The Pennsylvania Liberation Front (PLF) is an extremist Zoner movement that has the primary goal of eradicating Liberty presence in Pennsylvania by force. They operate in and around Pennsylvania, performing precise strikes on targets of opportunity. With no certain space-borne base of operations, the cells of the PLF use Zoner and sympathizer bases to rearm and resupply. The members of the Front generally do not attack civilian targets, but some cells do not take pity against foreign civilian targets such as corporations. Nevertheless, "avoidable" civilian casualties is frowned upon by most if not all.
II. Origin
The movement was born during Operation Pesticide, which consisted of a military take over of planet Erie. Seeing their rights violated, Zoner militias quickly formed to resist the occupation. One of the first groups was called Freedom Fighters, which evolved into the Pennsylvania Liberation Front after volunteers from all around Sirius joined to defend their common ideals. Unfortunately for the Zoner population of Pennsylvania, the resistance ultimately failed on defeating the invading Liberty forces and was forced into a retreat and regroup. After Operation Pesticide was declared complete by the Liberty Government, the cells resorted to guerrilla warfare in space and on planet side Erie, a campaign that lasts to present day.
Bathed in Zoner blood shed in the occupation, the flag of the Front shows the Pennsylvania system. The stars represent Zoner centers - with Erie, the brightest star - in the middle. The smaller stars represent Bethlehem and Philadelphia.
III. The members of the PLF
They are comprised of mercenaries, combat veterans, and regulars of the multiple Zoner defense fleets. Its members are relatively well trained and versed in warfare, but some gaps in the military are plugged with volunteers. Secrecy and anonymity is almost cultural, and they refer to each other via codenames and callsigns. Everything happening within the PLF is strictly need-to-know.
IV. Tactics
The arsenal of the Front is modern but lacking in numbers. Cell leaders employ lethal Q-ships in wolf packs to attack shipping convoys and capital ships, while guerrillas on the ground orchestrate attacks against military and governamental infrastructure in Erie's countryside. Such attacks sometimes result in civilian casualties, mostly middle-class Liberty civilians seeking new opportunities.
As guerrillas, the multiple cells that compose the Front's sword arm hide in Erie's breathtaking mountain ranges and woods, using old military depots, bunkers and other installations as hideouts and HQs. With deep knowledge of Erie's geography, they effectively hide themselves from Liberty's sophisticated satellite network. Outside their semi-permanent bases, they blend in with the civilian populace, gathering support, fomenting unrest and planning their next explosive attack.
V. Relations
"Suspicion and mistrust" define the Front's foreign policy. Most of its members are hardcore nationalists, and look down upon anyone that isn't a Zoner, including Zoners that "betrayed" their ideals by conforming to the new government or by dealing with Liberty. Resourceful cell leaders and lieutenants employ the help of Liberty's enemies. Not because they're friendly to their cause, but because they have an enemy in common. Despite this common ground, most members still view outsiders with suspicion and unfriendliness.
“
Perhaps we should've never let the insurgents in...
”
VI. Goals
"Death before submission" is a common motto among the members of the Front. Their primary goals involve the liberation of Erie and consequently the Pennsylvania system as a whole. If listed, those goals would be:
Eradicate Liberty presence and influence in the Pennsylvania system.
International recognition of Pennsylvania as a fully independent world.
Establish a hardline Zoners-First government.
With their secondary goals being:
Appropriation of all Liberty assets in Pennsylvania, such as Philadelphia station, the lane network, and the jump gate.
Deportation of all traitors of the cause, Liberty migrants, and unaligned foreigners.
Create the Zoner Sovereign Army to deter any future hostile incursions and protect the Zoner populace.
The resistance employs several illegal monetary practices in Erie and some of the orbital stations around the system. The list includes racketeering, insider trading, money laundering, embezzlement, fraud, cyber crimes, corruption and bribery. The schemes are facilitated by supportive politicians, business owners and industry tycoons. Using ghost companies, legal loopholes, bureaucratic inefficiency and deep knowledge of Erie's institutions, the Front effectively assembled a deeply connected intricate crime syndicate on Erie. The credits are used to fund terrorism directly and indirectly in the system, including neighboring systems such as New York, California and Texas.
Command structure
While individual cells have their own organization and internal structure, the Front's high command is more organized and closely resembles a modern military.
This organization consists of, from top to bottom:
High Command
This group has a fixed name: COUNTERPOINT. It is comprised of senior high-ranking officers and generals of the Zoner Defense Force, political leaders and prominent civilian figures. The leader is known as COUNTERPOINT ACTUAL. No one knows the name of the group's integrants but themselves. The Front knows they're speaking to their commanders via bioregisted access keys, which are impossible to clone.
Group Command
A group is typically focused in a single area of operations. These areas can be in space, in a station or in Erie. Cells that operate inside those areas are normally assigned to the group in charge of that same area. A group contains multiple cells under its indirect control. However, group commands are only issued when a large shift in strategy or objectives is needed. Such actions are rare.
Cell
The smallest unit of the Front's command, cells are commanded by a cell leader. The leaders are most of the time combat veterans or Zoner military officers with the rank of Captain or above. Each cell has 200 to 500 members. Every cell is highly different from each other in terms of structure and organization: This policy allows rapid adaptation of each cell to the ever changing situational reality of the resistance.
Liberty Government At war
The invaders. There's nothing else to say.
Liberty Corporations Hostile
Indirect targets that hurt Liberty's government image and public opinion. Some cells actively target these corporations to destroy, while others simply loot and try to keep casualties to a minimum.
Liberty Allies Hostile
If they help Liberty, they're our enemies. Some possible allies include the Bounty Hunters Guild and Freelancers. Their most vile ally are the Zoners, our own, that welcomed Liberty and their invasion with open arms.
Bretonian Government Hostile
Actively assists Liberty against our movement. Also responsible for the crimes in Gran Canaria.
Bretonian Corporations Hostile
Targets of opportunity. Damage to these foreign corporations translates to negative economic impacts in both Bretonian and Libertonian markets.
Erie Criminals Hostile
Undesirable rabble that attack or disrupt Zoners one way or the other. Unlike Liberty's police force, we won't try an arrest. Aim for the cockpit.
Liberty Rogues Unfriendly
Raiders. While they fight Liberty's forces when convenient, they've attacked Zoners in the past. Caution is advised.
Outcasts Unfriendly
Untrustworthy. The Outcasts are known for only caring about themselves. Watch your back when dealing with an Outcast.
Xeno Alliance Neutral
They help us from time to time, but have disputes with some of our supporters, which can cause distractions from our main goal.
Insurgency Neutral
Probably, without them, the invasion of Erie might have never happened. But it's too late to think about that, and we need their support in ridding Pennsylvania of Liberty's influence. We'll deal with them once this is over.
Technocracy Neutral
They've helped us, but their goals are unknown. We're not in position to be picky about help. Given that, they're welcome.
Other Zoners Neutral
Outsiders from the many Freeports. Business as usual, case-by-case basis. Unfortunately, we can not afford to help them.
Dissidents Allied
Zoners who resist Liberty's occupation directly or indirectly. They're our friends and families, and those who we fight for.
Agreement Name In effect since DD/MM/YYY Short description
The Front agrees to:
The (Faction Name) agrees to:
Bristol Constructions Helium Agreement In effect since 22/06/834 In exchange for Helium mining rights, Bristol Constructions offers several services.
The Front agrees to:
Permit registered Bristol B|- ships to mine Helium in the Pennsylvania system.
Bristol Constructions and Manufacturing agrees to:
Provide H-Fuel shipments when available or necessary.
Provide spare part shipments when available or necessary.
Provide repair services to applicable ships fielded by the Front.
Allow usage of stations outside of Liberty's legal Zone of Influence for the purposes of trading, fencing and resupplying.
Xeno Assault Vehicle Deal In effect since 18/06/834 In exchange of modular assault vehicles, The Front provides a single cruiser for mercenary services.
The Front agrees to:
Authorize the Q-Ship "Testament" to act as a Mercenary for the Xeno Alliance.
The Xeno Alliance agrees to:
Deliver 5 modular assault vehicles, including modular turrets and ammo.
Bi-weekly shipment of ammo for such vehicles.
Monthly delivery of additional vehicles.
Blackmarket Contacts (Junker) In effect since 01/07/834 Liberty Junkers provide access and contacts to the Militants.
The Front agrees to:
Pay a fair price.
The Liberty Blackmarket agrees to:
Allow the purchase of Liberty Blackmarket equipment and ships.