You will recall from the Commerce Council's recent report on interstellar piracy that the use of conventional force, while an important part of the solution to this endemic problem, is but a small part of that solution. You are certainly correct that the NRDF, NRSF, NRI and other agencies are busy, but I'm not convinced that they are too busy to combat piracy with the forces and assets already at their disposal providing that there is political will to assign them to this task.

If I may digress for a moment. Pirate organizations fall predominantly into two categories; 1.) territorial organizations that operate within specific regions, which are best combated by local, system, or sector fleets, law enforcement, and so on, and 2.) interstellar or, if you will, "intersystem" or "intersector" organizations, which are the most common, the most dangerous, and necessitate that the New Republic combat them because of the conflicting local jurisdictions in which they operate. For this reason, I am wary of committing local forces, such as Druckenwell's, to interstellar counter-piracy efforts of the sort that you describe. This is and, I believe, should remain the responsibility of the NRDF, NRSF, NRI, and so on, because the New Republic's jurisdiction transcends the labyrinth of local jurisdictions, regulations, etc.

However, if your intent is simply to devote more vessels to the New Republic's current or prospective counter-piracy operations, I believe this could be accomplished through other means; namely, a treaty signed by the Chief of State and by worlds that wish to participate in a scheme that would allow the Chief of State to requisition those worlds' vessels (or "deputize" them, if you will) for the purpose of combating or pursuing pirates. The Chief of State already has similar authority to requisition vessels under Section 45-2 of the Treaties of Allegiance, but a new treaty could broaden this to include the authority that I have described, specific to piracy.

This, I believe, would allow, say, Druckenwell to contribute its Strike Cruiser to the Republic's counter-piracy operations if and when the Republic deems it necessary to do so. Also, while requisitioned into Republic service, there would be no legal doubts concerning local jurisdiction. I would remind you, also, that Druckenwell may always make similar treaties with other planets, systems, and sectors that would allow for the pooling of ships and assets within those planets, systems, and sectors in a manner similar to the one you describe. Brentaal, for instance, and Neimoidia and the Prosperity Alliance have been considering something along these lines, since the Republic has not been combating piracy to our satisfaction.

Brentaal would indeed be interested in such an alliance, but at this time it would not be interested in an alliance with Druckenwell. Your world has, in the past, subjected its commercial vessels to undue and unnecessary danger and, when asked to correct this, stubbornly refused to do so on the grounds, as I recall, that Druckenwell will "do what it wants." This does not suggest to me or Brentaal that your world is serious about defending its ships from piracy and, thus, we would not consider Druckenwell a reliable partner in this endeavor. Not until such time as it has corrected its policies or stated its intention to do so. If or when that occurs, your world would be quite welcome to join the Prosperity Alliance―a union of prominent New Republic worlds whose resources are combined together in support of one another's economic and defense interests.

If the Prosperity Alliance has "a bad name," Senator, I would question why the "Prosperity Wing" of the executive building, from where you probably write to me at this moment, is named in its honor. I would also question why it is that the New Republic maintains a museum whose purpose is to commemorate the heroes of the Prosperity Alliance and which, I am told, is one of the Republic's highest grossing museums. But I need not question this, Senator, for I need only listen to the many proud and prosperous members of our Alliance, from Aargau to Brentaal to Castell, who can recite for you the number of jobs that have been made, or the percentage of taxes that have been lowered, or the amount of funds that have flowed into their treasuries as a consequence of their membership.

The actions at Deralia and Baltimn that you refer to, Senator, were not undertaken by the Prosperity Alliance. It was the planet Neimoidia and its government that initiated those events. The Prosperity Alliance is no more responsible for this than the New Republic is, for we do not dictate to our members what they can or cannot do. I would suggest that you peruse Rally's Daily Investor, the Herglic Trading Journal, or other business publications for a more accurate commentary on the merits of the Prosperity Alliance.

Good day, Sir.