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"Midori is doing pretty good considering her condition," Doc belatedly answers Victor, "And yes, she is due any time now." He motions to a pager on his belt, "If that goes off, I'll have to leave as it means she has gone into labor."
He then greets Chester Copperton, "I am sorry for your missing men, Chester. I do hope they are found safely. My resources are available if you need them."
He then took Zhane's hand in friendship, "It is an honor to finally meet you in person. Congratulations on your acceptance to the Alliance. I think you will fit in nicely."
With that, Doc began attending to business.
"The Liberty Government," he begins, "I personally disapprove of their current leadership and their empty promises. As it is, they have all but taken Pennsylvania away from us even though we settled it."
Doc paused and thought a moment before continuing, "It's almost an oxymoron to sell them Erie and Bethlehem. In their eyes, they already own them and we saw what happened when we tried to provide security around Bethlehem." He took a quick look to Matok, "You remember all to well. I still have that report."
He again thinks for a moment, "In as much as I don't want to force people to leave, I don't see it as viable asset for us. I would be willing to provide the personnel with transport out. Canaria is still quite wild in many places and unspoiled. I would favor moving those who wish to leave there."
"As far as selling the base, I would favor that. I know there are a few Liberty corporations who would like it with the minerals in the system," he continued and stopping to cock a smirk, "just make sure they pay dearly for it."
As he was about to yield the floor, he quickly added, "And I think we need to keep Omega 49 well defended if we don't want a repeat of Pennsylvania, both militarily and politically. I'll be damned if I am to give up my home to anyone!"
He then sat in his seat to listen to who would speak next.
Chester stand and clears his throat, obvious very nervous.
I thank everyone for their concern at the missing of Claroke and Eric. It has been a trying period for us at ZoE and especially myself. Ambassador I do hope you will not have to wait long for the wonderful news of your child. pauses for a second
I too agree with the Ambassador on all his points. Why should we give up Bethlehelm?
It seems that the Liberty corporations would enjoy our departure from Bethlehelm and for the fact of leaving Pennsylvania all together. If we are to give Bethlehelm up, the Liberty government and Liberty corporations must pay a hefty price in compensation.
Also I will provide the people of Bethehelm station any transports and funds they may need in their time of need.
I am in favour of selling the base if the it is in the best interest of Zoners.
As for Gran Canaria we must not allow this beautiful system become another situation or repeat of Pennsylvania. We from the Zoner Ore Extraction has built a home here at Gran Canaria, pause this is our home as it is for many zoners. I feel we must protect ourselves more so now then ever.
Thank you gentlemen Chester sits down still nervous
"While I share no love of Liberty, remember that Bethlehem is not our station. It belongs to the Zoners who live on it, operate it, and care for it. Those same Zoners have come to us to ask for help and advice. We aren't selling Erie to Liberty, our fore bearers did that for us when they allowed Liberty to waltz in and set up shop so easily. For those of you that don't know, Doc and Charles I assume you do, the company that wants to take over the operation of Bethlehem is Synth Foods, Inc. While not a friend of the Zoner community like the Gas Miners Guild, Synth has helped many of our people prosper. With Synth's technology Zoners in the Omicrons and Omegas are the largest suppliers of food stuffs in those regions." pausing for a moment and taking a shot of vodka, "While I know everyone here would send transport after transport to help the people of Bethlehem find new homes, Synth has offered to pay their travel costs to the destination of their choice and give them all money to start new lives with. Make no mistake, Synth is being very generous with their offer. They could simply wait until Liberty annexes the station and make a bid for it, instead they are offering to help the Zoners who live there." Finishing his last sentence Victor stands up and walks over to a window and looks out, "I too want us to ensure what happened to Pennsylvania doesn't happen to Omega-49. We won't make the same mistakes those before us made I hope."
Zhane had taken seat and listened to the others in the room, listening to their arguments, he payed attention to every word, trying to understand every persons interest in the whole.
He then spoke and when he did, it was with determination.
"We of the Virulian Enclave believes that the Bethlehem station can indeed be sold to the nation of Liberty, that is, for a cost. We of the Enclave does not believe that the system would be needed for the zoners, other then making a problem with the authorities of Liberty that is."
Then he looked at others each at a time with a confident look in his eyes, finishing he stopped at Chester and he said while continuing to look around at the others.
"Omega 49 and Gran Canaria is the closest thing the Enclave has to a home, and we will defend it until our deaths.. As some of you may or may not know, ever since we where welcomed into the Alliance and took a seat in it. We began construction of a home on the planet's surface. And we have been given the idea by many Zoners, Charles M. Burns of the Zoners Trading Consortium, to name one, to become the caretakers, the custodian, the guardians of that world, a World that is threatened by many factions and sought after. We of the Enclave shall have the majority of he fleet to guard it at all times.. Gran Canaria will be safe.."
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Doc stood in thought for a moment. He agreed with the thoughts on Bethlehem. In a way, it shouldn't be our decision but that of the administration on the station itself as to whether or not to sell and then have to re-locate.
"There are men and women raising families on that station," he said, "before we make a decision, maybe we need to talk to them. Transport and financial help is nice and may sway a few but it's not uncommon for people to not want to uproot. If they want to then so be it. Whoever gets it, well, it won't come cheap."
He thought again, "As for who to sell to, I'm impartial on that. If Synthe Foods can use it then that's fine." He smirks a bit, "with the Rogues and Xenos in the area, that will be fun to watch."
He then turned to Zhane, "I see you love Gran Canaria as much as I do. I'm glad you will be there to look after it. However I can support you, I will."
He took a sip of his drink and looked around at all of his colleagues, "I think we are in agreement that we will not allow to happen in Omega 49 what happened in Pennsylvania......to anyone!"
Doc stood in thought for a moment. He agreed with the thoughts on Bethlehem. In a way, it shouldn't be our decision but that of the administration on the station itself as to whether or not to sell and then have to re-locate.
"There are men and women raising families on that station," he said, "before we make a decision, maybe we need to talk to them. Transport and financial help is nice and may sway a few but it's not uncommon for people to not want to uproot. If they want to then so be it. Whoever gets it, well, it won't come cheap."
He thought again, "As for who to sell to, I'm impartial on that. If Synthe Foods can use it then that's fine." He smirks a bit, "with the Rogues and Xenos in the area, that will be fun to watch."
He then turned to Zhane, "I see you love Gran Canaria as much as I do. I'm glad you will be there to look after it. However I can support you, I will."
He took a sip of his drink and looked around at all of his colleagues, "I think we are in agreement that we will not allow to happen in Omega 49 what happened in Pennsylvania......to anyone!"
"Gentlemen, Regarding the situation in Pennsylvania, as much as the ZDF is concerned, we cannot get our ships there to defend Bethlehem or Erie if the situation arises. I know, from my history in the Liberty Navy, they will not appreciate our war vessels so close to their home. As to what end that the Pennsylvania system goes, is up to the rest of the Committee."
Ravenor looked around the room for a second and then reached down for his briefcase. He laid it down on the table and opened it up. After a second of searching, he revealed a small data slate. Closing the briefcase, he inserted the data slate into the side of the briefcase and a projection appeared.
A 3 Dimensional, holographic display of the Omega 49 System appeared. It was an overview of the entire system, and at a push of a button, it zoomed in on planet Canaria.
"As you all have mention, we will not allow for Omega 49 to falter. With the recent threat from Aurelia DeFrance, and various reports, via OSI pilots, from Council on the intentions of the house of Gallia, we have seen that Omega 49, and more specifically, Gran Canaria may soon find itself in an immediately threatening position from any potential Gallic invasion."
Ravenor clicked a few more buttons and the camera zoomed all the way out to show a overview of the Sirius sector.
"Now, from what we've been able to gather, and with the assistance of OSI and TAZ vessels, we've been able to piece together the most effecient and effective route that we believe the Gallic Navy will take, if it were to attempt to seize Gran Canaria."
A line begins to form, starting from the system of Languedoc, and passes through Orkney, to Tau-23, to Tau-31, to Leeds, to Dublin, and then as soon as it hits Omega-49 the camera zooms back in to an overview of O-49.
"Now, in response to this potential threat, we have begun to compile a defensive plan that we would like to place in effect. This plan would prove to be the most effective solution to maintain not only Gran Canaria, but to hold O-49 to the best of our abilities.
The First step of this plan would be to enlist the aid of the Mollies within Dublin to act as a sort of buffer zone/early detection system via guerilla warfare or however they choose to engage the Gallic threat. Now, I understand that our relations in the pass may be a bit sour, but with this bigger threat, we believe that the Mollies will have no chance but to accept the assistance from us that we would offer in return for their assistance in keeping O-49 safe. Now, the assistance we would offer would be in terms of supplies and weaponry to allow them the best fighting chance we can give them. This would be provided by any of the Zoner trading factions, if you would be willing.
The Second step of the plan, once they breach the Molly buffer zone, would be to enact in system defenses."
A couple of clicks and a double image of both Lanzaroate base and Gran Canaria appear.
"Now, the Gallics at this point have a choice of 3 options, go for our production plants for deuterium at Lanzaroate, head straight for Canaria, or take both simultaneously. Personally, I would not split my attacking force, so it would be safe to say we can leave out the latter option. In the event that they do decide to head towards Lanzaroate base, Gran Canaria's production facilities can more than make up for the stations capacity, so in my opinion is that we rig the entire station to blow and lure as many Gallic vessels in as we can, and as many troops on board, and detonate it to unleash maximum damage. Prior, all personnel will evacute and only a skeleton crew will remain to wait to detonate those explosives at the last minute possible."
A small little animation played out of the previously described scenario, which climaxed in Lanzaroate exploding and taking out a Valor and some various troop transports.
"Once the Gallics begin to move on towards Gran Canaria, this is where we begin to start using our wild cards. First of, we have a massive Zoner trading fleet that is always around Gran Canaria. Reports that have been collected are that there are anywhere between 1,000 and 1,500 trading vessels at or around Gran Canaria. One idea is that we turn a large majority of these ships into Fire Boats and send them on collision courses directly into the Gallic fleet to attempt to thin them out as many as we can. We will not commit the entire fleet to this purpose, for we will try to evacuate as many people as we can from the planet surface and start moving them to O-50 until further notice."
"Once the defense of Gran Canaria herself begins, we hope to have delayed the Gallic advance enough that would are able to call in various support vessels from the systems roundabout. We don't expect much, but we are sure a large majority of independent Zoners and factionized defense ships will have arrived to the defense of Canaria.
Also, to stand as an ever vigilant guard of our great planet of Gran Canaria, I have pooled alot of the ZDF resources, and a good amount of my own funds, to construct a new flagship for the ZDF."
The hologram of Gran Canaria is minimized as a hologram of an Aquilon class vessel appears.
"Gentlemen, I present the ZDFS-Canaria.Unyielding. This vessel will evermore be a stalwart defender of any threats that may befall Canaria herself. Now, this ship will not be worth a lick of salt against an entire Gallic invasion fleet, so as I have said, we hope to have had a worthy response to a Zoner wide distress call that would allow for many Zoner vessel of war to arrive and defend Canaria."
The image of Canaria appears once again, yet this time, there are a massive amount of vessels surrounding the planet. Whats rather interesting though, is that there are multiple stations around the planet, various vessels of curious design, and even a small haze encompassing the planet.
"I have been in talks recently with the Virulian Enclaves own Enclave Defense Forces and we have discussed how to accurate combine both our firepowers to give Canaria the best fighting chance we can. As the Enclave has been moving down to the planet, finally having a place of their own to call home, and as Councillor Zhane has stated, they are very keen about protecting the planet. Over the next month or so, the EDF will be constructing various orbital defense platforms surround the planet. Also, they will be constructing planetary shielding systems, and ground based orbital defense systems. At this point, we believe that we can finally begin to give the Gallic a true run for their money. With the concerted effort of this Coalition of Zoner forces, may we truly secure Canaria's safety."
"Yet, as much of a contingency this entire plan is, we still have a contingency in case they do break through the Canarian fleet and make planetfall. We are drafting plans to militarize the population, or all those whom would volunteer, and make the most valiant effort that our mortal coils can summon to re-take the world that will forever be ours."
Long winded, and parched, Ravenor took a drink from his whiskey, a rather long drink. Stopping short of downing the entire glass, he looked back up at the committee members and presented the question, "What say you?"
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The big warrior looked at the plan presented. He paced a little, scratching his chin as he did.
"A bold plan indeed, Admiral," he stated. "I mostly agree with you but you need to add something."
He went over to the hologram and pointed at the Eastern side of Dublin, "You forgot Edinburgh. It is more direct and the jump hole to it is more isolated than most. Their juggernaughts would have a difficult time with the rocks from Tau-31 and the ice field into Edinburgh but once through, they would have an easy trip if they travel right."
"Also, they are very good with bombers and their bombers are very tough ships," he continued, "while capital ships are a need, what we really need more of are fighters, good fighters. Eagles are no match for them. Even Commander Roden at Freeport 9 flies a loaded out Stinger and even he feels it is barely adequate for such a job." He paused for a moment, "and let us not forget training. The Royal Navy calls in cruiser or dreadnaught support for it's fighters and bombers. I have analyzed their tactics and they are a very worthy opponent as they also use deception. Never, ever, drop your guard around them."
He then looked at his admiral, "Sir, we are stretched pretty thin. We may have to either find a way to get more recruits or we may have to decide what is important and consolidate."
As he is about to sit down, he has a last second thought, "perhaps, just perhaps, we may be able to talk the Coalition into some attack drills for training. They are excellent fighter pilots as I understand."
Chester stands and looks around at all assembled here.
Well gentlemen, as for Synth Food taking over Bethlehelm station and paying a fair price plus their offer of helping the inhabitants get a new start is generous indeed. If they are willing to do this, we can use our resources for use in other more needed area.
It will be fun to see and hear of the troubles Liberty will have in the area.
With the Gallic threat we do need to concentrate on the defense of Omega-49.
As on how to defend I will be of no use, I will leave that to the admiral's and Commander's capable hands. I will aid in anyway possible. Looks over at Admiral Ravenor and Commander Matok
There however maybe one factor we have overlooked.
We can not forget the proximity of Baffin to the Taus. What if the Gallic Navy takes that route?
We also cannot allow this to transpire if that is to happen. Chester sits down and takes a sip if greenspot whiskey
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Hearing the concerns over Baffin, Doc raises his hand to add a comment.
"Even though Mal has left us, I have, in the past few days, recruited some new pilots. I made a plea for fighter and bomber pilots in particular so hopefully that will help out."
He finished the last sip of his drink and handed it to the attendant for a re-fill, "It's no secret that we are capital ship heavy in TAZ and have more trade ships than combat ships which is why I have sought this help. I want to be prepared and I don't want to have to ask a house military for help as it seems they all want a piece of Zoners wherever they go. I need not mention Erie or the Port Jackson colony on Gran Canaria as proof."
He then looked to his Klingon friend, "I am hoping that the 5th Foo Fighters in the Taus get some strength and numbers. Being at Freeport 6 will keep you all in short range of the jumphole."
Victor turns away from the window and walks back to the table, "So we are in agreement that Bethlehem's best move is to sell their station to Synth Foods and start new lives elsewhere?" Looking at Charles for a reply Victor continues, "As for the ZDF, I think Commander Matok's suggestion that they seek training with the SCRA to be a good idea. While I have my opinion of the SCRA, they are amazing fighter and bomber pilots. The ZDF would benefit from any training with them." Victor clicks a few keys on his datapad, "I've sent you all a file which contains information on OSI's barge, the Cornucopia. I plan on having DSE convert the majority of the Cornucopia's storage into a large construction facility. OSI will use this facility to produce a variety of fighters, bombers, and perhaps freighters and transports. What I would like is for OSI to be granted exclusive rights to supply the ZDF with its fighters and bombers. Other than the ZDF, our products will be shipped to local Freeports and sold to the stations for resell to their customers."
Taking a sip of a drink an attendant handed him, Victor continued, "Our next topic is something all of us are *pausing for a second* vocal about. Gallia. *looking around at everyone's expressions* I know some of you want nothing more than to stroll into Gallia and execute Aurelia for betraying your trust and insulting your pride. I however, want to stress that point. That is all Aurelia took from us. True, she does have the schematics for the Corvo, Fearless, Aquilon, and Jinkusu. Though, the Corvo's schematics are easy enough to get your hands on and I haven't seen a Jinkusu that hasn't been heavily modified during its time in unknown space. So that leaves the Fearless, who with our without the schematics isn't able to stand up to the GRN's own cruiser much less their battleships and the Aquilon of which she has one, the Arrowmaches or the Lamelle."
"What was her true intentions in becoming a Zoner? I'd venture to guess it was the ability to roam about in all the houses and gather intel. I mean, if I ordered my transport and security pilots to scan and log all ships and stations they came into contact with, OSI would have a sizable intel database about almost everyone." Motioning for an attendant to bring him another drink Victor continued, "I am asking why everyone is so set that Aurelia stole our greatest secrets? All she got away with is schematics which if our shipwrights are doing their job won't matter because we'll have new variants of all of our capital ships shortly. She has no access to any Freeport or Zoner installation as she'd likely be killed on sight. Why then does it seem some are wanting to go to war over one women? I've been in Gallia. I've seen their technology. If we start a war with them, it will be our demise. Am I suggesting we lay down and serve them? Hell no! What I am suggesting is we do as we have in the past, remain neutral and ride it out."