Name: Erich Klugmann Identification: The Platform, Gloaming Flotilla Encryption access:[TRACE ERROR] Location:[ERROR] Subject: Personal Space
To whom it may concern,
I address you on behalf of the Platform Bundschuh. I presume you know of the latter, however, considering your modular station sits in orbit around Sigma-15's star no more than Eight Klicks from our own holdings in the Norddorf nebula.
Curiously, despite now sharing this smallish wisp of the Crow, you never made any overtures to ask whether sharing this home was permissible. Scouring the local Neural Net also revealed total silence towards what polity, firm, or organization you represent. Most egregiously, you appear to be denying our ships docking permission altogether.
With the aforementioned in mind, I don't believe it's unreasonable to request prompt and thorough answers regarding the following:
- Who you are, including details on IFF and Identification, and your intentions.
- A full list of current and intended capabilities of your installation, including specific modules.
- A full list of other organizations supplying your installation, if applicable.
- An explanation as to why you chose to establish your installation in a fashion one could call "obnoxiously" close to our established stronghold in the Norddorf--And why we have not been either contacted or granted docking access after the fact.
On behalf of the Platform, I would again like to urge a prompt response to our requests.
Sender:Liam Fox To:Erich Klugmann Subject:Re: Personal Space
Greetings,
I am Liam Fox, the leader of a small group of Omicron Zoners. I extend my sincere apologies for the inconvenience we have caused you.
Our decision was to settle in the Sigma 17 system which was driven due to the ongoing conflicts in the Omicrons. But we discovered that Sigma 17 wasn't clear of it's troubles either. This led to us constructing our small refinery at the edge of Norddorf clouds, to remain out of sight while minimizing risks of unfamiliar surroundings in the clouds. We were unaware that this spot is just eight klicks away from your base.
I want to assure you that we do not pose a threat to you or your operations in the area. Since we are trying to keep a low profile being a relatively small group, our installation is currently open to only those I personally know or have a contact with, which goes without saying includes you now following this communication. We also try not to deny entry to anyone who stumbles upon our base because of the associated risks of doing so.
Here's the list of IFF'd ships you could find supplying or stopping by our base:
The intended purpose of our installation is to exploit the debris field and the nearby areas for salvageable materials, which we would refine and sell on the retail market. Our breeder plant would power these operations. Depending on what the future holds, we also might consider offering refining services to traders bringing in Aluminium Ore from the far side of the system, that is, if we are able to set up a safe trade environment. The limited space we have may also serve as a haven or a stop for groups trying to escape the endless conflict in the Omicrons.
Other than that to specifically list out all modules we currently have a Scrap Smelter, MOX Breeder Plant, Exotic Materials Laboratory, and five Cargo Storage Modules.
I hope I have made clear our intentions and that we don't mean to provoke the Bundschuh in any way. If there's anything that still remains unclear, do let me know. I shall do my utmost to make sure there remain no misunderstandings between us. We are prepared to offer our services to you and fulfill any demands, provided those are reasonable for a small group like ours.
Name: Erich Klugmann Identification: The Platform, Gloaming Flotilla Encryption access:[TRACE ERROR] Location:[ERROR] Subject: RE: RE: Personal Space
Administrator Liam Fox,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
We've inspected the station and have confirmed the veracity of your installation's capabilities, and we are willing to welcome the purchase of its products. While we're sympathetic towards the victimization of Zonerkind by all manner of states and organizations of late, we cannot currently countenance Norddorf Refinery's present docking permissions. Specifically, that of the Outcasts.
As you're likely aware, the Nation of Malta seeks to force a centralized fealty Sirius-wide through strategic distribution of their Cardamine monopoly, usually referred to as the "Orange Dream." To our knowledge the Tau Corridor and Galileo are more prominent routes to see Cardamine to its primary market, Liberty--But we are absolutely unwilling to permit free movement of Malta's economic or military assets so near our own holdings.
I sincerely apologize, but there are a number of terms that will need to be ratified by you and your crew, Administrator, for the Platform to permit continued operations where the Refinery presently resides.
- Cessation of Docking Access to the Nation of Malta, as well as to all entities considered Unfriendly or Hostile by the Bundschuh.
- Continued access to Norddorf Refinery's saleable commodities and equipment.
- A down payment of two-hundred-fifty-thousand credits (250,000) paid promptly to (=)GFS-New.Colossus.
- Subsequent monthly payments of one-hundred-thousand credits (100,000) paid to (=)GFS-New.Colossus no later than the First of each month--starting this March--to allow the Platform to better shore up against the traffic the Refinery may bring.
Unfortunately, the unique risks that the proximity of Norddorf Refinery currently poses to the Bundschuh rule out counter-offers on this matter. Should these terms not prove acceptable or tenable, we strongly recommend either decommissioning the station or relocating it elsewhere.
On the other hand, should these be ratified, the Platform will also defend Norddorf Refinery against threat from belligerents in the region, including but not limited to the Nation of Malta and allies; the Corsair Empire and allies, The State of Rheinland, and the Gas Miners Guild.
I hope that these terms are understood, Administrator, to be reasonable in light of the situation at hand.
Sender:Liam Fox To:Erich Klugmann Subject:Re: Re: Re: Personal Space
Dear Erich Klugmann,
I appreciate your cooperativeness and express my sincere gratitude for your understanding. I understand the current situation and your concerns, and I would like to address each of your points separately:
-Continued access to Saleable Commodities: We agree to ensure seamless access of our saleable commodities and equipment to the Bundschuh. And also promise to provide special deals specifically to the Bundschuh from time-to-time, accordingly with your needs.
-Down Payment: We agree to the down payment requirement of 250,000 credits to (=)GFS-New.Colossus. You will find the amount sent to the aforementioned account. You can also access the transaction record here.
-Monthly Payments: We accept the terms of monthly payments to support the Platform's efforts. However, we'd like to propose to make the payments biannually, paid in advance.
Regarding the cessation of docking rights to the Nation of Malta and other entities, I'd like to share my perspective in a detailed manner, to avoid missing any significant point or leave any room for misunderstandings.
We are an autonomous group of Zoners and a small one at that. I admit we're at fault for not thoroughly familiarizing ourselves with the region first, but relocating or even decommissioning is not an option for us. We simply lack the financial means of doing so. We have invested all we could muster in this refinery and this may well be our last hope of securing a livelihood, and any disruption to our operations would leave us utterly powerless.
While we are grateful for the support and protection you are offering, I'm afraid we can't position ourselves in a way that risks the destruction of our livelihood in any way. For this sole reason, our goal is to remain neutral and to comply with any party that may come across our base, in an effort to avoid the slightest chance of conflicts that could jeopardize our livelihood.
Regarding the stray Outcast patrol from Sigma 17 who stumbled on our base, the individual treated the encounter casually and left without delay. And the Outcasts, much like ourselves, appear to be unaware of your base in the Norddorf Clouds, to the best of my knowledge.
In any case, operating under your protection and in your secured space means we are effectively isolated from such entities and incidents. However, should someone independently reach us and face denied docking permissions, it could be perceived as an act of aggression, which ultimately has the potential risk of warships appearing at our doorstep, something we'd very much like to avoid at all costs.
Outside of this, we very much welcome the idea of working alongside the Bundschuh and to provide services further than what our refinery is capable of. I am positive my group can prove a valuable resource working alongside the Bundschuh, for mutual benefit.
Name: Erich Klugmann Identification: The Platform, Gloaming Flotilla Encryption access:[TRACE ERROR] Location:[ERROR] Subject:RE: RE: RE: RE: Personal Space
Administrator,
When I stated quite clearly that the Platform will not tolerate the presence of Outcasts on its own doorstep, I was not being hyperbolic.
If, as you say, you are seeking to avoid the possibility of being threatened by warships; then it appears your decision to invest all you possess into a refinery directly adjacent to us has put you between a proverbial Rock and Hard Place.
You speak of "perceived acts of aggression" but it would appear that one way or another, you're inflicting such a thing on either us, or the Nation of Malta.
As such, you can either contend with Malta's forces at least one or two system jumps away from what is unambiguously "their territory" and receive our support in defense against them--Or you can contend with everything the Bundschuh can muster a mere eight klicks away. The choice is yours.
You have twelve hours to either accept our terms in entirety, begin the process of decommission or relocation with refund of the down payment, or allow us to decommission this breach of our security and safety for you.
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