(06-10-2013, 05:58 PM)Anaximander Wrote: TAZ set up shop in Baffin, Zoners got a base in T37, TAZ knows Outcasts are mad and ferocious and have a strong military, TAZ and Outcasts agree that Cardamine can flow through Baffin, TAZ do so out of necessity more than anything else. Everything is fine and dandy as long as that fragile balance isn't tipped.
[...]
Because that very reasoning conflicts with what lore says about the diplomacy and power balance between Outcasts and TAZ. Think of real life, how vital oil flow is to producing nations; how wars are waged when straights and trade corridors are blocked (Suez Crisis anyone?). The moment that base shot down the very first Cardamine transport, the proper reaction from Outcast leadership would be very severe threats and possible sanctions. A nation relying solely on one export commodity can't sit idle by while something like this happens. And I think TAZ should have kept that in mind before they set the base to full hostile mode, whether or not Outcast leadership responds. I feel we have that obligation towards one another when this game isn't entirely sandboxed like Eve, but relies on a lore framework we seek to adhere to.
That fragile balance doesn't has to be necessarily tipped. There were talks between Outcasts and the TAZ, not sure about the content, so I won't say even threats too, but I can imagine. Thing is, it got resolved as the Maltese leadership understood inRPly that they are not the target, the victims been reimbursed, there is no loss on the Outcast side, and ooRPly, that the whole incident is due to the lack of a gameplay feature, the blacklist.
That the TAZ let out a preemptive warning about the station shows how well they were aware of the possible consequences and were attempting to notify their surroundings about it.
(06-10-2013, 05:58 PM)Anaximander Wrote: That goes both ways, shouldn't TAZ worry: "Is it worth the risk for our sacred systems, our lives? "Do we risk to provoke a war we will surely lose and never gain anything from?"
Indeed, but then the TAZ did preemptive measures to prevent such incidents happening. Who's fault it is that a warning, accessible to anybody, did not reach a few traders.
(06-10-2013, 05:58 PM)Anaximander Wrote: Mind you CR and Council are already at full war with Outcasts, it's not like Outcasts should fear the wrath of those two factions more than what they already do. And Outcasts do stand to gain a whole lot from securing clear passage from Alpha to NY.
Fear? No, I believe Maltese are enough arrogant not to fear us, but I also believe they did not lose their minds yet to at least consider our presence in the area when attempting to strike at a certain target.
Nothing threatens that "clear" passage within Baffin. But I don't think it is safer than any other route through Kusari or maybe through the Sigmas and Rheinland. There you face local authorities, here you face your Tau enemies.
(06-10-2013, 05:58 PM)Anaximander Wrote: Exactly, yet another reason to shut that base down the moment it claimed it's first Maltese soul. Outcasts are few in numbers and thus value each individual life a lot, however they are vicious and at war with half of Sirius already: In other words they are not afraid to throw themselves into the fray when needed - and judged by the long list of enemies it's needed quite a lot. TAZ would be a ridiculously insignificant enemy compared to what Outcasts are already pitted against
TAZ might be, but as I earlier said, a possible Maltese invading fleet would have to face more than just TAZ.