+++incoming transmission
+++from: Melliar, Captain of the Determination, Freeport 9
+++Zoners Council
1) 5K "ZoI" for ALL Zoner Facilities?
Aye
2) Declare Omicron Theta a CoZ "ZoI"?
Nay
3) Declare Omega 49 a CoZ "ZoI"?
Aye
4) Should liberation of Slaves and "prisoners" be a requirement for access to Freeports?
Absolutely, I am all against slavery.
5) Escorts:
This is not a mere yes or no issue; description must be used in a case to case evaluation. So...I don't vote.
' Wrote:From: Louisa Salome, Zoners Trading Consortium
To: The Council of Zoners
Great Council,
this time I will not bother you with long speeches. I cast the following votes:
1) Yes, around every Zoner facility should a 5K ZoI be declared.
2) No, Omicron Theta is not a system wide Zoners' ZoI.
3) No, Omega 49 is not a system wide Zoners' ZoI.
4) Yes, we should ban all ships carrying slaves from docking at any of our stations. Being freedom-loving leaves no space for tolerating slave cargo holds in our docks.
Sincerely,
Lou
Just to clarify, the motion does not ban those holding slaves from docking. It asks those who dock with them to liberate them upon landing.
From: Julian Marks, Zoners Trading Consortium
To: The Council of Zoners
Council Members,
My votes are as follows:
1) Yes, around every Zoner facility
2) No
3) No
4) No, prisoners are prisoners. They should be released on the nearby Freeport only if there's an issue with some conflicting parties around (meaning BH with corsairs onboard, in the presence of corsair pilots) , and only if the tensions in the vicinity of the base escalate.
Julian.
**Incoming Transmission**
Comm ID: Captain Trogdor
1) 5K "ZoI" for ALL Zoner Facilities?
Yay.
2) Declare Omicron Theta a CoZ "ZoI"?
Yay.
3) Declare Omega 49 a CoZ "ZoI"?
Yay.
4) Should liberation of Slaves and "prisoners" be a requirement for access to Freeports?
Yay. (//Though judgement should be made, many ships carry pilots whom serve as the crew of the ship. Don't mistake these for prisoners.)
5) Escorts:
Abstain.
**Transmission ends**
Incoming Transmission
Comm ID: Aurelia Silvan
Recipient(s): Council
Delegates, I think we jumped the gun a bit on some of these issues. The no-tax/no-fire zones for Omega-49 and Theta have been discussed properly, yes. And I was under the impression that the first matter, a 5K ZoI/No-Fire/Tax/Loitering zone around all stations had been settled already. You can find the result of the council's vote
here, and it was passed already. So I wonder why the issue has been brought up again and is being voted on, again.
On the issue of Escorts, I'm a firm believer in leaving it to the discretion of the Zoners present. For being a loosely-controlled group who values our freedom, as many have said in the last two days, why are we trying to control the daily lives and actions of our pilots? Should we really be requiring them to escort traders around, or dictating how and when they are allowed to? Does that not contradict directly with the reason we are Zoners; To be able to do what we want when we want to, free from the rules and laws of the houses?
We're not the Liberty Navy, so why are we acting like them? If a Zoner
wants[ to escort a trader through Theta, or Omega-49, or beyond, let them. But who are we to dictate that they do? What if, by flying off to escort a trader, they have to leave one of our bases, or Gran Canaria, defenseless and someone comes and starts making trouble? This is not the jurisdiction of the Council, and I've found we are perilously close to overstepping our bounds these days.
And lastly to the subject of prisoners and slaves. I've covered my views on this before, but will give it again.
How can we, an organization founded on the prospect of freedom, turn and try to force our beliefs on others? We are a society of non-conformists, now trying to make others conform to our wishes.
Yes, they traffic in slaves. Yes, some carry prisoners. But if they are not put in cells on our station, if their sale does not take place on our station, what does it have to do with us? If the slaves and prisoners are not Zoners, why should we get involved? Furthermore, such actions could alienate certain groups, such as the Outcasts. If we suddenly start advocating the release of all slaves we find, how will they view us? Considering their main industry, Cardamine farming, requires large amounts of slaves. Bounty Hunters get paid mainly for the capturing of criminals and their subsequent imprisonment or sale to whatever house authority paid for their capture. We start forcing others to release their slaves and prisoners, and we take away their source of income.
Do not forget that we make money selling goods to both of those groups, as well as others that this would alienate. If we start on this path, they'll go elsewhere for their goods. And I don't delude myself in thinking they will still refrain from attacking our transports.. If the Outcasts get nothing but headaches from us, expect the same in return. We must learn where our jurisdiction ends before this Council goes too far and ruins the neutrality we've worked so hard to achieve.
I, for one, will never enforce such a decision as this. And if that is found unacceptable by the rest of the Council, I'll gladly resign my position.
-Aurelia Silvan
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End Transmission
**Incoming Transmission**
Comm ID: Phyrus Emperor
My votes are as follow:
1)Yes, for the 5k
2)No, not the entire Theta system. Just keep it to the Freeport
3)Yes, Omega 49 is a key point in the trading industry and our economy. Its other traders from other factions, and not just Zoners, that keeps our economy going, it will be foolish to loose them because they do not feel safe in our system.
4)Yes... This is a hard one, but I honestly feel its morally wrong to keep people from freedom since freedom is what we live for. Just as the houses 'inslave' their people with their laws, these slavers are even worse and it is against what we stand for.... freedom comes first, not neutrality!
5)As was mentioned before, it all depends on who WANTS to escort our traders. We can not make anyone, unless we form a group from WILLING civilians to take up this task. But this is really not something we can decide for others.
**Incoming transmission**
Comm ID: ZonerStoner
Location: Gran Canaria
I place my vote on motions as follows:
1) Yea
2) Nay
3) Nay
4) Yea
5) Nay
Thank you
Comm ID: William Ironfoot
To: Council of Zoners
My votes are as follows:
1) 5K "ZoI" for ALL Zoner Facilities?
YES
2) Declare Omicron Theta a CoZ "ZoI"?
YES
3) Declare Omega 49 a CoZ "ZoI"?
YES
4) Should liberation of Slaves and "prisoners" be a requirement for access to Freeports?
YES
5) Escorts
YES
* Ironfoot out *
--Incoming Transmission--
--ID: Rashida--
Rashida, wearing dark blue, velvety robes sits in a large, cushioned chair, with her feet resting on a nearby desk. In the background, through the large window behind her, can be seen a small green star, whose light gives everything a strange glow. Setting whatever concoction she was drinking down on a table beside her, she addresses the camera.
"Alrighty, let's see ifn I can 'member what we got on t' agenda t'day...darn, seems t' be gettin' more 'n' more business each time.
"'Right, point da first...urr...'ZoI'? I's assumin' ya mean 'NFZ', 'tho I guess da idea 's da same, an' also unna da fings what I 'as most misgivin's wiv. While I fully unnerstands as no one wants ta 'ave our bases caught in da middle o' uvver people's wars, dere's so many complaints an' arguments about da 'ole fing, one wunners ifn we're doin' it right.
"Me suggesshuns is as follers: Standardise da NFZs. It cannae be denied dat we needs ta stop people lettin' off capital class weapons next ta our stashuns, 'specially as not everyone's gunners is a crack shot. 'Avin' done dat, we needs ta decide on an appropriate response ta people as violates dis...'arrangement'? (I do so dislike da term 'law'...). First off, we obv'usly deny 'em dockin' rights, in order ta keep 'em away an' warn 'em we ain't about ta jus' roll over. Second, contact wiv dere 'igher ups ta discuss disciplinaree measures. But what next? What if dey eiver 'as no 'igher ups, or dere 'igher ups ain't about ta take responsibilitee? We dun' even take responsibilitee fer da acshuns o' our own members, not ta menshun dose as dun' sign up 'ere. Does we go 'untin' 'em down? Deny 'em dockin' rights ferever? Connect wi' our contacts in uvver facshuns an' discuss acshuns dey can take agin' da violators? (Again, like dockin' restricshuns, etc) Da real queshtun is," she places a finger carefully on the table next to her glass, "what exacltlee do we 'ave ta back up dis declarashun, an' to what lengths are we prepared ta go ta do it?
"Mmkay, point da second; Omicron Theta. Agin, I's assumin' by 'ZoI', ya means 'NFZ' an' all da related stuffs. Well, da followin' applies ta both Theta an' 49. Can we declare 'em a NFZ? Sure. Can we enforce dis? 'Ell no. What ya suggestin', we goes out an' patrols an entire system? We starts actin' like an 'ouse? 'Ow is enforcin' a system-wide set o' laws protectin' us, an' 'ow is it any diff'rent from what Lib'ty is doin'? Def'ntly no on both a dese points, two an' free.
"Point da fourth. Ah, yeah, I was 'spectin' dis ta come up at some point. Again, a def'nite 'no' from over 'ere. Once agin, me an' me crew 'as left da 'ouses ta get away from politickin' an' rule-makin'. We exists out 'ere wi' da bare minimum o' rules necessaree fer existence," She gestures about herself, "'Ell, I's s'posed ta be cap'n or summat o' dis ship...'ow much laws da ya fink I makes? An' now ya askin' me ta tell uvver people what dey can and can't do, even when I can't see 'em?" She shakes her head, "Free trade, free econ'my, dat's what I supports. I dun' care where ya from, or what ya sellin', not me business, an', I darn well 'ope it dun' become dis council's business." Taking a long draw on her drink, she goes to settle back down, then, with a start, jerks back up,
"Oh, yeah, point da fith. Knew I's forgot' summat. Escorts. Onlee time a trader 'oo is not a Zona should be bein' 'scorted by Zonas is when dey's comin' ta a Zona base, wi' needed supplies, or when dey's unner attack from a Zona enemy. Anyfin' else is gonna be causin' way too many problems, an' ya won't be 'avin my backin' ifn ya decides ta run all over playin' 'ero."
With that, she picks up her glass, settles deeper into the cushions and the feed cuts out.
Comm ID: GJEUVN38V719BELHA
To: Zoner Council
ID Trace: BT4-A45, Planet New Berlin, New Berlin.
Displaying...
1) Aye.
2) Abstain.
3) Aye.
4) Aye.
5) Abstain.
Transmission End.