Everyone,

Congratulations are in order to all of you who took part in the operation to capture the Fomalhaut side of the jump accelerator; this brave action, coupled with pressure from our forces on the Badlands side of the accelerator has lead to the unconditional capitulation of all hostile corporate forces in the Badlands cluster.

This is indeed a great day for this region, and a great day for all peoples of Known Space who wish to cherish their independence.

And now? I believe it would be prudent of us to retain control of the Fomalhaut side of the jump accelerator. This is a move that will undoubtedly be unpopular with some of you, but I believe that until we broker an agreement with those hostile to us, we should keep our options open.

I must insist that hostile actions outside of the Badlands are however strictly off-limits to all of you unless clearly provoked.  Since the capture of the accelerator, the Navy are becoming more wary of us. We must avoid provoking them. If we were to bring the Navy into this conflict as our enemy, all would be lost.

To the future,

Franklyn Hoffer