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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Serpenteye" data-source="post: 185865" data-attributes="member: 1492">"We sacrificed much to destroy the teraakians. Our gamble would have worked, had they not recieved reinforcements. It would have worked, but we failed. So, we summoned aid, against an enemy that was beyond our power, and that enemy once again changed its objectives and dropped its extortionate demands against our nations, claiming friendship. In the past they turned from threatening the Oerth Alliance to embracing them as near-equals, for no substantial reason. It makes me wonder when they will turn next. Regardless of their claims they are deeply chaotic, at least in their foreign policies. If they, after this crisis have been solved, for no reason whatsoever drop their demands that we be surrender our power to them... all we have done to fight them will have done horrible damage to our worlds for nothing. An incredible waste of lives and resources. And if they instead choose to attack us our current cooperation with them might cost us everything. Nothing can be predicted, all our policies are built on nothing." Naganika's semiopaque sphere carried her back and forwards in a parody of pacing, her voice and posture clearly showing her discomfort."It's quite possible that the arrival of the Loch Nor changed their priorities and forced them to ceace their hostilities against us. It is by far the most likely reason for their apparent change of heart. What else could have caused it? Nothing. When the Sleen and Loch Nor have been defeated the terraakians have no reason not to resume their aggression against us. No reason what so ever. They are intelligent enough to base their plans on careful deductive reasoning. One does not simply change such plans merely from talking to an Angel. Even so, their actions so far have been far from logical, which could be intended to confuse us, but does not seem to advance their initial agenda, whatever that agenda was. For a colonizing empire they have behaved extremely foolishly and if they really intended to help us their actions have been even more counterproductive. Can you find a pattern to their actions?""No." The God Emperor answered distractedly, too preoccupied with the blueprints for the magical structure of several new spells to pay her much attention. "We have been over this before. Until the situation changes we have nothing more to add. Sometimes you have to accept that you have too few variables to solve a problem. Be patient, and rest assured. My actions will carry us to safety.""You really want to believe that, don't you?""There is power in belief, daughter, and there is power in the belief you can inspire in others. Religion, politics, power, is all about belief, faith. I am a living example of that. If not for my belief in myself and the faith of others in me, I would still be mortal, and most likely dead. You have to believe in yourself, and you have to believe in me, for I am the part of you that is divine. But never let your faith blur your reasoning, never let dogma block deduction. Always remember the first key to power, pragmatism.""I suppose you're right.""I usually am."</blockquote>

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