Push to create trade council collapses after Belt regards it as an "Act of War"

      Yesterday UN Chairman Misora Higami took a strong pro-business stance after announcing  "I very much approve of (Trade Council). Business knows what is best for business after all, and their insights would be greatly appreciated."

      For the last several weeks Kiks Killion, CEO of the SRTC, has been pushing for a trade council "with the ability to regulate the trade within the Sol system, and possibly outside of it in the future," as he believes that it "would be of best interest to all of those who want to conduct trade." Mr Killion proposed that:

"The council (to be known as the Unified Tradesmen Council) would consist of all members (countries or persons) who seek to conduct trade within the United Nations sovereign territory. 
We would create"advisory motions" which require confirmation by the UN before becoming laws. 
We would have a council governor that is voted in and runs for 5 years." 
"And of course, the UN would have free reign to vote in our proposed laws and may herself propose laws for us to convene upon."

            When asked about how soon he expected the Council to be formed Mr Higami was unable to provide a date, but Mr Killion hoped for a vote by the end of the year. While most groups have been supportive of such a council, some have expressed some concern the Belt has a worry that a Trade Council will greatly weaken the economic power of the Belt. with Mr Jakob Óðinnsson, Ǫ́sskonungr, in an official statement, commented that  "I emphatically object to a trade council." UN Chairman Mr Higami felt that the Belt concerns were unwarranted stating.

"The economic power of the [B]elt will continue to be undisputed for centuries, there are enough mundane and trans-Newtonian minerals to past humanity till [S]ol dies in the asteroid belt."

       Things took a turn for the worst when Mr Killion made several concessions, allowing him to gain the support he needed to get the council to form. When asked whether the Belt was willing to vote yes if it was allowed to be a member Mr Ǫ́sskonungr responded:

Some of those whose legs have grown too fat for their britches have invited the Folkstamen to a "free and fair trading council." There will be no such thing. A council implies the opportunity to be outvoted. I will say it once more. Any actions to create any council capable of infringing on our interests will be regarded as an act of war. We have a saying, in our language. It goes as so: "Bättre stämma i bäcken än i ån." It means that the best way to stop bad things is to prevent them from ever happening in the first place. These companies fancy themselves kings, believe themselves ready to wear the crown and sit at the table with those who have come before. They look at those such as the Stardust, or the Martians, and see in them the possibility that one day they can be there too. I have met many men in my life, those who are good and those who are bad. I have seen Skraeling of character so pure it seems as if the All-Father himself blessed them, and I have seen Folkstam so vile they should be Varelse. These companies, these men, they do not know what it means to rule. I have walked a path of blood to take the throne on which I sit. Many men I bested in combat, and many I have defeated to keep my throne. I have had to make decisions no man should ever have to make. Are any of these men ready to look a young girl in the eyes, and hand her the corpse of her father? 

The men whom received Charters are a varied bunch. Some of us cannot be considered fully human anymore. But we all share one trait. We have taken the hard decision. We have done the unspeakable, because we know we can do it. I have met the Traders, I have looked into their eyes, and I know that not a one among them has what it takes to be considered our equal. My words are not a threat. They are advice. They can make their claims to sovereignty, maybe even pressure some of the weaker-willed factions to support them. But Den Federerade Stammar av Æsir och Vanir does not tolerate weakness. My crown is a crown of blood, forged from the corpses of thousands of our enemies. If they continue upon their current course, I do not mind adding a couple more. 

Mr Killion quickly responded by stating.

To the shareholders of the Silk Road Trading Company, The trade council has been in talks at the UN for some time. We have had great success in getting the necessary votes needed to pass. However, as many of you know, there has been one detractor to the idea, The Federated Tribes of the Aesir and Vanir. In light of what they have to say, and in light of private talks between myself and Gustav Njörðrsson, Vanrkonungr, we have renounced our current ideas of a council. The sweetness of a victory today does not outweigh the bitterness of a defeat tomorrow. As my father always believed, and has taught me, we must have patience and do what is best for us now and for us in the future. We cannot be blinded by "the now" and forget the future. We hope that relations with the FTAV will not deteriorate do to what has transpired.

Although hope for the Council has diminished, much of Sol remains hopeful. Below are the predicted voting results:

UN Chairman Misora Higami : Yes
Spokesperson Somebody of Oliver: Yes
Starfire leader if the Venusian Confederacy: Yes
Director General FactualInsanity of Mercury: Yes
90908, High Chancellor of Mars: Yes
Dante, Stardust Architect of Ganymede: Unkown
Ranged, CEO of the JMG on IO: Unkown
Governor Torpedo of Luna: Abstain
Jakob Óðinnsson, Ǫ́sskonungr: Fuck No

Roderick Litton Suffers Public Breakdown during radio interview

CEO Roderick Littion, in a live interview, today, Mr Littion, well known for the crude attempts to cause conflict that resulted in the failure of his trade deal with mars began by requesting that

"The U.N. can allow me the usage of the dwarf planet Pluto one day. I would also ask to be allowed to eventually use mass drivers, under supervision, once I have regained their trust."

     He was then interrupted by "The Grey Fox" the shadowy leader of DAIN Industries who attempted to correct some of Mr Littion's statements. Mr Littion then produced his phone and called the Esteemed UN chairman, Mr Higami who matter of factly stated: "The UN will contract with companies that do not have an obsession with Mass Drivers." The chairman then stated he was not at liberty to discuss the legislature regarding mass drivers, and ended the call.

      Mr Littion oblivious to the fact the call had ended began to offer to follow the rules placed on him in exchange for Pluto. Mr Littion then called some spokesperson for Oliver in an attempt to persuade him to vote in favor of him. The spokesperson replied by calling his comments and behaviour "most inappropriate" and that there was little he could to convince Oliver to vote in his favour. He then provided to claim he was friends with a foreign power hostile to earth. This claim is put into doubt the fact that as 90908 put it "his ability to influence system powers is diminished greatly by recent events and the temperament of its leader, making the claims of outside support suspect."

     While some sources, specifically some representative believes he is a "traitor to his species," others like Mr  Higami believe that he "has finally fallen off the deep end and is due for a trip to a psychiatric hospital." When we attempted to contact Roderick Litton, he stated "Gimmie Pluto or Give Me Asteroid."

Mars looks for new trading partners

     After the collapse of the Mars-Litton Industries trade agreement yesterday 90908, High Chancellor of Mars stated:

"The Mars Confederacy is dedicated to ensuring a healthy system economy. Our trade agreement with Litton Industries was, at first, both an attempt to facilitate industrial growth and establish a working relationship. However, it has become clear that they were the wrong partner for this endeavor. Mars remains open to similar deals with other, more trustworthy organizations" 

     Several prominent merchants shipping lines have expressed interest in a trade deal with marks. Kiks Killion CEO of the Silk Road Trading Company (SRTC) stated that, "The Silk Road Trading Company would be willing to trade with anyone who seeks it. We are a business, and doing business to conduct other people's business is our business."

     Some companies have doubts about doing trade with mars, considering the fate of its last trading agreement. Vetulus, CEO of the Sol Trade company, although expressing hope for a trade agreement when he stated that "A deal with any of the mighty eight would be a great honour for us at the STC" he however also expressed worry that "with the collapse of a deal that could have bee(ing) so influential on the market" "we are worried of what such a deal could do to us as a company it things were unsuccessful." Edit: Fixed some confusion

Mars - Litton Industries Trade Agreement Collapses

       A trade deal between Litton Industries, which is based on Pluto and Mars collapsed today after the Rod 995 CEO of Litton Corp attempted to alter the agreement he made with 90908, High Chancellor of the Martian Confederation.

      At 10 AM Eastern Rod claimed had finally obtained mass drivers through a trade agreement with the Martian Confederation after making comments what UN member Dante of the Stardust Commonwealth could only describe as "Repulsive and truly barbaric, honestly" "by a man who (would) enjoy killing millions".  

      Later in the day during a conference on UN voting procedure, Some Spokesperson for Titan asked if 90908 if he did indeed provide Litton Industries with Mass drivers. After which Jakob Óðinnsson, Ǫ́sskonungr of Mars suggested that the UN nuke Pluto. Some spokesperson, then commented "Actually, Jakob, you might be onto something there. By the proposed war crimes thing, an 80% supermajority of the major nations can overturn a war crimes verdict." Chairman 90908 of Mars provided the following document

The Mars Confederacy leases the moon of Deimos to Litton Corp. for a period of fifteen Earth years, in which time Litton Corp. has the right to use the leased land for any and all financial endeavors that do not constitute a criminal act under U.N or Martian law or a paramilitary operation. Mars also agrees to, during the period of this contract, provide escort for civilian freight if directly requested by Litton Corp. and gives the equivalent of 1000 U.N Dollars.

Litton Corp. agrees to give 15% of all minerals passing through Deimos and 1,000,000 tons of shipping yearly for no monetary cost. The Martian government reserves the right to dissolve the contract in the event of a suspected national security threat from Deimos.

This contract is to be reviewed every fifteen years by both parties.

After of the validity of the document was questioned Rod attempted to change the already signed document, infuriating the Hight chancellor of Mars who then called the deal off. 

After the meeting, in an exclusive interview, Rod stated to our reporter "What threats? those? lmao Like those would do anything if imma die anyway lmao. Also, I'll have backups, I like backups.

UN Chairman Misora also made a statement that "(Rod) had it coming"
CEO Kiks of the Silk road trading company also stated "I'm happy that it crashed. Homicidal (and) violent tendencies are bad for business, and need to be quashed quickly."

Edit:  Add kik's comments.

Expect further coverage from Space News Network and System News Broadcast

-Stargazer News