[Comm-ID]:Samuel Locklear, Lord Commander, Hellfire Legion [Recipient-ID]:High Command, Die Weiße Rose [Location]:Planet Guadalajara, Vespucci System, Commonwealth Space [Subject]:First contact
[Priority]:High [Encryption]:Heavy
Truth be told, I'm not entirely certain who this transmission is reaching, which makes this a little awkward. I'm the kind of man who prefers to put a face to a name, so I hope you'll at least extend me that much as some people seem to be very keen on masks these days. In any event, I'm sure you've got a pretty good idea of who you're speaking to already. Before we get started here, I should touch a little bit upon the structure of the Legion, the Commonwealth, and by proxy the nature of this message. The Hellfire Legion serves as the military arm of the Commonwealth of House Liberty, a separatist state which Klugmann seemed to believe shared similar ideals to your own Party. While relations between the Commonwealth are certainly not out of the question, I'm sending you this message in my capacity as a military leader. As such, my ability to act in certain official capacities is limited.
On to why I'm contacting you - as I stated previously, your Party's Oberst Erich Klugmann was from my limited experience with him a man of his word, and one of the more pleasant people I've had the pleasure of dealing with over the years, and Bielefeld was very welcome of our pilots when we requested permission to send an expeditionary force to the Omicrons. I'm hoping that despite the change of hands, the Bundschuh are still good and honorable people. Recent events have led to a large scale Unioner incursion of the Texas and Kansas systems in response to our retaliation against their wanton piracy and terrorism within Liberty.
I've come to ask you for intel on the Unioners. Their current fleet strength, movements, bases we may be unaware of besides Pacifica.. anything that may give us an extra card or two up our sleeve. We have no vested interest in conflict with any parties in Rheinland, but they've unfortunately forced our hand, and while beating them on our own turf is a non-issue, our warships are ill suited to the Tanner belt, our maps of Bering painfully outdated, and any worthwhile information beyond Pacifica's location long since rendered useless over the years. We don't know our enemy anymore, and I'd like to get an idea from someone who does first hand. While I understand that this is not necessarily your problem, the truth of it is that we now share a mutual enemy, and you may have an opportunity to strike a blow against them while their forces are stretched thin if you so please.
What I can personally offer in return is limited, but I imagine the Commonwealth would have little issue with issuing you trade visas - how are you on food? Aquaculture forms the cornerstone of our useful exports, just thought I'd throw that one out there.
Libera te ex Infernis,
Samuel Locklear
Hellfire Legion
Message Received
Neural Net Access Code 9.472.0018.35
Date:825 AS To:Samuel Locklear, Lord Commander, Hellfire Legion. From:Tanya von Degurechaff, Oberst of Die Weiße Rose. Topic:Re: First contact. Origin:House of Rheinland. Encryption:High
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren of the Hellfire Legion,
My name is Tanya von Degurechaff, currently bearing the title of Oberst of Die Weiße Rose. We understand your concern - indeed, earlier in history of Rheinland, Unioners managed to become the reason of major troubling events, from which neither Bundestag, neither the common people of our homeland have gained any benefits. As by now, they stand as an unpredictable,
dangerous force, with which we, sadly, still have to reckon.
Mentioning these facts - we are opened for cooperation and will gladly hand over any data we currently have in our possession, however, even through we will benefit from this exchange, it would be quite unfair to just let you go with this information without giving out anything in exchange.
Now that's being said - we have quite some interest in Battlegroup Harmony, another faction residing in Bering; however, compared to Alster Union, the said faction is a complete mystery for us, and the latest events, which have stated the eventual start of our relationship, was... rather unpleasing.
Having this events in mind - we would like you, in exchange, to share anything you think you are able to share - mostly, their initial goals, forces in possession, and how open are the for the dialogue, besides the concerns of the first meeting of our groups, that turned out to be rather unpleasant. Gladly, the rouge person committed chaotic event in bering is no longer considered the part of our faction.
However, the last moment i would like to mention is the secrecy of this transmission. What happens here - should stay here, just between Hellfire Legion and Weiße Rose.
I am looking forward to your response.
[Comm-ID]:Samuel Locklear, Lord Commander, Hellfire Legion [Recipient-ID]:High Command, Die Weiße Rose [Location]:Planet Guadalajara, Vespucci System, Commonwealth Space [Subject]:First contact
[Priority]:High [Encryption]:Heavy
Oberst von Degurechaff, I'm relieved that your movement is interested in cooperating with us. Allies are at a premium and although we try to keep our conflicts to ourselves, this is a threat from outside, not within. As far as Harmony is concerned, their ties to the Unioners seem to be symbiotic in nature rather than rooted in any sort of common cause or ideology. My best guess is that their relationship is not unlike our early days with the Lane Hackers. Battlegroup Harmony needed the safe haven Bering - and more specifically, Pacifica - provided, as well as facilities to maintain their fleet. In exchange, they seem to be acting as muscle, being able to bring heavy artillery to bear that the Unioners simply cannot field. Worst case scenario is that they've provided the Unioners with some of the Republic's cutting edge milspec technology, or have been providing formal training for their pilots. We've seen no indication of either of these scenarios however, particularly not the latter.
Our current stance towards Harmony is one of neutrality, and I intend, if possible, to free Admiral Knight and her battlegroup from the yoke of the Unioners. I would greatly appreciate it if, for the sake of mutual cooperation, you would avoid targeting them for the time being. I doubt you need a foreign enemy at your doorstep anyway, and their interests lie with Liberty, not Rheinland. I would of course also ask that you hold everything discussed here in confidence as well. There's no need for anyone outside of Legion to know of anything disclosed here today, and vice versa for your Party.
Libera te ex Infernis,
Samuel Locklear
Hellfire Legion
Message Received
Neural Net Access Code 9.472.0018.35
Date:825 AS To: Samuel Locklear, Lord Commander, Hellfire Legion. From: Tanya von Degurechaff, Oberst of Die Weiße Rose. Topic: Frist Contact. Origin: House of Rheinland Encryption: High
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren of the Hellfire Legion,
On the behalf of our movement i am allowed to make the following statement - Weiße Rose never considered holding any hostilities towards Battlegroup Harmony, as we equally frankly crossed each others' zones of interest and operations, and, certainly - never interfered each others' business, besides one shameful exception of Helena Wunderbring going rogue and threatenig Harmony logistics vessel. This accident, however, was never sanctioned or approved by the rest of the members of our movement,
and the said person no longer considered trustworthy.
At the first opportunity, she will be subjected to interrogation and convicted in accordance with our statute.
However, your honest desire for cooperation have been noted, and now we will proceed to the exact subject of out contact. The Unioners.
As far as we are concerned - their fleet mostly consists mostly of snubcraft wings, however, capital ships was noted amongst the smaller vessels as well: their capital fleet consists of at least two 'Bismark" class battleships, one "Donau" class cruiser and two "Oder"
class gunboats, apparently obtained from Military by some unknown means, most likely - boarded. Meanwhile, no reports of Unioners operating in Rheinland was recieved so far, this only prooved the theory they are aware of something, and mostly sticking to Bering.
Reasons, however, are unknown.
Regarding the base locations... we will perform some surveying operations and see if we can find some of their installations besides Pacifica.
I believe, this is pretty much everything i have to tell you so far. I hope this information satisfies you.