Malaclypse to Council:
Well, isn't this special. I go away on retreat for a few days, and all Thud breaks loose.
First, a TAZ member is accused of aiding terrorists. Well, my response to Admiral "Iron Panties" Robinson is an old Terran saying: "Show me the money". Her alleged report just doesn't cut it. If she has any "black box" proof of this aid by Cid in the Wanchu.Pinchu, then I'd be delighted to see it.
Good Goddess, this is no better than the NovaPG's threats to go to war with all Zoners because of the rather ill-advised threats of one ZR vessel! Now the TAZ is being held responsible for the alleged actions of one vessel as well.. and "KoS", no less. Exactly when did this become the "Screw a Zoner" season, anyway??
Secondly, I now hear that the NovaPG is sailing to Baffin to chat with me regarding this "ZR Bounty" matter, with no prior notification whatsoever. Captain Willis also apparently is bored with the "silly season", and feels he can just saunter over for a visit without even consulting me? Well, I will try to make the appointment, though it's not even for the TAZ's benefit, but for that of the ZR. There had damn well better be one NovaPG ship there when I arrive, and one ship only, as per our previous agreement. And, if ZR fails to appear to present its case; then that's their bloody problem, and I expect NovaPG to hold the TAZ completely blameless in that event. The TAZ is getting just a bit tired of being the "bum boy" for all of Zonerdom here...
And finally, I received the following report through TAZ's Message Dump:
' Wrote:* Incomming transmission *
to: Zoner Council
from: ensign Inuye "Mako" Toshi, KNF
subject: report about suspicious Zoner activity
My appologies to bother the TAZ with, but i haven't found a Council message dump.
On my routine patrol today i scanned a Zoner "-L.L-BulgariA". He had a Smuggler ID and tried to smuggle Cardamine through Kusari space. I ordered him to leave Kusari Space and escorted him to Sigma 13 JG in Honshu. It was not my intention to make use of unneccessary violence until this will be sorted out with the council.
So please sort this out and give this Zoner a warning. The next time he is trying to smuggle contraband, KNF will use all levels of force to stop him, even deadly force.
Thanks in advance
Long live the shogun!
Inuye Toshi
* End of transmission *
Now, I haven't a bloody clue who this L.L. bloody Bulgaria is.. And I'm not sure why the KNF really even feels the need to consult the TAZ or the Council about this matter. Obviously, if the ship was registered as a bloody Smuggler, then he is not in fact a Zoner, and the KNF has every right to blow his arse all over several parsecs of space. This ship is not on the Zoner Registry, and therefore the Council has no responsibility for it, and should have no sympathy or concern for its fate either. If the KNF doesn't get him, I hope Skyelius does!
NONE of these matters require direct action by the Council, and I expect none. I will make further inquiries of the Captain of the Wanchu.Pinchu; and if he was indeed aiding terrorists, I assure you that he will face serious repercussions from the TAZ. But, unless I get some concrete evidence of this from the SA or the LSF, I am hard-pressed to give the allegations any credence whatsoever.
Malaclypse
Communique to the Council Of Zoners:
Subject: [TAZ]
From: Southern Alliance Admiralty Headquarters.
This is to confirm that the [TAZ] has entered the Kill on Sight list of the Southern Alliance and their allies, the Liberty Security Force.
A copy of the brief outline of the sentence is enclosed below:
Quote:Charge: Aiding an organised Terrorist group(s) against the Liberty Naval Forces and the Liberty Security Force in open combat by means of ejecting nanobots and/or shield batteries into the field.
Evidence presented in prosecution: Eye witnesses; Myself, LSF agent Liquid, Lieutenant Jason Launders, LSF agent Pluto and LSF agent Serpico.
Evidence presented in defence: N/A
Preliminary verdict: Guilty.
Sentance: Kill on Sight for all TAZ vessels for the foreseeable future.
Notes: The [TAZ] member in question was [TAZ]Wanchu.Pinchu who represents the Temporary Autonomous Zoners. These actions denote the punishment as listed above.
The sentance has been endorsed by Fleet Admiral Woolsey, and will take effect immediately.
As a cursory note, the [TAZ] organisation does not "hold the cards" when it comes to dealing with the Liberty armed forces, therefore proof will need to be provided in the case of the defence. The word of an Admiral and four other servants of Liberty far outweighs the words of any amount of Zoners.
Admiral Robinson wished to add something to this communique, which was prevented completely by the curse word filter installed and firewall installed in this facility.
Good Day, and sorry for any inconvenience.
End Transmission at Source.
' Wrote:As a cursory note, the [TAZ] organisation does not "hold the cards" when it comes to dealing with the Liberty armed forces, therefore proof will need to be provided in the case of the defence. The word of an Admiral and four other servants of Liberty far outweighs the words of any amount of Zoners.
So, as I expected, there is no documentation.
Again.. show me the money.
Mal
Communique to the Council Of Zoners:
Subject: [TAZ]
From: Southern Alliance Admiralty Headquarters.
There is of course, no documentation. Only the words of five highly trusted members of the Liberty armed forces.
The evidence presented, coupled with your previous actions well documented by our Bretonian allies, has meant that Fleet Admiral Woolsey and Admiral Robinson have no faith or trust in your words.
And as said, if you can provide hard evidence contrary to the words of these good men and women of Liberty, then the sentance will be lifted. If not, then unfortunatly, too bad.
There are no two ways about this deal, that much is clear. You will provide the evidence. If you refuse to for any reason, then the sentance stands. In Liberty, we do what is needed for the protection of the residents residing within our boundaries. If this means shooting the supposedly neutral Zoners, then so be it. We cannot afford to have any doubts of our allies and enemies when in combat.
Do not presume you fight against this sentance on a level playing field Malaclypse.
End Transmission.
Message to: Zoner Council
Comm ID: Linus Koios
Location: Planet Houston, Texas System
Geez, I go to Houston to visit family for the holidays, then this? Hell...I was jokin' before 'bout tradin' in the Ravenhurst, but I ain't jokin' now.
Alrighty, Zonerfolk, here's how I see it: everybody figures Zoners are easy targets, so they put us on their KoS list 'cuz they figure there won't be any consequences. Who cares, it's just a buncha lazy, synth-smokin' floozies in Whales. I'm a mite tired of all this gettin' stepped on...startin' to remember why I went to the Edge Worlds in the first place.
"The word of an Admiral and four other servants of Liberty far outweighs the words of any amount of Zoners." Now I'm usually a pretty laid-back fella, but that's just a bit rude. You say a TAZ did somethin' ya don't like, so now you condemn all TAZ to death? Hooo-wee! An' they used ta say frontier law was rough.
Sayanora, if ya need me I'll be haulin' gold from Dublin to Tripoli, an' other routes that keep me away from alla these ne'er-do-wells masqueradin' under the guise of "law" and "order" or whatever. I used ta like an' respect you folks in the SA an' LSF...
"Do not presume you fight against this sentance on a level playing field Malaclypse." I'm downright disappointed in you folks, though I know ya don't care. Guilty 'til proven innocent? Liberty, I think ya need a new name for yer nation, 'cuz it don't fit anymore.
Merry freakin' Christmas, eh? Yeah...sad. Now I gotta sneak my Mammoth past the same patrols I bought gifts for just a week ago. Can't we ever just talk 'fore everyone busts out the big guns?
MesageTo: TAZ and Zoners everywhere. Except Patric Sinclare
COMM ID: Wanchu.Pinchu
Greetings and happy Holidays friends. I am Cid. Master of the Transport Wanchu.Pinchu. I am accused of being a terrorist. I am not given the chance to review any evidence, or even face my accusors. I have been slandered and harrassed, not to mention shot at numerous times. All because some pilots under duress of being KILLED BY PHANTOMS and accuse me of dropping bots and bats for the enemy of THEM. I had NO CARGO. I had my 5 crewmen, and Myself onboard. I had limited bot and full bats from previous encounters. I was hailed by Phantom Onyx privately. As I was sitting idlely by watching. Her voice came thru my comms and put ice in my bones. My crew she wanted. Pilots all, from around the 'verse. 'Your crew save your ship. ' Well I dropped a prarie dog, as they say and told the fellas I was sory, but they heard the lady. I turned and they were already packin. Huh, they didn't look all that happy, but I keep tryin to figure it out. They went, no arguement or commant. Maybe some mind trick or something. Never sen anything like it. I was shakin' just hearin her voice. These guys all calm like sheep to a slaughter. They suited up and left, and I started tryin to figure out how to get my ship back to port alone. I get the auto-pilot goin for West point and no luck for repairing there. No reason, just no. I continued to Manhattan, scan and dock, no problem. Even the cruiser in Orbit didn't say anything.
I dropped my crew and ran, as I was under fire. I did not drop bats or bots for them. I was in the cockpit, so I can't swear the crew didn't take any when thye left, but I didn't send 'em.
I have sent word to the 2nd in commmand to try to get this embargo and threat lifted from all of you, if they want me they can come take it up with me. But all of the people that weren't there, thats petty.
To all of my fellow Zoners, except Patric Sinclare. I am sorry for the inconvenience from this misunderstanding.
To Patric Sinclare, sir, who are you? and why do you feel the urge to come in and say anything?
Cid out.
Comm ID: Director of the LSF codename "Sniper"
Message to: All TAZ Members
~~Message Begins~~
I would like to say, TAZ will not be on LSF kill on sight list until proof is given. For all i know this could just be a conspiracy. Myself and LSF 2nd in command will do a deeper investigation into this matter. However i did not order a KOS on taz for the LSF. I do not like words being shoved in my mouth. I will NOT, i repeat NOT stand for this kind of crap.. If any LSF agents open fire on you report directly to me. Until i see proof The diplomacy between LSF and TAZ will stay the same as before. As for the SA, i cannot control them.
~~Message Ends~~
' Wrote: Comm ID: Director of the LSF codename "Sniper"
Message to: All TAZ Members
~~Message Begins~~
I would like to say, TAZ will not be on LSF kill on sight list until proof is given. For all i know this could just be a conspiracy. Myself and LSF 2nd in command will do a deeper investigation into this matter. However i did not order a KOS on taz for the LSF. I do not like words being shoved in my mouth. I will NOT, i repeat NOT stand for this kind of crap.. If any LSF agents open fire on you report directly to me. Until i see proof The diplomacy between LSF and TAZ will stay the same as before. As for the SA, i cannot control them.
~~Message Ends~~
Message To: Director of the LSF codename "Sniper"
COMM ID: Cid
Thanks to you and yours sir. Good day.
Message to: Zoner Council
Comm ID: Malaclypse
I would like to thank Brother Vendhyan for bringing this matter to our attention. I also would like to acknowledge brother Patric's concern regarding the issue.
It seems we have a tempest in a teapot here. A case of someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Apparently, there is no corroborating evidence from either side for us to examine. Further, as pointed out by TAZ member Scarrd Cid himself, as well as others, it is a huge stretch of the imagination for SA to belabor us with general threats, when the incident was specific to one invidual, who has apologized to all concerned, and is in the process of contacting those "injured" parties in the SA. Was anyone actually injured, by the way?
It appears that there are many entities throughout Sirius who cannot discriminate between The TAZ, the Council of Zoners, and the individual Zoners who belong to either or both. Once the.. mm.. the estrogen clears, perhaps discrimination will improve as well. If not, then SA's Admiralty is welcome to contact me directly, without further need to disturb this Council.
Therefore, unless Members of this Council feel further discussion is in order, I hereby move that this issue be closed, tabled, and put out with the cat. Is there a second?
Message TO: Zoner Council
COMM ID: Cid
Can I second? Same group and all, I know we only get one vote, but I have been on comms all night trying to get this fixed. I will continue till it is if nothing else, at least limited to me and mine. Again I am sorry for this taking our precious time, and it was unnecessary. I won't stop to stare anymore, I promise.
Edit: I am enclosing a copy of the apology I sent to LSF Comm Center.
Message To: Liberty Security Forces, ATTN: Pilots involved in the Phantom attack
COMM ID: Cid
Greetings. This is Cid of the Transport [TAZ]Wanchu.Pinchu. I am sorry that during the combat I was offered a private option and took it as to try to avoid destruction of my ship. I was ordered by Onyx of the Phantoms to drop my cargo. I did and tried to flee. I was fired upon by Eris knows who, as I ran. I was NOT assisting the enemies of Liberty and would [i] never do such a thing. Especially not in the heart of Liberty. Your comrades have slandered my name, and targeted my friends, and some I consider family. This has gone too far. It was a misunderstanding. I am sorry I stopped to watch the carnage. I am a reformed pirate, yes. I am former Davey Jones Crew. It is not unknown. I hide it none. Since the change in my ways, I am limited to observing combat most of the time to slake my thirst for the challenge. These threats have made me decide to 'obtain' a fighter and arm it in case you came for me. I am no fool, and I am a VERY capable pilot. Threats are NOT welcome. I have not offerd any. To specifically the LSF members and ranks. You have my sincere appologies about this misunderstanding. I wish I had NOT lost my crew. They are a great loss to me, as its VERY hard to pilot a transport by oneself. For the great wisdom of the CIC of LSF I am greatful. You have my and I'm sure most if not all TAZdom's respect and thanks. To have given such time to investigate and learn before condemning blindly. I will have 900 units of Deutrium standing by for delivery to your port of choice. Hail me when you see me sir. Thanks again and good day.
Cid, Captain of the Wanchu.Pinchu out.[/i]