OOC:
And if the FK knew what Panda and
I were planning, Storm would switch to Persia, but that is impossible! I have a sneaking suspicion that we're planning something similar, however.
Ok, I've given this a lot of thought. One one hand, I would love to play France. I believe that I am up to the task of doing it, and that I could be victorious. However, there are several arguments to the contrary.
First of all, I've wrote...*counts* 32 pages worth of stories, in Word, about Persia. As fun as playing France would be, I simply can't abandon Persia yet, I have greater plans for her.

Also, I am a relative newcomer to NESing. It would be a bit pretentious and arrogant of me to take control of a Great Power on what is, technically, my first NES. Even if I am brilliant.
Therefore, as I was petting my cat (which scratched me, ow) and thinking about what to do, I decided on a compromise. I will send
provisional military orders for France, seeing as how an NPC'ed France simply can't do all the things I want it to do right. And, I know most of the French plans anyway.
In regards to responding to (most) diplomacy and domestic orders, consider France NPC'ed. But I will write a set of military orders for France this turn, and will reconsider my next actions after the update. I will conduct military related diplomacy for France, this turn only. No, I will not write GIVE PERZIA 20 ECOS OMGZ!
In a completely unrelated note, this thread is now about one quarter the size of ITNES I.
IC:
From: France
To: California
No.