**** Incoming Transmission ****
From: Johnathan Sanders
To: All Independent Miner Guildsmen/women
Subject: Choices to be made
Encryption: Guild/Internal
Fellow guildmembers,
It is not often that the Guild meets crossroads as the one we are on now. Sirius is rapidly devolving into a fullblown war between all the houses, and I fear we will get swept up into it sooner or later. Kusari and Rheinland have allied against Bretonia and Liberty. While Liberty and Bretonia have the military advantage due to the large standing forces of Liberty, Kusari and Rheinland have the initiative, and likely greater reserves in terms of fuel, and raw materials. A war of attrition favors them.
Thus far we have tried to remain in a neutral posture, denying access to our bases to military craft in conflict areas. This has allowed us to keep our current operations going, albeit hindered by the various embargoes. Yet we are being pulled at from various sides.
Bretonia has requested to meet with us and various other parties at Gran Canaria. Likely they will ask for our direct support in the ongoing conflict with Rheinland, citing our recent struggle with the partwise annexation of Omega 7 by Daumann. Additionally, the Red Hessians have requested the Guild to voice a direct, open support to their cause, basically to endorse their legitimacy within the house. They have not requested military aid however.
The consequences to accepting or declining both requests cannot be underestimated. While I seriously doubt that Bretonia, given their current predicament, will pick a fight with us at this point, having Rheinland annex all of the Omega systems and push their borders out even further will likely result in the end of our mining operations there. Direct support for Rheinland instead would cause us to lose the favor of the Hessians, and Bretonia. It will gain us nothing however. Rheinland does not have a history of thanking allies for their support.
Supporting the Hessians politically rather then militarily could still result in the entire guild being barred from Rheinland. Although I am uncertain if they would go that far, given that their own war on two fronts requires a vast amount of resources, not all of which they can obtain easily. The Hessians have always looked favorably upon us, and have come to our aid when Rheinland started to take military action against Freistadt. Rheinland authorities long since knows the Guild and the Hessians share at least sympathies for eachother. Giving those sympathies an official voice however, could cause the Rheinland authorities to label us rebels in league with them.
A third option is to try and broker a ceasefire, and ultimately some kind of accord between Bretonia and Rheinland. Given that Liberty and Kusari have also gotten involved, this option has become very difficult. Kusari and Liberty might not appreciate this option, as it robs them of a flank to strike at their own enemies. The lines between the houses are blurring. However, we do have a friend in both Rheinland and Bretonia: Our partners, ALG and Gateway, respectively.
I know many of you have roots in Bretonia and Rheinland respectively. This is no decision a single man should make within the Guild. I thus put it to a vote. Any guildsmen, core guild or secondary, please make the following choices known, and optionally, motivate your choice.
* Military support for: Bretonia / Rheinland / Neither (remain neutral)
* Political support for the Red Hessian cause: Yes / No
* Attempt at brokering a ceasefire and diplomatic resolve of the conflict: Yes / No
In a weeks time, the votes shall be tallied and opinions weighed. Until then we shall try and maintain a neutral attitude to all parties involved, and stay out of the fighting.
Regards,
- Johnathan Sanders, Guildmaster of the Independent Miners Guild
**** Transmission Closed, Channel Open ****
// Anyone with any IMG (not just IMG|) character is free to vote on the issue
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
