Discovery Gaming Community

From : José Nivalgo, membre and tribun of the Unione Corse.
Location : Plage de l'Espiguette, "Le Prosper Mérimée" pub, planet Marseille.
Encryption strength : Casgiu merzu
Sujet : Coucou.

Transmission begins.


Honoured friends,

The Unione Corse isn't a particularly loud organisation. You know it. We conduct our business as we must, away from attention except in special cases. But we watch, and we listen. And we've seen and heard much and more of an upcoming gathering of several brigand groups, uniting under the Free Brigands banner.

We are teeming with joy at this notion. Finally, our longtime friends and partners rising as one, once more. The Unione wishes you all to know that it is delighted by your reappearance on the stage, especially at this hour. There is much to be done, opportunities to seize, deals to strike. Perhaps now more than ever before. As such, it is the will of my employers that we extend a friendly hand to you and seek ways to further our goals and assist our mutual interests.

At present, nothing is asked of you. The Unione merely wants to state that its doors are, as ever, open to its friends and that it stands ready to do business with you. Business, of course, implying the wide range of activities that characterises our particular lines of work. And that, in turn, implies continuing our mutual work of controlling the... particular market. Which includes maintaining the monopoly over the distribution of a... particular recreational compound which is the economic lifeblood of both of our organisations. A monopoly which could be threatened by another, also very recreational compound, produced and distributed by... particular Sirians. Particular in that they seem to have been cast aside from the rest of Sirian society.

It is only logical, therefore, that the aforementioned particular Sirians would be deemed as a threat to our very existence and treated as mortal enemies by both the Unione and the respectable Free Brigands. We hope that you will remain instrumental, as you've been, in keeping these mortal enemies at bay to ensure all of our futures. We certainly will.

No matter the cost.

I don't know who is in charge of your organisation at present, if there is even someone who fits to that role - that's never really been the Brigand way. As such, I invite any and all of our brigand friends with some spare time to join me for drinks at our very own luxury liner, the Argenton, stationned in Tau 44. Tell the staff that Arek Maxim is buying.

A prestu, honoured friends.
*He smiles ever so slightly, yet curiously warmly, then nods to someone off-screen*

End of transmission.

From : José Nivalgo, membre and tribun of the Unione Corse.
Location : "Chez René" restaurant, planet Nevers.
Encryption strength : Brocciu.
Sujet : Ah.

Transmission begins.


Honoured friends,

It appears the reports of your survival have been greatly exaggerated. Or have they ?

The Unione will keep watching.

End of transmission.

From : José Nivalgo, membre and tribun of the Unione Corse.
Location : Under a palm tree, planète Gaia, Edimbourg.
Encryption strength : Muntanacciu
Sujet : Toujours là.

Transmission begins. Nivalgo appears under extreme levels of stress and fatigue.


Honoured friend,

I am very grateful for your reply. It saddens me all the more to get back to you in such an untimely fashion, and for this, you have the Unione's full apologies.
A lot has happened since my last transmission... I've made mistakes, big mistakes, and now everything has changed. I am now wanted by very powerful people : jumping from one false identity to another is the only key to my survival. I'm afraid this is adieux, my friend : with me, the Unione goes silent, and all hope is lost.

He shivers, bites his lower lip, staring intently at the screen. Then his cheeks start to constrict... And he erupts into a prolonged, barked laugh, promptly followed by several people offscreen. Wiping a tear from his eyes, he resumes, his face now the usual half-relaxed, half-amused puzzle.

Ah, sorry about that, Mathieu. A bit of horseplay now and then keeps us all in high, alert spirits, doesn't it ? I did need to go undercover for a while, because I couldn't resist the charms of someone else's wife. Someone of minor importance. Of course, I knew nothing about that by the time of the... Incident. You know Corsicans : always ready to seize opportunities, always careful to leave no trace of ourselves. And no, it wasn't entirely worth it.

Anyhow ! As I told you, we're very pleased to hear back from you, and we do apologise for the delay. It appears the word around town was correct, and the Brigands are on their way to unification once more : you speak well, and the potential certainly is there. We wish to see you succeed. And for that, we do need to discuss the aforementioned group of excluded Sirians that I alluded to earlier : it's not fear so much as discretion that compels me to these measures. We are all immersed in our own webs of intrigue and interests, every care is taken to protect them.

A drink seems to be in order. I can arrange something with our people to secure the perfect balance of comfort and secrecy we need to conduct our business, either in Gallia or beyond, as you wish. Don't bring your own booze, it is bad form.

I'll wait to hear from you again. I hope this transmission finds you well and away from the wrath of a cheated husband.

He smirks, then nods to someone offscreen.
End of transmission.

From : José Nivalgo, membre and tribun of the Unione Corse.
Location : Bastia, quartier Marius.
Encryption strength : Casgiu merzu
Sujet : Ayez confiance.

Transmission begins.


Salut Mathieu,

I hope this message finds you well.
The matter has been discussed. Your offer has been heard and evaluated, and here's what we're proposing.

Considering that we are in the position of the petitioner, we have deemed it unfair to have you leave the safe premises of Marne only to satisfy our whims. I wouldn't mind asking that of a needy underling or a noble who got caught on camera sleeping with someone he shouldn't have... He grins.
But it's not something I'd feel comfortable asking of our honoured Brigand friends.

The Unione, as you know, has a way of going where it must without attracting undue attention. Therefore, I have decided, with the consent of my employers, to come to you instead. Alone, and... Only moderately armed. No more than usual, that is. You speak, rightly so, of trust : the Unione wishes to have you know that there has been no breach of trust between our organisations. This meeting is precisely, among other things, our way of showing so. Never forget that, no matter our differences, as long as you are with a Corsican, you stand with a friend.

I will make arrangements for my departure immediately. I haven't seen Champagne ever since the Crown leapt upon the Sirians : now seems to be a good time. I know of a place to stay on Marne. I've attached the address : please call for me when you're ready to meet, and we'll see each other in the place of your choice. Actually, if you'd like to have dinner... I'm sure my host will be more than happy to fix something for the two of us. Don't you dare deny me : Corsican hospitaly is a rare thing, bestowed only to the worthiest friends.

A prestu, Mathieu.
He gives off another of his shadowy, yet genuine smiles.

End of transmission.

ATTACHED :
This is the address of my second wife... And where I'll be staying. We got divorced seven years ago. We're still mad about and at each other, and regularly resolve our... issues face to face. Don't ask, and never mention it during the dinner. Or New Parisians. Or synth foods. Or politics. Or, please please please... Children.
Madame Angèle Poli (ex-Nivalgo)
44 rue du Maréchal Foch
52115 Saint-Dizier, Meuse
Planète Marne

A sunny day timidly dawns upon Saint-Dizier. As the light filters through the shutters, Nivalgo awakes softly, unbeknowst to his companion, still asleep.
Amidst the cloudy thoughts typical of a man barely emerging from a deep slumber, three ideas clumsily rose to his mind.

One : This is a good life. I should come here more often.
Two : I wonder how everything is going out there in the real world. I hope my assets are doing well. Why am I still here, by the way ?
Three : Ah yes, the Brigand leader. Let's hope he comes around soon.

---

From : André Nivaggioni, membre and tribun of the Unione Corse.
Location : Villa Nivaggioni, planète Marseille.
Encryption strength : Sartinesu
Sujet : Mieux vaut tard que jamais.

---

Transmission begins. The same man as before appears on a wicker chair, lounging on a terrace with a view to a turquoise sea.

A prestu.
The feed fades to black as the sound of the sea takes over.