Turns of AXT011 game in Apolyton SMACX Tournament

[MichaeltheGreat]

The players of this game:


Misotu, Cyborgs, misotu@hotmail.com

TigToad, University, Daniel_Tig@msn.com

Tau Ceti, Morgan, larsheg@sensewave.com

Please, read and obey the rules posted on the thread Apolyton 2000 Alpha Centauri PBEM Tournament

You should post turn administration/notification messages below.

[Misotu]

The Consciousness has landed safely on Chiron, but this planet seems hostile. One of our pods is already under attack by worms. Not an auspicious beginning ...

- Mis

[TigToad]

The University scientists have already expanded our first base facility to include our top quality network nodes. While most of the base facility building materials were damaged during land fall and all our bases will be starting with are the network nodes, it appears we were better off than the others who left the shift. Only the Morganites and the Consciousness appeared to have landed successfully. Certainly not the worst of the lot from the Unity...

Tig

[Tau Ceti]

The landing was a sad one for the Morganites, as CEO Morgan himself did not survive. The board of directors has appointed Tau Ceti as the new CEO of Morgan Industries, and it is hoped that he will be able to bring great prosperity to all the people.

Already, a sizeable headquarters has been established, and our engineers have transport vehicles carrying resources from the surrounding terrain back to Morgan Industries. They have discovered some strange terrain features; great monoliths of mystic power. The nature of these monoliths is not yet understood, but the land around them is rich in resources and they can be directly tapped for energy.

One of our scout patrols has reported being attacked by indigenous life forms. The first reports indicate that these 'Mind Worms' have the power to project hallucinations into the human mind. Defensive measures will be taken.

We have started transmissions on all of the frequencies that were used for communication on the Unity, and hope to receive answers soon. At least two other pods seemed to make it to the surface.

[TigToad]

Year two, chief scientist's log:

The land seems ideally suited for research. The few monoliths scatter around the country side are loaded with technical data, I have already put in my request to disect one however the general has said they are too important as inspiration to the troops. Sigh, military men never seem to realize that scientists get them their weapons in the first place.

We have sent and received communication from both the other human factions and can confirm the Cybernetic and Morganite presence on this world. We are a little wary of the massive skill the Morganites have at obtaining money and hope it will not be at our expense. However, peace is on the forefront of all of our minds, at least it seems that way thus far.

Provost TigToad

[Misotu]

Our colony pod survived the mind worm attack due to the heroic intervention of one of our scout patrols. Nevertheless, it is clear that we should look to our defences in this world.

We have received what seem to be friendly overtures from the two other surviving factions and have responded positively. There are several reports, as yet unconfirmed, of large alien settlements in the polar regions of this world. If the reports prove true, we may well have need of human friends.

- Prime Function Misotu

[TigToad]

Grin Mis.. I beat you to it, I took my turn and got up my post before you posted. I do like a fast moving game...

Tig

[Tau Ceti]

We have now been able to contact the other survivors. Attempts to set up peaceful and mutually beneficial trade treaties did not go so well, however. It seems our economists taught the others well on the virtues of greed, and less so on the importance of free markets and commerce. Hopefully they will come to realize that mankind cannot thrive on this alien world if the few survivors isolate themselves from each other.

- CEO Tau Ceti, speaking on MorganLink 3DVision

[Misotu]

(Hop system, hop system)

>>Greetings from Misotu, Prime Function, to you who are part of us and now take human form ...

>>It appears that the new CEO is from the same mould as his predecessor. Our rational and fair request that income from his proposed treaty be divided equally between our two peoples has not been greeted with enthusiasm.

(hop system, Alpha Prime Jump)

>>It is true that we have learned some lessons from Morgan economists. Their short-term thinking and exploitative approach is unattractive to us. Had their eyes not been so firmly fixed on the bottom-line of the Morgan Industries balance sheet, *they* might have learnt much about the benefits to be gained from efficient economic analysis, as practiced by our Functions.

(patch system)

>> A rational analysis of the situation must indicate that there is no benefit to the Consciousness from a treaty that generates income only for the other party.

>>We will continue to negotiate in the hope that reason will prevail. As the fullhuman Morgan observed on many occasions "Ya gotta spend money to make money!"

(hop system, patch system)

>>Elsewhere, our scouts have encountered some minor setbacks. One prime base site earmarked for immediate colonisation was rendered useless by the contents of a unity pod. A second pod has now malfunctioned, covering several rolling acres of formerly arable land with the choking pink fungus so common on this planet.

>>It is clear that the original Unity pod designers were not Cybernetic trained. The design is highly flawed.

(Datalinks jump)

>>On a more positive note, the founding of new bases has provided shelter for our Functions and a timely boost to our research.

>>A datafile containing a saved game has now been transmitted to the University.

(Transmission Ends)

[Misotu]

And this time, I managed to play my turn *and* post before Tig

[TigToad]

What a wonderous and strange world this is turning out to be. In addition to the most bizarre monoliths standing on the horizons, we have also discovered a new kind of a life. A strange worm/tendril formation that seems capable of communicating on a sub-vocal level. Unfortunately, the communication appears to kill them for when we tried to initiate contact they disolved. A few in our own scouting party experienced severe headache.

Also, we found this bizarre artifact construct that when linked with the nodes at University base gave us reems of paper on how a free market economy should work. I bet Morgan's people would love to get a hold of this. Of course, having learned our lessons all too well from his capitalist self, we will be all too happy to provide the data... for a price.

So far, planetfall has been a blessing on my researching people. The only thing that worries me is reports of troops moving near the poles as I was positive no unity pods could have made it to the poles on atmospheric entry...

Provost Tig

[Tau Ceti]

Surely, the superior reasoning ability of the Consciousness must realize that in order to survive and thrive, a business must make a profit. Giving away half its income doth not a healthy business make. The extra office clerks required for precise calculations would be an unnecessary burden on our salary budgets and a source of inefficiency. Our analysis concludes that the terms proposed by the Prime Function would hardly break even.

Even worse is the proposed deal by the University of Planet. Their demands for a large initial investment seem unreasonable when they offer us no more than we offer them; the short term benefits are dubious, long term benefits highly unpredictable. Analysis indicates that it would take at least 30 or 40 years simply to recoup the initial investment; taking interest rates into account, the deal is simply not worth it. We propose that the University include basic economics as part of their otherwise
excellent educational system.

Other news: Morganic seismologists are amazed at the instability of this planet. Early this morning, a large earthquake struck near our new outpost of Morgan Mines. The quake was powerful enough to raise the ocean floor to dry land. Thankfully, nobody was injured.

[Tau Ceti]

Btw, great commentary , people... very in character.

[TigToad]

Provost TigToad sits at his large desk at University base and listens over and over again to the rantings of what must be, a derranged, new CEO of the formerly great Morgan empire. "He thinks it would take 30 years to recoup a mere 50 energy units! The man is mad I tell you. Those shifty bankers will make an extra energy per base for this treaty than we will. If he only has 5 bases of a decent size, which he will within 10 years or so he'll make 50 energy back in research and currency! Hah. We were being generous in the interest of peace to even allow a treaty with such a monetarily shift person. If he doesn't see that, then too bad for his little regime. Our research will continue unfettered."

Provost TigToad

Who will be out the rest of the evening.

[Misotu]

The commentary is half the fun

- Mis

[Misotu]

Cybernetic Log recorded by the Prime Function
Mission Year 4

[Entry begins]

>>We note with regret the CEO's decision to withdraw from trade negotiations at an early stage. While we understand his reasons, we believe that an opportunity for both of our factions has been passed over. Emotional responses such as these must be expected when dealing with the irrational fullhuman mind.

>>It may be, of course, that the CEO has misunderstood our intentions. His commitment to capitalism and the free market is legendary - but we find it hard to believe that even he should insist that *all* of the profit should find its way his pocket.

>> Action item: We should consider approaching the CEO to offer the services of Gamma-Chi-II, our brightest accounting Function. Itemising treaty income and presenting an invoice to the CEO on an annual basis would be well within her capabilities, and would solve the CEO's problem of soaring overheads ...

>>We hear that the Provost has discovered a type of artifact containing valuable research data. Matters would be considerably improved if we too, could locate one of these items. Survey data can, of course, be valuable in the right place. That place is not, however, the centre of our home island. Nor was it necessary to conduct the survey twice.

>> Action item: Reports indicate that one of our scout parties has yet to move from its starting point due to the fungal barrier close to the site of our Headquarters. The commander of the party has indicated that enforced idleness is leading to depraved and undisciplined behaviour within the unit.

>> While our seismologists remain optimistic that the pods will yield more land, in the form of a minor earthquake, or clean drinking water from a new aquifer, our patrols continue to return to Alpha Prime with nothing of this nature to report.

>>The Comms Function reports that the usual datafile has been transmitted to the University.

[Entry concluded]

[Tau Ceti]

After checking and rechecking, Morganic Network Engineers are unable to decode the crypto packet just sent to us by the University. However, they have found out that this was most likely not the file the University intended to send; the interface indicates that it may indeed be an access link to the main University network. Since Morgan Industries has no desire to hurt relations with the University, no further action will be taken with this file while we await the correct one.

In light of the offer of assistance from the Consciousness, trade negotiations will reopen. CEO Tau Ceti has stated that 'We can agree to the general intent and purpose of the deal, but there are still practical matters to discuss.'

As for negotiations with the University, we urge the Provost to consider the impact of his, sadly, more sophisticated economy and of his superior infrastructure and researchers. It is estimated that trade incomes will be quite equal (with a slight edge to the Morganites due to our higher quality products), but the University will, on average, get about a 40 % higher return on its energy profits. While the deal in itself will eventually become profitable for the Morganites, it will be HIGHLY profitable from day one for the University. We may be prepared to pay for market access to the University, but 20 energy credits seems a more reasonable sum. We have as yet not received any guarantees of how long such access might last.

[Misotu]

Cybernetic Log recorded by the Prime Function
Mission Year Four

[Post Script Entry begins]

>>A recent transmission from the Morgan Industries trade delegation indicates that they may be willing to return to the negotiation table. This development is welcome and results, clearly, from a period of quiet reflection and logical analysis.

>>Cybernetic delegates will be available for the meeting at a place and time agreeable to both parties. We remain convinced that an agreement can be reached which will satisfy the needs of both factions.

>>Intelligence Functions have picked up what appears to be a garbled transmission from the CEO to the Provost. Though fragmented, it indicates that current maps of UoP territory and highly sensitive data, including research blueprints, may have been transmitted in error to Morgan Industries. A most interesting development. While the brilliance of the UoP researchers cannot be denied, it would appear that fullhuman functions are unreliable in matters of procedures and security.

[Entry concluded]

[TigToad]

It seems negotiations can be reopened with the Morganites. It will remain to see whether a mere 30 credit stipend would be met to help usher the merging of our markets.

The corrupted data file, most unfortunately, cannot be repaired until wednesday due to illness among my family. I regret this, please see email regarding.

Must consume food..more commentary later.

Tig

[TigToad]

Turn is once again passed on to the Morganites..this time I verified its your turn not mine.. (oops)

Sorry for the delay..Tig

[Tau Ceti]

Hopes that deals will be struck are high among Morganic negotiators after new offers were sent today, agreeing to set up an educational fund for the study of economics at the University of Planet, and a limited subsidy program for the underperforming Cybernetic industrial sector. We eagerly await their responses.

[Misotu]

The Cybernetic Trade Function has signed the treaty proposed by Morgan Industries. Naturally, it pains us to accept an income generated by the impoverished under-age labour and minimal industrial safeguards so favoured by the CEO. However, we recognise that treaty revenues will enable us to maintain a standard of living appropriate to our highly-trained research Functions in these difficult early days on Planet.

Data transmitted to the UoP.

[TigToad]

University leaders were pleased today with the small fund set up to help aspiring University scholars by the generous CEO Tau. During the festivities that followed the grant a treaty was signed hoping to bring our two people's closer together in peace. Their economic machine with our research should make for a favorable combination in the years of hopeful peace and prosperity that will be following.

With treaties and good wishes between all of the surviving human factions (Ironically, that whiner Lal would be so proud of these accomplishments) in hand, its time for the University to concentrate on acruing information about our strange neighbors near the polar regions of the planets. From what few signals we've been able to intercept from them they appear to be two opposed factions of the same race. To decide how best to procede in this issue a vote was called among all the citizens of the University Empire testing our or new equipment designed to run an effecient _Democratic_ empire. Among the issues voted on was a land slide vote of confidence in the Provost TigToad (He had a 92% approval rating) and a decision among the people to "wait and see" with what we should do about the alien presence.

Associated Chiron Press newswire

[Tau Ceti]

Morganic officials are pleased with the recent developments in trade agreements. In response to the Cybernetic concern over our methods, we can assure them that they have nothing to worry about. No Morganic citizens live in poverty - however, we reward people based obejctively on what they have earned, not according to some artificial algorithm that is supposed to further the 'common good'. And we think it is right that our young should learn the values of hard work and the true value of money from an early age.

As for our standard of living, we hereby invite Cybernetic representatives to a stay at Morgan Industries and a tour of our habitation and recreational facilities at their earliest convenience. We think they might find cause to reconsider their statements after that.

We offer our congratulations to Provost TigToad at his election.

[Tau Ceti]

My next turn will be in 9 - 10 hours.

[Misotu]

Chiron Newswire flash report ....

The mood in Alpha Prime today was definitely up-beat. In another place, you might almost think people were celebrating. Celebrations do not, of course, occur in the calm and analytical Cybernetic capital.

The new treaty with Morgan Industries is expected to bring further prosperity to this splendid capital city and its outlying colonies. Cybernetic trade delegates welcomed Morganite assurances regarding that faction's labour practices, although a prominent Function is already examining Cybernetic laws as they relate to monopolies.

The outcome of the recent UoP election is regarded as a very positive development and the Prime Function has offered her congratulations to the Provost.

Prime Function Misotu was quoted as saying "International relations are now much improved and we expect these new developments to enable closer co-operation in the future, particularly with regard to the Alien presence in the polar regions."

[TigToad]

In this new era of openness that seems to be saturating the humans on Planet, Provost TigToad today invited both world leaders to peruse his cities at their convienance saying "We'd ferry them over ourselves, but we've had a few problems getting anything like a boat to work on the fungus filled waters of Chiron--hopefully soon".

In other news an offer went out today to both other human factions offering to share the fruits of University research for probably research break throughs from the other nation-states. CEO TigToad was quoted as saying, "If, for example, we know another faction is experimenting with a democratic system and devoting their valuable research to that end I'd be pleased to share our data on that topic for considerations of other break throughs they might discover in other areas in the near future. It seems only right in this time of peace that we cooperate with each other fully."

Provost TigToad

[Tau Ceti]

Morganic network engineers have been trying to tune the few remaining functional long-range radar units from the Unity to see if they can find out anything about the life forms residing near the poles, so far with little success. However, they recently picked up a piece of a radio transmission. The 'language' was highly alien and is yet to be understood, but the images transmitted indicate that whoever or whatever these life forms are, they know about our presence, and are apparently curious about us too. One of the images transmitted was an unmistakenly human head with a large X in the area of the brain. Perhaps they have been doing some research on the way humans think.
[This message has been edited by Tau Ceti (edited March 23, 2000).]

[Misotu]

Transcript of a recent meeting at Alpha Prime

System Kappa-Beta-II active. Relinking to network.

>>Greetings, Comms Function Kappa-Beta-II.

((Greetings Prime Function.))

>>You have information for us?

((Affirmative. There have been new developments in international relations.))

>>Explain.

((A recent broadcast from the Provost indicates that the University is willing to share research for new techs.))

>>Excellent. Instruct the Principal Research Function to review our activities in this area with a view to opening discussions.

((It is done, Prime Function.))

>>And Kappa-Beta-II ...

((Yes, Prime Function?))

>>Remind the Principal Research Function that the correct diplomatic form of address is "fullhuman". Our data indicates that "halfborg" is less acceptable to our new friends.

((Understood, Prime Function.))

[Misotu]

Chiron newswire, flash report ...

Rumours abounded today of a minor earthquake detected close to Cybernetic headquarters. Though no civilian injuries have been reported, an arterial route into the city appears to have been destroyed.

Elsewhere, Cybernetic spokesfunctions expressed satisfaction at the tapping of two new aquifers in recent years. They added that they expected to receive the first energy contribution from the newly formed Morgan Stock Exchange next year.

However, they refused to confirm that the application of fungicidal solution to the boots of their scouting functions had failed to improve movement rates through native fungus.

Newsflash ends