Discovery Gaming Community

Given that I do not rank among the Dons and Donnas, I lack access to certain information that you possess. Could you kindly share with me the details of how the conflict in the Omicron Theta system between us and the Corsairs began? What was the catalyst?

There exists a potential suspicion that if the Corsairs did not provoke our response, then we are waging war like fools while someone else profits from our and their weaknesses.

I have received certain indications from the Corsairs that this conflict with us in Omicron Theta is inconvenient for them. It is equally uncomfortable for us - what do we actually intend to achieve? As glorious as that might be, our objective is something entirely different; the Corsairs are merely incidental to it.

The only parties that could potentially benefit from this are the Zoners, the Order, the Core, Bounty Hunters, and potentially the GMG, should both Hispanic sides emerge excessively weakened from this war. We might no longer be on the top of the league in the Omicrons and surrounding regions.

I have no tangible evidence, yet what is unfolding in Omicron Theta is starting to give me a very uneasy feeling. Never in our history has our rivalry been so intense.

I have managed to procure some rather intriguing recordings concerning my suspicions. I am willing to share them with you on the condition that this remains strictly confidential between us two, Don Harabero, and no one else. My primary concern is the protection of my own information sources.

While our people are skilled assassins and combat pilots, they can sometimes be overly loquacious. After all, it was one of the Outcasts who leaked information about our trade with the Xenos to the Technocrats, who then very willingly passed it on to the Liberty Rogues.

I do not wish to repeat the same mistake.

Attached to my message are authentic recordings of the new Guildmistress, Miss Daniels. It seems that even our potential control over the Omicron Theta system is not in their interests.

At this juncture, we are presented with two options - one is to continue our assault, risking and losing more men and ships, only to seek retribution against them later.

The other, which strikes me as a far more ingenious move, is to withdraw heavy assets from Omicron Theta and let the Corsairs do the revenge work for us. We can appear nonchalant, thereby maintaining a small politico-tactical leverage over the Core.

After all, our interests are global as we 'cannot be everywhere'.

You are correct – our men and women in arms have indeed secured a significant tactical victory in the Omicron Theta system. However, this could swiftly turn into a strategic defeat if we underestimate our adversaries.

We are not the Corsairs, Don Harabero. We do not possess a population large enough to afford sorting it through nearly suicidal rites of passage. The Corsairs may win their victories with the blood of their people - we cannot. I understand the instinct to maintain combat initiative urges you to push further, and I would support this if we were on familiar ground.

Yet, we are not. The Zoners may fight alongside us for now, but their allegiance will shift as soon as we threaten their prized Freeport in our efforts to damage the Corsairs. Our forces in Omicron Theta will then be vulnerable to the inevitable Corsair counterattack from Omicron Gamma, likely to come once they mobilize sufficient reserves – and this time, perhaps with the 'assistance' of our 'allies,' the Core.

The art of war lies in knowing when to start a battle and when to end it. We have achieved our objective; the Corsairs have suffered significant losses in Omicron Theta while we still maintain a strong force of well-trained and equipped men and women. This was a battle against the Corsairs in Omicron Theta, but we are likely not ready for a further campaign into Sigmas towards Atka.

Let's reserve this for a future opportunity and withdraw our still combat-ready forces. Let them serve as a 'fleet in being,' a fleet whose next target is unknown and unpredictable to the enemy, forcing them to prepare on all potential fronts against us. More importantly, a fleet ready to strike at any opportune moment for a surgical attack.

We have inevitably done what our enemies wanted – let us at least withdraw with minimal losses and not allow this brilliant tactical victory to be erased. We will strike again when we know all the variables. In Sigmas, perhaps, when the Corsairs will be too busy dealing with the Core and rebelling Zoners while our forces will be able to replenish their strength.

My whole concern is not about our fight with the Corsairs, but with the surrounding circumstances that might turn against us if we are not careful and wise enough.

I must confess that I am pleasantly surprised by how the situation has unfolded. I had personally anticipated a tug-of-war over Freeport 9 with the Corsairs down to the last man, given how some of our people were gearing up for another battle in Omicron Theta.

The unexpected assault on Atka Research Station is something that never even crossed my mind as a real possibility.

My congratulations, Don Harabero.