Recipent:________________________Liberty Navy Command Sender:____________________________Jacques Letourneau Location:________________House of Cards, Pennsylvania Signal strength:_______________________________Medium Encryption:____________________________________Medium
Subject:___________________Incompetency
Greetings,
You know, you should watch who you're giving the gun to. Giving a kid fresh out of the academy a Battlecruiser is a somewhat terrible idea.
Naval 'officers' disappointed me greatly today. They showed a complete lack of temper and unacquaintance with the laws of Liberty. I trust you will give them a proper lesson, both in the law and good manners. I will also give you the full picture of what happened and why I'm disappointed in them.
I left Roussilon a few days ago. The reasons should not concern you. I made my way to Liberty through the famous Barrier Pass. I took a break at the Barrier Gate Station to resupply and rest. There I bought a nice jewel in a gift store. It's nothing extraordinary, serves me as a desk toy and a paperweight. Though the scanners label it as an "artifact" and I have no idea why.
Fast forward to the present day, and I find myself being 'questioned' and threatened by some rookie Navy officers who's been given an Interdictor class battlecruiser and a bomber. I wouldn't mind normally, but this happened right here, in a no fire zone around Bethlehem station. This is not very considerate.
These officers have stated that my ship is illegal within Liberty borders (which it isn't, I might add, because as far as I know from the Liberty laws, the Lucullus liners are available if you possess the correct papers, in this particular example Council identification) and I should 'right now give him the artifact' because I'm breaking the law or something and I will be kicked out of the Liberty.
To be clear, I don't want any compensation for this. I understand people make mistakes, this is why I would like those two soldiers reminded of the Liberty laws and their duties.
Below you can find a few guncam shots as well as the recording of the conversation.
Quote:all Transport-class vessels of Gallic origin are not permitted with the House of Liberty, except when crewed by and flown under the banner of the Council, OR the Unione Corse cartel identified by the [UC] tag.
I'm really unfortunate to hear that Captain Pablo couldn't understand the phrasing of the Law. He's a good captain. Worked with him on many occations. He's not FRESH out of Richmond. However because of his nationality, not being of Liberty Origin... He... Doesn't quite... Understand sometimes. It is good to see the Council within Liberty in a ship that isn't allowed within the borders. Keep the secondary fleet on their toes. And that 1 artifact... It is considered illegal. We don't want that here. If you keep it on your ship, sure. But intent to sell somewhere within Liberty isn't going to work. In all context, The reporting officer on duty has the right to ask you to drop it, or allow you to keep it.
Personally just one artifact isn't grounds for an arrest. Although it is by law. So he's half in the right. I can vouch for him by the book for that much at least. There is one problem though. There at one time used to be a Treaty of Bethlehem. Preventing anything from happening under the 5 klokx around the station. Although that treaty is now Null, The NFZ has no power to obstruct the course of justice anymore. The Station is within Liberty. Is guarded by Liberty borders. So we enforce the law around it as by request of the Zoner Admin of the station itself. He told me and Commander Ceilia, He doesn't want smugglers or pirates 'round his station. We can do with them as we see fit.
So, That being said. I'm sure this message was meant for the primary faction of the LN, However I'm sure they'll read it in due time. O'Howell-Out.
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--To reply to this message, contact the command quarters of the Cincinnati.--
The.Cincinnati - Maverick O'Howell, Sylus, and 199 Family members.
Recipent:______________________Cpt. Maverick O'Howell Sender:____________________________Jacques Letourneau Location:________________________House of Cards, Oita Signal strength:__________________________________Low Encryption:____________________________________Medium
Subject:___________________RE: Incompetency
Mr O'Howell,
Since I nobody got hurt in the process and there wasn't any materiel losses, I want nothing but an explanation of it and also I would like to discuss the matter of that mysterious 'artifact' that everyone is making so much fuss around. But before that, let me quickly refer to some of the points you've made that I consider invalid.
Quote:It is good to see the Council within Liberty in a ship that isn't allowed within the borders. Keep the secondary fleet on their toes.
I am not sure if I should treat this as an insult. I trust you didn't mean to make it offensive. In my personal opinion the 'illegality' of Lucullus liners is not the brightest idea in the world and so is menacing with gunfire a ship that could potentially be carrying thousands of innocent people in comfortable, or even luxurious conditions. Yet, this is not my concern, dura lex sed lex. I have made sure that my Council papers have no expiry date despite the fact I am not considering myself a Council member anymore. But that's beside the point.
Quote:Preventing anything from happening under the 5 klokx around the station. Although that treaty is now Null, The NFZ has no power to obstruct the course of justice anymore.
Pardon me, I haven't been to Liberty for almost thirty years and I my knowledge of the current legislations isn't the freshest. I remember a few stations considered by Zoners as Freeports despite not being named. Yet I checked that and indeed, Bethlehem Station is not one of them. You have my full apology in that respect.
Now to the main point.
Quote:And that 1 artifact... It is considered illegal. We don't want that here. If you keep it on your ship, sure. But intent to sell somewhere within Liberty isn't going to work. In all context, The reporting officer on duty has the right to ask you to drop it, or allow you to keep it.
As far as the 'artifact' is concerned, it's something you needn't worry about. I am not intending to sell it anywhere, it's in my possession and I have paid for it from my own pocket. Quite a nice sum it was as well. As I'm sending this transmission, it's lying here on the desk being absolutely harmless.
I am currently on my way back from Okinawa. Before visiting Miura though I took a detour to Hawaii in Sigma-17, where I had that jewel checked by a few Hogosha experts. As you know, Hawaii is a center of Artifact trade among organizations such as Corsairs and aforementioned Hogosha, whether you like it or not.
Their diagnose was simple - the 'artifact' is completely derelict and has no use whatsoever except looking gorgeously and being my paperweight, as mentioned before. Also, I've noticed that it's categorised as a 'Sorted Artifact' by the scanners.
That 'artifact' will stay on my desk for now, until you decide to either acknowledge its existence and will stop causing a storm in a teacup or compensate for it, and I will hand it over to you.
If you need, I can deposit the jewel to any of your trusted officers for any research you need to conduct on it provided I recieve it back regardless of the effects of that research under a guarantee of a written contract.
Now Mr. Letourneau, I was not meaning to insult you on the presence of yourself within Liberty. You merely are an example for me to teach the newer recruits out of West point and Richmond on what to look for. In the book, Since we are at war with the Gallic house, Liberty doesn't want any Gallic origin vessels coming through Liberty. Civilian ships are Tolerable. as they are Civilian. However, A Gallic transport, regardless of itself is not to be within Liberty. Period. The only exception is Union course, or Council affiliated. So you have amnesty from your illegal make of ship because of your Council affiliation. The newer recruits wouldn't see that but the gallic transport and want to shoot. You, will help me teach the greenhorns what not to do. Merely a phrasing.
Now. About your Artifact. You seem to know the laws of Liberty, Mr. Letourneau. So let me get political with you.
Quote:Section I, Article I. Contraband possession and restricted commodities.
It is illegal to have any amount of these goods on your person at any time:
•-Artifacts-
• Black Market Munitions
• Cardamine
• Counterfeit Software
• Gallic Gate/Lane Parts
• Human Organs
• Hypnotainment Bands
• Liquid Cardamine
• Nomad Remains and other materials
• Nox
• Nuclear Devices
• Slaves •-Sorted Artifacts-
• Stabiline
• Synthetic Marijuana
Seems right, yeah? Looks pretty. Sure. But it comes from places that traffic Cardi and other lovely things. We don't want their goods. Some that have been seized have been found laced with drugs. Some have little storage compartments that have Cardi in them. Some had Synth. Some had Stabline. They're a bother and there are pilots who smuggle them into Liberty. It does not matter how you got it. Where. Why. Or what you paid. It's illegal within Liberty.
Now as I said. It's the DISCRETION of the officer on duty, to ask for it or not. Just one. I don't care. Personally, If someone wants one, fine. But if you have a ship full, that's where I draw the line. That's also just me. Captain Pablo was just doing his job, Mr. Letourneau. You can't get mad at him for that. O'Howell-Out.
**Transmission link severed**
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--To reply to this message, contact the command quarters of the Cincinnati.--
The.Cincinnati - Maverick O'Howell, Sylus, and 199 Family members.
Recipent:______________________Cpt. Maverick O'Howell Sender:____________________________Jacques Letourneau Location:____________________House of Cards, New York Signal strength:_________________________________High Encryption:____________________________________Medium
Subject:___________________RE: Incompetency
Mr O'Howell,
Quote:Since we are at war with the Gallic house, Liberty doesn't want any Gallic origin vessels coming through Liberty. Civilian ships are Tolerable. as they are Civilian. However, A Gallic transport, regardless of itself is not to be within Liberty.
Your statement seems to be contradicting itself. For the three years I spent in Gallia there wasn't a single time I saw a Lucullus class vessel to be used outside civilian use. Yet, I know what you mean, I just decided it would be nice if someone who is talking to me watched their own tongue.
Quote:You, will help me teach the greenhorns what not to do.
I don't believe I have agreed on that, Mr O'Howell. I don't think I have agreed on my ship being used as a training procedure for your men. Luckily the repair crews on Bethlehem were nice enough to repair that minor damage one of the 'greenhorns', as you call them, had caused for free, otherwise I wouldn't be so friendly.
Quote:Seems right, yeah? Looks pretty. Sure. But it comes from places that traffic Cardi and other lovely things. We don't want their goods. Some that have been seized have been found laced with drugs. Some have little storage compartments that have Cardi in them. Some had Synth. Some had Stabline. They're a bother and there are pilots who smuggle them into Liberty. It does not matter how you got it. Where. Why. Or what you paid. It's illegal within Liberty.
I don't think you understand that. I will not be the one taking responsibility for something that is falsely labeled by scanners. I had previously offered your scientists or xenoarchaeologists to check the jewel for any danger or whatever it could cause.
I completely do not understand your ramblings about Cardamine or any other drugs you have mentioned. Last time I checked, beautiful violet jewels weren't drugs. Seems like I'm going to need to check once again though.
I trust in your better judgment, Mr O'Howell. I certainly would like not to be disappointed. I have presented you with a few options of peaceful ways we can undertake to make this worth. Which one you will take is your choice. If you want to get the entire Liberty Navy fleet against me over a jewel that you falsely label as an 'artifact', that is fine as well. You might not like the results though.
I had the jewel to be put into a display cabinet. What this means is that it's not discoverable by any spaceship scanners available. I would rather not have it like that for too long though, I have come to appreciate its feel in hand. I might invite you on board the House of Cards to see it for yourself.