This is Guildmaster Schwerdtfeger from the Independent Miners Guild contacting you in a matter of urgency.
I think it is fair to say that IMG and Core did not see eye to eye in the past. The actions of the Core against Freeport 11 resulted in some confrontations, which were unavoidable and were however solved afterwards once the hot shooting conflict around Freeport 11 was defused. During that time, it was Core warships attacking IMG humanitarian transports headed to FP11, but we've overcome this chapter - at least I thought we had.
I am currently looking at what the Guild's last communication with the Core was and for convencience reasons, I'll reattach the message file so you do not have to look it up in your data files.
To sum it up: the Guild did not regard the Core as their enemies. We did not see ourselves in a shooting war with Core. This conversation with you ended on a note that was interpreted as a cautions neutrality on our end.
The more it comes as a surprise that today three Core Warships set a trap to an IMG convoy and damaged or destroyed every single vessel, many of those inside the NFZ of Freeport 11 after these ships delivered cargo (Synth Paste) that did not violate the agreements between IMG and Core. The commanders in charge did this with overwhelming firepower and with a clear disregard for human life.
Afterwards, it became clear that there was a transmission yesterday night, which unfortunately went unnoticed. In this communique we are - for reasons I find hard to put into context with the last communication we had - labelled as Kill on Sight. This explains the operational behaviour of your commanders in the field, though not their thirst for blood and violence.
Anyway, I have damaged transports at the Freeport. I have wounded personnel on the Freeport. And I have a situation that needs to be handled one way or the other. It's you who has the Freeport surrounded by warships, vessels that not even the strongest convoy can hope to fight off and evade. I have a lot of ugly pictures here, a lot of material, wrecks and scarred people that look grisly and I am sure you also have the reports that state that it was a senseless unnecessary massacre.
You tell me how this goes on.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Schwerdtfeger
IMG Guildmaster
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Well, given that you have found the message that was sent by us before, the natural progression of things given that no change occurs is quite clear. That is not what you want to hear, though, am I right?
Good evening, Mr. Schwerdtfeger. It has been a while since last we spoke.
I am surprised, actually. Given your wording, it almost sounds like you are honestly clueless as to why things happened the way they did. The Core has nothing against the IMG per se. What we object to vehemently is insolence in our own homes, as it were. While I do not know whether your men and you are the badasses that you mime each time the Core encountered the Guild, I am sure you understand that brazen challenges to our authority in our own space cannot be tolerated. We are trying to build a nation. A nation has supreme authority over its realm. We claim this supreme authority in Omicron Delta. Period. You may have contacted the Zoners and agreed that you will help with relief efforts. This is commendable. However, in addition to an agreement with the Zoners, an additional one with us would have been necessary. You neglected to do so. In addition, bringing known criminal elements into our space is also not smart. Even less if they mutter statements such as the following:
Quote:[20.11.2017 19:00:38] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: Do not dare to attack them
[20.11.2017 19:01:17] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: I dare you.
[20.11.2017 19:01:48] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: I dare you Core scum.
[20.11.2017 19:04:13] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: Holdan: Since when this was your space also?
[20.11.2017 19:06:33] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: Holdan: What the hell you talking about you asshat?
[20.11.2017 19:07:14] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: Holdan: If you have balls you come out of NFZ and challenge me, Laptev.
[20.11.2017 19:08:35] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: Holdan: I remember you were bombarding Freeport like inhumane beigns just a few months ago.
[20.11.2017 19:08:56] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: "Your" turf.
[20.11.2017 19:10:06] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: Holdan: Order did not technicaslly sieged Freeport itself from what i heard.
[20.11.2017 19:10:59] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: Holdan: You cannot get away with your insults you asshat.
[20.11.2017 19:11:32] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: Holdan: I dare you to challenge me like a man outside of that damned zone, Captain of Laptev.
[20.11.2017 19:12:51] =CR=FV-Epimetheus: Holdan: You are not the authority here.
The list goes on and on. Similar statements were made by your men. Furthermore, you abused the Freeport as a shield. We will never tolerate this kind of behaviour, as it just goes to show how much your concern for the ailing actually goes. This is why the attack occurred.
Further such events can easily be avoided. However, it would involve accepting that the Core is, in fact, the supreme authority in Omicron Delta that must be consulted should the Guild seek to establish or conduct any operations there. Any further words would be redundant if even this modicum of courtesy cannot be upheld on your end.
I am eagerly awaiting the reply.
-C. Lyell
Guildkeeper, The Core Attachments: <None>
Alright, a few things to get towards a constructive dialogue and hopefully a conclusion:
Firstly, you may call me "clueless" - I prefer "honestly caught off guard", which I find more accurate - about the steep and surprising escalation by the Core commanders. Missing a message that has to be relayed via half of Sirius by a few hours happens. If you allow for the possibility that a honest mistake happened at this point, you have to admit that an attack against a convoy that was carrying legal goods under our common past terms can actually come as a surprise.
Secondly, am I right to read from your words and material that a "denial of respect" by pilots of the Guild resulted in the senseless massacre? I see you sent me transcripts of the Crayter Republic, who by the way is 'at war' with the Core following past interactions - but that is their stance, which has nothing to do with the IMG's. Even according to your public diplomacy folders and according to our talks, the IMG is not. Furthermore, I find it hard to locate any insult in the Guildmembers' behaviour in this flight that would warrant the shooting up of a purely civilian convoy by 3 warships execution-style.
Furthermore, I'd suggest we do not go into details of the conversation because what I find in the Core Commander's words has the potential to severely disrupt a process of normalization that Delta needs and disruption is neither in IMG's nor Core's interest.
So I would ask you to move way past of "he said, he replied, he insulted, she disrespected". These are space commanders. They fly space ships of limited relevance. Most of them have little idea of what is happening outside of their very limited point of view, even though I cannot help saying at this point that I would have expected better judgement from high-ranking warship commanders who - in my opinion - have to be held to higher standards than civilian transport captains moving cargo from A to B.
Thirdly, my men and women stand accused of abusing the Freeport. I'll be frank: Let's drop that one completely from the start. Let's not go there because I hold image and video material that would make the CoF and everybody who still has a sense of "what is right and what is not" cringe. Yet, I am not going to use it because I actually think the situation can be salvaged.
Ms. Lyell, look: I really like the new-found terms that Zoners and Core came up with. I like the relative stability that it allows for. The Guild is convinced that only in cooperation there is a future in fragile territories like the Omicrons. And that's why I conclude that there is one thing our friends at the Freeport do not need at the moment: a full-blown controversy about the IMG-Core incident that by all means would have the potential to cause damage to normalization efforts on all sides.
That's why you will not find an accusing word coming from the official spokespersons of the IMG, and that's why the Guild is dealing with the fallout bilaterally only. We intend to keep it this way and not involve CoF, Freeport 11, nor make this a good-bad media war of polarization and confrontation. Delta needs less of that.
Looking at all the material I have, I come to the conclusion that the Guild's actions of the past - mainly the open defiance against Core claims and laws in the aftermath of the Freeport 11 bombardement - are the main cause for yesterday's massacre.
As an Omicron based Guild, you know what loyality to allies means and how important it is. The Zoners are and will always remain IMG's allies, and the IMG stood up for the Zoners of Delta when Core was pursuing an aggressive course of expansion at that time in the past. Past. I do not regret any of the actions taken by my crews during the DROP-relief efforts or afterwards in the reconstruction efforts. That's what allies do, if they are true to their word. And it is in the past.
However when moving towards the present, the situation in the Omicrons has changed significantly with the cessation of Zoner-Core hostilities. The peace effort made by both Zoners and Core has the full support of the IMG, and that is also where the IMG's stance towards the Core has already changed (visible in our past de-escalatory talk), and can continue to change towards a normalization.
The reason that forced the Guild in the past to act against Core interests and laws is gone, which was the Guild's alliance to Zoners in a time of war. We had no choice, as Core laws were criminalizing civilian aid shipments.
Past be past.
This is the present.
This is where we can find common ground, I think.
There is no war any more between Zoners and Core.
There is no reason any more for the IMG to remain defiant in order to assists an ally in danger.
There is no reason any more to remain involved to the past degree in the state of Delta affairs.
There is no reason any more for a real presence in the Omicrons, given our Omega development decision.
There is no reason for the IMG any more not to accept Core law and claim of space.
Actually, there is literally no point at which Core and IMG should reasonably be able to actually clash (with the exception of a threat to our Zoner allies) as we pretty much operate in completely separated theaters of operation. I also do not see any major conflicts of interest now that there is no IMG-Zoner pact compelling us to get involved in the way the Guild will always assist their friends.
Logic of the past does not apply any more after Core and Zoners stopped the armed confrontation, after the Core took active steps of reconciliation, after Zoners also compromised to ensure peace.
Consequently, taking these changes into account, the Guild hereby accepts Core's claim of dominance over their territory as well as Core law of the region.
What I have to insist on is that you do an internal investigation into the handling of the shooting incident on Core side. It may or may not come to any conclusion or condemnation for all I care. I still need you to state it because you can imagine that this (normally easy to sell) diplomatic package is a tough one after what happened yesterday. Sadly, it's not that easy.
If we can meet there, I am willing to just deal with the aftermath and move on from the past and its ramifications to the present, to a hopefully more peaceful and near future.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Schwerdtfeger
IMG Guildmaster
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You sure talk a lot for a man that wants to politely ask for something.
Mr. Schwerdtfeger, the fact of the matter is: You are impotent here. You are interested in having your share of the wealth discovered in the Omicron Delta system, and the Core is willing to impart such. However, you really need to work on your demure demeanour if you want to appear sheepish about having negligently overlooked the declaration that would have given you a fair warning and subsequently made you responsible for what occurred in Delta yesterday. Whether the Crayterian's words can be attributed to you is irrelevant: You associated with him and sided with him. Your recordings are meaningless, because the Zoners will not be whipped into a frenzy against their ally by you anymore.
And the most beautiful about all I just said is that it is true simply by merit of me saying so, because I have the power to assert my truth over this area. If we two were to meet in Delta and I told you that two plus two equals five, you will believe it with all your heart. Maybe you understand now what I mean by supreme authority.
In any case, the Core might forgive your negligence if you follow a simple succession of steps that I will outline below:
Learn some manners. Your pilots address us with Sir and Madame exclusively. There is no back talk. Orders are to be followed.
You would be doing well not to have us witness you associating with our enemies. We might become very cross.
You completely and utterly submit to the laws of the Core while in space where it applies. You will release a public statement informing all of Sirius of this.
Your miners will mine for APM vessels if asked to do so. Expect no payment, though every APM pilot is free to give one.
If your pilots see fit to use the Zoners of Freeport 11 as living shields again under any circumstances, you will regret it.
While I personally would have made you publically admit culpability for what happened in Delta recently, the quorum of Guildkeepers decided that the above was enough. Give me your word that you will adhere to the above and we will allow the IMG to operate within Omicron Delta for the purpose of mining, and Omicron Rho for the sole purpose of transit.
-C. Lyell
Guildkeeper, The Core Attachments: <None>
Humiliate me all you want with your show of power, if that is what pleases you.
Your terms are accepted.
Thank your Council from me, their successful work made this agreement possible.
One last remark: Man can never know when the tables turn and one might find themselves in a position of weakness all of a sudden. If this ever happened to you, I hope you face a counterpart who is courteous enough to allow you to walk away from the lost cause in a dignified manner.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Schwerdtfeger
IMG Guildmaster
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