**** Incoming Transmission **** From: Johnathan Sanders, Independent Miners Guild
To: Rheinland Bundestag
CC: Rheinland Federal Police, Rheinland Military admiralty, ALG Waste Disposal, Republican Shipping
Subject: Trading in Rheinland
Encryption: Low (//Hack-able by any house intelligence agencies)
Gentlemen,
I wish to draw your attention to a disturbing event that transpired two days ago, inside the Frankfurt system. One that could end up having reprocussions for the Independent Miners Guild choosing Rheinland as a destination for trade. While I am not quick to call to a government over a single incident, the scope of this incident is such that I am left with no choice. It calls into question every standing trade agreement between Rheinland trading groups, and foreign shipping companies.
My involvement in this started when one of our convoys, gold-fourteen, was held up by a Rheinland Federal Police cruiser in the Frankfurt system. They had relayed this via the FTL network, and I took to resolving this personally, assuming that anything warranting the deployment of a cruiser the Rheinland Federal Police's part, was a high profile situation. The trade convoy in question was delivering Robotics and various raw materials, mostly refined Copper out of Freistadt, to the Mainz clearing house in Frankfurt. From there, they were instructed to obtain Industrial Materials (Ore storage processing units specifically) back to Falster Station in Omega-3 for the construction of a storage bay. To my knowledge, none of these commodities has been declared restricted, nor has the Republican-managed clearing house been declared off limits for purposes of trade. *A full log of the interaction with the cruiser in question, commanded by Oberst Bommel, is attached *
So, I am forced to ask the Bundestag: What is the motive behind the Federal Police's excessive deployment in this matter, and why are they not aware of the trade regulations they are supposed to be enforcing in the first place? If the intent for Rheinland is to push out the business the Independent Miners Guild is doing with your nation, I would appreciate a straight-up notification of such, so we know what to expect. There are other nations which we can easily procure these materials from - Bretonia being the most notable, but Rheinland is the most economic, and most convenient nation to do so with. It'll also be quite hard to deal with Rheinland claims that we are not contributing to your economy if we're forbidden from trading with your nation in the first place.
On a seperate matter, during our patrols in the Omega 7 system we've encountered an installation there of unknown origins. Grid A 3/4, designation "Scientific Research Base Mining". The stations defenses attacked as soon as our patrol craft approached it, we're assuming it's a pirate base of some sort. Since we may not operate capital vessels in that system as per Rheinland law, there is little we can do about it ourselves. * A scan of the base is attached *
I await your response,
- Johnathan Sanders, on behalf of the Independent Miners Guild
**** Transmission Closed ****
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
FROM: [color=#33FF33]Buero des Kanzleramtes
TO: Johnathan Sanders
SUBJECT:IMG shipping and RFP actions
[font=Century Gothic]Sehr geehrter,
Thank you for your patience while the matter in question was investigated. It has been determined that the Rheinland Federal Polizi had been dispatched to the Frankfurt system to hunt down a reported smuggler using a IMG transponder. Your ships, being there by coincidence, were caught up in the resulting sweep. We apologize for the delay and affirm that you yourselves did nothing wrong.
Thank you or bringing this matter to our attention. If you have any further questions, please feel free to respond.
Hochachtungsvoll, Günter Schreiber
Botschafter der Bundesrepublik Rheinland
**** Incoming Transmission ****
From: Johnathan Sanders, Independent Miners Guild
To: Rheinland Bundestag
CC: Rheinland Federal Police, Rheinland Military admiralty, ALG Waste Disposal, Republican Shipping
Subject: Trading in Rheinland
Encryption: Low (//Hack-able by any house intelligence agencies)
Gentlemen,
I can understand the Federal Police's wish to crack down on smuggling, but a large convoy travelling by lane is hardly a lone smuggler - nor is a cruiser the most effective vessel to intercept smugglers. Nevertheless, your affirmation that there was nothing wrong on the Guild's part is appreciated. We'll consider the matter closed, altough I hope we can avoid such lengthy detainments in the future.
Regards,
- Johnathan Sanders, on behalf of the Independent Miners Guild
**** Transmission Closed ****
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.