To: All parties concerned over slavers and smugglers. From: Chairman Ender of Highland Security.
During a routine smuggling and slavery disruption operation in the Tau's today, we ran into a disturbing issue. A Zoner Juggernaut, the RFS-Freedom, appeared to aid and abet slavers traveling through Tau-37. While we attempted to intercept a known slaver, he decloaked and informed us in no uncertain terms that he would step in if we did not cease in our mission. While he did attempt to justify helping the slavers as a measure of peace, he was informed that he was engaging in an unlawful activity, and that the transports in question were carrying slaves.
Submitted to public knowledge... here is him admitting to escorting the slavers after we told him of their cargo:
And then being informed that his activity is unlawful, and going through with it anyway:
And our declaration of intent to share this incident. Of note is that all traders in system were slavers:
We have run into capital ships aiding the slavers, but never a Zoner Juggernaut until now.
your message has been received and will be reviewed by the Shizl. - in any case, we will try to gather as much information about this incident as possible to make a decision about it. - thank you for bringing it to our attention.
was any damage done? has the freedom also powered up their weapons or was the engagement limited to threats. maybe you can also provide us with a brief information about yourself, the highland security? its justification, legal status in tau-37 etc.
be aware that Tau-37 is under no direct authority of a house - and it does indeed make a difference where the demand / incident happened there and who you are. - the IMG certainly claims juristiction in 37 having an old and established operation and base there, so do the zoners of FP10.
so you will understand that i d have to ask what "routine smuggling and slavery disruption" in these system actually mean - in order to consider the actions of this captain. - so please provide a brief information about the following items:
- who are the highland security?
- under what banner/faction do they operate and under what terms have they achieved the status of interfering with trading operations in tau-37
- was weaponfire involved? has property been damaged or life been threatened ( injured or even deaths )
- in what part of 37 did it happen ( start, end )
in the meantime, we will make inquiries at fp10 and falkland base in case they caught up transmissions or irregular incidents at that time, too.
From: Chief Freeman of Highland Security
To: Elizabeth Tate
Subject: RFS-Freedom
Thank you for your promt reply and inquiry into today's events regarding the role of the RFS-Freedom in Tau-37. To provide you with a proper background upon which to view this situation:
Highland Security is an independent security company operating throughout Sirius, working on a per-contract basis. A recent contract garnered from 118th Tactical Fighter/Bomber Squadron (Callsign: Mobius) and their commanders at the Independent Miners Guild has seen us aid their defense of Tau space, particularly from Outcast assault.
Part of this defense involves the disruption of slaving and cardamine smuggling operations in these sectors, including the destruction of vessels refusing to either turn back, or surrender their contraband.
Pertaining to our contact with the RFS-Freedom itself, I am pleased to inform you that no weapons were loosed during communications, and the meeting of our ships ended peacefully. We are fully aware of the non-aggression border of all Freeports. Regardless of these borders, we would not wish to engage with any Zoner ship in the first place.
The situation began near the Omicron Alpha jumphole when we attempted to intercept a smuggling vessel, the Midnight Express, and either ensure that he left the system the way he came, or that he surrender his contraband. This vessel was engaged by our pilots after it ignored their requests for him to halt, but escaped to Outcast allies in Alpha.
The ship reportedly returned to Tau-37 and may have docked somewhere in the system. Soon after this, our pilots, who were regrouping near Freeport 10, made contact with the recently-uncloaked RFS-Freedom. The rest of the day's events are detailed in the broadcast from Chairman Ender.
I hope that I was able to answer your questions.
John Freeman
Chief of Operations, Highland Security [font=Lucida Console]
| Transmission [color=#CC0000]END...
While we are glad there were no overt hostilities accompanying this rather strange incident, the "High Five" and myself are rather concenred that Captain Robinsen of the "Freedom" would use a fabled and oft-seen Zoner Juggernaut for simple "escort" duties.
It would also seem from your reports that no one was actually in evidence to be "escorted", which also seems rather strange to us.
Rest assured that we will be in contact with Captain Robinson regarding this matter. We do not take the use of a Juggernaut-class Zoner warship for possibly "frivolous" purposes, or for the purpose of intimidation, lightly.
If necessary, I will contact you over private comms regarding this matter for more information.
Thank you for clarifying the position of Highland Security.
From: Chairman Ender of Highland Security
To: Malaclypse, Shizlator, Sirius HQ, Initatied Zoner Leaders
In order to clarify a few points of confusion... unfortunately, I was unable to take an actual picture of the slavers, as the presence of the RFS-Freedom forced us to break off operations. I thought the comm logs would be enough to show that he both knew of the slaver ships, and was intentional preventing us from distrupting the slave trade. The purpose of this transmission was to make this event available to the public. We're not asking for anything to be done about it, that is up to your discretion.
Jefferson Ender
Chairman, Highland Security [font=Lucida Console]
| Transmission [color=#CC0000]END...
The members of the Council, including the SHIZL cabal, are all aware of the position of myself and my crew regarding the transportation of migrant workers across House borders, and regarding the acts of vigilantes who work in conjunction with House governments to suppress the transportation of non-taxable human cargo and oppress those who participate in it.
We have also made it clear in our communications to the Zoner people that we have moved our operations to Tau-37 to indicate our unwillingness to allow innocent human transporters from being killed and the innocent human beings on board from being returned to a life working as slaves for the House corporations.
Neither our ship nor the members of Highland Security, who are registered as Freelancers, opened fire during the conversation, and we are glad of it. However, the crew of my ship will not, and morally cannot, stand by if we ever see these aspiring pirates attack a transport pilot for simply carrying a cargo that isn't regulated by the four Houses.
It has always been one of the primary parameters of our mission to protect traders from all forms of violent aggression. This includes piracy from lawful, unlawful, and "mercenary" organizations. No matter what an individual chooses to trade in, we will relocate our ship to protect him from dying at the hands of criminals.
Tau-37 is not Kusari space; it is not Libertonian space; it is not Rheinland space; it is not Bretonian space; it is not Highland Security space; it is not even Outcast space. We will not stand by and watch innocent people suffer because someone feels that they need to exert dominance over the system. If you believe that preventing piracy and preserving human life is a "frivilous" affair, then we are proud to be considered such.
I have never heard such nonsense! I believed the Zoners were dedicated to freedom, not facilitators of the vilest trade in all Sirius. "Migrant workers" my foot!
The Abolitionist Movement will raise this matter at Parliament. And we shall find other means to bring this vile crew to justice!
From: Chairman Ender of Highland Security
To: RFS-Freedom
I'd caution against language like "bringing this vile crew to justice". I'm sure this can remain peaceful.
That being said, I would ask you to be honest in public, Captain Robinson. Flowery language such as calling forced slavery "non-taxable human cargo" is disingenuous. There is nothing "innocent" about the transport pilots that are willingly moving slaves to be put to work at Planet Malta.
Nor do I understand why you insist on bringing House politics into this. You are correct, no major House claims the Tau's. We do not represent a House. As has been stated, we are contracted to prevent smugglers and slavers from using the Tau's. All our papers are in order, and our actions are legal. It also happens that we can take the moral highground on this issue; a pleasant added bonus.
Do not accuse us of piracy. We fire only as a last resort, to protect the lives of the slaves aboard and to honor the contract we agreed to. We do not take cargo, nor demand money. We ask that the slavers turn around, leave the Tau's, and drop the slaves off at the nearest station where they can be freed. This is more reasonable then most would be, with those who would seek to make profit from the forced labor of other human beings.
I say this with the upmost ardor; Highland Security does not engage in piracy.
Jefferson Ender
Chairman, Highland Security [font=Lucida Console]
| Transmission [color=#CC0000]END...
.::Incoming Transmission::. Message to : All parties
Comm ID: Delegate, (]c[)
Location: Freeport 15, Omicron 74
As a non-biased individual, I would say that technically speaking no sovereign law was broken.
But, as a Zoner who has seen children trafficked for sex, I am distrubed that a Zoner family, of all people, is escorting parties who themselves are carrying enslaved families. It's ironically sick. It's disgusting. I don't even know what a colony ship is doing escorting traders in the first place.
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