[SIRIUS-WIDE BROADCAST] Source: Pennsylvania

[Goddess Astra]

****INCOMING TRANSMISSION****

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COMM ID: Captain Nicole Hayes
TARGET ID: [SIRIUS-WIDE]
ENCRYPTION: None
PRIORITY: CRITICAL

My name is Captain Nicole Hayes. I have served with distinction in the Liberty Navy's Primary Fleet for nearly eleven years. In that time I have gone from ensign, all the way up to vice admiral, and finally to captain, where I've settled. I have also served as the head of the External Research and Security Division of the Liberty Navy--a branch of the Navy which up until now has remained hidden from the public, which carries out covert operations, research, and espionage. My service record is spotless, and my loyalty to Liberty has been unquestionable.

In light of this, understand that I share the following information because I have no other choice. If I don't, hundreds of millions of lives will be at stake.

Early this morning, members of the mid and high command in both the Liberty Navy and the LSF were called to a meeting, where they were briefed on an upcoming military action. Audio and transcript follows:

Audio Transcript

Take a seat, ladies and gentlemen.

I am LSF Supervisor Speckfield. Vice Admiral Hamish has allowed me to brief you all on the upcoming operation in Pennsylvania.

As you are all aware, the Security Force found clear evidence that the government of Erie is allowing Insurgent “deserters” to take “refuge” on the planet. In response to this, the LSF deployed a Spybird satellite in high orbit to observe activity on the ground and space traffic. Predictably, we promptly received a complaint from Erie about an alleged violation of their sovereignty - a claim I will not comment on at this time. Their request to remove the Spybird was, of course, denied.

Two days ago, at circa 0500 hours Sirian Mean Time, our satellite was destroyed by a surface-launched Starshield anti-ship missile. Erie has denied any involvement and our analysis of the attack can’t pinpoint precisely where the missile was launched from, nor who is indeed responsible. However, it is clear that there are elements on Erie that are prepared to engage in acts of aggression against Liberty, and it is likely these elements, if not the local government itself, that are supporting the Insurgents on the planet.

In response to this, Congress has ordered a direct military intervention to seize Planet Erie, take control of local authorities, and root out the Insurgents and their sympathizers.

This is where you all come into play. Operation PESTICIDE will be a two-parter. First, a joint Navy and LSF task force will move on Erie and secure its orbit and access to the planet. Then the Marine Corps will commence a planetary landing to occupy the capital and secure vital infrastructure before moving on any present resistance and Insurgent forces.

The naval operation will be led by Vice Admiral Hamish aboard his flagship, Battleship Alma, and her escorts. We expect the Erienites to see us coming and scramble whatever halfway combatworthy ships they have. We also predict that they may reach out to other Zoner communities near Liberty for aid. Therefore it is not unlikely that they will be able to deploy capital assets - maybe even one of the Zoners’ Aquilon-class carriers. Regardless, we do not expect their resistance in space to hold against the Alma’s task force for long. Once the defenders in orbit have been routed, marine transports will commence their landing operation on the planet.

I need you all to understand how important it is for Operation PESTICIDE to succeed. Liberty cannot allow its subjects to commit acts of open rebellion against it. Acting swiftly and decisively will stomp out any similar ideas of unrest festering elsewhere in the Republic.

Prepare your ships and crews for immediate deployment.

Dismissed.

In short, Liberty intends to unlawfully invade Planet Erie, under the pretense of sedition and rebel action. This is demonstrably false, and even if it wasn't, the response is both disproportionate and abhorrent.

All of this hinges on the notion that an LSF spy satellite was destroyed by insurgent action. This is false, and carries all the hallmarks of a false flag operation. It's well-known that the Zoners of Pennsylvania have been dissatisfied with Liberty's rule. What may not be known outside the house of Liberty is how bad the conditions here are. Attached are guncams of the state of the Pennsylvania system:

Guncams

In the following captures, you can see trade lanes that have gone without critical maintenance for years on end, venting gas and maintained with spare parts:





In this and other captures, you can also see derelict wrecks and stations whose hulls have still not been cleaned up after years drifting in the system:









Finally, by contrast, you can see that the trade lanes leading to Philadelphia Station--the local LPI stronghold--are in perfect condition. Check for yourself if you're not convinced.

These are the consequences of a system which has been starved of funding by Liberty's government. This is also not the first time that this has happened in recent memory--Liberty has also unceremoniously cut all support to the Ontario system. Rather than resolve the problems that plagued the system, they cut their losses, residents be damned. The money that went into sustaining the system's trade lanes, stations, and infrastructure have instead gone into further militarization against threats that they claim are omnipresent, omnipotent, and yet no match for us.

Meanwhile, official communications from Zoners on Erie have demonstrated no hostility--in fact, the Zoners of Erie have been unreasonably cooperative in the face of annihilation. Deprived of funding and support, they still appeal to the good nature of Liberty's government, despite the fact that Liberty has been increasingly hostile to them for years. These people have nothing to gain by assaulting Liberty, as they lack neither the funding nor the resources to pose a threat.

Even if insurgent activity was the cause of this satellite's destruction, the response is entirely disproportionate. The LSF's satellite was placed unlawfully, as is Liberty's modus operandi, and its existence was denied even under direct questioning from Erie's government. Upon its destruction, Liberty has taken the opportunity to label all of the residents of Erie as potential threats to its existence, which is a tactic that has been used by authoritarian states throughout history, dating beyond Sirius and all the way back to Earth. An attack from insurgents is too convenient, and provides the perfect excuse for a hostile takeover. There has been no trial, nor even an investigation--all are presumed guilty. This is a violation of the rules of engagement, as countless civilians have been designated as combat targets in this operation. A lawful investigation would collaborate with the authorities of Planet Erie, who have at every turn attempted to cooperate. As stated, this is a thinly veiled excuse for conquest. Even the presence of Zoner warships is a desperate attempt to mitigate the damage that Liberty is determined to inflict.

Operation PESTICIDE is only the latest in a series of oppressive actions in the Pennsylvania system, spun by Liberty Forces as attempts to put down insurgents and other such propaganda. Such actions have targeted humanitarian vessels and civilians, using legal loopholes that enable them to target civilian vessels as hostile craft if they refuse to obey arbitrary orders.

Liberty has consistently shown willingness to put civilian lives at risk when it's convenient to them. The Texas Incident is one such example, which is known internally to have been the product of an experimental supergate test gone awry. This was covered up with callous disregard for the cost in civilian lives. More recently, Liberty has a record of slavery on Planet Pittsburgh, prison factories staffed by criminals where the people are worked sometimes to death, and expansionism that has even threatened relationships with long-standing allies and driven them to acts of recent espionage against such allies. Even the name of Operation PESTICIDE betrays the true thoughts of Liberty here, which is that they believe that they're squashing an inconsequential insect, an annoyance that they'd rather just went away. All of this goes to conclusively indicate that Liberty's patterns of behavior in Pennsylvania are not new--they are a continuation of a trend of imperialism.

With all of this information now on the table, I issue the following ultimatum:

The House of Liberty will cease its preparations for the unlawful invasion of Planet Erie, and Operation PESTICIDE will be disbanded. It will commence immediate reparations to the people of the Pennsylvania system. It will respond to diplomatic communications from Planet Erie within the next 24 hours as an indication of this. If it does not do so, I will reveal to Sirius the exact locations and purposes of Willard Research Station, the Alaska system, Juneau Shipyard, Prison Station Mitchell, Prison Station Fairbanks, Prudhoe Skunk Works, the Virginia Supergate, and Chesapeake Shipyard. I will also reveal the location of the naturally occurring jump hole in Virginia with access to the Alaska system, and the routes by which it may be reached.

All of this data has been copied to secure drives in my possession, using my access as a veteran member of the ESRD. I expect that access will be revoked shortly, but it won't stop me from transmitting it. Don't try to send a spec ops team to stop me, either, I have a dead man's switch. It will also automatically transmit if I don't disable it within the 24 hour window.

To the other Houses of Sirius: I urge that you move immediately to condemn the actions of the House of Liberty and immediately apply commercial pressure and sanctions against it.

To the House of Bretonia: Here is a chance for you to begin atoning for the atrocities you committed on Gran Canaria. Don't blow it.

To all Zoners and their allies: I urge you to rendezvous at Planet Erie or Bethlehem Station immediately to prepare for a possible attack. Liberty may pursue its invasion regardless of this ultimatum. Don't allow this to become a second Gran Canaria, or a second Leeds.

To Sirius at large: I am seeking political asylum as this communication is broadcast, effective immediately. I expect Liberty will label me as a fugitive for these leaks.

I expect that I will be denounced for this. I wanted to believe that Liberty was better. I wanted to believe that we were serving the people, that we were actually trying to help. I've been blinding myself deliberately to the wrongs that have been committed around me every day, because of my idealism. It has gone too long. I'm damned if I do this, and damned if I do nothing. So let me be damned for doing the right thing.

Liberty, shame on you. I'll see you in hell.

****TRANSMISSION TERMINATED****

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Freelancer Reimagined: Complete Music Overhaul

[Blake Wayne Van Leer]

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ENCRYPTION: ADMIRALTY-OMEGA-597A
SENDER: Blake Wayne Van Leer
SOURCE: Harrisburg Station
RECIPIENT: Former Captain Nicole Hayes
SUBJECT: So be it

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Hayes,


It is high praise being called a Rogue Element by a has-been traitor who seeks her 5 minutes of fame.

Liberty has been nothing but a shining beacon of democracy, economic prosperity, freedom, and citizen well-being. Our house has made traveling the stars possible not within generations, but within days and weeks. It is we who saved Sirius from the genocidal rampage of the mad King Charles, and our heroes like Archer have saved humanity from extinction. We are the beating heart of commerce in Sirius, and Liberty dignitaries' masterful diplomatic skills have for the first time ever led to peace between Liberty and all the other Houses, to usher us into a new era of unprecedented prosperity and peace.

All this was made possible due to the leadership, wisdom, and foresight of the Presidents we have had and Liberty's High Congress' vision. I will never apologize for faithfully sharing in their vision and following their orders even though my private opinions may differ from theirs. It is not on us career servicemen to question the wisdom of those that have built the greatest House in the history of the universe. If traitors like you will try to brand me a Rogue Element for following the vision and orders of the President and the High Congress then that is a price I shall pay.

I have deep respect for the freedoms of the people of Liberty and Pennsylvania. The Zoners have been our long-term partners and will continue to be our partners. We will do our best to protect these law-abiding contributors to Liberty's greatness, be they independent or official citizens of Liberty. Their lives matter, and they have to be protected from foreign criminals who descended upon Pennsylvania with their heavily armed warships, blatant disregard for the Law, and aggressive attitudes.

But we will not go down the path of the Hellfire Legion and Battlegroup Harmony and the Separatists. Their absolute fall from grace, corrupted allegiance and defections to the Outcasts, Xeno terrorists, Corsairs, support of drug trade and slavery, and betrayal of any values they had left is the prime example of why servicemen shouldn't pretend they know how to run a house better than the President and the Congress, the institutions that have made Liberty the shining beacon of Democracy and Sirius itself over last 830 years. You have chosen to go down that path, and you will find sooner or later that it is the wrong one like many before you eventually always have.

Regards,

Blake Wayne Van Leer - Admiral - 1st Armada

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THE FIRST ARMADA (1st|)

The son of Denver: A Blake Wayne Van Leer Biography

[TheKusari]

STARFLIERS COMMUNICATION

. . Leon Vicci . To: Nicole Hayes I have remained quite indifferent to a lot of actions taken by many. One such action I am strongly against is unecessary loss of life. Your broadcast reached me, and I am willing have you sit down under shelter. Not because the shame others will have for you, not because I'm indifferent, but because if what you say is true, I respect what you have done here and wish that you are at least not harmed for telling everyone what is going on within Liberty. For obvious reasons I will not share where I have secluded myself to, as I have my own reasons for not being present in space, but I will allow you to join me to both stay safe and keep company. Also have someone to chat to, which you may absolutely need after all this. My door is open. As always, Godspeed .

STARFLIERS COMMUNICATION

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The Starfliers are the best faction.

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[Operative Siren]

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Incoming Transmission
Liberty Security Force
Tactical Operations
Department Chief 'Siren'

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Hayes;

Good day.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say you never had the security clearance required to know the exact purposes of most of those installations you threaten to reveal the 'purpose' of, as I don't recall ever giving it to you, nor is it in our records that you ever had the clearance. To address one of your points, would you like to re-read the news article you source as your information? Unverified leaks that mark Bretonia as the aggressors attempting to use Liberty to pressure Rheinland. I didn't know the ESRD stooped so low as to use hearsay as proof these days. Perhaps that's why you're merely a captain now, as opposed to an Admiral.

If you want to endanger the tens of thousands of servicemen you supposedly served honorably with by revealing whatever state secrets you do have, be our guest. It's not Liberty revealing her true colors. Just you, showing you are more than happy to betray your brothers and sisters for a cause you barely believe in.

I will applaud your re-telling of the history of Liberty, but outraged. Mostly accurate, though with some information twisted and bent to better suit your agenda.

In service to the Republic.

'Siren'
Department Chief
TacOps

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Important:
This communication remains the property of the Libertonian Armed Forces and is subject to the jurisdiction of the Neural Net Communications Act 807 A.S, Section 30. If you have received this message in error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the communication.

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