Scout Report: SKV on TGFT Aggression

Foreword: presumably, SKV declared war on TGFT for placing one of their pilots on our KOS list. As a peaceful guild interested primarily in trading, our KOS list is maintained to warn fellow guild members of pilots that have demonstrated unprovoked aggression. It has since been predesignated as a Known Hostile List, reflecting our primary interest in delivering goods to market.

Captains Log
H.Hornblower

My first contact with SKV occurred in UIT nation space after my trading vessel was abruptly destroyed by an SKV pilot. Fair game given their declaration of war.

Several more of these hostile encounters, along with other events prompted me to leave TGFT so that I could trade unmolested. I was able to do so until while visiting a conquer able station I witnessed an SKV pilot probing TGFT defenses on public channel 444. For this mistake I was labeled a TGFT spy and became a target.

I could argue SKV's perverse definition of spy, criminal, or other mischaracterizations they frequently perpetuate. I could argue their devious tactics and methods: attacking in NO Fire Zones, suiciding into mines laid in direct response to SKV aggression. I will not. That is their game and as heinous and nefarious as it might be-I respect it. Begrudgingly.

What I cannot abide is their masquerading as Itanis. They are most decidedly not Itani-like; in fact they have more in common with the genocidal Sercos of days gone by. My proof is as follows:

Elion the Abbot of Eo flew out to meet thirty Serco Nighthawks in a lone transport to negotiate the release of peaceful Itani explorers.

He told them: "We are a peaceful folk, and desire only to communicate and share with other cultures to the benefit of all".

The Serco eventually destroyed his unarmed vessel and reignited the age old feud. This is the nature of SKV.

this thread is lols and I nearly died of laughter.

Scout Report: SKV on TGFT Aggression

Foreword: Casus belli is a Latin expression meaning "An act or event that provokes or is used to justify war"

Captains Report
H.Hornblower

In the early 21st century Earth, the foremost military power voided a decade old ceasefire and invaded and subsequently occupied a third world nation. Their casus belli: "We know where they [WMD's] are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat." No significant stockpile was ever found and that region of the world was plunged into chaos for the decades to come.

Given that SKV's casus belli against TGFT is muddied with rhetoric and mischaracterizations, I urge the people of Itani to be skeptical before following their advice. The Guild of Free Traders only identifies someone as hostile (KOS) if they first demonstrate hostility or aggression against one of our members.
Point of fact: TGFT does not maintain a KOS list, but rather a Potentially Hostile List(PHL). Meaning a list of individuals that threaten free trade and may be fired on at will or evaded according to each guild members discretion. Consider the trustworthiness of a guild which hides behind an undetermined number of aliases.

In fact, my source inside the UIT Senate reports the Itani government is considering revoking SKV's charter. There are a growing number of Itanis who feel that SKV no longer strives to "find a medium between the pacifism of the order of Eo and the genocide of the order of Akan." This plurality feels SKV has been infected by the bloodlust of Akan.

No matter what the people's of Itan decide, The Guild of Free Traders will continue to combat what amounts to a small band of brigands. As for the accusations against Greenwall of the Phoenix Alliance, we hold that all beings are presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Scout Report: SKV on TGFT Aggression

Foreword: "The use of the sea and air is common to all; neither can any title to the ocean belong to any people or private man."
Queen Elizabeth I
Earth, 17th Century

Captains Report
H.Hornblower

Mare Liberum, meaning freedom of the seas. This concept is embodied in Article 3, Section A of The Guild of Free Traders charter: to promote free trade of goods and ores throughout the Galaxy. It is our prime directive and we stand prepared to defend it with military force when necessary.

SKV's continued occupation of the conquerable stations is intolerable. Our intelligence indicates they limit access to our good friends the Coalition of Itan, the pirate guild Family Galactic Travel, and select pilots who share their affinity for mayhem and destruction.

With this in mind I have initiated and completed Operation Three Jewels: the training and prepositioning of three unmanned aerospace vehicles(UAVs). They are flown under the call signs: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. They have already conducted raids/assaults on the three stations and will continue to do so as long as hostilities persist.

A rebuttal to a lie perpetrated by SKV: these pilots do not attack "traders and Serco." To date they only have engaged in combat against pilots defending the stations during an assault-and SKV pilots at large. I would caution all to scrutinize any claim made by SKV or FAMY. They routinely practice intellectual dishonestly and often post bold-face lies.

In closing let it be known that any pilot participating in the defense or repair of the stations during an assault will be considered hostile and a target, in that context only. Even though an ITAN council member routinely commits acts of aggression on TGFT pilots, these UAVs will not extend hostilities outside the sectors of Latos I8, Bractus M14, and Pelatus C12. This condition of course does not apply to SKV as a state of war exists.

Yeehaw lemme grab my horse and Rob the Latos I-8 bank pardner! I propose we should hold us a Stick up!

Scout Report: SKV on TGFT Aggression

Foreword: "We will not waiver, we will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."
George W Bush
21st Century Earth

Four days ago my 'Three Jewels' pilots launched Operation Rolling Thunder: a high tempo combat action to divert and impact the operational capabilities of SKV, allies, and associates. Given at many times during the operation a large number of pilots from both SKV and FAMY were occupied in defending static capital assets, I am declaring it a resounding success. Operational stockpiles for the 'Three Jewels' never fell below a 50% threshold for any one pilot and the operations declared timeline was met. SKV and FAMY will claim victory according to the number of player kills they acquired, but with unmanned aerospace vehicles that metric is hollow. One pilot, for the majority of combat action, occupied all the active pilots of an entire guild. The military definition of force multiplication. So while during Operation Rolling Thunder only one station was taken once, the enemy engaged in activities of my choosing; not theirs.

The Coalition of ITAN actively engaged in defense of the stations, at times. Curious given certain facts not cleared for public distribution. FAMY and SKV proved themselves to be skilled and professional pvp'ers; aces among aces. However they were clearly unable to adapt to the dynamics necessary for static defense and proved only marginally effective.  Even more so considering the inherent advantage a defender, with heavy fire support, has over an attacker. I anticipated a higher casualty rate, as indicated by my operational reserves. Also among the defenders were members of BOAT and GTE. These guilds suspect commitment to free trade is duly noted.

My personal apologies to Trident Arms Syndicate for any disruption to their activities this Operation caused. Clearly Operation Rolling Thunder disrupted the activities of the Coalition of Itan as a senior council member of ITAN questioned one my pilots on channel 100 about it. To this I respond that The Guild of Free Traders maintains the same rights to access to the stations as they enjoy.; a benefit of being aligned with SKV. The Three Jewels pilots will continue to engage in combat action against the stations until TGFT ihas achieved permanent access to the conquerable stations.

I will be retiring to the monasteries of Eo to recuperate from four days of a high operational tempo. Remember, 'll die a thousand deaths and still paint my ship the dark green of The Guild of Free Traders.

Scout Report: SKV on TGFT Aggression

Foreword:
Echo Chamber: a situation in which information, ideas, or beliefs are amplified or reinforced by transmission and repetition inside an "enclosed" system, where different or competing views are censored, disallowed or otherwise underrepresented.

Captains Log
H.Hornblower

Monitoring channel 100 one might think The Guild of Free Traders is the embodiment of all that nearly led to the genocide of the Itani people. This view is perpetrated by those currently engaged in hostilities against TGFT. Specifically certain members of the guilds Skygge Vakter(SKV), The Coalition of Itan(ITAN), and Family Galatic Travel(FAMY).

In particular a senior member of SKV has openly admitted to directly controlling at least twelve separate high level pilots. TGFT knows this pilot as 'Westacular" and has identified him as using the following call signs: Max Lulz, Younger, Ubermahn, XLT, Chan Ralala, and Gunny. These are just a few of the many call signs he uses to present the image of mass dissent and ill will towards our noble guild. His intent is to dissuade new members from joining our guild as well as degrading our reputation with other guilds still allied or neutral with us. The reality is SKV is no more than four or five actual persons who individually log an extraordinary number of flight hours.

As to ITAN, the pilot Estrian Prosis has claimed to be a council member of The Coalition of ITAN but is not represented as such in their charter. The neutral trader Scientist Salarian has claimed to be Estrian Prosis on general chat 100. ITAN commander ARF_01 echos ill will towards TGFT instead of addressing his grievances directly to our council as required by the treaty of friendship that binds us. For these reasons I believe members are ITAN are engaging in the same practice of using anonymous call signs to enhance the echo chamber effect initiated by SKV.

To be clear, I am not contesting the validity of a propaganda method first formalized by a German war criminal in 20th Century Earths Great War. My intent is to make it known to the uninformed that our enemies seek to deceive you. That is the primary reason I have publicly declared my Three Jewels pilots (Theravada/Mahayana/Vajrayana). Pay no heed to the whisperings of malcontents. Their grievances are petty or self-inflicted.

Ask yourself can you trust SKV when they are currently waging war on the Galactic Tyranny Empire? A new guild for the young and untrained to band together in common defense. Can you trust ITAN when their most vocal pilot continuously and unilaterally violates our treaty of friendship by reliably attacking TGFT pilots at Sedina B8? Can you trust FAMY when they routinely aim their weapons at unarmed traders and extort credits for safe passage?

Decide for yourself, but know that the many voices of ill will and dissent are in actuality a vocal few. To our enemies: quit telling lies about us and we won't tell the truth about you.

Scout Report: SKV on TGFT Aggression

Foreword:
When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen; and we shall most sincerely rejoice with you in the happy hour when the establishment of American Liberty, upon the most firm and solid foundations shall enable us to return to our Private Stations in the bosom of a free, peacefully and happy Country.

General George Washington
Earth, 18th Century

Captains Log
H.Hornblower

Voices from the echo chamber focused against The Guild of Free Traders would lead the uniformed to believe that TGFT are the aggressors and initiated the current hostilities. In truth, SKV conducted a black flag operation and used the justified response of TGFT as pseudo validation for the current conflict. A black flag operation being similar to a pirate firing a repair module at a target in nation space; the hope being the target will mistake this action as a weapon and mistakenly initiate hostilities. The the purpose being evasion of nation/faction standing loss.

The Guild of Free Traders does not engage in combat action with any pilot unless hostile intent has been demonstrated. This is determined by the actions of pilot, known history of the pilot, guild association, and the location of contact. We attempt to limit hostilities directly to the offending pilots and areas of importance to free trade.

Nothing would please us more than to peaceably engage in the delivery of goods to market and advancing our capabilities to perform that function. We are a guild of traders, not given to continued combat action. True, some of are pilots excel in that capacity and routinely engage in combat action. We are grateful to have them in our ranks as the universe can be a dangerous place. Yet even these souls possessed by a martial spirit abide by the civil and sensible rules of engagement in order to limit hostilities and promote free trade.

To that end I express my regrets to any hindrance of free trade our assaults on the three stations might produce to our neighbors in the universe. Understand that TGFT will not bow to the naked aggression of SKV by denying us access to them. We understand you are unable to come to our aid due to the threat of likewise being denied access by SKV.

Some however are complicit in providing aid & comfort to our enemy. Such actions do not go unnoticed and will not go unanswered. I suspect that Family Galactic Travel(FAMY) is not simply defending access to the three stations, but rather is under contract by SKV. Furthermore, I suspect Estrian Prosis(ITAN) is the financier of this contract with a reported 40 billion credits in reserve.

At the end of the day none of these suspicions matter. The conflict is still at a stalemate with SKV unable to achieve their promised total destruction and TGFT facing an enemy with the belligerence of a religious zealot. Rest assured however, we will not go quietly into the night. Our guild has faced similar challenges and yet we still traffic this universe.

Scout Report: SKV on TGFT Aggression

Foreword:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller
Earth, 20th Century

Captains Log
H.Hornblower

To the peoples of Serco, Itan, and the Union of Independent Territories: a critical mass has been reached. Tyranny is upon us. The universe is now under siege by the alliance of Skygge Vakter(SKV), Family Galactic Travel(FAMY), and the Coalition of Itan(ITAN). You will bow to their arrogance or experience the wrath of their sadistic egos. No more warnings. No more pleas for your assistance in stomping out the plague of hostility and violence. The time of reckoning is at hand.

My words are labeled propaganda by those who measure success in player kill numbers and domination. That alone should be proof enough of who is righteous in this conflict and who would oppress with an iron fist. You were given fair warning and you did not act. You were deceived by those with constantly shifting identities. You were lulled into complacency because the crosshairs were not on you. That time is done.

Soon their sights will fall upon you. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or even a season. But the day will come when all the good fruits this verse has to offer will be poisoned by their touch. All the evidence is plain in the venom of their words and the recklessness of their actions.

There is hope. There always is. Perception would portray their numbers as insurmountable. Do not be fooled. Their numbers are few. It is only their voices that are plentiful, aided by technology and multiple call signs. Act I say. Or don't. We all face the same threat and I have no more words for those who would willfully ignore a clear and present danger.

Beautifully said!!, I do believe the universe needs to actually open their eyes and recognize there is a problem, as the new alliance will rain of the ultimate piracy upon all trader guilds, I feel sorrow for the Tri members who have to bow down to skv to get access to the station's and conduct slave labor, skv claim who is worthy of the itani nation and not, while they pirate all who travel outside of it, does the itani nation want this? after so many years of isolation just to make more wars and disrupt trade paterns? This is why I hate the Itani nation.