We may be supporting your cause and offer our wisdom from time to time but we are not controlling it. Allowing the Zoners back to their Freeport will be a very short-sighted move, one which will inevitably at some point bring our common enemies to your doorstep. But this is Harmony's decision to make.
Please inform us if the law issue has been discussed and the exception is codified. It would be a shame if an incident happens because of a dawdling bureaucracy.
I am merely keeping you in the loop in regards to recent... developments within Bering.
It appears that the Unioners are not willing to honor something so simple as a trade agreement.
Recent hostilities are forcing our hand. We're learning how things work in these circles. If we back down that'll be stuck with us.
My people are not to be pushed around by the Unioners. We're quite aware of the strength of their forces though.
Should the situation escalate, we might be forced to accept help from the Hellfire Legion. As I don't expect the Hackers to enter a struggle within Bering on either side.
That is all for now and we will keep you informed.
Please allow me to further elaborate upon the rising situation in Bering. After supplying and requested the construction of a Hel-class cruiser from the Unioners of Pacifica, they seem determined to let a minor diplomatic bump result in them demanding Harmony surrender it's territory in exchange for the release of the warship to Harmony forces. As per the Admiral's orders, a strike team is preparing an precise strike to liberate the Hel and minimize casualties. Now, I know very well how this sounds to you and I wish to provide the Lane Hackers with assurances. First and foremost, we have no current plans to extend this conflict between us past this assault to liberate the vessel that belongs to us. The Unioners backing out of their end of the deal, essentially hijacking the supplies we had delivered and constructing a warship, is a blatant act of disrespect and disregard for Harmony's friendship with them.
Attempted negotiations broke down as they then demanded we surrender Harmony territory in Bering in exchange for the warship. Admiral Knight took note of their leadership issues and decided that as such, internal strife between them will not cause harm to our assets and operations. As such, a strike wing is prepared to make a tactical assault, liberate the warship from drydock and return it to Marshall Station. In the unlikely event a sustained conflict breaks out from this, I wish to clarify a few points.
Should sustained conflict occur between Battlegroup Harmony and the Unioners, the following will be in effect:
- The Lane Hackers will remain exempt from Separatist law regarding Artifact trade.
-Unioner transports in line with Lane Hacker or Gaian convoys will be considered under their protection and, unless provoked, will not be assaulted.
-Unioner vessels operating in conjunction with Lane Hacker forces will not be fired upon unless provoked.
Should you request further provisions or protections, please feel free to say so. Hopefully this mess can be played out peacefully, but we must always be prepared.
This recent escalation of tensions between two former allies is severely negative for our side and cause but not unexpected. In fact we expected this to happen much sooner.
I will try to be as straightforward with you as possible, hopeful that your minds will see reason.
Admiral Knight, Captain Linford, you are career soldiers. You are even surrounded by soldiers. Unfortunately that means you lack the finesse and foresight of a diplomat or politician. Thus it is no wonder that a simple trade agreement was enough to bring to war two former allies.
Let me get to the main problem. You are claiming a few systems as your territory which for the most part are under LN control. Why? If you had total control over those systems it would have made sense, instead you are driving away your allies and benefactors. You are the Separatists of Liberty, the whole of Liberty should be under your claim.
Instead you squabble with the Unioners over a few rocks in Bering, a system of minimal worth compared to the might and wealth of House Liberty. Only a soldier would see the tree and not the forest around it. You impede this revolution which we created together at the very moment the Liberty Navy and their Masters are at their lowest and weakest point in history and even worse you invite the treacherous rats of Hellfire Legion who are experts in sowing discontent and chaos.
The situation cannot be allowed to be derailed any further. I will personally act as an Arbiter between the Unioners and Battlegroup Harmony should you be willing to lay down your arms and declaring a ceasefire.
Our goal has always been and will always be Liberty. The Unioners are a bump in the road that will be taken care of.
They thought they could do what they wanted because they helped us build here. They cannot. We will have to assume control of the situation in the area if we wish to push further.
The Union has become a liability that we don't wish to entertain further.
If the Legion wish to take care of the Union for us, even better. Then we can focus on the Navy.
the Unioners seem to be routing parts of their forces due to letting the Legion make their move.
And while we'd promised to let Gaian and Hacker convoys pass freely, we will have to withdraw this guarantee for the Gaians.
They cease to cooperate with us but supplies to the Unioners still flow. As such we cannot give them the treatement they received.
As for the Hackers, we intend to keep our promises and agreements. Even if we cease combat against the Legion to fight the Navy and the Unioners, your ships will be safe. The Legion will have to respect our authority within the space we manage to hold. As we will have to respect theirs.
I will keep you updated on the situation within Bering.
It is deeply troubling that Battlegroup Harmony has no intention for peace and dialogue with an organization that nurtured and supported them when they were most vulnerable. The Lane Hackers also denounce the opportunistic invitation of Hellfire Legion in Bering system. Perhaps your memory is short, as you seem to forget that these traitors not too long ago were assaulting and killing Harmony personnel for no reason. This decision will eventually hurt Harmony's interests and only time will prove that we were once again correct.
Finally, we condemn the minor reason that started this conflict and shattered our tripartite alliance. As a common ally of both sides we were willing to selflessly lobby the Unioners and seek a common solution yet we were never asked, instead received only news of the attack.
Subsequently we decide the following:
All military aid to Battlegroup Harmony will cease immediately as it may directly or indirectly be used against the Unioners. It should be noted that the Lane Hackers have never supported the Unioners with military supplies with the exception of one-off deals.
Consumer goods including counterfeit software and cardamine will continue to be dispatched normally to the Battlegroup's vendors.
Critical Technician maintenance and supply of spare parts for Lane Hacker superior technology (Vindicators, Transgressors, Hellflurries) which has been provided to Battlegroup Harmony will continue unabated only if Admiral Knight promises to not use our technology against the Unioners.
The Lane Hackers are in a sensitive position, not of our own making, and at the current moment we have no intention to join either side.
We understand the Hackers' positions of ceasing military supplies as to not harm your interests invested with the Unioners. We fully understand and accept the terms of operating Lane Hacker technology and will take great effort to avoid using them against the Unioners. I cannot make entire promises that the Unioners will simply stand down if they find me assaulting Navy assets or doing recon within Texas utilizing the Vindicator in my possession, but I will make great effort to not put this vessel into avoidable situations. As for the involvement of the Hellfire Legion, we had been approached about resolving diplomatic issues that had transpired in the past, alongside a detailed listing of disciplinary action taken against the pilots that had assaulted our forces. With their punishment and numerous attempts to regain the neutral status with the Battlegroup by offering combat and logistical support in our battles against the Unioners.
Onto the final issue. The straw that broke the back, so to say. The incident in question happening some time ago, spiraling this situation into the current dilemma. To anyone else it would very sudden for our organizations to be fighting each other. However, there were numerous occasions between the Unioners and Harmony that the they had not only insulted our diplomatic reasoning in attempting to avoid unnecessary armed conflict, but even some pilots combat skills and even our measures to ensure our protection. With the building of tensions I believe the situation that was being handled, with a sudden explosion of reaction by the Unioners, led to this forced response from Harmony. We had attempted diplomacy, but Admiral Knight had seen that the Unioners were merely playing with fate and delaying the seeming inevitable. Upon delivering the ultimatum, both sides reacted as expected, resulting in war.
Its been brought to my attention that despite the recent declaration of Hacker neutrality in the matter of Union-Harmony hostilities, two Hacker agents, one Felicity Willing and Codename "Static" has directly interfered in this matter and therefore has transgressed against Harmony. During blockade duties, Battleship Harmony and its escort had encountered a supply convoy delivering raw materials and oddly enough, alcohol, to Pacifica base. Honoring our agreements, both transport vessels and Hacker escort were allowed to freely pass unharmed. The Hacker agent 'Static' was incredibly hostile to blockade forces.
Hacker Felicity Willing has attempted to turn Harmony's allies against us by attempting to obtain top secret information from top Harmony officials regarding Harmony fleet operations and combat information. While I fully expected a Hacker agent to operate somewhat like this to increase your knowledge on the affairs to bring peace, with these two incidents I am now of the mind this was an attempt to undermine Harmony forces and provide critical intelligence to Unioner forces.
If the Hackers have chosen a side in this conflict that is between ourselves and the Unioners alone, tell me now. Harmony and it's forces are very keen on the Hackers remaining neutral in this conflict. This conflict is between ourselves and the Unioners alone. Interference has forced us to take appropriate measures. I tell you this, Harmony is affording and willing to afford more allowances to the Hackers during this conflict to ensure our operations minimize impact on your operations. Directly protecting a supply of raw materials to supply the Unioner war fleet is a direct transgression against Harmony forces.
Evidence will be given upon request.
I'm in contact now to work this out, rather than have things take a bad turn.
Congratulations are in order. We see that the latest conflict has been very rewarding and positive for your career, exploding it from the previous rank of Captain.
Please allow me to address each one of your points, we are of course grateful that you are bringing these issues to our attention. First of all Felicity Willing and "Static" is the same person so we are talking about one operative. This operative as well as many many others have received instructions to head to Bering system, speak with both sides and the unaffiliated, decipher their motives, goals and objectives. You see, this conflict is considered by the Professorship as extremely central to our interests and while you have unequivocally dismissed any prospect for peace, we are still working on it behind the scenes. And in order to achieve this noble goal, our operatives have been granted a lot of freedom to operate as they see fit. We understand why this would make you suspicious but the operatives have clear instructions to not act directly against any side. Legally obtaining sensitive information is one thing, feeding to the other side is another.
For example, Admiral Linford, based on our intelligence reports and Harmony database messages we know that you have been one of the biggest advocates for this war forsaking your true enemies and mission as Separatists but allowing you a series of top-level promotions. In any case, Ms Willing will be reassigned somewhere else and she will not bother you any longer.
As for the matter of Natio Octavarium supplying the Unioners in Bering, you must see the greater picture. While you were busy cozying up to the Hellfire Legion, isolating yourselves from your allies and friends, the Unioners engaged in an unprecedented Public Relations campaign, successfully painting Battlegroup Harmony as the sole aggressor and warmonger. Their plight has brought many under their banner, your former friends the Gaians and Natio Octavarium being just some of them. The Unioners have exploited your vulnerability because soldiers are not politicians or diplomats; something which I described and I warned you about in my message at July 30th. The tables are turning in Bering and not exactly in your favor.
The supply convoy in question was carrying civilian goods, including alcohol, and no LH transport participated. Nevertheless we have already declared that we will continue doing business with both of our allies, with the exception of military supplies as that could compromise our neutrality. In fact only Harmony continues to receive maintenance and spare parts for their LH military-grade equipment and ships, despite lobbying from the Unioners to stop that. If we are forced to stop trading with one of our allies, then we will have no choice but to enter this war.
Later this day, the Unioners will commence a conference to discuss future strategies and possible alliances. As they have been courting and lobbying intensely for our support, they have invited the Lane Hackers as well. If you have a message for them let us know and we will announce it during the conference.
![[Image: aYeyeyU.png]](http://i.imgur.com/aYeyeyU.png)
![[Image: oAsa1LZ.png]](http://i.imgur.com/oAsa1LZ.png)
![[Image: JAqYDxE.png]](https://i.imgur.com/JAqYDxE.png)
![[Image: DNGyUV1.png]](https://i.imgur.com/DNGyUV1.png)
![[Image: jSsxCam.png]](http://i.imgur.com/jSsxCam.png)
![[Image: DbaoCe1.png]](http://i.imgur.com/DbaoCe1.png)
![[Image: 8dsD8NP.png]](http://i.imgur.com/8dsD8NP.png)
![[Image: so2aLXO.png]](http://i.imgur.com/so2aLXO.png)
![[Image: YW2s5r1.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/YW2s5r1.jpg)
![[Image: lbIXDS6.png]](http://i.imgur.com/lbIXDS6.png)