Liberty Navy 46th Fleet Security Clearance: < GRANTED >
Sender ID: LT Miriam Sanders
Subject: New Orders
This is Miriam Sanders to High Command.
The news reached me and I was shocked to see that Zoners are now labeled as "enemies of the Republic". In my previous tenure at Norfolk Shipyard, I used to see the many Zoner vessels, mostly smaller craft, that flew through Liberty and were welcomed like any other law-abiding person, until now. You may see it because I have my own moral code, one of which is to not kill any civilian. But including all Zoners is a ridiculous prospect for me, since the only Zoners acting against our interests are the combat-capable ones in the Pennsylvania system.
I've known many Zoner friends in my whole life, and neither of them are supportive of any form of aggression against Liberty's interests. Still, I would fight for Liberty, but I would keep my morality. It saddens me to hear that all of them are now "criminals", not just the ones in Pennsylvania, but every Zoner within the Sirius Sector.
WIth All due respect Sir/Mam, I totally Agree with Commander and my Fellow Officers. Since we are already at a War against Insurgents and Other Houses are looking for an Opporuntiy.
I strongly believe that making Zoners our enemy will indeed be an rash decision done by the Upper Bureaucats.
Even though My Heart and My Soul Lives to serve the Liberty and its People my concise won't allow me to harm innocent civilians. so I Stand by to my ethics and will serve Navy with the best of my abilities without killing or hurting civilians.
Liberty Navy 46th Fleet Security Clearance: < GRANTED >
Sender ID: Commodore Jeffrey Asterius
Recipient ID: 46th Fleet Officers
Subject: RE: New Orders
Esteemed officers and pilots.
As you all may know, myself and my crew hail from the Core and we were there to witness the end of Zoner and Core hostilities. Unfortunately, we were there not only to witness, but also to participate in said hostilities as well.
Allow me to break some illusions you might have about the Zoners.
Not every zoner is a harmless civilian without any combat training or expertise. About half of them are trained ex-military combatants - pilots, marines and officers alike. They manufacture capital ships of various types and sizes that are more than capable of putting up a fair fight. They have the numbers to outfit such ships with full-sized crews. Now, that doesn't necessarily make them justifiable combat targets, but the fact that they chose to house and protect domestic terrorists from justice, the fact that they chose combat when Operation "Pesticide" came to be, the fact that their flagship openly assaulted our very own Battleship Alma - all what I just described, not only does it make them collaborators of our sworn enemy, but also war criminals in general, and therefore they have made targets of themselves.
Now, that doesn't mean that every Zoner should be a viable combat target. Let us not become the likes of Liberty Vice or the First Armada and use any excuse to become savages on the battlefield and outside of it alike - you must choose your targets wisely. Assert the situation, see if the Zoner in front of you poses any threat to you or your allies, question them and escort them out of our space. But if you see a Zoner who is more than willing to shoot you - make no mistake and fight them back. Cripple them, teach them a lesson, spare their life if their judgement isn't clouded by delusions of grandeur.
A title of a Zoner is an ambiguous one. No one faction unifies them all - even if there are groups of them, like Med Force Enterprises and Omicron Supply Industries, every zoner is a character of their own past and reasons to abandon the civilization of a house. Shall it come to violence - feel no remorse, for a zoner in your crosshairs might also be a fugitive. And it's fugitives, outlaws and agents for those with ill intent towards the stability and security of our house who would be more than willing to take any opportunity to put sticks in our wheels.
A civilian who picks up a gun and uses it against the law swiftly becomes a danger to society.
-
Jeffrey Asterius
Commodore Liberty Navy 46th Fleet
Liberty Navy 46th Fleet Security Clearance: < GRANTED >
Sender ID: LDCR Mahina Kamealoha
Subject: Re: New Orders
Sir,
The term "civilian" is very black and white to the vast majority of people in the galaxy. Nearly every civilian you see in Liberty is armed, and a good amount have fought or been forced to defend themselves in some capacity. Despite this, they are still categorized as "civilians".
While you may have had "difficult" interdictions with them as a Core Officer, the point stands: they are nowhere near capable of squaring up with Liberty's war machine. We have more pilots that are much more well trained; we have technology that, by comparison to them - makes them look like stoneage natives. The advantage is there; the beauracrats are making a bold consequential decision by using force to take over a planet they claim "harbors terrorists". It's well known that Xenos hideout on Pittsburg, and Rogues smuggle cardamine into the cities of Manhattan - yet no measures are taken that are as drastic as this.
Pennsylvania was not "Liberty" by default, the Zoners and other common settlers had a stake in the system long before we arrived. The bearuacarcy of Liberty could've chosen a much more vast variety of tactics to take control of the planet. Subjugating them with force tells someone like me (who's been an intelligence officer and a henchman) that they are in a rush or looking for a fight. In any case, the consequences of this will be unsalvagable. Enemies that were once diversified will have a reason to stop fighting each other and turn their guns on us.
I will not instigate hostilities with these people. But as you say, I will defend myself. Make of this what you will, if letting me go crosses your mind - I never deserved to be here in the first place.
Liberty Navy 46th Fleet Security Clearance: < GRANTED >
Sender ID: Admiral Aden Tanner
Recipient ID: Fleet-wide
Subject: RE: New Orders
Greetings to all the Officers of the Fleet, I want to personally address the concerns raised in regard to the orders put out by Rear Admiral Shepard. Firstly I would like to give praise where praise is due, it is truly inspiring for me as a leader to see those under my Command speak with such conviction when it concerns innocents. I can assure you all, without question, that no order will ever come from the High Command that would have you fire on an innocent Civilian.
As an Officer of Forty-sixth Fleet, you will uphold all of the Laws of Liberty, however, it is the responsibility of the individual Officer to stay true to the spirit of the law itself. We are not butchers, murderers, or even the Police. We are the Warriors of the Republic of Liberty, and we shall continue within this Fleet to act with honor in all of our dealings. You are professionals and are at all times expected to act in the best interest of the Fleet and of our Republic.
In regards to the Zoners and the new Law changes, I want all personnel to proceed under the same Rules of Engagement you would use with any Junker you may come across. Unless a specific law is being violated, or the vessel in question is a known hostile asset of a terrorist group, you are to perform your duties as normal. I have the utmost faith in all of you, that you will perform these duties to the highest standards.
Furthermore, I would implore all of you to take heed of Commodore Asterius's thoughts on the matter. His experience with the types of Zoners that caused this law change in the first place will be invaluable to you as you carry out your duties, whether you agree with him or not. Remember, fighting loosely affiliated terrorists will require proactive and positive interactions with the civilians they hide behind, but also strong and decisive action against the terrorists themselves.
I have taken good note of both of your careers, and while this transmission's purpose is not to praise you for them, I have to admit that whatever intelligence regarding you two that -isn't- classified paints a good image.
As you must be well aware by now, I am reintroducing Task Force Akhetaten into active status. Now while the Taskforce already has the necessary personnel to operate in full capacity, and while access to the Taskforce to 46th's personnel will be limited to training purposes, I'm willing to make exceptions for pilots such as yourselves, due to the nature of your backgrounds.
As per the above, consider this an official request from the taskforce's commanding officer to take part in it.
I will be expecting your input and responses before going any further into the subject.
Liberty Navy 46th Fleet Security Clearance: < GRANTED >
Sender ID: LDCR Mahina Kamealoha
Subject: Re: TFA
Ma'am,
I am very humbled by your request, and I can see that this will likely entail things beyond the scope of the Navy's daily operations at home.
Which is why I will accept this request; I have a pretty intimate experience with the ins and outs of events occurring outside of Liberty. I will be leaving Curacao shortly to meet you wherever that may be.
Liberty Navy 46th Fleet Security Clearance: < GRANTED >
Sender ID: Ensign Amber Terra
Recipient ID: Vice Admiral Maria Uhmen
Subject: Re: TFA
Vice Admiral Uhmen,
I have to admit I did not expect to see such a transmission pointed towards me that early in my career with the 46th Fleet. Being part of Task Force Akhetaten, certainly, was not part of my idea on how my Navy career would turn out back in the day, but it is a kind offer that I cannot decline regardless.
Thank you for the chance you're giving me to prove myself, ma'am, you will not be disappointed - I accept the offer.
I am pleasantly surprised to know that you're both willing to be a part of the Task Force's personnel. You will be granted access to all assets that the Task Force is comprised of, once their repairs have been completed, regardless of rank restrictions you might otherwise have due to the Fleet's outside ranking structure and allowances. During your flights on the Task Force's dedicated snub-craft squadron, the Umbral wing, you are to use your respective call-signs, as chosen by yourselves, "Atlantic" and "Nova". Flights that you take on-board capital ships belonging to the Task Force will not require you to use a call-sign - you will be assuming the role of the commanding officer while on-board. The full-time commanding officer on the warship you will be serving on will be evaluating your performance, so take good care of those ships.
In addition to the above, and as a final note, during your time within any of the Task Force's vessels you report to the Task Force's Commander, that it myself. Reports on any operation along with any piece of intelligence you come across will be forwarded directly to myself over the channel that we are located now - not the After-Action Reports channel.
I believe I've made myself clear and answered any possible questions you might've had.
I require your immediate attention for a matter of utmost importance not only to the Forty-Sixth Fleet but also the Republic of Liberty itself. I have a data chip in my possession containing intelligence that must be forwarded to the Government immediately. Due to safety concerns, I am not to share this packet of data over a link such as this; I would prefer if the packet was transferred to you in-person.
The Akhetaten is currently located at Norfolk Shipyard. Give me a location that is suitable for you and I'll have someone from the crew deliver the package to you.