Recent days have seen a rapid deterioration of relations between the sovereign Houses of Bretonia and Rheinland. These tensions are believed to revolve around the distribution of Military Vehicles to the Bretonian and Kusari fronts in the Leeds system. Bretonia has historically tolerated Rheinland's stance as a trade-partner of Kusari, despite the fact that Rheinlandic weapons were used during the Kusari perpetrated civilian and military massacres on Glasgow Outpost and Stokes Smelter. This fragile balance was shattered earlier in the year, when the Rheinwehr unashamedly revoked the permits for Bretonian corporations to carry Military Vehicles, in effect choosing a side in the brutal Tau War.

Despite this travesty against the status quo, New London remained determined to seek a peaceful resolution to this unfortunate situation. Several months ago, trained negotiator Thomas Williams was dispatched to the increasingly hostile House, in order to attempt to pacify the situation. He was summarily ignored by the Rheinland Federal Police and other relevant authorities. Later attempts at diplomacy were again shot down by a mute Rheinlandic administration; it appeared that the forces of the Rheinwehr were determined to steer their noble House into the path of conflict.

The situation came to a head over the last week, with the destruction and attempted murder of a chartered Bowex) vessel in Bretonia's own sovereign space - Omega 3. The captain in question had previously purchased a license to move said vehicles from a primary fleet battleship - a license that should have been transferred when he upgraded his status from a Bowex 'independent contractor' to a full 'contract worker'.

Despite this, murderous thugs employed by the Rheinland Federal Police chased him down and tore his ship asunder illegally, in Bretonian claimed territory. To further exacerbate matters, the evidence that was later provided to Bowex's command structure had been doctored by the mercenaries in question, in order to obscure important aspects of the encounter that would have rendered their actions illegal and indefensible. Immediately following this incident, the Federal Police opened a dialogue to Bowex company executives.

This communication solidified Rheinland's stance, as the belligerent police force demanded over 35 million credits in fines, for actions undertaken by vessels independent of Bowex's control. Shocked and offended at this somewhat shady attempt by a House law enforcement agency to extort a Bretonian corporation, Bowex DO Liam Adama suspended Bowex) flights to Rheinland for the duration of the talks - this executive decision was taken out of fear for Bretonian lives, who the Federal Police's hired [FL] thugs obviously held no regard for. For attempting to resolve the situation peacefully, Mr Adama was labelled as 'insulting' and the fine was increased yet again.

In light of prolonged and systematic abuse of Bretonian nationals inside Rheinlandic core space, the issue was passed on to the Bretonian government. The Bretonian diplomatic corps, having exhausted their options with the uncooperative and hostile House withdrew their ambassador from New Berlin for briefing. The jump gate to Omega 7 in Omega 3 was also temporarily closed, in order to prevent agitators from jumping to Bretonian core systems. This move was prompted by sightings of extremely hostile Rheinlandic privateers in New London, going by the names of Hans.Eckhard and Jeske.Vagdor. The two Rheinland-sponsored pirates wrecked a bloody toll on Bowex shipping before retreating to the Omegas.

These unabashed hostilities against the House of Bretonia lead many to cast their memories back to the chaotic events of 800 - 801 AS and the rampant period of Rheinlandic aggression and expansion it contained. A government spokesman was quoted as "fearing this could be a return to the dark days of 'Niemann's Syndrome'." The Bretonian Broadcasting Corporation will keep our readership updated as the situation develops.