A message to the people of Rheinland

[Adam_Spire]

A man in a flight jacket stands up from behind the reporters and raises his hand to the speakeras there was a slight pause.

Sir, Adam Spire, Freelancer working for Rheinland currently. I was wondering if we could expect or request assistance from the Bounty Hunter Guild? They also have a lot of experience in dealing with Corsairs and all range of ship designs and tactics they incorporate into their attacks. With mercenaries guilds being rather unreliable even flipped sides in a conflict, would the direct Rheinland military presence in the sigmas prevent any house hunters from assisting Rheinland directly? Would Kusari forces allow the open assistance of Bounty Hunters if such a need was extended to the House Hunters or does the Rheinland and Kusari governments intend to cooperatively work together in this matter?

He ask while looking back at some of the reporters whom had turned to him.

---

Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.

[Jeremy Hunter]

A young woman with short black hair stands up

"Enough fuel for the fleet to defend? Does that mean that the Rheinwher will cease strikes into the border worlds of Hudson and Bering, and the Texas system?"

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Petitioner]

Adding yet another question to the torrential and neverending stream of shouts coming from the assembled reporters, a young man, looking in his early twenties, in a simple black suit with a pin of the Rheinland flag on his lapel, calmly walked to the front of the crowd, holding a video recorder and a microphone connected to it, standing in front of the assembly perhaps somewhat awkwardly, but confidently nonetheless. His Rheinland accent thick, marking him as a denizen of Stuttgart, he held the microphone up as close to the Kanzler as he could reach, before simply stating his question.

[color=#33CC00]"Herr Kanzler, you say zat the forces used for ze Sigma operations have been taken from ze garrisons of ze southern systems of our homeland - will zis not make these areas much more vulnerable to attacks by, say, ze Rote Hessens und, ironically, ze Corsair barbarians?"



Systems away, the men he had once called comrades sat in their asteroid base and watched the news feed with looks of wonder collectively stricken across their faces.

---

[Shagohad]

A Kusaran man, sitting patiently towards of the rear of the audience sat and scribbled on an archaic notebook with an ornate pen. Occasionally he'd tip the pen back from his work to nibble on the end, nervously darting his eyes back and forth amongst the interrogative questioning. As if without thought, he stood up and calmly blurted,

"Mister Kanzler, I feel that something has been overlooked: What do you plan to do if the situation escalates? Is Rheinland prepared to side with the Guild, who provides you with fuel for your precious warmachines? Or do you side with the Emperor, a possible threat from the north that is currently demonstrating its might to Bretonia?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, almost as if to challenge the man's next words.

---

"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THE SCIENCE IS LEAKING OUT!"

[Kanzler Schulte]

[font=Lucida Console]Waiting for the clammer to die down, the Kanzler took a sip of water from the carved crystal glass resting on his podium. Once the storm of comments died down, he began to address them one by one...

[font=Century Gothic]Herr Spire is it?

While Rheinland currently enjoys its good relations with the bounty hunters guild the current pricarious balance in the sigmas has motivated the Nation of Rheinland to deal with the appearance of this corsair battle fleet personally. Hired help in such a fragile regain may not be the wisest way to deal with a situation that requires the grace and delicacy of a ballet. As such, Rheinland will deal with this matter in the lower sigmas alone, keeping as close an eye as possible on all resulting developments.


Meine Fräulein,

I am afraid I cannot comment on what military operations might or might not possibly happen on the liberty front in such a public setting. However, the rheinland public may rest assured that Hamburg is safe.


Mein Herr,

You raze valid concerns about the safety of our people. I am glad to see such intelligent Rheinlanders these days, especially among the younger people. It does my heart good to know that the next generation of Rheinlanders are more then capable of carrying on our glorious legacy.

To answer your question mein herr, with only one cruiser group taken from each system, the impact on security will be minimal. Munich and Frankfurt may very well be even safer now, as our battle group in the sigmas are dealing with the corsair threat there, instead of allowing them to slip into the house systems. As for the corsairs towards the south of Rheinland, the garrison of Stuttgart and Omega 15 remains fully intact, so I doubt we will have major problems there. The Rheinwehr flotten in Dresden will be keeping a close eye on piracy in the system as usual. Forces in Dresden may very well receive reinforcements to bolster their effectiveness, though on what kind of reinforcements I cannot comment at this time.

All in all, Rheinland is safer now, especially our Eastern systems. The people of Munich and Frankfurt may indeed sleep soundly at night.

[font=Lucida Console]The Kanzler takes another sip of water before nodding his head towards the Kusarian.

Mein herr,

While Rheinland is moving forces into the lower sigmas, this does not mean Rheinland will be picking any sides in the conflict to the north. As I have mentioned before, I shall reiterate that Rheinland will remain a neutral party in the GMG Kusari conflict. We have no desire other then that of peace and stability in the sigmas; indeed one of the prime reasons anti-corsair operations were started in the area.

---

Bundesrepublik Rheinland

[Shagohad]

The man shook his head, almost as though the answer was not good enough for him.

"Sir, by moving into the Sigmas, Rheinland is encroaching on and occupying territory that it had lost in a war. By definition, that would be known as an 'invasion'. I do not represent either the Guild nor Kusari itself, but I speak for many when I ask if what Rheinland is doing is actually worth the consequences?"

---

"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THE SCIENCE IS LEAKING OUT!"

[Jeremy Hunter]

"But sir, that would equal...three cruiser groups. How can you expect that to stand up to two battleship-class warships? How mighty you respond to Corsairs bringing their own reinforcments?"

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Petitioner]

The "young Rheinlander," apparently satisfied with the answer given by one of the most recognizable figures in Sirius, smiled and nodded as his question was answered, and went back to resume his seat, switching off his camera. As far as he was concerned, this press conference was essentially over, though he remained to listen politely to the questions of the others.

---

[Silver.2]

Towards the back of the press conference hall, a man slips into the foray of shouting and desperate newsmen. His visage is exasperated, with the very slight facsimile of urgency painting it's way across his eyes. His ICMG delegate attire, worn over decades of passage from owner to owner, loudly ruffled as he strained his hand up.

"Excuse me, Herr Kanzler! Excuse me!"

He looks around, quiet indignation creeping across his features. He hated being drowned out by so many mindless newsies. With a flick of a switch, attached to his arm console, a voice enhancing device sprung to life, around his collar.

"Yes, Herr Kanzler. Director Jack Selkner, representing the ICMG.

Apologies for being somewhat tardy to this conference. However, the concerns of those I represent are pressing, and, as such, I must inquire on a couple of points. You have made allusions to preventing a second Corsair war. Under these pretenses, would you then consider the Sigmas to be, at this time, an active warzone? Rather few of our ships are cleared for transit through such areas, by our Board, and we must plan accordingly.

The second point I would like to inquire about regards your stance towards the GMG, and Kusari as a whole. Our vessels have been known to...er...transport needed supplies to Kusarian and, on occasion, GMG facilities. Would you then consider such convoys, also bound for various other civilian sites, to be a danger to Rheinland? Or, would civilian trading vessels, such as ours, be considered in a more neutral stance?

After ending his rather long-winded inquiry, he looks around, to see the intensely aggravated faces of the dozen-or-so reporters which had been directly surrounding him. He casually turns of the voice enhancer, gives a polite smile to the fuming reporters, and takes a seat.

[Kanzler Schulte]

Looking towards the Kusarian once more, the Kanzler began to speak.

[font=Century Gothic]Mein herr, it may do you well to visit the public library of Neu Berlin, they should have extensive records on the fighting, and outcome of the 80 years war. During Rheinland's conflict with the GMG, so long ago, Sigma 13 was the crux of the war, with little comparative action taking place in the eastern sigmas. Sigma 13 is claimed by the gas miners guild, and that some claim is acknowledged by Rheinland. Rheinland forces are, however, currently deploying into Sigma 17 and making sure to abide by all established treaties and conventions while in sigma 13. It is my sincere hope that some less well informed people do not jump to the conclusion that this is in any way a parallel to the 80 years war; a conflict that both Rheinland and the GMG have strived to put behind them in more recent years.

[font=Lucida Console]At this time, the Kanzler adjusted his gaze towards the black haired woman.

Mein frau, I am confident when I say that Rheinland steel will be cutting through the soft underbelly of corsair fleets in the sigmas. You may be content in the fact that our current forces in the area are more then enough to deal a crippling blow to the gathering corsair menace.

Taking one last sip of water, the Kanzler turned to the newly arrived delegate.

Herr Selkner,

It is good to see the corporations are wishing to keep themselves informed of current events, however I am afraid your question would be better directed to the GMG or Kusari representatives. Rheinland is currently focusing its attention in sigma 17. Sigma 17 at this moment is indeed an active war-zone; exchanges of fire between Rheinland Military ships and corsair forces may very well be happening as we speak. I sense however you see an answer about the system of sigma 13, and contained within it its vital trade route. While Rheinland forces near the Frankfurt gate and Helgoland station will be keeping the peace in lower sigma 13, questions about the Kusarian/GMG conflict are best directed to the forces who are fighting it. Rheinland will be remaing a neutral party in this conflict.

---

Bundesrepublik Rheinland