FET attack FCN
by Cornelius Merryheart, exclusive for the GGG
Last week a squad of FET warships entered the Acropolis System (162) and attacked two FCN platforms. FET CEO Zuvoro Norozov declared afterwards that he had been paid by an undisclosed client to perform the strike. Consul Armand of the Falconian Republic was expectedly incensed and reacted to the unprovoked attack by withdrawing transit and development rights in Falconian systems to the FET and declaring FET assets illegal in those systems. Mr. Norozov's mercenary adventure unsurprisingly received a very negative reaction from the galactic community. His attempt to paint this operation as the sole responsibility of his Norozov Holdings, a FET subsidiary group, and not something that the affiliation as a whole should be accountable for was also met with skepticism.
We talked with the FET leader and he told us that the job was a lucrative one: "I will not disclose the exact amount, but it was enough to keep the squadron running for a good few months." Also, the contract seemed to include a sliding scale, with more money paid as more damage was inflicted. Mr. Norozov refused to reveal the identity of his client and expressed dismay at the general unwillingness to treat the FET as not responsible for the incident. "I also want to try and make the peripheries at large understand that not all affiliations are big single minded entities and that just because one part of any affiliation does something it doesn't necessarily mean the whole affiliation is involved."
Mr. Norozov seems to be lacking understanding of two concepts: trust and accountability. As members of the Imperial Block, the FET should know that they cannot launch unsanctioned attacks against someone who isn't an enemy of the Empire. And when an affiliation doesn't condemn and rectify the mistakes of one of its members (even more so if said member is their leader) responsibility for those acts will be assigned to the affiliation as a whole.
It's curious that, by deciding to perform this mercenary mission while openly flying the FET flag, CEO Zuvoro Norozov totally disregarded the famous FET mantra: "Never get caught!"
-o-
The Monk, the Flagritz and the Felini
by Ringo Baxter, exclusive for the GGG
I heard this story from an IND merchant during one of my trips to Mobile Bay. I'm not sure if it really happened but I found it amusing anyway. Take it as a work of imagination or as piece of popular culture if you want.
Some time last year a BHD monk was visiting a moon in the Outer Capellan Periphery and stumbled upon a nice beach. The monk was surprised to see many Flagritz enjoying themselves on the golden sand but even more surprised to see a lone Felini swimming in the sea. The tentacled sunbathers didn't seem to be paying much attention to the swimmer, until three large shark-like creatures appeared from the depth and started to approach the Felini. An alert signal echoed through the beach as several Flagritz jumped into the water and headed towards the Felini. They arrived there very quickly, but by then the poor swimmer had already been fighting for his life for a little while. The rescuers were well equipped and attacked the sharks without fear, pounding their heads with little mallets and finishing the job with harpoons. It didn't take long until they were all back at the shore, the Flagritz rescuers, the three dead sharks, and the badly hurt but still alive Felini. The monk was moved by this display of selfless courage and improvised a little speech praising the brave Flagritz who put the old rivalry aside to save a poor Felini from a terrible fate. He then bade farewell to all and started his journey back home. After the monk left, one of the Flagritz asked:
"Who was that?"
"I think he was a BHD monk. Some say they are really nice people."
"Well, he may be nice but he knows nothing about shark hunting. Now put the bait back into his cage and let's go home and eat some shark steak."
-o-
