Voting is open
[ ] Plan [Write-In Name Here]
-[ ] Demands
--[ ] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
--[ ] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[ ] The resumption of trade, this time on Virmirean terms (resumed trade relations with an open market, economically subordinating the Lystheni to you and proving far more profitable than the previous, protectionist agreement).
--[ ] Full Lystheni commitment to the Rachni War effort (all Lystheni military assets placed under your command).
--[ ] Full disclosure and surrender of the stations in Sikel in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (get the artifacts and the stations on which they sit, along with experimental records).
--[ ] A Lystheni-funded network of your best observation posts throughout Lystheni space (become Big Sister on the Lystheni's dime).
--[ ] Immediate submission of Lystheni space to Virmirean administration (vassalize the Lystheni).
-[ ] Leverage
--[ ] A continued complete trade embargo (what it says).
--[ ] The dissolution of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty and a complete blockade of Lystheni space (claim the LBZ and put defense platforms in every system to make sure that nothing passes).
--[ ] Allowing the resumption of trade, but no longer making terms a concern of the Virmirean government (cut your trading companies off the leash and stop telling them to play nice with the Lystheni's terms).
--[ ] A commitment to allowing the Citadel unfettered passage through Virmirean space in dealing with the Lystheni however they please (promise to let the Citadel do what they like to the Lystheni when the time comes).
--[ ] War (make your implicit threat explicit).
-[ ] Concessions
--[ ] The resumption of trade on the Lystheni's terms (give them their lifeline back).
--[ ] Economic support of Lystheni interests, working towards a common understanding and cooperation (pay them).
--[ ] A commitment to maintaining the sovereignty of the Lystheni state as a priority of Virmirean foreign policy (guarantee the Lystheni's independence).
--[ ] Permit the relocation of Lystheni installations in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (let them have the artifacts and stations).
--[ ] A general withdrawal of military forces (stand down the 3rd RWF).
--[ ] The release of captured Lystheni intelligence operatives in Virmirean space (give back their spies).
-[ ] Write-In (at any point, write in any demands, leverages, or concessions that you like. No restrictions, no moderation).
I see a need for a priority list and to lnk our demands to each concession and leverage. So first and foremost give back our people or we declare war here and now. If they do we agree to take war off the table unless they don't come through on their side of the deal. Or if not we kick their shit and don't have to care anymore. Secondary is full disclosure of both their history and the stations. If they do we stand down the 3rd RWF for the stations and let them have any trade at all for the history. They disagree we sware that we'll let the Citadel do whatever they care to do to them for not telling us their history and dissolution of the LZB if we can't find out what the hell they're up to. After that is all trinirary but if say they want to keep the stations secrets but not dissolve the LZB they'll need to agree to Big Sis, a favorable trade deal for us, and to give fleet support it the war.
 
I see a need for a priority list and to lnk our demands to each concession and leverage. So first and foremost give back our people or we declare war here and now. If they do we agree to take war off the table unless they don't come through on their side of the deal. Or if not we kick their shit and don't have to care anymore. Secondary is full disclosure of both their history and the stations. If they do we stand down the 3rd RWF for the stations and let them have any trade at all for the history. They disagree we sware that we'll let the Citadel do whatever they care to do to them for not telling us their history and dissolution of the LZB if we can't find out what the hell they're up to. After that is all trinirary but if say they want to keep the stations secrets but not dissolve the LZB they'll need to agree to Big Sis, a favorable trade deal for us, and to give fleet support it the war.
Bear in mind, you're compiling a list, not an action plan. The next update is going to be the Lystheni presenting their position, and then you all get the chance to determine your approach. That's ideally when you want to make decisions like you're saying; otherwise it's a bit premature.
 
So what, you think this is a double?

Some possibilities, assuming they are interested in survival of their people if the cult/government is replaced/removed.
  • Facial modified double - Real Dalatrass is somewhere else and the one in front is mouth piece
  • Undisclosed successor - Real Dalatrass is face to face and successor is kept away with fail-safe information package should things happen.
  • Dalatrass wasn't the head of government anymore.
If they are only interested in cult/government survival.
  • Gambling on our reluctance of shifting attention to them instead of Bug war.
  • Ready to abandon their non-core population to our control should talks fail, creating room for their escape (How big can a star system be anyway?)
  • Prepared to blow up everything (our people, any tech, and all things of value) if talks fail
Edit: Dalatrass must be in mid-30s by this point? We are in power for 17ish years.
 
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Bear in mind, you're compiling a list, not an action plan. The next update is going to be the Lystheni presenting their position, and then you all get the chance to determine your approach. That's ideally when you want to make decisions like you're saying; otherwise it's a bit premature.
Alright. Then in that case we make our primary and secondary demands with some trinirary one tossed in. Then we "agree" to drop some like Big Sis as a concession for getting what we really want like the history or stations.
 
I want to make it perfectly clear to the Lystheni that their revisionist behavior and aggression will not be tolerated. Giving in their tactics basically validates what they have been doing and rewards their aggression. They will continue to push and push, because their calculus says we are more reluctant to go to war than they are.

[X] Plan Aggressive Negotiations
-[X] Demands
--[X] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
--[X] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[X] Full disclosure and surrender of the stations in Sikel in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (get the artifacts and the stations on which they sit, along with experimental records).
--[X] A Lystheni-funded network of your best observation posts throughout Lystheni space (become Big Sister on the Lystheni's dime).
-[X] Leverage
--[X] The dissolution of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty and a complete blockade of Lystheni space (claim the LBZ and put defense platforms in every system to make sure that nothing passes).
--[X] A commitment to allowing the Citadel unfettered passage through Virmirean space in dealing with the Lystheni however they please (promise to let the Citadel do what they like to the Lystheni when the time comes).
--[X] War (make your implicit threat explicit).
-[X] Concessions
--[X] The resumption of trade on the Lystheni's terms (give them their lifeline back).
--[X] A general withdrawal of military forces (stand down the 3rd RWF).
--[X] The release of captured Lystheni intelligence operatives in Virmirean space (give back their spies).
 
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As before, continue with game of nations or lose-lose; either will annoying.
Basically telling them to cough up our people, our science, their history, and we will give them economic support or we install a new government. Giant stick and some budget candy.

[X] [Plan] Core Interest
-[X] Demands
--[X] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
--[X] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[X] Full disclosure and surrender of the stations in Sikel in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (get the artifacts and the stations on which they sit, along with experimental records).
-[X] Leverage
--[X] A continued complete trade embargo (what it says).
--[X] Allowing the resumption of trade, but no longer making terms a concern of the Virmirean government (cut your trading companies off the leash and stop telling them to play nice with the Lystheni's terms).
--[X] War (make your implicit threat explicit).
-[X] Concessions
--[X] The resumption of trade on the Lystheni's terms (give them their lifeline back).
--[X] Economic support of Lystheni interests, working towards a common understanding and cooperation (pay them).
--[X] A general withdrawal of military forces (stand down the 3rd RWF).
--[X] The release of captured Lystheni intelligence operatives in Virmirean space (give back their spies).
 
As before, continue with game of nations or lose-lose; either will annoying.

My problem with this is that it rewards the Lystheni with what is essentially a ransom in exchange for hostages, stuff they illegally took despite a treaty they themselves signed and whatever fairy tale unverifiable propaganda they feed us.
 
[x] Plan Hammer Time
-[x] Demands
--[x] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
--[x] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[x] The resumption of trade, this time on Virmirean terms (resumed trade relations with an open market, economically subordinating the Lystheni to you and proving far more profitable than the previous, protectionist agreement).
--[x] Full Lystheni commitment to the Rachni War effort (all Lystheni military assets placed under your command).
--[x] Full disclosure and surrender of the stations in Sikel in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (get the artifacts and the stations on which they sit, along with experimental records).
--[x] A Lystheni-funded network of your best observation posts throughout Lystheni space (become Big Sister on the Lystheni's dime).
-[x] Leverage
--[x] A continued complete trade embargo (what it says).
--[x] The dissolution of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty and a complete blockade of Lystheni space (claim the LBZ and put defense platforms in every system to make sure that nothing passes).
--[x] A commitment to allowing the Citadel unfettered passage through Virmirean space in dealing with the Lystheni however they please (promise to let the Citadel do what they like to the Lystheni when the time comes).
--[x] War (make your implicit threat explicit).
-[x] Concessions
--[x] Allow Lystheni citizens not involved in espionage operations to return to Lystheni space.
--[x] Allow Lystheni to retain claimed systems.
--[x] Return Lystheni equipment in disassembled and sanitized manner so they may be rebuilt.
 
My problem with this is that it rewards the Lystheni with what is essentially a ransom in exchange for hostages, stuff they illegally took despite a treaty they themselves signed and whatever fairy tale unverifiable propaganda they feed us.

If you really want to punish them then make a write-in to install a new government, because their space is hostile and money sinkhole. I'm only interested in keeping Mira's image shiny and that tech. Trade income or money are bargaining chips, just to make them feel going ballistic will win "less".
 
[X] Plan Strong Pimp Hand
-[X] Demands
--[X] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
--[X] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[X] The resumption of trade, this time on Virmirean terms (resumed trade relations with an open market, economically subordinating the Lystheni to you and proving far more profitable than the previous, protectionist agreement).
--[X] Full disclosure and surrender of the stations in Sikel in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (get the artifacts and the stations on which they sit, along with experimental records).
-[X] Leverage
--[X] A continued complete trade embargo (what it says).
--[X] The dissolution of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty and a complete blockade of Lystheni space (claim the LBZ and put defense platforms in every system to make sure that nothing passes).
--[X] War (make your implicit threat explicit).
-[X] Concessions
--[X] Economic support of Lystheni interests, working towards a common understanding and cooperation (pay them).
--[X] A commitment to maintaining the sovereignty of the Lystheni state as a priority of Virmirean foreign policy (guarantee the Lystheni's independence).
--[X] The release of captured Lystheni intelligence operatives in Virmirean space (give back their spies).

I don't want their ships anywhere near the front lines. I don't want our ships moved off the border until we've built up some trust. I don't want the trading to go back to the original set of terms.

I do want to seize some shinies from them in compensation. I'm perfectly happy to bribe them and protect them from the Citadel, and honestly those two things ought to be worth quite a bit to them.

Edit to remove white space.
 
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[X] Plan Damocles
-[X]Demands

--[X] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
--[X] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[X] The resumption of trade, this time on Virmirean terms (resumed trade relations with an open market, economically subordinating the Lystheni to you and proving far more profitable than the previous, protectionist agreement).
--[X] Full Lystheni commitment to the Rachni War effort (all Lystheni military assets placed under your command).
--[X] Full disclosure and surrender of the stations in Sikel in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (get the artifacts and the stations on which they sit, along with experimental records).
--[X] A network of your best observation posts throughout Lystheni space (become Big Sister).
-[X] Leverage
--[X] A continued complete trade embargo (what it says).
--[X] The dissolution of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty and a complete blockade of Lystheni space (claim the LBZ and put defense platforms in every system to make sure that nothing passes).
--[X] War (make your implicit threat explicit).
-[X] Concessions
--[X] Economic support of Lystheni interests, working towards a common understanding and cooperation (basically civilian Marshall Plan by Virmirean companies).
--[X] A commitment to maintaining the sovereignty of the Lystheni state as a priority of Virmirean foreign policy (guarantee the Lystheni's independence).
--[X] A general withdrawal of military forces (stand down the 3rd RWF).
--[X] The release of captured Lystheni intelligence operatives in Virmirean space (give back their spies).
 
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[x] Plan Hammer Time
-[x] Demands
--[x] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
--[x] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[x] The resumption of trade, this time on Virmirean terms (resumed trade relations with an open market, economically subordinating the Lystheni to you and proving far more profitable than the previous, protectionist agreement).
--[x] Full Lystheni commitment to the Rachni War effort (all Lystheni military assets placed under your command).
--[x] Full disclosure and surrender of the stations in Sikel in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (get the artifacts and the stations on which they sit, along with experimental records).
--[x] A Lystheni-funded network of your best observation posts throughout Lystheni space (become Big Sister on the Lystheni's dime).
-[x] Leverage
--[x] A continued complete trade embargo (what it says).
--[x] The dissolution of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty and a complete blockade of Lystheni space (claim the LBZ and put defense platforms in every system to make sure that nothing passes).
--[x] A commitment to allowing the Citadel unfettered passage through Virmirean space in dealing with the Lystheni however they please (promise to let the Citadel do what they like to the Lystheni when the time comes).
--[x] War (make your implicit threat explicit).
-[x] Concessions
--[x] Allow Lystheni citizens not involved in espionage operations to return to Lystheni space.
--[x] Allow Lystheni to retain claimed systems.
--[x] Return Lystheni equipment in disassembled and sanitized manner so they may be rebuilt.
[X] Plan Damocles
 
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[X] Plan: Dreadnought diplomacy
-[X] Demands
--[X] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
--[X] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[X] Full Lystheni commitment to the Rachni War effort (all Lystheni military assets placed under your command).
--[X] Full disclosure and surrender of the stations in Sikel in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (get the artifacts and the stations on which they sit, along with experimental records).
-[X] Leverage
--[X] The dissolution of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty and a complete blockade of Lystheni space (claim the LBZ and put defense platforms in every system to make sure that nothing passes).
--[X] Taking the Dalatrass as a hostage.
--[X] War (make your implicit threat explicit).
-[X] Concessions
--[X] A commitment to maintaining the sovereignty of the Lystheni state as a priority of Virmirean foreign policy (guarantee the Lystheni's independence).
 
none of the plans look remotely good or sane. none of the demands are linked to specific leverages or concesisons. instead they are lumped together enmass.
so I vote for my own plan.

[x] Plan: Initial round
-[x] Demand 1
--[x] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
---[x] Leverage: War
---[x] Concession: A general withdrawal of military forces (stand down the 3rd RWF), half imidiatly on acceptance, the other half after the merchentsare returned.
---[x] Concession: The release of captured Lystheni intelligence operatives in Virmirean space (give back their spies), swaped at the same time the merchants are.
-[x] Demand 2
--[x] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey). remind them that we will eventually get it from the Citadel when contact is restablished with them anyways.
--[x] Leverage: Isolation and containment of Lystheni, containing the following
---[x] A commitment to allowing the Citadel unfettered passage through Virmirean space in dealing with the Lystheni however they please (promise to let the Citadel do what they like to the Lystheni when the time comes).
---[x] A continued complete trade embargo (what it says).
---[x] The dissolution of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty and a complete blockade of Lystheni space (claim the LBZ and put defense platforms in every system to make sure that nothing passes).
--[x] concession: None, other then Further negotiations. Though the end to the trade embargo is highly likely assuming there is no glaring problem with their history and society.

We hold all the cards, so no need to play nice. nor are they likely to respond to us playing nice. and of the demands, only 2 are significant enough to press at this time.

first are our merchants. Offer is a simple trade, they get their spies back (which I sincerely doubt we will crack in a reasonable time, or have information we want anyways) at the same time we get our merchants. half our forces leave the border beforehand, and the rest leave with the merchants. They accept it, or we take them back by force.

second is their history and origins. which they give us, or we move to contain them and insure they are not a threat to us, nor become one, and deal with them with the citadel after the racnii war ends.

Trade negotiations can take place if they give us their history. hence the plan name, Initial round.
 
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none of the demands are linked to specific leverages or concesisons. instead they are lumped together enmass.

That's how this vote is supposed to be formatted. Poptart already addressed this issue:
Bear in mind, you're compiling a list, not an action plan. The next update is going to be the Lystheni presenting their position, and then you all get the chance to determine your approach. That's ideally when you want to make decisions like you're saying; otherwise it's a bit premature.
 
[X] [Plan] Core Interest
-[X] Demands
--[X] The immediate release of Virmirean merchants from Lystheni territory (civilians released as a precondition of continued negotiations).
--[X] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[X] Full disclosure and surrender of the stations in Sikel in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (get the artifacts and the stations on which they sit, along with experimental records).
-[X] Leverage
--[X] A continued complete trade embargo (what it says).
--[X] Allowing the resumption of trade, but no longer making terms a concern of the Virmirean government (cut your trading companies off the leash and stop telling them to play nice with the Lystheni's terms).
--[X] War (make your implicit threat explicit).
-[X] Concessions
--[X] The resumption of trade on the Lystheni's terms (give them their lifeline back).
--[X] Economic support of Lystheni interests, working towards a common understanding and cooperation (pay them).
--[X] A general withdrawal of military forces (stand down the 3rd RWF).
--[X] The release of captured Lystheni intelligence operatives in Virmirean space (give back their spies).
 
[X] Plan Soft Touch
-[x] Demands
--[x] Full disclosure of Lystheni history and society, including their origins and the nature of their animosity towards the Citadel (Lystheni forced to stop being cagey).
--[x] Full Lystheni commitment to the Rachni War effort (all Lystheni military assets placed under your command).
--[X] Write-In: A mutually-binding agreement to dimplomatically declare and allow cooperative and unrestricted access to all archaeological finds, be they Prothean or other, from this point forward and retroactively, to allow for joint examination and furthering of scientific research.
-[x] Leverage
--[x] A continued complete trade embargo (what it says).
--[X] The dissolution of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty and a complete blockade of Lystheni space (claim the LBZ and put defense platforms in every system to make sure that nothing passes).
--[x] Allowing the resumption of trade, but no longer making terms a concern of the Virmirean government (cut your trading companies off the leash and stop telling them to play nice with the Lystheni's terms).
-[x] Concessions
--[x] The resumption of trade on the Lystheni's terms (give them their lifeline back).
--[x] A commitment to maintaining the sovereignty of the Lystheni state as a priority of Virmirean foreign policy (guarantee the Lystheni's independence).
--[X] Permit the relocation of Lystheni installations in violation of the Virmire-Lystheni Border Treaty (let them have the artifacts and stations).
--[x] A general withdrawal of military forces (stand down the 3rd RWF).
--[X] The release of captured Lystheni intelligence operatives in Virmirean space (give back their spies).
--[X] Write-In: An agreement to avoid military escalation on your part towards the Lystheni until and unless the Rachni threat is dealt with, provided the Lystheni promise the same; the agreement to be renewed upon final defeat of the Rachni.
 
[x] Plan Hammer Time
Do we want the war and subsequent management of hostile space? There's a lot on the stake including those likely irreplaceable science and hostage situation. Mira's political image will be tarnished if the in-universe view her demand as being too stern or provocative.

Edit: We can probably expect bombs and explosion on science and our people when talks fail.
Kek. We have enough soldiers and shipping to readily deploy 2 soldiers for each of their civilians.

It wouldn't be an occupation of hostile territory so much as displacing them and rendering them a minority on their own worlds in a few turns.
We're in a war of extinction.

We need to get Lystheni minds on board with that.
no. We really don't. They aren't a nation. They're a paranoid survivalist cult arrogant enough to make... well all of the assumptions they've made. They're a drop in the bucket and only useful in how we can economically exploit them. A polity of tens of millions versus one of several billion is not a partnership, its not an arrangement, it's not an accommodation, not when the lesser so flagrantly violates the beneficence of the greater.

You don't give an irrational actor a slap on the risk when they escalate. You beat them over the head with the fact escalating is in your favor and restrain them from doing something stupid. No blow the Lystheni can land on us is so telling to prevent us from beating the shit out of them and walking away.
 
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