Comm ID: Lucky LeRoux.
I'm totally in favour of forming a Zoner Response Team and would be willing to help fund and participate in it.
Lucky
==INCOMING TRANSMISSION==
Transmission ID: ZO-0112-06
From: Alan Mosinger
Subj: VOTE: Zoner Response Team
I vote "Yay" on the motion for the Zoner Response Team.
I also submit the suggestion that the Zoner Response Team be properly tagged to show our presence within our zone of influence. I also suggest that there be untagged agents to monitor situations in which direct action is not needed.
-Alan Mosinger
Comm ID: GJEUVN38V719BELHA
To: Zoner Council
ID Trace: BT4-A45, Planet Manhattan, New York.
Displaying...
Whether a "Zoner Response Team" should be formed, identifying tag optional, and Delegate Silvan's "Tactical Log" be officially implemented to identify and manage the team's assets and deployment, has me voting "yup".
However, have we decided to keep the log private, or make it public knowledge?
Transmission End.
Comm ID: Chair/Bed/man Mal
Delegates, your holographic issues are fading rapidly before my tired eyes, but quickly:
How about we all become "agents", but keep an antique pair of red long johns aboard that can be attached to our masts quickly if danger arises, and,
I think that the consensus is that our "Security Log" be just that.. secure.
Thankzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.................
Thank you for your participation, Delegates.
On the Motion:
"Should a "Zoner Response Team" be formed, identifying tag optional, and Delegate Silvan's "Tactical Log" be officially implemented to identify and manage the Team's assets and deployment?"
Yup: 18 votes,
Nope: 1 vote,
Meh: 2 votes.
The Motion carries, and a "Zoner Response Team" is hereby approved and endorsed by this Council.
Delegate Silvan, thank you for your hard work on creating the tools needed to track this voluntary Defense effort. I encourage all Delegates who wish to be included in the Team to apply using the "Log", and to keep the information therein timely and accurate.
The Chair hereby decrees that the information contained in the ZRT Log will be kept confidential, and available to this Council and Team Members only, and that Team members may, if desired, affix the "(ZRT)" tag to the end of their vessels' current transponders. (Indicate such changes on the appropriate Form. The TAZ will not use the (ZRT) designator, as we have already formed the "Freebird" Squadron, along with designating "other" assets.)
If needed at some future point, the Council may also include certain Independent Zoners in the Zoner Response team, but will reserve the right to approve or deny applications to the Team, and to remove said Independent Team Members "for cause" if necessary.
The Chair further decrees that for the time being, "Management" of the Zoner Response Team will fall upon myself as Chairman, Delegate Silvan, and Delegate Tate, as senior Members of this Council. The Council will review and adjust (rotate) the three "Managers" on a regular basis; not less than one month, nor more than three months, between "rotations".
I believe that covers all the items included in the Motion as approved, Delegates. Any questions, suggestions for "Independent" applications, or problems accessing or using the "ZRT Log" should be addressed to the Team Managers using "alternate" Comms. The Chair again thanks all of you for your participation.
Delegate Burns, you have been added to the Registry, and are now a full participating Member. Welcome to the Council!
The "Floor" is now open to the remaining Agenda items, or for "New Business".
Chairman Mal
Comm ID: Doc Holliday
Yes, there is a new issue that may need addressing but I'd like to see old business wrapped up, starting with the standardization of the NFZ around Freeports and Gran Canaria, which BTW, the Bretonian government is now calling planet Sydney but that is another issue.
On the NFZ, I think the 5k distance is ample. I also think we need to re-visit the issue of loitering after the Big Bully incidents at Freeport 11. He basically stated that "he was staying for the security of his ship." We've seen this before from many, using the NFZ as a security blanket. Here is a motion I'll propose. Delegates, feel free to add or subtract input:
-NFZ distance remains at 5k.
-Visitors are allowed, say, 5 minutes to set course, address comms or whatever. If they're going to be awhile, they need to dock and find quarters.
-Make it publicly known that we don't keep holding cells for one's "enemy" pilots.
-Omega 49 is a tax free zone......all of it.
All I have for now on this. I'm flexible on things and welcome input.
-Doc
To: The Council
Greetings!
We are glad to see the ZRT motion pass. Now on to the next issue. We agree with Mr. Holiday's ideas, with one exception:
While the Freeports don't have holding cells for the captured enemies of our guests, we do not believe it is in our best interests to prevent visitors from keeping their prisoners inside their cargo holds during their stay. It's their business, and unless the captured individuals happen to be Zoners, it does not concern us. If someone attacks to free them, then it is their fault for being aggressive and we WILL act to defend our Freeport.
-Jonah Robinson
A fitting start, Doc and Jonah. Thank you.
The Chair suggests then that the Delegates limit discussion to matters of Freeport Security for the present.
Once we have identified and reached consensus on these and other items which might fall under the same umbrella, I believe Delegate Silvan has volunteered to draft our "findings" into an official and comprehensive "public" document on Council "Policy", which would clarify Freeport Laws, NFZ's, "no-tax" Zones, a "Hostiles" list
(already established), and other matters which we feel it important for the inhabitans of the Sector to be familiar with.
Continue your discussion, Delegates. No "voting" is currently called for. Let's deliberate until a nice "package" on Security matters can be agreed upon and placed into Motion form.
**Incoming transmission**
To: The Council of Zoners
From: Samuel Nichols - CEO Omicron Supply Industries
Message reads:
I concure with Mr.Holiday. With the current sitution out at FP11 we need these folks to do what they need to do and move on. Although this is the No-Loitering law again. Which was shot down last pass. As for O-49 and the 5 k NFZ, this need to be made public so folks know.
Sam Nichols
CEO - OSI
**End of Transmission**
Comm ID: Malcolm Reynolds
to: the Zoner Council
subject: No Fire Zones
Gauging what I've heard in the council regarding this matter, and my own thoughts on the subject, I have listed 5 "laws" when it comes to our NFZ's. I still consider it a work in progress (since the council has not edited it yet)
NFZ "Laws"
1a) 5K NFZ (No Fire Zone): All non-Zoner ships are asked to not discharge ANY weapons, regardless of target, while within a range of 5K of ANY Zoner base. (this even includes shooting at dust) if you want to shoot at something, take it outside of the NFZ.
<strike>1b) Omega 49 is a "tax free zone", no piracy is permitted in all of Omega-49</strike>
*edit: after the events of today in O-49, I am reversing my position on the "tax free" o-49
2) Loitering: We ask you not to remain within the NFZ's for more than 5 min if you are in a group of 2 or more ships, or are in command of a ship larger than a gunboat. All others may remain at the discretion of the local Zoner captains.
3) Captured Pilot(s): We ask that you offload all captured pilots upon docking with one of our bases, the Various factions pay us for the safe return of their pilots, and we are willing to pass that on to you for giving your prisoners to us. Otherwise we will have to ask you to leave the NFZ immediately to avoid possible altercations, within the NFZ, between you and the local faction(s).
4) Bringing a fight to our doorstep: We don't like it! We feel that it is an abuse of our hospitality and neutrality to use our bases as a staging grounds for military operations and our NFZ's as shields from your enemies. keep the fighting outside of the NFZ, or ask for an escort out of system.
5a) Escort out of system*: If you feel that you will be attacked immediately upon leaving the NFZ. We can escort you out of the system, and would be under our protection until you jump out of system. As long as: you are not holding any captured pilots, you do not fire your weapons, and you do not taunt your enemies. Any violation before jumping will result in the immediate termination of our escort and protection.
5b) Escorted ships: Any ship we are escorting out of system is under our protection and we ask that you respect the fact that they are "leaving peacefully", do not try and engage them.
We ask everyone to abide by these rules, abuse will result in consequences ranging from a simple "Temporary docking ban" to as severe as being added to our "Hostiles" list. in short, Zoner bases are designed for "Open Trade", not "Open FIRE!!!"
my own guidelines in enforcement of violations:
Rule 1:
ask them to stop, if they don't stop, ask them to leave.
(report NFZ violations ONLY if they are attacking players)
Rule 2:
"times up, time to dock or move on"
(enforcement is at the local captain's discretion)
Rule 3:
"offload ALL captured pilots, or leave"
(this seems to be a point of abuse,"taunting" opponents)
"We don't have enough holding cells, but we do have adequate guest quarters for them til they can get a ride home."
Rule 4:
Us "Shielding transports" is one thing, But Battleships should be able to take care of themselves, if not they should not be there. in this matter I think we need to side with whomever is respecting the NFZ the most. (*note* I feel when a warship hides in our NFZ's it's like a bank robber who grabs a hostage and points a gun to their head so the police won't shoot them, hostage ="Freeport")
Rule 5a:
This rule should help defuse certain situations when the "safety of my ship" is concerned. At this time I'd still leave it at the discretion of local captains as to who "needs" an escort.
Rule 5b:
if the "escorted" ship is following their part, then firing on them is considered a NFZ violation.
if the "escorted" ship violates ANY condition of their escort, cut them loose (ZERO tolerance)
...Again, these are mostly just my thoughts on the matter, and not the way I expect it to be adopted as worded.
Captain Reynolds out.