Cygnus Accords

The Cygnus Accords were a set of agreements and trade deals made between several large spacefaring species in and around the Machine Sector, held in October 2156, in the wake of the Crimson Tide Incident and the Howl Event.

## Parties

Earth Republic (Representatives Xander Hark and Kal Utopia, World Parliament)

Tau Ceti (sym'Sil'at, Astral Directorate)

Itona (Galregarn Woteda of the Woteda Polity)

Minzera Clan of Praezorians (Vah'zeel, Matriarch)

Zera'hah Clan of Praezorians (Dronicta, Matriarch)

Skelow Trade Federation (Councilmember Saymos of the Federation Parliament)

Cadalia (Qursk of Yaron)

Ixion (Hierarch Drivitch Han)

Mu'Arae (Unnamed Z representative)

## Major Diplomatic Agreements

Article I: THE EARTH REPUBLIC, THE SKELOW TRADE FEDERATION, ITONA, CADALIA, MU'ARAE, AND THE MINZERA CLAN OF PRAEZORIANS AGREE TO PEACE IN THE MACHINE SECTOR.
Under the terms of this agreement, all signatories will refrain from engaging in aggressive acts unless aggressed against and defending their own vessels and colonies. The agreement extends to individuals and their property flying under signatory flags, and allows them egress within reason via agreed-upon trade routes traversing the sector. Costs associated with ongoing negotiations to maintain peace and trade in the sector will be borne by the STF. Reparations for conflict, destruction, and aggression will follow STF Conflict and Property Destruction Schedules.

Article II: THE EARTH REPUBLIC, ITONA, CADALIA, AND THE MINZERA CLAN OF PRAEZORIANS AGREE TO A PACT OF MUTUAL MILITARY DEFENSE.
Under the terms of this agreement, an attack on the military, vessels, home world, or recognized colonies of the signatory organizations shall be considered an attack upon all signatories. All signatories agree to send military aid in the event of an attack of aggression upon a signatory of this agreement. However, should a signatory be the aggressor in a conflict, all signatories may decide whether or not to send to aid.

Article III: THE EARTH REPUBLIC AND TAU CETI AGREE TO A PACT OF MUTUAL MILITARY DEFENSE.
Under the terms of this agreement, an attack on the military, vessels, home world, or recognized colonies of the signatory organizations shall be considered an attack upon all signatories. All signatories agree to send military aid in the event of an attack of aggression upon a signatory of this agreement. However, should a signatory be the aggressor in a conflict, all signatories may decide whether or not to send to aid.

Article IV: THE EARTH REPUBLIC, ITONA, AND MU'ARAE AGREE TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF MU'ARAE, ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION OF CYGNUS, AND REPARATIONS TO THE EARTH REPUBLIC FOR THE HOWL INCIDENT.
1.) The ER will protect and aid the Z in their reconstruction, including defense, in exchange for the permanent exile of the Sistal.
2.) The ER will entirely remediate the environmental disaster at Cygnus, making it livable for Z colonists.
3.) Tardek vessels will leave Z space and cease all fishing operations.
4.) Mu'Arae will share all weapon technology with the Earth Republic and Itona, excluding the Howl superweapon.
5.) After reconstruction, the Earth Republic will leave Mu'Arae and its colonies as a fully independent civilization.
6.) The Z will pay reparations in the form of raw materials and rare metals for the loss of: One Republic Shipyard and all ships contained thereon, Kapstar Base, ERS Kraken, ERS Fomorian, eight ERSN escort vessels, 65% of Mars Dome 5, 40% of Mars Dome 4, damages and reparations owed to survivors of One Republic, damages and reparations owed to the escaped crew of the ERS Titan, and damages, reconstruction costs, and reparations to survivors and families for the loss of loved ones borne by the city of Toronto, North America.
7.) The Earth Republic and Mu'Arae will engage in trade and cultural exchanges.
8.) If a war between the Earth Republic and the Zera'hah Clan of Praezorians begins, Mu'Arae will allow the Earth Republic use of its resources to defeat the Zera'hah.
9.) Mu'Arae and the people of Cygnus Colony give up, in perpetuity, any right to sue for reparations or further assistance for damages suffered at Cygnus. Any further aggressions perpetrated by the Z, even with Cygnus cited as a cause, will be viewed as a renewed and unprovoked act of aggression against the Earth Republic, and will be met accordingly.
ALL RECONSTRUCTION AND REPARATIONS COSTS ARE TO BE BORNE BY MU'ARAE. ALL ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS FOR CYGNUS ARE TO BE BORNE BY THE EARTH REPUBLIC.

Article V: THE EARTH REPUBLIC, THE SKELOW TRADE FEDERATION, MU'ARAE, AND ITONA AGREE TO FORMALIZE COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS AND OBSERVE A DE FACTO CEASE FIRE FOR THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF ANY CONTACT, OUTSIDE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT UNDER DECLARED HOSTILITIES.
Under the terms of this agreement, signatories agree to standardized communication protocols as well as observation of a formalized bidding system to apportion colonization rights to unoccupied worlds in the Machine Sector, administered by the Taninu Priesthood via blind auction; winner of the bid is to pay this cost equally to all other signatories over a twenty-year term. Additionally, 5 LY around Avart Station reverts immediately to the STF, 5 LY around Itona reverts to the Tardek, 5 LY around Mu'Arae reverts to the Z, and 5 LY around Delta Pavonis reverts to humanity.

Article VI: THE EARTH REPUBLIC, CADALIA, AND MU'ARAE AGREE TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF CADALIAN TECHNOLOGICAL AND PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIATION OF CYGNUS, IN EXCHANGE FOR Z AQUATIC DEFENSE SYSTEMS.
Under the terms of this agreement, Cadalian scientists will have access to data at Cygnus and share technological and scientific information and manufacturing capacity to assist in clean-up. Mu'Arae will provide Cadalia with aquatic defense system technologies immediately for use against the Dead.

Article VII: THE SKELOW TRADE FEDERATION AND THE ZERA'HAH CLAN OF PRAEZORIANS AGREE TO TRADE ZERA'HAH DEFENSE TECHNOLOGIES FOR STF NEUTRALITY IN THE MACHINE SECTOR.
Under the terms of this agreement, the Zera'hah will share advanced military technologies with the Skelow Trade Federation. In exchange, the government of Kalur and the STF will refrain from mutual defense treaties with the main signatories of the Cygnus Accords in order to remain neutral in the Machine Sector, excluding any colonies, bases, and protectorates it has established or will establish there.

Article VIII: TAU CETI AGREES TO ACT AS SAFE GO-BETWEEN TRANSPORTING TRADE GOODS BETWEEN THE ZERA'HAH CLAN OF PRAEZORIANS AND THE SKELOW TRADE FEDERATION, WHEN TRADE MUST TRAVERSE THE REPUBLIC SECTOR AND REPUBLIC-CONTROLLED STAR SYSTEMS, INCLUDING DELTA PAVONIS.
Under the terms of this agreement, Tau Ceti will not be asked to transport weapons technology or materials that could be used in the construction of weapons.

Article IX: TAU CETI WILL SHARE ITS EARLY WARNING SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY WITH THE EARTH REPUBLIC, CONTINGENT ON AGREEMENT OF SIGNATORIES TO NEVER UTILIZE THE TECHNOLOGY FOR USE IN OFFENSIVE ACTIONS. THE EARTH REPUBLIC WILL SHARE ACCESS TO Z OFFENSIVE TECHNOLOGIES WITH TAU CETI FOR ACCESS TO ADVANCED CETIAN SHIELD TECHNOLOGY.
Under the terms of this agreement, the Earth Republic will gain access to: Tau Ceti Early Warning System and Cetian advanced shield tech. Tau Ceti will gain access to Z offensive technologies (mazer, hyperspace push, etc.)

Article X: THE EARTH REPUBLIC AND CADALIA WILL SET UP MUTUAL EMBASSIES ON EARTH AND CADALIA. THE EARTH REPUBLIC AND CADALIA WILL BUILD MUTUAL TECHNOLOGICAL MANUFACTURING EXCHANGE OPERATIONS TO ASSIST WITH THE WAR AGAINST THE DEAD AND EARTH REPUBLIC FLEET RECONSTRUCTION.
Under the terms of this agreement, the Earth Republic will fund and construct mining operations, fabrication plants, and a shipyard crewed by AI and robots to build hybrid technology starships for use against the Dead. Cadalia will fund and construct nutriment fabrication plants and growing facilities for irken technology on Earth. Both government will trade scientists and set up fellowship exchange programs for technological experts.

Article XI: THE SKELOW TRADE FEDERATION AND CADALIA AGREE TO JOINTLY STUDY THE INTEROPERABILITY OF FASTER-THAN-LIGHT COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND CADALIAN IRKEN TECHNOLOGY.
Under the terms of this agreement, costs will be shared equally and any results of this study, as well as any information about STF proprietary faster-than-light communication, may not be shared with other species or cultures. Routes for trade and cultural exchange between the STF and Cadalia will be explored under this agreement.

Article XII: THE EARTH REPUBLIC AND ITONA AGREE TO A TRADE OF SIGNIFICANT OFFENSIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
Under the terms of this agreement, the Earth Republic will furnish Itona with phase missile technology. Itona will furnish the Earth Republic with advanced computer, AI, and robotics technologies.

Article XIII: THE MINZERA CLAN OF PRAEZORIANS OFFICIALLY ADOPT THE TARDEK AS A NEENKEK ADOPTED SPECIES, AND INVITE THE TARDEK TO HAVE ACCESS TO AND DEVELOP COLONIES IN PRAEZORIAN SPACE.
Under the terms of this agreement, all Neenkek species (Minzera, humanity, and the Tardek) will have access to one another's space, to open and free trade with one another, to settle in one another's space at invitation, and will be responsible for mutual defense of other Neenkek species. The Minzera extend invitation to the Tardek to settle in Praezorian space, as it had already done for humanity in 2155.

Article XIV: ITONA AND MU'ARAE AGREE TO STF-MEDIATED TRADE IN THE MACHINE SECTOR, WITH COSTS OF MEDIATION TO BE BORNE BY TRADE VESSELS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
Under the terms of this agreement, pertinent information about the Machine Sector that could affect travel and trade routes will be shared among all three parties.

Article XV: THE GOVERNMENT OF IXION PERMITS THE EARTH REPUBLIC TO ESTABLISH A BASE ON A WORLD OF THEIR CHOOSING WITHIN THE ILYA (IXION) SYSTEM.
Under the terms of this agreement, the Earth Republic will be lent, not given, the land in question, and will be responsible for all development and maintenance costs.

Article XVI: THE EARTH REPUBLIC, THE SKELOW TRADE FEDERATION, TAU CETI, IXION, CADALIA, AND ITONA AGREE TO THE FOUNDATION OF THE LEAGUE OF SYSTEMS.

## Trade Deals Brokered at the Cygnus Accords

1.) Itona and the Skelow Trade Federation agree to enhanced trade of raw materials from Tardek-controlled worlds. The STF is to provide processed goods and non-military starship technologies. Costs will be borne by trade vessels and organizations.

2.) Itona and the Earth Republic agree to enhanced trade of raw materials from Tardek-controlled worlds. The ER is to provide processed goods and industrial equipment. Costs will be borne by trade vessels and organizations.

3.) Itona and Tau Ceti agree to enhanced trade of raw materials from Tardek-controlled worlds and material and computer technologies. Tau Ceti is to provide processed goods and non-military civilian, economic, medical, and transportation technologies.

4.) Tau Ceti and Cadalia agree to cultural exchange via Science Symposium, to be held at Cadalia in 2157.

5.) The Earth Republic and Ixion agree to a broad trade of raw materials from Ixion-controlled worlds and shipbuilding contracts in exchange for ER hyperspace drive technology, shipyard upgrades at Woyn, and mutual repair and resupply facilities between the Xi Sector and the Machine Sector.

6.) The government of Ixion agrees to sell broadcast rights to Star Tower in Skelow Trade Federation space to the Loquacious Guild of Sports Broadcasters and Space Tower Defense Enthusiasts. Star Tower leagues may not be established in STF space without express permission.

7.) Ixion agrees to establish box seats for foreign dignitaries for all future Star Tower games, and to invite the members of the Cygnus Accords in a gesture of friendship and cooperation.