Guild Master Alan Smith was lying on his bed while trying to empty his head. Suddenly the silence broke by the repeated knocking on his apartment's door.
" Mr Smith, the Armed Forces have just sent us the location of the meeting. "
Slightly and briefly annoyed by this sudden change, he ordered the computer to unlock the door of his room. His secretary entered his room.
" We should get going then. Anything else to report? "
" No sir. "
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The shuttle entered a block of flats where usually middle-class citizens lived. It parked and the 6 Guild representatives exited the vehicle. Outside 2 BIS agents were waiting for them.
Admiral Garibaldi sat in the very underwhelming room with its slightly thread bare chairs and its rather dreary painting on the wall, she couldn't tell what it was, seemed to be two elephants strolling across a verdant field of wheat. Which made no sense in context. One, Elephants hadn't been see in Sirius for a long time, anywhere they'd been introduced had eventually been industrialised to the point where large mammals of any variety couldn't survive. She stopped her thoughts from wandering, wouldn't do to seem distracted in front of the IMG.
She tried to get comfortable. But it was impossible in this chair, she was mindful of the BIS agents in the room next to this watching, waiting. This room was Ashers joke. It had to be. Perhaps she shouldn''t have called his new car a penis extension to his face. Well what did he expect driving that to work? Again she marshalled her thoughts once more.
Five minutes later she was almost lost in thought again, but foot steps outside the door dragged her into the present. The IMG were here.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
The door was opened by the agent and the Guild members entered the room while trying to adapt to the new environment. Alan Smith soon recognized Admiral Garibaldi who was already sitting and proceeded to shake hands with her.
" Admiral Garibaldi it is an honour to meet you. I should also relay my surprisal with Baroness Snowdown's sudden disappearance right after we scheduled to meet her. If you believe that the Guild can assist you in finding her, please don't hesitate to ask. "
The Guild Master didn't know if the Admiralty or the Intelligence Service suspected even in slightest, the Guild's involvement in her disappearance however that wasn't his concern. He was about to present important and classified documents to the Baroness in this secret and unofficial meeting and she just disappeared right before it took place. The idea that her disappearance was linked with the secret meeting with the IMG, made him nervous although he was trying to not show it.
Soon after the formalites ended, the Guild Members sat on the opposite side of the rectangular table. The two in the corner were carrying each of them a suitcase. A moment later, the Guild Member in the left corner opened his suit case and passed some notes to the rest of the team.
Garibaldi sat across the desk and looked at the three guild members. Not much to look at, she called up details via her neural net, scrolling through data on Omega 3, the Snowdown Treaty, current operations in the Taus, a lot of data that could be pertinent to this briefing.
"Let's get down to brass tacks, gentlemen, frankly I don't have time to waste with preliminary this, and secondary that. The IMG is here because it wants something, I'm here because I want something. The pair of us are hoping that our wants can mesh somehow and we'd both end up happy. So... with that in mind. What does the IMG want?"
Garibaldi sat back, her well muscled frame, making the ancient chair creak... probably thought it was good old fashioned Bretonian furniture, she thought. It was junk...she turned her attention back to the IMG.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
"Straight to the point, Admiral?" Johnathan Sanders said, having sat down next to Alan. He was looking less comfortable then usual in the presence of an Armed Forces admiral, and had to surpress the urge to stand at attention. Such had his training in the Armed Forces been, that it was almost second nature. Quite a difference from how things were handled in the Guild - where skill and charisma mattered more then rank and breeding. He supposed it was also the reason why he eventually washed out.
Still, it was needed for him to be here. Omega three... Snowdown as Bretonia now called it, was in their sphere of influence. With the activity around Sprague, a formal annexation had been inevitable for a long time.
"Very well. The IMG desires to establish a second facility in Snowdown, in an area that has been plagued by numerous attacks on civilian shipping between Rheinland and Bretonia. I am talking about the gap between the Omega 7 jumpgate, and the lane towards Aland. This would carry advantages to all parties involved, I feel. The area in question is now the de-facto border of Bretonian space, it would give your Police and Armed Forces assets a place to refuel and rearm. It could also serve as a haven for registered transports ferrying between Bretonia and Rheinland.
Bretonia restricted the establishment of such facilities within it's borders, and although the intended location is at the edge of Snowdown, it is still within that system. So we are seeking a permit through official channels."
Johnathan paused a moment, gauging the admiral's reaction. Snowdown, Omega 3. He didn't really care on how it was referred to, or what claim Bretonia made to it. Beyond Aland it was a no mans land. Before Aland had been established, it had been Freeport 1 that was that border. But that was almost two decades ago, before Bretonias claim. Still, he knew that beyond the Freeport, Armed Forces patrols were sporadic. He couldn't blame them though. The pressure of first Kusari and now Gallia meant that the Armed Forces were stretched thin. It made sense for them to concentrate their efforts around Sprague and Douglas.
"This, Admiral, is what the Guild wants. We would welcome Bretonian assistance in the construction effort if permission is given, but we are capable of handling such efforts ourselves, including security. Now, with that said, you mentioned you have a request of us as well?"
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
Admiral Garibaldi looked at the information on Omega-3 , a base there could be good for trade moving in and out of Rheinland, it must be said. The question is what would the IMG be willing to pay.
"Good, you understand how much time I don't have. War to run and all that, anyway Omega- 3 sounds like a good spot for a abase. However that system is ours, and we expect any facilities there to help it remain pirate free. You build it, you protect it and the system it is in. That's something that's not even close to negotiable.
In payment for this permission we need something form you. Supplies. Ore and Cryocubes. Ore to build ships, cryocubes to maintain our own structures. You can get both of these things. You might claim Cryocubes would be hard, but you have an understanding with the enemy, you can get the permissions you need. Agree to these minor things, and you can have your permission, as an act of good faith I'll hold the guns that would beg to shoot any structure you build and tell you to get on and start building it.
Garibaldi's attention went back to her neuralnet, another Gallic raid into Leeds orbit, repulsed but barely. The fleet would need these supplies if it was to have a ghost of a chance to win this war.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
"Reasonable demands, admiral." Johnathan replied. He had expected something along these lines to be asked. Sure, Bretonian public sentiments towards the IMG's choice to remain neutral yet again may have made them a few enemies in Bretonia, but it put them in a position to be of use. Months of warfare...
"We will upload docking codes to the Armed Forces and Police Authority, so they can make use of the docking facilities. We plan to construct some stationary defenses as well, but at present, those cannot be programmed to any other task then selfdefense. If additional Bretonian organisations need access, we will need their group transponder to grant them access.
As to supplies, you mention cryocubes and ore or raw materials. We'll need to get in touch with a quartermaster to get some concrete numbers and locations for delivery. Cryocubes... I believe it can be done, but it may generate an unusual amount of traffic, mainly in Leeds. But the details of such are not what a woman in your function would need to concern herself with. Just get us in touch with someone to tell us, where and what. And we'll see to it."
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
Alan Smith was listening to the conversation for a few minutes and he now knew it was his time to speak.
" Admiral Garibaldi I believe that everyone agrees that Bretonia is currently going through it's most difficult times since it's foundation. It is facing a massive fleet whose origin we only recently discovered. It's technology is also unknown to us making it impossible to properly counter it with regular defences..."
The Guild Master paused for a moment before he continued.
" The Guild is an independent entity. Yet it does not forget its roots and what is just. We are here to offer you our unrelenting support. At the extend we can considering that our Tau holdings are now within Gallic territory. The negotiations with Gallia were made to secure our positions and protect the lives of our Guild Members whose absolute majority is of Bretonian origin... "
Alan Smith crossed his hands waiting for the Admiral's answer. He knew the decision that the Guild took to support Bretonia was one of the most important. For the sake of the whole Sirius, Bretonia could not fall to the Gallic horde.
// This roleplay is concluded. We tried many times to stimulate the BAF| / BIS| HC to participate in this meeting which is mostly for Bretonia's benefit, however we were unsuccessful.