Comm ID: Jonah Robinson
To: The Council
Greetings fellow Zoners,
Loitering in and of itself poses no threat to our guests. We should not go down the slippery slope of preventing people from potentially committing a crime. The last thing we need is for the Freeports to become like House space; we've already seen the loss of freedom that occurs when Zoners and their guests become subject to unnecessary laws- just look at Pennsylvania.
Because of this, the captain and crew of the RFS Freedom have agreed to give a no vote on the legislation as currently described.
Furthermore, we will not enforce any such measure, and directly oppose anybody levying fines at a Freeport for any crime other than engaging in a safe zone while we are on duty.
-Jonah Robinson, Public Affairs Officer of the RFS Freedom
From: Werner Mazursky
To: Council of Zoners
Topic: anti-loitering law
[font=Palatino Linotype]Dear Delegates,
As you see, there is a strong controversy regarding the potential costs of the new law. Many people are afraid of scarring off the legitimate vessels, of turning Freeports into police bases, and ourselves - into policemen. I think that these concerns are rational, and we should not ignore them.
I think that in order to maximize chances of this initiative to pass the voting, and to become virtually accepted by the Zoners Community (not just voted through 51/49), we have to shift some accents to achieve a consense.
How about that we just try to expand the empowerment of a few chosen Zoner Guards in such way, that they become entitled to ask a vessel to leave, based on their arbitrary judgement (Sheriff analogy)? No need of measuring the distance to Freeport, no need of making 20 screenshots before taking decision. We gain some additional flexibility in keeping the law and order.
Of course the key question is, whom to grant such broad privileges. Well, I would be very strict here. I would expect the candidates to be able to documentate their very long practice as Zoner Guards; to have irreproachable opinion among the Council of Zoners; finally, to be *unanimously* supported in form of voting.
Best regards,
dr Werner Mazursky
CEO, board member
Zoners Trading Consortium
Source: Delta-7 (Mid Flight)
Sender: Ivan Ilyich, armoured transport Delta 7
Destination: Council of Zoners
Encryption: Level 1
My crew and I have discussed this issue quite a bit. We share many of the concerns expressed by others.
Some would say that militancy has been on the rise among Zoners. Others would say we are becoming like the houses our founders went into the border and edge worlds to avoid. That a strong set of laws and order are against some kind of "Zoner Way".
In my opinion, that's the price we pay for living where we do. Ideals must sometimes be sacrificed in the face of reality. While economic pressure is preferable to force, it may sometimes be necessary. These are the edge worlds, and we have to be tough when the situations call for it. We cannot simply buy our way out of every trouble.
The Sheriff system seems a very reasonable suggestion. A carefully chosen guard, approved by the council and stationed at their respective home port. They should also be required to report whenever they have to enforce a "law", for which a separate channel should be maintained, just like the NFZ-Violation Report Centre.
Abuse of power would result in a loss of sheriff status, but then again the individuals are to be carefully chosen and thus that wouldn't happen, at least not very often. We also think that the arbitrary decision of what is and isn't a threat will better suit our unique and individual facilities than a hard by-the-numbers-regulation.
The other concern we have is the potential effect such a law might have on both our business and our diplomacy, which has always been knife's-edge as it is.
-Mr. Ilyich
from: Persephone-II-
to: the council
"i am monitoring the situation around fp11 for over a year now - i have seen the nomads rise from insignificance to a real threat as well as the staging of the guild warfleet.
about policing our laws there - yes, i can do that, when i happen to be there... but frankly, for a ship like the persephone, such incidents are far too insignificant to even power up the engines, let alone the weapons. - i can gladly contact any perpetrators of the law or their respective leaderships - but i daresay, i d need other people to assist in the policing work. - very often i can only watch over things in my fighter around the freeport, cause the persephone itself is hidden away.
i believe a cruiser / destroyer sized vessel that is dedicated to a more forceful watch over our laws would be appropriate. we mostly get gunboat and destroyer sized vessels there - a good amount of bombers, too.
lately - i haven t seen serious breaches of security or lawbreaking around fp11 though... lets put it that way.... people that hang around there "check out how far they can go" - and when no one tells them how to behave, they misbehave relentlessly ... very much like kids.
as i have written, i would like to dedicate my work a bit towards the newly discovered space, gallia. - and my second in command aboard the persephone only got orders to focus on serious nomad incursions. - i m still in permanent contact with both, the battleship and the station though.
so count me in for "sorting things out" in a political way - but don t count me in for a permanent policing / watch duty, cause i don t have the resources to do that at this time.
E. Tate out"
Comm ID: I.K.S. Vor'tcha
Ladies and Gentlemen,
If I may. When Captain Trogdor hasn't been available, my crew and I have kept a watch over FP1. Having been to FP9 and FP5, it would seem that FP1 is in most need of our attention. It has also given my new crew some time to train on the systems of our new ship and we have another attachment in training to be received in the near future.
While the OPG has been a constant presence, one observation that I agree with has been made by the commander of the Santa Negro. Traders and even bounty hunters will float just outside the base to make use of the no fire zone. Then, we get yelled at for allowing it......from both sides. I do see the logic of a no loitering ordinance for this reason. Of course, traders will think we're sending them to their doom. Whatever ordinances we set forth, we need to have the laws spelled out
But one other thing I've noticed is that the Corsair Elders have been strangely quiet. Corsair pilots issue demands supposedly by the elders. I've learned one thing about humans and that's not to take things at face value.
Commander Matok.
**Incoming Transmision**
To: The Zoner Council
From Samuel Nichols of Omicron Supply Industries.
Message reads:
I like this idea of a Sheriff. While we all keep vigil when we are around our stations, a dedicated person, who is level headed and a good diplomat, but not afraid to chrage the weapon systems, would seem best. I also have to agree with Miss Tate in the a Jugernaught is a bit over kill for most of the transgressors we get. A well outfitted cruiser would serve equally as well, and cost hundreds of millions less. I do keep a luxury Yatch at Freepot 9 as OSI's mobile HQ. While it is not a cruiser it will suffice to scare off the fighters. I would still like to see a cruiser in Omicron Theta to guard Freeport 9, Corfu and the jump hole to Omicron 74.
Samuel Nichols
CEO - OSI
**End of Transmission**
*** Incoming Transmision ***
To: The Zoner Council
From: John Bess, Commander Emerald Glow
Heck what is wrong with you who try to play Police of Sirius nowadays?
Get out of your shiny big toys and perform some escort or supply duty perhaps then you will get sober from you imperalistic dreams.
*punches his console*
First this bully Trogdor in his mobile freeport started insulting the Rheinlanders and now he is about to start a war with a major Corsair faction.
The result i could see yesterday in Omega 3: Two massive fleets of OPG and BAF vessels were facing each other and i had to alter my supply route!
And regarding that loitering thingy:
I do not care if pal Mal wannna turn Baffin into a parking lot and starts selling tickets but this idea is against the very spirit of the FREEports. Time to think about the word freedom my friends.
From my side: NO
*** End of Transmission ***
**Incoming Transmision**
To: The Zoner Council
From Samuel Nichols of Omicron Supply Industries.
Mesage reads:
Commander Bess,
I think you need to relax a little. Yes they are Freeports and should be usable by all, unfortunatly, folks like to take advantage of that. Should we allow the BHG and Sairs to clash right on our door step? Let the Outcast pirate our traders as they leave station? Should we invite folks to have masive battles that will damage our stations?
If everyone could act with decency with in the confines of our NFZ and on station none of this would be nessecary, but not everyone is like us. We have the rules to keep those stations FREEports.
As for your other comments I make supply runs to Freeport 9 and 11 every day. There are no capital ships in OSI's hangers nor will there ever be. As of right now we do not even have an escort wing. So no fighters. OSI has 3 transports and 1 yatch. Some times we have to push back when pushed or everyone will run rough shod over us. Then where will we be. Out on our flippen butts, back to wandering, because some faction decided that us "non agressive" Zoners needed to go and they took our stations from us. I think a gun is a last resort, but sometimes it's the only agrument that is understood.
Samuel Nichols
CEO - OSI
**End of Transmission**
Comm ID: Captain Trogdor
*Rubs face* Wait..what? Imperialistic dreams? *Checks with advisory officers and communications officers* Sir, are you referring to some unrelated issue? I haven't the foggiest idea what you're getting at here, nor how doing escort or supply runs is going to serve any purpose save for giving our increasingly unruly visitors another target. We've been discussing diplomacy and policy, two things that are at the very core of what being a Zoner stands for.
And what's this jibber-jabber about me being a bully? I'm thanked regularly by passing traders for providing them a safe haven on their trek between Rheinland and Bretonia. When there is an issue with an unruly visitor, I handle it fairly and in strict accordance to our Freeport laws. Exactly whom do you think I have bullied, sir?
As for insulting the Rheinlanders, I've done no such thing. The Rheinlanders are a proud and industrious people whom I respect. I have insulted a few members of the Rheinland Military, and those particular clowns already know what I think of them, because of blundering misjudgement on their part that allowed a Nomad to escape and murder hapless traders another day. They deserved every bit of the little I said.
Now..your third accusation has me absolutely and completely baffled. Did you read the conversation logs I posted to the council the other day? Did you apply any cognitive thought whilst reading them? Are you trying to impress the TAZ by creating confusion? I said everything I could to AVOID a confrontation with that battleship. Further, I didn't start anything, HE came to ME. The ZTC members that showed up shortly after the standoff praised me for how I handled the situation. And you have the audacity to accuse me of jeopardizing Zoner-Corsair relations in front of the entire council?! I demand an apology, sir.
Corsairs and BAF clashing in Omega 3.. may I ask what the deuce that has to do with us? The Corsairs and the Bretonians have clashed countless times in Omega 3 and elsewhere. They shall do so regardless of our presence and policies, or lack thereof. How is any of that my fault?
**End Transmission**
--Incoming Transmission--
--ID: Rashida--
The bridge of the Gremlyn is dimly lit, save from an eerie green glow, originating from behind the camera. This glow illuminates Rashida's face a sickly green colour. She seems to only be half paying attention as she addresses the council.
"'No-loiterin' laws'...hmm. Din't I propose summat along dese lines a while back, when we 'ad alla dem 'unters an' what not parkin' dere fleets in our no fire zones an' den complainin' when dey was provoked? Now, one 'as ta look at da basic concept o' a 'Port, an' dat comes in da name, aye? Free port. Bee's free fer all ta conduct dere business wi' owt interference. Now, we introduces dis no fire areas in order ta protect da good people what is livin' on da 'port, an' to ensure dat people is not 'arrassed as soon as dey undocks. It ain't dere ta act as a shield fer people ta 'ide be'ind. 'Oos gonna respect our wishes dat dey dun' endanger our people when we lets dere mortal enemies park, unopposed, next ta our bases, an' when our laws prevent 'em from from movin' on? We cannae let people 'ide be'ind our neutrality, or we will end up makin' enemies o' dere enemies. I allus says dat dere is plenn'y o' space, dey can move dere conflict a mere 5k an' everyone'll be 'appy.
"As such, an' despite me...wait! Dere it is!" She points, excitedly at something that is out of shot. A chorus of "oohs" and "aahs" can be heard. After a couple of minutes, she returns to the camera, "Ah, yes, where was I...ooh, yeah, anyways," she takes a deep breath "well, despite me dislike fer rulin's o' any type, I puts me vote "yea" fer installin' o' a 'no loiterin'' 'law'. Ifn yeh wants ta use our 'ports, dock...an' move on. We dun' want no part in yer conflicts, thankee veree much."
--Transmission Ends--