Thanks for the comments all, some of you may have seen the WTC's reply in the Mooreton Bay thread, if not here it is: And here is Mayor James Hume's response: Mooreton Bay, 18 December 617AE Kadeus Mordo, Representative of the Wayfarer Trading Company. Dear Sir, I thank you for your efforts to avoid confusion and I applaud your decision to establish communication around this issue. It does however, seem you hold a number of serious misconceptions which I will attempt to correct.  As you have been blunt, allow me to be so in return.  Firstly, you seem to be under the impression that your company somehow holds equal standing with the Colonial authorities and the Regular forces of Her Majesty. Let me disabuse you of this notion now. The WTC is a private entity that bears no official standing in the management of Her Majesty's Colonies in New Terra. Regarding the detention of the WTC Icarus Returning. Both the Captain and crew of the ship are being detained in Mooreton Bay by direct order of the Colonial Commander in Chief, Rear Admiral Fletcher of the Royal Navy. It was my intent to house both the crew and captain in relative freedom while the authorities in Arlinsport arranged for an investigation into the serious accusations of piracy on the high seas. However, Captain Tyrell attempted to violently resist the Officer of the Crown tasked with announcing the detention. Thankfully, his crew had more sense, and after only limited resistance, the Captain was detained. Unfortunately however during the initial scuffle, one of the WTC sailors, who was at the time suffering the effects of excessive consumption of rum, fell of the jetty and drowned in the harbour. Captain Tyrell's incarceration is a direct result of his own hostility and refusal to cooperate.To suggest the Officer who carried out the detention has anything to answer for is as preposterous as it is impertinent. You describe the detention of the crew as a mockery of justice, then you go on to propose that the crew are handed over to the WTC to investigate. Are you Sir, quite right in the head? Has the heat of the tropics addled your brain? Just to be clear, a Captain and crew of your company have been accused of piracy, yet you believe it would be appropriate for the Crown to hand over the investigation to your company? This is perhaps the most ridiculous thing I have heard in all my time in the civil service. Lastly you speak of possible unrest your crew may 'unleash'. I shall choose not to take this as a threat to cause unrest or an attempt to influence the outcome of this investigation, although I caution you to use your words more wisely in the future. Any unrest will be put down by the local militia, who have been re-enforced with regular troops. The crew would immediately be placed under harsher detention with criminal charges being brought against any who break the law. You mention 'WTC forces' being sent to Mooreton Bay. Let me be very clear. Any landing of private armed troops on Alicentia without the express permission of Colonial Governor Cooke shall be considered to constitute an armed insurrection against Her Majesty which shall be dealt with by overwhelming force and to the fullest possible extent of the law. The investigation has thus far revealed enough evidence for a trial. A special prosecutor is being brought in from Belson along with a Judge of high standing from the Belson courts. The WTC are welcome to provide the defendant with consul. James Hume Mayor of Mooreton Bay