To: LibGov, From Bethlehem Station

[Harcourt Fenton Mudd]

Konichiwa, I am Kashiwaba Tomoe, retired Zoner Defence Force exploratory corps commander and newly appointed administrator of Bethlehem Station.

Some several months ago, my exploration flotilla returned to the Sirius sector and, needing something to do while all the ships are refit and repaired, I offered to administer Bethlehem Station.

The various power brokers within the Zoner community agreed.

My contacting you is a tad tardy, and I appologise, but the station has had pressing matters, undesirable elements making trouble and the usual, as well as the never ending flood of paperwork.

With this message, I simply wish to re-establish diplomatic relations between Bethlehem and Liberty, and if we can come to peacefully talk, prehaps re-establishing the old Treaty of Bethlehem in an attempt to calm down some of the more militant Zoners and isolate provocateurs posing as them.


Kashiwaba Tomoe
Administrator, Bethlehem Station

[Harcourt Fenton Mudd]

[Harcourt Fenton Mudd]

[The Republic Of Liberty]

Kashiwaba Tomoe;

You communication has been forwarded to my office via various channels; you will have to forgive the delay in responding to you.

We're familiar with, more recently, the Militant-arm of the Zoners given the not-too-recent history surrounding Planet Erie - of which I shall expand no further, as I'm sure you're aware of the details. I'm reluctant to think a single base administrator posted to Bethlehem holds enough sway amongst your people, but I'll listen to what you have to say, regardless.

- Robert McKay, Secretary of Defense

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[Harcourt Fenton Mudd]

Sender: Kashiwaba Tomoe
Location: Bethlehem Station

Indeed, said militant arm is infact the reason for delay in this correspondence, as there was a need to calm the more.... reactionary... members from reacting in an adverse manner to any hint of diplomatic contact.

Most calmed down, some left to 'go mining', some just left, but things have calmed back down a good bit.

As for the negotiations, I am not infact a single base administrator, I also run Freeport 26 in Galileo, the mobile Freeport 13, and prior to the gallic war I led the old Zoner Defence Force's exploratory corps, albiet the old ZDF went defunct while we were away on our last long duration survey mission.

As for our negotiations, well, that will come in two parts.

To negotiate on the wider behalf of Zoners regarding the planet Erie, Doctor John Holiday is heading into Pennsylvania to assist with talks.

With regards to Bethlehem station and the area around it however, I have been having preliminary talks with Esme Blake of Bristol with an economic plan which we believe will benefit both the Zoners of Bethlehem, the economy of Liberty, and the bottom line of Bristol while making the system safer and more prosperous.


The proposal as such, is to establish an Exclusive Economic Zone around Bethlehem station, we will police our own and keep militants form openly using our facilities to cause trouble.

The rough version discussed with Bristol is as follows:

Bethlehem Station maintains an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), with exclusive rights to:
1. Security matters within the EEZ
2. Installation matters within the EEZ, to include registration and approval.
3. Limited capital-class vessels stationed on Bethlehem Station, and access to the Pennsylvania system for said vessels.
Bristol C&M gains rights to:
1. Waived installation fees within EEZ
2. Expedited reviews for installations within EEZ
Liberty gains rights to:
1. Enter EEZ in pursuit of vessels declared criminal by Liberty law, and provide documentation to Bethlehem station.


-For the purposes of this agreement, the EEZ is defined,
-using the standard Liberty 2D alphanumeric grid map of the system,
-the following grids
-G1, H1
-G2, H2

Furthermore, to ensure the economic prosperity of ALL civilians and corporations within the system:
1. The rights of travel should not be in lost due to the allegation of criminal association
Due process must be employed, as well as a warrant granted by Liberty, Bethlehem Station security, or Bristol security.
2. Persons detained on Erie in connection to recent incidents must be accounted for and given fair trials
All other LPI camp prisoners must be released or convicted within one (1) year
3. Allegations of crimes by LPI should be investigated as rapidly as possible, it is proposed that doctors from MFE, if they are willing, be allowed unfettered access to all holding facilities systemwide so as to check the conditions of imprisonment and health of the individuals, with Liberty agreeing to ensure LPI not block said access. Navy personnel may accompany the inspection teams to ensure they do not breach any security of prisons, as well as to ensure the safety of the medical professionals or to enact the arrest of prison staff if criminal acts are observed.
4. Bethlehem Station must guarantee that all reasonable action to ensure installations in the EEZ are not used to break law within Liberty space.

As a benefit for assisting with the growth of the Pennsylvania system Bristol gains:
1. Docking, restock, and repair fees for Bristol C&M vessels be reduced by 10% of standard cost
2. Bristol C&M is guaranteed 50% of all standard in system freight traffic to Bethlehem Station
3. Bristol C&M guarantees delivery of all material to Bethlehem at 90% standard cost
4. Mutual defense between Bethlehem and Cleveland Station
5. Bristol C&M employees arrested within the EEZ shall be released to Bristol custody for investigation

[Harcourt Fenton Mudd]

[The Republic Of Liberty]

Mister Tomoe;

Any discussions you've had with Esme Blake of Bristol are entirely irrelevant, as is their pertinence to this discussion.

It would be beneficial to the Zoners of both Erie and Bethlehem to bring the militant arm in to line, so I'd strongly advise you continue to pursue this, at all costs.

With regards to all other terms, I am obligated to decline. Liberty Forces, at present, can already exercise full discretion with regards to where they exercise their duty and I certainly won't sign-off on anything that would otherwise prevent this. This might be in and around the immediate vicinity of Bethlehem, Erie or anywhere else in Pennsylvania as it is Liberty sovereign space.

As for exclusivity on installation deployments, the Republic has Laws to this effect and have requirements - these are to be followed by all individuals, organisations and civilians who wish to operate within our systems. So, again, I won't sign off on any immediate changes to our Laws as my sole interest if the safety of our citizens and systems.

Finally, any Zoner Capital-class vessels in system would be in breach of Liberty Law, so I would advise against their deployment. Should your installation fall under attack, or your fellows come under attack, there are frequent Navy and Police patrols that can duly respond to such events. You've the right to deploy all other classification of ships to defend yourself and your people, and Liberty will continue to operate at full discretion to ensure this.

This might come as disappointing news, but you are asking for a great deal, Mister Tomoe, but offer nothing to the benefit of Liberty in return. I'll consider this matter finalized in its entirety, but you're welcome to revise your proposal.

- Robert McKay, Secretary of Defense

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