to: Gateway -|- from: IMG| : Tau 23 Gateway-GRN-IMG Incident

[Jack_Henderson]

**** SENDER: Jack Henderson, IMG Operations Coordination ****

**** TO: Leadership of Gateway ****

Dear Sir or Madam,

I regret to inform you that one of your transport pilots made a grave mistake today in the Taus. The ship name is: Gateway|-GSV-Gloriana.

The commander did not only loiter in the Tau 23 fields after being filled for the first time as if he was not in enemy territory, but later also failed to evade detection and being chased by a GRN vessel. As if that wasn't bad enough, your commander decided to lead the Gallic into the Tau 39 system and to Fort Siloso. To top things off, he docked the transport at Fort Siloso while being chased.

I don't know what else to name this except monumental incompetence.

I had trust in your company that your Tau shippers know that this is occupied space and that your ship's presence is against Gallic law. I expected your pilots to know that they need to be stealthy and avoid detection and capture at any cost. I also expect every Gateway commander to know that mistakes can mean grave consequences for the Guild and that - as allies - they would do everything to avoid trouble for the Guild.

The commander of Gateway|-GSV-Gloriana failed that trust spectacularly and proved that he is not able to deal with what it takes to operate in the Taus.

He has been removed from the docking list of Fort Siloso and the Guild does not want to see this vessel or its commander near any IMG operation or installation inside the Gallic occupation zone.

I ask Gateway to educate their pilots on the dangers of operating in the Taus, or bar them from flying to the Taus. I am not willing to pay the price for the mistakes others make.

Yours sincerely

Jack Henderson
IMG Operations

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[Highland Laddie]

::Incoming Transmission::
Source: Oceana Shipping Platform, Cortez System

Well, well....was wondering when I would get this call, Jack.

You've certainly presented a well-polished case against one of my captains, but you seem to be ignoring the full facts in the case.

Captain Redburn of the Gloriana happens to be a long-standing and well reputed pilot within my company, and I was informed that he was invited by your ships into the mining fields under the impression that a convoy to Rheinland was forming. Upon arrival at the mining site, he was stuck waiting to get his transport filled by your miners behind another ship, and then when his cargo was full and he was awaiting the departure of the convoy, you informed him that instead he was to start filling Siloso, which he proceeded to do.

Upon his arrival back at the mining site, he was once again awaiting your miners to fill him up, when a Gallic gunboat quickly exited out of Java and ambushed him with barely a word of warning or assistance from any of the 7 other IMG ships present. Thankfully, my captain was able to dock on Siloso as a last act of saving both his life, his ship, and his cargo...all of which are Gateway property...something we actually hold very valuable, whereas it seems the IMG does not.

I'm beginning to wonder what exactly this "alliance" of ours really benefits us. I can certainly get that kind of cold treatment from any House mining corporation out there, so I guess you can't really blame either myself or my pilots for expecting a bit more from a real "ally." At the very least, I know that BMM isn't going to sit idly by and laugh while a bunch of Mollys try to blow my transport out of the sky and then yell at them for docking.

What happens the next time my ships are in Omega-7 helping you fill Falster and the Red Hessians show up? You gonna let them blow my ships up too, and then simply blame my captains for monumental incompetence? Maybe you should actually show a bit of a spine and stand up for your friends, Jack. Because that's what allies do.

In any case....I will make sure the Gloriana does not return to the Taus to work with the IMG...and I'm considering ceasing all Gateway operations in the Taus until such time as the Guild can actually prove themselves trustworthy friends again.

-Stuart out.

::End Transmission::

[Jack_Henderson]

**** SENDER: Jack Henderson, IMG Operations Coordination ****

**** TO: Leadership of Gateway ****

Mister Stuart,

You are well informed about the Tau situation, so the distance that IMG needs to keep to Gateway inside the occupation zone cannot come as a surprise to you. Gallia didn't take the Taus just yesterday.

Did you expect the Guild to attack the GRN gunboat in your defense? Or that we would wave you over to Java? You cannot be naive enough to expect that. The safety of many thousands of Guildmembers depends on a carefully kept neutrality with a highly unpredictable, oppressive and dangerous occupation force. What did you expect?

I won't explain to you the Omega 7 Hessian example you chose to mention. Consult any diplomatic manual to figure out why there is no danger involved in the event you described.

It is up to you to decide to cease Tau operations entirely. Pilots that know how to handle the risk are welcome. Reckless or inexperienced pilots are not fit for this kind of mission.

I'll leave it up to you do decide what your consequences from this incident will be. Make your own decision on whether BMM is a better friend and your future, or whether a long-standing ally that happens to be in a difficult situation in the Taus (for reasons he could not influence and that he has to deal with) is still a much better choice.

In my opinion, you should honour the past and the bond between the Guild and Gateway a lot more, than to put it up for discussion after an incident like this one. I understand that you hate Gallia, and that you love Bretonia, and the Guild is trying to help as good as we can, but the position makes it difficult to assist directly and visibly. You know that.

Yours sincerely

Jack Henderson
IMG Operations