Greetings BAF,
My Name is Erik the Red and I am writing this letter lo you because of two reasons. First of all I want to register my ship as stationed at Freeport 3. This is necessary, because I transport colonists from the Freeport One to our colony in Omega 49, Planet Grand Canaria. They use small freighters and liners to assemble at the freeport, but will be moved with all their belongings and ressources and materials for their new homes by the "Nephilim" Zoner Mobile Colony Ship "Emporer".
Of course this vessal will aid the Zoner authorities in keeping the peace and defending the freeport, if it is docked at the station at the time and not transporting colonists or exploring the Omegas for new worlds for the Confederation of Freeports.
Secondly I regret to inform the BAF High Command of a violation of the Laws of the Confederation of Freeports.
It concerns the 13th|HMSArgosax. Upon hearing that a race was done just outside the Freeport 1 the Emporer was undocked to watch the race. Immediately the Argosax demanded that I steer the vessal out of Omega 3. I replied that the colonists and I were here to watch the race and was fired upon. This was done to intimidate me to leave the Freeport 1. The Administrator on board of the Vessal Palmer.Expetition told the Argosax to stop firing and leave the Non-Fire Zone. He was ignored (Argosax did not leave, but threatened to fire again.). So I docked at the Freeport 1 and communicated with the adiminstrator. I don't want to see him severly punished, just a mandatory course in the laws of the Confederation of Freeports would be appreciated.
Violated Rules:
2. A) Combat or attempts to induce others to combat of any kind within the NFZ is prohibited as it endangers the station. (Exception Zoner security assets.)
2. C) The discharge of weapons for intimidation of display purposes is prohibited to all vessels except Zoner security assets and pre-booked fireworks displays.
5. No capital class vessel shall remain within the NFZ of any given Freeport unless assisting CoF personnel or the vessel in question is granted temporary permission by on-duty CoF personnel. Capital class vessels that are asked to leave the NFZ shall do so immediately or face the full ramifications of violating Freeport laws.
5. A) Capital class vessels include Destroyer, Cruiser, Battlecruiser, Carrier, Battleship and Dreadnought class vessels. Not included in this definition are Gunboat and Gunship class vessels and below.
5. B) This rule does not apply to Zoner capital class vessels.
Priority: Medium
To: Erik the Red, Zoner
From: Admiral George Richard Hall, OBE, BAF
Location: HMS Norfolk, Cambridge System
Subject: Yet another Freeport 1 incident
Honourable Mr the Red,
We understand your concerns, but it appears that you are only aware of Zoner laws and not of Bretonian ones. And as you surely know, the Omega-3 system is a Bretonian protectorate where our laws are enforced. We have a few agreements with Freeport 1. This is Article 4 of the Freeport One Collective Security Agreement:
"Since the Zoner Alliance has been disbanded, Zoners of Freeport 1 declare the No Fire Zone around the station that will be based on section 6, paragraph 3, subparagraph 1 of Official Zoner Policies of Zoner Alliance with several changes:
“No-Fire Zones are five klick spherical spaces around every Zoner Station, Freeport, or a Planet's main docking point.
The No Fire Zone exists as a safe zone around all Zoners stations and bases so that all factions that maintain diplomatic relations with Zoners and don’t commence hostility towards Zoner communities may come and buy necessary supplies or sell locally produced wares without endangering the civilians hosts onboard the Zoner station or planet.
The NFZ is neither a security blanket or safety net for pilots respective factions to hide behind, nor the according Zoner facilities are a place where Non-Zoners are hosted permanently - every Non-Zoner is a temporary visitor. "
Terms of the Policies:
The No-Fire Zone is an area in which no offensive actions are allowed. (This includes attempts at piracy/taxation, the use of weapons (guns, missiles, mines), intentional ramming, or provocative behaviour such as threats, taunting or masked insults.)
Loitering inside a NFZ is not allowed. (Non-Zoner vessels are expected to use the Freeports facilities and then move on, or to stay docked when waiting for others.)
Trade vessels fleeing into a NFZ must dock. (Trade vessels are either freighter or tranport class craft.) All other vessels are not allowed to flee into a NFZ.
Violating a No-Fire Zone can lead to immediate prosecution and engagement, by Zoners or another pilot assisitng Zoners.
In case of any possible dangers, the authority of Bretonian Armed Forces overrun the No Fire Zone regulations if no member of local authority is present. If the force was implemented by Bretonian Armed Forces in No Fire Zone, they undertake to provide the proof of legality of their actions in 48 hours."
And this is Article 6:
"Kingdom of Bretonia and Zoner Exploration Command based on Freeport 1 agree on importance of performing exploration operations in distant space and support cooperation between Zoner Exploration Command and Cambridge Research Institute as well as allow Zoners to keep Corvo class exploration vessels stationed at Freeport 1 without needing to inform Bretonia about numbers and callsigns of vessels. Fearless Destroyers may be stationed at Freeport 1, so long as the number and callsigns of them are given to the Bretonian Government. Zoner ships may dock Douglas Station only if permission is given by Bretonian Mining and Manufacturing or the Bretonian Government."
The Argosax has had a history of problematic captains and their conduct during the incident was questionable, but as much as I hate to say it, they were right. They have not provided proof of legality of their actions yet however, but we are pleased that you provided it instead. Thank you. But despite that, Article 6 mentions only Corvo-class and Fearless-class, and no Nephilim-class. I will have to discuss with the government about your permission. I hope you have not fired upon any vessels... have you?
Priority: Medium
To: Erik the Red, Zoner
From: Admiral George Richard Hall, OBE, BAF
Location: HMS Norfolk, Cambridge System
Subject: Transportation of colonists
Honourable Mr the Red,
I am sorry to inform you that your request to move the Emporer into Bretonian space has been denied. I do have, nonetheless, some propositions. Our experts trust that any transport ship can move colonists from Omega-3 to Omega-49, as the systems are not far from each other, provided that the right jump hole network is used. That is how Bretonia moved them at least. Port Jackson is a Bretonian colony on the surface of Gran Canaria. As of the jump holes, I recommend using the one situated in the E-6 sector of the Poole system. That one is the safest. In case it collapses however, we also know of one in the Dublin system, sector C-7. But that one is dangerously close to the Arranmore Base, the main stronghold of the Mollys, so I advise contacting them prior to heading there. I do not believe that they would so suddenly attack a Zoner civilian transporting colonists, but you can never know what may come into their terrorists' minds. In case you need a ship that is more secure, you may also use a Corvo-class, or a number of them.
Safe journey.