Comm-Link:Congress Now - Emergency Session

UEE CONGRESS (396)

2944-12-09 SET

Session AutoScript

Proofed and Admitted –Archivist Yates (#57573BDF)

2944-12-09_04:12 – Session Begins

SPEAKER MARSHALL MADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming at this early hour. If you’ll please take your seats, so we will initiate a call for this emergency joint session.

SPEAKER MARSHALL MADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): I am told that we have a quorum and may conduct business. For the record, we are joined by Dennis Yun, Imperator Costigan’s Chief of Staff, and representatives of Naval High Command. Admiral Colla, you have the floor.

ADMIRAL RENA COLLA: Thank you, Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, approximately two hours ago we received a couriered flash message from one of our Commanders in Charon system. As you are all aware, conflict between the States of Acheron and Dellin on Charon III has been escalating steadily over the last few months. Now it seems it’s reached critical mass. While sensitive operational data has been redacted from this comm, it is still cleared classified. High Command thought it best for you to hear it directly.

VOICE: <<>> Rear Admiral Geoff Ullen of UEES Hannibal. At approximately 14:20 SET, a small transport attempted to flee Charon III from a landing zone in Dellin. Acheron militia intercepted and opened fire shortly after it broke atmo. The transport engaged and managed to destroy or rout the militia, but its main engines were crippled in the battle. Our battle group has been stationed nearby to keep an eye on the conflict. We attempted to send a rescue, but Acheron authorities threatened retaliation if any action was taken to aid the transport, citing that the ship was still within the planet’s jurisdiction. Please advise.

ADMIRAL RENA COLLA: When pressed, Acheron representatives claimed that the ship contained “Dellin war criminals” wanted on charges of attempted genocide who were fleeing the system to evade justice.

C.o.S DENNIS YUN: Were they able to identify the transport?

ADMIRAL RENA COLLA: Yes, sir. Reg-tags identified it as the Uana Gale, a freelance transport registered to Marcus Williver out of Dellin.

SPEAKER MARSHALL MADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Who is he?

ADMIRAL RENA COLLA: The Advocacy said that his record was clean. According to tax records, he’s a freelance transport pilot.

SPEAKER MARSHALL MADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): And what of these alleged war criminals? Has Acheron provided anything to identify who they think is aboard?

ADMIRAL RENA COLLA: No, sir.

SPEAKER MARSHALL MADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Surely, the Governor of Dellin or his advisers have been cooperating.

ADMIRAL RENA COLLA: As of dispatch, they had not contacted Admiral Ullen.

SENATOR ALISA LEE (U-Keene_Kilian Sys): Why not order the Hannibal to resume their rescue operation? If the ship broke atmo, it’s off the planet. Acheron can’t claim jurisdiction.

SPEAKER MARSHALL MADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Archivist, is that correct?

ARCHIVIST YATES: Charon III has been classified as a conflict zone. According to Imperial law, all conflict zones include a peripheral bubble around the planet, which is determined based on the planet’s size. Without exact metrics, it would be impossible to know where Uana Gale lies.

SENATOR FESSEL QUINN (T-Green-Ellis Sys): Are there any local assets we could hire to intervene instead of the Navy?

SENATOR ALISA LEE (U-Keene-Kilian Sys): Forgive me, but isn’t anyone else wondering why we’ve been letting these two States kill each other for this long while our military has sat back and watched?

SPEAKER MARSHALL MADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Unless the Common Laws are broken or the hostilities threaten to expand, we have to respect the laws of Civil Conflict on unrecognized planets.

SENATOR ALISA LEE (U-Keene-Kilian Sys): But we need to do something —

ADMIRAL RENA COLLA: Excuse me, Senator. I just received another comm. Rear Admiral Ullen reports that Uana Gale was destroyed by Acheron forces. There were no survivors.

SPEAKER MARSHALL MADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Ladies and gentlemen …

SPEAKER MARSHALL MADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Dismissed.

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