QCP to the COZ

[bluntpencil2001]

You have offered us nothing. Nothing at all. You don't seem to know how negotiations are working, ma'am.

You want something from us, namely peace. We will only be prepared to give it to you should we receive something in turn.

Now, as I've stated before, we are utterly separate from the Bretonian Government. However, we believe they're doing an awful job. Therefore, we want you to make them offers which I have written. I know I'm not responsible for Dublin, but, frankly, I don't care. You can deny Corsairs usage of a jumphole in your territory, and if they are innocent civilians, as you claim (but which I do not believe, unfortunately), they will happily go along with this.

Effectively, I am telling the Zoners to give an uncle of mine a gift, because, although I think he's a jackass, he's family, and it's his birthday. Now, I can't just go and buy this gift, I have to take it by force, because that's, unfortunately, all I've ever known. Now, apologies for the weak metaphors, let me continue...

Now, should other Corsairs come in via the deep Omegas and use said backdoor entrance to say, enact a nuclear holocaust, violate sovereign borders or engage in piracy, as has happened in the past, they should be considered in technical breach of Freeport regulations.

Let me explain: Corsair A, let's call him 'Sanchez', is a peaceful individual living on Gran Canaria, as odd as this may sound. Corsair B, let's call him 'Juan', is a Corsair pirate, active in the Omegas.

Omega 49 is sovereign Zoner territory, as you claim. Sanchez lives here, and often flies around, smoking those little roll-ups and wearing a sombrero, nice and friendly-like. No problem.

Juan passes through this Zoner territory, using it to enter Dublin and pirate Bretonians after drinking far too much tequila. This should be considered as taking advantage of the Zoner position of neutrality to allow a backdoor entry to a hostile nation.

Now, I would much strongly prefer that you shoot Juan for launching attacks from Zoner space. It would save Bretonia a lot of time and effort. After all, he is launching said attacks from your space, making you much more than a little complicit in the eyes of many Bretonians. This is why we are at odds. I hear that the Zoners complain to my great nation's government about our own attacks on them. Our pathetic Government moved to stop us, limiting our ability to attack you somewhat, arresting some of my men. Of course, I'm more able than that, but that's beyond the point. The Zoners should do the same about people launching attacks from their space.

Now, I have seen drafts of a recent treaty on the neuralnet... it allows for the Bretonian Armed Forces to pursue those that abuse No Fire Zones after certain reports are made. To be honest, this looks like pathetic appeasement to me, but I have to lead by example and show you amateurs how compromise works, it seems.

Now, here is my suggestion. As an addendum to that treaty, say that Corsairs, or others hostile to the Crown (such as the revolutionaries from Omega 52, or the Mollys), who use the Omega-49/Dublin jumpholes, be considered violators of No Fire Zones, able to be fired upon by the Armed Forces in Omega 49, or other No Fire Zones. Other Corsairs or hostiles would retain protection, and could not be fired upon by Bretonian vessels whilst in Omega 49 (the entire system being treated as a No Fire Zone), unless in self defence.

Furthermore, I would demand that assaults on vessels carrying refugees or humanitarian supplies to Port Jackson be considered a Freeport NFZ violation (also a violation if they are fired upon on their return trips).

Also, I would like Bretonians to be given equal rights to Corsairs to colonise on Planet Gran Canaria. Reports from the Port Jackson camp suggest that the Corsairs have colonies on at least one continent, and are not forced to adopt the Zoner credo. If one allows this for one, it makes me wonder why not the other? After all, Bretonian colonists are peaceful civilians like the Corsairs, and can assist in industrialisation projects, as well as perhaps bringing life to desert regions, with Planetform assistance.

Now, I would suggest that you accept these proposals, instead of offering absolutely nothing as you lot have made a habit of doing. Negotiations go both ways, and I've made every effort to be accommodating. Now, I must admit, my patience wears thin with having to offer something for nothing. If no progress is made, and my offer not accepted, I may be forced to go back to our original demands, and send my men back to combat duty.

Yours,

Sir Andrew

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