                             Command : RELATIONS

NAME
   relations - Shows diplomatic relations between countries

Level: Basic

SYNTAX
   [##:##] Command : relations

The  relations command displays your diplomatic status with other nations.  If
the optional argument is specified, the command displays that country's diplo-
matic status with other nations.

The data displayed by the nation command is formatted as a single page report.
   [##:##] Command : relations

           MGM Diplomatic Relations Report       Sat Jun 17 23:24:46 1989

           0) POGO                  Allied    Allied
           1) 1                     Neutral   Neutral
           2) Groonland             At War    Hostile

   [##:##] Command : relations 2

           Groonland Diplomatic Relations Report       Sat Jun 17 23:24:46 1989

           0) POGO                  Neutral   Neutral
           1) 1                     Allied    Neutral
           3) MGM                   Hostile   At War

Relations  are:  "Allied",  "Friendly",  "Neutral",  "Hostile",  "Mobilizing",
"Sitzkrieg", and "At War". Each has certain ramifications.

Allied  Your  ally is someone you trust deeply, and are willing to make sacri-
fices for.  If you are allied with someone, then your forts, ships, planes,  &
artillery  will  support them in battle.  Also, they can over-fly you, and you
will not be told.  (I.e. an ally can map you out easily).  When  you  use  the
"wall"  command,  it  sends  a  flash  message to all of your allies (see info
wall).  Unless the ALL_BLEED option is in effect, you will benefit  from  tech
produced  by  your  allies, but not by others .  Allied nations are assumed to
have "friendly" trade relations.

Friendly  When you accept a country as a trustworthy trading partner, then you
establish  friendly  relations  towards  them.  This allows them to sail ships
into your harbours, load and unload  goods,  and  have  their  ships  repaired
there.   You  are  allowed  to  "tend"  and  "follow" friendly ships.  You are
allowed to cede sectors to a friendly nation, and may send them  "flash"  mes-
sages  (see  info  flash).   You will be warned, however, if they overfly your
territory.  And if they do it enough times, your diplomatic relations  towards
them  will  be  automatically  downgraded.  You may "spy" on a friendly nation
with no consequences.

Neutral  You start out neutral towards all countries.  It  simply  means  that
you  are ambivalent towards them.  If they overfly your territory, you will be
warned and your relations will automatically downgrade.  Caught spies will  be
deported.

Hostile  If  you  are  suspicious that a nation may be planning to attack you,
but you are not committed to an all out war  against  them,  then  you  should
declare  hostile  relations  towards  them.  This will ensure that your planes
will intercept theirs if they try to over-fly you, and your forts will fire on
their  ships when they sail within range.    Also, your a-sat's and abm's will
attempt to intercept their satellites and missiles independent of  the  target
sector they have launched them at, and your ships with anti-missile capability
will attempt to intercept any incoming marine missiles within  range.   Caught
spies will be shot.

War  If  you are committed to expending major resources against a nation, then
you should declare war on them.  This will cause all of your ships, artillery,
planes  and  missiles which have been put on a mission to react to enemy move-
ment.

Also, there is an automatic  progression.  If  someone  you  are  allied  with
attacks  you,  you  become hostile towards them. If someone you are neutral to
over-flies or attacks you, you become hostile towards them. Neither  of  these
progressions can lead to war, however, they both stop at hostility.

The following paragraphs apply only if the SLOW_WAR option is used.

Mobilizing  If  you  are  Mobilizing, it means that you have declared war, and
are getting ready to attack. You cannot attack someone's land  until  you  are
actually  "At  War".  At  the  next  update,  you  will  automatically move to
"Sitzkrieg".  Your interdiction of the enemy will be the same as if  you  were
hostile towards them.

Sitzkrieg  Sitzkrieg  is  the  same  as  "Mobilizing". You still are unable to
attack their land. At the next update, you  will  automatically  move  to  "At
War".

When you are At War with someone, you may attack them willy-nilly.

SEE ALSO
   Diplomacy

