QCP to the COZ

[Dab]

Incoming Transmission
Comm ID: Aurelia Silvan
Recipient: Andrew Stuart

Now I have had to catch up on these negotiations in a hurry, so if I have forgotten to respond to any part of your proposal, please point it out to me.

First, the matter of the use of the jump hole between Omega-49 and Dublin. Considering Dublin is sovereign Bretonian territory, we cannot do anything on the Dublin side of that hole. Furthermore, it isn't the Zoner's responsibility to protect Bretonia's borders, it is the responsibility of that house's armed forces. On top of that, the jump hole is also used by a group of native Bretonians, the Mollys, who regularly keep the Corsairs out on their own. As a result, most Corsairs enter Bretonia via Cambridge from Omega-3 and Omega-5, not our jump hole. Also, if Bretonia wishes such an arrangement, then it is they who needs to contact us and discuss it, and offer us something in return. Lastly, we cannot negotiate this matter with yourself. Since Bretonia has branded you and your pilots traitors to the crown, we cannot discuss anything related to Bretonia's security with you. This is not our choice, but a required evil brought about by your own status with the Bretonian government.

We also will not offer any monetary compensation to Bretonia when Corsairs pass into Dublin through Omega-49. For one, it isn't something that can be adequately policed. Furthermore such an agreement would be extremely easy to abuse and manipulate, using old evidence from before the agreement, or using doctored evidence to illegally obtain money they are not entitled to. And again, protecting Bretonia's borders isn't our responsibility, nor are we to blame when others enter. If the Zoners were to not exist in Omega-49, the Corsair threat from there wouldn't cease to exist, it'd be just as bad as usual. Worse, in fact, as they would have full control of this system and use it to launch full attacks, rather than small raids.

It is true that a portion of the population on Gran Canaria is Corsair, but the Corsairs residing on Gran Canaria are innocent civilians. Noncombatants who never have and never will enter into battle with Bretonia. Most of them came to Gran Canaria to find a home where they wouldn't be at risk of starving to death. We accepted those people for the same reason we allow the growing number of Bretonian refugees on Gran Canaria. So that they may have a safe and free place to live.

We are already in negotiations with the government of Bretonia, so debating anything related to Bretonia and Zoner relations in these negotiations would be a moot point. Bretonia asked for the things it wanted, and if they didn't ask for what you are asking, than they obviously didn't want it. That's as far as it can go on our end.


On the topic of No-Fire Zones, we will not award the Privateers any special conditions. You will be subject to all Zoner No-Fire Zones, just as the Corsairs are. Attack them in Omega-49 if you wish to, but within five K of Lanzarote or Gran Canaria, you will obey the No-Fire Zones. This is for the safety of Zoner bases and the population living on Gran Canaria's surface, which happens to include a sizable number of Bretonian refugees. They have no way to stop stray shots that may enter the planet's atmosphere and hit their settlement. Unless you wish to be party to the murder, even indirect murder, of thousands of Bretonian citizens, I suggest you abide by the laws we have set in place. If the Corsairs follow these laws, than you surely can.

-Aurelia Silvan

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