*** Incoming ***
A serious problem this is, its sad when there is no respect for the Laws of neutrality.
Unfortunately greed superimposes ethics, it was only a matter of time until something like this happened.
To deal with some parts of the problem, i propose instead of hiring mercenaries or bounty hunters(and what a despicable work that is!) as a permanent solution, to take the task into our own hands.
After all, the new ships and the photon weapons are there for something, not for aggression but for protection!, let us protect ourselves then.
As to how, in what tactics and in what routes, i recommend prudence in open channel communication, 2 of our pilots were ambushed in an asteroid field this very day, these pirates seem foolish and full of fake bravado, but they are not dumb and I'm sure they are closely monitoring this channel.
rec. 8451AF45
Sommerset, ZR Citizen
*** End ***
(message from the bridge of the TAZ Defense Gunboat Ravenhurst, Omicron Delta)
Agreed on the issue of open comms, Sommerset. I've seen the same thing happen before to other traders, though I gotta admit I never really thought it'd happen to Zoners...group up, get in a convoy er somethin'. An' for goodness' sake, people, keep a list of these ne'er-do-wells on the bridge of your transport, 'kay? An' if ya see some bounty hunters or mercs, just kindly let 'em know the TAZ has a li'l job for 'em.
But that's a temporary solution. For a more permanent one...now I think a real navy'd be outta line, but with all the recent troubles I think it'd make sense for every peace-lovin' Zoner to have his or her own defense ship. Bomber, fighter, gunboat, destroyer, whatever; but like Sommerset said, we got resources an' weapons for a reason. I know I don't get a vote, but thought I oughtta put in some input.
Mal to Linus:
Your comments are duly noted, Linus, and seem to reflect the consensus among the TAZ. While we stll have to commit resources to the building of Baffin, funds are being channeled in the direction you've suggested.
to Sommerset:
I've taken the liberty of amending the TAZ's "Boil on Sight" list with an additional list of potential escorts for these troubling times. I would hope that I can keep that list updated as more groups and individuals offer their services to Zoners.
I yield.
Mal, my dear friend.
I certainly don't oppose the stance of defense. I know that our equipment is up to snuff. What kinda Zoner doesn't have the rarest and most exotic weaponry and equipment?
I just wonder as to the piloting skills of many a zoner... we're not exactly battle-ready in that department. I would not be opposed in any way to hiring a merc if I had a target I wish'd eliminated. For that matter, weren't we to have the defense of the [\JG/]?
I assure everyone in the counsel, however, that I will maintain my stance as both protector of Freeports, and wild-eyed trader of "far-flung-bright-shiny-thing"'s.
Ahh, but our issues become even more convoluted...
While escorting members of STC to this Session, I was waylaid by a force of QCO and SF ships at Leeds.
It seems now that Bretonia feels that Zoners are "supporting their enemies" by trading our deuterium. I pointed out that deuterium is a basic component of H-Fuel, which all Sirius uses for their vessels, but to no avail.
To add insult to injury, they now list light arms as contraband, even if they are going here to Lanzarote! I have never sold a single light arm to Kusari. They have no use for them!
And bloody diamonds! I got some balderdash about their being "used in Lasers". What drivel. Of course they are, but the majority go to adorn the necks of those rich folk on Kyushu. So, Bretonia wishes to cut our purse strings and our throats by interdicting every bloody commodity we trade in. I'm sure they'll find some excuse to make gold contraband next.
So, not only are pirates running rampant and attacking our Zoner fleets; but lawfuls also feel they can dictate what Zoners can and cannot carry to market.
The QCO and SF wish us to trade in their markets exclusively. Show me one Bret base that pays a decent price for deuterium! Show me one that will buy gold or diamonds for more tha a pittance! I do not condone the smuggling of obvious contraband, such as Cardi, Synth, or bloody slaves. If a TAZ member gets caught doing so, he or she must pay the Piper. But this proscribing of our everyday bread and butter is not only ridiculous, but outrageous.
So.. we have a combination of issues which threaten our very livelihoods. I don't know the answers, but it's really getting up my nose.
## Transmission type : public announcement ##
## to : all zoners and allies ##
## from : T.Anderson, Star Trading Corporation. ##
## current location : somewhere between Canaria and Manhattan, aboard a hired civilian shuttle ##
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Greetings to all,
After having hired some extra engineers to get my escort ship ready, i am now on my way to pick it up on Manhattan.
If any of you needs company out there, you can count on me.
I'll be offering free escort services to any TAZ, ZR, or otherwise zoner if not on duty with the STC, and we might actually be interested in forming larger convoys with any of you to keep the credits running into our bank accounts as it should be.
We have now been set "out of business" by the bretonian government, by declaring illegal our high quality deuterium. but this just adds to all the other difficulties we're running into.
let me make a short list of the problems we're having lately :
1 - Deuteriumght arms/diamonds (yes, diamonds) have been declared "contraband" in bretonian systems, apparently there is yet another war starting between bretonia and kusari.
2 - While travelling from liberty to rheinland to meet a customer, i stopped at freeport-2 for a nice warm cofee, and what did i find? a full blown battle between hessians and unioners. Right on top of the freeport. i actually took a nice picture of some of the fighters that remained alive when i arrived on the station. After docking, i heard in the bar that the unioners often camp just outside the freeport and pirate any trader passing by. Shouldn't a freeport stay peaceful and open to everyone?
3 - Keepers. nothing to say that you don't already know. a total mystery to me, and a bloody dangerous one...
4 - Odd pirates attacking us. Tried to negotiate with one of them (a lane hacker),and i got gunned down. They consider us "just plain traders" and are proud to have a price on their head. I suggest we don't put them on public "wanted" list and keep the names to us. Maybe that'll keep 'imitators' from doing this new kind of... piracy, or whatever.
5 - do i forget anything? sure, but i can't remember right now.
The company will have a meeting tomorrow, and we'll be discussing the situation. Any suggestion/advice on these matters will be very much appreciated, and as i mentioned, you can count on the STC for any needed help.
Ah, entering new york system... i was already missing my ship!
See you around folks, and take care!
Anderson out.
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## End of transmission ##
Incoming Transmission
Comm ID:Patric Sinclair
I will be avalible for escorting Zoner Traders in Border Worlds,waiting for a special delivery of Codenames,these threat is not to be taken Lightly.Othervise I will be in Theta.
Patric out.
Malaclypse turned from the Holoscreen as Patric's image faded.
"Gentlemen, it appears that more folk are stepping up to the wicket to have a smack at the ol' ball here. We've also had comms from an AW Admrial assuring us that these bloody pirates will not go unpunished in the Theta system and surrounds."
Malaclypse paused, and glanced at Chairman Drake. He raised an eyebrow, and then smiled as Isaac gave a slight nod of his head. Malaclypse continued, "Now as to the relative combat inexperience of some of our Escort pilots, I have taken the liberty of contacting a veteran of past Zoner conflicts.
"I recommend to Sr. Anderson, and to any other Zoner pilots who would like to avail themselves of some excellent combat training, a certain Captain Carlton Lewis. His ship, the Coolant Leak, is now billeted at Freeport 6. Captain Lewis has experience in all classes of ships, from fighters to heavies; and I'm sure he will not hesitate to offer his expertise to help us through these troubled times. Carl has my personal authorization to use Baffin for this training if it is more convenient than Omega 49."
"I have one other comment regarding these new restrictions on trade by Bretonian forces. I mentioned previously that several STC traders and myself had been harrassed about our cargos at Leeds. Later that day, as Sr. Anderson and his fine pilots were discussing with me our options, two QCO pilots approached Canaria. Their purported reason was to offer belated and rather meaningless apologies regarding the incident at Leeds. But, gentleman, their ulterior motive was to land on Canaria and purchase weapons for their bloody ships!
"Now I find it paradoxical in the extreme that on the one hand, Bretonia is getting heavy-handed regarding what Zoners can and cannot take to market as Free and Independent traders; yet they seem to feel that they can waltz down here whenever they feel like it and treat Canaria as a bloody shopping mall.
"I say that perhaps we let it be known that they have worn out their welcome, Brothers. That if our goods can not freely pass through Bretonian space to the most profitable markets, then their credits are no good here in our markets either. What do you say?"
With a heavy heart but firm conviction to the Zoner cause, I will immediately depart for Gran Canaria.
Should the council deem it necessary for a blockade, Zoner Destroyer Meiun will be docked and ready for battle.
Pffft...freakin' Bretonians. We've all hauled deuterium an' light arms through there before an' they didn't mind a bit, but now it's contraband? I say until they can get their heads outta their collective asses an' figure out what's really contraband an' what ain't...an' until we get a proper apology from the SF admiral, an' not the QCO, who aren't even the same branch of the Bretonian military!...that a blockade might be what the doctor ordered.
If ya need 'er, the Ravenhurst is yours. I'll pull her back from FP11 for the duration...though I ain't too keen on leavin' the Freeport with any less defense.
-Koios