Ceasefire in Ethgreze
03 Feb 2023Ulon Yuanshi
03.02.3309
Following an entire week of fierce skirmishes, a ceasefire has been announced in the Ethgreze system on Thursday evening. These news arrived shortly after Bloch Station surrendered to Brewery forces around 16:45. Although the Alioth Independents (AI) had defeated a large portion of the initial coalition force on the weekend, the Perez Ring Brewery ultimately was successful in its attempt of reclamation.
The sparsely populated agricultural system is famous for it's unique, rare tea. It is one of the oldest members of the Alliance of Independent Systems and in recent years has been changing hands between the two rival faction several times. After a Brewery offensive had nearly wiped out all AI presence last autumn, control was lost again around Christmas and Ethgreze has remained under occupation until now. After an attack on a Brewery installation in Phekda last week, director Rodger Clay had announced plans to retake the system by force.
In a ceremony on Bloch Station, combat badges and medals were awarded by Clay. Over thirty members of the Pilots Federation were among the honoured, though not all were able to be present for the ceremony. In his victory speech the director thanked numerous members of the coalition who were involved in the fighting:
> "We have to thank our allies from the Terran Colonial Forces, Flat Galaxy Society and other squadrons who made this victory possible. Once again the resistance proved tougher than expected and our forces had to regroup completely before we were able to push the enemy out. As always, both sides managed to and agreed to limit their operations to orbit and other planetary bodies. No damage or casualties were caused on the planet below us."
Despite of this hard-won victory, the civil war in the Alliance core systems is expected to last for a while to come.
> "The Brewery Group remains dedicated to reconquer all of our former territory and deny the Alioth Independents any foothold where they have challenged control via illegal means."
This plan has not yet been completed in Ethgreze, where several settlements remain under AI control. Authorities have already accused the Terrans of launching a massive undermining operation and smuggling activities directed at their ports, going as far as to accuse the Brewery of collusion and inaction. PRB has rejected this version via its own press release:
> "Due to differing laws in our jurisdiction, various good classified as illicit by the Alioth independents are actually completely legal in Brewery space. Furthermore the system is recovering from recent warfare and it is frankly neither in our power nor is it our responsibility to patrol trade to AI ports. This is something they need to do on their own since it is their own jurisdiction. As much can be expected from any fellow Alliance faction."
Art by Raja Nanadepu
- Perez Ring Observer