Good Afternoon, old friends.
My name is Richard Connors, and I have been appointed as the President of the Colonial Republic, by our newly reformed democratic parliament. The old regime, with which you saw form in the response to our war with the Oucasts, has been swept away. No more are we a military dictatorship. Its collapse has been hard to see, even harder to endure. However, rebuilding in the wake of loss is something we have become very experienced at.
The IMG has long been our closest friend in this new sector. Where once we had nothing, we came together in partnership, and prospered side by side. Truthfully, the Colonial Republic owes you more then we can ever repay. I want to assure you, we have never forgotten that fact.
This open letter, is to reaffirm to you, that we have not forgotten all you have done for us. The choices that had to be made means we cannot openly show our friendship - how poor would we be to put you in such danger. Where once our soldiers defended your workers, we became two parts of a single whole, it is regrettable that those days can no longer be. Maybe, in time, they will come again.
To us, you will always be our closest ally. The pacts we signed long ago still have meaning. Call on us, and we will be there for you.
I am told the Military has proposals to use Falkland as a forward operating base - to continue our struggle against the Outcasts. If you need to know more, we can discuss the strategy with Admiral Babchenko.
This frequency will remain open, and code locked, awaiting your encryption passwords. The security is for your protection, so close as you are to King Charles' spies.
Richard Connors
President
- of the -
Colonial Republic
My name is William Johnson and I am the most recently appointed Guild Master. It is a personal pleasure for one of my first actions as a Guild Master to be communicating with the President of a state such as yours.
It is both welcoming and reassuring to hear of the Colonial Republic's continuing support for the Guild and of the Republic's new beginning. The special relationship that the Guild and the Republic enjoy is something that the Guild treasures and something that we will endeavour to continue, especially in these troubled and dangerous times.
In terms of using Falkland as a station to base operations off, the Colonial Republic is granted access for this. We also extend the use of our facilities in Tau-39 for the same purposes, however we ask that you only enter the system through Tau-37, so as to avoid detection by Gallic or Gallic aligned vessels.
With the current situation as it is, our two entities should be more united than ever, rather than being divided by external forces.
I look forward to talking with you in the future President Connors, may our futures be better together.
Thank you, from both the Independent Miner's Guild and from myself.
Good Morning, Guild Master Johnson.
Thank you for your words. While much is changing within the Colonial Republic, and indeed, all around us - the bonds between our nation and your guild remain strong. I intend to see that they never falter.
I intend to cleave to the old treaties between us, as I see no reason to end the Alliance between us that has existed for so long. However, our military deployment in the Tau systems, as always, requires a deft touch. While the system of Tau 23 has the most amount of significance for Gallic mining operations, the movements of the Gallic Navy are confined mostly to Orkney and down into Edinburgh. I am told it is because of the asteroid field that chokes Tau 23, making the movement of their heavy battleships, of which they are so fond of, rather difficult.
Our Tau forces are now shifting to deploy from Falkland base. This provides us the ability to strike outcast sorties heading south - as well as to interdict drug and slave shipping. As you know, slavery is absolutely abhorrent to our nation. In the past, the operating procedure was to interdict and destroy slaving vessels - then have IMG transports from Java Station either move them south to Freeport 6 - so they may be returned to their families - or, to give them sanctuary within the Republic itself. Seeing as the trip would be considerably longer to Coronado than Tau 44, it might not be feasible to transport free'd slaves into Republic care. We don't wish to burden the IMG with more mouths than they can feed - but a solution to this may become needed in the future.
As for our Republic, our economy at the moment is virtually nonexistent. The hard truth is that the Colonial Republic is broke. You have given us a planet that, by all accounts, could very well break the Zoner monopoly on Deuterium, and make the Republic incredibly prosperous. However, Pecos, we have come to find, is a tough world to tame. I don't mean to make any of my words sound of complaint - on the contrary, we now sit on a literal treasure trove. The issue is, we have very little means to extract this commodity while our people are just barely kept from starving.
Our trade ships will soon have clearance to move freely through Houses that were previously closed to us. In order to solve our financial problem, I would like to enter into an arrangement that would allow Colonial Shipping vessels to haul mined IMG mineral ore's. The hope being to stimulate economic trade, and thus alleviate the financial burden on the Republic and its people.
Would the IMG find this arrangement acceptable?
As well, there will be a cause to discuss the future of Planet Pecos. The wealth of Deuterium is not unknown to our neighbors - namely Bretonia and Liberty. Much is being discussed within the Colonial Parliament.
Thank you for your time.
Richard Connors
President
- of the -
Colonial Republic
Transmission Incoming
Encryption level: Alpha
Subject: Coronado
Communications ID: William Johnson - IMG Guild Master
Greetings again President Connors,
Following on from our recent talks, I would like to put forward a formal agreement on the status of Pecos and Coronado in relation to the Colonial Republic and the Independent Miners Guild.
IMG - CR Coronado Charter
Planet Pecos
1. The Independent Miners Guild is in ownership of the entirety of Planet Pecos, including all resources contained within. It has full governing status of the entire planet.
2. The Colonial Republic has limited governing status in relation to the Colonial colonies - New Hope West and New Hope East. The Guild retains overarching ownership of the land used in the colonies and any resources beneath the colonies.
3. 20% of the Deuterium deposits deemed to be of the 'best' quality in relation to other deposits are to be sold to the Republic, with ownership of the mining deposit passing from the Guild to the Republic. The cost of the deposit sales will be determined by relevant Guild and Colonial experts. Eviction or removal of Colonial assets or property from purchased land or resources will require Guild compensation matching the value of the resources or land.
4. The Guild will finance the Republic with appropriate loans and credit for use in the purchase of the Deuterium deposits.
Coronado
1. The Guild recognises an area of Colonial influence in the Coronado system. Guild vessels will obey Colonial laws and directives when within this area.
2. The Republic recognises the Guild's commitment to maintaining the independence of the Coronado system and will not alone take actions to endanger this independence.
3. The Republic recognises an area of Guild influence in the Coronado system. Colonial vessels will obey Guild laws and directives when within this area.
4. The construction of Colonial installations will not occur outside of the recognised area of Colonial influence.
Please see attached data file for relevant established areas: Data Link
The Red Crossed area is the Area of Colonial influence.
The Green Crossed area is Independent space.
The Orange Circled area is the Area of Guild influence.
I hope this is to your satisfaction and I eagerly await your response.
In careful examination of these terms, the Republic Parliament has come to this agreement.
Quote:1. The Independent Miners Guild is in ownership of the entirety of Planet Pecos, including all resources contained within. It has full governing status of the entire planet.
While the Republic will not dispute the ownership of Pecos, every resource that has been mined and extracted by Colonial Mining interest, becomes the property of the Republic. At which point, it can be exported, or used by the Republic.
Quote:2. The Colonial Republic has limited governing status in relation to the Colonial colonies - New Hope West and New Hope East. The Guild retains overarching ownership of the land used in the colonies and any resources beneath the colonies.
The Republic understands that, should situations arise, our departing the Planet Pecos may become necessary. However, in the event that the IMG should seek that the Republic's citizens and mining interests on Pecos be relocated off-world, all mining rights paid for, or in debt, will be re-payed, or the debt zeroed.
Quote:3. 20% of the Deuterium deposits deemed to be of the 'best' quality in relation to other deposits are to be sold to the Republic, with ownership of the mining deposit passing from the Guild to the Republic. The cost of the deposit sales will be determined by relevant Guild and Colonial experts. Eviction or removal of Colonial assets or property from purchased land or resources will require Guild compensation matching the value of the resources or land.
Agreed, as mentioned above.
Quote:4. The Guild will finance the Republic with appropriate loans and credit for use in the purchase of the Deuterium deposits.
As discussed, the Republic agree's to fixed 1% interest loan from IMG, for the Mining Rights of the areas discussed. In one years time, the Republic will examine its financial situation, and, if evaluation found to be positive, the Republic will recompense the IMG for half the total loan, with 30% of export revenue per export shipment of Deuterium, to go to the IMG for the purpose of loan payment.
Quote:1. The Guild recognises an area of Colonial influence in the Coronado system. Guild vessels will obey Colonial laws and directives when within this area.
This area will encompass everything "system north" of the 4th Paralel. This area contains the Planet Yuma, and the Planet Baja.
Quote:2. The Republic recognises the Guild's commitment to maintaining the independence of the Coronado system and will not alone take actions to endanger this independence.
In discussion with the Parliament, we believe the outlaw station known as "Barrier Gate" constitutes a significant threat to the Republic's citizenry. However, in the IMG's interest of keeping Coronado "Independent" - The Republic will take no hostile action against Barrier Gate.
Quote:3. The Republic recognises an area of Guild influence in the Coronado system. Colonial vessels will obey Guild laws and directives when within this area.
The Republic recognizes an exclusion zone around the Planet Pecos, an area of Republic and IMG Interest. While within the exclusion zone, Republic vessels will obey guild laws, except in situations that will compromise the safety of Republic citizens and military personnel.
Quote:4. The construction of Colonial installations will not occur outside of the recognised area of Colonial influence.
Agreed - we would request, that if the IMG wishes to construct stations "system north" of the 4th Paralel, that the Guild contacts The Republic, before doing so, to seek permission.
I believe, that with these articles in place, the IMG and the Colonial Republic can work together to prosper within the Coronado system.
Thank you for your time.
Richard Connors
President
- of the -
Colonial Republic