To: QC | From: Natio Octavarium

[Capt. Henry Morgan]

Natio Octavarium
Ministry of Relations

Hello there,

My name is Daryl Ogden, Minister of Relations for Natio Octavarium. In the past, relations between our two nations have been rather informal, but with the rather changable nature of politics on Malta, the Consul would like things a little more firm, and I'm inclined to agree with him. At my request, Minister Combs of the Ministry of Engineering has been attempting to open a dialog with the Legión Maltesa. While she handles diplomatic matters from that end, I would like to talk to you.

I understand that your focus is more economic than military or political, so I'll keep this strictly to economic matters. Natio Octavarium is always looking for ways to strengthen our economy through bilateral trade relationships with friendly powers. In the past, we worked with the Amalfi Directorate to get Maltese cryogenic organisms to market in places your own traders, along with many of your allies, find it impossible to operate. Unfortunately, the cryo orgs trade (along with the Directorate, apparently) seems to have dried up completely. The principle behind the deal is still a good one, though.

We have a respectable enough reputation in three of the four civilized major houses as well as trade contacts with a number of smaller powers across Sirius. That respectable reputation means that we can get Maltese goods to markets you cannot otherwise reach, as well as import goods you might otherwise find it difficult to obtain. In short, both our nations stand to benefit.

If you find this acceptable, I'll hand the rest of the negotiations over to the Guildmaster of our Mercantile Guild. Most of our traders are Guild members, and Guildmaster Bloggs has full authority to negotiate trade deals with friendly powers.

Minister of Relations, Natio Octavarium

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Natio Octavarium
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[Mr.Cardaminum]

Incoming Message

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Sender:
Recipient:
Subject:

Leonardo de Silva
Minister of Relations Daryl Ogden of NO
Trade

Señor Ogden,

Soy Leonardo da Silva, charge d'affairs of Su nobleza Don Hernan. Pleasant to make acquaintance with you. Having consulted with Don Hernan, we see no ill in continuation of previous arrangements between Natio Octavarium and Malta. You need to understand, though, that under "Malta" we mean our organisation, "Cuatroce". For official Maltese stance you are to contact the representatives of the Legion Maltesa. We will be looking forward to hearing from you as to the details of the trade proposal.

Respetuosamente,
Leonardo de Silva

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End of Message

[Capt. Henry Morgan]

Incoming Transmission from Canberra Star City
Tau-44, Natio Octavarium
03. August 826 A.S.

To: Leonardo de Silva
Priority: Normal
Topic: Maltese Trade

Message Contents:

Hello there,

I apologize for the late reply. Leave it to that idiot Ogden to loop me into a trade comm with no prior warning, then forget to flag it as high priority so it actually shows up on my console promptly instead of mixed in with all my regular mail. Anyway, I've got it now, so let's get to it. It looks to me that the Minister is proposing that the Octavarium Mercantile Guild serve as a middleman for importing and exporting merchandise to places you otherwise can't go. Not actually a bad idea, especially considering the source. Well, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

So, I suppose we aren't so much proposing a trade deal as offering our services for any trade deal you might like to make. The one thing we won't do is carry Cardamine to the civilized houses. Despite the profitable nature of those routes, getting caught at that sort of thing risks ruining the respectable reputation we've worked so hard to build. Even some of our better bullshit artists can't talk their way out of a hold full of high-quality Cardamine. We don't mind carrying it to places that won't cause us any trouble, though, such as some of your more far-flung outposts, to some of your allies, or into places we already aren't welcomed by the local authorities. For that and anything else, the Guild is at your service.

Captain Joseph Bloggs, NO-Sea.of.Dreams
Guildmaster, Octavarium Mercantile Guild

Transmission End

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