Open in-house forums about current problems on Neth

[Kaosu]

To: Upper-top ranking government officials and advisors on Neth (team seishi, Celst, Wozzy is included, and whomever else.)

From: Kokaku

This will be a open forum that goal will allow active discussion from ranking officials and selected participants on the topic of current problems, possibly causes and solutions and future prevention. There will be several topics of discussion which will be highlighted now:

First and foremost the problem of money, some of which I've identified.

1. Causes:
A. Elderus Tower: This one has taxed our budget and has eaten into other government expenditures. We will continue on with the construction of such building, however.
B. Growing pains of a rapidly expanding world: A unstable economy and you cannot tell who may try to muscle their way in or exploit what we have. For the most part, we are barely standing on our own two feet, but hopefully these issues will be resolved shortly.
C. Lack of a long term strategy: This is simply it. We've gotten to the point where we can stand, albeit a little shaky, but we've at least gotten this far. Soon, we will have to decide how we will play this out. Do we export? Or import? Do we open ourselves to a interplanetary stock market trading so we can begin tapping into other markets, in order to make more money for ourselves?

Possible solutions: We either need to invest and become a major trading planet of stocks and goods, or start exporting goods as a long term strategy.
(OOC: If we have one, we still need a center)
A) A stock exchange center, one that is for Neth only, unavailable to other worlds. This will stimulate the economy even more, allowing neth-housed companies to compete and prosper among themselves. By not opening ourselves to other worlds just yet, we can strengthen the bonds of our economy first, limiting any hostile take-overs of other worlds.
B) Opening up the mines: This one is a major export and also a good source of in-house productions, which will stimulate more jobs and also our economy. There are social problems related to this, but if we can start off small and win over the idea of a better 'future' with this initiative, we will become financially and also industrially stable. We need not tap the planet of all its resource like leeches, but we must be allowed to take some to help keep us afloat.
C) A state-funded lottery: This is a temporary, but solid solution. We need money initially, however, we will gain in the end. This is self-explanatory and be little reason why we shouldn't do this.

If there are more, please feel free to contribute.

The next topic is crime and other illegal activities.

2. Problems:
A.World-wide continuing drug increase: There is a massive drug increase, one that alarms.
Solutions:
-Finding out the cause of the increase of drug usage and eliminate the problem - Long term solution
-Finding and arresting or ousting major players in drug supplying on Neth. This is a temporary solution.
-Increasing expenditures for the police. Training, equipment, and labor force all play a part in the overall crime rates and illegal activity trends. A immediate solution, a bandaid patch, is to get a few outside specialists that will rework and retrain our Neth police force. This is simply a bandaid patch, until we can raise expenditures.
B. Northern Farms: This has its own category because it stands out beyond the rest. I'm all ears on this one.
Solutions: ????
C. A invasion of outside unknown force that has been killing our local mafia in some sort of territory claims, possibly. I've no other information or possible solutions myself on this one at the time.
Solutions: ???

Any others that might be included, let me know.


Odds and ends, the establishment of long term strategies.


This section is one where it cannot fit under the problems of Money or Crimes.



Project Elderus: I've taken the name of the Elderus tower and applied it toward this. This will be a official possibility of rapidgrowth and expansion. Simply, this is a furthering of the Elderus tower ideals. We have been appealing to the Techerons and Dark Juraians.
Overview: With the growth of both Techerons and Dark Juraians and the new ideas placed by Lady Celst, we now must not only win the political views of the empires, but also the empire itself: The people and its included vast races. This includes the Dark Elves, Feral elves, Hane, Netomi, World Walkers, Cetra, Pariah, Juraians, High elves, and others I might have missed. By not only opening up and embracing these other races, where they can not only find their own but experience a new mixing of cultures, we can establish a relationship between all of the empire's and all included within their domains. This long-term project will the establishment of Neth being a place of cultural exchange, interracial relationship building, and learning.
The ultimate goal is simply not of a Dark Juraian and Techeron establishment, but rather a center of all the empires, of all the worlds.

A few possible ways to go about this, with a combination of:
-Offering loans, grants, and other incentives to both businesses and students alike, who show a prominence and excellence beyond the average of their field. This will allow students who want to study on Neth, afford some of the prices of our schools and universities, while also bringing in the best businesses in their respective fields to establish a presence, giving other races more of a comfortable reason to spend their lives with us. By helping out students, we can allow them to live with us and school with us, establishing loyalty and possibly their future with us on Neth.

By helping out the young, we can put in the seeds of loyalty, giving more reasons and creating the chance for potential youths to stay on Neth, creating more possible generations of interplanetary relationship building and increased levels of diplomacy.

-Joint projects with other world's governments and military exercises. Internships. Working abroad. By being open (for the most part), we expose ourselves to possible weaknesses. However, at the sametime, we let others drop their guard, creating chances of possible diplomacy where at one time, it would've never worked.


These are all long time investments made. The returns are not immediate and sometimes we will get bitten. However, the long-term benefits are there and in the end, we will gain more than ever.


These are just some of the ideas and problems we face today. If there are more, please feel free to add and contribute.

For ourselves and for Neth.

Over and out.

[Leila Dark Jurai]

From: Leila

Some good ideas. Something else that needs to be addressed, in connection with the drug problem, is the pressures that are causing it to be so bad. The followers of Nephthys who have come to our world have been hit especially hard. They have few resources, and are largely unemployed. We should do what we can to improve their chances and lot in life. I have reached out to the Temple of Nephthys, it is my belief that those still faithful will provide part of the solution. Here are a few suggestions for dealing with this aspect of things:

- Drug Rehabilitation: Many drugs are addictive, and it is important that those on them get the help they need to quit using them.
- Scholarships: We should provide opportunities for educational advancement to the poorest sections of our society. This will give those who qualify the education necessary to improve their lot
- Education Center: An institution below college, but above public schools, which would give adults training necessary to perform various jobs.
- Corporate Encouragement: Corporations on Nethilis will be encouraged to train and employ new workers from those available on world, especially in the underprivileged classes, rather than importing new. Primarily, this will be done by giving a tax advantage to those who do so.
- Minimum Standard of Living: Every dwelling within our territory should, ideally, meet a certain minimum standard. I suspect that many of the poorer dwellings lack even basic things like safe running water and sewer. While it would further victimize the tenants by cracking down now, I would like to begin moving in the direction of establishing and enforcing basic building requirements for ALL residential structures.

[Mystic]

From Celst:

Oh my! This is quiet an impressive collection of thoughts and ideas here Kokaku, its hard to even know where to begin. I suppose I should start with my own project at Elderus Tower.

This has definatly been a money sink for Neth but once its up and running i'm really hoping the alliance will beable to take over the expanse of running it. Considering i'd like to have a further five buildings built around it,a nd we dont have the money for this, i'd really like people to get working on this quick to bring the money in.
- I really like the idea of getting all the races invovled. We'll have to do it carefully though, Jurai may not, for instance, be happy about us dealing with the High Elves whom they see as subjects of their Empire. But just how open do we want our doors, i've considered the idea of allowing the Dominon in. They'll argue, cause trouble and likly no one will like them, but at least they'd be part of the discussinos, it may help to improve relations. I have more reversed views of Rohr and Sauriness however.
- Nows a good time to just remind everyone of having a slight reality check, its not going to be an easy process, having them meet for diplomatic discussions is one thing, having them agree or get along is another. I expected a lot of arguments and fighting up a head. Your idea of an exchange and joint projects with the empires is a good one, they wont open up to us unless we are prepared to open up to them, but even then, i expect stubborn resistance.

Kokaku your schemes of offering buisness deals to come to Neth, and scholarships to get students here is also good, but it does seem to conflict a little with Leila's same idea of scholarships for down truden Neth citizens. Not only do we want to attract these people here, and educate those on Neth, we want a reason for them to stay, Neth definatly needs to offer the oppertunities or people will just leave after study.

Long term Startegy... I think you make a VERY good point there Kokaku, rather than just flailing in the wind in what way do we wish to guide and grow Nethilise? I'm also glade to see that rather than just saying militry you've taken the ecomanic view point. Once we have a strong eccomany we can increase the size and power of our militry muscle.

Nethilise was created as a trade world due to its location between DJ and Techoren space. We exist in a idle location, so prehaps we should get into trade where we buy goods off Seller A and then sell them to Seller B. We could act as the middle men for foreign traders, making a cut without producing anything all our own. We'd still need a trade centre of some sort for this.
- Also as a trading world we are in a prime spot to sell ship provisions, food, fuel, and maybe later on weapons and repairs. We may wish to gear one of our cities as a tourist destination, a place for ship crews to stop off by and have fun. This would likly cause a rise in crime in the area though.

I'd also like to see some exporting done to. But what? It is a mineral rich world but wouldnt we be better to put that into production ourselves. Though the Techoren would pay happly for sheet metal.

Now plans for the long long term future
- this solar system has several other worlds, I'd like to eventually expand to them. I realise now is not the time as this world needs to be strengthed yet, but thats my goal, having a small multi global empire here.
- At some point where going to want a Star Fleet, we may end up purchasing our ships else where but I think we'd do great to have a Dry dock or some sort for ship repairs and maintence. That way we can look after our own fleet and repair the ships of travelers.
- Increased Militry. At some point this has to happen. I'm thinking on all angles here, from a Star Carrier with dozens of fighters, to warships, down to tanks on the ground and thousands of highly trained militry. While I think its important to have a few strong ships in the air for defence i primarly believe we should stop with the ground forces first and move up.
- How do we want Neth to grow? The terraformed desert makes remarkably good farmland. We have three solid cities... Neth seems to be a bit of everything, trade focused. Shang'ilstar deals in fish, and anicent Nether Elf cultue, and Zihandier is an aspring corporate city. How do you want to see these cities in 10 years time? What do they need to achieve that? And whle I thinkw e should wait before our next city expansion, what should the fourth one be? Do we need another city and if yes then what? Farmiong? Industry? Entertainment?

Sorry I didnt cover much on your ideas Leila... I am at a bit of a loss on how to deal with this crime, I dont understand why people would wish to ruin themselves this way. I do agree though, removing the desire for the drugs will cut at the core of the problem.

Celst out.

[Leila Dark Jurai]

From: Halya

I'd guess that the prime location for the mines would be on the mountain continent. The problem, of course, is that I doubt the dragons would appreciate us digging there and disturbing them. A flight of angry dragons would, naturally, be bad for business. Still, we should seek locations of mineral wealth to exploit on our current continent. There are options for tapping the mineral wealth on the mountain continent, but these all require at least the consent and at most active participation of the dragons who live there. Another option to consider for the future, is to begin mining operations on other, uninhabited planets in the system.

A stock exchange center is nice, but a greater financial and trade center would be better. However, it will only work with the participation and approval of the companies already operating on Nethilis. We should see what they do and do not want, and go from there.

For the drug use, the ultimate cause is the hopelessness felt by those on the lower rungs of our society. I think Leila laid out a good plan to begin dealing with that. We could also pursue the dealers and suppliers, this will probably not eliminate the problem, but it will drive supply down, and the price up. With any luck some of the cheaper drugs with low profit margins will disappear and leave only the more expensive drugs.

Improving the police force is an immediate priority. A few outside specialists could be brought in to form a new unit. They would train new and existing officers, and in general help improve the situation. We have a few real choices - Techoren and Dark Juraian, naturally, since they are the two nearest major empires, but also Netomi. Netomi, while allies of Dark Jurai, just may fit the bill without completely alienating the Techoren.

I think farming should be expanded. We are a growing world and most of the food will go to feed our own population, but any excess could be readily disposed of. Dark Jurai in particular is in the middle of a brutal war with the Rohr, and as we know an army marches on its stomach.

I'm still waiting on my mob contact to get back to me on this new criminal force. When I have some new information I'll let you know.

As for attracting additional races beyond the empires, I agree, there needs to be a forum for them to bring up grievances and ideas. They should be able to contribute, but remember that we first and foremost require the participation of the major empires. Also, Celst mentioned giving the Dominion a voice. While I agree in principle, I do not like or trust them, and I do not want to give them a blank check to steal technology by way of our world.

Such as the Rohr and Sauriness are right out. These races are so fallen, so vile, that it is doubtful that we can ever negotiate with them, and so we should not give them the opportunity to cause even more trouble than they are already.

As far as long term strategy, our prime location between the Techoren and Dark Jurai could be our greatest strength, so trade would be an excellent start. In which case, the greater financial and trade center I mentioned above may be of interest. We will still want to encourage industry, however. Not only is it often cheaper to produce goods on world, it will give employment to our unemployed. It also helps to be self-sufficient.

We do eventually want a star fleet, and while that can wait for now, I do believe there is a need for repair facilities to be built, not only for our use, but for those who trade with us.

I could go on, but I think I'll stop here and see what the response is.

[Leila Dark Jurai]

From: Fyra

Also in the realm of improving the police force is improving the way they deal with information. While paper may work for spellbooks, and for various reasons a lot of arcane lore continues to use paper, when dealing with vast amounts of information it's best to eliminate it where possible. That officer the other day was using paper to keep track of things, when there are better things in our modern society.

From: Halya

Now that I know of this, I agree, we can't just add more people, we have to improve the infrastructure they rely upon.

The police will need to be provided with software, and the hardware to use it. I've done some research, and broken this down into a few categories.

Biometrics: A database of identifying features (facial features, DNA, fingerprints and the like) that would allow one to identify criminals.
Data/Information Sharing: A database of all the public and police records, shared between government agencies.
Emergency Response: Software that will provide the interface for emergency dispatchers to enter and store information, which can then be relayed.
GIS/Mapping: This will allow maps of the city to be made. This will, in turn, aid in making patrols more efficient and random.
Report Writing: A relatively simple application, this allows for a uniform software-based form, as opposed to a word processor.
Scheduling and Payroll: Who's on shift, who's off. Who gets paid for how many hours.
Other: There are other applications which are not significant to day-to-day operations but which can be important to police work.

For hardware:
Tablet Computer/Holopad: I use these interchangably because they can be used in similar fashion for my purposes, which is field systems for accessing and inputting data.
Computer/Data Terminal: These will be deployed in the station proper. Likely, these will be cheap terminals, while all the real processing is done with the servers.
Server: The core. There will be several individual servers, dedicated to things like applications and databases and the like.
Subspace Link: This is important. It will allow our system to interface with databases on other worlds.

I'll do some research, but thus far I'm thinking of relying mainly upon Techoren technology. It's generally cheaper than Dark Juraian tech, and I'm more familiar with it. However, efforts should be made to operate with Dark Juraian tech where possible, especially in that we will need to connect to Dark Juraian databases.

<More follows, but it is Halya's recommendations for actual databases and systems, and let's be honest, most of you wouldn't know a SDBS 6000 v6.4.5.8 from a hole in the ground>

[Mystic]

<Wozzy> Hmm some interesting thoughts and suggestions. A few things to note though, Nethilis already offers tax reductions for buisness's, it was part of our "Encourage buinsness to open up on Neth" scheme. If we combine that with further reductions from hiring locally we arnt going to make much off compnaies. Prehaps its time to remove, or at least reduce the Tax reduction we give buisness's. We could then offer a similar reduction if they hired locally.

What exactly do you mean by finincal trade centre? I understand it focuses on trade but... just where exactly are you wanting to go with this? And if we did build such a large center where would we want it, as in which city? I think these are important questions to consider, because its going to have an impact on the places we put these things.

Becareful about asking the buisness's on Neth what they want, because the buisness's on Neth want whats best for them, not us. Interglobal trade on a bigger scale could be a bon for us and a cost for them. I wouldnt be surprised to see them all wanting us to stay closed up like a sandbox. Some buisness's here have next to no competition at present.

I think we've discussed and agree for the most part on the police issue. Someone et h old of some Netomi, arrange for them to get to Neth and start training up our boys. At the sametime we need to start plans for remodeling our police buildings and systems. I was thinking we could get one of the lcoal buisness in Zihandier to write the programming. It would likly cost us more though.

The farming idea has merit, it seems this terraformed desert makes some great farm land. The trouble is farms can only expand as the terraforming progress's, and as we get bigger its getting harder. The desert storms damage terraformed land, so time has to be spent maintaining what we already have. We'd either have to expand on another continet, or push for some rapid terraforming. Either expand neth further or prehaps a fourth city?

Mining... well. What would we mine from here? This landmass doesnt hold much in the way of mineral wealth. We maybe able to get oils, which when refined can be used as part of the ingredents to make high grade synthetic fuels. If you want minerals or jewels your going to have to look else where.

And speaking of mining other worlds, I really think that'd be a great idea. It may have to wait awhile, or prehaps we only open up mining settlements, but there is some likly untapped potential in those worlds. Worlds we should rpeahps explorer and detail a bit more for future expansion reasons.

[Leila Dark Jurai]

Halya:

For a financial district, we should begin with a stock exchange type deal, as per Kokaku's idea. This could help businesses on Nethilis by making it easier for them to attract outside investment. Couple this with a center for trade, where commodities and other things could be traded. We should put it in a relatively clear area, because banks and other financial services companies will naturally gravitate toward this area as opposed to others on the planet. As for positioning... I think I want it in Neth.

Strangely enough, I bet the programming for a police setup is already done, just not here. Since cost is an issue, we really have a choice between buying from a company that specializes in such things or licensing from a government who has already built their own system. I prefer the latter,since they're more likely to open up their code base for us to modify to our needs.

We should push terraforming as fast as is economical. If we can make money by increasing the terraformed area for farming, we should do so, but we should not proceed at so fast a pace as to run us bankrupt.

We should commission a geological survey of the other worlds. If I recall they're not as hospitable as Nethilis, but they may hold something which would make it worth our while to go there.

[Leila Dark Jurai]

Halya:

Further thoughts on the trade center. Its primary focus should be commodities. That is, things which there are no real differences in between markets. As in, wherever you go, rice is rice, copper is copper, etc. We are in a perfect position to take advantage of inter-empire commodity trading. The Dark Jurai sit on mineral wealth that they largely do nothing with themselves. Sure they use some, all empires do, but others are cast aside or traded off to other empires, while the Techoren always have a high demand for minerals. We are located perfectly to take advantage of this disparity in value, and to provide a convenient marketplace for the two empires.

A stock market, as I said, would allow our companies to attract outside investment. It will, however, need to be regulated - we should study both Dark Juraian and Techoren regulatory systems to decide what would be best. As that's your territory Wozzy, I'll let you handle that.

With the trade in stock and commodities, of course, will come financial institutions. Banks, investment firms, and all that go with them. With this, too, there needs to be regulation. We must provide an even playing field, but at the same time not frighten off corporations.

Perhaps a third institution to go with the stock market and commodity trading. A regulatory agency. This agency's purpose is simple - to encourage investment by providing a regulated investment market and making sure investors don't get screwed by greedy corporations. This isn't to say they're to stop investors from losing money - shit happens. They're to stop underhanded scheming from publicly traded corporations.

[Mystic]

<Wozzy> The Ficinal centre sounds like a good idea, we dont have the money for it right now but thats of little concern, by the time the planning stages are completed we should with any luck have the money to start building. However you might be a bit despapointed with the exchanges. Yes Dark Jurai has mineral wealth that is undervalued there, yes Techoren have high demand, but Dark Juraian merchants know this, they just arnt going to sell us there minerals for $10 so we can sell it for $1,000. Still in an idle spot to act as middle men. Connect merchants A to merchants B.

As for the police systems, yes other worlds would already have the systems avaiable, but open it up to us? I know in Techoren markets they sell you the product and you pay them more money to modify it. You wont have legal rights to change anything on your own, which is partly why i considered we source it localy. That way we can also design a system that combines but Dark Juraian and Techoren systems, something which I doubt is currently out there.

On a third point I still have no feedback on the Shang'ilstar power plant. I know we want one per city for reduncay, and we seem to have settled on a Solar Power plant for Zihandiler, but no one has mentioned what they want for Shang'ilster. If i dont have an answer soon I may simply select my own.

[Leila Dark Jurai]

<Halya>

I believe you mentioned a Pyrosinth plant. This would go nicely with the fact that we can eventually begin to extract oils and the like to produce our own fuel. Self sufficiency will aid in the long run.

Trade doesn't need to be a high profit margin, just enough that we can make a profit acting as middlemen between the two empires. We are, after all, ideally suited to provide a marketplace for interempire trade.

On police systems, you are right, we will probably have to source the police system locally. I've looked and while there are a few open source packages available, most are either poorly maintained, hard to use, lacking in features, or, most typically, some combination of the above. Still, there are a few open source technologies which we could use on the back end. HyperOQL and LinkDB databases come to mind, both of which are in widespread use, are equivalent to current proprietary systems, and support the use of separate encryption and security technologies as plug-ins. Also, the Federation Bureau of Standards has published communications standards for law enforcement data transfer, and there are a couple of freely available implementations (if you know where to look). Not nearly a finished product worthy of deployment, but a start on creating one at the very least.

I'll write up a separate list of our current proposals and we'll see where we're at.