Pre-ChaNES: Into the Void

[Symphony D.]

Official Transcript
President Nikolai Kerensky
Televised and Netcast Address
Original Air Date: 0900 UTC, September 21, 2125AD
Broadcast From: United Nations Headquarters, New York City, United States of America

Mr. Secretary General, Mr. President, my peers, distinguished representatives, ladies and gentlemen: my sincere gratitude for allowing me to speak before the General Assembly. The Russian people express their appreciation for the existence of this organization and for the noble principles on which it was founded. And we also express our appreciation for the members of this organization, who have stood together for the twin principles of justice and freedom. Thank you for having us here, and thank you to New York City and the United States of America for hosting this body.

This is the first time I have stood and spoken before you all. The last person to hold my office who had the good fortune to do so was my esteemed predecessor, President Alexandr Volkov. He came before you in a time of crisis and upheaval. I have been fortunate enough to come before you in a time of peace and stability. Despite this, the opportunity inherent in my appearance here is the same as when he made his fateful address to this body. In both his speech, and in mine, a fundamental question is raised, and through that, a choice which humanity must ultimately choose to make is presented to it. The very future of our species rests on how we choose to answer that question.

That question is the following: do we choose to expand among the stars in a legally defined and regulated fashion, or do we choose to do so haphazardly with no regard for laws, regulations, or rights? Thus far, all interstellar colonization missions, including those launched by my own country, have fallen under the former distinction, which we have in retrospect found unfortunate.

The importance of this question cannot be understated. Since 2053, and indeed to some capacity before, the rules which had previously governed manned exploration of space, as encapsulated in the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, commonly known as the Outer Space Treaty, have more or less been eroded in their totality. With the discrediting of that platform, there currently exists no system of regulation for colonization, for territorial space rights, for the rule of law in space, or for the proper conduct of States therein whatsoever. At present, the only thing holding the system in check is the fiat of the space-faring powers. In effect, space today is no different than the famed American Wild West.

While perhaps kindling the romantic notions of some, this situation is not sustainable, nor is it secure. Under the myriad views on rights that currently pervade space we are presented with an inflammable mixture where disagreements and misunderstandings may rapidly escalate into conflict on a scale previously unknown to humanity. It is unacceptable for a global society of our level of advancement to permit such a situation to perpetuate itself. It is likewise unacceptable to agree to a quick-fix solution like those of the imperialist powers which preceded our current societies. What is needed is a dynamic and flexible set of laws which can be universally applied and used to advance the interests of humanity as a whole while protecting individual States’ rights.

As has already been noted both through diplomatic exchanges and the news media, the initial signatories and draftees of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Colonization and Applied Use of Space represent approximately one-third of the human race, and a significant percentage of its industrial and economic capabilities.It is the sincerest opinion of my country, of our peers in the Alliance for Settlement Transport, Research, Implementation and Security, and of various allies and peers among the global community that the recently drafted Treaty presents the best recourse for solving this problem.

My audience with all of you today may therefore be understood as one friend counseling another. The signatories of this Treaty and its draftees acknowledge that it is most likely not perfect at meeting all the possible contingencies and scenarios which humanity might encounter in space, but it is a start, and an important first step. For that reason, in my full capacity as President of the Russian Federation, and as a fellow human being, I urge you to convey to your leaders the importance of this document and that you may recommend to them that they sign and ratify it.

It has been demonstrated by all the events up to present that each of us is only capable of doing so much in these times against the enormous obstacles facing us. Together we can do so much more. Let history record that following this day, in a spirit of unity and an acknowledgment of friendship, the nations of Earth and even of our first peer among the stars, the Planetary Republic of Bacchus, stood shoulder to shoulder and presented a uniform front to the challenges of the future. I believe we may rise to this occasion as we have to so many before, and I believe that this is as Neil Armstrong so eloquently put it, one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

May God bless all of us. Thank you.

[Niklas]

{ So, just so I don't misunderstand anything, basically you want me to sign a document that allows any nation to colonize any planet within the systems currently under my control that I have not already put down 10k people on? If that is indeed a yes, then this document will require some amendments before it gets a Chinese signature... }

[Chandrasekhar]

Originally Posted by Symphony D.

OOC: "Hey, Vegeta, what's up?"

OOC: "WHAT NINE THOUSAND!?"

The new map looks even better than the old one, but it seems that it's a bit much for GIMP to handle. I'll stick with the current style for now, and switch to that one once the main NES has started and it won't require many new additions.

Also, the deadline is in two days. I fully expect my inbox to begin overflowing with orders in the coming hours.

[Terrance888]

I still don't understand the orders...

Do I just post/send the 'Diplomatic' and 'Domestic' sections of regular Industrial orders?

[Chandrasekhar]

I think that's right. Just PM me your orders like in any other NES, but without actually specifying how many EP you want to spend.

[Symphony D.]

Originally Posted by Niklas

{ So, just so I don't misunderstand anything, basically you want me to sign a document that allows any nation to colonize any planet within the systems currently under my control that I have not already put down 10k people on? If that is indeed a yes, then this document will require some amendments before it gets a Chinese signature... }

Originally Posted by Symphony D.

Article VI
The conditions presented in Articles IV and V are not retroactive upon any pre-existing claim of the States Parties of the Treaty.

OOC: Reading: doubleplusgood.

Iggy, I really don't appreciate your effort to run the clock. Make a deal or call it off.

[Lord_Iggy]

Okay, in simple language, we've agreed that:

We will lift our economic restrictions on your colony at Zenit, and recognize your sovereignty over the colonized planet.

There will be economic normalization between the European Union and the Russian Federation.

There will be no division of space into zones of control.

[Symphony D.]

Originally Posted by Lord_Iggy

Okay, in simple language [...]

OOC: Correct.

[Niklas]

{ Reading is really good yes, but understanding is even better. Thanks for the clarification. }

China hereby signs and ratifies the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Colonization and Applied Use of Space

[Symphony D.]

Originally Posted by Niklas

{ Reading is really good yes, but understanding is even better. Thanks for the clarification. }

OOC: I'd really have to say the two are synonymous in this instance.

[Niklas]

{ Obviously not since I read but still didn't understand. }

[Symphony D.]

Originally Posted by Niklas

{ Obviously not since I read but still didn't understand. }

OOC: The text is pretty unambiguous. Leaves few places for the fault to remain.

[Azale]

Well umm...I think Head Serf just kinda left NESing...so it might be important to seek out a new USA

[Chandrasekhar]

Originally Posted by Azale

Well umm...I think Head Serf just kinda left NESing...so it might be important to seek out a new USA

Well, damn. How inconsiderate. If some NESer would like to take the USA, I'd accept orders for them a few days after the deadline, but otherwise I'll have to NPC them for now.

Also, note that today is the day of the deadline. I'd like all remaining orders to be submitted as early as possible.

[Symphony D.]

Originally Posted by Chandrasekhar

If some NESer would like to take the USA, I'd accept orders for them a few days after the deadline, but otherwise I'll have to NPC them for now.

OOC: Hopefully where some ≠ any.

[flyingchicken]

Wumbology: Oh, oh, pick me, pick me!

If Chandrasekhar can show me Head Serf's orders or his general course of action (that aren't exposed in the updates) for the past five turns and maybe nation-specific things that the USA player might need to know, I'd like to take a shot at being the President of the United States.

[Chandrasekhar]

Originally Posted by flyingchicken

Wumbology: Oh, oh, pick me, pick me!

If Chandrasekhar can show me Head Serf's orders or his general course of action (that aren't exposed in the updates) for the past five turns and maybe nation-specific things that the USA player might need to know, I'd like to take a shot at being the President of the United States.

You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that. I'll get together all the American orders still in my PM box, and compose a quick writeup to go along with it.

[Lord_Iggy]

Orders sent...

[das]

I'd like to take a shot at being the President of the United States.

I didn't notice the "being" part when I first read this.

Anyway, I'm relieved too; flyingchicken is far from the worst of people we could have had in Washington D.C.

By the way, did I need to send my orders to Niklas as well? It doesn't seem so, but I'd like to be sure.

[Chandrasekhar]

No, there's no need for governors to forward their orders to their nations' players.