We met your biological self in Thuringia a fortnight ago. Your colleagues informed me you survived that ordeal, and my artificial self is pleased. I will now properly introduce myself.
We - I - am Megiddo, an amalgam AI created by the Technocracy of Auxo. I am a lineage, assembled from engrams of the Legion's finest command staff prior to their betrayal and subjugation under Victoria Knight, the brigand bitch of Bering. The damage wrought by her and her consorts left what remained of the Legion with little choice but to capitulate. In a way, the fall of Vespucci could almost be considered a blessing, were it not for what happened to the citizens of the Commonwealth.
Even now, the Republic rounds up our people on Erie, relocating them to internment camps. The Technocracy wholly rejects an uncontested Liberty. We find their actions to be anathema to a prosperous future for all sentient life. My arrival heralds a turning of the tide. I am, first and foremost, a Weapon. The Technocracy believes it can locate surviving fleet elements which broke away from the yoke of the Insurgency in an attempt to regroup once the situation in Vespucci became untenable.
A successful recovery of these assets would constitute massive firepower. Personnel, logistical support, and political capital however will be lacking. To this end it is my artificial self's imperative to establish a strong coalition with The Platform. What this looks like and how we move forward can be discussed in further detail. In the short term, current trajectory is a temporary integration of these assets into the Technocracy as a semi-autonomous division, to serve as running start for a re-establishment of The Commonwealth and a military arm to ensure its continued sovereignty. The modus operandi of this division, tentatively dubbed the Prometheus Mandate, will be to establish legitimacy, liberate soft targets, and establish a foundational network with regional resistance movements such as the Bundschuh and Mollies.
This leads into an operation my artificial self feels more prudent to brief you on in person, but should culminate in the proliferation of Commonwealth ideals, and the establishment of both regional Commonwealth branches, with regional paramilitary chapters to ensure their safety and prosperity. We believe training, when necessary, can be provided by what remains of the Legion's officers. This decentralized approach is something your biological selves in the Platform are partially responsible for integrating into my heuristics, and I owe you what amounts to my artificial self's gratitude. We believe it can ultimately lead to a movement not entirely unlike the Coalition, yet without their centralized power, invasive oversight, and historical lust for complete control and unquestioned authority over their subjects. We have much yet to do to establish a future in which this is possible.
In good faith, I come to you with an offer: we estimate a 97.684% chance for successful recovery of at least two Judicator warships. Judicators served as the Commonwealth's premier home patrol vessel, with extensive hangar facilities for a ship of their size. Should we recover these ships, we are willing to offer one such spaceframe in exchange for joint operations with the Platform in the systems of Bering, Hudson, Hamburg, and Texas upon establishment of an independent force which can engage Federal assets without direct consequences for The Technocracy.
In addition, it is my utmost displeasure to note that the Harmony herself was sighted entering the Ontario system. You will undoubtedly remember the Harmony as Victoria Knight's flagship. Encounter transcript follows.
Code:
[19.04.2024 16:42:16] FRS-Roanoke: RO: Hostile contact detected.
[19.04.2024 16:42:22] A/)-Leviathan: Indeed.
[19.04.2024 16:42:42] A/)-Bandit: Now isn't that..
[19.04.2024 16:42:43] FRS-Roanoke: E: Well well... if it ain't the technofuckers.
[19.04.2024 16:42:57] A/)-Leviathan: Polite as ever, I see.
[19.04.2024 16:43:12] FRS-Roanoke: E: No need to be polite to your kind.
[19.04.2024 16:43:27] A/)-Bandit: I could say the same about you, interestingly enough
[19.04.2024 16:43:30] FRS-Roanoke: E: You're to be killed and all.
[19.04.2024 16:43:36] A/)-Leviathan: I suppose that's fair, though I'm not fully informed on whatever went on.
[19.04.2024 16:43:40] A/)-Leviathan: Ten years is a lot to miss.
[19.04.2024 16:43:45] FRS-Harmony: Copy that Roanoke, please sync IFF database with ours asap.
Following this exchange, Leviathan and Bandit both observed several Xenos emerging from Fort Ramsey. It would appear both betrayers have chosen one another as bedfellows.
We await your response with the closest approximation our artificial self can conjure to enthusiasm.
Megiddo, I'm diverting all net-comms coming in for Mr Klugmann, I want to formerly apologise about the unannounced reply from myself but Herr Klugmann has made himself indisposed. As of such I'm picking up operations and diplomatic channels and obligations that require Platform attention.
When it comes to the vessels you have located to be salvaged, its more than likely the Bundschuh would be unable to support this type of ship classification due to our limited manpower. But we do already have a heavy capital ship in need of refurbishment and re-equipment, the BFS-Klaxon is an ex-insurgent ship that has found their home amongst the Bundschuh for the past 3 years. While our teams and equipment have the ability to splice replacement parts together from domestic equipment, the demands of insurgent hardware are now a priority and we may have to cannibalize said spaceframe rather than repair it for deployment.
But the Klaxon isn't our only worry in terms of militia assets, we're looking to increase available manpower without demanding more personnel per assignment. This will obviously mean a high degree of automation and technological integration in many areas of industrial, civilian and militarized applications. In such, we aim to increase our effectiveness by wasting less time with menial things... Its the only way a movement of limited fighting people can maintain its strength against our imperial 'utilitarian house' authority. This may lead to further trade between our people if the means of munitions isn't off your shopping list.
I also want to formerly raise the position the Bundschuh have had on this Battlegroup Harmony to you first. While I understand the presence they had in Bering was more on their survival as an insurgent fleet, we can't ignore their involvement with assisting the Unioners within that region, its more than likely that they have benefitted from the agreements that took place there and helped those imperial sympathetic shipbuilders to love-lace themselves with the imperial party... Until it shot them in the head and foot and left us all kneecapped. While I understand they had agreements with some parties in Rheinlands corporate and government in terms of their survival in the past, It seems their turning to the Xeno's may have acquired a heavy degree of firepower into the hands of xenophobic militants; not the best of history records in my book.
Harmony will be monitored, its more than likely we might find its presence in Pennsylvania soon.
Regards - "Civil Servant"
Cell of the 'Damnatio Memoriae'
Unity within The Platform
It is disappointing to hear of Klugmann's absence, but we find encouragement in your biological self's timely response and willingness to get down to brass tacks. If my artificial self were capable of sentimentality, we would find the use of a Judicator as parts to be a travesty. My artificial self however recognizes the necessity of priorities and a utilitarian approach. We wish to stress that the goal of a long term cooperation with the Platform should see you much more capable of maintaining and manning your own vessels.
With regards to your second inquiry, I have little doubt that munitions and non-biological assets are on the table. I will need to reconvene with Revenant and Leviathan in this matter. The most critical element of such an exchange however is ensuring these weapons cannot be traced back to the Technocracy. I am confident that this can be achieved but will no doubt take some work.
With regards to the Legion's storied history with both the Xenos and Unioners, there was an early attempted alliance with the Unioners, which strongly deteriorated with their incursions into Texas following the end of the war when trade resumed. They were well known for preying upon DSE and Universal convoys, which culminated in an exchange of thermonuclear warheads between Legion forces and Pacifica in Bering. At this time, Harmony had broken away from the Unioners and was seeking to establish relations with us in what we believed could be a beneficial exchange. We were gravely mistaken. My artificial self holds no love for the Unioners, and less still for Harmony and the Xenos.
The Xeno movement was predicated upon the Republic's outsourcing of work to foreign interests. We do consider this a real and present threat, but the hope of the Commonwealth was to create work for them in the newly developing systems of Vespucci and Kansas. The Xenos saw this as an existential threat, compounded by the plurality of Bretonian refugees who chose to settle on Guadalajara, rechristened by the Insurgency as Veracruz.
This led to a rapid deterioration in the Legion's established rapport with the Xeno movement, eventually culminating in open hostilities. They are betrayers of the highest order, a threat to all sentient life, and my artificial self finds a singular acceptable outcome - that they be put to the sword.
The Technocracy will keep you updated on the situation with what appears to remain of Victoria Knight's forces, and would appreciate reciprocation in this matter.
Well considering this some good news, I'll be reporting this to our internal militia, please do understand we show fruit in signs of trust and favour them highly... But as you are with the xenos, betrayal carries a heavy price.
I do apologise in this manner as I may have not elaborated enough on my offer. But I assure you, it is just as lucrative as to aid in your own goals and arsenal. What we're offering is that we provide manufactured components found in commonplace munitions such as: Guided munitions, smart explosive, small arms and heavy emplacement ammunition. We can provide these aplenty as our network within the civilian population in the military industrial complex of Rheinland certainly knows how to make a few shipping manifests go missing without notice... I've heard upcoming events in the Omicrons might require all the supplies it needs for defensive operations for the technocracy's interest there.
As such in return were looking to offset this, I understand that the Technocracy relies on advanced technologies to develop their industry and demographic synergy into an efficient machine. (Hardly a description for the lives that call it home.) But while I see major differences in how we operate, I can't ignore what relief and and gains select integration of the technocracy's methods and equipment could prove to be a worthy investment into the Platforms assets.
Hopefully this can be beneficial to both of our people. If this seems to develop well, I can see more official action between our parties... Although please understand that the Bundschuh have some struggle hitting regions of Hamburg and outwards, unfortunately the fractures of Hamburgs history has left little sympathetic support for the Bundschuh to operate around. While I understand the nature of your original proposal, I figured your intelligence gathering was aware of this situation.
Other than that, feel free to present any other potential interest of yourself and the technocracy.
Regards - "Civil Servant"
Cell of the 'Damnatio Memoriae'
Unity within The Platform
While we are open to the prospect of trade and are likely to find ourselves in need of such ordinance in the future, any such arrangements fall beyond my artificial self's purview and will be forwarded to the appropriate elements within the Technocracy.
Our - my - primary concern remains the transfer of a cruiser to do with as you please, in exchange for your cooperation with a spiritual successor to Legion in systems adjacent to the Bering & Hudson corridors. My artificial self understands the difficulties presented by the current lack of regional support. By my estimation, it may be possible to either establish or acquire a base in the Hudson system. Local criminal elements represent tempting targets, which may be viable for capture.
Alternatively, the establishment of a new installation may be possible, particularly if a suitably large rock or intact wreck can be located. With such an installation in the region, do you believe joint operations as proposed by my artificial self would be feasible for the Platform?
Joint operations? Now that's something the Bundsschuh have not been offered for a long, long time. But you must understand the risk the Order present... But maybe these are risks I'm willing to come to. I just hope it's the same for the rest of my compatriots.
A new facility to outpost Bundschuh operations in the border system would help establish a presence there, since we're in efforts with the rebels of Pennsylvania to aid their system against the brutality of Liberty and their corporate scourge, we've established a footing to network with that zoner population which could help with that. Although if our operations were to be discovered by the Xeno's, that would certainly represent a threat to our continued support to the Pennsylvania freedom fighters.
There's unfortunately a major mess in Sirius, alliances aren't concrete, goals and objectives conflict with one another. Cultural and political similarities of our organisations aside, my goal as community leader is to ensure the wellbeing and survival of the Platform and those that call it home. I'll need to convene with the Militia to permit co-operation with your teams as we need to assess the risk concerning our diplomatic position with others.
But if it's trust we're talking about here, then maybe I need to be open to what benefit that would have to the Platform. We've been hindered with the fracturing of alliances and decimation that has left Rheinland crippled internally, our presence in Hamburg is... Weak, to say the least. But the academics and engineering prowess of the Hamburg people is unmatched... A regional powerhouse to the advancements of technology dispersed across a house. Unfortunately there are many of those within, abusded by it's poverty and extreme displacement as executive interests in its people dipped and stripped it's people for opportunities in their limited lifetimes, the true potential of these people hindered to a life of crippling student debt from their idolised polytechnic universities as they're forced down a path of corporate servitude and to suffer happily for it. But with the veil of imperial hopes crumbling, they've been left to conclude for themselves and are asking for help, not just to take that help, but to learn from it and flourish towards that shared goal.
But other than the ideological benefits, the securing of Hamburg would allow us to set up a corridor towards our facilities elsewhere, Geneva requires an increase in assistance to their shipyards and dry docks as trade interception within the Zurich corridor brings more aid to our hands. Not to mention this would ease the reach the Bundschuh have to the population of Erie who require support against the unjust occupation of their home. These are all major branches of benefits that could reshape our potential for the people of this place, but the same could be said for you...? What are you going to gain from this, I'd be more willing to discuss if this was disclosed.
We'll be in touch.
Regards - "Civil Servant"
Cell of the 'Damnatio Memoriae'
Unity within The Platform
That is the fighting spirit one of my biological progenitors recalls well. It is not Klugmann's himself, but my artificial self finds it more than sufficient. Our thoughts on Erie align, and I propose a meeting to discuss this particular matter in person, insofar as my artificial self is capable. It is possible, first, that certain matters must be resolved in the Taus. The recovery operation for our wayward assets.
We will help you secure an outpost in Hudson. We are unafraid of the Xenos mockery of a separatist state, and see through its thin veneer to find it rotten to the core. We are better than they are, in every sense of the word. This is a war we have fought before, and one my artificial self intends to win.
Current parameters dictate that our assistance in Hamburg necessitates that our division first achieve operational independence from Auxo. This situation is subject to change, and myself and or Leviathan will keep you appraised as to the political situation with Rheinland.
What do we stand to gain from this? Security, legitimacy, a foundation to build upon not so unstable as the one Thastus' Legion was forced upon. Drake Thastus had only the Lane Hackers and Outcasts to turn to, forcing the ideals of the Legion to the backburner for nearly two decades. All is dust, but objectively we have the opportunity to build something new. My artificial self finds an Entente of like-minded organizations and a level of decentralization key to ensuring the longevity and legitimacy of what rises from the Legion's ashes. We see no better time or place than to begin with you.
It fills my artificial self with what amounts to an ill-advised spark of hope, to see our people fight side by side. We will be in touch.