[eia] naval retreats and access

["J.J. Young" <jjy@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

While we're on the subject of naval access and ports, here's a question I'd like us to resolve;

Suppose a major power is allied to A and B, and has been granted access to both allies' ports.  The major power loses a naval battle and has to retreat.  Rule 6.3.5.1 says, "the naval combat loser retreats all fleets that were in the combat to the one nearest unblockaded friendly (including an ally's port, with access permission and if the loser wishes to use it) port within 7 movement points (losing player's choice if more than one possible port is equally close)."

Let's say that ally B's nearest port is closer than the nearest port of the retreating major power, and that ally A's nearest port is closer still.  Obviously, the loser has the choice of either his own nearest port, or the nearest port of an ally which is closer or equally close.  But my question is this; can the loser choose which ally's nearest port to retreat to, or must he retreat to the nearest of _all_ allied ports ?

In other words, are the retreating major power's choices;
1.)  The nearest of his own controlled ports
2.)  The nearest port of ally A
3.)  The nearest port of ally B

Or are the choices restricted to;
1.)  The nearest of his own controlled ports
2.)  The nearest port of any ally (ally A in this example)

So do you get to pick and choose which ally's nearest port to retreat to, or are you restricted to the nearest of all allied ports ?  Personally, I lean toward the more restricted interpretation, since you can always ignore allied ports and retreat to your own closest controlled port.  But I don't have any substantial rules reference to back this up, and I will go with the majority view. 

-JJY
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