Time and again, my paramilitary ships have come across your vessels in our nebula. Why do you persist? Do they not teach history at your schools? Have you not learned from your predecessors' mistakes?
If you will not educate yourselves of historical events, I will have to do the honors. At the end of the 80 years war, Rheinland, Kusari, and the Gas Miners Guild signed the Treaty of Honshu. This treaty had the following effects:
Sigma-13 is recognized as sovereign territory of the GMG.
Kruger Minerals will pay war reparations to the Gas Miners Guild.
All Kruger, Rheinland Police, and Rheinland Military vessels are forbidden from entering Sigma-13.
All GMG and Kusari vessels are forbidden from entering New Berlin.
Since then several things have changed. In 792, the GMG agreed to terms set by Interspace Commerce, contracting ALG Waste Disposal to build Helgoland Station in Sigma-13 and clean up the Yanagi Debris Field. Several years ago, Chancellor Nikolaus Reinhardt and Emperor Jien Kogen worked out a trade agreement that, among other things, allowed Kusari vessels to enter New Berlin. Last year, the Guild signed the Sigma Trade Pact with Rheinland, allowing the Rheinland Military to establish patrols in the southern portion of Sigma-13, and the GMG Paramilitary to establish patrols in the northern portion of Frankfurt. The pact also opened Rheinland's borders to GMG's trade convoys and established RepEx as Rheinland's HFuel distributor.
Two things have remained unchanged since the end of the eighty. One. Sigma-13 is sovereign territory of the GMG. Two. Kruger Minerals is forbidden from entering Sigma-13.
Yet in the last 48 hours, four Kruger vessels have entered Sigma-13 in direct violation of the Treaty of Honshu.
You have exhausted your warnings. Until an agreement is reached, all Kruger vessels that enter Sigma-13 or Sigma-19 will be destroyed on sight, regardless of the cargo that is carried.
#### Incoming Transmission ####
#### Signal location: Omega 3 ####
#### ID: Alex Durant ####
#### Ship ID: RepEx-Drayman ####
Good evening to the Gas Miners Guild, Established members of Kruger Minerals and all associated parties involved. I monitored transmissions from the GMG and Kruger and felt it necessary to respond to this and I hope I am not breaching protocol. As a former recognized scientist, and bio terraforming physicists I tend to take thing in a very logical formulaic chain of events. Eighty years is such a long time to harbor such animosity towards anyone regardless of who started what. But mankind will always follow the mistakes of the past it seems. I fear I need to recognize this all the more even now.
Trying to eke a living and regain some of my former status I have been humbled to command this trading vessel in an attempt to do just that. Yet, due to escalated aggressive response to Kruger registered vessels I have'¦ regrettably, relinquished my standings with Kruger transportations as a sub contractor. With no official standing with Kruger Minerals, it will be of little lost to them as per our departure. I am disappointed that men no longer stand together as we once could so long ago, but these are the signs of our times.
I hope this in no way reflects our standing with Kruger as they, and other systems, will require goods hauled from one location to another in the future.
I would also wish to convey my regrets for the outright intrusion and perhaps thanks for the GMG craft whom took it upon himself to not vent me and my crew into space. I said I would be seeing him again regardless of the situation; it will just have to be under a different banner.
With a Republican Express, registered pending transport, as you can see above, I can only hope that GMG holds to its word that it will no longer fire upon this ship and its crew for reasons of war and past aggressions.
#### Transmission Disconnect ####
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.
ID: [color=#FFFFFF] Vorsitzender Gustav Albrecht To: Nozaki Ichimoto Subject: Sigma 13
This is Vorsitzander Gustav Albrecht, Chairman of Kruger Minerals. I apologize for the delay, I was preoccupied by business. This is a great sign to me, Gas Miner's Guild approaching Kruger Minerals through diplomacy, instead of aggression. This is a historic moment, hopefully it grows into something more.
Kruger's past is a difficult one to judge, we have had high points, and low points. But every time people count Kruger out, we jump up and show them were not done yet! The 80 years war is something we do not talk about at Kruger often, I can admit that many of us are ashamed. That is a dark spot on Kruger's record, and I always assumed it would have to be taken care of eventually. I must give you a quick history lesson too my friend, Kruger was recently purchased by new owners, this is a completely different administration. That failed and destructive leadership that lead Kruger into that atrocity is long gone. Kruger has a new outlook, new goals. But just because we have switched leadership, that does not absolve us of our past wrong doings. To be a successful company we must take responsibility for Kruger.
Kruger Minerals was wrong when they thought they could bully the GMG out of Sigma 13 and Kruger Minerals must accept responsibility for the 80 years war. The new administration doesn't condone what Kruger has done in the past, all we can do is point Kruger in a better direction. And that better direction starts with Kruger apologizing to the GMG for the 80 years war, and all the horrors that came along with it. It was the men before us that committed these horrendous acts, but it us who will restore our honor.
So I say it loud and clear, Kruger accepts responsibility for being one of the main ignition points of the 80 years war, and begs that the GMG, if not today, can someday find forgiveness for Kruger. Kruger is sorry ... I am sorry.
* Gustav takes a second, you can see that stirred up many emotions *
No matter what happens here, that needed to be said. But no time can be lost, so moving on. Rock.Cleaner, the KMS-Augsburg, and the Kaufbeuren are all union Kruger ships, however I have no record of Drayman, so I cannot speak about his actions. Yes we are aware of the trade talks, but Kruger was not represented in the trade talks. Kruger hoped that the Rheinland Government would speak for Kruger, they obviously did not. There was no solid leadership in place for Kruger at the time, but we are organized now. I have recently told my miners and transports to stay out of Sigma 13, but that only applies to the Union Kruger workers, I have no control over the non-unite workers. In the past I will admit, I neglected to tell my employees to honor the trade talks. Since Kruger was not there to represent themselves, we do not feel responsible to honor those agreements. But for the sake of peace we will stay out of Sigma 13 ... for now.
One of the main reasons Kruger is still a viable company in Rheinland, is because of our innovative silver mining techniques. We can mine silver faster than any other competitor out there, silver mining is Kruger's bread basket. This is how our workers feed their families. But Kruger doesn't only help themselves by mining silver, they are a main supplier of silver ore to Sirius. When we can get through, we have been bringing ore to Narita and it has been shipped all over Kusari. To completely stop shipping ore to Narita, not only harms Kruger, it harms Kusari. There are not many companies to step up and fill the void if Kruger left the silver mining business.
So we would like to open talks with the guild, we would like to secure passage through Sigma 13. We will obey all orders given by members of the GMG, we will respect the system and the inhabitants. We simply want to pass through, Kruger will mainly go unnoticed. The 80 years war ended a long time ago. Let's bury the hatchet and move on.
Our accountants cannot agree on a solid number, but we are aware that much of Kruger's debt and reparations payments were canceled or forgiven, due to Kruger being in no position to pay those debts. We would like to honor some of those payments.
Kruger is allowed to use Sigma 13 for travel between Honshu and Frankfurt
Kruger will move through system as quick as possible, and not delay
Kruger will deactivate weapons, if escort is along, Kruger will notify any GMG on duty before entering
Kruger will respect and obey all GMG authorities in Sigma 13
In return for allowing Kruger access to the system, Kruger makes this offer:
Kruger publicly accepts responsibility for 80 years war
Kruger publicly apologizes to Gas Miner's Guild
Kruger recognizes GMG's sovereignty in Sigma 13
Kruger will pay 500.000.000 in reparation payments - Payments would be 250.000.000 in credits, and 250.000.000 in silver ore*
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* - The payments would be given as such:
Kruger would transfer 150.000.000 credits to the GMG as soon as agreement reached
Within 20 days, Kruger would deliver 15,000 units of ore to the GMG
Within 10 days, of last shipment, Kruger will transfer another 100.000.000 credits
Within 10 days, of transfer, Kruger will deliver another 10,000 units of ore
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We feel that this is a fair deal, but Kruger is willing to negotiate. If GMG does not accept, Kruger would listen to a counter offer. We hope that maybe some day our miners can sit down and have a beer together. We await your response.
To: Chairman Gustav Albrecht
From: Guild Master Raikoke
Subject: Kruger Offer
Priority: Top
Message reads:
Konban-wa Gustav-san,
I would have been able to respond sooner but I am just returning from some meetings and getting updated on the security of a supply route that is important to us. As you may be aware we had to deal with an occurance that was creating a negative impact on us and resulted in the need to lower quotas to the houses by %19. Fortunately matters are on the quick upswing and I've already requested one of my colleagues to inform our distributors that quotas are to return to normal. I seem to have returned home just in time.
Never would I have predicted that I'd be having this conversation with you. And yet here I am learning of the fallicy of using such absolutes like "never". We all make mistakes, some bigger then others, and I believe that's what this is all about; mistakes. After nearly two centuries we are in fact glad to see a new Kruger leadership willing to represent Kruger and admit Kruger's mistake.
Now I'm going to have to be honest and frank about the long time general attitude of GMG towards Kruger's continued existance. We've always, since The Eighty, strongly felt that your company should no longer exist. For it to be disbanded and all it's employees moving on to more honourable and civilised businesses. Indeed there was a reason why Kruger was not invited to the talks of opening the borders between GMG and Rheinland and were not included in the list of Rheinland corporations given access to the Sigmas. Had Kruger been there we would have simply walked out and kept the status quo of keeping the border closed. The mistake made by your predecessors cost GMG tens of thousands of lives and it cost your Rheinland much more. A horrifying waste of life that still echoes it's dismay till this very day. But then again, perhaps the winds of change are beginning to blow away the cloying fog of lamentation and your generous offer certainly seems to herald these winds of change.
It is a generous offer, one that has our council chambers and one we are still heavily considering. Yet there is still an old itch in our backs we'd like scratch. That is Mannheim. The station and it's continued, albeit ineffiecient, H-fuel operation is symbolic to a centuries old threat. It was Mannheim's operations that couldn't sustain the growing war machine of the old Imperial Rheinland which lead to Kruger intrusions into Sigma-13 and the eventual Eighty Year War. We have long wished to lay to rest the threat that is Mannheim and, while we choose not to continue our predecessors raids on Mannheim (which operated from the end of The Eighty right up to eight years prior to the Nomad War by our records), we admitadly still do wish to finally scratch that long time itch but by a different means if possible.
Consider agreeing to a gradual adminstrational shift of Mannheim's control over to GMG staff. Allow us to relieve you of the burden this industry has done to Kruger for the last couple centuries. Due to the nature of the planet and the extra process required that makes Manheimm's operations inefficient doesn't need to burden your company as it expands it's mineral operations. We take in consideration too that the resources are property of the state and accordingly it's distribution is subject to Rheinland authority. We can talk about such parameters if this is taken in serious consideration so that slowly in the end the only difference in Mannheim's operations would be it being handled by those specialzed in it. Consider it and if it seems plausible speak amongst the right Rheinland channels. We too would like to see a final end to the remnants that ignited the Eighty Year War.
ID: [color=#FFFFFF] Vorsitzender Gustav Albrecht To: Master Raikoke Subject: Sigma 13
Guten tag,
Ah my gut Master Raikoke, I understand all to well the challenges that meet a leader, and the busy life he must lead. I now will apologize for the delay, but I think you understand. And because of our busy schedules I'll get down to business.
I often get accused of playing semantics, but when talking law and businesss, I think one should always speak carefully. Sometimes true intentions are lost in translation. Kruger is not admitting that the war was our mistake, what we agreed was, to accept responsibility for actions Kruger has committed in the past. You might not see the difference, but admitting wrong doing is also admitting that the current Kruger administration has done something wrong. That is not the case, this administration and all the current employees had nothing to to with the 80 Years War what-so-ever. Even though we had nothing to do with the war, even though our father's had nothing to do with the war, we were willing to accept responsibility for something that happened almost two hundred years ago. Not only accept responsibility but also pay for damages we didn't even commit. Our offer was a most fair deal.
Oh I can plainly see GMG's attitude to Kruger, and trust me herr, you still seek the demise of Kruger. Yes, Manheim is burdensome on Kruger, but you think your the first to offer to take over the station? That is Kruger's station now, and will stay in Kruger's control. Without Manheim, our corporation would not stand a chance, it would only be a matter of time before one of Rheinlands other major corporations would take Kruger over. And without our precious station, you think the Kanzler or the government would stand up for us? I do not think so herr. Plus, if I even made mention in passing that Kruger was thinking of transferring ownership of Manheim to GMG, the Rheinland government would nationalize the station faster than the speed of light. In my opinion herr, they would be right to. I am a Rheinland citizen, thus a patriot before a businesssman. But there is no need for that, because Kruger will never willingly give up control of Manheim. The biggest payouts come from the most work.
To bring one more thing to your attention, in your attempt to destroy Kruger, you are willing to hurt Kusari's economy. We are the number one importer of silver ore to Kusari, it goes to Narita then shipped all throughout. And then we purchase mining machinery, that we assume was produced in Kusari, and bring it back to our operations. If we are not allowed access to Sigma 13, we will have to raise ore prices, and obviously purchase our mining machinery from the vaterland. It is a bit more expensive, but we will do what we must to survive. So because of GMG's ego Kusari will hurt, you must live with that. Your words are filled with spite and revenge.
As long as diplomatic channels stay open I will order my men to stay out, again I cannot account for non unite workers, however I will spread the word. With both offers now turned down, I hope you do not run away from the table, we must stay and work this out. You may only see benefits on Kruger's side, but there are also benefits to the GMG.
We still offer our previous deal, but would also offer to talk about putting a maximum cap on production in Manheim. Meaning we would work a number out, but Kruger would agree if Sigma 13 is open to our ships, we would not increase production at Manheim unless discussed with GMG leadership. Also I see the GMG is in need of supplies, Kruger could possibly work some deals out in good faith. Our transportation division is growing. Think on it herr, but put Manheim out of your mind, that would never happen.