On the other hand denying them room to expand sort of runs counter to all the diplomacy we've been trying lately. I'd say push the Cardassians hard, and skirmish with the Sydraxians without boxing them in. If they start to feel that the Federation opposes their expansion, then they'll have more reason to throw in with the Cardassians than revenge. We need to make them respect us, without considering us an existential threat.

They have a whole other side to expand out towards on their empire, if they so desire. One of the reasons I say "tempted" is we really can't.
 
"Of course. Rear Admiral Seruk was kind enough to pass me these short lists to pick between," says Sulu.

"I don't suppose he added himself to the list...?"

lolwut?

We have the ships. Max aggression FTW (except escorts, sorry Thuir)

[X][FLEET] Rear Admiral Rachel Ainsworth
[X][TF1] Commodore Thraan th'Marlaas
[X][TF2] Commodore Revak

As for logistics, I really don't know how impactful a 10% discount on logistics would be. But if there's gonna be a lot of skirmishing, then that field repair capacity is gonna be quite useful. Especially if it extends to improved starbase repair capacity once we get one up and running there.

[X][AUX] Commodore Alejandro Suarez - Expanded Field Repair capacity
 
[ ][FLEET] Rear Admiral John Harriman

Would've liked to put Rachel and her high aggression in charge but I have a sneaking suspicion diplomacy will end up being very important here. I'm willing to change though, if someone can make a persuasive enough argument otherwise.

[ ][TF1] Commodore Jessica Rivers

Nice middle of the road ratings with no downsides makes her a no-brainer choice, IMO. Sort of wish we could switch her and Thuir around though, because that would be perfect.

[ ][TF2] Commodore Commodore Revak

I like Thuir alot and really wish he was a choice for the Combat Element Commodore, but I don't want to have our protection ships risk themselves by acting too aggressively. I can think of reasons why we would want differently however, so same as with Harriman I'm open to arguments for someone else.

[ ][AUX] Commodore Alejandro Suarez

I guess I'll go against the trend so far, except for Iblmaian, and point out like he did that being able to have a greater ability to repair ships in the field without sending them all the way back to Federation space seems like a far better choice than a logistics discount, since we probably are going to get into quite a few battles shortly. It's also not like we don't have quite a bit of logistical shiping at the moment anyway, we are only using 10 Sm and 1 Blk leaving 30 Sm and 27 Blk to use for other Starfleet necessities. The member worlds are likely to use their own shipping for their needs after all.
 
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[X][FLEET] Rear Admiral John Harriman
[X][TF1] Commodore Jessica Rivers
[X][TF2] Commodore Revak
[X][AUX] Captain Maeth th'Irnyar
 
[X][FLEET] Rear Admiral Rachel Ainsworth
[X][TF1] Commodore Jessica Rivers
[X][TF2] Commodore Michel Thuir
[X][AUX] Captain Maeth th'Irnyar - 10% Discount off required Logistics level

Would've liked to put Rachel and her high aggression in charge but I have a sneaking suspicion diplomacy will end up being very important here. I'm willing to change though, if someone can make a persuasive enough argument otherwise.
The Diplomats just did their thing, Gabriel is a shooting-range.
We need our best diplomancers for secret negotiations with Cardassian-affiliates.
 
I'm thinking we put Harriman in for now, and then switch to Ainsworth when we have more ships. Does that sound reasonable?

On the other hand, if diplomacy is externally facing while politics is inwardly facing...if we're expecting the Gabriel Expanse to be fairly empty and won't be negotiating with Cardassian sphere polities, then diplomacy isn't so useful here. There will be a requirement for coordination with Apiata though, so decent politics may be worth more.

I wouldn't mind if either won TBH though.
 
The diplomacy thing is mostly just a question of how much we want to risk angering the Sydraxians and Dylaarians. If you trend towards the idea that it won't anger them or them being angered doesn't matter, than Rachel is the better choice. While if you do, Harriman is. At the moment I'm going with Harriman in order to give our diplomats the best possible chance to pull off a success with one of them. I'm not to committed to that choice however.

I do really wish that we could put Thuir in charge of the Combat Element though, and put Rivers in charge of the Protection Element. They would both be perfect in those positions. I don't suppose we could do so @OneirosTheWriter? Or would that give poor Seruk a brain aneurysm?
 
You know, that clause of the treaty really is incredibly demeaning to the Cardassian clients. We should publicize this aspect of the treaty as much as possible, and encourage neutral species to spread the word. I can't imagine the Yrillians or Dawiar being happy about the Cardassians forbidding us to treat with them on their own terms.

Especially the Dawiar. They fear losing their sovereignty, and the Cardassians have just forbid their neighbors from talking to them.
This is very smart and I agree with it eleven jillion percent.

Just saying, this is like... stereotypical abuser behavior from the Cardassians and it should be well known to the galaxy. Sorry, Dawiar, we WOULD negotiate sharing of this mining colony site we just found near your space, in fact we'll be delighted to if the Celos Treaty didn't apply to you, but the CARDASSIANS DON'T WANT YOU TO TALK TO US. Talk to them, they'll sort it all out with us, I'm sure. They have your best interests at heart, right? Sorry, Sydraxians, we WOULD negotiate reparations with you but CARDASSIANS DON'T WANT YOU TO TALK TO US. Talk to them, they're your overseers, right?

IF the Kindness Through A Dark Lens omake is canon then I think we can afford to largely strip the RBZ for the moment.
If.

Furthermore, this invites the question, what is that fleet for? Hint: it's not for stopping a Romulan invasion fleet, we haven't got a hope of doing that with the forces we've put in position. It's there:

1) To make sure the Romulans can't sneak through our territory to hit the Klingons from the flank, which would make us complicit in an act of war against the Klingons. We know this is possibility because the Romulans already tried that.

2) To show a degree of respect for the Romulans and keep them from worrying excessively that we're up to something precisely because we suddenly pulled our ships out. The Romulans are probably the only people in the galaxy who can keep up with the Lecarre for paranoia, after all. On a good day, anyway.

I think that our deal this session shouldn't be 'what can the factions do for us' but 'what can we do for the factions'. We need to kiss as much ass as possible to claw back some PP to buy a few colonies, or maybe even get some extra Influence to trade for Impact or Resilience. If that means detailed promises for future placement of Starbases to the hawks, or an assurance to the Development faction that we'll let them lay down a Superfreighter somewhere, then I'm all in favor of that kind of deal.
This is as smart as Leila's point. I like it.
 
I do really wish that we could put Thuir in charge of the Combat Element though, and put Rivers in charge of the Protection Element. They would both be perfect in those positions. I don't suppose we could do so @OneirosTheWriter? Or would that give poor Seruk a brain aneurysm?
Yes, if you really wish you can vote across the TF line like that, just make sure you change the task tag in the vote.
 
So I know we can't set objectives but I think it's worthwhile to ask ourselves what our objectives should be in the GBZ. I think it would look like:
Primary Objective: Secure as many resources as possible in the GBZ.
--Basically we are here not [entirely] for the purposes of an Imperialist landgrab. What we are here to do is keep resources out of Cardassian hands. If, for example, we only hold one sector but it holds 90% of the resources in the GBZ that will be a resounding success. This isn't about adding more blue to the map, it's about keeping resources away from a military machine.

Secondary Objective: Isolate the Sydraxians and Yrillians from the Cardassians/Secure a corridor through the GBZ to open space.
--These accomplish pretty much the same thing so I'm lumping them together. What territory we do claim should make an effort to put a solid Federation territory between the Cardassians and the Sydraxians, probably up the f or e line. If the Sydraxians don't cut us off it will also mean a corridor of space out to unclaimed turf we can send EC vessels. Not as vital because we can shoot them out through Rigel.

Tertiary Objective: Take all opportunities to break Cardassian hold on their vassals.
Tertiary Objective: Acquire as much territory as possible.
--I think these are self-explanatory in consideration with the points above. Technically that last one should probably be quaternary but I consider them roughly equal in priority.

A Meandering Breakdown
So if how much turf we push or how aggressively we confront is tied to aggressiveness, the question is does that put us in a better position long term? Where I am concerned RE: Harriman is that he will push too slow and we will get cut off. The concern with Ainsworth is she the most likely to start a war, however, if she pulls through we'll be in a premium spot. However, we can also swap one for another, probably, which adds another dimension.

So if we go with Ainsworth, we could spark a war and then wage it.
If we go with Harriman, we are more likely to avoid war, and maybe negotiate concessions or peace, but could fall behind in claims.
If we start with Ainsworth, hypothetically she could put us in a good spot and then we switch her with Harriman to soothe the flames of rage from the Sydraxians and Cardassians. Assuming a war didn't break out.
If we start with Harriman, we could hope for more peaceful resolution of claims while still pushing pretty hard. We could also maybe undermine Cardassian authority vis-a-vis the Sydraxians. Then we could swap with Ainsworth to aggressively push where the other claimants haven't consolidated yet.

Honestly, with how heavy we've gone, I think I'm actually leaning towards start with Ainsworth, swap to Harriman later. We've gone all in, maybe its better to push hard.
 
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[X][FLEET] Rear Admiral Waafrinch Iorin Skef
[X][TF1] Commodore Jessica Rivers
[X][TF2] Commodore Revak
[X][AUX] Commodore Charlotte O'Dea - 1 Free GBZ Intel Report
 
Yes, if you really wish you can vote across the TF line like that, just make sure you change the task tag in the vote.

Excellent. Well in that case...

[ ][FLEET] Rear Admiral John Harriman
[ ][TF1] Commodore Michel Thuir
[ ][TF2] Commodore Jessica Rivers
[ ][AUX] Commodore Alejandro Suarez


That is just about the best we could ask for. Thuir's high aggression should balance out Harriman's medium rating, and the very capable Rivers deals with protecting our stuff. I am still open to an argument to change Harriman for Rachel, though now it would need to be a really good one.

Also, guys: Thiur is a no-go if you're aiming for any diplomacy. Bad blood with the Sydraxians.

You've got a good point there but we seemed to be making progress before this, and I don't really want to put Thraan in charge in case his low Rule-Abiding rating causes problems, and none of the other choices have the high aggression rating I want for the Combat Element.
 
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[X][FLEET] Rear Admiral John Harriman

[X][TF1] Commodore Jessica Rivers

[X][TF2] Commodore Commodore Revak

[X][AUX] Commodore Alejandro Suarez
 
The Sydraxian fleet isn't all that big, and the Gabriel Sector is open season. If we want to stop the Cardassians from establishing a corridorto the Sydraxians and Yrillians, I think the winning move is to just not let the Sydraxians make any progress spinward.
 
[X][FLEET] Rear Admiral Rachel Ainsworth
[X][TF1] Commodore Jessica Rivers
[X][TF2] Commodore Revak
[X][AUX] Commodore Alejandro Suarez
 
The Sydraxian fleet isn't all that big, and the Gabriel Sector is open season. If we want to stop the Cardassians from establishing a corridorto the Sydraxians and Yrillians, I think the winning move is to just not let the Sydraxians make any progress spinward.
Driving to Deva in this case is a valid option; however I am concerned this will lead to outright war. It's 'open season' in the sense there's no rules from the treaty of celos restricting us.
 
[X][FLEET] Rear Admiral Rachel Ainsworth
[X][TF1] Commodore Jessica Rivers
[X][TF2] Commodore Revak
[X][AUX] Commodore Alejandro Suarez - Expanded Field Repair capacity

I think we need to send captain Straak to the GBZ ASAP to generate more events.
 
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Also looking over Ex-Astria we need to boost the Hospital ship to finish it this year which put us to needing 218 RP, or 60 more than we have which makes starting the Ambassador project this turn even more imperative.
Why do we need to do that? I thought the deadline was on starting the hospital ship project, not finishing it.

The Nadir comes before the Zeniths.

Or in the case of the Syndicate, the Zenith comes before the Nadirs. :p
To borrow from the Avengers... You get your biggest, baddest, most glorious speech about how you are a higher form of life and not to be bullied by some crude beast-thing... Just before you get slammed repeatedly into a concrete floor.

Truly, the Syndicate's cultish aspect proved to be a puny god.
 
There are only 3 Year in Review omakes?
Uh yes, for five seasons of the notional To Boldly Go series. We're still on the sixth season so I haven't reviewed it.

Counterview. I would rather not have this. I like the surprises that we get from the 5YM, never quite knowing where they'll show up. As well, I like the narrative flexibility it gives the QM. I do not want a 5M guidance turn. I'd rather be surprised.
Seconded.
 
Uh yes, for five seasons of the notional To Boldly Go series. We're still on the sixth season so I haven't reviewed it.
Mostly because I quite enjoyed those 'makes.
Why do we need to do that? I thought the deadline was on starting the hospital ship project, not finishing it.
There are almost certainly benefits to finishing the Hospital ship project early, like there are benefits for finishing the Ambassador early.
 
Random question but is there a list of our completed techs anywhere?
 
[X][FLEET] Rear Admiral Rachel Ainsworth
[X][TF1] Commodore Thraan th'Marlaas
[X][TF2] Commodore Michel Thuir
[X][AUX] Commodore Alejandro Suarez
 
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