Freeport 9 Public Announcement

[Howard10]

To: James Ferguson, Omicroners; Yevan Pushkin et al; Freeport 9 population.
From: Howard Lovecrepe, Tau 37, Freeport 10. (Dromedary freighter 'Cthulhu'.)
CC: Actions regarding Freeport 9.
Sirius Security Encryption Rating: [color=#FFCC33]Average.

-TEXT FORMAT INBOUND-

Primarily to Mr Ferguson, Mr Pushkin.

I am sorry, but I see nothing here but foolishness and short-sighted politicking, from both sides. Especially from ours, not just the Corsairs. You claim that Omicron Theta has always belonged to us Zoners, but show some tact, man! As a people, Zoners have only existed for about 150 years, freeport 9 a lot less than that. The Corsairs have been in that space for almost 800 years. By merit of the argument of someone 'always' owning something, I'm afraid we fall rather short. Now you are doing nothing less than aggrevating an incredibly touchy and hostile military nation, led by junta that would be quite at home scattering your void-burned bodies across the solar system.

I am a realist. I can see this situation from an outside perspective, and all I can see is a select few aboard that forsaken station have condemned rather a lot of people to death. Why does Theta matter to us? Simply put, it doesn't. We don't have territorial claims outside Omicron 74 and Omega 49. We have stations. The stations are what are important, and up until now, the Corsairs didn't want those stations! All of you, think about what you are doing! The station has only just been repaired to functional levels! The biodomes that your organisation destroyed, Mr Ferguson, have only just been replaced! Residents that fled in fear have only just begun to return!

Freeport 9 is not an indestructible bastion. The Corsairs will rend it apart if they wish it. Freeport 1 may have suffered their displeasure in the past, but there is one major difference between '1 and '9: '9 happens to be one jump - right on the doorstep of - the Corsair home system. To phrase it differently, that is the marshalling ground and rally point of every. One. Of. Their. Fleets. You talk about supply lines and deployments that their enemies could take advantage of, but I really fail to see how. To attack '9 they would not have to pass through any hostile territory at all. Skiros Shipyard is a mere 10k from the Theta jumphole for goodness sake!

May I ask what the use of denying docking rights to the Corsairs is, after hostilities have died down? The skirmishes that occurred between the Corsairs and coalition forces last time were a fire that burned the Omicrons. Then you wait until they have died down to smouldering embers before you stoke them up to an inferno with bellows and petrol? Your actions are senseless, whatever the militants who think they can win some sort of crusade against the Cretians say. Swallow your pride, or you'll asphyxiate on it.

I have already taken news of this to Freeport 10 Station Hall. They'll decide what the station's stance on this debacle is. I'll be setting course to the station myself imminently, with a supply of water, which you'll no doubt need when the Omicroners once again blow the biodomes off and consequently the water purifiers located within. On my return, I'll carry all and any residents who wish to migrate to Freeports 10 or 6 for safer, saner prospects. If you wish to contest any of my points, fellow Zoners, please do so.

Yours incredulously.
~Howard Lovecrepe