Plus interessant. - Pierre briefly skimmed over the short description of the project, deciding to check the link on the top later. Upon finishing he looked up on Tukker. - Looks exciting et I am sure we can find some spare funds to aid the project as well as an eager et capable engineer among our ranks in The Council to assist you. Oh, et c'est Croix, not LaCroix, - He quickly added while standing up and closing his data pad. - we have many of LaCroix around, but only one Henri Croix leading our transports. It would be unfortunate if Monsieur Bailey wouldn't find the right person because of a slight misunderstanding as this one. - he chuckled.
The notion of nutrition sounds splendid maintenant, Monsieur Tukker, show me the way, s'il vous plaît. - The two of them left the conference room, guards following them. However the way to the dining room didn't pass without some conversation either. - So, Monsieut Tukker, as somebody who's more familiar with Liberty, could you tell me a bit about the kinds of folks one may encounter there?
People are very much the same everywhere I fear, General.
Tukker clearly enjoyed the topic, strolling along the slightly winding pathway towards the restaurant he had prereserved tables waiting for them.
Generally you can sort them into the needy, the greedy, and the ignorant. We support the needy, trade with the greedy and try to either ignore, evade or reform the ignorant. Not always a simple task.
The trader laughed, shaking his hand to indicate he was half joking.
We have a lot of greedy corporations and individuals, giving us a dynamic and interesting market. And junkers in need of a job, Freelancers needing some chance to trade or civilians willing to better their life with the traning and chances we offer make up most of our recruits. The rest... well, try to convince a terrorist to change his views and I will gladly invite you to the next fund raising Gala to meet some high up nobles from Bretonia or populist officials from Liberty to try your wit there, too. The petty criminals in Liberty are dangerous but can be calculated if you take a economical view at logistics, but groups like the Xenos or the Lane Hackers follow their own reasoning despite any proof or arguments and can be completely unpredictable at times.
Tukker sounded slightly strained now, but carefully controlled his facial expressions
We take to opt for a quite open minded and pragmatic view about most topics, but there are some problems we can not ignore. For the Xenos we work to much with junkers and strangers, and for the Hackers we are too much like a corporation I suppose. We have managed to stay clear from major conflicts for a long time but I do not expect that luck to last.
Now he grinned again, and pointed towards the door to the restaurans suite where they could dine undisturbed.
We even managed to negotiate a casual accuaintance with some of the Rheinland groups, and if you would like some fresh Apfelstrudel after dinner that can be arranged. And if you need raw diamonds for industrial use or would be interested in swapping the blue gallic variant against the fabled red variant from Dresden I will be able to send somebody over with a Serenity or a freighter to pick up a load. But first, let us dine on real food, not on ship rations or recycled water. We both know that taste I suppose.
Hmm, yes, corporations providing decent market, I've heard that one before. Henri was quite excited about the possibilities in Liberty. - LaFlamme though, then frowned upon Tukker's comment about terrorists. While he noticed the other's emotional changes, he still decided to have his comment. - Monsieur, let me remind you that I know well what it is to be called a terrorist, et I can imagine what goes on on the other side of law. But of course you are familiar in Liberty, do you mind elaborating on what makes you condemn these groups as terrorists? What are the agendas of these Gzenos et Hackers et what experiences have you had with them, if I may ask? - They choose table and took their seats. - Oh, et I am not familiar with this Apfll... Appef... euh, so with that thing you mentioned either, nor with this red diamond, maybe you could tell about these too while we eat, oui?
Oh, No ! I am sorry if my words where inappropriate, General.
The trader seemed genually shocked, and paused for a moment as if to rethink his words.
People will always condemn or deny what they do not know, and use denouncing words as propaganda against what they can not ignore. And I am sure you fully recognize that history is written by the winner in a conflict, not by any neutral observer. I will not try to soften my unwise words through an advocats trick of redefinition, but you deserve an answer.
They where sitting down now, at a big visiglass window facing towards the rugged and beautiful outer shell of the Goddess Geode, and the trader pointed out towards the distant gas and dust clouds.
Out there it counts what you do, not what some media broadcast or governmental decree proclaims about you. I have never heared a single message about Council forces attacking a trader or firing at civilians, and I have met a fair lot of fugitives personally while fleeing from the onslaught of the gallic attack on Sirius or later on while building up the SRO relief project with Mr. Walker. There is no hipocrisy with your strategy and tactics, General LaFlamme. You fight a harsh and unforgiving war against a mighty enemy showing no remorse when breaking civilized conduct and ready to wreak genocide if his plans are furthered by it. And jet you stay civilised yourself.
He sounded very earnest, and was clearly picking his words with care now.
There are and always will be decisions to make, sacrifices to risk or chances to take that will question your resolve and your will, General. That is the burden of any leader, especially so in wartime situations. The difference between a soldier and a terrorist is not the side he chooses, but the means and methods he will bear to use. Not the uniform you wear makes the difference, or the amount of resources you can throw at an enemy. Not the discipline or the military protocol. It is the simple fact that a terrorist will always find an argument to justify any means he uses, to point at the "enemy civilians" he has just killed, bombed, detroyed... "terminated" , and will then tell you it is their fault, because they did not meet his demands. A soldier takes responsibility, a terrorist will not.
The voice firm, the eyes steady... Tukker was poised and concentrated, this was clearly something he had said before. And total conviction coloured every word and gesture while he continued.
I have had the luck to meet some dear friends and earn the respect of some very decent people, or I would probably still be circling Sirius with my old friend McKannon, without any home to call my own or any cause to fight for. But I met an ex- military pilot and his bunch of followers a few jears ago and that friendship has enabled me to build up all that Tinkers stands for. We do not hesitate to negotiate with anybody who will at least listen to us or respect us enough to negotiate, but we refuse to be intimidated by force or violence. In short : we will not bow down to terorrism, be it a small organized group of professional agitators, asassins and special operatives like the Lane Hackers, be it a larger and more populistic group like the Xenos, or some form of corporate or governmental force. This might proove to be our vulnerability one day, but up to that day we will always try and support anybody sharing one main ideal with us : That things can be better.
Looking around at the table with fine, assorted foodstuff and wines Tukker seemed to have lost his appetite, and picked his glass to fill it with water, not wine.
The choise always boils down to a simple formula : to build or to destroy. There is no totally evil or totally good choice, only the personal responsibility everybody should take. Do you know this ancient Philosopher named Kant ? "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction." If I look at Council regulations, you act as a lawful but militaristic opposition to an inhumane, totalitarian and fully terroristic entity. And I can not say the same for any of the groups labled as "terrorists" in Liberty. And to be honest : I have studied them carefully.
Leaning back in his seat, sipping at his water from time to time, Tukker continued to talk.
I have a responsibility as a human, even if I am not a King or a President, as soon as I can gather enough resources to master my life and ensure the more biological imperative of survival and procreation. I might choose to create art, or to enhance mankinds knowledge as a researcher or explorer... or I might just dedicate my time to humanitarian aid.
He grinned, clearly remembering something, and saluted with his glass towards the window and the cold space outside.
I met a lot of people who I call friends, but as I met Fynn and his ragtag bunch of scrappers and junkers and then realised they where not after fast cash or big profit but where trying in their very own way to better life, step by step and day by day, I realised that all they needed was somebody for the paperwork and for contact with Investors. That I can do well.
Still grinning he emptied his glass and refilled it, this time with white wine from Champagne.
And as for the Apfelstrudel... I am part Rheinland and part Bretonia in my Heritage so I will be delighted to swap recipies and comment on the virtues of delicacies with you. I suggest we start caring about our lunch so we can add some frommage to the list of Apeterifs we should discuss afterward, and I will entertain you with the story of the red Hessians and their blood diamonds as topic at the table in the meanwhile.
Pierre was surprised at the sudden change of tone and choice of words (if anything, a slight, millimeter high raise of eyebrows shown this), he didn't intend to cause it but he didn't mind the erupting speech either. At first there were points where he had thoughts to respond with, but then he decided against interruption. Later Tukker spoke about things LaFlamme was familiar about, like how terrorists justify their means, he have had the unpleasant experience of witnessing the closest ally of Council, the Maquis operate similarly. While they still manage to show some restraint despite the odds, desperation among Maquisards reached a level where they care about morals no more.
The arrival of food did not interrupt the monologue either, and while LaFlamme noticed that Tukker did not answer his questions directly, the trader gave enough hints already for him to know relations between T&T and these terrorists. And let's face it, LaFlamme didn't care about Xenos, and already had his own experiences with the Hackers, now acquiring confirmation about their true nature from an other source too. Yet there was still one question he needed an answer to, a question he didn't want to rush up to yet.
Oh, Hessians, now I remember. - He said while they both began eating. - We have had dealings with them earlier, quite long ago. Et those Blood Diamonds ring a bell too, excusez-moi, I just didn't associate at first when you mentioned red diamonds. - he chuckled but then changed his tone back to serious, and slighly careful - But I hope I'm not too indiscrete if I return to an earlier topic, merely out of curiosity. - LaFlamme looked at Tukker, imitating a thinking facial expression. - If these Hackeurs et Gzenos are this much of a nuissance, can't they be terminated once and for all? Or do they hide that well?
Exterminate the Hackers ! Purge the Xenos from Liberty !
Tukker laughed , saluting at the General with an ironic air.
Excuse me if I riposte with your own words, General.
You told me that "know well what it is to be called a terrorist, and can imagine what goes on on the other side of law."
The Council has been faced with well planned and fully coordinated atacks against them from a military aparatus that can only be described as mercilessly efficient, no ?
And still, through wit and cunning, bravery and resourceful tactics you have not only managed to stand against this overpowering enemy in a guerilla warfare, but to gain more than one victory. And these folks live in a similar situation for all their lives, even if the starting situation and general goals are different: The Lane Hackers are intelligent, ruthless, well integrated into libertonian underground and not without allies in the surrounding systems. Same can be said about the conglomerate of Xenophopic groups nicknamed Xenos. Underestimate these groups at your own risk.
During the next two courses served - a delightful fish soup from Kusari and a mix of Cortez salads and fowl served with an array of dips and Antipasti, Tukker explained some of Libertys History while outlining the timeline of developement and exploration, and explaining the known or rumoured history of the ex- Ageira members forming the original Lane Hackers in AS 738. He also explained some connections between the Xenos and DSE was rumoured to exist, and about Tinkers connection to some liberaly minded junker communities at the fringe of junker congress influence and Marauder interests.
I can not really say I have insight into coordination, resources or actual power of these groups, you should ask our Foreman FynnMcScrap for that. Or ask Bailey on occasion, he once told me he had passed most of their bases in scan range at least once. All I know is that their hideouts around Liberty are well known not only to the criminal underground, but to groups like the liberty security force, the libertonian military and even dissident groups like the Hellfire Legion. The Xenos nest in Bering, Minnesota, Pensylvania , Ontario and Colorado, while the Hackers have outposts in Ontario, Magellan, Alberta and Gallileo. I have heared rumours about another jump hole to a criminal system used by Rogues , Xenos and Hackers near there but know nothing sure about that.
Tukker once again paused, picking his words carefully.
There seems to be some stress between these groups from time to time, but mainly they cooperate. There have been rumours of a great criminal alleigance with Outcasts to control the damnable trade with Cardamine and slaves, and there is a lot of firepower gathered there. I dare say that without a full scale military campain you will not have any effect on these criminals besids training their recruits in a real case scenario.
The trader nodded, speaking to himself as much as to his guest.
Perhaps our problem is that these egomanical and ruthless groups are nevertheless better organized and better interconnected to support each other as the forces standing agains them ? It would be worth some thought to see if groups like the Council, the Crayterian Republic, the Church of Baffin and perhaps even Tinkers could band up together with each other and with allies like IMG or even the current GMG leadership that seems less inclined in supporting this smuggle than before to aid each other against these ... how is the name they give that poison ? These dreamers of the Orange Nightmare.
And focusing on the General again he continued:
I fully recognize that you and your staff have more urgent buisness at hand, and we may not ignore or forget the threat by this madman Charles and his militaristic aristocrats, but if Tinkers can aid you in any form in such a venture we will be at your service.
He grinned, picked up his glass of wine and toasted the General with is.
Liberty might be a name claimed on a political map , dear General. But we both know it is an ideal that can be lost easily, and a goal worth fighting for.
Pierre smiled a bit too when Phileas burst out laughing. He had his reasons of asking, while it is true he knows how to dodge the wrath of the Gallic Crown it is safer to assume things work differently in Liberty, then find how how exactly things work in Liberty. He didn't mind the trader using his own words to prove the naivity behind his proposal, the more Tukker has spoken the more LaFlamme knew, and that was pretty much what he wanted.
During the history lesson Pierre was mostly just nodding and paying attention to the storyteller, showing interest mostly in the last two centuries of the history of Liberty. He noted the coincidence of the year 738 with a slight smile: 738 AS was the founding year of the Lane Hackers while 738 AGS was the present year, the faction was as old as Liberty herself was when the Gallia made landfall.
Then something changed. Excitement filled LaFlamme, eyes became slightly wider when he heard that his partners may know where the Hacker hideouts are, which then quickly changed to surprised confusion and disbelief, making him frown when Tukker said that Liberty forces know about those hideouts too. - Why haven't they taken them out yet then? - He didn't have time to think too much into it though as the trader continued with the flow of information. Base locations, allegiance to the Maltese, Pierre nodded on the thought of the local alliance between the lower-Tau factions, but discussing that was planned for a later event when all the relevant parties are present.
Yet Piere was still thinking about what Tukker said about those hideouts, gazing into the distant void, only looking back at him upon his finishing thoughts about Liberty. Thoughtfully he narrowed his eyes and without any circumstantiality he asked: How is it possible?
I mean, - he began explaining - you used my own words, that I know well what's on the other side of the law, et I indeed know, but the only thing in Gallia we could defend so far without having to hide it from the Crown was the Champagne system. We have several other outposts around the Kingdom to operate from where secrecy is a key part of the defenses. Et the same can be said about Roussillon, if GRN would find these hideouts there would be a massacre in no time. I find it hard to believe the Liberty Navy haven't done the same yet if they really know the location of these hideouts. - for a few brief seconds he pondered about possible explainations, again gazing away into the distance. - Where are these bases exactly? How well are they protected? - Pierre was more thinking out loud than actually asking, of course he didn't forget that Tukker himself did not know the answers. What was next is to make contact with either McScrap or Bailey, but of course common courtesy demanded to finish the current meeting.
He had to weight his two options up and consider the effects of his decisions: briefly interrupt the chat to try to make contact with the other two T&T and get the information he needed, or stay courteous to the one who's been courteous to him as well and delay that contact until after the meeting. He then remembered what's actually at stake here, Roussillon, also remembering Tukker's stance towards the Hackers. Pierre made his decision, preparing the explaination too should his actions be questioned, and looked at Phileas with calm seriousness in his eyes: Monsieur Tukker, can we make contact with either Monsieur McScrap or Monsieur Bailey at this moment?
The Trader was surprised by the sudden and intense interest by his guest, but then realised the military mans questions where serious and contentrated on the discussion again.
To be precise, General : I have no exact knowledge about Liberty Forces and their Intelligence status. And especially the Lane Hackers might have means to hide or delete any Information that is stored or archived in Liberty while the Xenos I suppose have many secret supporters on all levles of corporate and governmental hierarchy. I have no great confidence in libertonian bureaucracy to be honest. Too many groups pulling in too many different directions, too much to loose or to hide, and much to much private interest involved. General, we are talking about an oligarchic structure working in a representative democracy. We are talking lobbyistic settings, and the power of the almighty Credit. Do you know why we at Tinkers are so keen to support local Infrastructure ? Because our Investors do not come from the banking or financial sector. Our funds stem from middle class people denied any chance to better life without corporative consent.
He continued with a frown deepening on his face, speaking more slowly:
The corporations and the state are entangled into a web of necessity and cold warfare, where an outer threat is needed to hold state together while more or less "minor" threats are ignored or even used to hamper your rival and better your own standing. Xenos help hamper unwanted "foreign" corporate trade, Lane Hackers are used to hinder Ageira Technologies in getting too powerfull, and I suppose even the Hellfire Legion or the Liberty Rogues have some secret supporters in upper echelon Liberty. Same in Kusari : Samura supports the Hogosha as far as I know, while Kishiro probably works together with some die-hard anti-republican groups or support the GMG. And as far as I know its the same in Rheinland , while bretonian major companies openly pirating and crippling each other outside of BPA)sight is common enough too.
Realising that the General wanted more Information and not only words Tukker continued :
I have seen at least 2 bases I believe to be occupied by Xenos myself from afar or evaded a mysterious asteroid base surrounded by Hacker patrols in Magellan more than one time and I am sure our Skippers can tell you more. Fynn and his scrappers have been exploring the systems around Texas regularily, looking for wrecks, valuable scrap and other claimable resources. These junkers tend to come around a lot. By the way, there was a well known rascal called Venturer who left Tinkers to join you I believe ? He knows the jump holes in that area well I believe, as he smuggled ores as a free miner before joining us.
Sensing his guests excitement and wishing to calm him he pulled out his pocket organizer and transferred two communication tokens:
Here, this is Fynns personal comnet account and you can reach Bailey on the other channel. If you want to send out scouts to gather military grade scanner information I am sure we can aid you on that, though I do suspect you will have to risk detection and a fight with the local Patrols around these Hideouts. I am not as knowledgeable as our scrapoping teams or our senior skippers in these matters as in my own trading times as a captain I travelled the great circuit around the outer systems more than the independent systems around liberty.
With these words Tukker closed his organizer again and intensely fixed LaFlamme for a moment, then politely asked:
May I ask if there is a special reason for yor keen interest, General LaFlamme? As I explained, these groups and their supporters form a dense and dangerous web, and touching any fibre might send shivers through the network to alert more than the occasional Pirate or Smuggler. There are players in this game that are extremely dangerous, even if I could not name you any Individual. I only followed their moovements with my ship for most of my life, like a fish hunting after the wreckage some great submerged predator leaves behind in his wake.
The arrival of the two tokens on his data pad just added to his excitement. Pierre quickly opened up a text editor and while listening to Tukker he noted down a brief sentence:
Cherchez pour Rouge en Liberté, quand trouvé-lui contactez un des ces personnes et cherchez pour les bases des Crackeurs avec lui.
Attaching the two communication tokens and saving the message as a draft he pressed a small button on his watch, then looked at Tukker to answer his query.
Let's just say that one of these groups wandered too far away from their own nest, touched the fibre of an other dense et dangereux web, but instead of backing off, they went on testing my patience, my dedication to the defense of my own people. I want to show them that they are not the only dangereux players in this game they just began playing. - And as some dramatic finale, it burst out from him in a cold, low, serious tone, looking straight into the eyes of Tukker: - But most importantly I want to make sure that people on Toulouse do not get butchered down like cattle in a slaughterhouse because a bunch of computer monkeys thought it is a good idea to play with information they shouldn't have.
One of the guards, who has been signalled with the press of the button on the wrist-mounted device, stepped next to LaFlamme's chair. The general looked up and briefly ordered: - Envoyez cette message pour Agent Jaune, au plus tôt. - He sent the draft over to the guard's PDA, who then left with a silent nod. While the two continued their meeting the guard sought out one of Shasta's Neural Net terminals, and after applying proper encoding, he sent it to Agent Jaune.
Finding a Council agent tasked with infiltration wasn't an easy job, even less so in a foreign house. The target of infiltration this time was a group with access over basically the entirety of Liberty's Neural Net and has tools in his possession forcing Rouge to full incognito without connection to the EOS. Jaune knew this, that's why he sighed when reading the transmission. Finding Rouge can easily last months, just like the infiltration itself, but what had to be done had to be done. Departing from Toulouse meant less travel time to Pittsburgh, but that was the least he had to worry about.
Five days less than an entire month passed since the meeting on 23rd of July and after visiting near the whole of Liberty Jaune finally met up with Rouge on Denver. Spotting the familiar face getting out of a Dromedary to unload the Nanocapacitors brought from Houston he was relieved to be over this phase of his task. After the reunion of the two, Rouge initiated contact with Fynn McScrap. The next phase begins.
When looking back at Tukker LaFlamme noticed the change of expressions on the man's face so he began explaining: Oui, Monsieur, these Lane Hackers went as far as blackmailing us after stumbling across Roussillon, but they couldn't convince me of their honesty, nor could offer any guarantees they won't abuse their knowledge even if I give into their demands. Credits can only silence a mouth temporarily, so I needed something else to keep them from selling us out, et I very much hope I will get that thing before it's too late. Can you help me, Monsieur Tukker? - he looket at Phileas, anticipating his response.
A cautious look crossed Tukkers face as he realised how determined and angry the military man before him was. But then he remembered a very long, very private and also very agitated discussion wuth Fynn about the Lane Hackers, their morale and methods. And he could fully understand LaFlamme's fears. Slowly he nodded.
I ... I understand.
He thought about it, remaining silent for some moments. Then he nodded, a bitter and disillusioned small smile appearing on his face.
I will notify Fynn and senior skipper Bailey that we shall cooperate with you, but our Foreman is no mere employee. General, Mr. McScrap is a full board member and will act according to his own judgement. And he is the person who negotiated with the Lane Hackers in the past, so he will be able to decide best how we can help you.
He sighed, and set aside his finished plate.
Difficult times, but it was to be expected. We see violence as a last resort, General. And prefer negotiations to weapon fire. But we are not blind, and will not cast aside friends because of danger. You have our full support.
Again he fetched his organizer and typed a few short sendences, relaying a message to the Shrine and from there to the Haven over internal channels.
Well then, the dice are cast, General. I suggest we discuss emergency channels and communication protocols next, totether with the whole sway of security measures necessary in such times. I would prefer to have possible issued prevented before they occur, and we will have a lot to cover before we visite the Shrine for a tour of our facilities. Agreed ?