I think the one-on-one diplomacy is generally decent, although having the ability to negotiate more subtle trade and economic/research treaties would be nice, as would non-aggression pacts and such. Mostly, though I'd like to see the UP play a bigger role.
Some examples of a scenario I would like to see, perhaps normally, perhaps as mega-events:
President Alan Bradley took a deep breath as he entered the United Planets chamber, glaring across the council room at the crimson-robed form of his nemesis, Lord Kona. For the past year, the UP had languished under the control of that despot, who had strong-armed the other nations of the UP into electing him Chancellor, then proceeded to use his power to repeal many of the reforms that Bradley and the UP had spent years establishing.
No more. Today that ended.
Bradley looked down at his PDA, which showed the voting distribution of the Chancellory elections. He and Lord Kona were neck-to-neck, based on the best estimates of his analysts, but even now, his diplomats were in last-minute negotiations with the centrist parties. There was no point in negotiating with the Yor or the Drath: indications were 99% that they would vote for Lord Kona, and his relations with them were not close enough to hope to sway their opinion. The Arceans and Altarians would surely support him: they were allies, after all, and it had only taken a few assurances that he would work to restore the prior reforms for them to agree to support his bid. The Torians and Thalans were 70% likely to vote for him as well.
The Krynn were the problem. They were the most middle-of-the-road of all the members, fence-sitters to the very end, and it was there that Bradley's diplomats put their best efforts.
Fifteen minutes left before the ballots would be finally tallied, and Bradley recieved a ping on his comlink. He answered it: "Bradley."
"Chandra." It was Linus Chandrasegarampilii, Bradley's best negotiator and the leader of the Krynn diplomatic envoy. "Alan, it's been tough, but I think we can get the Krynn vote. We're down to two sticking points. First, they need our assurances that they can count on us for aid if Lord Kona decides to retaliate. Some of their worlds are right on the border of Drengin territory. . ."
"Garrety, how many resources can we spare?" Alan asked his Defense Minister.
Rebecca Garrety brought up a quick list of available ships. "We can 'give' them TAS Monitor and TAS Farragut, and assign their crew as 'advisors.' That should be enough to maintain border security for the time being."
"Do it. Next issue."
"That's the tough one," Chandra sighed. "They want us to break our alliance with the Carinoids. They've had their eye on them for a long time, but they've held off because of our military strength. They want us to agree to a non-aggression pact for the next year, to agree not to get involved in their war."
"Absolutely not! The Carinoids are a peaceful race, they've got no expansionist policies, and you want me to hang them out to dry? Out of the question!"
"Alan. . . this point is not negotiable. If they don't get a non-agression pact with us, they will throw in their vote with the Drengin. The Drengin have had their eye on the Carinoids too. The difference is, the Krynn just want to conquer them, not eat them."
"Damn. . ." Bradley clenched his fists. Two minutes left. "Do it," he said, and the words were like a knife turning in his gut. "Tell them we won't get involved, but that they need to agree to UP terms concerning the treatment of conquered peoples."
"Done. I'm sorry, Alan," Chandra said. He hung up.
Alan Bradley watched grimly as the seconds ticked down. He knew when the Krynn vote had been recorded by the cries of outrage from the Drengin delegation. By that time, it was too late: the final votes were in. "1,700,794 to 1,600,018," the Mediator of the Vote declared. "Alan Bradley of the Terran Confederation will be the next Chancellor of the United Planets for the term of one standard year. Our next meeting will be in three months. Chancellor Bradley will make his announcements regarding any chances to UP procedures tomorrow. This session is adjourned."
"This is an outrage!" Lord Kona roared. "This session is a farce! The Drengin Empire will have nothing to do with this idiotic, squabbling pack of animals!" He spit in the direction of the Terran contingent, baring his teeth threateningly at Alan Bradley. "The Drengin Empire hereby withdraws from the United Planets and rejects all of its so-called edicts!" As the other delegations rose to their feet in outrage, Lord Kona and his guards turned and left the council room, their scarlet robes billowing."
"That was stupid," Garrety sighed. "Now the entire UP is going to be at their throats. Lord Kona is going to talk fast if he doesn't want to end up at war with the entire galaxy."
"I don't know,"Bradley admitted. "The Yor and Drath are certain to side with them, and between those three, they control 45% of the known galaxy. The UP could be in for a tough fight."
"Don't worry about the Drath," Garrety said thoughtfully. "I've got a couple of ideas for them."
"Do what you have to. Let's go." He packed up his suitcase and prepared for his press conference, going through his notes on what reforms he planned to reinstate. As he did so, he noticed a little sidebar stating that a Krynn fleet had opened fire upon a Carinoids mining colony, destroying it and killing all ten thousand workers on board. His hands clenched into fists. Had he just truly won a victory? Or had he sold his soul to the devil?
He had a feeling he'd be wondering about that for a long time to come
