Table of Contents
Earth News
T75 - Armstrong Actions Audited
dateline 3208.350
The First Minister addressed the Senate today to inform them that a Full Audit was under way in Q6.
Full Speech
Senators,
It is my duty to inform you that the First Citizen has personally authorised an Imperial Warrant for a Full Audit in Quadrant Six.
Earlier this year naval intelligence reported that, in addition to his other actions, Governor Armstrong had ordered the mobilisation of a significant military infrastructure in Q6. Without reference to Q0, he ordered the mobilisation of the Marches HQ and the unlawful construction of a military class shipyard in Q6. He also appears to have rescinded orders by the First Minister for the 22nd Battle Fleet to return to Q0 on his own authority.
An emergency meeting with the First Citizen was convened with senior representatives of the Navy, IAO, and the Privy Council. At this meeting, held on 3208.215, a Full Audit was initiated. As is the normal protocol for Full Audits the decision was kept secret to ensure operational security and to prevent any cover up.
The First Citizen, “A”, the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Deputy First Minister have signed a 250 day digital Imperial Warrant ordering the immediate recall of all three Battle Fleets (14, 21 and 22) currently in Q6 to Q0, and a “Full Audit” of Governor Armstrong as Colonial Governor and Admiral Tendashi of the 6th Colonial Fleet under suspicion of “acts against the interests of the Imperium”, and specifically the illegal construction of a shipyard in Q6.
The bearers of the Warrant will take interim control of Q6 until the Full Audit is complete. Governor Armstrong will then resume control unless he has been found guilty of serious misconduct whilst in high public office.
The Full Audit Commission are:
- Senator Kowloon (retired Admiral)
- Deputy Director van Helsing (IAO)
- Admiral Puzo (Q6 CINC designate)
This “triumvirate” will use 11th and 12th Battle Fleets (temporarily withdrawn from the CHIF) and the IAO Special Audit Fleet Battle Fleet together with the Q6 IAO ISB on Weygand. Admiral Philips 21st BF has been informed of the content of the warrant and has been instructed to assist with the Full Audit.
We are expecting initial situation reports from the IAO special audit squadron in the next few days.
The media blackout imposed by the Full Audit rules will be lifted from immediate effect and we will endeavour to publish our situation reports once we are certain that there is no breach to operational security by doing so.
~~DISCUSSION~~
T75 - Hope for the Heart of Humanity
Dateline 3208.345, Earth
The First Minister addressed the Senate to appeal for an end to mindless rhetoric and to affirm the Earth Empire's non-aggression to other human states.
The Full Speech
Senators,
There are those amongst humanity's leaders that would submerge us all in fear, uncertainty and doubt; stoking the furnaces of paranoia and pointing out the differences rather than the commonalities.
I am not one of those leaders.
The end of ToOL and SALT has seen diplomatic revenge against the Empire. We are not going to play such childish games; and there will be no tit for tat expulsions. All the SALT observers are welcome to stay within the Empire for as long as they wish, and all polities are welcome to send military and diplomatic observers to the Empire. Only by being here they will come to understand the Empire.
I believe that we should act in the best interests of humanity. Earth is the home of humanity; and we have always acted so. There is no greater evidence of this than the sacrifices of the IEN in the common defence. The IEN were the first navy to engage the Exterminators and destroy an enemy super battleship, although not without losses. My own sister commanded one of the IEN ships that survived that engagement.
Over the period of the Exterminator War the IEN put its full commitment to defeating the common enemy of humanity. When they re-appear there is no question that we will not do exactly the same again. We cannot afford any possibility that we are not ready for a return of the Exterminators; or any other external threat.
At this time, despite much empty rhetoric and sabre rattling, there is no threat from any human polity to the Empire. I do not foresee that there will be such a threat in the near future. Nor does the Empire present a threat to any polity, regardless of how they may see us. The days of interstellar war between humans are over. There will be no wars of conquest or subjection, nor will there be any petty adventurism. At least not by the Empire while I am First Minister.
Earth will defend itself, and it will defend humans everywhere who ask for our assistance. We will not stand by and watch genocide happen, nor will we pass by on the other side of the street when people obviously need help. But all we will do is offer assistance, if it is turned down we will respect the wishes of system governments. If it is accepted we will deliver what is asked for if it is within our power to do so and the High Laws of the Imperium are respected.
I want to set a shining example to people everywhere. I want all leaders to become shining beacons of hope. I know that this is unlikely. There are those that are jealous of what we have, and who feel threatened by our presence. There are those that would oppose anything if we suggested it, no matter how reasonable or sensible that proposal is. But we don't repress our critics. We don't suppress the dissenters. We don't crush those that wish to break free. That is what makes us strong.
One day there will be understanding amongst humans. We must do all in our power to help that to come sooner rather than delaying it.
~~DISCUSSION~~
T75 - SRE to Withdraw from Treaty of Old London
dateline 3208.325
The Deputy First Minister announced today in the Senate that the Solar Republic and Earth Empire will withdraw from the Treaty of Old London with effect from 3208.400.
ToOL Undermined
It is with great regret that the Solar Republic and Empire is announcing its intention to unilaterally suspend its signatory status of the Treaty of Old London as at the end of 3208. This treaty has become undermined by those signatories who can no longer be trusted to value it for its contribution to the common defence of Humanity against the Exterminators. Instead these polities have sought to regard it as a forum for grand-standing and show-casing.
IEN Continues to Protect Humanity
Earth intends to continue to contribute military forces to the four CHFs at the level proposed by the treaty and to establish MOUs with the local Fleet commanders for the full sharing of all relevant intelligence and the concerted use of force against all external threats against any human systems.
Earth will be withdrawing its contribution from the scouting fleets which it no longer considers to be of significant benefit.
Observer Status at Summits
Earth hopes to continue to send observers to the ToOL Summits, and Liaison Officers to the JAC HQs and to the Grand Strategic Council (as per other non-signatories, and the MDF. Earth will continue to review its position on the basis of these observations and hopes that at some point in the near future the Treaty will again resume its originally intended role.
I have invited Ambassadors of all other signatories to the Foreign Office to discuss the details of this announcement if they so wish.
[The speech was met largely in silence, with the occasional outbreak of “here here”]
~~DISCUSSION~~
T75 - Senator Rathbone Denounces Shattered Ceasefire at Amoss
dateline 3208.321
Senator Rathbone today denounced the betrayal of trust by both the Sirians and the Venerians who callously repudiated agreements on Amoss to promote their own agenda and commit atrocities against the free people of Amoss who only wanted to determine their own government.
Deputy First Minister's Speech
Fellow Senators and members of the Imperium. The news yesterday regarding Sirian activities in the Amoss system has been in the hands of the officials for several days. I stand here to denounce those actions in their entirety. The deal which had been brokered between our First Minister and President Potato, which underpinned the withdrawal of the Imperial Fleets in search of a diplomatic solution, has been shattered by this hypocrisy and deceit. Our efforts at diplomatic action have been followed somewhat predictably by the invading jackboot of the Sirian armed forces.
RNVN Inaction
It is only rhetorically that I can ask what actions were taken by the much vaunted peacekeeping forces of the RNVN which appear to have simply stepped aside and followed the partisan approach to this situation which has been the hallmark of their role to date. It is just possible that the arrival of a GFAN Fleet may yet result in positive peace-enforcement by the joint-force, but it is already absolutely clear that the blood of many thousands of Amossians is now on Venerian hands as much as on Sirian ones.
Sirian Hypocrisy
It is ironic that this invasion and bloodletting has been by the self-same Sirian government that has for over a decade been pontificating about the values of independence and freedom of choice, and constantly criticised the Imperium for each and every intervention (whether it to be to destroy pirates or maniacs threatening civilians with nuclear weapons). Such bitter irony that they are now suppressing with untrammelled brutality a freely elected administration that just happens to disagree with them. This hypocrisy demonstrates the degree to which this Sirian regime is prepared to sink to remain in power.
Venerian betrayal
The utter failure of the RNVN to stop this invasion, or even to attempt to do so means that the Venerians are simply underwriting such brutal acts. Not because they agree with them. No, let us be clear of that fact. The Venerians are not siding with the Sirians - they are siding against us. And this brings into stark view the policies of the new Venerian regime, with which we can now clearly no longer conduct the diplomacy of trust. All trust has now evaporated, and only by supreme diplomatic efforts will we be able to find a way to again trust the word of any Venerian in this regime.
[Standing ovation from about three quarters of the Senate. Subdued, polite yet nervous applause from the rest]
~~DISCUSSION~~
T75 - First Citizen Welcomes Digger and Z179 to Empire
dateline Sol 3208.302
It is with great pleasure that Earth welcomes the applications of the Digger and Z179 in Quadrant 8 for membership of the Solar Republic and Empire.
Umbrella of Imperial Protection
Final signatures of membership and administrative deals will be completed at the Colonial Offices in Q8 - with an official banquet each on Earth early in 3209.
After the official signatures have been blotted in Q8 the appropriate levels of Star Guard protection will be deployed to these systems together with military training and advisory packages for their ground forces and regular visits by the Fleet.
In addition financial, cultural and many other support packages will be provided in parallel. We hope that these systems will continue to prosper and grow under the umbrella of Imperial protection.
~~DISCUSSION~~
