To: Order Overwatch | From: Elysium's Shield

[Omicron]

Z.S.S. Defiance

I did some number crunch to determine what the costs would be.

⧫ Phase 1

Nephilim has 3 supporting structures which we could call a ‘keel’ for simplification sake. Upper, which begins above the engine block and extends until the bridge and habitat sections. Centerline, bearing most of the stress from immense power of the ship’s drives. Lower, supporting centerline running right though heatsinks and radiators. I compiled this list for your reference.

Super Alloys

30k units of super alloys will be enough to cover for this phase. The easiest way to obtain the cargo would be Scarborough shipyard in Newcastle. Personally I would look into the blackmarket to source needed goods, local Gaian cell runs sizable operation in-system. However, your diplomacy may not necessarily align with our own.

0,0 / 30,000

Iridium

One transport should suffice, approximately 5k units. I do not think I have to say where to get it.

0,0 / 5,000

Beryllium

As the process to turn it into desired components is time intensive, I would advise bringing this metal as soon as possible ahead of schedule. Easy to get, The Order is exclusively supplied by Independent Mining Guild in this regard, Java station In Tau-23. Cheap, clean and easy. We will need 20k units at minimum.

0,0 / 20,000

Basic Alloys

It is produced across the entire Sirius and predates jumpgates. Cheapest and fastest as far as we are concerned is acquisition from the heart of Liberty itself. The stuff is practically anywhere to be found in the Pennsylvania system. I cannot fathom how much we will need to repair your hull and decks so I will rely on your discretion here. Alternatives are Kruger's Essen facility in New Berlin or Bowex’s Lancaster Trade Center in Newcastle. Not as cost efficient however.

? / ?

High Temperature Alloy

Damn expensive but you aren’t going to move without it. In this particular instance we will require it for casing for your brand new reactors to stop your crew from being cooked by a literal star. Single transport of more or less 5k should suffice.

0,0 / 5,000

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⧫ Phase 2

What we will need later as part of outfitting:

Optronics & Orbital chips

Kishiro is the only real option here. Whether you source it second-hand from whatever local pirates ‘liberate’ from passing traders, or buy straight from Kishiro syndicate, it is not our concern. I would expect an absolute minimum of 5k each will be required to repair and overhaul your ship’s systems. We will adjust the list as needed in the future for future upgrades. “Raw” optical chips will be necessary to craft subsystems that Kishiro is not exactly allowed to sell you under Kusari law.

One other option are quantum multiplexors and arrays, Samura’s answer to Kishiro’s dominance in the market. Its relatively new technology and is not used in any warship in existence save for the most top of the line vessels recently passed into service of Kusari Naval Forces such as Komainu-class. If you desire to follow this route, you will need to find a subcontractor on your own as we do not have capability to process this request. On average it will cost you on average over 5 times more in Sirius Credits just to source necessary equipment.

0,0 / 5,000
0,0 / 5,000

Plasfoam conduits

It shall be a critical upgrade for your ships systems and will prevent your ship being disabled by mere anti-shield guns. Scale quantity of it with your electronics components. Freeport 5 is a cheap and reliable market for it.

0,0 / 15,000

Ablative armor panels

Rheinland specialises in them, Imperial Shipping of Hamburg to be specific. It is up to you how many you will decide to use. Our engineers will advise you on order of importance in terms of suggested coverage once the hull will be restored. Nephilim does have significant surface to think about however.

? / ?

Superconductors

The most energy hungry equipment, including potential Order-built weapon systems will require the most sophisticated means of transferring power from point A to B on your ship. Nephilim is quite large, we may need up to two large transports worth of superconductors. Ageira makes those in the Pueblo, Colorado star system. Failing that look among the various fences in the Liberty underworld.

0,0 / 10,000

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All of this, deliverable to Akabat. I will draw up the next third phase upgrade once our engineers are actually aware of how much work needs to be done on your ship. On top of that, while we have industrial capacity to construct battleships, we are not a behemoth such as any House in Sirius. Every material spent on non-Order projects, every work hour not put towards more ships and weapons for The Order is small net gain for our adversaries. While this is marginal at the level of individual sidearms and small craft, Nephilim is a huge endeavour. Typically we ask for something of equivalent value, in credits or equipment. Considering you are not part of any major organisation considered of powerful influence among Zoners, the only reimbursement we can accept is likely in Sirian credits that we can exchange for goods and services elsewhere. 30m SC per phase sounds reasonable to me.

Grand Admiral Michal Golanski
1st Battlegroup "Wargods", Black Fleet

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[Leo]

Elysium's Shield
Incoming Transmission...

To - Overwatch
From - Eventide
Subject - RE: Assistance Required

Salutations Grand Admiral Golanski,

Please allow me to apologize for my lack of communications the past few days. We've been out of communications range due to a particularly difficult encounter. However, now that we have returned to signal range and have a communications link, allow me to respond.

All of these amounts seem to be more than sufficient, as well as the cost accrued for all phases. We will pay an extra 30,000,000SC to you and your people as a personal thank you for aiding us in this endeavor. It will clean out the rest of our small war chest, but there are always those out in the Omicrons eager to have those with warships dispense with the Nomads...so we'll earn that back in no time. Most of our credits are paid towards maintenance anyway as we have no formal backing, so this is just another day paying for repairs, albeit at a much higher rate than we're used to.

We realize that doing this isn't an easy thing. Overhauling any ship is difficult, but the sheer size and volume of the Nephilim-class makes it another thing entirely. By the end of this, the ship could even be considered a new class of vessel altogether as you mentioned previously. Inquisitor-class seems very apt. Most would have balked at our request. However, The Order, as ever, have been stalwart allies in the fight against the squids and for that I thank you. All I can do is ensure that we continue to fight the Nomads where they show themselves, and aid your people as best as we are able.

Concerning the next steps and your previous communication, I have three questions:

1. When are we to begin the arduous process of moving the Defiance to your system? The flight from Kappa to Delta was worrying enough hearing the superstructure of the ship groaning under the gravimetric stresses that jump holes are known for. Additionally, considering the ship is completely defenseless at the moment, we would need an escort to the system to ensure that we arrive safely. No doubt the Nomads would love to destroy us enroute.
   
2. Concerning delivery of the materials, are we the only ones authorized to bring these materials to Akabat? I would assume so as you don't want every Tom, Dick, and Harry venturing into your system to deliver these items, even if they are other Zoners. If those members of Elysium's Shield are the only ones authorized, perhaps we can make delivery to Cairo instead and shuttle the items to Akabat in their stead?
   
3. Finally, where are we sending proof or who are we speaking to on the surface of Akabat to verify delivery of these materials? I assume that you trust us, but I want to verify to you and your team that these items have been delivered and their locations so your people can access them without any trouble. Always dotting my I's and crossing my T's after all.

Again, I want to thank you for your consideration and aid in this matter. Yours was the only team I would consider a true ally, and the aid you have willingly given only further proves that fact. We look forward to your response. As ever, salutations.

--Zylar Vespertine
Captain of the Eventide & ZSS-Defiance

Attachments (0)

[77C608WP]
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Why are you reading this? Don't you have something else you'd rather be doing? Why are you still reading this? Go out and explore, trade, fight, pirate, or even die thanks to SLRC autopilot. You're still here? What do you want, a poem? Fine. Roses are red, violets are blue, I lose the game, and so did you.

[Omicron]

Z.S.S. Defiance

We are used to difficult requests. Mere survival in Omicrons is an insurmountable trial to most and yet we defied every obstacle this sector can throw at us. To address each issue in order…

Credits are to be transferred on callsign Order|Armory-I. Send an invoice on this channel and we will consider matters closed upon verification from our end. We will find apt use for this extra donation in either fields of science or addressing some logistical challenge. We too run on goodwill of Sirius people, whatever we can export is only supplementary to syphoning funding away from front companies and wealthy benefactors that one way or another are in the same boat as us.

I have dispatched a freighter under escort, bringing qualified technicians to your last known location. They will determine whether your ship can survive the journey and if not, their mission is to compile a list of components and material necessary to bring you up to speed. They are damn magicians in their field, and probably would have found a way to salvage a Nomad battlecruiser if such an opportunity could actually happen. Ideally, you can make your way to Omicron Epsilon which I will issue a specific permit for.

To summarise which factions you may disclose this project to... Current approved suppliers with free commercial access to Akabat are various independent actors that can afford to operate outside Colonial Law. Notably Zoners, Independent Miners Guild and Gas Miner’s Guild. There are plenty of House sympathisers on both sides of the law on this list, but for security concerns we are unwilling to disclose their identities for their own protection. If you have a suggestion, we are willing to consider other options but keep in mind such approval would require mandatory vexing on behalf of our intelligence network and then majority vote within High Command.

Akabat’s primary spaceport headquarters deals with all manners of logistic organization. If you fill the cargo manifest paperwork correctly and report it on this channel (or a separate one for material affairs only for convenience sake), such double verification is enough to satisfy High Command.

Grand Admiral Michal Golanski
1st Battlegroup "Wargods", Black Fleet

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[Leo]

Elysium's Shield
Incoming Transmission...

To - Overwatch
From - Eventide
Subject - RE: Assistance Required

Salutations Grand Admiral Golanski,

See attached below for proof of payment to you and yours. We've added further funds to the request, putting it at a nice round 100.000.000SC, it's for any overtime needed for the overhaul that you workers will be doing and hopefully a bonus for the work involved in the retrofit.

The ship is still stationed at Freeport 11 in a stationary orbit around the base. Any major maneuvers aren't recommended with the vessel as it appears to be extremely sensitive to sudden movements. What few Zoner engineers we've been able to convince to take a look have done what they can to shore up things where they can, but I'm unsure if the ship will be able to make a full flight to your system in one piece. I'm hoping that you might have some people on standby to escort us there to ensure we arrive safely. The Nomads have paid closer attention to us over the past few weeks and I'm almost certain they'll be trying to kill us with the shape the ship is in.

Concerning your answer to my questions, all of these seem acceptable. After the escort is complete, I will show proof of deliveries in this open communication channel for your benefit and the benefit of your loadmasters on Akabat.

We will be standing by for your team of engineers to arrive to inspect the vessel before we make inroads to depart from Omicron Delta. As ever, salutations.

--Zylar Vespertine
Captain of the Eventide & ZSS-Defiance

Attachments (1)

Proof of Transfer

[77C608WP]
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[...cleaning up feeds.]
[...encrypting.]
[Finished. Message sent.]

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Why are you reading this? Don't you have something else you'd rather be doing? Why are you still reading this? Go out and explore, trade, fight, pirate, or even die thanks to SLRC autopilot. You're still here? What do you want, a poem? Fine. Roses are red, violets are blue, I lose the game, and so did you.