Embassy of The North Pacific

[Mallorea and Riva]

In the one case, the supposed interference on GCR sovereignty never progressed past casual discussion; in the other, various groups actually did manipulate the player and region with the single highest voting power in the game in clear violation of regional law.

Point of order, what regional law?

It's pretty straightforward, really:

TNP Legal Code Section 1. No criminal case may be brought before the Court of the North Pacific against any resident for any crime not listed in the Criminal Code.

This makes it clear that while you can't try a nation present in TNP for a crime unless it's listed in the Criminal Code, you can charge nations not present in TNP for crimes not so listed. Accordingly, the players in question committed every conceivable crime not listed in the Criminal Code (with the definition of such crime crafted solely to implicate their guilt in this instance), provided of course that they don't reside in TNP (in which case just treason).

[Zemnaya Svoboda]

Point of order, what regional law?

It's pretty straightforward, really:

TNP Legal Code Section 1. No criminal case may be brought before the Court of the North Pacific against any resident for any crime not listed in the Criminal Code.

This makes it clear that while you can't try a nation present in TNP for a crime unless it's listed in the Criminal Code, you can charge nations not present in TNP for crimes not so listed. Accordingly, the players in question committed every conceivable crime not listed in the Criminal Code (with the definition of such crime crafted solely to implicate their guilt in this instance), provided of course that they don't reside in TNP (in which case just treason).

Well y'ask a silly question, you get a silly answer.

[Attempted Socialism]

Point of order, what regional law?

It's pretty straightforward, really:

TNP Legal Code Section 1. No criminal case may be brought before the Court of the North Pacific against any resident for any crime not listed in the Criminal Code.

This makes it clear that while you can't try a nation present in TNP for a crime unless it's listed in the Criminal Code, you can charge nations not present in TNP for crimes not so listed. Accordingly, the players in question committed every conceivable crime not listed in the Criminal Code (with the definition of such crime crafted solely to implicate their guilt in this instance), provided of course that they don't reside in TNP (in which case just treason).

I don't think the TNP Court would claim jurisdiction per current precedent.

[MadJack]

In terms of actual material actions taken against the region's sovereignty, the recent fiasco with TNP went far farther than Operation Ragnarok ever did. Yet it is fascinating to observe the differences in response.

In the one case, the supposed interference on GCR sovereignty never progressed past casual discussion; in the other, various groups actually did manipulate the player and region with the single highest voting power in the game in clear violation of regional law.

And yet, despite TNP issuing a statement where they describe the subversion of their independence by saying "There is no excuse for this, and it is entirely unacceptable" and later referring to it as "outrageous behavior", a mere 6 days later, they are referring to two of the regions who indulged in this inexcusable, unacceptable, and outrageous behavior as "friends" with whom they are "relaxing in the spring".

Certainly many expected that TNP's new administration would see the strong response taken to Operation Ragnarok's discussion of violating a GCR's independence (a response which they were a part of), and craft a similarly strong response to those who just recently were engaging in actual subversion of their own independence. Clearly this has not been the case, what was good for the goose TNP apparently does not believe to be good for the gander. In doing so they have exposed their own lack of true independence in favor of a false version that, while having all the trappings of the real item, lacks the substance necessary to back itself up.

In their 22 April statement, TNP notes that its citizenry "has been loud and clear in its denunciation of what has happened". Perhaps they ought to have been louder and clearer because as it stands their denunciations have apparently had little impact.

Oh no someone wrote a thematic report clearly this means their previous misdeeds have been forgotten and forgiven.

[Angeloid Astraea]

In terms of actual material actions taken against the region's sovereignty, the recent fiasco with TNP went far farther than Operation Ragnarok ever did. Yet it is fascinating to observe the differences in response.

In the one case, the supposed interference on GCR sovereignty never progressed past casual discussion; in the other, various groups actually did manipulate the player and region with the single highest voting power in the game in clear violation of regional law.

And yet, despite TNP issuing a statement where they describe the subversion of their independence by saying "There is no excuse for this, and it is entirely unacceptable" and later referring to it as "outrageous behavior", a mere 6 days later, they are referring to two of the regions who indulged in this inexcusable, unacceptable, and outrageous behavior as "friends" with whom they are "relaxing in the spring".

Certainly many expected that TNP's new administration would see the strong response taken to Operation Ragnarok's discussion of violating a GCR's independence (a response which they were a part of), and craft a similarly strong response to those who just recently were engaging in actual subversion of their own independence. Clearly this has not been the case, what was good for the goose TNP apparently does not believe to be good for the gander. In doing so they have exposed their own lack of true independence in favor of a false version that, while having all the trappings of the real item, lacks the substance necessary to back itself up.

In their 22 April statement, TNP notes that its citizenry "has been loud and clear in its denunciation of what has happened". Perhaps they ought to have been louder and clearer because as it stands their denunciations have apparently had little impact.

Oh no someone wrote a thematic report clearly this means their previous misdeeds have been forgotten and forgiven.

You did an op with them in-between the bad thing they did and the statement on the bad thing they did
If you don't see how that undermines the credibility of the statement maybe you shouldn't be in Foreign Affairs

[MadJack]

Oh no someone wrote a thematic report clearly this means their previous misdeeds have been forgotten and forgiven.

You did an op with them in-between the bad thing they did and the statement on the bad thing they did

Yes, we asked for and received pilers from them because we knew they'd say yes due to what happened. We call this "pragmatism". It helped us keep the Wellspring in the face of potential threats. They knew our statement was coming and that closer ties would be ended and contributed regardless. That too, was pragmatism on their part.

If you don't see how that undermines the credibility of the statement maybe you shouldn't be in Foreign Affairs

My success in FA roles for TNP and TRR speaks for itself regarding whether I should be in foreign affairs or not.

[The North Polish Union]

In terms of actual material actions taken against the region's sovereignty, the recent fiasco with TNP went far farther than Operation Ragnarok ever did. Yet it is fascinating to observe the differences in response.

In the one case, the supposed interference on GCR sovereignty never progressed past casual discussion; in the other, various groups actually did manipulate the player and region with the single highest voting power in the game in clear violation of regional law.

And yet, despite TNP issuing a statement where they describe the subversion of their independence by saying "There is no excuse for this, and it is entirely unacceptable" and later referring to it as "outrageous behavior", a mere 6 days later, they are referring to two of the regions who indulged in this inexcusable, unacceptable, and outrageous behavior as "friends" with whom they are "relaxing in the spring".

Certainly many expected that TNP's new administration would see the strong response taken to Operation Ragnarok's discussion of violating a GCR's independence (a response which they were a part of), and craft a similarly strong response to those who just recently were engaging in actual subversion of their own independence. Clearly this has not been the case, what was good for the goose TNP apparently does not believe to be good for the gander. In doing so they have exposed their own lack of true independence in favor of a false version that, while having all the trappings of the real item, lacks the substance necessary to back itself up.

In their 22 April statement, TNP notes that its citizenry "has been loud and clear in its denunciation of what has happened". Perhaps they ought to have been louder and clearer because as it stands their denunciations have apparently had little impact.

I can see you care deeply about protecting TNP's interests. Such passion for what is best for TNP, is most laudable.

I've never seen so many filled with such a burning desire to publicly protect TNP's independence and sovereignty, as over the past few weeks.

It's a great comfort to everyone there I am sure. They can sleep easy now. And all out of the goodness of your hearts?

Its is always refreshing to hear the views of that famous supporter of regional sovereignty North East Somerset.

My own support for the independence and sovereignty of GCRs goes just as far as it always has. And from one player mentioned in The NPO's Retort to another, I suspect your support for those values goes just as far as my own.

In the one case, the supposed interference on GCR sovereignty never progressed past casual discussion; in the other, various groups actually did manipulate the player and region with the single highest voting power in the game in clear violation of regional law.

Point of order, what regional law?

I believe Mall answered this far more thoroughly than I ever could have

[Angeloid Astraea]

You did an op with them in-between the bad thing they did and the statement on the bad thing they did

Yes, we asked for and received pilers from them because we knew they'd say yes due to what happened. We call this "pragmatism". It helped us keep the Wellspring in the face of potential threats. They knew our statement was coming and that closer ties would be ended and contributed regardless. That too, was pragmatism on their part.

Your pragmatism sucks. All you did was tell them TNP isn't actually all that bothered at them over what they did, and that the statement that was coming was just something you were forced to do.
The pragmatism on their part was just them not being stupid. If TNP is gonna go right back to them for support after they've supposedly committed a huge mistake, they'd have to be eating rocks over there not to immediately get a foot in right back in the door.

My success in FA roles for TNP and TRR speaks for itself regarding whether I should be in foreign affairs or not.

Well everybody gets past their peak. It's only natural.

[MadJack]

---

THE NORTH STAR

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Issue XXV

Editor's Note

Writing can be hard. Over the years, I have served as Minister of Communications multiple times, and tried various different methods of motivating writers to finish articles they are passionate about. Before the Ministry of Communications was absorbed into Culture, we were all fortunate enough to have seen how previous ministers such as El Fiji Grande put together some of the most wonderful editions of The Northern Light in history; it is clear to me now that this way of putting together publications is not something that can be passed down to the next Minister easily enough. I believe a balance between older styles of publications and more modern styles is the key to sustainability. My plan is to source articles from the best writers in TNP, and put together a design team to enjoy the creative process of making a magazine in tandem with text-versions like this. It is my vision that this balance between old and modern publication styles can see a well-needed return to regular publications in TNP.

Aside from that I sincerely hope you enjoy reading this issue and I can assure you there is more to come from The North Star in the future!

Kaschovia
Editor and Writer

---

Elections Underwayby Kaschovia

In what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in NationStates history, the time has come for the TNP citizenry to elect their Delegate, Vice Delegate, and Speaker until September. NationStates, and the regions within, now look out into the world and see a very different view. With frontiers on the rise, it is going to be crucial for The North Pacific to handle its goals in that sphere efficiently, specifically in regard to The Wellspring.

Campaigns will share their plans for the executive as all before them have, but who will come out on top? Gorundu is likely to be the favourite for Delegate right out of the gate, but that doesn't mean we aren't going to have a competitive election. Many citizens have been calling for one after what has felt like relatively flat previous elections, and they're likely to get it.

WA Delegate

The World Assembly Delegate faces many challenges, tough decisions, and takes on leadership responsibilities throughout the four months of the term. The North Pacific is in a unique position alongside the other feeders as frontiers take their positions on the world stage. The strategies employed by the elected Delegate to address this new landscape are sure to define the term.

Vice Delegate

The tools previously used by Vice Delegate's in the past, such as the WADP, the Keepers of the North, and automatic telegram systems haven't been up in months. The elected Vice Delegate will have to assume the role of ensuring the security of the WA Delegacy, which will inevitably require the unavailable tools. This looks to be the greatest challenge for the upcoming term.

Speaker of the Regional Assembly

We have seen many talented Speakers in The North Pacific, but we have also seen Speakers struggle to take well to the office. This balance isn't going anywhere. With the Frontiers update now live, the Speaker may have to act quickly and be pragmatic in their contributions to discussions around establishing territories, and upholding the consistency of the legislative offices of the Regional Assembly.

Get Ready To Vote

When the time comes to vote on the future of our region, make sure you remember - your vote matters now more than ever before.

---

On The Wellspringby Kaschovia

It's not very often an opportunity has crossed my path in NationStates that has taken me completely by surprise. In fact, I often over-prepare for when the time arrives to take action and miss out on all the fun in the meantime. When I returned to NationStates and The North Pacific (TNP) last month, it was the first time I had taken the time to look into the Frontiers and Strongholds update being planned on the forums, and before I knew it, I was logging into a vastly different game.

For hundreds of regions, the Frontiers and Strongholds update provided the perfect chance for over-preparation, with the question of how each region would take to the new landscape on the minds of almost every leader. I barely had the chance to consider how TNP would react before I'd joined an operation in a region called, you guessed it - The Wellspring, alongside several other members of the North Pacific Army.

It was a simple operation: The Wellspring was one of the first founded frontier regions with one or two nations in the minor update immediately after the changes had been launched, which meant all we had to do was take the World Assembly Delegacy, and watch as the first nations to spawn in a frontier region were founded. Which is what happened, as expected.

However, what followed surpassed all expectations entirely.

We'd quickly realised that The Wellspring was literally the only frontier in the entirety of NationStates to have secured a World Assembly Delegate within the first update after the launch, which for twelve hours meant over half of all the newly-found nations would be spawning in the region we'd just taken. The Wellspring quickly grew to 515 nations in a single day. And as of the 25th of April, a week later...

We took a frontier from nothing to a thousand nations in a week; that number still rises. And now, we have an even greater opportunity to build a community that will stand the test of time in this new world.

So What Does The Future Hold?

My main priority since the 18th, along with the Delegate and other Regional Officers, has been to setup the regional infrastructure needed to encourage and nurture the growth of an active native community. It is my hope that in the long term, The Wellspring community will see The North Pacific as the region that approached the Frontiers and Strongholds update with hope in their hearts for a robust and friendly relationship amidst a chaotic and unfamiliar landscape. Once a constitution is ratified and a charter is presented to the Regional Assembly of The North Pacific, I hope The Wellspring can thrive as a territory of The North Pacific, offering a promising, mutually beneficial future for both regions.

---

The Spotlight 33: An Exclusive Interview with Acting Delegate Gorunduby Kaschovia

Kaschovia: Welcome to the 33rd edition of The Spotlight! I am joined by Acting Delegate Gorundu for this interview, which in the context of recent events, promises to make for some insightful and riveting discussion. First off, welcome to The Spotlight Gorundu, it's great to have you on the show!

Gorundu: Thank you for doing this! It's been a while since TNP has had an officially published interview, so I'm glad to be part of it. I'm sure there's lots to talk about as well.

Kaschovia: Definitely, thank you for making the time to join me today, it's always exciting when a new edition of the Spotlight is put out! I can imagine over the last two weeks or so things have been pretty busy taking on the role of Acting Delegate, especially with the general election starting in a few days time. But before we get onto that, for those who are new or returning to The North Pacific, they may be unfamiliar with the name Gorundu. What is your story in NationStates?

Gorundu: At this point I can confidently say I've been in The North Pacific for longer than the vast majority of our citizens. I started on NS in 2018 and spent about a year around some smaller regions before taking an interest in the WA, where I passed a GA resolution under an older nation name. It's not that great but somehow it's withstood multiple attempts at repeal and is still in force today. Anyway, passing a WA resolution led me to discover the fact that WA Delegates have more voting power than regular WA members - I hadn't realised that somehow. That of course led me to finding out about the region with the most Delegate votes, so I decided to take the leap and it just so happens that said region has a very active WA program. I guess you can say I made quite a splash when I first joined - I won the Speaker election about 3 months after joining, then resigned to become Minister of WA Affairs (possibly my first controversy). I ran for Delegate too prematurely, and after that I spent a good deal of time in the political wilderness, partially because I had gotten busier IRL, partially because I was taking an interest in some other regions, and partially because I lost political momentum after losing two elections in a row. Becoming Vice Delegate at the start of this year was my first Government Official position (other than Election Commissioner) since September 2020. In this time I've seen a lot of promising players come and go, so it's definitely been a weird journey for me. Suffice to say there's a lot more that happened along the way, but I don't have the time to rehash all of that.

Kaschovia: I share with you the draw of The North Pacific being the largest region, which is one of the reasons I joined. Quite an interesting story! However, moving onto the most notable topic at hand currently... nobody that wasn't involved could have possibly foreseen the events that led to the resignation of the previous Delegate and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and your consequent rise to the position of Acting Delegate towards the end of the term. What was going through your mind when you realized you'd be Acting Delegate in such unique and precarious diplomatic circumstances? What were your initial priorities and thoughts?

Gorundu: It was definitely a shock! I had no idea about the events that were going on which led to this, and it turns out that very few people in the region did. One of the first things I did was to reach out to Pallaith for advice - despite our differences in the past I respect him deeply, especially for his knowledge on a wide variety of topics within and outside of TNP. We had some in-depth discussions that helped me get a bearing of what was going on, and I decided that my first priority was to reassure the region, our allies and the world that TNP is not a puppet and can stand up for itself. Another important objective was to determine what had really transpired and separate the truths from the embellishments. I can say that neither of them seemed like easy tasks at first.

Kaschovia: I can imagine it felt like you had many hills to climb on that first day, but I think you handled the situation brilliantly and ensured that The North Pacific stood its ground. Your recent statement on the events seemed to be exactly what everyone was hoping for, but what do you want to see in the long-term, not just with our allies, but also with those who were involved, to ensure this doesn't happen again? Is there a more general reevaluation of FA procedure in order, or are you confident that your response has been enough of a guarantee?

Gorundu: I think that with both the public statement and our private discussions with the offending parties, we have made our position very clear that this type of behaviour is utterly unacceptable and if something similar were to happen again, terminations of treaties and/or embassies would be guaranteed. That's what we've done on the foreign affairs front. But there's also been an aspect of internal re-evaluation, because what led to this situation exploding was not just the transgressions by the defender regions, but also poor communication on the part of all parties involved. I won't get into communication issues on the defender side here, but within our own government, the only people fully in the know was the Delegate and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and pretty much all the communication on this issue was in various DMs. I think this reflects the fact that due to the amount of discretion the Delegate has, they are free to seek advice from as many or as few people as they want, and whether they are in the region and part of the government or not. This discretion failed us in this case because the Delegate didn't receive the advice that could have helped avoid the entire situation. Going forward we need to establish a permanent support system for the Delegate and the Minister on foreign affairs issues - that's going to include formal procedures, formal advisors, and formal record-keeping of our diplomatic discussions. All this will minimise the possibility that the Delegate doesn't have the right tools to make the right decision in the future.

Kaschovia: A very reassuring answer. It's good to know that plans are in place to establish a support system for the Delegate and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Talking more now about what is possibly the next biggest recent event to take place concerning TNP - the frontiers and strongholds update. Of course many of us know about the meteoric rise of The Wellspring, and the considerations we now need to take in that regard, but what are your initial impressions of the update so far? And does the operation in The Wellspring represent a great success for The North Pacific that we took timely action to establish the largest frontier in the game within the first update, or does it represent complications down the line in relation to laws surrounding territories? Or both?

Gorundu: I have to say I'm a bit surprised that our WA population hasn't really dipped so far and my endorsement count has been staying relatively constant. I'm not sure if we're just in a good period and our WA population would have actually grown if not for the update, or if the effect of the update just isn't as great as we predicted. In any case, I think our operation in The Wellspring is something we should all be proud of. Not only did we seize the opportunity within the narrow window to give ourselves an advantage over all the other Frontiers, we also mobilised our network of allies and friends to put to rest any raider ideas of trying to seize something from us, and in doing so demonstrated that the NPA can still be mustered for quick and clean missions, and our friends and allies can still find common cause even after a taxing time for all of us. There will of course be challenges for The Wellspring - it has been perhaps more difficult than expected to build up a native community in the region, and how we will eventually integrate it into TNP officially is still a matter for debate, but that's all part of the experiment and I'm confident it can all be worked out through the dedication and ingenuity of our people.

Kaschovia: Now onto the topic of the upcoming general election. The next person to serve as Delegate will have a host of unprecedented responsibilities in the wake of game changing updates and wide scale diplomatic issues, but what do you think the next Delegate of TNP will have to do to ensure the support of the community in these times, and what do you believe will be the major issues for that Delegate to build their campaign and term around?

Gorundu: I think the best way for a Delegate to get the community to support them is by being transparent. If you are open about the challenges we face and what you will be doing to address them, then the community is likely to rally around you and offer assistance. This coming term, a major issue will of course be the region's future after the F/S update and how we can maintain a stream of new players, but it actually ties in to challenges we've been facing for several terms already, which is our seeming decline in government activity and in staff. We need new, thought-out and detailed plans to tackle these issues, and it won't be easy. Whatever you come up with, you have to justify it and explain why it'll work over other ideas that have been tried. On the foreign affairs front, it's always very difficult to campaign. You have to be careful about the promises you make because foreign policy will always be affected by what other regions do. But you can put forward your principles and explain how they will guide your foreign policy.

Kaschovia: In terms of the election, and for future elections, can you speak a little bit about the lack of competitive elections recently and what you think the importance of having a competitive election means for democracy in TNP?

Gorundu: Competitive elections are incredibly important for the health of a democracy. They provide the biggest platform for an exchange of ideas and examination of the state of our region. But the lack of competitive elections is not uncommon among many democracies in NationStates. For TNP specifically, Speaker and Vice Delegate are jobs with lots of bureaucracy involved and little room for innovation, which might feel like a big commitment with little reward. They do, however, offer new players more visibility and an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment and work ethic. When they have been competitive, I think these elections have sometimes been battles of personalities rather than ideas. For Delegate, I think there's a few factors we can attribute to the recent lack of competitiveness. I remember some very promising players who have left in the last year or two, largely for RL reasons unrelated to TNP. There's also been a general slump in activity in large regions across the game, and we haven't been spared from that. The Delegacy is also quite a high barrier-to-entry position - there is a lot of commitment to it and there are countless ways of screwing up, all of which makes the position less appealing despite the power it holds. Right now I see that it is relatively easy to rise to a high-level position - say Minister for example - but difficult to make it all the way to the top. There isn't any role alone which could prepare you adequately for Delegate. That's why it is important for the more experienced players in the region to offer themselves up to help potential candidates in any capacity they can, but of course that comes with the risk of being boxed into a possibly outdated mindset. But I believe with the right combination of advice from older players and awareness of general sentiments in the region, many people can be good candidates for Delegate.

Kaschovia: One of the largest elephants in the proverbial room of The North Pacific, especially noticed by the technologically inclined, seems to be have been that many of the tools the region has benefited from throughout the years, such as the WADP, Keepers of the North, and the Endorse Page on the forums, have come to a sudden and unexpected halt due to their creator's inactivity. To what extent do you believe it should be the responsibility of the Delegate and their government to get more involved with these kinds of technology in order to prevent such things from happening again? Or is it best left out of the executive?

Gorundu: The Delegate and the government aren't expected to be experts on technology, but I believe they should have at least some understanding of the vulnerabilities of our scripts, so they can respond appropriately if a situation arises. The best way to prevent something like this happening again is to keep our scripts open source and accessible. That's not as much of a job for the government as it is for the creators of the scripts and the admins. But the government does have an important role in helping to get replacement scripts up and running, to help coordinate the efforts of our talented coders and admins, communicate the government's needs and prioritize the tools we need to most. This will no doubt also help the government get a better understanding of the new scripts when they are implemented.

Kaschovia: My final questions now as we wrap up this interview: what is one thing you'd say to everyone in The North Pacific right now? And what makes The North Pacific community unique that you value the most?

Gorundu: I want to say that it's been an honour and privilege to serve as Acting Delegate so far, and I have been blessed with the support that has been offered to me, both material and moral. Our region has faced many challenges these past few months, but I think there is a lot we can do to help move our region forward in this new era of gameplay, and since by the time this is published we'll be in election season, I hope you will put your trust in me to lead the way in that. I can point to many things that I think makes The North Pacific unique - the longevity of our democratic system, the unrivalled endorsement culture, the high expectations placed on our government officials, our influence in the WA - but I think the most important thing is that we are a region of innovators. We have pioneered so many new ideas that were previously unheard of - the WADP, securing our region without endorsement caps, using cards for the benefit of the region, and many more. The spirit of innovation is what drives us forward and allows us to stay at the top of this game, and that's what I value most about our community.

---

[Kaschovia]

To see the magazine version, it is spoilered in the dispatch. Happy reading, everyone!

[All Wild Things]

That was a good read - nice work!

[Roavin]

Great read!

Gorundu: [...] I won't get into communication issues on the defender side here, but within our own government, the only people fully in the know was the Delegate and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and pretty much all the communication on this issue was in various DMs. .

Ah yes, that bug has bitten me and probably lots of other leaders too in the past. Discord makes it too easy to just DM people and call it a day. I can attest that it works to be really annoying in DMs in the first week or two — when somebody writes you something, just respond with "ah yes, please bring that up in [channel/forum/whatever]" and don't respond further.

[Gorundu]

This is an opening address to the residents of The North Pacific, reproduced here for information purposes.

Opening Address: May 2023

Friends and North Pacificans,

I come to you today with my first address as your duly elected Delegate, somewhat bizarrely having already been doing the job for the past month. I am humbled to have earned your confidence to be elected to a full term as Delegate, and I believe for some of you, my handling of the situation over the past month has contributed to your confidence. Before I continue further, I would like to first make some important thank you's. Throughout the past month, our Ministers and other Executive staffers have worked tirelessly to help keep the region running while I focused my attention on more pressing foreign affairs issues. I am grateful for the work they have put in and proud of the results they have achieved - they are a testament to the resilience of our region, the undying passion of our people, and their willingness to step up during difficult times.

But now, with an elected Delegate and an extensive agenda, it is time for us to redirect our focus to what the future holds for us. Although many challenges lay ahead, we have much to look forward to. The addition of Frontiers may not be as giant a blow to TNP as many have predicted, and indeed presents many opportunities for us to invigorate our military, extend our diplomatic reach, and spur a much-needed re-organisation within our Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure it remains effective and efficient. In a gameplay scene where written media has slowly died out, the revival of our publications could have major effects and draw significant attention while educating our own residents on what's going on in their region. Our efforts in the World Assembly have been stronger than ever, with a proposal by a TNP author in the queue almost all the time, and Heroes of Valhalla churning proposals such as Commend Madjack. Our non-functional scripts have inspired many of our tech-inclined citizens to contribute towards rebuilding our tech infrastructure into a more futureproof system. And having survived the diplomatic trials and tribulations over the past month, we are now firmer than ever about where we stand in this world, and clearer about what changes we want to see.

Seizing these opportunities would be no easy feat. But the one thing I'm sure of is that we would not stand a chance without the fine people who have agreed to be part of my Executive Council. Without further ado, I would like to introduce you all to my team for this term:

Minister of Foreign Affairs - PotatoFarmers (Fregerson)
Fregerson has served admirably as Minister of World Assembly Affairs over the past term. While he undoubtedly had an excellent team around him, the operation certainly would not have been as smooth as it is without his leadership. With Madjack having chosen to step away from the job, I have asked Fregerson to be the new Minister. His attention to detail and acute awareness to his surroundings will be a great asset when it comes to implementing the internal reforms planned for the ministry, and while he is relatively lacking in foreign affairs experience, I have no doubt his demeanour and level-headedness will enable him to become an excellent representative for the region.

Minister of Home Affairs - Comfed
Comfed is no stranger to our region, but I was pleased to see over the past few months that he had really begun to involve himself in the executive and the Regional Assembly, with excellent contributions across our ministries and RA debates. He also served as the only Deputy Minister of Defence this past term, where he has been a great help in organising the NPA, leading operations, and bringing a fresh perspective into NPA Command. I believe Comfed will have something similar to offer in this new role, bringing in energy, enthusiasm, fresh ideas and a hardworking attitude, and I can't wait to work closely with him to help Home Affairs rediscover its mojo.

Minister of Defence - ROM
I am pleased that Rom has agreed to stay on for another term as MoD. At this point Rom should need no introduction, having been a stalwart of the NPA for the past few years. He has steered the NPA through challenging times on many an occasion, and I am excited to continue working with him to seize the opportunities available to the NPA in this new age of Frontiers.

Minister of World Assembly Affairs - Chipoli
Having just been elected Vice Delegate, Chipoli certainly has the confidence of the electorate to be a competent government official. As a newcomer who wasted no time getting the hang of the World Assembly and rapidly rose to Minister, I have full faith that Chipoli will be able to take on this position again with lessons from his first term under the belt and maintain the strong trajectory of the ministry. Of course, this will mean that he is serving simultaneously in two very important roles for the region, but I will leave it to him to address how he will handle this in his own opening statement.

Minister of Culture - Dreadton
Dreadton has been one of the most prolific contributors to Culture in recent years, often stepping up to help keep the ministry and its activities running without any official title or even being asked. He has spearheaded initiatives such as Music Monday, Games Nights, and has been a constant source of polls that entertain our gameside residents. I am excited to see him back in the Minister's office. Always reliable and never short of new ideas, I am confident he can breathe new life into the ministry and keep TNPers engaged through an abundance of activities and events, whether they are big or small, serious or silly, new and experimental or tried and true.

Minister of Communications - Kaschovia
As one of our most successful Ministers of Communication ever, Kasch is an obvious choice to lead the revival of the ministry. Having practically single-handedly engineered a revival of The North Star, I have no doubt that Kasch is ready to put in some serious work. I know there are many TNPers who are itching to contribute to the revival of our publications, and Kasch will be able to assemble and lead an excellent team to examine the major hurdles we need to tackle and work diligently, intelligently and methodically towards creating a sustainable ministry with regular releases.

Minister of Cards - Pineappleistania (Noah's Second Country)
The North Pacific has no shortage of prolific Cards players, Noah being one of the greatest among them. I am glad that Noah has agreed to continue for another term, and I look forward to his leadership of the ministry as it continues to look for optimal practices in building and serving our Cards community.

I am also appointing two Advisors to the Delegate for this term. Pallaith and Madjack have been an enormous help to me as I navigated the complex situation facing my Acting Delegacy, and dispensed invaluable advice to help me resolve the situation and get to grips with the duties of the office. Pallaith is continuing his role as Advisor, while Madjack moves into this role from Minister of Foreign Affairs as he takes a temporary step back from some political aspects of the region. I am delighted that he has agreed to continue serving the government in a reduced capacity as an Advisor.

I truly believe this term will be one of the most consequential terms in our history. I am truly grateful that you have given me the opportunity to take on such a great responsibility, and I promise to you solemnly that I will do my very best. But I alone will not be able to carry this burden, and nor will my Ministers. To build something truly special this term, we need you, our citizens and residents, to step into the fray and contribute your efforts and your ideas. Join a ministry, any one of them, and help our government to do more and achieve our vision. Join the WA or the NPA to help make our region safer and more powerful. Participate in discussions and debates on the forums or on Discord. Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do - take the initiative and do it yourself. The more we see from you, the more likely we'll be in for a great term.

Let's get this party started.

Your Delegate,

[Catalyse]

The Kasto Army stands with you, Delegate Gorundu.

[Malphe II]

Good luck to Kasch, eager to see what he can do.

[Gorundu]

On The Aurora Alliance

A month since The South Pacific expressed its sincere apology and acknowledged the wrong it did in allowing its Minister of Foreign Affairs to extort The North Pacific’s previous delegate, we have been given another apology from the same Prime Minister, this time for inviting that very same official back into their government. This is the same official who, according to The South Pacific's government, was supposedly primarily responsible for the rapid deterioration of relations between our regions and with other major defender regions. To say we were surprised and dismayed by this development would be an understatement. Many people, in our region and neighboring regions alike, wished for the recent aggression against our previous delegate to be the end of the treaty, and such an offense was certainly worth reconsideration of the treaty. Nevertheless, we worked hard to find common ground and stay committed to the alliance. TNP agreed to make the effort, despite the severe blow to our trust and our pride, and the humiliation that resulted. Against the odds in those hectic April days, we succeeded. Ultimately our citizens agreed to move forward, and dropped the insistence that the treaty be terminated, opting to wait and see. But TNP deserved fair and appropriate action, and with that in mind I made a promise to my region. We would take TSP at their word that they regretted what happened and would demonstrate this through their interactions with us and their subsequent actions, but we would carefully evaluate things and would not allow TSP to make light of this reconciliation. Ever since we came to an understanding with TSP, my government has honored that promise. We have taken their words seriously and we have judged their subsequent actions by that standard. I promised we would hold them accountable if they did not live up to their words, and that is why we have reached this point.

Before I continue, I need to straighten a few things out, because discourse on this topic has taken many wild turns and we all need to be aware of some basic facts about this subject. We recognize that TSP feels it had to bring HumanSanity back to their government, due to the lack of viable alternatives. We understand that this role is not a Foreign Affairs role but is concerned with domestic policy. And we do not expect TSP to make personnel decisions based on how we feel about them, nor do we expect to have veto authority over those picks. We believe the Prime Minister is sincere and intends to continue the work to improve the relationship between our regions. We are fairly confident the most recent events were solely errors in judgment, careless moves but not malicious ones, and not an attempt to send us a message. And we accept that the overwhelming support for this appointment in TSP’s legislature speaks to their confidence in the officer for that job, and not an opinion on us or an indictment of recent events. We also recognize that the most strident voices from TSP speaking publicly and with little rebuke from others in their region are not the only voices there, or representative of all in TSP.

But the facts remain: no effort was made to speak to us before this appointment was made, despite recent events, despite the predictable response from our citizens, and despite the obvious message it sends. This should have been a simple matter, particularly if TSP was indeed sincere in trying to mend fences. We appreciate that their Prime Minister recognizes the severity of this error, but the obliviousness previously displayed has reignited bad feelings in The North Pacific and prompted unrepentant and confrontational posturing and provocations from key members of TSP’s community in public, with not nearly enough interest on the part of their government in addressing it. These recent events and how they have been handled have not inspired confidence in TNP’s community. Actions speak louder than all the nicest words that could be expressed, and TSP has either taken the wrong ones, or failed to take actions that would improve this situation. TNP has been patient and extended the benefit of the doubt, but that patience has its limits, and our community has doubts that are anything but beneficial.

Our regions have had a strong relationship for over a decade. There have been challenges, hard feelings, and clearly in some cases resentment. At several points along the way the alliance has been tested to its breaking point, but it always held. It is not an exaggeration to say that there are individuals in both regions who would rather see the end of this alliance. Many of these individuals never believed in the compatibility of the two regions, or put strict adherence to ideology above all else. But some of them came to this point of view after the past trials that tested this alliance, as a result of past damage that has been done, and now they have been joined by those who have developed a fresh resentment from these latest events. That damage cannot be overlooked, and even though our respective governments are more than willing to continue working in partnership and find a way to move forward from this latest incident, we have concluded that there is nothing more that can be done. There are no magic words, and there is no correct sequence of events and performances that TSP’s existing government can execute which our community would find sufficient to move forward with the alliance while the current government continues to serve in their roles. The fundamental trust in TSP that our community must have to move forward simply no longer exists. It must be rebuilt, and this requires not only further introspection and rectification from TSP’s leadership, but also time and space to pause and reset so that the recent events will not define our relationship into the future.

With everything in mind, it would not be right to insist on this alliance without giving our citizens a chance to properly consider and recommit to it, which is why I am formally opening a discussion in the Regional Assembly on whether or not to repeal The Aurora Alliance.

The North Pacific cannot credibly maintain this alliance as the lone partner making an effort to sustain it. That requires more from The South Pacific. It requires more thought and responsibility than TSP’s leadership has until recently been willing to put into this relationship, which means its officials must continue to make a good faith effort and be attentive to the very real concerns our citizens have when they make moves that may cause those concerns to be raised. It requires an honest appraisal of what has happened before, and a commitment to grow beyond the grudges and biases of the past, which means clear messaging from TSP’s government that its loudest naysayers in their midst and the pessimism they preach do not speak for the region or represent its disposition toward the alliance. This is necessary not solely to win over our citizens voting on the treaty’s fate, but also, and especially, in the event the treaty survives that process. This will require actors on both sides to be cognizant of how words, promises and apologies cannot be followed by actions that contradict those words. Our alliance relies on trust in the other, and rebuilding that trust will take conscious, deliberate effort. I pledge that The North Pacific will strive to be worthy of that trust, as we have been so far. And if our community decides the time has come for this alliance to end, it is my hope that it will be ended only temporarily, and that one day we can reaffirm our commitment and reforge what was unfortunately lost in this difficult time.

Two of NationStates’ oldest democracies will always have more in common than not. We will always have a relationship that is based on common bonds, shared history, and similar values. I believe that is even true in the case of ideology, even if one is firmly defender and the other is not. And I believe our relationship with TSP will withstand even these events. Even though we will not be able to closely cooperate with them for the foreseeable future, we continue to look forward to a future where we can comfortably move past this and strengthen our relationship. No matter what happens, The South Pacific will find a kindred spirit and friend in The North Pacific, and we will have a future, even if it takes a different form from what we have been used to for over a decade.

Yours,


Delegate of The North Pacific

[Mlakhavia]

"oops"

[The North Polish Union]

Let's sum up:

TNP: We recognize that HS' role is internal-facing
TNP: We totally aren't trying to influence TSP's internal appointment process
TNP: We believe TSP's PM is sincere
TNP: We believe that recent actions have not been malicious in nature
TNP: We recognize that Glen's views aren't representative of TSP

...

TNP: We are opening a discussion on repealing our alliance with TSP
TNP: TSP must be attentive to our concerns when appointing internal-facing cabinet members
TNP: TSP should keep Glen from voicing his opinions publicly

I'm pretty sure that issuing ultimatums for how you want TSP to conduct their internal affairs mere paragraphs after saying you aren't trying to exercise authority over TSP's internal affairs is a great sign for the health of this alliance.

[Pallaith]

Let's sum up:

TNP: We recognize that HS' role is internal-facing
TNP: We totally aren't trying to influence TSP's internal appointment process
TNP: We believe TSP's PM is sincere
TNP: We believe that recent actions have not been malicious in nature
TNP: We recognize that Glen's views aren't representative of TSP

...

TNP: We are opening a discussion on repealing our alliance with TSP
TNP: TSP must be attentive to our concerns when appointing internal-facing cabinet members
TNP: TSP should keep Glen from voicing his opinions publicly

I'm pretty sure that issuing ultimatums for how you want TSP to conduct their internal affairs mere paragraphs after saying you aren't trying to exercise authority over TSP's internal affairs is a great sign for the health of this alliance.

If I ever need a really good rubber band, I’m going to look you up. Boy, that was a stretch if I ever saw one.

[Attempted Socialism]

Let's sum up:

TNP: We recognize that HS' role is internal-facing
TNP: We totally aren't trying to influence TSP's internal appointment process
TNP: We believe TSP's PM is sincere
TNP: We believe that recent actions have not been malicious in nature
TNP: We recognize that Glen's views aren't representative of TSP

...

TNP: We are opening a discussion on repealing our alliance with TSP
TNP: TSP must be attentive to our concerns when appointing internal-facing cabinet members
TNP: TSP should keep Glen from voicing his opinions publicly

I'm pretty sure that issuing ultimatums for how you want TSP to conduct their internal affairs mere paragraphs after saying you aren't trying to exercise authority over TSP's internal affairs is a great sign for the health of this alliance.

Your abilities of creative interpretation are truly unmatched.

[Orcuo]

Let's sum up:

TNP: We recognize that HS' role is internal-facing
TNP: We totally aren't trying to influence TSP's internal appointment process
TNP: We believe TSP's PM is sincere
TNP: We believe that recent actions have not been malicious in nature
TNP: We recognize that Glen's views aren't representative of TSP

...

TNP: We are opening a discussion on repealing our alliance with TSP
TNP: TSP must be attentive to our concerns when appointing internal-facing cabinet members
TNP: TSP should keep Glen from voicing his opinions publicly

I'm pretty sure that issuing ultimatums for how you want TSP to conduct their internal affairs mere paragraphs after saying you aren't trying to exercise authority over TSP's internal affairs is a great sign for the health of this alliance.

That’s NSPolitics for ya.

[Darcania]

Remember, friends, anything less than complete and total capitulation to the interests of some nobody pundit on the forums is to be shunned

[Orcuo]

For funnies, I got ChatGPT to summarize this announcement, here was the result for anyone interested.

The text describes a recent series of events between The South Pacific (TSP) and The North Pacific (TNP), two regions in the online game NationStates. TSP had previously apologized for allowing its Minister of Foreign Affairs to extort TNP's delegate, which caused strain in their relationship. However, TSP recently invited the same official back into their government, leading to surprise and disappointment in TNP. Although TNP had worked to find common ground and remain committed to the alliance, the recent events tested their trust and patience.

The text clarifies some facts: TSP's decision to bring back the official was seen as an error in judgment rather than a malicious act, and TNP recognizes that TSP has the right to make its own personnel decisions. However, TNP feels that TSP's lack of communication before the appointment, despite recent events, and the subsequent confrontational behavior from some members of TSP's community, have hindered the rebuilding of trust. TNP acknowledges the strong relationship they have had with TSP over the years but concludes that the recent events have damaged the fundamental trust between the regions.

Considering the situation, the leader of TNP decides to open a discussion in the Regional Assembly to repeal The Aurora Alliance, the alliance between TSP and TNP. They believe that maintaining the alliance requires more effort and responsibility from TSP's leadership, as well as a genuine commitment to addressing the concerns of TNP's citizens. Rebuilding trust will be crucial, and TNP promises to be worthy of that trust. However, they also express hope that if the alliance ends, it will only be temporary, and the relationship can be reestablished in the future.

Despite the current difficulties, the text emphasizes that TSP and TNP share common bonds, history, and values. The leader of TNP believes that their relationship will withstand the events and looks forward to a future where they can move past the current challenges and strengthen their bond, even if it takes a different form.

[Angeloid Astraea]

For funnies, I got ChatGPT to summarize this announcement, here was the result for anyone interested.

The text describes a recent series of events between The South Pacific (TSP) and The North Pacific (TNP), two regions in the online game NationStates. TSP had previously apologized for allowing its Minister of Foreign Affairs to extort TNP's delegate, which caused strain in their relationship. However, TSP recently invited the same official back into their government, leading to surprise and disappointment in TNP. Although TNP had worked to find common ground and remain committed to the alliance, the recent events tested their trust and patience.

The text clarifies some facts: TSP's decision to bring back the official was seen as an error in judgment rather than a malicious act, and TNP recognizes that TSP has the right to make its own personnel decisions. However, TNP feels that TSP's lack of communication before the appointment, despite recent events, and the subsequent confrontational behavior from some members of TSP's community, have hindered the rebuilding of trust. TNP acknowledges the strong relationship they have had with TSP over the years but concludes that the recent events have damaged the fundamental trust between the regions.

Considering the situation, the leader of TNP decides to open a discussion in the Regional Assembly to repeal The Aurora Alliance, the alliance between TSP and TNP. They believe that maintaining the alliance requires more effort and responsibility from TSP's leadership, as well as a genuine commitment to addressing the concerns of TNP's citizens. Rebuilding trust will be crucial, and TNP promises to be worthy of that trust. However, they also express hope that if the alliance ends, it will only be temporary, and the relationship can be reestablished in the future.

Despite the current difficulties, the text emphasizes that TSP and TNP share common bonds, history, and values. The leader of TNP believes that their relationship will withstand the events and looks forward to a future where they can move past the current challenges and strengthen their bond, even if it takes a different form.

Does NS need a Writer's Strike too? =P

[Sacred Butterfinger]

-snip-

Cool. Take your consistently bad takes, which nobody asked for, and give them to people who actually care, which is probably no one.