3212 Press Releases

A digest of recent official government press releases, by reporting period.

T107

Ministry of War, New Mars - Defence of NIMROD
Following the completion of the deployment of two BB class vessels at the NIMROD system, the MSN confirms that the interim defensive cover of 4 Independent Pacifier Squadrons that have been based there since NIMROD joined the MAFC have been disbanded. The equipment and personnel from these squadrons will be dispersed through the MSN as part of usual turnover of vessels. NIMROD now has the standard MSN Q0 defensive force.

 

T106

Ministry of War, New Mars - MSN forces at MYSTERY
Following the successful negotiations with other polities with a presence at the MYSTERY system, the MSN is withdrawing the bulk of forces present. The following will remain in system and cooperate with other human forces in the vicinity:
1 CAI - Joint task force detachments
1 CLI - Joint task force detachments
3 DDI - 2 in Joint task force detachments, 1 on M25 as comms relay (service available to all)
1 SSI - System survey / cooperate with IFF
1 TPRI - science research vessel - cooperate with IFF / research system anomalies
1 LSSI - Logs support (offers supplies to other human forces as required)
LIVE FREE OR DIE

A statement by Senator Banderas, on behalf of the MAFC Department for Foreign Affairs
We wish to protest in the strongest possible terms about the actions of IFF-directed forces on Mystery. Martian scientists going about their peaceful scientific work have been arrested, and - incredibly - Martian craft escorting them have been fired upon, as a result of which three Martian pilots are dead or missing.
This is, quite simply, unnaceptable. You may rest assured that we will be seeking redress for this outrage. Local IFF functionaries appear to be making international policy on the hoof, without any reference to the Central Coordinating Committee, and in clear violation of both the letter and spirit of the IFF Charter. We condemn especially the over-zealous action of Sirian forces, who are responsible for the deaths of Martian Navy pilots. We demand an immediate apology from both the Sirian government and the IFF secretariat for this incident. At the same time, however, we do note and wish to praise the constructive role played by Centauri forces, in particular the 1st Humanity Division, in helping to resolve difficulties and effect the release of the unjustly imprisoned Martian scientists.
People of the Universe, the MAFC has made the strongest possible efforts to cooperate with the IFF, but it seems to us that they are quite simply out of control; a monster of all of our creating. This is definietly not what we signed up to when we collectively put the IFF together - as a body it seems to have forgotten who its masters are. We are particularly concerned about accountability; who *exactly* is responsible for these deaths of Martian pilots? The IFF? The Sirian government? At the next Summit meeting, we would like to raise this issue and that of a possible renegotiation of the IFF charter, in order to prevent this kind of thing from happening again. The alternative is a Martian withdrawal from the IFF Treaty, as it no longer seems to be fit for purpose.
For the time being the MAFC is continuing to order our local representatives to cooperate with the IFF as far as they possibly can, but we caution that the unwarranted aggression by IFF-directed forces has tested our patience to the limit.

 

T105

Ministry of Economic Affairs - investment in DUSTER
The MAFC in Q8 is delighted to announce that it has reached an agreement with the government of the small independent colony of DUSTER to invest [4SV] in their orbital and on-surface space travel facilities from 3212.201 until further notice, but for no less than 4 octants.
Ruekka Chan, Deputy Secretary for Economic Development MAFC Q8 said "As Martians, we like to help the little guy wherever we can. Duster is located in a position that makes it an ideal staging post for supporting military operations in Q6 and Q7 from Q8, helpful should we see a return of the Roaches. As such, this investment represents both help to our friends AND a chance to enhance Humanity's security. Live Free or Die."
Marvin Slice, representing the Independent Colony of Duster said "We appreciate the Martian's providing funding to upgrade our infrastructure. Duster is a great place for a holiday and has a thriving rustic cuisine: we welcome all visitors."
LIVE FREE OR DIE

 

T104

Ministry of War, New Mars
MSN announces changes to JAC allocation in Q5
The temporary assignation of two additional Combat Teams to the MSN 1st Strategic Fleet, currently operating in Q5, is to end. This reflects a reduction in the threat to the Q5. Although this was only ever to be a temporary augmentation, the MSN Admiralty has decided to transfer some local assets to the 1st Strategic Fleet, thus strengthening the permanent forces assigned to JAC.
LIVE FREE OR DIE

Ministry of War, New Mars
Subject: OPERATIONS IN SECTOR EJ - Future MSN commitment
The MSN currently has the 5th Strategic Fleet allocated to the operations in Sector EJ plus 4LSSI assigned to the logistics train (and a DDI is currently moving to provide protection to the chain).
MSN does not envisage an immediate reduction in our allocation to this force. Whilst unauthorised to comment on unilateral withdrawals by other polities, the MSN recognises the supreme importance of finishing this job.
When JAC in the region determines that forces can be drawn down to 4-5 capital ships suggested, then the MSN would expect to be providing forces along the following lines:
1 BBI
2 ALSI + 1 GFD
1 LSSI
In addition, the logistics chain would be provided with 2LSSI and 1DDI.
MAFC expects other polities to provide similarly proportionate forces.
As an alternative, the MSN would be prepared to provide the entire JAC fleet in Sector EJ (e.g. 2CAI, 1BBI, CVI, 2ALSI + 1GFD, 2DDI, 1LSSI) if suitable logistics and compensatory SV transfer from other polities can be negotiated.
LIVE FREE OR DIE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, New Mars - IFF actions on MYSTERY
The MAFC wishes to express concern at the way the IFF is interpreting its current remit, especially with regard to the situation at Mystery. In spite of the discovery of this site by the MAFC, the IFF seems to be attempting to strong-arm us out of continuing to conduct work in the system. We feel strongly that this runs contrary to the spirit and purpose of the IFF, which was to encourage a plurailty of approaches and open discourse, with free access for all, and not to provide a way for imposing - at gunpoint - an academic monopoly on research. In particular we are concerned that the Mald Democratic Foundation, which we note from the most recent IFF accounts now provides 35% of all IFF funding, is now having an undue influence on its policy making.
We are particularly concerned about this in the light of how Mystery came to be discovered. We can show the member states documentation demonstrating that Interstellar Survey results for this world have been falsified for at least a century, including independent survey reports by GFA, UoX and Centauri Conglomerate ships. This alone points to an international conspiracy of some sort involving the Interstellar Survey. We merely note that the last time that such a puzzling anomaly was unearthed it concerned the obfuscation of the location of the Mald world 'Foundation'.
Because of this, the MAFC is concerned that there may have been a deliberate attempt to deflect humanity's attention away from this world in the past, and now that the MAFC has discovered it independently, that the MDF is attempting to use its leverage with the IFF to try and shut down any independent investigation, for some ungeussable purpose of its own. We ask the other signatory powers of the IFF to at least think about these concerns before dismissing them. We ask them to recall the situation at Gorilla when the Visitors arrived, and the behaviour of the MDF at that time.
Be under no illusion; this is not an act of acquisitiveness or possessiveness by the MAFC - quite the reverse. We want to make sure that a discovery as important as this is actually promulgated to all members, and not simply brushed under the carpet, to reside in academic obscurity in a drawer marked "nothing to see here, move along". The MAFC has shared fully all work conducted at Mystery with the IFF, as required by the IFF Treaty. What we are asking is that in return our scientists be allowed the same courtesy to continue to work and observe there, so that our concerns in this regard can be allayed.
I must tell you that the MAFC views this situation with extreme seriousness. We have already shared these concerns with some of you privately, and know that some of you are of a like mind. We have even considered withdrawal from the IFF as a result, but for the time being we rather thought it better to share our concerns with all of the other signatory states, in the hope that good sense would prevail. We are calling for a vote in the IFF steering committee that researchers from all nations be allowed to freely observe work at this site. I urge you all to support it.
Thank you.
Senator A Banderas, MoFA.

 

T103

Ministry of War, New Mars
Subject: Red Alert Exercise
As part of the MAFC's ongoing preparedness policy, yesterday saw an unprecedented Red Alert Exercise initiated from the Admiralty here on NEW MARS. All MAFC naval, military and para-military forces were ordered to a state of maximum readiness. This order was countermanded 12 standard hours later. These two messages are even now transmitting across Human space and therefore reports can be expected in from all locations with an MAFC presence. There is no cause for alarm: this was just an exercise, albeit one with no warning whatsoever outside the higher echelons of the MSN and the Interstellar Co-ordination Committee.

Speech by Senator Banderas, Chair of the MAFC ICC
<Senator Banderas stands next to the looming grey monolith of the Monument of the Heroes, outside the Senate House, Crater City, New Mars. It is a cold and blustery day.>

"Friends, Martians, humans - listen up. As you'll be hearing by now, combined human forces have won a great victory in Sector EJ against the Roaches. I have the great honour to tell you that the main Roach fleet was brought to battle by the combined human task force under Admiral Giraud, and completely destroyed. All Roach planetary facilities in that sector are for now accounted for.
"The Martian 5th Strategic Fleet, under Thai-Sho Rice-Burroughs, has played a full part in helping to secure this victory. It is, however, my sad duty to report that the heavy cruisers Cantankerous and Battlehammer were both lost with all hands during the action, and nine MSN pacifier pilots, mostly from the carriers Archangel and Defiant, are also dead, or missing presumed killed.
"Today we pay tribute to their bravery and sacrifice, as we do to those of all of our allies who stood with us that day - Esteelers, Earthers, Venerians, Xyonists and Wolfers; humans united in a common purpose. Later today I will be requesting that the Senate officially declare this a full Victory for the Association, and that the Association Star consequently be awarded to the victorious commander, in this case Admiral Giraud IEN, just as we did Admiral Burwasher in the Exterminator War.
"This struggle is by no means over. Several Roach military vessels and numerous transport ships remain unaccounted for, and it is more than likely that these are the creatures that built the Exterminators, and whose Empire still sits several hyperyears away, so far untouched. We did not ask for this fight, but nor do we shrink from it. At least the citizens of Adobe, and - if these are the Exterminator builders - also those of Thor and Baldar, Slitch, Streib, Cristal, Cordilia and Yendor are today paid back for the losses inflicted upon us. Now we must find a way to carry the war to the enemy.
"But for now, let us mourn our dead and celebrate our deliverance. This piece of stone next to me, carved from the regolith of Old Mars, bears the names of the bravest of our nation, from its beginnings nearly 400 years ago to the present day. There will probably be more names to carve into it before this war is over. But we can take heart from those who have gone before us that there is an unconquerable spirit in humanity that cannot, will not be defeated.
"Live free or die. Thank you."

 

T102

Ministry of War, New Mars
Subject: Ground Forces
Following a review of the Ground Forces available to the MAFC, the following is announced:
- Ground Force Garrisons in Q0 - the second GFD in each colony system in Quadrant Zero will be downgraded to Planetary Guard status. This is expected to have been completed by the middle of the year. A new GFD will be raised to add to the garrison of NIMROD, a recently acceded system in the quadrant. The garrison of NEW MARS is unaffected.
- Internal Security Division 1 - the ISD is to be downgraded to an Internal Security Brigade: the MAFC rarely has use for such forces and it is believed that the requirement can be met by a brigade.
- Strategic Reserve - the MAFC confirms its intention to mount two GFD raised last year on two TPTI to be brought out of mothballs during the second half of 3212. These will be brought to Q0 over the next few octants using commercial transport so that they are available by year end at NEW MARS. This will constitute a central GFD reserve that can reinforce areas threatened by any alien assault, such as at ADOBE in the recent past.
It is confirmed that the arrival at NIMROD of two BB will be followed by the decommissioning of four independent pacifier squadrons.
LIVE FREE OR DIE