STRANGE, WHERE WERE YOU WHEN WE STARTED THIS GIG?

[maskormods]

WHO: All diplomatic imPorts that have signed up HERE.
WHERE: The capitals of Mexico, South Korea, and France. UN-attending imPorts will be placed in Davos, Switzerland.
WHEN: January 26th.
WHAT: Democracy in motion as imPorts attempt to use their skills of persuasion to convince each government or organization to lend the imPorts - and America - their help. Players may also use this log to play out the long flight over, planning, and other associated activities.
WARNINGS: None anticipated; let us know if we should change this!



Depending on their assignment, all imPort diplomats will find themselves either in Seoul, South Korea; Mexico City, Mexico; Paris, France; or for UN attending imPorts, Davos in the Swiss Alps. They will be housed in the American Embassies and regardless of their Registration status, will be treated as American citizens. UN-attending imPorts will be housed in a hotel close by. Their accommodations will be that of an extremely luxurious hotel, and they will be provided with anything that they should require, be it books on the art of rhetoric, access to state of the art computers and laptops, food or drink. They will also be provided with boardrooms in which the teams may convene to assemble a strategy. Don't be distracted by the free drinks; this is a task that will require clear minds!

After one night of preparation, on January 26th, each team of imPorts will meet with either the government of their assigned nation or the UN. They will be placed at a podium in front of a room full of politicians and diplomats, and will be expected to state their argument. They will be allowed to have an opening speech before each assembly asks each group three questions.

When either the opening speech has been concluded OR the question has been answered to each player's satisfaction, please put QUESTION NEEDED in the subject title of your comment, and we will deliver the next question.

Just remember: an invasion is coming! Even if acquiring the alliance of these governments and organizations do not help with the imPorts' immediate predicament, it will impact the future of the game at large!

Get ready, our silver-tongued imPorts, and good luck!

Comments

[vorbarra]

[ Interesting. That's the first time Gregor's heard that, and this placing him very obviously in a home galaxy more like Gregor's own makes it doubly so. His curiosity isn't faked at all.

Taking things seriously is what Gregor does, really, and he nods here. ] We have nothing like that in our galaxy; planetary governments and empires deal with each other individually. There's no such collective. If you were leader of Parliament, I'm sure whatever you could tell me would be cogent and effective. Perhaps we could trade advice.

[dun_moch]

[A completely disunified Galaxy? Dooku raises an eyebrow at that- he can only imagine the chaos and disorder that would ensue if all worlds simply managed their own affairs, inevitably fighting amongst themselves.]

Yes, perhaps we should. I think we could both benefit from such an exchange. [He gestures to the seat across from Gregor.] May I?

[An unnecessary question, but it is always worthwhile to show courtesy when dealing with a Lord.]

[vorbarra]

[ The Vorkosiverse galaxy is far smaller than the Star Wars galaxy, but really, it's not much different from modern-day Earth in complications. Gregor thinks trying to get everyone into the same room to unify would be like herding cats, and is not envious of it.

If it hadn't been obvious before that he wasn't laying claim to a title that wasn't his, the way Gregor nods automatically, that little slip of unconsciously regal bearing, makes it clear. He's very used to being asked for permission to sit. ]

Please. I haven't met many from circumstances at all similar to mine. I'd appreciate your experience.

[dun_moch]

[It is indeed like herding cats- stupid cats with their own opinions and weapons, who care about nothing more than their own interests. Which is why Dooku thinks the Galaxy would be much better off with a dictatorship sorting everything out!

But that's not the point right now. He sits, and as he does so he lets a little of his own mask of personableness slip away, permitting his face to harden and cool slightly, paralleling Greg's own Lordly aloofness. He will talk business with this man, Noble to Noble. His voice is more of a proclamation than a conversation:]

An assembly such as the United Nations is little more than the sum of its parts, and each part is a whole in its own right. The group can only function if the parts are arranged in a structure which they believe will serve their own interests. Politicians cooperate for benefit and gain- not for whatever high-minded principles they place their signatures upon.

[Dooku leans forward slightly, his voice hushing as he edges deeper into cynicism.]

If you understand the structure of the United Nations, and the interests of the nations it represents, you will better be able to convince them. My advice to you, Lord Greg, is do not ask them to do what is right- ask them to do what will benefit themselves.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor is a dictator held in check by a bunch of Counts, with him wishing they could have a democracy instead, so the mesh of opinions here is bound to be interesting.

Equally used to being proclaimed at as asked permission to sit down, Gregor listens without nodding, just silent and attentive. ]

Cynical, but I'm afraid you're not wrong. It's not too dissimilar from what I'm used to in the Council of Counts, then. The only difference is the hypocrisy of it, if you're right-- the UN's stated missions are rather altruistic. Barrayaran Counts make no claims to that.

[dun_moch]

A Council of Counts? What a fine-sounding body, if I do say so myself.

[Dooku smiles slightly at his little self-serving joke. Really though Counts are awesome, they should be in charge of everything.]

In some systems, politicians have to claim altruistic purposes in order to win the support of the people. And in rare occasions, they are even being genuine. It sounds as though your Council harbours no such pretenses, however.

[He will ask Greg for his own reciprocal advice on Mexico soon enough- for now, his curiosity is piqued regarding Barrayaran ways.]

[vorbarra]

[ He smiles slightly back, understanding the joke. ] And a Council of Ministers, too, those appointed by the Emperor. I'm sorry to burst your bubble.

[ Gregor could talk about Barrayar for quite a while, at length. It's what he does all day at home, incessantly, after all. ]

Considering the Counts were all warring against each other with private armies until Emperor Dorca the Just unified them a little more than a hundred years ago... No. Anyone pretending to altruism would be laughed at.

[dun_moch]

Ah, well, Ministers are another matter entirely.

[Still jesting in his dry way. But beneath the humour, the Count's mind is quite serious indeed. Warring idiots unified and pacified by a wise and powerful Emperor- perhaps Lord Greg's background would predispose him to appreciate what the Sith are trying to do for Dooku's own Galaxy.

Something to test another time, perhaps.]

Yours is a fascinating history, my Lord. I will have to hear more of your people once the present crisis has abated. For now however, let us return to the mission at hand. Have you any thoughts on how my team might best proceed with Mexico?

[Ordinarily Count Dooku dispenses advice rather than requests it, but he considers this foray an opportunity to evaluate the Lord's wits.]