TO: BAF| H.Q.; SUBJ: Freelancing Gunboat Inquiry

[GrnRaptor]

****INCOMING TRANSMISSION****

COMM ID: Admiral Alan Polstari
TARGET ID: Bretonian Armed Forces Command HQ
SUBJECT: Freelancing Gunboat Inquiry
ENCRYPTION: Low
PRIORITY: Medium

Greetings, gentlemen.

I ran into a curious sight over Planet Manhattan earlier today, and I wanted to get your take on the matter. Please take a moment to read the attached read only report on the matter.

Document Link: ***READ ONLY***

While gunboats are not illegal in Liberty, it concerned me that three of your vessels would somehow find their way into the hands Freelancers, especially when I'm aware that you need every vessel you can at the Leeds front. I talked briefly with them after they assisted with the destruction of a Scylla class vessel which had attacked them near Manhattan. They claim to have permission to operate these vessels from the captain of the "Trebuchet", though whether they meant of your Primary or Secondary fleet I'm not sure. What I want to know is if their claims to ownership are legimitate, and whether you wish to reclaim them if not.

Admiral Polstari, signing off.

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[andreo009]

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ID: Jeff Bloom
Encryption: Stable | Medium grade
Priority: Medium
Subject: Re: Freelancing Gunboat Inquiry

Greetings Admiral Polastri,

Let me cut straight to the chase as some Libertonians would say.
These ships are valuable to us and we want them back. If their supply or docking location is known to you. Then we advise you send in a commando unit to secure these ships and arrest the crew. They were indeed given permission to fly these ships. But obviously not under non-certified papers.

If you cannot spare resources then we will send some of our own on the first convoy of the Merchant Navy bound for Liberty. We trust that you will guide them in the corresponding direction. However be advised that this will give them a bigger window of opportunity to commit illegal activity in your region.

Should you be unsuccesful in arresting the crews or stopping the ships. Then you have our permission to terminate them and duely inform us of the outcome so that any survivers will not be able to escape or remain undetected in both Bretonia and Liberty.
Yet, upon succes and transfer of the prisoners you may keep one of the gunboats.
Please use them under the same conditions agreed upon by Admiral Piett and Commander Winterfield. It is but a humble token of our gratitude in these hard times and hopefully a welcome addition to your already sharp-eyed house forces.

I thank you and your officers for promptly bringing this information to our attention. I hope that you find this course of action agreeable.

Kind regards to you Admiral.

For the Armed Forces Admiralty Board

Commodore Jeff Bloom

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BAF|MN ---- Her majesty's Bretonian Merchant Navy

[wlr]

Message intercepted.....


Message reply:
This is the Captain of one of the aforementioned Gunboats.

Legally as Freelancers and free Citizens of Bretonia we have the right to buy and pilot
these vessels.

Until such a time as the law of the land is changed, and I as a Freelancer are not within my rights, to purchase and pilot a Gunboat, any attack on
our craft will be seen as unlawful and unjust.

All three ships were bought legally at Southampton Shipyard, they were a
batch of vessels with irreparably damaged power cores. The shipyard was
happy to take the premium price for three damaged craft.

Talk to Southampton if you have a problem with them selling your cast off damaged vessels.
If I had purchased one of your VHF's as a Freelancer I can bet I would not be receiving these unlawful threats.

So to sum up. We are a very lawful group of pilots and have already explained as such to the BAF that have enquired as to our nature and intentions.
We are not the sort of chaps to bust into Kusari or any other area where we would cause conflict due to the vessels at our command.

We have already come to the aid of Bretonia, destroying a Valor Battleship and it's gunboat escort. We have also aided Liberty destroying the Destroyer mentioned above. I hope you will not see us as a threat but more as, helpful free Citizens. Like a friendly neighbourhood watch.

I will be contacting my member of Parliament about the illegal sanctioning if lethal force towards three law abiding Citizens of Bretonia.

[Th3Nu773r]

I am also the captain of one of the aforementioned Gunboats purchased legally at Southampton shipyard.

I feel very "put upon" by this threat of force for what i can only put down to as a simple "administrative" mistake on you're behalves.

Any attack on me or my ship can only be taken as an act of aggression upon a free citizen of sirius going about his daily life within the law and will surely not be looked upon as lawful by any free citizen of Sirius.

I would suggest you firstly check your sales logs with your shipyard manager at Southampton to confirm our "legal" purchases of the aforementioned gunboats. Secondly an apology for "slanderous" insinuations of our characters would be only polite from such a large well thought off institution. Thirdly we would like to undertake our ability to travel freely and without hindrance through Liberty and Bretonia as per our rights as free lawful citizens allows.


If there is any attack or attempted attack on any member of our gathering by either of the above parties and i will make sure this information regarding the threat of lethal force on a lawful freelancer citizen by Bretonia and Liberty Forces with no grounds or justification becomes public knowledge throughout Sirius faster than you can say "Jingle Jangle".

Thank you
FREELANCER - Lawful Sirius Citizen

Transmission end........................

[andreo009]

....Incoming Transmission....
...Opening Channel...
..Streaming..
.Decrypting.

ID: Jeff Bloom
Encryption: Stable | Medium grade
Priority: Medium
Subject: Re: Freelancing Gunboat Inquiry

Well well it seems that our Freelancers have found a way to use our tools.
Not to worry though lads since the knife cuts at both edges, we will have your location soon confirmed by two intelligence agencies...

But before that happens, I'll induldge you with a small chat? First of all these gunboats belong to the House of Bretonia and the to her Majesty the Queen herself. She may assign shipcaptains as she sees fits. This then applies to you as well.

Therefore, flying these ships without proper credentials simply does not do. They are not for sale either and personally I do not accept your low jab at the Southampton personell either. Thus you will receive no such thing as an apology.

Yet there is ... hope for you. If what you say is true and you are this concerned about Bretonia and Liberty's defence then I will give you an opportunity. One that will allow you to redeem yourselves and keep your gunboats... for a long while to come. Do not be prejudiced, I will give you a righteous offer. Will you take it? or rather face the backhand?

If you do: Send me a private message with 'Jingle... Jangle' in the header containing your S.K.Y.P.E. protocols for further communication and details.

If you do wish to save, begin with thyself.

I look forward to your replies but do hurry! One never know who might impersonate you on this... "Stable and encrypted" frequency.

For the Armed Forces Admiralty Board

Commodore Jeff Bloom

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// forum admin: it's ok they're new, going to try and point them into the right direction...

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BAF|MN ---- Her majesty's Bretonian Merchant Navy

[Th3Nu773r]

// You might want to check join dates before assume we are new.... Check the join date for WLR as an example.... as for myself... this is my second account on Discovery as my first was removed due to not being used for a few years as real life got in the way of my gaming life.... I first joined in 2007. Also Is it your duty to "put us in the right direction"... i.e. are you a moderator?

"flying these ships without proper credentials simply does not do" So freelancers are not allowed to fly gunships/boats?

The fact that we were able to purchase the ships without hinder or questioning at your shipyard surely points towards this being an internal issue you need to resolve. Have you spoken to your shipyard manager regarding this yet.... or is this all speculation on your part?

Also i wish to stay a sirius citizen and not be tarnished with any other ID than freelancer. i will not be supplying you with my S.K.Y.P.E protocols as these are private. unlike your methods of communications.


//p.s. the correct English is "The knife cuts both ways". - Just saying. Thanks

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[andreo009]

....Incoming Transmission....
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.Decrypting.

ID: Jeff Bloom
Encryption: Stable | Medium grade
Priority: Medium
Subject: Re: Freelancing Gunboat Inquiry

Ah! Thank you for your prompt reply.

To answer your question: No, as a sirian citizen you do not have the right to purchase or obtain such military hardware from our shipyards. And bounty hunters you will say now? Even they have a code and are a bit more forthcoming with details and trust then you have been. That is the name of the game gentlemen.

(((SRAMBLED|ENCRYPTED)))
Admiral,
Shall we proceed?
(((UNSCRAMBLED|DECRYPTED)))

I would like to educate you further but I'm afraid from this point on it's going to have to be all stick. Besides you are having visitors as we speak and I have a feeling we will be having some face-to-face time soon.

Goodnight

For the Armed Forces Admiralty Board

Commodore Jeff Bloom

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BAF|MN ---- Her majesty's Bretonian Merchant Navy

[Th3Nu773r]

Sir i find your lack of what i would consider reasonable and simple answers a little tiring... however i will continue....

Quote "To answer your question: No, as a sirian citizen you do not have the right to purchase or obtain such military hardware from our shipyards." - Then good sir how do you explain our ability to own not 1 or 2 but 3 of the aforementioned Gunboat vessels other than following the law of Sirius which states quote -
"Pilot carrying this ID is a Freelancer, who:
Can fulfill bounty contract and escort other vessels.
May not engage in piracy outside of a posted bounty contract.
May treat trade vessels as combat targets in pursuit of a bounty contract.
Cannot use any transports with more than 3,600 cargo.
Allowed ships: Fighters, Bombers, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats"


I also am unable to find anywhere on the ships info card, which i assume is kept upto date by yourselves, (If not then by who?)...... where it states that i am unable to purchase it. e.g. "RESTRICTED TO" #### only, or "NOT ALLOWED TO PURCHASE UNLESS"......for ref: http://discoverygc.com/wiki/Bretonia_Gunboat

As i had stated previously, no info was offered regarding "restrictions" or otherwise, to us by your shipyard manager who was more than happy to allow us to part with $44m+ credits before waving us off on our merry way with a smile from ear to ear...... with 3 of your vessels which i reiterate all have irreparably damaged power cores......oh and also, you do seem to have a very annoying habit of assuming things. Quote - "And bounty hunters you will say now?" to address your assumption ...i have already stipulated in my previous communication... let me quote just to clarify "Also i wish to stay a sirius citizen and not be tarnished with any other ID than freelancer."

Yours
FREELANCER - Lawful Sirius Citizen

[Thunderer]

- Incoming Transmission -

-= Medium Encryption =-

Priority: Medium
To: Everyone in This Frequency
From: Admiral George Richard Hall
Location: H.M.S. Ark Royal, Newcastle System
Subject: Reply

George's somber grimace, masterly coordinated between his chin, his lips, his eyes, and his eyebrows, shows well how angry, annoyed, hateful, and yet careless and coldblooded he is. The closest thing to his face would be a dark, hollow crater on a planet made of liquid nitrogen, if craters could be formed in liquid nitrogen, and if there was a planet made of it. He's put a lot of effort and practice in making such faces. Also in buying lots of new mirrors.

"I am lately encountering increasing numbers of pesky buffoons like you, performing their completely tedious, sometimes even annoying jests. You, freelancer, whatever your name is, annoy me.
You and your men have stolen Her Majesty's gunboats, hacked into our private transmission, and you didn't even provide us your name. We had a plan to appoint you as Her Majesty's Privateers, but this arrogance, this... this outrageous impudence can not go without punishment!
I was in the Trebuchet and I ordered you to send us a transmission over neural net as soon as possible, concerning legalization of your vessels, or to join us. There was a battle in Leeds, and you were not a priority. I did not authorize you to fly the vessels outside Bretonia, nor to call them your own, and let alone to hack into our private transmission.
Those laws you quote are not familiar to me. If they truly exist, they are not a part of the Bretonian Charter of Interstellar Law."

A cold, dramatic pause, obviously intentional. If all the shouting and frowning didn't, this should bring his victim the right and complete message. If not, it would just cause a minor psychological disorder, but George would be content with both.
Now he slightly reduced the grimace and tried to make a forced courteous look. It was more forced than courteous, though. His voice would have more success if his face wasn't visible.

"Liberty, you may freely execute the presented operation."

No, not even a "good bye". George was too important for that. At least as he thought.

- Message Over -

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Bretonian Treaty Database Bretonian Armed Forces Recruitment Center
Bretonian Charter of Interstellar Law Bretonian Secrets Act

[GrnRaptor]

****INCOMING TRANSMISSION****

COMM ID: Admiral Alan Polstari
TARGET ID: Bretonian Armed Forces Command HQ, Unnamed Freelancers
SUBJECT: Freelancing Gunboat Inquiry
ENCRYPTION: Medium
PRIORITY: Medium

Greetings, gentlemen.

I must say, I wasn't expecting such a dust up over this matter. Let's see if we can settle this amiably though.

Unnamed freelancers, you appear to be missing a certain point of understanding with respect to this matter. No one questions the right of Freelancers to lawfully operate vessels of Gunship class. In fact, there are several such vessels persons such as yourselves might consider using such as the T-833-GB "Ahoudori" Kusari Explorer, the "Conference" Zoner Gunboat, or the Civilian Gunboat I've heard due out on the market in the near future.

I also am unable to find anywhere on the ships info card, which i assume is kept upto date by yourselves, (If not then by who?)...... where it states that i am unable to purchase it. e.g. "RESTRICTED TO" #### only, or "NOT ALLOWED TO PURCHASE UNLESS"......for ref: http://discoverygc.com/wiki/Bretonia_Gunboat

Very nice of you to provide the information which I will now exposit to you. You appear to have missed where it said this vessel was produced by the Bretonian Royal Navy. It is therefore a Bretonian warship, which means it is intended for Bretonian Armed Forces or Bretonia Police Authority use unless otherwise authorized; and it appears that the BAF have issue with its authorization.

I am therefore giving a 24 hour period where in you may return these vessels to Bretonian control and obtain a civilian craft while you consider your future purchasing options. After this period expires, and if no evidence is brought to bear that you've complied with this demand, I will authorize elements of the Bretonian Armed Forces to enter Libertonian space to seize your vessels by force if need be. Needless to say you will find Liberty most inhospitable when this occurs. For your own well being, I urge you to comply with this directive.

Admiral Polstari, signing off.

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