--Comm ID: Gabriel Caudill-- --Location: SCRAMBLED-- --Encryption:HIGH--
I think it is time we had a talk. I'm not coming to you today as a Zoner Alliance leader. I'm coming to you as a man concerned about the safety of his employees. Now, I've been getting reports and hearing rumors that you believe we have stopped food shipments just for the hell of it. Nothing is further from the truth. They were temporarily stopped until the situation with these anarchists cooled down. We contacted the council stating this fact. Perhaps I could have been a bit more clear in my response, but all I wanted was assurances that we would be safe within Omicron Gamma.
Now you may say that you are independent of our goods. That's fair, but why the hostilities when we were forced to stop them? *sigh* I'm getting away from my point. All we need is a promise that we will be safe from Corsair attacks while providing food. That's it. Then, maybe, we can stop these pointless hostilities.
We have three Whales loaded and ready to go. Just give the word.
--Comm ID: Gabriel Caudill-- --Location: SCRAMBLED-- --Encryption:HIGH--
Actually, we have taken the initiative. We just shipped a total of 22,144 crates of food directly to Crete. Now you can see that we will hold up our end.
We are not exactly independant of your goods, but we do have other resources to draw on, due to the timely interventions of a few enterprising individuals and smaller organisation. Our reaction to the supply of goods to our home stopping was due to the Council of Elders letting go of the leesh on those who would see the Zoners burn.
Indeed, it gained you no favours in the organisation that I represent, the Brotherhood, when the Artemis was crippled by the Zoners standing alongside the NTF, the SCRA and the Red Hessians. Only the Benitez famillia have remained on the sidelines on this issue.
While delivering shipments of food, your vessels should be safe. We have our laws, and our courts will process any destruction of food convoys to Omicron Gamma. Given the lawless nature of many Corsairs, I can understand that the list of infractions by different Corsairs could be long.
The council are thoroughly discussing how best to address the new positions of the TAZ and the OSI. We did actually expect a more drawn conflict fueled by many other circumstances, so this is refreshing. However, we have agreed on one thing already, and that is we feel that the OSI being a part of the Zoner Alliance is detrimental to the stability of the region as a whole. In fact, we feel that the presence of the Zoner Alliance as a political body has contributed significantly to destabilisation.
More to follow, as we are still discussing the issue.
- Juan Montoya
PS: One more thing: We would appreciate it if you shipped fresher foods from the bread-basket planets of the houses, such as Kyushu, Cambridge, Honshu or Stuttgart.
The Temporary Autonomous Zoners would also like to propose a peaceful resolution with the Corsair Empire. We have graciously been given clearance to participate in these communications.
We look forward to hearing more news from the Elders on this issue.
Regards,
Xavier Triton The Trident of Eris, Shasta Orbital Skyhook, Baffin
--Comm ID: Gabriel Caudill-- --Location: SCRAMBLED-- --Encryption:HIGH-- --Recipiant: Juan Montoya--
Thank you for the prompt reply Senor Montoya
As you no doubt have heard, we have decided to part ways from the Zoner Alliance. I won't go into specifics, but your thoughts and my own are not too far off in this matter.
As for the food from Freeport 9. Our biodomes do produce a good amount of food which is more than enough to supply our export and most of our own needs. The remainder is supplied from the planets you mentioned. We import a small amount of finer luxury food from Stuttgart to Freeport 9 from time to time, as well. We have good connections on that station and could make sure those find their way to our holds instead of the standard biodome fare.
This issue has been discussed at great length by the Council of Elders. We have considered many ways in which to ensure the stability of relations between the Zoners and the Corsairs. These have included territorial claims, lists of goods we need as a nation, building up our infrastructure further using your help and so on and so forth.
However, an interesting issue crept up, and it was this:
This has been a long-standing issue. To compress the issue, we have seen the result of a brief conflict that the news article predicted would not happen. Well, news readers can't always be right.
We require that the Zoner attitude towards an installation in Omicron Theta turns away from that stated in the news article. Furthermore, due to other projects that our shipyards are occupied with, we do not at this time have the means to produce all the parts required for a station. Therefore, we require that the Zoners immediately cede Freeport 9 to Corsair control. Your other base, Corfu, would not be affected by this. Freeport 9 would likely be renamed to reflect the fact that it would no longer be free.
As such, we require the evacuation of Freeport 9 at the earliest possible time.
The Council of Elders also discussed the issues of Freeport 5, Corfu and Freeport 1. However, the presence of Freeport 9, and the lack of a Corsair installation in Omicron Theta, is the most pressing concern for the Empire at this time.