Fingolfin_Noldor wrote:RogueIce wrote:"I don't think this will surprise you, but there is a consensus to have you made an Observer, rather than a full Member. It would solve the certain issues that being in two alliances at once pose. And there is, as ever, an element of politics involved." Rufus awaited Heraclius' reaction. He had explanations prepared, of course, though he would rather wait and see what the Emperor thought before proceeding.
"Ha.. So apparently a suggestion I made years ago finally came around. No, I wouldn't be surprised as it was inevitable that either I leave or my membership status reduced.
Though what use is an observer really? At this point, I don't gain much from it, beyond the usual free trade treaties and collaboration etc., which can be dealt with as a separate issue altogether."
"Oberserver status means almost the same thing as regular membership, just without the mutual defense thing. Which, considering what I've heard of your recent equipment purchases, makes sense as you're apparently aligning more with CATO technology in that regard. Essentially, it's a cosmetic change as, practically speaking, your nation tends to act more as an Observer anyway when it comes to the MESS. Of course, saying you're an Observer makes people
think you're less of a MESS state, when in practice little will change from the current state of affairs."
Rufus shrugged. He had been considering how to say this next part, but then decided he might as well just say it straight. "It helps if we don't appear too closely aligned, MESS and CATO. I understand the point of the conference and while I'd like good cooperation, publically at least it might be bad if we appeared as too close of friends. If MESS and CATO look too close, fears arise over a 'one world government' and such nonsense. And then there's Japanistan. I know what you'll say, they can be crushed and so on and so forth. But they'd do a lot of damage first. And right now they're relatively quiet. I'd rather not get them even
more paranoid than normal, and have repeats of that whole Velarian mess. Or whatever else they might try to do. Do you see my point? It's well and good for MESS and CATO to not distrust each other and even work together. But I feel we should avoid appearing to be
too close, if you get my meaning."