Minister of Defense, James Ralston, began his speech from the podium in the press room.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" All the muttering ceased. The press corps sat, tiredly waiting for their daily dose of propaganda.
Mr Ralston cleared his throat deeply. Would have been nice if he had done that out of reach of a microphone, but the defense minister was utterly uninterested in what people thought of that sort of thing.
"I am please to announce that a sizable Armed Forces fleet has successfully performed a hit and run operation into Kyushu itself, at no loss of life."
The murmuring returned. Most of the people in the room were surprised, and looked genuinely pleased. Typically, BAF fleets did not go into Kusari itself and return in one piece. Simply did not happen.
"Furthermore", the Minister continued, "We managed to liberate the lucky passengers of a Kusari prison transport!"
Ralston gestured towards a nearby viewscreen, showing a battered vessel undocking at New London spaceport. Haggered, but happy, looking men were filing down from the ship.
"Among the prisoners rescued was Lord Commander Roger Brinkley, who, as you can see, is quite looking forward to a diet lacking in fish."
The viewscreen zoomed in on a skinny but elated Sir Roger, who waved enthusiastically to the cameras, and consequently managed to trip on something.
"I'm quite glad about that.", continued Ralston. "That blighter owes me money." The press crowd laughed.
More footage showed on the viewscreen. The former prisoners were shown warmly greeting the fighter pilots who had rescued them. A pilot on a stretcher, Lieutenant Commander James Flint, gave a thumbs up to the camera. His injuries were minor.
The Defense Minister continued to discuss the operation and answer questions. None of which seemed to go to the most interesting thing of all.
How it had been possible.
The narrative presented was one of good luck. A raiding party happened across a damaged transport, etc..
Of course good luck of that magnitude hardly existed. The men who flew those fighters had help. From agents in Kusari. And the will to expend assets, if needed, in pursuit of a goal.
That goal? To prevent the execution of a Bretonian Lord, for trumped up war crime charges, on Kusari National Televsion.
Preventing that from happening was made an absolute priority.
From the highest level.
Communique from: Lord Commander Sir Roger Bertram Brinkley, C Ward, Nightingale Servicemens' Reformatory and Hospital, New London.
Well, chaps, the vile slant-eyed Nips tried to do me for, but Bretonian pluck, daring and good old-fashioned BAF spunk means I am happily back in dear old Blighty, sipping brandy and beating my man-servant again.
I must offer a hearty "Damned good show" to the fine fellows who risked life, limb and Sunday lunch to come to our aid. I am indebted to you all. Brandy and cigars all around.
I fear my bottom is still suffering from the ill effects of a diet that would challenge the digestive system of a Shetland pony, but the nurses here doing their best to get me upright. If I get debriefed any more I fear I may become dehydrated. In short however, last night's action was possible thanks to the efforts of Mason, the QCID clever-clogs interned with me in that hellish prison camp. He managed to slip a message out to an operative in Kyushu, codename LeCarre, who sabotaged the Tenko, the prison transport, and relayed vital information to the forward listening post for the Harris Fleet.
The Golden Chrysanthemums staged a delaying action while a BAF squad cleared the Taus. Having disabled the containment cells, me and the other prisoners rushed the crew at the moment the rescue squad arrived and seized control of the ship, slipping through the flak from the Battleship Nagumo. We even managed to activate the ship's turrets and pounded a few of the KNF forces that were carrying out escort duties.
Looking forward to getting active again and giving the Oriental twerps and the filthy and treacherous Corsair weasels a damn good thrashing. I was damned sorry to hear news of Brock's demise. The vile bastards will pay tenfold for their insolence.
Matron is coming to give me another sponge bath, so I best clear this channel and prepare my deck for a fine swabbing.
![[Image: sir-roger-2discovery-portra.gif]](http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll129/colmmanley/Discovery%20Freelancer%20Images/sir-roger-2discovery-portra.gif)
I say,
Jolly good show, chaps!
Welcome back, old boy. Looking forward to flying with you to spank those Kusari where it hurts.
Greetings, gentlemen.
My name is Jeff Phelps, the CEO of APM Manufacturing.
Our company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the S/D Agency, a duly licensed and registered bounty hunter organization with deep Bretonian ties.
AP Manufacturing is a diversified heavy industrial company specialising in shipbuilding, ship breaking, station construction, modular construction, civil and military engineering, renewables and project management, and is the exclusive supplier of vessels to the Bounty Hunters' Guild.
Due to the nature of our corporate relationship with the S/D Agency and thusly the Bounty Hunters Guild, we are in a position to provide transportation of materials needed by Bretonian manufacturing corporations and shipyards that are not available in Bretonian space and that would normally not be carried in regular shipping bottoms, primarily due to insurance requirements of those carriers which we as a self-insured shipper are not subject.
As part of our mission to supply the Bounty Hunters Guild with ships and supplies, we have uncovered a need that we require your permission to fulfill, and we would be willing to pay an appropriate licensing fee for this permission if granted.
Our ships and stations that are in Bretonian space have, of course, no shortage of deuterium for operations against pirates and enemies of the Bretonian government. The S/D Agency always has and always will support Bretonian interests, especially against Kusari incursions into Bretonian space. However, in our ongoing operations in Sirius space in general, we have noted that secure deuterium stores at Deshima Station are reaching critical levels.
While it is possible to ship this product there from other Zoner bases to maintain daily operational levels of the Bounty Hunters Guild, we would prefer to open a route from the base at Gran Canaria, transshipping through Bretonian space, in order to support bounty hunter activities. In addition, due to connections that we have on Deshima Station with Kishiro Technologies, we are able to secure Optronics that Cambridge and New London need, which we would be able to bring back to Bretonia.
I await your reply.
Jeff "Digger" Phelps
CEO and Secretary to the Board, APM Manufacturing
The letter was addressed to Jeff "Digger" Phelps, CEO and Secretary to the Board, APM Manufacturing, from the office of the Minister of Defence. It had port stains on it.
"Sir
Your proposal is acceptable, but to offset any possible gain to Kusari from this economic activity, we ask that a fee be paid to the Bretonian Armed Forces.
The fee could take the form of a lump sum payment, or a tax imposed on the monies gained through the trading activity.
Bowex has been providing 1/40 of their revenues to the BAF coffers, for instance.
Please advise your preference, and the monies you would be prepared to pay to secure this agreement.
Yours Truly,
James Ralston, Minister of Defense."
Incoming transmission
To: James Ralston, Bretonian Minister of Defense
From: Jeff Phelps, CEO, APM Manufacturing
Begins:
Minister Ralston, it is with pleasure that I agree to the terms you have proposed. Based on an average cargo load per ship, APM Manufacturing will transfer 250,000 Sirius credits per load of deuterium delivered FOB Deshima Station from Gran Canaria to the Ministry of Defense.
Due to the vagaries of instellar travel, our pilots will communicate with APM Manufacturing Headquarters on a daily basis, and we will remit the tax to your office. As our pilots already communicate with APM Headquarters, this will reduce the overhead and expenses involved with multiple ship captains communicating with your office, and we will maintain one liason specifically for this purpose.
Please advise this office as to whom these funds should be remitted.
Also, if you would be so kind as to forward a copy of this to your counterparts in the BPA, we will certainly meet these terms for them as well.
Sincerely,
Jeff "Digger" Phelps
Chief Executive Officer
Secretary to the Board of Directors
![[Image: APM-LOGO.jpg]](http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p395/maxmilliandevirgo/APM-LOGO.jpg)
AP Manufacturing
Incoming transmission
To: Jeff Phelps, CEO, APM Manufacturing
From: James Ralston, Bretonian Minister of Defense
Begins:
Mr Phelps
I am very glad we have come to an accord.
As to how these funds should be remitted, please use the BAF military commlinks and type the command:
/givecash BAF|Armoury <Money Amount>
I will forward a copy of this to the BPA.
Yours Truly,
James Ralston
Minister of Defence
Incoming Transmission
From Admiral Drake Kaiden
To: Armed Forces Command
Cambridge Defense.
What appeared to be the scout for a corsair incursion force was neutralized in New London today, high above Kensington Shipping. I later responded to a request for help by Commander Stanley Nelson who was in the act of occupying a Corsair fleet, comprised of two Gunboats, one Bomber and one VHF.
The threat was quickly dealt with, to the amusement of several traders passing by, popcorn was in short supply.
---
Omega-3 Patrols.
Omega-3 was temporarily purged of pirates, allowing traders to breathe easy in the final leg to Cambridge from Rhineland. One individual, Charles Monroe of Junker Congress donated 500,000 Credits as thanks.
Subsequently these credits were moved to the BAF Armoury to complement the War Bonds Program.
End Transmission.
Incoming Transmission
From Commander Aubrey Mainwaring
To: Armed Forces Command
Sirs,
It is with great pleasure that I inform you that Her Majesty's latest Gunboat, BAF|HMS-Warspite has successfully completed her maiden voyage from Southampton. Space trials continue and the vessel is not yet fully fitted with armour and weaponry, but she will in due course be ready to join the Fleet.
The crew are fresh and untried but raring to go. Warspite will go on extensive training exercises to bring all to combat readiness.
*******Long-range communicator link open*********
Source:BAF|HMS.Britannia(FoM)---The Embassador--Lord William Henri Braterford
Transmitting.......
I take the time here for inform the BAF| Admirality about the HMS.Britannia our lastest diplomatic Royal Liner deployed.
As you know The Britannia have been assigned by the room of lord,The BAF and the Queen to be the first Diplomatic vessels, send permanently in Liberty space.
The role of such a mission is to protect in the receiving Space the interests of the sending space and, within the limits permitted by Intersideral law; negotiating with the Government of the receiving house as directed by the sending house ascertaining by lawful means conditions and developments in the receiving house, and reporting thereon to the Government of the sending house; promoting friendly relations between the sending house and the receiving house , and developing their economic, cultural and scientific relations.
Official designation:BAF|HMS.Britannia(FoM)
Based at Newark Station Right in the Liberty Capital,the Embassy are very well protected,The Bretonian Armed Force provide us a 3.0 Capital armor for the protection of the Britannia,The Britannia are also equipped whit 2 Level7Class4 transport turrets and 7 Bretonian Splitter class5 turrets.
The crew:
100 Spaceship members crew,for the operation of the Royal Liner
70 Passengers,all diplomatic crew working for the embassador
1 V.I.P,The Embassador----
Lord William Henri Braterford
and for security concern a undetermined members of the Armed Force
If you want a meeting whit the Embassador please contact the personnal assistant of the Embassador:
Mr. Josh Williamson on The Britannia,but first please read this:
Official Meeting Procedure
Also i absolutly have to say something about the Liberty navy,They show again the loyality and the friendship they have for Bretonia by autorizing us to deploy this Diplomatic vessels permanently in her capital.
*******Long-range communicator link close*********