"This recent set of tensions between Liberty and the Zoners, and how you're all mixed right in the middle of it because of running across that artifact smuggler?"
"Yes, Bernie?"
"Wonderful stuff - the studio is eating it up. See if you can find some more smugglers. We don't care if they're Zoners or not. Would you believe that this is actually playing well out on the Freeports?"
"What do you mean, Bernie?"
"They've got some kind of religious thing going on, kiddo. It means that when you get lots of their ... whatchamacallits... popes or council people or tazmaniacs... Anyway, their people watch for the drama of it, hoping they'll see some of their heroes."
'Bernie, I thought I was supposed to be the hero."
"You are, kid, you are... but they're the cool heroes, whereas you're the cold eyed, steely jawed hero. Now go find this Doc Holliday Inn and have a drink with him. It'll make the ratings go through the roof!"
"The things I do for video ratings, Bernie..."
"Exactly kid - because that pays both our salaries..."
(11-21-2013, 12:53 PM)Jihadjoe Wrote: Oh god... The end of days... Agmen agreed with me.
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Comm ID: [TAZ]Doc Holliday
To: Colt.Sever and his Agent
Um...not the Doc Holliday Inn, it's the Tombstone Estate on planet Gran Canaria. That or we'll drink on a Freeport somewhere in our travels. Mind that if you do come out my way to mind your manners as Miss Midori is back on the premises.
As far as my knowledge goes certain trading items i.e. merchandise is considered to be a contraband inside Houses' systems only. In border worlds it is just a merchandise.
Most of the Zoners limit their trade between Freeports,in the border worlds.
Dealing with what is considered to be a contraband in Houses is under thier law jurisdiction and law enforcement jurisdiction.
Taking bounty contracts on Zoner is something else thou. It cannot be justified with acts of illegal trade. To claim someone's life for such an reason is far beyond "it is just business" explanation.
We wouldn't expect that from Hunters who enjoy our hospitality so much...
Mohammad-Sadiq Al Noori, captain of the ZBT ZonerStoner
Quote:"They've got some kind of religious thing going on, kiddo. It means that when you get lots of their ... whatchamacallits... popes or council people or tazmaniacs... Anyway, their people watch for the drama of it, hoping they'll see some of their heroes."
'Bernie, I thought I was supposed to be the hero."
Good sir, we are ALL heroes, and all villains, and all Divine.
We are Divine in the fact that we "create" ourselves out of our own perceptions constantly, to the beat of the "Drummer", and the pace of the "Writer", and the delivery of the "Actor".
While in our audiences sit.. the "Critic", and 5 rows back is the "Skeptic", then a few rows of the "Can't be Arsed" for good measure.
And if we're lucky, more than a few of the "Fan". And perhaps if Eris is amused, maybe the resident "Groupie" will come sit in our laps.
You, Colt, are the hero. And, stuffed inside that bulging cranium of yours are all the rest as well.
After all, we all need an Audience, or according to Schroedinger, we'd all be incapable of existence.
Yeah, okay, I've seen some interesting things since I started in this business, but your thoughts on life and the universe are definitely... interesting.
Besides, it's in my contract with the studio that I'm billed as the hero. I get first billing right after the title credits. See for yourself.
I think I look quite nice in the hat - and the cigar was a prop. Amazing what you can make in a holovid studio, really.
Now if my vocal talents only matched my thespian skills, then things would be complete. But I digress.
Just for the edification of those who utilized their communication devices in unjustified moral outrage, and as Mal stated earlier - Guys, girls, and other assorted variations thereon, I don't have issues with Zoners as Zoners. Knock yourselves out (perhaps even with assorted psychotropic elements) and that silly bounty on you just because you're Zoners is just that - silly. But ... try to hide behind the Zoner ID and do something ELSE that violates a house law, and you're interfering with our close relationship we have with the house police. In other words, if I attack you because you're hauling artifacts in New York, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with you being a Zoner, and EVERYTHING to do with the standing bounty on hauling artifacts in New York. I'd do the same to a Junker, an Outcast, or even a Synth Foods trader ... if he was hauing artifacts.
Get off your high horses, boys (and not normally the way I do it - thank goodness for anti-inflammatory meds) and clean up your own acts. That'll make others (except for Collard Green, of course) view you with less suspicion.
Colt
(11-21-2013, 12:53 PM)Jihadjoe Wrote: Oh god... The end of days... Agmen agreed with me.
**Incoming Transmission**
From: Phyrus Emperor, Gran Canaria, O49
Subject: Zoner smuggler guy being naughty
Well I like to think that Zoners follow ONE 'law' only... And that is to adapt to the laws of the system they currently find them in.
If he/she flies around the lawless edge systems, let them be lawless. If they fly around, say Liberty space, which has a law against artifact smuggling, then they should comply to it, or take another route...or be shot down...
And if they can't comply to this ONE 'law', then we won't protect them.
It does not get any simpler than that.
Hell, you don't light a cigar in a man's ship when he clearly has the 'no smoking' light on. You are just looking for a slap, if you are not being kicked out of the airlock.
--Transmission to: Mr Severs--
--RE: Zoners and Cargo--
Sir,
It is an accepted fact that individual Zoners carry whatever is necessary. It is a long standing policy amongst our organisation that, should the Zoner in question encounter a 3rd party who takes offense at the cargo, that the issue be resolved in the most expedient way possible, preferably without resorting to gunfire, and that both parties continue on their respective ways.
You provide us with no evidence of where this cargo was destined nor where it was intercepted, for all I can tell, it may well be en route to a research station or other scientific institution for examination and testing.
Should you have a problem with the cargo transported by an individual Zoner, you should discuss the issue with the individual in question, without requesting the intervention of a 4th party (the Council), who are not fully informed of all aspects of the situation and thus cannot make an unbiased statement.
Mr or Miss Piallaus - since J isn't really informative of gender:
' Wrote:--Transmission to: Mr Severs--
--RE: Zoners and Cargo--
Sir,
It is an accepted fact that individual Zoners carry whatever is necessary. It is a long standing policy amongst our organisation that, should the Zoner in question encounter a 3rd party who takes offense at the cargo, that the issue be resolved in the most expedient way possible, preferably without resorting to gunfire, and that both parties continue on their respective ways.
You provide us with no evidence of where this cargo was destined nor where it was intercepted, for all I can tell, it may well be en route to a research station or other scientific institution for examination and testing.
Should you have a problem with the cargo transported by an individual Zoner, you should discuss the issue with the individual in question, without requesting the intervention of a 4th party (the Council), who are not fully informed of all aspects of the situation and thus cannot make an unbiased statement.
Pillaus, J, Diplomatic Officer, The Gremlyn
--Transmission Ends--
There's a reason I said:
Quote:(And if you really care, I do have the original gun camera and scanner footage available.)
which clearly shows the cabbage involved coming around the planet Manhattan and docking there. I also have cockpit recordings which show me attempting to contact this miscreant on the open, general frequency, and also on the docking channel frequency.
Notice that I said where I tried to contact him. The sum total of his responses to me can be summed up with this little ditty...
Quote:
The reason you don't see anything in there is that he refused to respond.
I find it interesting - and disturbing - that I have had excellent contacts and discussion regarding this topic with many people, and you who are supposed to be a diplomatic officer have the most abusive and abrasive personality of all persons involved.
So, is it long standing policy amongst Zoners that they flaunt the laws of the people where ever they may be? Perhaps if everyone did that - certain things, such as your OWN laws regarding No Fire Zones around your Freeports should also be ignored. We in the BHG| respect those laws because they ARE the laws of the land in those territories. We even help in 'policing' those independants who break your laws regarding this. Perhaps you should instruct those people who randomly choose to follow those laws whenever it is convenient for them - and don't follow them when it is not - that there ARE consequences for their actions.
Oh, and taking some classes on how to win friends and influence people should be in your future. I'll even chip in something from the residuals from my last show to help. You obviously need them.
Whilst the Zoners as a whole may claim responsibility for the safety and well-being of our bases, we can make no claims to the actions, cargo or destinations of individual members flying under Zoner colours. To do so would be to infringe on the very principles we adhere to. The activities of an individual are exactly that, individual actions. The only point at which it becomes a wider concern of the community as a whole is if said community is threatened by those actions.
You may be aware that several Zoners take it upon themselves to supply such entities as the GMG with deuterium. Naturally, there are those opposed to such trade, and, should they encounter a Zoner in the course of such trade, it is expected that they will take action against it. It is not expected that they will contact the Council and attempt to strong arm that body into restricting those members (or even un-affiliates) from plying the trade in question.
Likewise, should yourself or the Libertonian "peacekeeping" forces encounter a vessel flying under Zoner colours whilst plying a trade that you find distasteful, it is expected that you will take action then and there against said activity and neither decree the entirety of the Zoner community to be as one (in the case of Mr Collard), or to attempt to threaten the community based upon one incident.
As for respecting laws, it is your prerogative to respect or not to respect the guidelines we have instituted for the protection of our stations. Should you chose not to and prefer to threaten the lives of the innocents on board, we will not hold the entire Guild responsible for your actions.
Pillaus, J, Diplomatic Officer, The Gremlyn.
Off the record, my full name would be Jeremy Pillaus, so "Mr" will do. And those classes sound like just what I've been looking for, seeing as this "Diplomatic Officer" mumbo jumbo was not mine by choosing...know where I can sign up?