> In fact, Azrael Jones resigned from the AE fleet (the Prince Henry
> simulations to NSL, NI, OU, IAS and NAC officers.
The relationship between the AE and the OU is quite interesting: a large
proportion of the AE actually resides in territory notionally claimed by the
OU. But the OU has neither the resources, nor the intention (in the short to
medium term anyway), of colonising the many M type stars it claims. Therefore,
having a large number of expendable, even disposable colonies that are
"someone else's problem" and that act as caretakers (and intelligence
platforms) is a boon to the OU. Various financial arrangements with the
Alarishi Emperor make sure that the OU gets a decent cut of anything valuable.
But the Alarishi Emperor receives
value for money: he gets to call on a dozen fully-armed OU
battlecruisers at very short notice in case anyone gets stroppy (with more on
the way) in OU space, plus having access to the complete resources of the OU's
considerable patrol
and re-supply fleet at wholesale (or even at-cost) rates.
The OU's attitude is that if the AE didn't exist, it would be neccessary to
invent them. The relationship is symbiotic. Of course sometimes there are
commercial
> > In fact, Azrael Jones resigned from the AE fleet (the
Claimed by the OU Revisionist History department. The Prince
Henry Corporation ("PHC"), chartered in the EU, outfitted survey
ships as soon as EU regulations (plus a little well-placed cash)
permitted building FTL vessels by anyone other than the EU--the
PHC actually operated some of the first "PAU" and "IF" ships, charging an
incredible fee for exclusive rights to the survey data. The survey vessels
took 40% losses but mapped the routes to the stars now claimed by PAU and IF.
In accordance with UN regulations, the PHC itself did not lay claim to any
habitable or terrformable planets. The PHC did claim three uninhabitable
systems (now known as Alarish, Huy Braseal, and Coronado), and was later given
a share of a fourth system by the Islamic Fed
(this was pre-revolution, of course). The OU, of course, never
had a claim to this.
Now, there are a number of AE sovereignities dispersed throughout human space,
and if you count "a star system with one ship or habitat" as "occupied" and if
you regard as valid the OU's claim to every M star around, then I suppose you
could say that most of the territory occupied by the AE is actually OU.
> large number of expendable, even disposable colonies that are
Mercenary intel gathering is something we're quite good at--the
Night Vision recon corvettes (and variants) were built for exactly that
purpose.
> Various financial arrangements with the Alarishi Emperor make
Amazing, how those OU battlecruisers look _just like_ NSL
battlecruisers. :-)
> plus having access to the complete resources of the OU's
AE sovereignities outside the three AE systems know they'd better not become a
public nuisance, because the Empire isn't likely to bail them out if they get
into trouble. The prevailing attitude
is "you're free to do whatever you like--and if it gets you in
trouble, well, that's evolution in action." That being said, it should also be
pointed out that the last time
the FSE sent a squadron into AE space--roughly 60 years ago,
IIRC--rather less of it came back.
> When the AE needs a voice in the UN, the OU can provide it
The AE doesn't deal with the United Nations and doesn't recognize the UN as
having any legal jurisdiction over anything whatsoever. And that's on the days
when we're feeling polite....
> The relationship between the AE and the OU is quite
> Now, there are a number of AE sovereignities dispersed throughout
Exactly.
> Amazing, how those OU battlecruisers look _just like_ NSL
No, many of them look just like FSE Battlecruisers. Some of which were
actually bought legitimately ( OK, so that's only 2 of them).
> Of course sometimes
> it should also be pointed out that the last time
Not quite true. A lot of it came back to *someone*, just not the FSE. (see
above re OUDF Battlecruisers). Vultures R Us got at least 2 ships too.
> The AE doesn't deal with the United Nations and doesn't recognize
But as they say in the classics, you can catch more flies with honey than
vinegar. Or as they say in the OU Department of External Affairs, "Clausewitz
almost had it right: State Policy is War carried out by other means." They're
big on
> >Amazing, how those OU battlecruisers look _just like_ NSL
But FSE-built battlecruisers that show up in AE space tend to
attract fire (neither FSE nor IF are welcome in AE space). I was thinking,
though, of the NSL BCs that home port at the naval station AE maintains for
them at Huy Braseal.
> >The AE doesn't deal with the United Nations and doesn't
Oh, we don't express it rudely--AE isn't big enough to be
undiplomatic.