unlikely future between your nations, but if simple civility can be attained, if each side can come to look at the other without ill thoughts, then the path towards mutually beneficial results might be found in soft loam, instead of solid rock.