Secure Transmission to Bretonian Foreign Ministry

[Niezck]

####Incoming Transmission####

Comm ID: Guild Command Ship Comoros
From: Guild Master David Masterson
To: Lord Charles Canning, Foreign Secretary of Bretonia

Greetings,

I would like to start by saying how appalled I am at the Bretonian Government's decision to lockdown Orkney. Simply put, good sir, you have no right to do such. This is akin to the Guild issuing a lockdown of the Leeds system, we have no authority to do so.

As such, I would hereby request the removal of the lockdown. A restriction on military ships would be valid, but civilian vessels are not within your control. We, the Guild, will take full responsibility for any civilian or otherwise non-military ship entering the Orkney system, and will monitor them closely from both the Comoros and Dounby Station.

Furthermore, the IMG henceforth considers itself a primary power in the Orkney system owing to it's base and the position of the Carrier Comoros. Due to this, we expect that major decisions be discussed with us thoroughly.

We would also wish to discuss a non-agression pact, with the potential for leading onto a further, more solid, agreement.

Awaiting your reply,

David Masterson, Guild Master of the Independent Miner's Guild

####End Transmission####

[pbrione]

--Incoming Secure Transmission to IMG Guilmaster--
--Private Communique--

Mr Materson,

Please accept my most sincere apologies if our declaration was in any way interpreted as an attack against IMG interests in the Orkney system; a deterioration in relations with the IMG was never our intention and is not something that the Bretonian Governement could possibly desire. To clarify our position, we wish that allied and neutral groups with interests in Orkney, such as the IMG, gain our approval to operate within Orkney, given the development in the situation there. In an attempt to diffuse diplomatic tensions, I will unilaterally waive this requirement in relation to the IMG given your obvious and neccssary access to supply your base and operate there. However, we will not accept IMG claims of system ownership. The Bretonian Empire has long claimed territorial sovereignty over the Orkney system, our claims long predating the recent construction of your Dounby station there. In fact the system was discovered and first named by Bretonia in 476 A.S. and evidence of our longstading claims to it can be found here:

Sirius Cartographical Office:
http://discoverygc.com/files/discoverymap.jpg

Bretonian Constitution:
http://discoverygc.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30738

That said, naturally we recognise the interests and influence of the IMG in the Orkney system, and as such are willing to grant you full rights of access to the system, and use of the natural resources therein, as well as the rights to operate there in whatever capacity you wish. In return, we ask only that you recognise our fundamental sovereignty claim there, as the Republic of Liberty has already done, and do not hinder our efforts to defend the system from our enemies. At a time when the Kusari Empire is laying claim to our territory in Leeds itself, I am sure you can understand why we simply cannot afford to renounce any more of our territory.

In truth, given the nature of the new discoveries in Orkney, we feel that we cannot risk hostile forces, particularly agents of the Kusari Empire, gaining access through Orkney to this new force until we have established their intentions towards us. The last thing that Bretonia needs now is another potentially hostile Nation on our northern frontier, and we therefore find it neccessary to restrict the access of non-allied vessels (IMG not included) pending the opening of diplomatic relations with these new groupe, in order to prevent the Kusari from gaining another potentially fatal advantage against us at this most difficult time. I am willing to grant the IMG whatever rights they wish in the Orkney system, and to let them work with us in developing its future, but I am afraid that we cannot renounce our sovereignty there, as to do so would be a potentially fatal blow to our war effort.

Our home systems are being invaded by the Kusari, and in the interests of your neutrality, of diplomacy and peace efforts, and of the very existence of the House of Bretonia, I beg you to accept our proposal. I am fully aware that we are in practice in little position to govern the Orkney system given its distance from our capital and the fall of our supply route through Leeds, and would appreciate IMG help in managing the system for us. I also acknowledge that the IMG may, at present, have a superior force that they are able to deploy there. But to do so, and hence demonstrate to all of Sirius the collapse of Bretonia's territorial claims would serve to destroy us as a House with territorial integrity. We are in a desperate war, sir, and will resort to desperate measures in defence of our territory.

I wish to point out that the Bretonian Government has enjoyed an good working relationship with previous IMG Guildmaster Barrington, culminating in our joint work on the Treaty of Curacao, and I wish to express my hope that this may continue under present Guild leadership. I readily and happily accept your proposal for a non-aggression pact and will agree to consult with IMG regarding any decisions we take that are likely to affect your operations, again only requesting that you recognise our sovereignty. We have no desire to alienate the IMG, who are vital trading partners, and hope that we may work together in peace to further both our interests, not only in Orkney but in the entirity of the Tau region.

Yours in good faith,

Lord Charles Canning,
9th Earl of Malmesbury
Foreign Secretary of Bretonia

--End Transmission--

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Sir Stanley Nelson




<span style="color:#000066">Charles Canning </span><span style="color:#000066"> Foreign Secretary</span>

[Seth Karlo]

[Incoming Transmission]

Sir,

I read your response with relief, and thank you for your reply. We do not wish to claim the Orkney system as ours, merely want to have a say in it;s development.

We will not be allowing any military ships of any type or affliation large than, or including, a gunboat class vessel land on or restock from our base in Orkney, like Freeport 4.

Regards,

Syana Kyan.

[Transmission ends]

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Signature by Sleipnir.

[pbrione]

--Incoming Transmission--

My thanks for your understanding and accomodating response. The Bretonian government is also grateful for your implied offer to allow our fighters to land on Dounby station, something which will greatly ease the facilitation of our governance of the system. I shall contact the Guildmaster Materson personally to discuss any future plans or arrangements we have regarding the system, and to try to reach an agreement on our enforcement of restrictions on hostile vessels in the system.

Yours sincerely,

Lord Charles Canning,
9th Earl of Malemesbury
Foreign Secretary of Bretonia

--End Transmission--

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Sir Stanley Nelson




<span style="color:#000066">Charles Canning </span><span style="color:#000066"> Foreign Secretary</span>