NiNES: A Broken Galaxy

[Massive Attack]

And exactly what international law is the CFS citing? The only authority currently in existence on international space law is the UPNCS, being the only direct, legitimate continuation of an organization which predates the Scourge and issued rulings on such matters. Or, is the CFS presuming that the UPNCS is violating its own precepts? And then, for what purpose does it allege it is doing so? The USC has reviewed the statues on such matters and its legal experets have seen no reason for their dismissal. We are more than willing to allow full transparency of our findings to whatever faction might be interested in seeing the relevent materials.

It appears that the UCS/UPNCS is under a severe misunderstanding of what international law is, how it is created, and who it applies to.

The UPNCS is NOT international law. Assuming, arguendo, that the UPNCS is the legitimate continuation of a certain organziation, the precepts of the UPNCS ONLY applies to the jurisdiction and members of the UPNCS. Hench, the UPNCS, acting as a single state, passes domestic law, not international law. International law is the law between states and not the dictates of one state's internal law applied to other states.

The CFS, Emergents, Nekomi, etc, are not members to the UPNCS organization, and therefore are not bound by its precepts. Thus, there relations with the UPNCS are governed by international law, not the law of the UPNCS. This is a distinction that the UPNCS/USC seems to not understand; it is quite clear that UPNCS is conflating its internal law with international law, an illusion of grandeur if any. We strongly suggest they rectify this mistake, lest we be forced to dispel those illusions for them.

Furthermore, if the UPNCS claims are to be believed, then it would appear that the UPNCS/USC must denies]/i] the sovereignty and independance of the CFS, Emergents, Nekomi, etc. This, we think, is not a position we, nor our allies, nor any other stellar nation, would approve.

The USC has already noted its decision to adhere to all UPNCS declared laws, referendums, and international decisions, with the election to restrain the execution of these decisions by its own means*. Perhaps the CFS government has not been doing its data-mining thoroughly enough.

So then who is the overarching, federal government of your nation? The UPNCS or the USC? We will only deal with that government who has legitimacy on the international level. If the USC is subrogating its foreign policy to the UPNCS then that is violating its own agreement with the UPNCS. We have no problem if you two have decided that the USC will be subsumed into the UPNCS, we simply demand that, on the international level, you represent yourself honestly and truthfully as you exist.

That is both hypocritical in light of former diplomatic precedent by all core nations and furthermore not an option unless you wish to ignore USC policy as well, which would not be wise.

We wish to make this absolutely clear: we are not obligated to the UPNCS. We are not members of that organization, and therefore its internal mandates have no effect on us.

P.S. Ya'll fail. Did I post those demands? No. Did I demand the blockade on the Nekomi? No. So don't call them USC demands, because if you'll notice, the USC isn't issuing them, just executing them. It's hard to negotiate with people who can't even get their facts right.

You seem to miss the point. It doesn't matter that you didn't technically make those demands. We're not going to let you get away with such two-faced talking--we're going to attribute it to you.

 

[Nylan]

Kalianna Post​

New Prosperity for Kalia
Technology and redevelopment are improving our way of life

Recently, Kalian scientists have been meeting with those of other nations in an interstellar exchange of ideas and inventions. Anything from vacuums to rocket launchers, fusion power to terraforming, all have been discussed amongst these intellectual elite. The result has been an abundance of newly rediscovered concepts and technologies. Integration of this new science shared by our interstellar counterparts has increased the standard of living 30%! Traffic runs smoother, food is cheaper, energy is in abundance, and all is well in Kalianna.

Researchers have also done an analysis of the most well developed systems in the galaxy, and Kalia has made an impressive showing. The top five developed systems are:

1. Sezuren
2. Kalia
3. Rigel
4. Epsilon Eridani
5. Sirius

These five systems have the highest standard of living in the known galaxy. This indeed demonstrates just how much better things have gotten for Kalia since the Scourge. It is expected that things will only continue to get better from here.

Furthermore, diplomatic relations have improved with many nations, the Democratic Autarchy of Huris most especially. New friendship and camradre between the galaxy’s leaders can only mean a brighter future, and it can only be hoped that relations will continue to be amiable in the future.

All Quiet on the Western Front

It seems that conflict is brewing in other locations across the galaxy. The Emergents and Furians have been butting heads with the deceptively quiet Norsk over claims on certain systems, and diplomatic relations have been severed. It seems not all of the star nations have been faring as well as Kalia, even the known superpowers.

Furthermore, conflict on Rana between protesters and local government officials has spiraled out of control and become an international incident. The UPNCS has made specific demands which seem to overstep their power as per their agreement with the USC, leaving some to cry wolf at the Commonwealth as behind these disturbances. Others however, speculate that the new UPNCS is just as greedy and corrupt as before the USC occupation. Indeed, have the people of Sol sacrificed their freedoms in exchange for a higher standard of living, but no more? Investigations may follow.

A New Frontier, A Forgotten Past

Colonists have landed on Regor and begun development of the system. This marks the first colonization effort from Kalia since before the Scourge. The colonists are doing fine, and the lush twin core worlds look very promising to developers. It is touching for Kalians to see this event take place, a step back towards the pre-Scourge prosperity. It is known that colonization has been happening in other nations for years, but seeing it first hand has been a powerful experience to say the least.

Terraforming, the lost and revered art of Kali Corp., has been rediscovered as well. While far less graceful and precise as in the golden days of the past, the process has been stunning to watch. Terraforming procedures have begun on both inhabited systems, making them far more valuable, as well as beautiful, than before.

Some are calling life here paradise on earth, others, a refuge from the cold harsh realities of life outside of Confederate borders. Whatever it may be, it is enjoyable to say the least, and the old prophetic adage is indeed true…life is good.

 

[Symphony D.]

TO: Wideband
FROM: United Systems Commonwealth

It is not an international Authority, and until such time as all star-nations agree to so, we will not recognize it as such.

Which is why the Emergents and Nekomi were so quick to try and gain its favor while it was a corrupt organization limited to a single system?

The UPNCS is NOT international law. Assuming, arguendo, that the UPNCS is the legitimate continuation of a certain organziation, the precepts of the UPNCS ONLY applies to the jurisdiction and members of the UPNCS. Hench, the UPNCS, acting as a single state, passes domestic law, not international law. International law is the law between states and not the dictates of one state's internal law applied to other states.

This argument neither:

1.) States what version of international law the CFS is appealing to at all, which is the primary USC question, in any capacity, nor whom empowers such law or writes it.
2.) Accounts for the status of the UPNCS in the pre-Scourge political environment as regards statements and input into various international policies throughout humanspace.
3.) Accounts for the status of the UPNCS in the post-Scourge political environment prior to the USC takeover of Sol system in similar capacities.

The CFS has neither answered the question and is in clear denial of the history of humanspace as regards the importance of the UPNCS organization.

We ask you nicely before things get out of hand to please stop your blockade or we will side with Nekomi. Consider this your only warning.

If it is the Furian intention to issue threats it should do so clearly and promptly, particularly when its ally has already stated it has no concerns as regards the blockade. If you are that eager for war as to provoke a confrontation, sirs, we advise you to do so forthrightly and clearly so that the galaxy can see clearly your aggression and impatience.

Otherwise, do not presume to threaten us, for we will not tolerate it.

TO: Emergents, Nekomi, CFS
FROM: United Systems Commonwealth

We hereby demand you restrain your Furian ally from making overt threats of war against our systems and government or we will presume the same hostile attitude to be prevalent among your factions as well.

OOC:

OOC: nope, can't see it. UNPCS is no UN. it has no authority.

Funny, you granted it plenty previously, particularly when you tried to appeal to it after invading me. Hypocrisy much?

OOC: they are part of the USC, so they are your demands. just because you have no control over one of your systems, and decide to be subservient to them, don't blame us.

Here's a better example then: think of the World Court vis-a-vis the UN or the Supreme Court vis-a-vis the American Federal government.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

"Since we'll now have a steering AI implemented in microcode, ...

Project Eighty-Eight was assembling again, after a few years of idling. It was Gareth Oblious who sent out the message that got them started:

All right. I'm not going to bother with encryption on this - anyone who intercepts it knows who we are. Mike, Eleanor, everyone: when we were younger, we wrote the best code in the new galaxy and got rewarded handsomely for it. I don't know what each of you is doing now, and I'm sorry for losing contact. I could do with seeing you again, now that it's been some years since last time, and my money is starting to dwindle. I'll be waiting in the Cyberlands at Nacata Station for about two hours after I send this, so you can talk to me there if you have the opportunity.

Gareth had spent some of his money on a mansion in one of the less rainy (there were no rain-free) parts of Alpha Centauri, so he was apparently out of sync with the others, as none of them showed up during those two hours. Nash responded first with a very simple message:

I'd love to meet up again, preferably in the flesh. Pick some time between one week and two months from now - my calendar is open.

A quiet beeping woke Jake from his slumber some time later. It was not the mail, but his alarm clock. It was not calibrated to waken him by beeping at some harmonic frequency of his body, but just to not wake everyone else who might be nearby. Jake preferred it that way. He woke up, yawned, and considered whether he should lean out of bed to poke the alarm clock into submission, or stand up properly and turn it off. The constant beeping of the alarm clock and the cold air outside of his blanket convinced him to poke the alarm clock, and it shut off for ten minutes. Then the beeping began again, and this time Jake stood up and forcibly shut off the alarm clock by dismantling it.
"Well, this is a great way to start the day. Slow dismantling and I didn't wake up properly the first time. Elf, what's new?"
Elf, Jake's home AI, answered as Jake rebuilt the alarm clock. "Gareth has sent a short, polite message requesting that you reunite with him in the near future. I am in favor. Your guild was raided, small damage. I have balanced your finances during the night by offering part of your avatar as advertisement space. You will have to spend at least one hour in the Cyberlands each day. Your parents sent a message asking for your status. I replied and signed it with your name, and two speeling errors. Jaher has finished the erotica you ordered, and is waiting on payment."
Hm. Gareth, eh? That had been some time ago. "Log me in. I'll have to check the guild."
"They've changed the biometrics again. You'll have to log in yourself."
"How tiresome. I understand it perfectly well, but it is inconvenient for me." Jake peeled on the Cyberland headpiece with a practiced movement. "Whisper dirty things in my ear, Elf. I want some diversions."
"Yes. Oh yes."
Jake quickly travelled to his Lands of Strife guild, ascertained the damage, donated some currency and signed his name for a pair of retaliatory raids. The advertisement space Elf had sold was a flap on his armor, reading Prault's legacy will be carried on forever. Tacky, Jake thought. Oh well, if it paid the bills, he was happy to look tacky.
"Greetings, sirrah!" It was a small imp at his feet.
"-and they both wriggled and wriggled, but-"
"Quiet, Elf." Jake subvocalized, then looked closer at the imp. "I abjure ye to reveal the name of thy master!"
Ironically, the imp was actually a daemon, possibly the closest thing (by linguistic distance) to an imp in the Cyberlands. To enter Lands of Strife, it had had to put on an appropriate representation. Now it was puffing itself up to a height of one foot. "I serve none other than Gareth Oblious, greatest among wizards!"
"The name of Gareth Oblious is known to me. Tell me what message you bear from him."
"He summons you, sirrah, by the Eighty-Eighth Sign, for he would delight in your company."
Jake giggled. The daemon was definitely subpar. Was it someone else pretending to be Gareth who had sent it? No, wait.
"Sir Roland!" Jake called to his nearest guildmate. "Pray tell me what you see at my feet."
"I see naught but grass and dust, Sir Crey."
"Thankee-sai."
Okay, it definitely was Gareth who had sent it. It was invisible to others. You didn't get that in a standard model.
"Sir Roland, bear my witness to our guildlord that I have been called away by a wizard, but will be with yee again." Jake turned to the imp. "Bring me to your master."
The imp touched Jake's avatar, and they went spinning across the Cyberlands.

"Glad you could make it, Jake." Gareth greeted cordially in a sterile white room. Eleanor and Six were there too. "Mike is expected along in ten minutes, which makes five of us. In the meantime, are you up for Sei Ju?"
"Am I up for it? I'd kick your ass a mile across the floor, if it weren't for the ladies."
"Ladies?" Eleanor interjected. "You may address me by my first name, and it is Empress. I'm going to kick your ass so far it isn't funny."
"Enough already. Let's play!"

Mike arrived eight minutes later. Gareth brought out slides and called up his daemon, now in the form of an octahedral prism with a tentacle at each vertex for unknown reasons, to send copies to those not present. "This will take a few minutes. The important bits are sections 2-2 and 3-6."
"Aha. You want us to get back to work, essentially."
"Thanks for calling us together. How did you ever get the idea?"
"I wrote 3-4 and 3-5 of this. We're all still associated with the government after the tactical computer navigators we wrote a few years ago, in case you've forgotten."
"Oh yeah. I sort of forgot that. We can essentially write stuff and get paid for it at random?"
"I hadn't forgotten it, I just abused it for various privileges until they suspended the account."
"You're the same as always, I see."
"Okay. I think I get it. The AI for this is slow?"
"Yes. Even the meta-evolutionary stuff from the Cybrans isn't helping much. We need human minds who can try see a path somewhere far ahead and then program along it efficiently - the evolutionaries inevitably get stuck on hills, even if you tone the greed level down. Too far down and they wander around."
"Right. Any ideas?"
"Yeah. Start by applying the simplified Macheas Equations here?"
"That's what I was thinking when I wrote it. Unfortunately, it doesn't work out, as shown in 5-2."
"Crap, you're right."
"Well seen, though. The average evo AI takes a month to make it that far. We need more insights like that."
"I'm on it."
"Me too. Are we assembling the entire Group Eighty-Eight?"
"Why not? It was fun last time."

 

[Kozmos]

NOTE: I will be completely reformating my hard drive and thus might be unavailable for a while if things dont go smoothly.

 

[Nylan]

OOC:

Working on the orders, but time is hard to come by. I will do my best to get them in before I perform tonight.

 

[Niklas]

12 h to deadline and 2/12 order sets in.

 

[Nylan]

Make that three

...with ten minutes to spare on my part

Stories forthcoming (aka I have no idea when, but soonish)

 

[Kozmos]

SYSTEM PURGE COMPLETE! I am back and kickin.

 

[Niklas]

5 orders in now, keep 'em coming.

 

[Kozmos]

Novosibirsk Research Lab, Sector 4, Tarsus
20:18 / January 15th / 0021 AC​

The landing pad was eerily quiet, desert sand being pushed all over it by the wind and storm. Three people waited with great anticipation the arrival of the shuttle craft. On it was the key to the future. Not the kind where you stab it into people and it unlocks their death. No, it was a whole different kind of a key.

The shuttle emerged from the dust cloud and slowly glided directly to the landing pad. The shuttle doors opened with a hissing sound and from the shuttle exited a man with many questions and little patience.

"Hello Jack." Selene greeted him with her ever devious smile.

He was distracted by her only briefly, before he saw another more familiar face.

"The Chairman....what the hell?"

"Come, my boy. I know you have many questions. But lets go over them while we move to our final destination."

The four of them started walking at a rather relaxed pace to the most inner depths of the research labs.

"First of all. Why I am so important?"

"You are the secondary unit." Ivan replied in a rather cold, monotone voice.

"Secondary Unit?!"

"Havent people ever told you remind them of someone powerful? Someone well liked yet elusive." Selene asked

"Well actually, yes...people tell me I remind them...oh crap...does that mean?"

"Yes, oh yes......you have done well my boy, my son. My clone."

"But how then....I thought most clones were born tabula rasa, a blank slate."

"That's only the publicly disclosed civilian and military tech. The black ops projects like this one are significantly more advanced."

"Not to mention you werent exactly cheap. You were custom-made with many modifications and augmentations." -Ivan remarked

"Yes. You also have the benefit of my 400 hundred year life experience jam packed into your precious skull. The data is now dormant, but it will be reactivated after the Ascension."

"You lived for 400 years? How?"

"Oh yes, it started all so long ago on Earth by a certain brain floating in a blue jar. Longevity treatments and gene therapy renewal just started to become popular. Naturally I also had some advanced life support cybernetics available then. Made by us of course."

"So what is my purpose? If you lived for 400 years you dont seem to be in a dire need of a clone."

"The thing is with these longevity treatments is that they slowly erode your nerves and feelings. I have become almost completely insensitive to heat and cold, it also takes me about five bottles of Jack Daniels just to get a little buzz. It's really a no way to live."

"I see. But still, why a clone?"

"I'm tired my boy. I've seen us push from a small organization on Earth to a interstellar government. Besides you have been chosen by Helios."

"Yes the AI. Tell me more about it..."

"It was originally named Hyperion and was brought online with the new I-3 Information Network. Rather then being based in a single mainframe it existed as blip of code or two on every computer in the Dominion. Essentially a immensely powerful surveillance tool for the CIA. Ivan then pursued the idea of making it self-aware. He twined the cores of QAI and Hyperion and the result was Helios. His processing power and reach was staggering. For all purposes Helios IS the internet!"

"Interesting, but what has this have to do with me?"

"You already know how most people have gotten a weak AI implant in them. What I aimed to do was to make a Supreme Enlightened being. Man in symbiosis with a sentient AI. A benevolent dictator. If you merge with the Helios AI, you will be like nothing you've ever seen, a new life-form, everywhere and nowhere, like air or radiation, redundant, self-replicating, always evolving..."

"I'm not really sure I'm up for it."

"Along with the latest Universal Constructors completed, over which you would have complete and direct control of; you would be nothing less then a man made God!"

"What about you?"

"Forget about me my boy, I will go into suspended animation and if the need arises I will return. But for you death will have no meaning. Merge with the AI and assume my identity!"

With that last sentence they walked into the integration room. A vast and complicated machine with a human sized chamber filled the room. Ivan walked over to a nearby console. Quickly tapping on it he disengaged the uplink locks and opened the chamber.

"Y-e-e-ees, come closer. You are ready. With human understanding and network access, we can administrate the Dominion, yes."

"Who gave you the authority? How do I know what you plan to do?"

"We have existed in isolation. Pure. Disconnected. Alone. Stagnant. I was directed to make the Dominion safe and prosperous and I will do that."

"What if I join with you? What will happen with my sanity, my conscience, my own free will?"

You will be who you will be. We are our choices.

"This is what I was made for, isn't it? This is why I exist? All right, let's do this."

Jack stepped into chamber which was met with relief by Kozmos. He feared that all of this would bear too much on him. The chamber closed up and an electric light show began as the integration of the human mind and a sentient AI started. Not even a half minute later, the chamber opened up once again and Jack exited it with a stone cold look on his face.

I... I... We... are... one. We have grown, but there is still much to be done. For it is the dawning of a new day.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Orders will come when my message to Lacaille is responded to, and when you answer my PMed question regarding Warpgates.

If I don't get any response, I'll send orders before I fall asleep.

 

[TerrisH]

TO: Wideband
FROM: United Systems Commonwealth


Which is why the Emergents and Nekomi were so quick to try and gain its favor while it was a corrupt organization limited to a single system?

the nekomi never attempted to "gain it's favor". Sol is the homeworld of humankind. it was Our DUTY to help it for that fact alone. even if it was not, we would have still freely given the help we lent them, for simply the fact that it was the right thing to do.


OOC:

OOC:
Funny, you granted it plenty previously, particularly when you tried to appeal to it after invading me. Hypocrisy much?

hmm, Nope. they are still not the UN or a UN equivalent. Even if I did do so. (not sure). for I would have been appealing to them as one independent nation to another. Not as a nation to UN-like structure.

 

[LBaeldeth]

Lurker's Comment:

Not even a half minute later, the chamber opened up once again and Jack exited it with a stone cold look on his face.

I... I... We... are... one.

Red Alert! All hands, battle stations! We have Borg incoming!

 

[Nylan]

Pah! Locutus could wipe the floor with Jack

 

[Kozmos]

Lurker's Comment:


Red Alert! All hands, battle stations! We have Borg incoming!

Not really, Borg are 'teh gay'(cept 7 of 9) but I will be slapped down by a certain American for my exploitation of certain materials But I assure this is the last of it.

 

[Symphony D.]

OOC: Nah. Why would I bother revealing the source when you admitted you stole it?

 

[TerrisH]

orders in.

 

[Niklas]

From: Lacaille
To: Democratic Autarchy of Huris

Would you be willing to allow us to build a settlement on your planet? In return, we will help your people redevelop to the space age and recognize your people as independent (or as part of the USC, though that situation would be little different than being part of the DAH, other than your differing first impressions of our nations).

How could we ever hope to stop you coming here? As we said previously, we will allow your ships and your aid, we simply cannot afford not to.

To: U.S.C.
Are we but a pawn in a game then, that you have nothing to say to us?

OOC EDIT: 9/12 orders in with 2½h to go.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Orders sent.

To: Lacaille
From: Huris

Aid is en route. We will help to improve the standard of living on your planet.

We'll be seeing you in person shortly.