.::Incoming Transmission::. Message to : Whom it May Concern
Comm ID: Yev Lightwing, Shipmaster, (]c[)
Location: Freeport 15, Omicron 74
On behalf of the Zoners Consortium, I would like to clarify the following statement as it appears to have been misinterpreted by a number of readers:
"The Zoner Alliance will be the main responsible body managing all negotiations and trade agreements with factions and houses, outside of the alliance, [color=#33CC00]which will affect all members."
Contrary to popular belief, this statement does not imply that Zoner Alliance's sovereignty extends beyond its own political body. We explicitly restrict ZA's sphere of influence to only those who are a part of it.
In addition, the Zoner Alliance is not designed to function politically in the same manner as the Council did. The CoZ functioned on a global scale where as the ZA will function mostly on a local level. For example, during Malaclypse's reign all diplomatic negotiations with foreign factions would go through the entire body of the Council of Zoners. This would mean that if the Junkers proposed a deal with the CoZ, that deal would apply to everyone -- factions and independent Zoners alike. There are a number of real, specific contracts that I will not refer to in order to maintain secrecy [encrypted], but if you served in the Council you know exactly what I am referring to. Deals were proposed and ultimately either all Zoners would abide by them or no one would. By contrast, the Zoner Alliance lets every party to perform its own diplomatic negotiations.
This ties directly into the question posed by Mr.Davis. One very major reason why the Zoners Consortium left the Council and is now part of the Zoner Alliance has a lot to do with the desire to perform independent diplomacy. Only global issues, such as the recent matter involving the Apocalypse Bounty Hunters using Zoner turrets, would be addressed by the Zoner Alliance as a whole -- hence the ZA Committee. The Zoner Alliance's purpose is neither to control CoZ nor to duplicate its structure. Neither do we want to place control over all Zoner communities. Lastly, the Zoner Alliance is precisely what it is named -- an alliance between a number of parties, not a single banner to apply to all of its members.
The CoZ came close to representing all Zoners during Malaclypse’s rule, but even in those times there have been many Zoners not acknowledging the CoZ as the legal body standing for exclusively and literally every living Zoner. The CoZ has always simply attempted to forward the desires of all Zoners as accurately as possible – nothing more.
' Wrote:(Disclaimer!: The Council of Zoners has no influence over, or responsibility for, the actions of unregistered Zoners.)
Zoners have no unified territory, no constitution, no state, and no legal standings in Sirius as a whole. They are as Ms.Silvan indicates, a versatile group of individuals rejecting the sovereignty of governments above them, and thus many Zoners are rejecting the sovereignty of the CoZ.
There can be no legal claim of the CoZ to represent all Zoners. Likewise, the ZA is only claiming to be able to represent its own members.
Sincerely,
Zoners Consortium.
Signed:
Yev Lightwing, Head of Diplomacy
Charles Burns, Head of Security
Frank Zamboni, Head of Research
Lou Salome, Shipmaster
***Incoming Transmission***
To: Aurelia Silvan
From: The Zoner Alliance
Ms. Silvan lets see if we can not break some of this down.
Quote:"And how do we trust and respect an organization that declares that one must either be 'In the Zoner Alliance, or in the Council of Zoners, not both.' They are forcing individuals to take a side. If one wishes to be a part of this 'alliance,' they must burn all bridges and stab their old comrades in the back to do so. How can trust and respect be earned like this? What sort of judgment are we to make about an organization that operates in this manner?"
We left the COZ because of differing opinion. Since the COZ is going in a direction we did not care for, it will cause those who would be affiliated with both organizations to have a conflict of interest. There for it is easiest to require that any interested parties not be part of the COZ.
Quote:"But this new alliance decries that all Zoners everywhere must either be with them, or against them. "
It does not say that anywhere. We only state items that are no different then current COZ policy. We ask that if you join us, that you follow any policy or agreement that comes from the ZA. Since the voting will represent the majority of the members, decisions would be supported by them.
Folks do not have to join us, we only ask that if you do, you participate and agree to follow pilicy and agreements.
Quote:"It sounds like an Oligarchy, intent on controlling large amounts of people with an elite few. It sounds like a leadership that will just as soon demand respect with the barrel of a gun than with compromise and diplomacy"
Actually it is a republic. The groups elect their representative and instruct them on how to vote, then the representative casts that vote in the Committee. You keep screaming this word Oligarchy and it has no foundation or basis.
Quote:"This 'alliance' claims; "The Zoner Alliance will be the main responsible body managing all negotiations and trade agreements with factions and houses, outside of the alliance, which will affect all members."
This sounds mighty close to "We will make whatever decisions we feel is in our best interest, and then force these decisions on all other Zoners."
Wrong yet again. Only the ZA members are held to our agreements. Any deals or negotiations are for the ZA. No one outside the ZA is held to them. They can do as they please.
Quote:"I see a leadership demanding respect without proving itself worthy of it. And I see a group of people trying to declare space and stations as their property, when it rightfully belongs to all Zoners equally, not those with the most power."
So far the three main contributors to the ZA are all successful faction leaders. We demand nothing. We have not made a claim on any space or station. I think your getting a tad paranoid Ms. Silvan.
Quote:"The alliance claims that there will be distinct groups.. The factions and the 'Zoner Union of Independents', all four being granted one vote a piece.. But what if all the factions equal a total of twenty Zoners between them all.. And the Independents number in the fourties or fifties? Than a group twice the size of the first has only a third of the decision-making capabilities. This is a very transparent method of granting the factions power over those who decide to leave the real Zoner life; As free individuals allowed to make their own choices and decide how to leave their own life, not a puppet on strings pulled by the factions."
"This is nothing but a power grab by several people who would rather take over than work to fix problems. And who can then step in to fix problems made by this new government? No one, for the factions take all the power."
You keep claiming this is a power grab, yet we are not demanding all Zoners join us. This is a voluntary as the COZ. You claim that by only allowing one representative that, they have no power. All the groups are on equal footing. All decide the way their rep will vote and then that vote is cast.
Quote:"This 'Alliance' gives Zoners two choices. Either join, or have to fight them to remain truly free.
As Chairman of the Council of Zoners, as a Zoner, and as a free person, I can not and will not acknowledge this Alliance's authority. I will not acknowledge or abide by any of its decisions, policies, or foreign treaties. The 'Alliance' has not earned respect, it has demanded it, and I can not condone that sort of action with a clear conscience.
I call for Zoners and non-Zoners alike to realize this for what it truly is, a sham being used by the factions to put power over us in their hands."
This new Alliance is not forcing anyone to do anything. Yet you yourself decided to make a dictator move after becoming Chairman. You disbanded an Organization that you had no right to. You also tried forced a restructuring of the COZ. Who is the one who is trying to pull a power grab? You can denounce us all you like. We are not beholden to you. We as Zoners, decided to take our own path, and invite those who wanted, to join us. You are the one who is trying to force fellow Zoners to follow you Ms. Silvan. We do not require any who do not wish to join us, in any shape or form, to follow any policy or treaty that the ZA arranges.
Now as to Answer some of the other questions
Quote:"Tell me, how does one apply for the Zoner Alliance, specifically the Zoner Union of Independents. As I see no application format that has been set up by the Zoner Alliance, also what Benefits do those of the Zoner Union of Independents get?"
That was as you can see going to be up to the first few who decided to join us. My Robinson has already taken steps in that arena. Members of the ZUI get a chance to help shape the ZA. They will also benefit from any trade or diplomatic agreements.
Quote:"Hm, with that said. What will happen to the other Freeports still under the Council's control? What benefits do they receive, don't receive? Will you still trade to your fellow Zoners? Will the ZA ignore cries for help during an alien insurrection?"
There are no Freeports under ZA control. Will we protect Zoner stations? Yes. Will we protect Zoners? Ofcourse. We will still trade with everyone we traded with before. OSI trades to keep the Omicron stations well stocked. We will still do so. TAZ trades to many Zoner stations, I assume they will continue to do the same. Again, we willl help defend Zoner stations and planets. We are Zoners.
Quote:"MY point and question is why this was necessary. What did the factions feel was/is so wrong with the CoZ that couldn't have been solved with discussion and tweaking from within? What made going behind the CoZ's backs and creating a separate group necessary? Answer me those for starters."
We felt that the COZ had become a cumbersome beast. Days spent debating back and forth on sometimes very small issues. We wanted to come up with something that was still democratic but streamlined. After seeing the route Ms. Silvan was attempting to take by declaring the SHIZL dead and restructuring the COZ, with out some much as a vote by the Council, we felt that it was time to give the Zoners a choice in where they wanted to be. Before the ZA you either were part of the council, or alone. As for doing it behind the Council's back. I did not know we were required, as non-members, to present all our ideas to them. Am I supposed to contact the Council on every deal I set up for OSI? Because we waited till we had a definitive outline and full formed idea before presenting it, everyone thinks we were sneaking about in the shadows. Does the COZ put forth half formed ideas during negotiations? No of course not. They wait till they had a full plan accomplished before setting it out there. All we did was do the same. Folks seem to think that we had to inform everyone of our plans before we made them. Where is this rule?
Now are there any more question?
Samuel Nichols
Zoner Alliance representative
CEO - OSI
"this new concept is both - intriguing and fresh. - especially treaties on a local level rather than a global level should help the different stations to answer better to the local demands. - more local independence but also more local responsibilities.
all in all, it is one of many pathes leading into the future of the zoners - and right now, it looks like a brighter and safer path than the alternative.
while the process of independence is an ever ongoing on, - the flexibility and open mindedness of taking advice from an institution like the ZA is always appreciated.
right now - my crew and i wholeheartedly support the effords of the ZA - and we do hope that it brings a fresh wind to the zoner effords. - no one can really tell if it ll turn out to be positive or negative - or if things change at all. - but chances are that there will be change.
with the ZA, we have three large and influencial groups that represent two of the major characteristics of zoners - the TAZ with their spiritual guidence - and the OSI and the ZTC with their focus on edgeworld trade and contacts.
i put my faith into this new group to solve many of the deadends we either manouvered into - or were manouvered into in the recent past - and to bring upon us a new era of peaceful tranquility. - but only time will tell of course.
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*incoming transmission*
Comm ID: [TAZ]Doc Holliday
To: All Concerned
*still recovering from major surgery, his voice is soft but understandable*
I've been reading all that has been said here. Some say this is a Zoner power grab, some say that this is a precursor to some sort of Civil War and some say it's one group trying to overpower another.
Each Zoner faction is it's own entity, making it's own laws for it's own territory and working as individual factions. There will be times, however, where overall Zoner law will have to be addressed by all Zoners which we plan to address as the need arises. Freeport law and ship acquisition by non-Zoners will be such issues.
We have our own ships assisting with NFZ enforcement all around Sirius, covering what is easiest for us all. In the case of TAZ, we are close to Freeports in the Taus so we monitor those.
Why did TAZ leave the CoZ? Why did I step down as chairman? Well, my people didn't like the direction the Council was headed and had pushed me for some time to pull out. When the likes of independents, which there were several, were caught using slaves as crew by other factions around Sirius, slaves they should not have had, the constant messages I received to boot them from the Council was staggering. Many of those same people but not all, also sabotaged my attemped negotiations with Bretonia's Privateers. When most felt I was wasting time, I thought I was making headway. My feeling has always been that unless one is appointed diplomatic duties, they should only voice opinions to those who are. It's obvious many don't feel the same.
Ms. Silvan, you won't recognize the Zoner Alliance. That's fine with me. I'd prefer we found a way to work together but I can tell it's not your way. You see us as power grabbing. Might I remind you, Ma'am, where the power of the CoZ came from, Malcalypse, then with the Temporary Autonomous Zoners who created it.
Remember this, Baffin law is Baffin law and no Council or even Alliance has power over that.
*thinks to himself for a minute*
Funny, before he left, I remember the last thing I said to him. "Mal, if you leave, the Council won't last." How right I was.
OPG recognises and welcomes the establishment of a truly neutral and independent body that can formalise deals at a local level. One that is not influenced by a corrupt and biased chairperson. One that can understand the political intricacies embedded within all of the societies surrounding their stations and make arrangemnts to find policy that suits ALL of their neighbours rather than favouring a house or particular body to further their own gains and aims.
My congratulations go to those of you involved in this and should you request our aid and assistance please feel free to contact myself or one of the OPG elders should you need any help or political input.
May the sun shine on your faces and the solar winds be upon your backs.
[.. INCOMING TRANSMISSION ..]
[.. FROM : The Noveria ..]
[.. TO : Zoner Alliance ..]
[.. SUBJECT : Greetings, Zoner Alliance ..]
*The message is a video broadcast*
Greetings, Zoner Alliance.
The Noveria is willing to assist the Zoner Alliance when our participation is required.
There is also someone willing to... transmit you a message.
*the camera turns slowly*
Greetings... Zzzzzoner Alliance, *Shhkrz*.
It hassssss... been a long time sssssince we have been able to communicate with mankind... We remember the black skies during the war with the Slomon K'Hara. Many civilizations were slaughtered, and we didn't expect Mankind to survive, and yet you prevailed. There is much that we need to discuss, and I think you have many questions.
Although it will have to wait a bit, as Reaper isssss... awakening. Do not worry, he might sound harsh at first, but he will soon become your best friend.
The Corsair Brotherhood welcomes the ZA and hope that this will the beginning of a truly mutually beneficial relationship between Corsairs and Zoners. We Corsair cannot abide the AW led Council of Zoners. It is good that a new group of Zoners has arisen to take the mantle of true Zoner neutrality.
Comm ID - Outcast Commonwealth Council of Ministers
Target ID - Zoner Alliance, Council of Zoners, All Zoners in general
Greetings,
The Outcast Commonwealth Council of Ministers has discussed this matter and have come to a unanimous conclusion.
As long as all Outcast laws & policies are followed in Outcast controlled space, We don't care what you call yourselves, who leads you, or your political goals. We offer fair trade with your ships & expect fair trade in return.
We offer no protection nor assurances of your safety in our space with the exception of Omicron Alpha & under the condition all our laws & regulations are being followed.
May your ventures be profitable.
Respectively, Outcast Council of Ministers
Outcast Commonwealth
Malta
Do not PM this account. It probably won't be seen.