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*incomming transmission*
Comm ID: [TAZ]Doc Holliday
Location: Omicron 74
To: Sir William Burke, Bowex Director of Operations.
Subject: Omega 49
Salutations, Sir,
We, the members of the Zoner Council, have found ourselves in what we hope is nothing more than a misunderstanding with the people of Borderworlds Exports. As a member of the Zoner Council, I, Dr. John Henry Holliday, have been authorized to speak for us all.
Gran Canaria, or what your crews repeatedly keep referring to as Planet Sydney, has been our home world since we long ago discovered it and we have lived there peacefully for decades, some Zoners having been born and raised there. We also have people of other persuasions that have also made their home there as well, trying to find a place of peace to live. We have regular traffic coming and going on a daily basis as well as patrol ships that we fly in an effort to keep Omega 49 as safe as possible for all.
For some time, we heard much chatter coming over our com systems and couldn't pinpoint it. Finally, with some surveillance, we discovered it was Bowex transports shipping refugees in from the Taus for re-settlement. We also had one of our security details get into a rather heated debate with some of those transports over the name of the planet. The commander of the Zoner vessel in question is rather hot headed so I am greatful that it didn't escalate. It also surprised us that with all the ships around the docking ring, we hear such things as how there is "no one out here." Keep in mind, it was us who built that docking ring.
While Bowex ships continue to bring refugees without authorization or permission, the Independent Miner's Guild has taken the time to seek permission to mine the niobium fields in the system as has their security detail. To them, visas were issued. We don't think it's fair that one group seeks permission while another does not and until this issue is settled, we demand that the relocation of refugees ceases.
We know, "They're refugees who have lost everything." Sir, you may re-patriate them on Planet Erie in the Pennsylvania system. Full communities and facilities were long ago set up there for them as an effort to clean up some of the mess that your government's war with Kusari has created. Co-ordinates for it will be provided if you like. Speaking of, Erie is why we are so demanding about our home world of Gran Canaria. We long ago settled Erie only to have the Liberty government annex it without our knowledge. Many Zoners lost their lives as did Liberty personel. We will not be pushed off another world like that. While we seek the use of diplomacy first, we will not be afraid to defend it by whatever means necessary.
I personally don't want another incident of which happened a few days back where two of your pilots came into the Canaria Cafe and began being beligerent with the local Zoners who were there, myself included. It escalated when one of them attempted to draw his sidearm on me. In the end, one of them was killed, something I wasn't proud of doing but had no choice in it. I regret it happened but as I said, I am not proud. If you wish, the transcripts and security video will be sent.
As we said, we hope this is one big misunderstanding or miscommunication. We feel that we should have a meeting on the matter in a neutral location, say, New London. We also have to wonder if through your efforts that the Bretonian government also has expansion plans. If they don't then we need not discuss further than with the administration of Borderworld Exports. If they do then they should be at the meeting.
We would like to thank you for your time and understanding on this as we have much to discuss.
From:
Sir William Burke
Director of Operations
Borderworld Exports
To:
Doc Holliday
Re:
Omega 49
Mr. Holliday,
First, I would like to personally apologize for the conduct of the Borderworld Exports pilots you encountered in the Canaria Cafe. While we are not pleased with the death of one of our pilots, we are certain that, given your reputation, it was not unprovoked. Again, we apologize. We regret anything that would damage the relations between our two peoples. As a result of this, the Board has decided to suspend any recreational visits to the Gran Canaria Spaceport. Unless they're on business, no Bowex personnel will leave the Port Jackson Refugee Camp until further notice.
As to the subject of your claim on Planet Sydney, which you call Gran Canaria, we do not deny that you found it first and have placed a sizable settlement there. It would be hard for us to have not noticed it considering the number of people you have living there. The naming issue stems from the fact that your discovery and claim on the planet was not filed with any recognized authority in the four houses. Simply put, Sydney is how it was first entered into the official records with the Sirius Astronomical Union, and it's up to them whether it gets changed.
Next, though I cannot speak for the Bretonian Goverment, I can say that Borderworld Exports has not been given a mandate to bring Planet Sydney or the Omega-49 system under Her Majesty's flag. Given our current presence in the system, if the Government had such intentions, the mandate would certainly fall on Borderworld Exports. Such a course of action would understandably bring Bretonia into conflict with your people. Despite Bretonia's history of active expansion, we know that starting any new conflicts would be the ruin of our people. You may put your mind to rest on that issue.
Finally, on the issue of the refugee camp at Port Jackson, it appears that there has been a miscommunication at some point. We were under the impression that we had permission to establish a refugee camp there. If the person who gave us permission had spoken beyond their authority, we are truly regretful. However, considering the lack of space and poor conditions at the Erie, Nuremburg, and especially Pittsburgh refugee camps, I'm afraid that we will need to continue to bring refugees to Port Jackson, though we will divert at least a portion of them the other facilities. Myself and some other senior members of Bowex are willing to meet with the Council of Zoners on Sydney to discuss how this might go forward in such a way as to prevent any further misunderstandings. I will arrange for an official visit at your earliest convienence. Sir William Burke
Director of Operations
Borderworld Exports
<div align="right]"Auspicio Regina et Senatus Bretonia"
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*incoming transmission*
Comm ID: [TAZ]Doc Holliday
Location: Ambassador's Office, Shasta Outpost, Baffin
To: Sir William Burke, Director of Operations, Borderworld's Exports
Greetings, Mr. Burke,
Sorry for the long delay. I would like to put this matter to a close, one that we can mutually agree on. I propose we meet outside of Gran Canaria with a delegation. If you would rather somewhere with less hostiles, we can arrange something. I don't know who else will join me on this but I have asked other Zoners to see who else would be interested. Let me know what you think.
Respectfully,
Dr. John Henry Holliday
[TAZ]Ambassador
From:
Sir William Burke
Director of Operations
Borderworld Exports
To:
Doc Holliday
Re:
Omega 49
Mr. Holliday, myself and select members of the Board would be pleased to meet with you in Omega-49. This is contingent, however, on whether you can maintain the meeting's security. We know there is a significant Corsair presence, both in the system and on the planet, and we do not want any outside interference in our affairs. If you prefer, we can also provide our own security should you be concerned that you can not adequately contain your neighbors.
Sir William Burke
Director of Operations
Borderworld Exports
<div align="right]"Auspicio Regina et Senatus Bretonia"
At the request of our client, Borderworld Exports, we have drafted the following lease and submitted it for your approval.
1. The Port Jackson settlement, and it's surrounding area shall be leased from the Council of Zoners (hereafter referred to as the Council) for a period of not less than 10 (ten) years, during which time it shall be legal property the Bretonian Crown, under the administration of Borderworld Exports (hereafter referred to as Bowex).
2. Throughout the duration of the aforementioned lease, Bowex transport vessels, and their escorts, shall be permitted passage through the Omega-49 system for the purpose of carrying refugees and necessary supplies (excluding heavy weapons) to the Port Jackson settlement, and that Bowex shall be permitted to defend said transports in the event that they come under hostile action.
3. The United Kingdom of Bretonia shall not call into dispute the Council's sovereignty over either the Omega-49 system or Planet Gran Canaria, so long as either remains under Zoner control, nor will vessels of the Royal Bretonian Armed Forces enter the Omega-49 system without the express approval of the Council. This provision shall remain active beyond the period of the lease agreement.
4. Bowex shall initially pay a sum of 100 million Sirius Standard Credits to the Council, and pay a sum of 30 million Sirius Standard Credits on a bi-weekly basis as payment for use of the aforementioned parcel of land.
5. The above agreement (with the exception of Clause 3) will be subject to renegotiation and renewal in no less than 10 (ten) years from the date it becomes active.
We hope that the above draft meets with the approval of the Council of Zoners, and this matter can be resolved in a satisfactory manner for all parties involved. We look forward to your timely reply.
To: Sir William Burke, Borderworld Exports
cc: Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe, Solicitors
From: Malaclypse, Chairman, Council of Zoners
Dear Sir William,
I am sorry for the delay in responding to your Lease Agreement Proposal for Bowex. Due to a very lively discussion on the matter by our Delegates, we have just now completed the Revisions we would like to see made.
Please find attached our Revised version for your perusal, sir. If the changes are satisfactory, we can put the matter before the Council for final approval this very evening.
Again, sorry for the delay.
Chairman Malaclypse, CoZ
Attach:
1. The Port Jackson settlement, and surrounding area of 80 square kilometers, shall be leased from the Council of Zoners (hereafter referred to as the Council) for a period of not less than 10 (ten) years, during which time it shall be under the administration of Borderworld Exports (hereafter referred to as Bowex).
2. Throughout the duration of the aforementioned lease, Bowex transport vessels, and Bowex-owned escorts of bomber-class or smaller, shall be permitted passage through the Omega-49 system for the purpose of carrying refugees and necessary supplies (excluding heavy weapons) to the Port Jackson settlement, and that Bowex shall be permitted to defend said transports in the event that they come under hostile action.
3. The United Kingdom of Bretonia shall not call into dispute the Council's sovereignty over either the Omega-49 system or Planet Gran Canaria, nor will vessels of the Royal Bretonian Armed Forces enter the Omega-49 system without the express approval of the Council.
4. Bowex shall initially pay a sum of 100 million Sirius Standard Credits to the Council, and pay a sum of 30 million Sirius Standard Credits on a Monthly basis as payment for use of the aforementioned parcel of land.
5. The above agreement will be subject to renegotiation and renewal every 10 (ten) years from the date it becomes active.
6. Boderworld Exports, their Agents, and the Bretonian Crown will rescind and relinquish all claims and filings with the Sirius Astronomical Union regarding the name "Planet Sydney", and will henceforth recognize and acknowledge the Planet's rightful name of "Planet Gran Canaria".
(Please note the small matter of the addition of a 6th "Item", requested by our Delegates.)
We apologize that Sir Burke is indisposed, and unable to answer this directly. We have been granted full legal rights to complete these negotiations on his behalf. After reviewing the revised Lease Agreement, we find it satisfactory in all regards. We will patiently await the positive outcome of the Council's vote on this issue.