*****opening zoner wide comms*****
*******comms link established******
Im Happy to say Omicron Theta is pretty good in general today. And im not trying to stop or start anything.
In being neutral, other zoners are free to pursue any endeavour they wish weather i agree or disagree, Just like any other sirus faction. Although I can influence others ability to utilise our FP's when they attempt to break our NZF rules, I have no authority over the zoners.
Even the TBH coming into theta today are being Hospitable
Im forming the opinion that is only the select few, even when its TBH, There proving that they joined the cause, But don't exhibit any of the extremities that there leaders demand. Its actually a good feeling knowing that during all this, Even the extremest cant get there own following to act as they demand.
As for the Corsair council joke, I wave at all the Corsairs through my view screen, As they politely pass by, Unconcerned with the excuse for diplomacy being exercised by our *cougth* Representatives *Cougth*
Not just zoners who can't get a concise course of action
Of course alot of them and others are travelling through O-74
But thats not my battle, Or concern.
Firstly I would like to thank all those who have sent support to me. I've received significant funds and proposal of military support, it is really appreciated.
At this moment, I am on Gran Canaria, meeting TAZ and OSI. We are working on a solution to preserve Zoners neutrality and restore safety in omega-41 and omicron-theta. Our intention is not to betray Zoners way of life.
Since I am not precisely aware of what is happening around Freeports 9 and 5 and Cofu now, I can only say: do your best to protect our bases and take care of yourself.
I will not authorise my crew to fire upon any Zoner ship. If, however, I seem that ship to be acting contrary to the Zoner general good, I shall position my ship between yourselves and the jump hole.
Let's not escalate the situation.
This can be resolved without further loss of life on either side.
I see no Corsair slaves, only fools who have done what the Hessians and the Outcasts want them to do.
I see no tyranny, only those who have fallen off of the knife's edge we must all balance on and now by needs try and force those who control the hilt to swing.
You may think you fight for freedom, but you ask only for the right to allow outsiders to use our bases in their petty wars.
Zoners have always stood alone and apart from the rest of Sirius society, and I can assure you, none of your newfound "allies" view you as anything but a tool to gain their ends.
Is it so hard to grasp that those whom you fight alongside are those who created this problem for us in the first place?
Is it so hard to see that by abusing our hospitality and then crying out, "Tyranny! Tyranny!" they now gain much in their wars?
One sees no others abuse our hospitality so; not the Rheinlanders and the Libertarians in their endless war across Bering; not the Gauls nor the Colonials nor the Outcasts in their battles across the Taus; not the Corsairs nor the Gaians nor the Mollys on Freeport 1; not the Order nor the Core in Delta; only these Hessians and their mercenary armies.
And yet you take their side like a faithful dog.
Our most powerful weapon has never been the Nephelim or the Juggernaut, but the knife's edge upon which our diplomacy has always rested, the ever-so-delicate balance in between wars and pirates and navies and police that has allowed us to avoid demands, avoid conflicts, avoid even piracy, and paved the way for deep-seated friendships with many of the peoples of Sirius.
And yet these scurrilous thugs come along and knock us off that difficult perch, and you would take up the knife to fight for their cause?
I find no tyranny in the demand, the ridiculous and demeaning demand that we Zoners, GODS FORBID, enforce what have always been our laws!
I find no slavery in the demand that we do not allow members of any group to use our bases like dirty whores for their base purpose of war and bloodshed.
I find no assault upon our liberties in the demand that we be good neighbors.
The fact that you do find such there is disturbing.
But of course, no doubt the Hessians tell you that you fight for the right side.
gone four years, first day back: Zoners still getting shot in Theta :|
*****opening zoner wide comms*****
*******comms link established******
Hmm my comms must be broken, I keep getting random data and Corsairs Opinions on a defined zoner comms signal. Those weird signals don't even reflect transmissions more to the point. *scratch head*
HELM move us away from this sun!
Someone needs to see to that.
On to more relevant business
Mutusha, That's an intriguing way of putting it. And if it comes down to it, I would rather fight than be a corsair puppet, Im not all for pandering.
But im still unconvinced we cant give Doc Holiday a bit longer.
Assistance for us is starting to flood in, I really don't want to arm my weapons, not even against these terrorists.
Im still staying strong in Theta, And the Terrorist to Corsair ratio is still very low, For every 20 Corsairs I see I only see one or two terrorists.
Its obvious, the majority still don't support the terrorists and council ultimatums. The attacks Arnt helping the cause.
As the saying goes, It's the nail that sticks out most that gets hammered. If were going to do some hammering, Lets get it right, and only get the terrorists. But first, can we give the doc a day or two?
Hopefully the slack OSI commander actually turns up at the meeting Morpheus Mentioned earlier.
Transmission: Start
Identification: Bernard Finch
Location: Freeport 9, Omicrion Theta
The only reason we were left alone in Theta, Adrianna, was its independence.
[font=Palatino Linotype]Once you bend over for Corsair Elders as you desire that much, everything will be destroyed by Hessians, Cretans and Maltese clashing over the region.
Feel free to offer yourself to Cretans.
But before those who consider themselves our diplomates come to a reasonable agreement with the Empire, the Crete would regret its arrogant attempts to ignore those little Zoners.
[font=Palatino Linotype]We won't agree with everything they can bring, we would accept only our freedom, our independence and our interests. That's what they are sent to achieve.
If they aren't capable of that, there would be other truce envoy. But so far the only diplomacy we have is the symmetric answer to the unprovoked aggression.
It seems that some people amongst Zoners have decided to make their own assumptions about
my intentions so far as a diplomat.
I will proceed to clear these up now.
Firstly, I am not bowing to Corsairs in any way. The fact of the matter is certain violent
groups have been basing off the Freeports 5, 9 and Corfu Base for the express purpose of raiding
the Corsair homeworld. This is a gross violation of Freeport policy and cannot be allowed to
continue and is the reason for my announcement for temporary lockdown to non-Zoners. This act
gives us time to negotiate terms with the Corsair Empire in order to maintain Freeports 5, 9
and Corfu base's independence and freedom.
Zoners who actively make our job harder are only making it worse on themselves.
If you think that the Corsair Empire's independent population is causing you grief now,
then do wait until the council allows Open Season on all Zoners in their Zone of Influence.
No amount of Self-righteous ideals and defiant chest-pounding will justify the loss of life.
Omicron Theta and Omega-41 are a mere jump away from the heart of one of the most
powerful piracy based civilisations in Sirius, who have a base population, ship count and
combat experience many times our own.
We need to get real.
We also need to understand that we cannot allow visitors to abuse our bases for their own ends.
If those who seek to fight want to preserve Zoner freedom then I implore those Zoners to help
the Freeport administrators ensure that the lockdowns are enforced. Violators will
face consequences whether they be Hessain, Outcast, Corsair or any other. The Freeports must
remain closed until we conclude negotiations.
Lastly, if there do exist Corsairs who operate outside of the Council and attack Zoners without
provocation, then do please report them to me so that we can see to it they are dealt with.
Regards,
Xavier Triton The Trident of Eris, Shasta Orbital Skyhook, Baffin
Quote:Let me say right now that I accept the Corsairs' right to Theta and Omega-41. To think
that these systems, which are a mere jump away from your Empires heart, not to be a part of
Corsair space is illogical.
Your words, Triton. And they sure sound like bowing to the corsairs to me.
The corsair elders have made an ultimatum towards us: Hand over Theta, or... something. Mr. Holliday attempted to coax out the 'or what' from them, but I don't believe that point was ever answered, and the doc seems to have gone quiet. He seems to be the only 'leader' among us who seems to be keeping something of a level head, and I'm eager to hear what he has to say about all of this.
That aside, the corsairs have made an obnoxious demand of us on the grounds that we're providing shelter to their enemies; that those other parties are using our freeports as forward bases from which to refresh themselves before and after raids on Gamma. And yet, the corsairs do the same thing. I often get complaints from ships passing through the Omegas that corsairs, specifically and only corsairs, are using Freeport 1 as a base of operations from which to raid in the Omegas and Bretonia.
Sometimes they're even so bold as to pirate or get in fights in the vicinity of the station, right in front of us. These are not corsair terrorists; they do not bear any markings that you don't find on every other corsair ship. They are just regular members of their rank and file, blatantly ignoring the rules of our hospitality, often in their faction's larger ships.
That is the crux of it. They're whining that the same thing they do, is happening to them. I don't see the BAF pounding on our door demanding that we hand over control of Freeport 1 (though the treaty of Snowdown is certainly something I would like to see us re-visit).
And here you are, Mr. Triton, ready to bend over a barrel before the wishes of the elders. Did you ask any of us? You attempted to make a decision that would have affected Zoners everywhere without anyone's consent but perhaps TAZ's.
How can you be so sure that we wouldn't emerge triumphant from such a conflict. The corsairs have many enemies, and working enemies against each other is supposed to be something we're good at. Even if we can't get them to work together, we can use them to strike or blockade the corsairs on multiple fronts. Between their combat losses and being suddenly cut off from the majority of their food supply, I forsee the conflict working out in our favor rather than theirs.
Such a thing would be easier to coordinate if we had a Council again.
I did not ask for this conflict, but nor will I let any faction walk all over us in the interests of peace.