INCOMING TRANSMISSION
COMM ID: Governor Thomas McLachlan
LOCATION: Toronto Station, Ontario System
TARGET ID: The Mercenary Crisis
As Ontario LPI officers bowed their heads and blinked away tears, the haunting bugle notes of the Last Post hung over the final moments of a memorial service for four constables gunned down in the line of duty over the last week.
Hundreds of police officers, mourners and dignitaries gathered on Toronto Station to honour Constables Peter Whistler, Leo Hammersfall, Trip Gordon and Brock Samson in the largest memorial service in the Ontario LPI-detachment's history.
The officers were shot and killed while investigating reports of illegal Mercenary Activity last Thursday near Hamilton Station. Their killer, Kaze Dagon remains at large.
Family and friends of the four officers also remembered the men in moving tributes, describing their pride in belonging to the LPI-Ontario, then standing silently in front of the men's portraits for one last goodbye.
***Breaks and looks up at the Camera***
Words cannot express the horror, and sadness expressed by the Governor's office over this tragedy.
We're on the brink of something very dark here, and I appeal, loudly, on behalf of the citizens of Ontario, for something to be done about the mercenary sell-swords who have turned their blades on the very men and women we count upon to keep us safe.
This is murder, in its purest form. Without remorse, without a shadow of guilt.
I want you to look into the eyes of Constable Hammerfall's daughter, and I want you to tell her why her daddy will never come home again.
And I want you to know, Ontario is not an isolated state, Ontario has strong friends. Powerful allies within Liberty and outside of it. I can assure you, we will not rest until you stand accountable for your heinous crime!
Adam "Corseque" Fletcher watched the broadcast in his Falcata-class bomber, an uneasy feeling sinking in his stomach. Liberty capital ships were money. He didn't care about the police, they could go munch their donuts where the son don't shine. He'd met Dagon before, but the prey was scarce and they had just nodded heads and gone separate ways.
Murder can only be justified if you get paid for it.
Source:[color=#CC99CC]Prison Liner Stellar Ranger, New York, Detroit Debris Field
[font=Fixedsys]Sender:Natalie Callahan Recipient(s):The citizens of Liberty, especially the Ontario System Subject:A word from me you should hear.
[font=Palatino Linotype]The videofeed starts up to reveal Natalie Callahan, clad in a stylish business-suit and sitting behind an expensive-looking glass table, on a comfortable chair with her trademark blue-dyed hair and a smile on her face.
[color=#CC99CC]Good morning ladies and gentlemen.
I apologize for hacking into this transmission and all that jazz, but y'know, former Legion expertise as a reconnaisance specialist comes in handy sometimes, and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity.
You might've heard of me or not, it's not really that big a problem whether you actually did.
My name is Natalie Callahan, and my friends simply call me 'Blue'. Hair says it all, doesn't it?
Eitherway, you might not like me hearing what I'm about to say now, in fact, you might get a little angry.
[font=Palatino Linotype][color=#CCDDCC]She pauses a little and leans in a bit closer to the camera with a serious look on her face.
[color=#CC99CC]I am not your friend. I am a pirate. A smuggler. A thief, at times, and a former Fleet Captain of the Hellfire Legion.
But above all that I am a human being with eyes and ears, and I heard and saw this transmission just as everyone of you did.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a problem.
Governor Thomas McLachlan accuses a friend of mine in his broadcast of murder in four cases. Four Officers of the Liberty Police.
Let me emphasize the important word here.
He accuses.
He offers no proof, no evidence, nothing at all. All he offers to the public, that is you, is his words.
And his words carry no god-damned weight whatsoever, or at least not more than mine do.
So here they are. Kaze Dagon wasn't even in the vicinity of the Ontario system at the time of the murders. She wasn't there.
She spent the day doing work for me alongside...
[font=Palatino Linotype][color=#CCDDCC]Another woman walks into the camera's view, clad in a crimson suit not much unlike Blue's, her raven black hair laced into a pig-tail and a wry smile on her lips as she steps closer to Blue and rests her right hand on the latter's shoulder.
[color=#CCBBCC]Me.
[font=Palatino Linotype][color=#CCDDCC]Blue flashes a little grin at Viva before continuing.
[color=#CC99CC]Alongside my associate here, Viva Emilia Velasquez.
And that ain't all. After doing work she was here, aboard my ship the Stellar Ranger, in the New York System, in the Detroit Debris Field.
Not anywhere near Ontario. Half the ship's crew, Viva and I can attest to this.
So it's word against word, and why should you believe me and 'my ilk'?
We're businessmen and women of the kind you don't want to know about, the kind you don't want to hear about.
The kind you don't want to see, hear, smell. The kind you're afraid of.
So you've a really simple choice here, let me talk on and say what I've to say, or close this videofeed to go on while believing the usual lies.
One man says Miss Dagon was in Ontario, one woman and whoever's at her side say, she wasn't.
And I've way more to tell you, but I'll kindly let Viva speak for me.
Would you please, Sugarcakes?
[font=Palatino Linotype][color=#CCDDCC]A little nod at Blue later, Viva takes over with her soothing, melodic voice.
[color=#CCBBCC]With pleasure, mi amor.
Amigos, since this is all talk, let us keep talking and let us, say, talk about a theory.
You see Blue here and I, we go where the lovely, law-abiding citizens of Liberty don't go.
We traverse the dark reaches of space you do not dare enter and wander in. We see things most of you might never see.
And we're not exactly, well, blind nor stupid.
We don't forget listening and watching the media either, and we know how to draw logical connections between things.
We heard of the things that used to happen in Ontario, and we heard of other things that used to happen in other places around Liberty, si?
I've come up with a theory. One you won't like, because nobody likes bad news headed their way.
Earlier this week Miss Dagon headed into a particular area of space called 'Omega fifty-two'.
A star system far away from Liberty, in the southern reaches of Sirius.
This upset some people. Some people who have might. Who have power. And most of all, people who have connections. Connections that reach into the depths of Liberty.
Into Ontario.
Do you see where this is going?
[color=#CC99CC]I don't think they do yet, Sugarcakes.
[color=#CCBBCC]Why let's go on then mi coracon.
Let's say said people wanted to get rid of Miss Dagon really bad because of things she saw in that particular area of space.
Let's also say that said people realized several important factors that might aid them in their cause.
One.
Miss Dagon is a former citizen of the Colonial Republic.
Obviously some people around here do not like the Colonial Republic.
Some even actively despise it. That's good for whoever is behind all this, since afterall it's easier to lay hands on someone in a bad way when you do not like the particular person for whatever reason, be it some grudge you hold, a thirst for vengeance, or even racism.
Two.
Miss Dagon has become quite a 'visible' figure in some circles of Liberty recently, due to having done work for me. Being visible and in the open makes you an easy target for anything that might be headed your way, including an angry mob.
Three.
Miss Dagon isn't exactly the most pleasant person to be around for everyone. Not everyone likes her work, not everyone likes her popularity, and not everyone likes her herself.
This ties in with point one.
She's a rather easy target who did something that upset some people, and those people know it would be easy to get other people to go as far as to try to hurt her, lynch her even.
Due to the reasons mentioned above and, well, something like that particular lie here.
But that's just a theory, si?
[color=#CC99CC]Exactly, Viva. Just a theory. And of course we're not going to go into detail, hm?
[color=#CCBBCC]Why should we? Since when is the public's welfare our business?
[color=#CC99CC]Ain't been it for some years now love.
You think we should just simply ask her?
[color=#CCBBCC]Why not. Let her tell everyone.
Kaze darling, would you come here so we can ask the burning question and get an answer?
[font=Palatino Linotype][color=#CCDDCC]It's no one other than Kaze Dagon herself who walks into the camera's view now, stepping closer to Viva and Blue slowly and gracefully, barely managing to hide the smile on her lips.
[color=#CCCCCC]Yes Viva?
[color=#CCBBCC]Did you kill those four Liberty Police officers?
[color=#CCCCCC]No that I know. I've spent all Thursday flying at your and Blue's side and then trying to teach you how to use a sword before getting back to Jordy later on.
[font=Palatino Linotype][color=#CCDDCC]And this is where Blue interrupts with a little grin.
[color=#CC99CC]You heard her, ladies and gentlemen.
Now as for you two... Viva, weren't you supposed to get ready for a trip to some special place?
[color=#CCBBCC]Si mi amor, si.
[color=#CC99CC]And you Kaze? Mentioned a phonecall earlier, didn't you?
[color=#CCCCCC]Oh, right. I hope Admral Hale isn't too busy.
[color=#CC99CC]All shiny. And as for you, ladies and gentlemen, I guess I should say that beyond this point we don't really, well.
INCOMING TRANSMISSION
COMM ID: Governor Thomas McLachlan
LOCATION: Toronto Station, Ontario System
TARGET ID: The Mercenary Crisis
Evidence is required, then evidence shall be presented.
We can conclusively prove that the pilot in question committed these acts, and will present said evidence shortly.
You cannot lie to our people, nor can the word of a gaggle of pirate's, murderers and sell-swords impinge the honour of the four fallen officers you butchered.
Now we know who you are, and that you are all implicated in this crime, we can expand the arrest warrents for all of you.
Ontarian justice, Libertonian Justice, and Sirian Justice will find you!
Source:[color=#CC99CC]Prison Liner Stellar Ranger, New York, Pittsburgh Debris Field
[font=Fixedsys]Sender:Nicholai Kosygin Recipient(s):Governor Thomas McLachlan and the citizens of Liberty, especially the Ontario System Subject:Privyet, comrades!
[font=Palatino Linotype]The videofeed starts up again, this time revealing a middle-aged man with lightly tanned skin, a weather-worn face and jet-black hair, along with the matching impressive beard. He is sitting on what appears to be the command seat on the Stellar Ranger's bridge and is wearing what looks like an old Coalitioneer's uniform.
[color=#CCCCFF]Privyet, comrade McLachlan!
I am very sorry that Kapitan Callahan can not respond to you in person, however she has way more important business to conduct at this time, more imporant than responding to a Governor's lies, as she would say.
You have my most sincere apologies, comrade, however I must really point out something you said that appears to be... what was the Libertonian slang-term again?
'Fishy' I think, da?
If you, as you claim comrade, can 'conclusively prove' that comrade Dagon commited the criminal acts in question, then please tell me and more importantly, tell the public why a person in your position - and I assume that the position of a Governor of a Libertonian solar system is a high one that comes with much power - can not present said proof to the public at the same time when the news reports of said criminal acts are frequenting the usual channels, or when he in person sends out a message to Liberty?
Or at least, comrade Governor, please tell the public as for why you have not presented it yet?
May I make another assumption? Da?
Daaa comrade, I shall make one.
I assume that you did not present the evidence already as you simply do not possess it and have to, how do you Libertonians say again...
'Forge' it?
Dear comrade Governor, logic dictates that if you didn't show it yet, you simply don't have it.
Anything that comes up far too late and wasn't presented at the start brings the risk of it having been tampered with, and thus being far from the truth.
And as for comrade Kapitan Callahan and everyone around her, well, unlike you as I wildly assume here, we make no secret out of whom we affiliate ourselves and spend our time with.
Excuse me now, comrade and citizens of Liberty, for a simple man who is not a Governor has far simpler and less complicated, but still essential, duties to fulfill.
Like flying this marvelous spaceship through the endless beauty of Liberty.
Dosvidanya, comrade Governor, and dosvidanya my other Libertonian comrades.
[font=Palatino Linotype][color=#CCDDCC]And so the screen fades to black as the transmission is cut, the last visible thing worth a mention being the wide grin on Nicholai's face.
Source:[color=#CC99CC]Prison Liner Stellar Ranger, New York, Badlands
[font=Fixedsys]Sender:Nicholai Kosygin Recipient(s):Governor Thomas McLachlan and the citizens of Liberty, especially the Ontario System Subject:Donde esta la zappateria?
[font=Palatino Linotype]The videofeed starts up as usual to reveal Nicholai just the same as before, still grinning.
[color=#CCCCFF]One word, comrade.
Timestamps.
I don't see any, da?
That's just a Nyx with that particular communications ID, and nothing that really says it is comrade Dagon.
And all that aside, that number 90 in the targeting view, that looks highly suspicious, just saying.
As does the Freelancer IFF, comrade. Comrade Dagon has neither. Your proof is false.
So all you have is just random shots of some particular ship in Ontario with...
No one around but the officer who took the shots?
Comrade, that's far from 'conclusive proof'.
You can do better than that, da?
[font=Palatino Linotype][color=#CCDDCC]Whoop-dee-doo, the screen fades to black with Nicholai laughing.
Source:[color=#CC99CC]Prison Liner Stellar Ranger, New York, Badlands
[font=Fixedsys]Sender:Nicholai Kosygin Recipient(s):Governor Thomas McLachlan and the citizens of Liberty, especially the Ontario System Subject:Oh, really?
There was a comment made that if it walks like powergaming, quacks like powergaming, and smells like powergaming, then it probably is powergaming. The opinion behind the moderation - and the actual use of moderator powers - is supported by the admin team.
When a player calls for an admin or moderator due to an issue - and let's be clear here, Dab was not the only one contacted about this, he was merely the first of us to act on it - then we have a responsibility to act if we see that there is a problem.
Based upon the skype conversations that we have seen, the admin team is not amused. That you have all worked it out is fine - thus, the re-opening of this thread. That it was brought to our attention due to what was percieved as powergaming by one of the people affected is not fine.
Don't let it happen again in assuming that you have permission to do something that involves someone else's character. Get it explicitly in writing, and that will save a lot of confusion and angst.
One last comment - players do not get the option to opt-out from moderation or administration. If they did, then Jes would have nothing to do...
(11-21-2013, 12:53 PM)Jihadjoe Wrote: Oh god... The end of days... Agmen agreed with me.