Copernicus to Leadership of Liberty

[Baltar]

*** INCOMING TRANSMISSION ***

Transmission FROM: Shannon Conry, Captain of the Copernicus
Transmission TO: Leadership of Liberty
Subject: My Plight

Ladies and Gentlemen of Liberty,

I appeal to your mercy. Junkers bases and Junker vessels are under constant attack these days.

Yanagi Depot in Sigma 13 constantly have to ward off Bounty Hunters who tend to get a bit over zealous in their hunting. True, these hunters are seeking pirates. But all to often they loose control of their guns and attack Junkers. As you may know, the jump hole to New Berlin is quite close to Yanagi (within 10k). The traffic can be quite high while we attempt to collect our scrap metals. Traders moving about ... pirates attacking the traders ... hunters attacking the pirates ... and we Junkers happen to be in the middle of it all.

Rochester Base in New York is beginning to see frequent Xeno activity. They habitually enter from the Colorado jump hole and strike Rochester and visiting trade vessels. Bounty Hunters are there quite often as well. And as it happens we end up in the middle of the fight between hunters and Xenos.

Because of these developments I appealed to various investors to procure my vessel, Copernicus, in order to protect Junker bases and Junker vessels. The Copernicus was originally a Red Hessian Cruiser found adrift in Omega 15. We salvaged this vessel, refurbished it to operational capability. With my limited funds provided by my investors I was forced to use substandard plating for the hull repairs. Additionally, my power plant is one more suited for a gunboat than a cruiser. Non-the-less, she is a modest deterrent to those wishing to harm we Junkers.

My purpose, ladies and gentlemen, is simple. Protect Junker bases and Junker pilots. To maintain neutrality, I do not aide smugglers nor do I hunt them down. I do not protect traders nor do I protect them from piracy. My only concern is for the safety of Junkers.

My mission has a second order affect. Xenos are enemy to we Junkers. They habitually attack Rochester and our ships. Look at the Copernicus as a deterrent to your Xeno problem.

As for Bounty Hunters ... so long as they are do not raise hands against Junkers ... I will ignore them.

My ZoI is the 15k circle surrounding any Junker base. This is where we do most of our collecting of scrap metals. ZoI also extends to a Junker pilot in trouble ... but only to the immediate area of that Junker. Any Junker smuggling is on his own if detected by authorities ... at the same time ... I'm not going to report him if he slips past you ... this is part of my neutrality.

Consider the 15k area surrounding Junker bases as no fire zones. There are no fire zones surrounding Zoner and Freeport bases. I think its about time we have them around Junker bases as well.

What say you?

May I have peace with your people? May I operate for the protection of my people?

Shannon Conry,
Captain of the Copernicus

// Please disregard for role play the name "Rheinland Pirate Cruiser" ... I've requested Igiss change this to "Junker Cruiser" since it is built and sold on Bornholm (Junker base in Omega 15) //

// EDIT: Corrected "California jump hole" to read "Colorado jump hole" //

[Spear]

Com ID: Capt. William Peters, Commander [LN]-LNS-Retribution

Transmitted to: Captain Conry
CC: LN High Vommand

Captain Conry, I note your application with interest. May I suggest this is the path you should have taken in the first place. Instead of your initial actions which resulted in this incident.

Chosing to ignore a request from a LN officer was a serious error of judgement, when it would have been far more simple to follow the instruction given then pursue this by diplomatic means. As to your ban in Liberty I have no personal exception to this being lifted as long as LN High Command approve your request.

Regards Captain W.Peters
Commander [LN]-LNS-Retribution

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=LSF=

[Baltar]

Transmission FROM: Shannon Conry, Captain of the Copernicus
Transmission TO: Capt. William Peters, Commander [LN]-LNS-Retribution

Thank you sir,

I appreciate your comments. As I was unaware of the law until after the fact ... all I can do is plead ignorant of the law. While this may not be an acceptable defense I honestly did not intend to stir up trouble within Liberty.

Respectfully,
Capt Conry

[Hawk]

*****Incoming Transmission****
*****From: Captain Jack Crow of the vessel Crow's Nest*****
*****Subj: Anti-Junker Politics*****

This is just more of the same anti Junker sentiment I have been experiencing in Liberty lately. My own ship was attacked by Xenos and when I tried to report it to the Navy, I was told to shut up. Rather than dispatch ships to deal with the Xenos, the ranking Navy officer dispatched ships to "make" me shut up. Fortunately I'm not that easy to find. Why is it that pirates and Xenos are bad, but if they attack Junkers he Navy just doesn't care?

Crow out


*****end transmission*****

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