.::Incoming Transmission::.
Message to : Whom It May Concern
Comm ID: Yev Lightwing, Shipmaster, (]c[)
Location: Freeport 15, Omicron 74
I have received reports from several Vice Presidents of Sales on Gran Canaria and Freeport 9. Their financial analysts collect weekly reports on economic stability in those regions and affiliated stations. Aparantly, since the OPG standardized taxation in O-41, the overall welfare of Freeports has gone into decline.
The standard OPG tax of 2 million on vessels carrying 5000 units of cargo, which is a
33-37% tax on the Dieterium/Human Organs delivery runs, has caused a negative response among Freeport corporations. Companies that have been effected by the tax have had to struggle to maintain their budget and financial stability. As a result:
- Selling prices of Dieterium and Organs have increased, causing an acute drop in consumer demand within Gran Canaria and Freeport 9.
- 6 Dieterium based businesses on Gran Canaria have filed for Bankruptcy
- Over 400 employees in Dieterium related businesses have been layed off
- 27 employees in Human Organ -- Pharmaceutical related businesses have been layed off
- Unemployment rate on Gran Canaria is projected to reach 8.2% (1.1% increase) by the end of the Planet's next fiscal quarter
- Delivery of human organs to Gran Canaria has decreased by 16% and is projected to reach 22% by the end of this month
- Corporations like OSI have limited their number of Food deliveries to Corsair stations in order to maintain some of the profits being lost by the OPG tax.
This is a collection of charts taken from
my 10-year-old niece's Economics textbook.
![[Image: TaxChart.jpg]](http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy281/yev_lightwing/TaxChart.jpg)
I don't think I have to explain what increase in unemployment will cause.
Text Amendment: I have just received word from the CEO of Omicron Supply Industries, one of the largest Zoner corporations in the Omegas, that it will no longer provide trade between Gran Canaria, Freeport 15, and Freeport 11 as a result of OPG increasing the tax to 80% (only applies to OSI). The decline in trade between these stations is estimated to fall by as much as 20-25%, since OSI provided a lot of trading in this region. These are astronomical figures and if this continues for too long many of our stations may fall under economic collapse.
.::Incoming Transmission::.
Message to : Whom It May Concern
Comm ID: Capt. Barnaby Jones of the Independence
Location: Shasta Orbital Skyhook, Baffin
Greetings fellow Zoners. I wish to make it known that I have interest in joining the Council of Zoners. I believe I should give my voice to events and issues important to Zoners in hopes of helping to ensure our future.
I currently hold a normal standing in the Zoner Community and fly a Border Worlds Transport. I plan, in the near future, to earn the higher status of being a Zoner Guard. I hope to hear back from the Council as soon as convenient.
Salutaions,
Capt. Barnaby Jones
.::End Transmission::.
' Wrote:.::Incoming Transmission::.
Message to : Whom It May Concern
Comm ID: Capt. Barnaby Jones of the Independence
Location: Shasta Orbital Skyhook, Baffin
Greetings fellow Zoners. I wish to make it known that I have interest in joining the Council of Zoners. I believe I should give my voice to events and issues important to Zoners in hopes of helping to ensure our future.
I currently hold a normal standing in the Zoner Community and fly a Border Worlds Transport. I plan, in the near future, to earn the higher status of being a Zoner Guard. I hope to hear back from the Council as soon as convenient.
Salutaions,
Capt. Barnaby Jones
.::End Transmission::.
Comm ID: RFS Freedom
Greetings Captain,
You might wish to go to
this bulletin.
-Jonah Robinson
From:
Pope David Fenderson
To:
The Council of Zoners
Re:
Resignation
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid the time has come for me to tender my resignation from this Council. I'm afraid that the politicking is turning the Zoners as a whole into a more Aneristic movement than we've been in the past, and I'm afraid I do not wish to be a part of any attempt to impose Greyface's order on the Zoner movement in general, and the TAZ in particular. To help explain my decision, I will include a selection from the Principia Discordia as an attatchment to this message.
I wish all of you well, and I hope you will consider carefully which directions you allow the Zoner movement to go in the future.
Semper Non Sequitur,
Pope David Fenderson, SA
Hail Eris! -><- καλλιστι -><- All Hail Discordia!
Principia Discordia, Page 00074 Wrote:Part Five: The Golden Secret
NONSENSE AS SALVATION
The human race will begin solving it's problems on the day that it ceases taking itself so seriously.
To that end, POEE proposes the countergame of NONSENSE AS SALVATION. Salvation from an ugly and barbarous existence that is the result of taking order so seriously and so seriously fearing contrary orders and disorder, that GAMES are taken as more important than LIFE; rather than taking LIFE AS THE ART OF PLAYING GAMES.
To this end, we propose that man develop his innate love for disorder, and play with The Goddess Eris. And know that it is a joyful play, and that thereby CAN BE REVOKED THE CURSE OF GREYFACE.
If you can master nonsense as well as you have already learned to master sense, then each will expose the other for what it is: absurdity. From that moment of illumination, a man begins to be free regardless of his surroundings. He becomes free to play order games and change them at will. He becomes free to play disorder games just for the hell of it. He becomes free to play neither or both. And as the master of his own games, he plays without fear, and therefore without frustration, and therefore with good will in his soul and love in his being.
And when men become free then mankind will be free.
May you be free of The Curse of Greyface.
May the Goddess put twinkles in your eyes.
May you have the knowledge of a sage,
and the wisdom of a child. Hail Eris.
Comm ID: [TAZ]Doc Holliday
To: All Delegates
I have amended the CoZ registry to include new members, well, one half-new. Welcome back, Capt. Archer.
Also, for Pope David Fenderson, we thank you for your service to the Council and wish you well. The TAZ will appreciate your dedication to their own.
Also, let's keep the chat in the CoZ secure channels to a minimum. There is so much chatter it's hard to tell who's talking about there significant others over coffee or serious matters.
-Doc
From: Louisa Salome, Consortium Board
To: Council of Zoners
Subject: Agenda
Great Council,
I can only second Dr. Hollidays suggestion to move our seclusive parleys about several matters back into the Council's Virtual Meeting Room. Our agenda as far as I remember is the following, and please allow me to describe the current state for each point.
Item 1: TBH Counterproposal (Ambassador Holliday) ~In Progress~
Dr. Holliday, have we received news from Elder Sephardi?
Item 2: Negotiations with the QCP (Delegate Lightwing) ~In Progress~
Delegate Lightwing ... Yev, do you have news from the QCP for us?
Item 3: Negotiation with Admiral Seith about the CoZ' Order Support (Delegate Salome) ~In Progress~
I darsay that we have found a common basis for a final porposal to the CoZ that can be put to a vote as soon as the Admiral will have sent us detailed terms.
Item 4: Ratification "Convention" (Delegate Duke)
I suggest to put this item behind our amendments of the Official Zoner Policies, item 6 and item 7.
Item 5: Use of Freeport 10 by Highland Security (Chair)
The Highland Security has been dissolved.
Item 6: "Penal Code" for NFZ Violations (Delegate Duke)
This item is so strongly related with the NFZ Violations that it is indeed a part of them and thus a part of the Official Zoner Policies. Both items, item 6 and item 7, can be put together to one vote containing two items.
Item 7: Amendment to Official Policies (Delegate Salome)
If my suggestions are accepted this item will be decided together with item 6.
Item 8: Chairman Election
My summary ...
We have currently three items in progress
Item 1: TBH Counterproposal
Item 2: Negotiations with the QCP
Item 3: Negotiation with Admiral Seith about the CoZ' Order Support
for which we need information about the current state and probably a final vote afterwards. We should finish each of these three topics, before we can proceed with the amendments of our policies. Regarding our general policies we have
Item 4: Amendments to Official Zoner Policies - the extension of NFZ rules by a "Penal Code", and a new section for "Restricted Vessels"
Item 5: Ratification "Convention"
If possible all other motions should be placed behind the last two of our current agenda
Item 6: Chairman Election
Finally I would like to suggest that the state of all topics in progress is reported here by each according Delegate within the next 72 hours.
Sincerely,
Louisa
.::Incoming Transmission::.
Message to : Whom It May Concern
Comm ID: Yev Lightwing, Shipmaster, (]c[)
Location: Freeport 15, Omicron 74
I have recieved the following document from the representatives of Queen Canaria's Privateers. It is not a pleasent read, in any shape or form, so I implore the Council to withold any passionate statements and keep its head cool.
Quote:1) Both the QCP and BAF are to be given the right to hunt down and kill anyone considered hostile to Bretonia within the NFZ of Freeport 1, as well as within the system of Omega-49 and the NFZ of Planet Gran Canaria.
2) The Zoners will allow the delivery of Bretonian refugees to the Port Jackson colony at no additional cost to Bowex or any other organization (attempts to 'send the bill' to Kusari is welcomed, however). Said refugees will continue to remain Bretonian citizens, if they so wish, and will remain under the sovereign rule of the Crown of Bretonia. Refugees will be allowed free reign to travel on Gran Canaria outside of the Port Jackson colony, but will be expected to adhere to Zoner laws while doing so.
3) Those Mollys and their families displaced by the Cork Massacre wishing to make a new life for themselves will be allowed to settle their own sovereign colony on Gran Canaria, at no charge. If unable to supply their own sufficient defense measures, the Zoners will be responsible for keeping them safe from any possible Corsair hostilities towards their fledgling colony, as well as towards any ship hauling refugees or supplies to said colony.
4) A public apology will be issued to the families of the Cork Massacre from the Zoners for any unintentional part they may have played in the tragedy. A number of Sirius Credits in the amount of 50 million will be payed to the Molly Republic to be distributed among those affected, to assist them in the rebuilding of their lives.
5) Bretonia Mining & Minerals (BMM) will be granted rights to prospecting and mining within the western half of the Omega-49 system. BMM will not initiate hostilities towards any other miners or traders in the Omega-49 system, save for those known to be an enemy to Bretonia. If deemed to be desirable, BMM will be allowed to construct a mining base within the western half of the Omega-49 system, with a minimum of 10k distance from the Dublin jump hole.
6) Any and all bounties placed by Zoners on the QCP or any lawful Bretonian faction will be immediately rescinded. A number of Sirius Credits in the amount of 50 million will be payed to the QCP as restitution for the damage already caused by such bounties.
7) The QCP agrees not to accept any 'blanket' bounties against Zoners. However, individual bounties against Zoners proven to be aiding the enemies of Bretonia will still be viable.
8) The QCP agrees not to 'pirate', for credits or cargo, any Zoner vessel not hauling goods to or from the base(s) of those deemed to be an enemy of Bretonia (Kusari, CR, Corsairs, etc.), or those caught hauling slaves or artifacts, or those within the borders of Kusari. Proof of destination may be requested, and the QCP may choose to 'escort' Zoner vessels to their destinations to be sure of their legality. Zoner vessels proven to be liars will be forever open to piracy and/or destruction.
**Target Communications Relay: Found**
**Datalink connected...**
Aha... Ahaha!
*wipes tear away* Who are they to tell us how to control our planet? Who are they to establish laws for our property? I say let their ultimatum fall on deaf ears! These privateers aren't recognized - in fact, what are they? Pirates? Thugs? They sure as heck ain't recognized by the crown, I found that out having been a citizen! Nobody knows a peep! Liberty'll let their LSF agents fend for themselves if they get in a twist, my hunch is that Bretonia will do the same for these sacks of rot.
And a hundred million credits paid to various parties for... What? Our self defense and giving women and children homes while their husbands went around willy-nilly, flailing about their energy beams and the like?
*chuckle* Let it come and go, I say. This is no way benefits the victims.
Paddy O'Donaghue,
Captain of the OSI-Lazarus (IV)
**Uplink terminated**
.::Incoming Transmission::.
Message to : Whom It May Concern
Comm ID: Apostle Zarathud
Location: Shasta Orbital Skyhook, Baffin
The Goddess calls and I must follow, but after many hours of contemplateing with my Pineal, I leave you with this..
The Goddess also expects you to work on yourself. You must devote your full attention to every task you perform so you will realise - in a flash of sudden enlightenment - how confusing it is. You must master one Little Moron riddle after another until, with years of study, there is no longer any separation in your perception between subject and object, between you and the Little Moron.
For some of you this does not apply, your already "Masters" of this and I bet ya didnt know how close to being a Discordian you really are.
23's
...End Transmission...
***Taylor Davis waits for his turn to speak. Once acknowledged by the chair he stands up and begins speaking.***
"Fellow Delegates,
The QCP are clearly not taking diplomacy seriously. Or if they are, they are the worst diplomats in Sirius. Either way, this proposal is obviously unacceptable. They ask for everything and give away nothing. Addressing each point separately:
Point 1: Unacceptable. The No Fire Zone is the cornerstone of the Council policies so recently enacted. It applies to everyone, no exceptions, save Zoners as a last resort to defend our stations.
Point 2: Redundant. We already have a treaty with Bowex, giving them all the rights that the QCP asked for. The fee has already been negotiated, and unless Bowex contacts us themselves I see no reason to make any changes.
Point 3: Confusing. Why are the QCP attempting diplomacy on behalf of the Mollys? If the Mollys wish to open diplomacy with us for space on Gran Canaria, let them contact us themselves, or at least tell us that they have contracted with the QCP to do so, which I doubt.
Point 4: Outrageous. Regrettable as the event in question is, the Zoners have absolutely nothing to do with any massacre by the Corsairs.
Point 5: Confusing again. If BMM wishes mining rights, they will have to contact us themselves.
Point 6: Over the line. I believe all bounties have already been rescinded. And they caused as much damage to us as we may have to them. Let's be generous and call it even. We don't owe them any credits.
Point 7: Fine as is. Somehow they managed to make sense here.
Point 8: Much closer to reasonable, if piracy can ever be called reasonable. We may not like being pirated, but pirates exist, as any trade captain, myself included, can attest to. We are certainly not immune. Trading with parties actively involved in a war is risky, I think we are all aware of that. However, them 'escorting' us is laughable. I personally would politely refuse any such 'escort' and if they insist on following, take them on a tour of Sirius. They'd give up eventually.
So in summary: No."
***With that he returns to his seat.***