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LunaticOnTheGrass · 02-26-2024, 05:15 AM,

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Name: Erich Klugmann
Identification: The Platform, Gloaming Flotilla
Encryption access: HIGH
Location: [ERROR]
Subject: Clearing the Air

I hope this finds you well.

My name is Erich Klugmann, addressing you on behalf of the Platform Bundschuh sect. While I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting before, I've been made aware that you and MedForce Enterprises have a positive reputation as mediators. To that end, I'm hoping that you may be able to see where my compatriots and I are "coming from" regarding the following matter. I will have to speak at length regarding both history, political ideology, and how our intentions intertwine with both, so please accept my apologies in advance.

A colleague and I formed "The Platform" after our return to the Bundschuh around three to four years ago, just after the ebbing of active, medium-level resistance on Erie's and Pennsylvania's part against the Republic of Liberty. For my own part, I've totaled over a decade's time fighting on behalf of the Bundschuh in general, and The Platform differs from prior sects by finding fault in the authoritarianism inherent in the Nation-State as a whole. We are not content, as a whole, in simply attempting to "revive" the Federal Republic of Rheinland only to find it regressing into a socially regressive stratrocracy after ten or fewer years; rather, we espouse a desire to carve out a "new" by Sirian standards system of anti-capitalistic, anti-authoritarian self-governance, and to offer an alternative means of fighting back against House governments and corporations. As Sirian frontiers grow ever more populated and contested, we have thus sought to expand our ability to project forces farther from Rheinland to the likes of Southern Liberty and the Sigmas, to both promote Zoner self-governance and to offer the many ex-Zoners that have signed on with us a cause to rally around. That is to say, the freedoms of all peoples, no matter their nationality or what banner they were born under. There is vastly more I could elaborate on regarding this, but for brevity's sake I'll get to the point of my contacting you.

As you may also know, the Bundschuh have long been the "least" of Rheinland's powers in regards to ship caliber and combatant number; we've thus relied on keeping our bases and stations quiet, well-patrolled, and safe from potential threats, because we have never yet been properly equipped for "pitched battle" as the Hessians or Rheinland State have. To that end, I would like to introduce you to the crux of our matter at hand; a modular station named Norddorf Refinery, within the nebula and asteroid field of the same name, bearing Zoner IFF.

We believe it was constructed sometime in January, a mere eight klicks from our own holding in the Norddorf, Bielefeld. The latter is vitally important to us, as it is built on the frame of a several-centuries-old Kruger gas miner that allows us to refine our own H-fuel; it also serves as our primary rally point to attempt to conduct hit-and-fade strikes against both the Corsairs and government forces in-system. I will attach an archived copy of my correspondence with the Administrator of Norddorf Refinery below.

Attachment (Archived Neural Net Transmission)

Much of our initial irritation with the station was that the Administration had in no way considered contacting the Bundschuh for approval of a modular station literally inside our territory, nor is the claim that they were not aware of Bielefeld's presence a viable excuse: assuming much of their supply comes from Freeport Eight, flying to the Refinery in a straight line from Eight would take one within visual sight of Bielefeld. That said, they were initially cooperative, opening the base up for inspection and elaborated openly about whom they were permitting to dock there.

In the conflict between the Houses stemming from the Hispania, the Bundschuh and particularly the Platform strongly oppose the depredations of both Malta and Crete. After having personally witnessed Maltese capital ships using the Refinery as a docking point, my correspondence shows that the Refinery's administration was unwilling to budge whatsoever on not permitting Maltese assets from freely docking there, out of a claimed fear of retaliation. Assuming they were telling the truth about the origins of their still-unnamed "group" of Zoners--Something that further statements they've issued and assets they've deployed have brought into question--I can only but speculate that they either believe Malta will help them reclaim Freeport Nine from Crete, or that they've either been formed as a shell corporation or blackmailed organization on Malta's behalf.

Regardless, their stated fear of "potential threats on their doorstep" showed shockingly little empathy for our own territorial integrity, as if they'd determined the Corsairs were on to something when they moved in to an already-occupied area without asking and then set up shop for profit and power. And the veritable armada of Zoner capital ships that they've mustered to defend the Refinery despite their claims of near-poverty and raggedness--Capital ships we personally don't have--Has left our combat pilots and crews all the more incensed and irritated at a group that we shouldn't even have to be fighting in the first place.

As one egregious example: While it's possible they've reached out to Zoners from far afield for defense, and have been very careful not to actively call upon Maltese assets for additional support, the sheer number of crews and ships varying from Q to Aquilon and Bustard that have amassed on our literal doorstep have led a couple Platformers to dub such a thing "Zoner Imperialism". Something that should be an oxymoron, but that is not an inaccurate representation of the reality of the Norddorf nebula at present.

Attachment (Archived Guncam Audio)

The resources and capital they've amassed more than imply that they could have simply moved the station elsewhere or viably defended the Refinery from the armadas the Bundschuh don't have, but they've foregone both options and instead quadrupled down on validating our suspicions and fears about their intentions, claiming vulnerability and helplessness while demonstrating exactly the opposite, and mocking both what had been our own holding for many years as well as the forces we've had to move there to defend it. This particular matter necessitates me summarizing why I've reached out to you for whatever help, mediation, or denunciation you see fit or possible to provide us.

As aforementioned, I believe that both the Bundschuh and Zoners have far more necessary threats to be levying their respective forces against, and while the internal contentiousness of the Bundschuh is perhaps only second to that of the varying Zoner groups and cultures across Sirius; I strongly believe that the onus and responsibility for both accounting for their lack of caution in investment, and for clear duplicity and evasiveness regarding their intentions and status rests firmly in the camp of whichever group speaks on behalf of Norddorf Refinery. The fact a Zoner organization is inviting forces onto our very doorstep without our prior consent is a slap in the face of many Bundschuh who have long reacted in anger at the indignities Zonerkind has experienced over the last decade in particular in places such as Gran Canaria, Freeport Eleven, Nine, and most prominently Erie and Pennsylvania.

In fact, regarding the lattermost of them, many of the crews and pilots who accompanied me from my exile from the Bundschuh amongst the Gloaming Flotilla and New Dawn organization are chomping at the bit to return to Liberty and leverage pressure against its Republic--against both Texas' penal system and Pennsylvania's subjugation of its Zoner population. Norddorf's threat and continued refusal to cooperate with reasonable requests made after it already violated our territory have set the timetable for this back some ways, and instead of going "on the offensive" against Sirius' societal cruelties and wrongs, we've been forced to instead defend ourselves from those who presumably should empathize with what it's like to be invaded and rooted out.

I tell you this in good faith that you too recognize the grievous wrong that Erie has been dealt, and in the hopes that future cooperation on that matter may be possible between us should we make an inroads to Liberty. But until we are able to finally consolidate our resources to help me stay true to the promise I made to Erie's resistance in Eight-Thirty; I sincerely hope that you have suggestions, may consider condemning the administration of Norddorf Refinery, or consider attempting talking down further Zoners from contributing their efforts towards the injustice we've had imposed upon us.

Attachment (Archived Neural Net Transmission)

[New Dawn Communication Stream]

Sender: Erich Klugmann, New Dawn
Origin: GFS New Colossus, Texas
Encryption: High

Recipient: "Silver", Pennsylvania Liberation Front; Zachary Arnold Graham
Subject: RE: "The plan"; RE: RE: Is There Anybody Out There

Good evening,

Thank you for your prompt replies.

I will start with the small amount of good news that I can offer, first. We've now fulfilled all desired resource quotas displayed for each of Pinnacle Outpost's modules save the truly gargantuan amount of Hull Segments still required by all three. By my casual estimate it would take over half-a-dozen Barge-loads of them at least, and I was only able to persuade one of New Dawn's Pitbull-class trains to make about a dozen shipments of them before they balked at how little a dent in the total number they felt they were making alone.

And speaking to that end, unfortunately - New Dawn is effectively defunct as an "organization", now. There was disagreement on whether to stand and fight or to withdraw into portions of space still outside House control, and I've already pushed the "half" of the group's transports and crews that have come with me - Particularly the GFS-Mutual Aid - To the point of exhaustion. For the time being, these last supplies are all that we're currently capable of providing.

With the exception of the aforementioned Pitbull, we'll be migrating the few accumulated assets of ours from Pennsylvania to regroup and reconsolidate in Rheinland; among what remains of the Bundschuh movement, and from there I'll attempt to put on full display how the House Governments and the Nation-State - Liberty, Rheinland, and their very own idealized "moral" Bundesrepublik it had originally created - will always serve as an insurmountable stumbling block to the Freedom of Ideas and Souls that we all presumably crave.

Should that go as desired, we'll be in a better position to discreetly supply you once again. But given the deafening and telling silence by the other prominent Zoner organizations - As well as the inevitable return of much of the on-assignment Liberty Navy's assets to New York and Pennsylvania - I would strongly recommend putting into motion an effort to extradite sympathetic Zoners and to-be-Ex-Libertonians from Erie and Bethlehem to the Liberation Front, the Bundschuh, or other Freeports or Organizations across Sirius as it pleases them. Given that I have some experience in coordinating a similar mass exodus of Planet Nuremberg some years ago, I will offer what aid I can should you agree with this suggestion.

Finally, I will pass along word of your search to Tabitha Marks to what sympathetic parties I can, whether she's still alive or otherwise. Realistically speaking, I do not have high hopes that a capital-oriented resistance effort will be viable for long; the sheer amount of lives of crew and the expenses of upkeep and repair are not in your favor, versus Liberty. I would personally advise fighter and bomber wings over them, but it is your decision to make.

I can only promise that we will return and offer our aid in earnest, in some form. Sometimes, I've found that it may be best to conceal Hope and keep it hidden - For its own safety.

[Stream Terminated]

I will remain available for any questions, comments, or critiques you deem fit to offer, and if nothing else, I hope that I have made clear that Norddorf Refinery's actions do not change the promises that I and the Platform have made and fight for on behalf of both Zonerkind and all SIrians who desire freedom from centralized powers and nation-states.

Erich Klugmann
Gloaming Flotilla

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