Grizzwold posted:

4,3,1,2
The indigenous inhabitants of the Americas have long suffered under colonialist oppression, and under no circumstances should we legitimize further aggression against them. Tying ourselves too closely to the PRC or USSR may prevent us from truly realizing the dream of a space program for all of Earth's peoples, and therefore Ascension Island seems the best option for our base of operations.

I further suggest that our research should for now be prioritized as
Power and Propulsion
Construction/Production
Logistics
though at present I am unsure how labs and researchers should be best distributed.

I ride bikes all day posted:

Perhaps more relevant than the political status of a lunar colony, we should be asking why. What is the benefit of this proposed colony? The costs of creating and supporting it are sure to be substantial, and to what benefit for the workers? Surely we don’t intend to do such a thing simply because we can, like the wasteful Americans did a decade ago?

NewMars posted:

While we're on the subject of what's good about this one: have people been enjoying my digression into alt-australian history? Any comments or criticisms?

Mister Bates posted:

quote:

(A small man with dark hair and thick spectacles is sitting behind a desk signing and filing papers. Somehow his spacesuit looks as though it needs ironing. He has attached a tie to the collar ring. This is Administrator Orphan, leader of the colony. He shows as little emotion as possible.)

Orphan (staring myopically at a dense document): Hmm. It appears the damage to the cafeteria will not affect the schedule for the New Year's celebrations. Good. Small rituals are important to morale.

(canned laughter)

(a buxom blonde woman whose spacesuit is a little snug and accented with cowboy boots enters the room. This is Corncob, the adventurous American cosmonaut. Her accent wanders across her home continent but is presumably intended to be Texan)

Corncob (taking a seat in front of Orphan's desk and putting her feet up on the 'out' tray): Howdy, chief.

(canned laughter, cheers, wolf whistling)

Corncob: Say, I was thinking -

Orphan: How unusual.

(canned laughter, scattered booing.)

Corncob (plowing on without paying the slightest attention): - It's going to be a while before the science boys need me to do any flying. Could I take some time off and go climb Olympus Mons?

Orphan (without raising his eyes from his work): Request denied.

(the canned audience makes sympathetic sounds as Corncob looks upset)

Corncob (standing up and stamping one foot): Dangit! Why not, you persnickety varmint?

Orphan (finally actually looking at her): You haven't passed the requisite psychological examination or booked the cargo space.

Corncob (plainly confused): Fer wut? Climbing a mountain?

Orphan (returning to his papers): No, for assisted suicide and shipping your body back to Earth.

(gasps, some nervous laughter)

- script excerpt from Life on Mars, a popular television serial set in the early years of Martian colonization. Although critically panned it ran for nearly 200 episodes, primarily on the strength of being very cheap to produce.

NewMars posted:

Ooh, good update. Fingers crossed for the negotiations.

Oh, while I'm here. To those playing a state in the Australasian region, it was my assumption with the United Australian Worker's Republics that it represents the communes of what was formerly the commonwealth of Australia, plus the Worker's Republic of New Zealand alongside many of the successors to polynesian island-states, linked together in a confederation model where each part is also a voter in the comintern.

Does anyone have a problem with this? Questions? An alternative view?

Pacho posted:

Glad that you're ok and hyped for the continuation of the LP

Redeye Flight posted:

quote:

Men of Kosmos stop your dreaming
Can't you see their warheads gleaming
See their shuttle's rockets streaming
To this battle field

Men of Kosmos stand ye steady
It cannot be ever said ye
For the trial were not ready
Stand and never yield

From the stars rebounding
Let this war cry sounding
Summon all at comrade's call
A courage most astounding

Men of Kosmos onto glory
This shall ever be your story
Keep these burning words before ye
Comrades will not yield

Redeye Flight posted:

Ferrosol posted:

I died as I lived doing nothing of value! Come to think of it the same goes for the British empire

NewMars posted:

First of all acknowledge publically that we have made contact with a staffed Minervan facility and that attempts to establish communications have began and are slow but positive.

NewMars posted:

Maybe we should establish a rota system for where the congress goes? Hell, maybe we should establish a travelling presidium complex?