The slightly older than middle-aged man shifts where he sits on a load-lifter's seat in a loading bay, spotted with rather recent blood on his white shirt. The reflection of the distant Omicron nebula showing through on a load-lifters glass shield next to him. A sharp look in his eyes, and a mildly neutral expression on his face.
"If you may, please pardon my appalling appearance, my medical teams have been hard-pressed with the wounded crews from the vessels destroyed at Skiros station. Though, sit, and listen a moment to one tired, old, taxed and weathered old captain, for just a moment if you will. I have something to say, something few would be bold enough to say with all the adversity on both sides of this terrible, costly conflict.
"Your people, fighting bravely and boldly against an attack that was - in some eyes - provoked, risked life and limb in a battle against the Outcasts, Zoners, and Order combined. This is a thing any true Zoner will be mortified from. I felt a cold stab in my stomach when I heard a Zoners Guard -captain-, of a Jinkusu-class vessel, shout: "Kill all Corsairs". I couldn't empathize more with the anger, all the frustration, and sorrow your people are feeling for your loved ones who were wounded and killed in battle. No less is this fact made more gripping upon me that I saw Zoner ships helping in this slaughter. We are supposed to be better than this, we are supposed to be more, to rise above and forge neutrality and respect with others - not destruction.
"I was born and raised in Rheinland, few Zoners know that as we don't delve into the past of others. I always heard of Corsairs being the enemy, and I suppose it grew in me as a rebellious fascination with your culture and your people as I turned my life of a soldier into the life of a Zoner. That fascination, although soiled at times, has never waned as I meet hostility from the Corsair people. I have always garnered a deep respect and understanding for your ways, your needs, and your people. Which is why I will say this.
"As of right now, the Litany of the Malus shall be retrofitted to house medical shuttles, it's landing bays equipped for transporting cargo, and crew shifting to house medical staff from Gran Canaria. There are Zoners who feel as I do, who feel for you, who want friendship and not hostility. Just as I feel, we've forged a coalition of people who feel the same. From all walks of life, from volunteers who will simply help load and unload food supplies, to doctors who will treat any families who are sick or injured from the recent conflicts, we will begin moving the Litany to and from Crete, back to Gran Canaria and back again. Until things soothe themselves calm, and your lives are no longer hard pressed by food and medicine shortages, we will not let any blockade, be it held by any ship flying any flag, we'll show them our resolve and reach your people with supplies. No more will we see Corsairs as our enemies, but as a friend who's stumbled and needs our hand to stand tall. As it always should have been. We hope this will ease thoughts of independent Zoners such as us, who don't wave a flag to some organization or for some creed or oath. We hold our core values as our guide, and see that we need to help you, the proud people of Crete, of the Corsair way.
"May your people sleep easier, we won't let the atrocities of bloodthirsty 'Zoners' stand in our way. We will be there for you, until there is no more suffering, and then!"
--- Captain Izii Helfari, Zoners Guard
-=Closing Message Burst=-
My honest reaction upon reading the forums, whenever I rarely do. Joe Kucan, he's the man.
"This is Captain Helfari, to prove that this indeed is no ruse, and my sincerity, I will submit proof of these shipments, and continue them as often as we can press our crew and myself on long shifts. I hope a semblance of relief can come to you all, and that the heavily tarnished image of the Zoners can be slowly brought back to it's original luster. As I stated, we will continue shipments in defiance of the petty-hearted embargo placed by individuals who're intent on harming Corsair families."
I am personally glad that a few have not embraced protracted conflict, since that would lead to ruin in the long term. However, since so many have, there are unfortunately consequences.
This is no slight against you, as I do not doubt your intentions. However, the Zoner transponder is in the process of being made automatically hostile to Corsair ships. The reason for this is that a sizable portion are continuing to fight. Just today, Skiros recieved heavy attack from a combined force of Outcasts, the GMG, the Zoners and the Order, the latter two of which are being tweaked for Corsair identification systems.
I am sorry that you, and those like you, will be caught out by this, but it is neccessary until the conflict is solved. Your services are very much appreciated, but given the automated weapons systems on Skiros and our other installations, such changes are neccessary. We are also carefully considering our position with the Order, but that is another matter.
- Juan Montoya
PS: The problem is especially prevalent with Zoner capital ship captains. Unfortunately, though you have good intentions, you are one of them. As I said, Im not aiming to slight you in any way, we really appreciate what you and those like you do. It's just, the problem is a fairly large one.
Incomming Transmission:
From: Crete, Brotherhood Chambers
ID: Vincent Valentine
I have my doubts about this ship in any case Juan. I clearly remember that this Vessel was in Gamma yesterday, delivering food supplies to Crete. He was given clearance by the Black Sails to do so. Mere minutes after he exited gamma to Theta, the attack on skiros began.
I think Senor Helfari gave the Zoner forces intel on ship numbers and classes. Their strike were clearly coordinated, and they had perfect intel on us. No doubt the Captain picked up escape pods left right and centre, almost got mine as well, luckily Skiros Station go to me first, but this could all be a cloud over our eyes, giving him access to gamma, and a chance to give intel to our enemies. Which are now the Zoners.
In my eyes, he is a Zoner, and they are the enemie now. If he really wants to show his loyality to us he can bring that big zoner ship and aid our forces against outcasts. He need not fire on his own kind. Now that will be a true indication of his loyality. Anything less than that, and we should treat him like any other zoner..with extreme prejuduice.
SOURCE: Imperial gunboat "Mephisto", high orbit over Crete ENCRYPTION LEVEL: Corsair eyes only EXCEPTIONS: ZGS|Litany.of.the.Malus
Honourable Elders of the Council, this is captain Corazon Santiago speaking. As much as I might share part of hermano Vincent's feelings, I cannot help but consider that as long as there are Zoners willing to put an end to hostilities, and even help us against their more insane brethren, we should let them come, or they might change their minds over time. On this matter, there are a few points I would like to bring to your esteemed attention.
1) I throughly approve the decision to tweak Zoner IFF to hostile, so we could propose to all those good willing captains to temporarily change their transponder designation to Freelancer, or other neutral designation of their choice, in order to mantain a free passage to Crete; they should, of course, let us know of that change, least more unpleasant misunderstandings occur.
2) Just yesterday we received over a dozen food shipments from various freelancing or other free-thinking traders, but I heard of many more that didn't make it because of hostile actions taken against them. We should encourage their support by offering them protection, not just on Crete orbit, but also along our boundaries, by actively patrolling and taking them into our custody as soon as they enter our space. We should care of our true friends.
3) I would also advance the proposition to offer imperial citizenship (not immediately but over time, of course), to all those honest people that never failed on their support to the Empire. This way, our ranks will swell, and we'll show everyone how much the Corsair Empire has to offer to those that remain loyal to us.
"I must agree to the identification change proposed. I have several images that show Zoners capital vessels flying into battle to battle Corsairs. As for the accusations against my intentions prior to the battle, I can only say I was shocked to meet a combined fleet of Outcast and Zoners capital fleet. I managed to keep, though barely, one of the captains from blindly rushing in of foolish rage. Until the IFF changes are made, I will persist with the shipments, and any blockade in my ship's path will know my place squarely in this conflict.
"While I may be the only Zoner Guard captain who feels this way, the next time I see Zoners bringing their private armada to be open aggressors and invaders, I will not be preparing medical teams - I will be stationing gunner crews to take them down alongside the Corsair people. That is something my crew has agreed upon in that feeling. If our efforts are indeed a vain gesture, we will steel our resolve and meet foolish warmongering 'Zoners' in open combat. We did not help them with information nor placement of Corsair forces for that pointless battle at Skiros, and we won't help them against the Corsairs in a war between your people and the Outcasts. We are Zoners, not Outcast-loving sympathizers, and Zoners do not invade someone's home system and help destroy as much as they can. Those were not Zoners, those captains were bloodthirsty blind monsters, no better than a machine made for killing, and we will stand with the Corsairs against Zoners invading their homes. I and my crew, we, have come to consensus on this."
"Before I forget: My communications officer has detected encrypted transmissions along this line, while I could care less initially, it is safer to send these private transmissions across more personalized frequencies - burst transmissions for short-term talking are not the least bit safe for sensitive data."
--- Captain Izii Helfari, Zoners Guard
-=Closing Transmission Burst=-
My honest reaction upon reading the forums, whenever I rarely do. Joe Kucan, he's the man.
*Valentine Reads the reply of the Zoner Guard Captain Izzi Helfari and is seemingly suprised by the captains reply. He is actually shocked.*
Senor Helfari, the statement you have just made, has caught me suprisingly of guard. If your words are true, and your actions proof them, you will gain a valuable ally in Sirius. For a man that will do so much for corsair's, shall be my friend, and that of the brotherhood. Your travel in the Omega's and Omnicron's shall not only go smoothly when you are in corsair space, but you shall be protected like one of our own.
Now these are not words to sweeten your offer, these are facts. Tis the way the corsairs work. We hold protect our own, and those that have shown to have honor.
It will be very interresting to see if you can stand by your statement.
*Valentine closes the communication link, still a little bit suprised at the Zoners reply. "Maybe there are Zoners out there with honor and character. Maybe my hatred towards all of them was misjudgement on my part. Time will tell" he thinks to himself.
Comm ID: Captain Mannock
Source: Hospital Ship Light ICRC-Geneva
To: Captain Izii Hellfari and Council of Elders
CC: All Zoners
Dear Captain Hellfari and Council of Elders
I do not know who attacked me more the nervous system, if the captain or the Council. I at least I can understand my people or so I thought.
The Corsairs, we were a proud nation, forged in the rigors of need, with a character as hard as Crete, where just 20 years ago famine caused more victims that our wars.
We had some neighbors who helped us, instead of leaving us to starve, they helped us to evolve and get to the levels of the 4 houses.
Today, we have bitten the hands that helped us, overeating, losing our spartan life, has dulled our brains with the superfluous fat. Anyone of us decided that Zoners no longer had any value to us. We lost our honor, correction, you have lost your honor to change them for wealth and good life. Many people among Zoners respected you, even were true friends (I was one of them) and you've proved them how wrong they were. Respect is hard to win, but very easy to lose.
I feel it in my soul, and you are not my people, you have laughed and pissed all over by what your ancestors fought for what your fathers and grandfathers fought. The supposed easy victory over the Zoners hath blinded you and are now falling more Corsairs in Theta in a week than in Cambridge in a year.
With regard to Captain Helfari, I have no words to express what I feel.Your demagoguery when you accuse yours "brothers and sisters" to defend against an aggression and at the same time, prepare your crew to fight them. Simply, you make me sick.
Nobody wants more than I the end of this war (I already suffered in my time for supporting the Corsairs the persecution of the Coalition), every death, every hurt, I suffer, make me lose a bit of me with them.
Signed a cease-fire and maintain the status quo. So only the dead of both sides have lost without doing so in vain because they provide an opportunity for the living.
I doubt this help, but I hope that reason and the old ties were imposed again.