OBT Forum

Simon Kosh sighs at the Tai-sa's outburst.

"Tai-sa, you seem to not be understanding the point of this entire discussion.  The Oberon Confederation indicated it's priority in topics.  It just so happens that Ambassador Halstein shares the same priority, which frankly is quite surprising to me personally as I would have thought the War would have been a higher priority for the Lyran Ambassador.  I have asked for each member of this council to rate their priorities, not make a motion or second one, nor would we proceed without hearing from many of the other Ambassadors as it would be highly impolite for us to ignore their comments."

"If you agree that the order of topics is as listed, then by all means we can acknowledge that the Draconis Combine agrees with the order as indicated by the Oberon Confederation, and we will still wait for the majority of the other members of this council to indicate their preferences before we "get on with it" as you so eloquently put it."

"And you are quite correct, a Council Member - representing a Great House did call for an explanation, which another Council Member representing a great house, and a noble Realm has mentioned on more than one occassion would be given by the Council Member in question, as well as providing all Council Members to have their own say regarding the topic in both opening comments and closing comments."

Simon wonders to himself if this new Draconic Ambassador will ever be able to rise above the pettiness of his own limited perceptions, and be able to work towards a peaceful resolution of anything.

"And you are quite correct, a Council Member - representing a Great House did call for an explanation, which another Council Member representing a great house, and a noble Realm has mentioned on more than one occassion would be given by the Council Member in question, as well as providing all Council Members to have their own say regarding the topic in both opening comments and closing comments."

"Sadly sir, you missed the point of my query in its entirety. You have listed topics for discussion - fine. As a member of this Council I asked for clarification, which I and you are due as members of said Council, as to why the topic should even be on the agenda. Merely stating "WarShips" is both vague and enjoys an extremely wide scope. Yes, the Lyran Commonwealth provided a possible explanation for clarification, but unless Mr. Holstein is a mind reader, still doesn't provide an answer. As I mentioned, simply mentioning "WarShips" as a topic requires scope and focus - i.e. clarification from the author. Otherwise we could talk in circles about anything WarShip related. I don't know about you Mr. Ambassador, but I do not have an abundance of time to waste. Perhaps the affairs of a smaller state afford you extra leisure time - mine does not. So excuse again while I wait and ask for clarification from the Federated Suns representative."

"However, since listing and ordering any topic of discussion seems to be your limited aim. I would like Sunflowers to be added to the list of topics to be discussed. Thank you."

Tai-Sa, must you really be this abrasive? The Oberonian ambassador has been doing an admirable job administering the proceedings. And as for us throwing our weight around? I remind you who started this war?

"But I do apologize if I have offended our poor Ambassador. Had he shown more respect rather than just dismissing my inquiry I would not be mocking his apparent leadership of this council. I'm sorry, but the only mediator I acknowledge is Precentor Chase and the neutrality of ComStar." 

"Another very interesing topic Ambassador Davion.

So far the topics for the agenda are as follows:
The Kapteyn Alliance, Federated Commonwealth Alliance War.
Pirate Activities.
Declaration of Independence of worlds from an interstellar realm.
Warships.

"Well, besides the fact that you clearly do not remember what you said, here is quick recap."

 Reads the Transcrip

"Notice how every topic listed has scope and focus, except the aforementioned WarShips. The first topic is clearly an action and entity of significance to some members here. Since they were placed together I now have a reference point for the discussion topic - the so called War and the Alliance. Next we have Pirate Activities - another topic we have already spent some time discussing. Again, nothing new. We only hope to find a resolution. The third topic is also very straight forward and to the point, providing scope and focus for our discussion. The last, I'm sorry to say is lacking in both."

"Now I understand your need to please your Lyran masters and their pet Davions. You are forgiven for such an oversight. I know how difficult your area of space is and how suckling at the Steiner tit must keep you and your nation warm at night. However, this Council isn't your play thing. Nor is it the plain thing of the Davions. As a member of this Council I am allowed the right to receive clarification. I have requested it."

"That you continue to shield the Davions or pretend to Lord yourself over your betters only shows both your lack of parliamentary poise and how insignificant you are to these proceedings. ComStar might not tug your leash back to your place at the table, but I will remind this Council you hold no rank or stature - or gavel to enforce this petty display."

*chuckling* Simon Kosh shakes his head slightly.

"Tai-sa, firstly I fully understand the intent of your query in it's entirety.  Yes the topic is vague and has a wide scope, just as all the other topics that my colleagues have indicated were issues of critical importance to their realm.  The details of which aspect in specific are to be clarified as a concern for each member state will be, I am quite sure, addressed in their opening comments as they address each issue.  I seem to recall having said this before, were the instructions not clear?  Do you require a translator?  I'd hate to have to waste everyone's time explaining them yet again."

"I am glad wasting time or opening the floor to filibustering idiocy is the Confederation's priority here and worth laughing over. - Sarcastically - Of course laying such open-ended topics at the feet of this cohesive body will bring about the desired effect of achieving results correct? Surely you jest sir? Any member of intelligence can see the importance of keeping Council Topics, clear and concise for the sake of ending argument and finding actual resolution. That you've missed the greater point in asking for clarification is even sadder."
   



 

*Jade Stands before  others can take the floor!

The ComStar ambassador stands and walks to the chambers centre.

" Enough of this bickering.  As the representative of the hosts and conveners of this Council, I am putting this petty bickering to an end.

Thank You!

We WILL discuss the topics in the order they were first laid out by the Oberon Ambassador and IN THAT order.  I do not care for upset sensibilities nor, perhaps because of my advancing age, care for the ruffled feathers of a few diplomats.

To be clear! As Junour Ambassador I can not speak on these subjects with out the First Ambassador here as it is the Ambassador's word that carries full weight on those subjects!

If a nation does not wish to contribute, then it better just keep quite or you will be censured.  ComStar brought you together to DISCUSS issues, not behave like spoiled children.  This has all been very enlightening, but I am too old to waste my time listening to centuries old bigotry."

My Feather seem to be unruffled by You Precentor! If they had been I could smooth them out! *Jade smile and nods to Precentor Chase

"Now, I do believe we were about to discuss pirates."

It would be a boon to hunting Pirates if intellegence on their activity was shared! I for one would have enjoyed having intellegence to work with whne I hunted them! As a Section Leader, I know the value of good intell.  The Tai-sa should all so know the value of good Intell.

It would seem that The Pirates have better Intellegence than The Great Houses!

"The Lyran Commonwealth is happy to announce that in the last year and a half in cooperation with the Oberon Confederation and the Rim Collection, we have destroyed the following pirate bands."

"The Damocleans"
"The Painful Reckonings"
"The Red Corsair's Band"

"In addition, we have done severe damage to Lima's Renegades and The Spartans pirate bands". We are a mercantile nation, as the Kuritans are so fond of scorning. But we take the threat of piracy seriously. Pirates are a threat to commerce, they are a threat to the rights of life, liberty and property. As such, they are an enemy of civilized man, and should be treated as such. We are happy to do our duty to civilization as a whole and destroy them as we can. We are doubly happy that we can assist our neighbors in that endeavor. We have freely provided intelligence on these brigands to several periphery nations as well as some military assistance in the form of subsidized battlemech purchases. Our record on combating piracy stands on it's own, and we challenge any nation to match it. If they did, the Inner Sphere would be a better place."

I would point out to the ambassador from the Alliance that your nation is a recipient of our anti-pirate intelligence on a monthly basis? I think you will find it a very accurate means of tracking pirate movements?

Ambassador Kosh acknowledges Precentor Chase "Thank you Precentor", then quickly skimms over his datapad, before continuing his address.

"On the topic of pirate activities, the Oberon Confederation has noticed a drastic increase in recent pirate activities.

The observed average size of each band has increased.
The black market on equipment appears to be a significant source of this raw material increase.  The OC has taken steps to mitigate the amount of black market materials that either originate from or transfer through the Confederation.
Additional sources of this sudden and large supply of materials are being investigated and examined closely.

Additional very large bands of pirates have recently been observed forming around the Inner Sphere. 
These bands can cause quite a concern for periphery nations whose military is not sufficient to adequately protect their borders.  Should these bands turn towards the Inner Sphere proper, a great deal of lost property and casualties can be expected as many of the troops normally protecting the periphery borders are off on the frontlines of this current war.

Activities of pirate bands in general has increased significantly, all over the Inner Sphere.
There seems to be little to no evidence that pirate bands are working together cohesively aside from taking advantage of distractions caused by other pirate raids in a few rare cases.  No significant pattern has been observed that would indicate a singular influence.  Also there appears to be no detailed intelligence available to these bands prior to their target selection.  Captured materials taken from destroyed pirate commands indicate that bands are selecting targets based on decades old survey data and defensive unit tracking primarily based on publicly available information.

The Oberon Confederation considers pirate activities to be extremely detrimental and damaging, as such the OCAF makes a concerted effort to minimize the opportunities that pirates have to cause mischief within the operational areas of the Oberon Confederation.  We have also offered intelligence gathered on pirate bands and bases of operations to many others who are similarly working towards minimizing the effects of piracy.  Some nations have yet too, or have only recently taken these raids seriously at the ultimate expense of their own populations.

The Oberon Confederation continues to place great emphasis on the elimination of pirate threats.  A very successful Anti Piracy Joint Operation with the Lyran Commonwealth has recently concluded.  A similar Anti Piracy Joint Operation with the Draconis Combine has only recently been accepted in concept by the DCMS, and the preliminary planning phase has been initiated.  No suitable troop deployments, or time tables for deployment from the Draconis Combine have been offered, and we continue to await evidence of their dedication to the elimination of the piracy that has plagued the people of the Rasalhague and Pesht districts in recent times."

With his final statement Ambassador Kosh looks pointedly at the Combine's representative.