FAO: Liberty/Bretonian Governments; Permission request for private activities

[Mere_Mortal]

INCOMING TRANSMISSION

THIS TRANSMISSION IS SOLELY FOR THE ATTENTION OF LIBERTY AND BRETONIA HIGH COMMAND

Sender: James Spencer
Location: Curucao, Cortez
Subject: LPI hostility towards BAF/BIS

Good day, Liberty.

My name is James Spencer, a loyal and long-standing reservist for the Bretonia Armed Forces. I have recently taken up a reserve position in the Bretonia Intelligence Services, too. Army work is pretty straight-forward to consider, intelligence not so much. Essentially, the objectives of my mission for the intelligence service remains entirely a Bretonian matter at this time, although what I can say is that it has absolutely no detrimental effect upon the security of the Liberty state. My presence in Liberty does not come with any attempt to circumvent such.

While I am not operational in Bretonia or otherwise, I am flying under the identification of a Freelancer. My personal work involves running escorts, bounty contracts and missions from the stations for military and corporations alike.

I am being told in no uncertain terms by LPI that my BAF transponder must go if I am to enter Liberty, and they are making it all the more clear because it has changed to BIS. Essentially, they are telling me I will be shot down. In other words, they are openly acknowledging that they will engage what is a friendly-neutral entity simply for being under their employ. Just because I am enlisted with a foreign military, does not mean I am currently operating on their behalf. They're telling me that I either need to drop my transponder or fly a different ship with a non-military transponder. Flying a different ship is not suitable because it is my primary ship. Moreover, it is a civilian-class vessel and load-out. For the record, I am flying a Scarab-class transport which has the power of a light gunboat; that is not exactly a warship.

I see absolutely nothing at all in the Liberty Laws which proscribe people from flying with a non-hostile transponder. If it's of an enemy, that's a no-brainer. Ultimately, my primary identification while operating civilly is that of a private freelance, and that's what matters. I'm actually doing nothing wrong, unless maintaining an active, foreign military transponder is, while undeclared, actually illegal - that would be news to me. If my presence alone is tantamount to being a spy simply because I work for an intelligence agency, then it makes not a blind bit of difference which transponder I use - in fact, I'm actually being honest by displaying it in the first place, as I could hide my intentions were they to be malicious, which they're not. I'm a detective, and everywhere I go, whether I'm on duty or not, I'm naturally always looking for evidence of crimes against the civil people of our nations - I certainly have no reason whatsoever to be looking for anything against the Liberty state, and nor shall I. I'm a researcher and my operational parameters shall always be lawful.

As said, my personal endeavour whilst in friendly space is that of being a trader, escort and bounty hunter. Booting me out of Liberty simply for flashing as Bret service is a sure-fire to lose friends. I'm not dropping my transponder while I could be called into action in Bretonia or enemy territory at any time, simple as that.

I hope that we can come to an arrangement which will allow me to pursue my personal freelance work within Liberty Space. What you have from me is a guarantee that my military tasks shall not cross our civil border, that stays at home or in a conflict zone. I'm called into action, off I go to put my uniform on. As always, my military card will be in my pocket, everywhere I go.

With Kind Regards,

Spencer


TRANSMISSION TERMINATED