Discovery Gaming Community

Callsign: Yev Lightwing of the Zoner Trading Consortium (]c[)

Freed Slaves Compensation Initiative

The motion to Liberate human cargo upon landing on a Zoner Base has been passed. As a result, a number of slaves have already been freed. Ames Research reports indicate that over 100 thousand freed slaves will be liberated throughout Zoner bases in the next 2 months (Gran Canaria time). Where will these freed slaves live? Where will they get food and how will they relocate without money for transportation? Numerous critics have cited that the Zoner Council's decision to pass the "liberation" law was rash and nothing more than empty ideological banter.

The Zoner Trading Consortium is prepared to give the Sirius Sector a proper answer. Every ZTC member voted to pass this issue and we have substantial methods to support it. The Consortium has assembled a 100 Million Credit package to aid freed slaves in the following matters:

Relocation: 10 Million credits --> Freed slaves will need to be destributed accordingly among all Freeports.
Temperary Shelter: 20 Million credits --> While looking for jobs, Freed slaves will need a place to live and sleep.
Food Provisions: 20 Million credits --> They will need to be fed.
Health Care: 20 Million credits --> Lots of these former slaves are in poor condition and will need to seek medical attention. Children will need to get immunization shots and those who have been trafficed for sex will need psychiatric rehabilitation.
Job Recruitment: 10 Million credits --> Social services will need to be provided to find Jobs for Freed slaves. We will need to hire many social workers.
Education: 10 Million credits --> Some slaves do not know how to read and write. They will need to be educated in order to get jobs.
____________________________
Total: 100 Million Credits

The Zoner Trading Consortium will wire this sum to the Admin Sirius Network faction, an accredited monetary destributing corporation, which will re-direct the money into appropriate channels.

We hope this deal will aid newly liberated citizens of our Freeports. This is the first step in the Freed Slaves Compensation Initiative. It is a temperary solution to what will now be a constant occurance. The ZTC is currently working on Step 2 and will be happy to discuss it with the rest of the Council.

Regards,
The Zoner Trading Consortium (]c[)

' Wrote:The motion to Liberate human cargo upon landing on a Zoner Base has been passed. As a result, a number of slaves have already been freed. Ames Research reports indicate that over 100 thousand freed slaves will be liberated throughout Zoner bases in the next 2 months (Gran Canaria time). Where will these freed slaves live? Where will they get food and how will they relocate without money for transportation? Numerous critics have cited that the Zoner Council's decision to pass the "liberation" law was rash and nothing more than empty ideological banter.

The Zoner Trading Consortium (]c[)

Comm ID: William Ironfoot
To: Council of Zoners

Chairman and members,

This is great news from the ZTC and only goes to prove that the Zoners are ahead of the other factions and houses in not only the issue of slavery but most other issues in Sirius. We set the standards that others aspire too!

Comm ID: Doc Holliday
Subject: ZTC

This is a great leap forward. Congrats to the ZTC for doing what's right. Slaves aren't slaves by choice and freeing them is the right thing. And I agree with Ironfoot, we Zoners are ahead of most on issues and have set standards that others should aspire to achieve.

-Doc

*holographic nod and sleepy smile*

To: The Council

Forgive in advance the length of the message; since we've been away it seems that there arose a couple of issues to address.

First, we are disapponted to see that a group that normally works to protect the neutrality of our people and the rights of all men to make a living through their trade would risk all that we have worked for to enact what is indeed a rash scheme to bow down to the interests of groups like House Police, Bounty Hunters, the IMG, and their Colonial lackeys.
We of the Freedom fled from life in the Houses precisely because of the restrictions those governments placed on our efforts to scratch out a living. While we will continue to participate in this Council and uphold its other decisions, we cannot in good conscience participate in this politically and economically-motivated persecution.
It is with sober minds that we hereby announce that the RFS Freedom will enact a 5k-radius safe zone around it, and bar any parties from opening fire on any other parties within that radius, other than in self-defense, in support of the Freedom, or against the Nomads.
We furthermore declare that if we observe harassment of said merchants within our Zone of Influence, which includes the area surrounding Freeport 11, we reserve the right to escort said to a base that has not been taken over by radical anti-slavery activists (ie. a non-Zoner base that will accept them), where they may repair and resupply.
Finally, we hereby offer our support in the form of nanobots and batteries to anybody affected by this decision, and will consider moving to a place where such assistance may be rendered frequently, such as Tau-37.
Out of respect for the Council's decision, however, we will not encourage the use of Freeport 11 by those who have been barred from doing so by this decision, however poor of a decision it may have been.

The second issue is that of Omega-49. Once again, this is an issue we feel strongly about, and we are adamantly opposed to ANY House or other government attempting to annex bases and areas that our brothers and sisters have endeavored to civilize and settle. As Mr. Holliday mentioned, we have observed the Libertonian government's brazen robbery of the Pennsylvania system. Let's not allow a repeat of the scenario. We endorse the immediate opening of diplomatic channels to get this sorted out. However, we do not endorse any plan to cede any sort of control of any part of Omega-49 to the Bretonian or any other organization.

-Jonah Robinson and Crew

' Wrote:To: The Council

First, we are disapponted to see that a group that normally works to protect the neutrality of our people and the rights of all men to make a living through their trade would risk all that we have worked for to enact what is indeed a rash scheme to bow down to the interests of groups like House Police, Bounty Hunters, the IMG, and their Colonial lackeys.

-Jonah Robinson and Crew

Callsign: Yev Lightwing of the Zoner Trading Consortium (]c[)

You mean to say that trafficing women and children for slave labour and sex is a right for "all men to make a living through their trade," while having Corsairs pirate power-traders in order to supply their starving families in Crete is not?

You are content with allowing 10 year old girls to get raped by wealthy businessmen and let corporations like IMG get filthy rich from the Iridium fields that we protect with our blood, without so much as paying us a tribute -- a mere "thank you?"

Your implications fill me with great contempt. See to it that your sons and daughters do not one day find their ways into the hands of Slavers.

Incoming Transmission
Comm ID: Aurelia Silvan
Recipient(s): Yev Lightwing, Council

Lightwing, the whole purpose of the Zoners is to get away from the houses that restrict our rights. Then this Council turns around and strips those rights from others? What if those slaves aren't women and children, as you so dramatically theorized, but criminals? I know the Liberty Police imprison a vast amount of criminals, and some of them are sold off to others. The police don't care where they go.. And why should the Zoners? Is the transportation of slaves, regardless of how and why they are or became slaves or their destination, detrimental to us? No, not in any way. Is the motion to forbid anyone participating in the slave trade from docking our stations detrimental to us? Yes. I told the Council this decision will have repercussions, and already I have heard disgruntled Outcasts complaining about the 'stupid Council poking their noses in again.'

Should we dictate people's rights like the houses? Is this Council a pit of hypocrisy? I'm ashamed to say that is what it is turning into. I applaud Mr. Robinson's conviction on this matter, for it mirrors my own. You claim we are entitled to 'tribute' by the Miner's Guild. Are we pirates now as well? Are we the houses to tax goods coming to and from our stations? Perhaps we should simply start charging people to dock on our stations. Or to fly through our space. 'Sorry pal, it's a million for every 10K.' That is what I see this Council heading towards. You've forgotten reason and logic. You're acting on your impulses and desires. This was once a place where civilized discussion resulted in the best possible course for us to take, and now I see it as a place for upstart captains to throw their weight around and say; 'Hey, I've got power, respect me!'

As I said before; I will not enforce this decision by the Council in any way. I will even go as far as Robinson, and perhaps more. This act of arrogance, for it be nothing but, is unacceptable considering our position and beliefs, and I will have nothing to do with it.<div align="right]End Transmission

Callsign: Yev Lightwing of the (]c[)
To: Aurelia Silvan

If by "turning around and stripping those rights from others," you mean granting freedom to women and children, then yes.

And I did say that the IMG should pay us a tribute. But if you had taken the time to read my statement thoroughly, you would have seen that a simple "thank you" was all I asked and not a 1 milllion tax.

Carrying prisoners can work two ways, I agree. There are situations where hauling prisoners near a FNZ has put Freeports in harm's way. And there are certainly situations in which ships with prisoners bear no consequence. I imagine that as with a number of our laws, they will be enforced individually by members who feel passionately about different values. No doubt many Zoners could care less about Slaves and Prisoners, as you do for example. The Act, however, allows us to prevent political turmoil in such cases as when a Corsair pilot brings Bounty Hunter prisoners to a Freeport with 3 Guild Battleships stationed outside.

As per slaves, I have no doubt that there are many slaves that were once rapists and murderers in one House or the other. But having slaves land on a Freeport and remain as slaves is about as hypocritical as anything. If you want your slaves to remain as such, sell them to the Freeport officials or don't land. It's not like we're forbidding Slavers to carry their goods within a Freeport Neutral Zone. And it's not like half the Zoners won't look the other way while Slavers dock and redock at our Freeports, anyway.

Comm ID: Ivan.Ilyich
Source: Freeport 9, Omicron Theta
Destination: CoZ
Encryption Level: 2

I don't think any of us likes slavery. It is an abhorrent practice. But it is too politically sensitive for us to get involved with as a whole. To much direct and indirect business is involved, and we risk drawing the wrath of too many parties.
I don't see a problem with organizations such as the ZAS moving against slavers, as they do not claim to represent zoners in our entirety. But as a whole, our politics and neutrality have been rather shaky as of late. Our forbears worked very hard to ensure the neutrality we enjoy today, and I would hate for us to squander it.
This also sets a dangerous precedent of the Council deciding what is right and wrong. We are of the opinion that the job of the Council is to guard our way of life, discussing issues such as security, diplomacy, and the like. Slavers, vile as they are, do not pose a danger to us. The other dangerous precedent is sticking our noses in the business of our customers and guests. We really should not be concerned unless they are holding fellow Zoners against their will (we do look after our own), or if they have unsecured nomad specimens (due to the danger posed to humanity). Sure, it's just slaves at the moment, but how much farther might the council go later on down the road?

Now, onto the issue of Bretonian intrusion into Ω-49. We knew it would happen someday, and I think we can all agree that we DO NOT want a repeat of Pennsylvania. I'm utterly stumped though, as to what we could do long term. I see three possible directions, and nothing but headaches:

1. Work with Bretonia
   
2. Work against Bretonia
   
3. Play both sides
   

Option 1: Work with Bretonia
Begin talks with the Bretonian government. Talk to them, be firm (but polite) about our sovereignty over the system, and see what we can offer each other. For example taking in some refugees, and offering to ship increased amounts of Niobium and Deuterium to Bretonia. But then, how do we explain Corsair presence? "O hai Bretonia, we let corsairs through to have attack routes?" What do we tell the Corsairs when we start working directly with their enemies? We've got enough trouble as it is with them.

Bretonia may be weak now, but they will eventually recover, and what then when they decide It'd be easier to administer Canaria themselves? It's a tempting target: abundant resources, a breadbasket, and really an ideal gem to put an ailing and struggling empire back on its feet.

Option 2: Work against Bretonia
Make it painful to come anywhere near Ω-49. Platforms at the jump holes, increased armed presence nearby. Fund Corsairs, Mollies, anybody who works against Bretonia, but that's a big if to expect them to help us. Underhandedly assist Kusari even. But then, diplomacy is even more of a nightmare, and Bretonia will eventually figure it out anyway, and then we can kiss travel in most houses goodbye. And The only way to win in that circumstance is for house Bretonia to fall entirely. And we are not destroyers of societies, that is way too far for us go, even if we could.

Option 3: Middle Road/Wait-and-see
Of course, those are extremes, but more than likely this will be solved with alot of under the table dealing. I think it would be a good idea to station more capital vessels in the eastern cloud and in Ω-50, just as a precaution. Secondly, talk to the Bretonians. We've full confidence in Ambassador Holliday's abilities as a diplomat. We don't exactly know their intentions yet, so let's not panic. The best option in our opinion, is always diplomacy, with enough force kept in reserve in the event it is absolutely needed. It is however only a short-medium term response.

Option 3, in our opinion, is most suitable.
-Mr Ilyich

**Incoming Transmission.**

To: Council of Zoners
From: Samuel Nichols - CEO Omicron Supply Industries

Message reads:

I have to agree Aurelia Silvan on this one. We really stuck our nose in it this time. While I think slavery is an abhorrent practice, we should not be trying to tell the rest of Sirius how to live. That is a bit hypocritical of us.
If there are those of us that wish to purchase slaves for liberation, I think that is a great thing. But to require all those that visit our station to give them up upon docking is going a bit far. I think that makes us just as bad as the houses.

It is one thing for the Council to pass rules and laws that protect Zoners, it is something completely different for us to pass laws that regulate a situation that does not affect Zoners in any way.

As for O-49 and BMM. Talks need to be opened as soon as possible with both BMM and the Bretonian government so we can get all this silliness sorted out.

Sam Nichols
CEO - OSI

**End of Transmission**