28-09-2003 04:55									#1
	The War Stories Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Inspired by Master Zen's moral quandary in the chat room today when confronted by Lucky talking about the (now shredded) NAP, I wrote a story during the turnchat. It was an awful lot of fun to write it and it's probably the fastest I've ever written for years, so clearly something good is happening in those chats

The following story is the first instalment of 'The War Stories' - hopefully others will follow (but no guarantees!)

	28-09-2003 04:56									#2
	The Price Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

The Price

The papers cascaded across the minister’s broad table, forming small hillocks and waves like a sea of information. Contained within the papers was a king's ransom of military intelligence, detailing troop movements and dispositions, workforce production, espionage reports - all the elements required to wage war. Once, last week, an undersecretary had come into the room at night and thought to please the minister by organizing and rearranging the papers. When the ambassador arrived the next day, he flew into a rage, demanding to know who had disturbed the precious arrangement of his papers - how was he supposed to find anything now?

Right at that moment on the eve of the war, though, the minister had apparently forgotten his sharp words of the past and pushed the papers aside indiscriminately to form a small clearing in front of his seat. There, he carefully read through reports from his advisors on the cost of the war and the various economies that might be made by training a certain type of soldier and forging a certain type of weapon instead of another. It was vital but dull work, trying to determine whether it was expedient to sacrifice one city's domestic production in order to equip a battalion with new armour.

After a while, the minister tossed the reports aside and sighed inwardly. What was he doing here, he wondered. The minister considered himself to be a gentleman, a diplomat, someone raised and trained to negotiate and communicate with other nations to protect the interests of his own, not deal with this nonsense of armourer's expenses and the price of food supplies. He knew he had little choice in the matter - he had been ordered to supervise the logistics of the war against India by the consul triumvirate. He even knew that it made sense, given his long experience of contact with the Indians and his contacts within their country. But it still frustrated him.

He gazed out of the window onto the gardens below, and further away, the Parliament building, trying to empty his head of thoughts. Presently, there was a tentative knock at the door. Without turning his head, he announced, "Come in."

His first secretary walked in, an anxious look on his face. "Minister, the ambassador of India is here, and wishes to meet you."

The minister snapped his attention towards the secretary. "Here, now? I don't recall any appointment being arranged for today, or even this week."

"Sir, that is true, but nevertheless, the ambassador is here," the secretary replied apologetically.

He considered this unfortunate development for a moment. That the ambassador for India should arrive at his offices on the very eve of war was highly unusual, even suspicious. Was it possible that he had discovered Apolyton's plans for war? Possible, but unlikely; the ambassador was being watched very closely, and his mail intercepted daily. Unless he had employed some devious new cypher in his communications, there was no sign that he suspected anything. In any case, in a fit of cautiousness, the consuls had ordered all of his mail for the last week to be withheld for delivery after interception, so even if he did know something, it would never arrive back in India.

There had been orders delivered from the office of the consuls in the past few days. They had been sent to all of the higher ministers of the Apolyton government, and they outlined various contingency plans that had been developed to address... unforeseen circumstances due to the war. One of those contingencies detailed the response to be made, should a representative of the target nation requested an audience with a minister. This particular contingency had disgusted the minister - it ordered him to try and gain whatever intelligence was possible from the representative without revealing Apolyton's intentions.

"Well, I suppose I must meet with him then. Prepare the official reception room, I'll be there in ten minutes," decided the minister. The secretary gave him a brief nod, and quickly turned around and exited the room.

The minister stood up and stretched a little, then stacked the reports together and laid them carefully in front of his chair. Turning his head, he looked outside again to the garden.

------------------

The ambassador from India was a serious fellow. Not overly intelligent, judged the minister, but honest enough and aware that his country was outclassed by Apolyton. The minister certainly didn't consider him to be a friend, but he had dealt with many more obnoxious representatives from India and other countries in his time, and he had no quarrel with the ambassador personally. It was a shame, he thought.

There had been no mention of the unscheduled nature of the meeting; the ambassador had seen fit not to draw attention to it, and so it wasn't the minister's place to say anything either. He assumed that it was a simple mistake, as occasionally happened when dealing with dozens of flunkies.

"Well, it's pleasing to hear that," said the ambassador, replying to some inconsequential pleasantry the minister had just made and already forgotten, probably about some new artwork his wife had purchased. The ambassador then assumed a graver mien, and then leaned forward. "I have had a few thoughts concerning the trade proposal you made last week, about training our natural philosophers in the skill of navigation and map making."

"Yes?" prompted the minister.

"Well, it reminded me of our countries' other treaties and agreements, namely our non-aggression policy."

The talk of the non-aggression policy almost made the minister laugh out loud. It almost rivalled the precipitously bad timing of events that had occurred in a tragedy his wife had dragged him along to see the previous month; he had thought it was ridiculous that anyone could believe such coincidences could happen, but here he was, chatting cordially to the ambassador of a country that was about to be invaded, about peace terms.

"I see. I didn't know that that treaty required renewal for some time," said the minister carefully.

"Not immediately, of course, but certainly in the near future. Has your government given it any thought?" inquired the ambassador.

"Naturally, there are ongoing discussions within Apolyton concerning all of our treaties with other nations. However, I'm afraid I can't really comment on the status of our non-aggression policy; it has been some time since I was briefed on that issue." The minister gestured with his hands open, in a helpless expression, and smiled gently. "I will contact the office of the consuls to discover what's been decided on this matter, but right now there's very little I can say."

The minister gave no outward sign of it, but he could feel the bile rising in his throat. It wasn't simply the terrible lies that he'd just uttered, it was the fact that he had become so skilled and smooth at saying them. What would this man, this ambassador for an entire country, think of him tomorrow, when the enormity of his lies were made clear?

"Perfectly understandable - I know how it is. One hand not knowing what the other is doing, eh? Happens all the time back home," joked the ambassador. The minister laughed along dutifully.

For the next ten minutes, the serious business of the meeting over with, they made more pleasantries as the minister wearily attempted to discover what intelligence he could from the ambassador. He reflected that hadn't been particularly successfully, unless the fate of the war depending on the ambassador's five-year old's violin playing skills. But that wasn't true - he had discovered that there had been word of a strike in the city of Algalord that might affect military production. Perhaps it could affect the war. Perhaps.

Eventually the time came for the ambassador to leave, and they both played the traditional diplomatic game of confessing how terribly saddened they would be to be deprived of the other's company for yet another week. This done, they both rose and ambassador suddenly looked searchingly into the minister's eyes.

At that moment, the minister desperately wanted to say something, to preserve his honour and to prove his worth as a man to the ambassador. He opened his mouth, and then thought back to his orders from the consuls.

"Even if the audience takes place on the eve of the official declaration and beginning of the war, you are instructed not to reveal any part of Apolytonian intentions whatsoever. Concomitantly, you should attempt to gain any intelligence that might be of use to the war effort, no matter now apparently insignificant; city production, populace opinion, lines of communication - all of these matters are essential information for us, among others. Once again, do not refer to the war; the official declaration will be handled by the consuls."

At the time, the minister had thought these orders had been abhorrent. What harm would it be to tell a representative - or in this case - the ambassador - that his home country was to be attacked the next day? There was no way he could send word back home, no way that he could affect the war.

It was still true. What difference would it make, that Apolyton knows there is a strike in Algalord? We probably know that already, from other intelligence sources. So why should I not tell the ambassador now, that we will invade his country tomorrow?

The ambassador gave a twitch of a smile, and then looked away. He promptly raised his head an inch in acknowledgement to the minister, and then left the room. The minister stood there, thinking, trying to justify his awful silence. He could have told him of the war in that moment; he’d already gotten what intelligence he could from him. But what if the ambassador went to meet someone else who might find more?

It wasn't enough, he thought, to say that they 'probably' knew there was a strike. Indeed, it wasn't enough to say that the intelligence he - or anyone else - gained from the ambassador today, 'probably' wouldn't have made a difference to the war. The intelligence wouldn't have to save thousands of lives, or hundreds to have made his silence worth it. It would only have to save a single life to make a difference. The moral calculus of lying justified his silence, it seemed. And after all, wasn't this the job that he was raised and trained to do? Why was he having such trouble?

Yet the dull hours spent carefully reading through the expenditure reports of the war now seemed far more desirable than the conversation he'd just had. Better to think of the price of an unliving piece of armour, than the price of a man's life.

Did he value the price of his own tattered honour, the minister asked himself, higher than the life of an unknown soldier?

The minister sat down heavily. He didn’t feel he wanted to know the answer.

	28-09-2003 05:39									#3
	Put an end to popups!

In retrospect that was just so damn hilarious. But at the moment, I was cursing my position as Deputy FAM at that very instant!

Errr... does anyone want me to post the logs of that? (both the poly room and the fam room?)

	28-09-2003 05:42									#4
	Increase Your PM Length

Profound. I didn't know we Consuls were such unfeeling bastards!

That was very cool Adrian - you can tell that you were really inspired for this.

Raises an interesting question I have come across at times too - what difference WOULD it have made if we had just outright told Lucky that we were in the process of attacking them right then?

Well, probably none, but we would in effect be giving them a little more time. Likely they could have done nothing with that time, but there's always a possibility. We are in this for Poly and Poly alone, and if we deny our enemies minutes, then we may save ourselves much over the course of a game a year or so long.

Besides, just imagine how much cooler it is for GCA to get an official message rather than through intel! Although, if I was MZ in that situation, it could have been fun to be completely and utterly flippant about it.

"oh, we destroyed 6 of your units and razed Catcher in the Rye. Just kidding. But only about Catcher."

	28-09-2003 06:59									#5
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by MrWhereItsAt "oh, we destroyed 6 of your units and razed Catcher in the Rye. Just kidding. But only about Catcher."

honestly, it was not a situation I'd like to be in again...

	28-09-2003 08:20									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

MZ, please post both.

	28-09-2003 08:46									#7
	Support Apolyton

Ok, I'm in the poly room talking about our inminent attack in a few hours, and then POP, i get an ICQ message.... FROM LUCKY!!!

Out of the people he chooses to chat at the worst possible time!

here's the complete log of the chat, most of what was said in the FAM room is also copied there.

quote: [14:09] [MasterZen] HOLY **** LUCKY IS ICQING ME!!!!!!!!! [14:09] [MasterZen] AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHH!!!!!!!! [14:10] [Trip] [14:10] [Trip] you poor poor bastard [14:10] * MasterZen hates being a diplomat in moments like this [14:10] * Trip loves being a general in moments like this [14:10] [MasterZen] I think the most respectful thing I can do is not answer... [14:10] [Trip] probably yes [14:10] [Trip] what is he saying? [14:10] [MasterZen] Lucky (2:08 PM) : [14:10] [MasterZen] hi there [14:11] [MasterZen] that's it [14:11] [Trip] hmmm [14:11] [Trip] probably best not to answer [14:11] [MasterZen] I agree [14:11] [AdrianHon] Say, 'Sorry, I'm busy invading your country' [14:12] * MasterZen must remember to close all messenger windows which have contacts of his enemies [14:12] [E_T_doing_orders] No, answer him [14:12] [MasterZen] yeah, and say what? [14:12] [MasterZen] "so, how's the weather in Germany?" [14:12] [E_T_doing_orders] just chat with him and see what he has to say [14:13] [E_T_doing_orders] that's good enough for now [14:13] [MasterZen] I doubt I can just "chat with him" [14:13] [E_T_doing_orders] It might be interesting to see what he has to say [14:13] [Trip] I disagree [14:13] [Trip] we gain nothing from talking with him now [14:13] [E_T_doing_orders] might be the last chance to get any Intel from him [14:13] [MasterZen] oh come on, he's not stupid :P [14:14] [Trip] there's a reason they have 6 units on our border :P [14:14] [Trip] and more in Elucidium (though that may be for happiness :cute [14:14] [E_T_doing_orders] so, we havn't played our turn, we haven't sent the declaration [14:14] [E_T_doing_orders] so talk with him, just don't ignore him [14:14] [MasterZen] so? It's being hypocritical! [14:14] [MasterZen] I can always be afk... [14:14] [E_T_doing_orders] consider it the endmove to an evil plan [14:15] [E_T_doing_orders] ask him what he feels about this poll at 1BC [14:16] * E_T_doing_orders thought that Luckies post about that was a bit Ironic [14:18] [MasterZen] sorry, if the war subject brings up I cannot force myself to be hypocritical about it, it is just bad [14:18] [MasterZen] I might be the epitome of evil, but I have some semblance of ethics [14:19] [E_T_doing_orders] [14:20] * MasterZen wonders why no-one believes him [14:20] [Trip] E_T: another Worker from HoD? [14:20] [MasterZen] HOLY ****, LUCKY IS IN #ISDGFAMTALKS!!!!!!!!! [14:20] [E_T_doing_orders] I didn't prder that [14:20] [MasterZen] AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! [14:20] [E_T_doing_orders] you HAVE to talk to him now [14:20] [MasterZen] oh well, whatever [14:21] [Trip] what is it supposed to be? :P [14:22] [E_T_doing_orders] haven't really looked, either another cat or maybe a courthouse [14:22] [E_T_doing_orders] or both [14:22] [Trip] at the same time? :P [14:22] [E_T_doing_orders] one, then the other, as I had typed them [14:22] [MasterZen] [14:22] [Lucky] well, after you contacted us concerning the thingy with MapMaking, I looked at our trades and treaties again [14:22] [MasterZen] [14:22] [Lucky] and noticed that it will be time to renew our NAP in some turns [14:23] [MasterZen] [14:22] [Lucky] so I thought why not drop by and discuss this issue [14:23] [E_T_doing_orders] thing is, it has the same corruption that Tripoli had (and Karina and Big Bend both have) and we know how well the court worked in Tripoli [14:23] [MasterZen] this has all the aura of a shakespearean comedy [14:24] [E_T_doing_orders] Tell him that we have also been looking at that, and were getting ready to contact them about it [14:24] [E_T_doing_orders] :EVILGRIN: [14:24] [E_T_doing_orders] it's true..... [14:24] [Trip] I haven't looked at the WF for this turn yet, can you give me a quick overview E_T? [14:24] [E_T_doing_orders] I am soooo bad at times.... [14:25] [E_T_doing_orders] I'm still working on them, but rest assured, they will be changed if we get a GA [14:25] [MasterZen] [14:24] [MasterZen] when does it expire? [14:25] [MasterZen] [14:25] [Lucky] IIRC in around 10 turns I think [14:25] [Trip] right now I'm looking at Ming and Apo at 10 SPT and Banana at 9 SPT [14:25] [Trip] Ming is at 1 FPT with Apo at 2 and Banana at 4 [14:26] [AdrianHon] What a job you have, eh, MZ? [14:26] [MasterZen] gotta love it [14:27] * MasterZen will have to retire from the negotiator job one day... very soon [14:28] [Trip] with growth Banana will go back up to 10 SPT and we can maintain growth in all cities [14:28] [Trip] and keep Banana on the game for 5 turn growth to size 9 [14:28] [Trip] well, until the Settler finishes in Apolyton anyways [14:28] [AdrianHon] Where's the t121 save? [14:29] [E_T_doing_orders] we have it [14:29] [AdrianHon] But where can I download it from? [14:29] [E_T_doing_orders] we are playing it this afternoon, as war will be starting then [14:30] [E_T_doing_orders] http://www.miccofl.net/150BCDemoGame.zip [14:30] [AdrianHon] Cheers [14:30] [E_T_doing_orders] NP [14:30] [E_T_doing_orders] 4 Game #3 sent to Beta(hound)... [14:32] [Trip] MZ: make sure WB or Togas doesn't go in there now :P [14:33] * E_T_doing_orders slaps WhiteBandit around a bit with a large trout [14:34] [MasterZen] Togas might also come online soon [14:37] [E_T_doing_orders] Anything else from him? [14:37] [E_T_doing_orders] i.e. Lucky.,... [14:39] [E_T_doing_orders] maybe you can ask him how the cease fire negotiations with CFC are going?? [14:41] * Togas has joined #apolytonISDG [14:42] [MasterZen] 4TOGAS, LEAVE ISDGFAMTALKS NOW!!!!!!!!! [14:43] [MasterZen] like in a Quit, not a Leave [14:43] [E_T_doing_orders] Lucky is in there [14:43] * Trip sets mode: +o Togas [14:43] [MasterZen] Quit sounds more credible [14:43] [Trip] /quit Togas, /quit! [14:43] [MasterZen] TOOOOGGGGAAAASSS!!!!!!!! [14:43] [Trip] for great justice! [14:43] * MasterZen slaps Togas around with a huge trade barrier! [14:43] * MasterZen slaps Togas around with a huge trade barrier! [14:43] * MasterZen slaps Togas around with a huge trade barrier! [14:43] * MasterZen slaps Togas around with a huge trade barrier! [14:43] [MasterZen] AAAAAAAARGGH!!!! [14:43] [AdrianHon] Heh [14:44] [Togas] ? [14:44] * MasterZen thinks everything that can be going wrong is going wrong... it's an OMEN! [14:44] [Togas] ????? [14:44] [MasterZen] Togas, look who's in ISDGFAMTALKS [14:44] [E_T_doing_orders] Lucky is in there [14:44] [MasterZen] starts with an L ends in a ucky [14:44] [Togas] so? [14:44] [AdrianHon] Nah, we're just getting rid of all the bad luck before we start the tun [14:44] [Trip] he wants to negotiate some things [14:44] [MasterZen] so? he wants to talk about NAP renewal! [14:44] [E_T_doing_orders] [MasterZen] [14:22] [Lucky] well, after you contacted us concerning the thingy with MapMaking, I looked at our trades and treaties again [14:44] [E_T_doing_orders] [MasterZen] [14:22] [Lucky] and noticed that it will be time to renew our NAP in some turns [14:44] [E_T_doing_orders] [MasterZen] [14:22] [Lucky] so I thought why not drop by and discuss this issue [14:44] [E_T_doing_orders] [MasterZen] [14:24] [MasterZen] when does it expire? [14:44] [E_T_doing_orders] [MasterZen] [14:25] [Lucky] IIRC in around 10 turns I think [14:45] [Togas] LOL! [14:45] * Togas nominates MZ to be the bastard to tell him the bad news [14:45] [AdrianHon] Second! [14:45] * MasterZen accepts, but not NOW! [14:45] [Trip] weren't we going to send a note? :P [14:45] [E_T_doing_orders] [E_T_doing_orders] Tell him that we have also been looking at that, and were getting ready to contact them about it [14:45] [E_T_doing_orders] [E_T_doing_orders] :EVILGRIN: [14:45] [E_T_doing_orders] [E_T_doing_orders] it's true..... [14:45] [MasterZen] damn you Adrian! [14:45] [MasterZen] [14:46] [Togas] I know it sucks, but the die has been cast [14:46] [E_T_doing_orders] All in favor....Aye.... [14:46] * opdaway has joined #apolytonISDG [14:46] [Togas] it's not like Lucky is going to talk us out of it [14:46] [opdaway] wow allo [14:46] [MasterZen] still, it's MEAN [14:46] [E_T_doing_orders] we did say that we would send the note after we played the save [14:46] [MasterZen] it's NASTY [14:46] [MasterZen] it's EVIL [14:46] [MasterZen] and they have not been either of that to us [14:46] [E_T_doing_orders] it's you [14:46] * Trip sets mode: +o opdaway [14:46] [Togas] what's done is done. We need to do this in as nice of a way possible. And if there is no nice way, at least be courteous [14:46] [Trip] heya OPD [14:46] [MasterZen] look, I'd tell that to miccofl, not Lucky [14:47] [opdaway] hey [14:47] [Togas] running and hiding is childish :P [14:47] [E_T_doing_orders] [E_T_doing_orders] maybe you can ask him how the cease fire negotiations with CFC are going?? [14:47] [Togas] naw, no excuses or beating around the bush [14:47] [MasterZen] sorry, I disagree, these things hurt, we can't do it live [14:47] [MasterZen] send the message later, leave it at that [14:47] [E_T_doing_orders] it's the role that you have to take.,... [14:47] [Togas] we can't all run away and hide behind our email either [14:48] [MasterZen] yes we can! [14:48] [Togas] if necessary I'll do it. [14:48] [MasterZen] he can always come and chat later [14:48] [MasterZen] NOOOO! [14:48] [Togas] I give "bad news" to clients for a living. [14:48] [E_T_doing_orders] Lets try to use this opertunity to get any possible Intel from them, before the die is cast [14:48] [MasterZen] we should at the very least have a quicky poll [14:48] [Trip] let Togas do it [14:48] [Togas] ? [14:48] [MasterZen] 4quickie poll (tm). should we tell him? [14:48] [E_T_doing_orders] not yet [14:48] [MasterZen] No [14:49] [Togas] tell him now, tell him later, doesn't matter either way. [14:49] [E_T_doing_orders] i.e. let the note do it [14:49] [Trip] abstain [14:49] [CiverDan] tell them we are going to send an envoy shortly :P [14:49] [Trip] don't tell me we have 10 people idling :P [14:49] [E_T_doing_orders] 3 my vote: later [14:49] * E_T_doing_orders . [14:50] [Trip] E_T: what are we going to do with the 12 Workers we have in the east? [14:50] [Trip] are we going to shift them west after the current set of things is done (besides Go3) [14:50] [AdrianHon] Vote: no [14:50] * Aggiemowa has joined #apolytonisdg [14:51] [Trip] heya Aggie [14:51] * Trip sets mode: +o Aggiemowa [14:51] [Aggiemowa] hi there [14:51] [MasterZen] all hail the emperor of GoW [14:51] [Aggiemowa] thank you [14:51] [Togas] listen, when it comes down to it, I'll tell Lucky the bad news. If I have to. [14:51] [Togas] If it doesn't come down to it, we email [14:51] [MasterZen] look, I don't mind saying it [14:51] [MasterZen] I just don't think it's appropriate right now [14:52] [MasterZen] it just feels bad that he'll know we're holding the save and that we'll be crushing their troops [14:52] [Togas] if he asks about the NAP, we're going to have to tell him. [14:52] [MasterZen] the agony of waiting for the save himself... [14:52] [MasterZen] it's mean [14:52] [MasterZen] he has been nice to us. We should return the favor [14:52] [MasterZen] on the other hand, miccofl.... mUAHAHAHA [14:52] [Togas] I agree we should be nice to him [14:52] [Togas] I just don't want us to lie or deceive him right now [14:52] [MasterZen] do you know the psychological terror of waiting for that save? [14:53] [Togas] I know it VERY well. [14:53] [MasterZen] Togas, this is like telling a moribund Cancer patient that he doesn't have cancer [14:53] [MasterZen] just so he lives the last few weeks of his life in peace [14:53] [MasterZen] and in hope [14:53] [Aggiemowa] in a way that is cruek though mz [14:54] [MasterZen] it is, but it comes down to inflicting REAL psychological pain by telling him right now [14:54] [Togas] he'll be more pissed off when he realizes we've been lieing to him [14:54] [Togas] that we were, behind his back, killing his troops while pretending to talk peace [14:55] [MasterZen] we haven't said anything, neither yes or no [14:55] [MasterZen] we just said we'd discuss it later [14:55] [MasterZen] no false hopes [14:55] [Togas] ? [14:55] [MasterZen] [14:27] [MasterZen] I can bring up the issue in our forum, frankly we hadn't noticed it, especially at the speed the turns are being played these days [14:55] [MasterZen] [14:28] [Lucky] well, it is preliminary [14:55] [MasterZen] [14:28] [Lucky] but better to start talking too early than too late [14:55] [Togas] we'll discuss it later is a very false hope [14:56] * WhiteBandit wakes up for the second time [14:56] [WhiteBandit] thanks for the PM mz [14:56] [WhiteBandit] let me know when [14:57] [Trip] damn we have a big army [14:57] [Trip] a pity we don't have any Knights :P [14:57] [MasterZen] sorry, you should know quite well how nervous things get when you get the save. These games grow on you, it is your work of hours, of days, of months, being destroyed. I do not want him to feel the agony of waiting for that save. [14:57] [Trip] that would be so cool :starryeyed:

	28-09-2003 08:53									#8
	Inflate your Upload Space

Ah, but I wasn't the only one with sorry luck, Trip gets a message from Anarchy (from GCA) asking about the exact same thing:

quote: [17:04] [Trip] 3Anarchy from GCA is PMing me :P [17:04] [BigFurryMonster] Trip - what does he say? [17:04] [Trip] [16:04] [anarchy] trip? [17:05] [Trip] I haven't replied [17:05] [Dominae] How do they know we're attacking them!? [17:05] [Trip] that's all he said [17:05] [BigFurryMonster] Dominae - do they? [17:05] [Kloreep] Did we send them anything about the MM trade? [17:05] [Trip] 3Should I reply or not? [17:05] [WhiteBandit] reply [17:05] [WhiteBandit] he isn't an official [17:05] [Trip] okay [17:05] [Wervdon] Reply to him "Later we are busy with the war" :P [17:05] [Trip] [17:05] [MasterZen] hahaha [17:05] [Arnelos] 12checking my e-mail... [17:05] [WhiteBandit] keep me posted [17:06] [MasterZen] I would say not to reply [17:06] [Togas] just tell him you're busy now and can talk later [17:06] [Trip] okay [17:06] [BigFurryMonster] Let's hear him out - you never know what info you get [17:06] [Wervdon] I was just joking, obviously our official DoW should be the first news of it they get [17:07] [MasterZen] BFM, I already had an unpleasant chat with Lucky earlier today [17:07] [MoI_E_T] Actually, they don't need to know that we are at war. If they don't have contact with GCA, they won't know until it;s too late [17:07] [Arnelos] I'm going to talk to miccofl about this... it's my job, afterall [17:07] [WhiteBandit] [17:07] [WhiteBandit] honesty is best in this situation me thinks [17:07] [Trip] about the war? [17:07] [Arnelos] talk to miccofl about THEIR war, not ours [17:08] [Trip] [16:05] [Trip] hello [17:08] [Trip] [16:06] [anarchy] hi, you are in the Poly MSGD team, arent you? [17:08] [Trip] [16:06] [Trip] yes [17:08] [Trip] [16:06] [Trip] I am the Minister of War [17:08] [Trip] [16:07] [anarchy] Ah [17:08] [Trip] [16:07] [anarchy] Well, you know this NAP between us? [17:08] [opdaway] invite lucky to this room for a chat [17:08] [MasterZen] LOL! [17:08] [VladAnt] LOL! [17:08] [Trip] [17:08] [Kloreep] lol [17:08] [BigFurryMonster] Good Q, Anarchy. [17:08] [Trip] should I reply "Maybe?" [17:08] [Trip] ;D [17:09] [Pikesfan] Offer him a cookie [17:09] [MasterZen] damn foreign diplomats pestering us relentlessly on our war turn!! BE GONE HEATHEN! [17:09] [Trip] what should I say? [17:09] [MoI_E_T] Let Togas handle it [17:09] [MoI_E_T] where is he? [17:09] [Aggiemowa] yes lets togas handle it [17:09] [opdaway] say whats a NAP? [17:09] [MasterZen] tell him this: [17:09] [Aggiemowa] non aggrssion pact [17:09] [MasterZen] "Lucky already chatted with us earlier about that" [17:09] [MoI_E_T] Non Aggression Pact [17:09] [MasterZen] "I wasn't present" [17:09] [opdaway] no say "whats a NAP to him" [17:10] [Trip] I told him I wasn't sure and it wasn't my department :P [17:10] [Kloreep] lol [17:10] [BigFurryMonster] OPD meant that Trip should ask him that... [17:10] [Kloreep] Thanks BF [17:10] [BigFree] 12: 4) 1 [17:10] [MoI_E_T] [BigFree] 5 Cats bombard, first 3 miss next 2 hit [17:10] [opdaway] [17:10] [BigFurryMonster] "Please go to Department 17. Their opening hours: 6-7:30 AM..." [17:10] [MasterZen] wait, actually Trip WAS present :P [17:10] [Trip] [16:09] [Trip] not sure, I haven't been up to date on that sort of thing [17:10] [Trip] [16:09] [Trip] turns have been moving slowly as well [17:10] [Trip] [16:09] [anarchy] i know [17:10] [Trip] [16:09] [anarchy] but thats now yours or our fault [17:10] [Arnelos] 12two screenshots from CGN of the GWT attack... attached letter... posting [17:11] [Trip] [16:10] [Trip] what do you mean? [17:11] [Trip] [16:10] [anarchy] well, our Non aggression thing runs out soonish [17:11] [BigFurryMonster] "Soonish" !!! [17:11] [Trip] [16:11] [anarchy] and we were hoping to discuss some sort of extension [17:11] [Trip] [16:11] [anarchy] Don't want any sort of war or anything. Nasty business [17:12] [Trip] yes Anarchy, very nasty indeed [17:12] [Togas] LOL! [17:12] [opdaway] lolololololol [17:12] * BigFurryMonster falls over laughing and needs oxygen now. [17:12] [WhiteBandit] hahahaha [17:12] [Rhothaerill] [17:12] [Togas] this is SOOOO timely [17:12] [Kloreep] lol [17:12] [WhiteBandit] "This is what we think of your NAP" [17:12] [WhiteBandit] and attach a screen [17:12] [Arnelos] LOL [17:12] [Arnelos] it's sad.... [17:12] [WhiteBandit] preferably, my URL from earlier: [17:12] [Kloreep] Sad to the point of funny. [17:12] [Trip] [16:12] [Trip] I agree [17:12] [Trip] :P [17:12] [BigFree] HAHA [17:12] [WhiteBandit] http://www.forumflames.com/uploads/the_finger.gif [17:12] [Arnelos] LOL @ TRIP [17:12] [BigFree] thats too funny [17:12] [Dominae] Ethically we should admit to what we're doing instead of jerking them around. [17:12] [Trip] [17:12] [Dominae] Of course I don't care about that stuff. [17:12] [Togas] LOL! [17:13] [Arnelos] Just stall them, folks... [17:13] [Arnelos] and send them the DoW when the turn is done [17:13] [WhiteBandit] yup [17:13] [WhiteBandit] they'll know soon enough [17:13] [Trip] [16:12] [Trip] I will let our FAM department know [17:13] [Trip] [16:12] [anarchy] that would be great, anymore fighting between us would hold back our continent. [17:13] [VladAnt] Now that I think of it, "Arma Virumque" would have made a great name for that fort city. [17:13] [Aggiemowa] yes let the DOW be the anser [17:13] [VladAnt] ("Arma virumque" is the first two words of the Aeneid, FWIW.) [17:14] [Dominae] They should get some sort of points for feeling out the turn of our attack. [17:14] [Aggiemowa] that actually concerns me dominae, i means they're good or we have a spy [17:15] [Dominae] Let's move, I'm dying of boredom here! [17:15] [BigFurryMonster] "YES! Our contestant Anarchy is closest in predicting the Inevitable War! And what has he won ..?" [17:15] [opdaway] yeah attack more stuff already [17:15] [MoI_E_T] [BigFree] 5 Cats bombard, first 3 miss next 2 hit [17:15] [Kloreep] I think they're just Lucky [17:15] [BigFree] Trip is adjusting his orders according to the results of the bombardment [17:15] [Kloreep] If they knew it was coming, there would be more defense in place. [17:15] [MoI_E_T] just to let you know, it was the vet spear and vet sword that got hit, for 1 point eash [17:15] [Pikesfan] We could load Anarchy on the catapult with our answer

	28-09-2003 16:54									#9
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Comedy GOOOOLLLLD!

No, not gold. More like Platinum.

Do they have ESP or what? Oh well - I wish I could get into the #isdgfamtalks room just to see the bluster when they DO get the save..... GWT has it right now, so GCA is next.