From: Escobar Cabrera. To: Hernán Escudero. Subject: What happened?
Buenos dias Hernán.
A lot of time passed later when you wrote that you need the help of my family. I regret that I could not appear on time and I explain why so happened.
When you sent me a message, I hurried to you, in Omicron Alpha. I moved through Omicrons, since in Omicron Delta I was fixed with several of my henchmen. The sudden attack of the corsairs led to the fact that I was hit, but saved. I got into a coma for a few months. When I woke up, I found myself in good condition, but the news from the hospital burdened me.
What happened to your Cadiz Cartel? Why did you stop being one of the rulers? Gallia became a Confederation? Who is Enma Loyola? Liberty Rogues trying to kill and catch our spaceships in Liberty? And who the hell controls this whole mess now? I know that you will be able to briefly and clearly answer these questions, since I did not know a wiser person in Malta than you.
I may seem stupid to you, but it's better to be stupid than a these guys from Legion Maltese. I look forward to your reply with more impatience than preparing my ship.
Indeed, your falling out of action was ill-timed as many things have changed. Well, you being an honest hombre de Malta, I see no reason not to indulge you explaining the stuff.
Firstly, the Cartel. Its dissolution is tightly linked to the change of political situation on Malta. Serving as the Consul of the Maltese Unitary Republic of Hispania, I could get acquainted with many views on what Malta was doing. While many supported our course, many vouched for "returning to the roots", id est simple piracy with no clear views on the strategy of building Malta in the future. Those lads don't need economy, education, effective administration. Well, I am a simple man and who am I to stop them from bathing in chaos? Did it hurt Malta? Surely, it did. But I did not wish to tolerate their mere presence and the very idea of dealing with them disgusted me. One of such persons in particular is the aforementioned Enma Loyola who had been twice accused of treachery, has confirmed citizenship of enemy state of Gallia, and is allegedly infested. The very fact that Maltese politicum tolerates such people was of no liking to me, so I stepped down. I clearly saw that it would lead to de facto falling of the regime of the Unitary Republic as they criticised it for our "lawful" ways. Oh well, they wanted it - they got it. Now Malta is again busy with internal strife and lack of effective administration. "Cuatroce" at that point was too strongly intertwined with the politics, so stepping down from the politics presumed dissolution of the Cartel. Worry not, Senor Cabrera, we managed to amass a lot of credits, billions of credits, to ensure our luxurious existence until our demise. Me and other ex-menbers still own a lot of land on Albegna and Soledad, Nuovo Milano de Albegna in particular. I am enjoying life in Cadiz-de-Malta where I can do whatever I want, ruling as I see fit. But that is a different story. As to your inquiry who controls this whole mess - formally, it is the Legion Maltesa, however their distance from politics speaks for itself and de facto Malta is in state of perpetual fight for power without clear leadership. Nothing new.
Secondly, Gallia - si, it "lost" the war. I was present at the peace talks that were quite disappointing for all sides. Malta could not get much there so I withdrew from the talks in favour of Legion's representative, seeing no use in continuing. But do not let this "peace" confuse you: Malta has not signed the treaty and we are still de jure and de facto at war with whatever Gallia is now. This time, however, Gallia is even less united under the Confederate banner and too much preoccupied with post-war restoration.
Lastly, the rogues - I am not surprised to hear about their new ingenious plan. "Garbage in, garbage out" as we say. Rogues being garbage of all sorts from Liberty lowest of the lowest, it comes as no wonder they want to bite the hand that feeds them. Except for a few reasonable types there, most are junkheads. And quite a lot of them depend on Cardamine. Shut the flow down and Liberty Police would maybe for the first time in history grateful to Malta for exterminating one third of the pests. They can buy Cardamine on the side, of course, but them being poor sods, their wallets will be emptied not to the satisfaction of the owners. Should you deal with the rogues - remind them of this. Their laughable Orange Alliance was never of benefit to Malta, it was of benefit to them because they feared Malta and its influence. And rightfully so, we hold their threads of life. Without Cardamine smuggling they lose a significant share of profit, and a lot of their own members. We will lose part of Libertonian market, of course, but Malta can endure when Kusarian market is booming and Chrysanthemums are loyal. Be warned, though, that without single Maltese government you cannot truly control who supplies rogues with Cardamine. Many rival dons or lower warlords, or just industrious individuals can decive to supply the Rogues in deficit either in exchange for a favour or higher price. What to do with it is up to you, I am too fed up with dealing with close-minded Maltese "political elite". Perhaps, you will have a better shot at it.
I wish you luck in your endeavours, Senor Cabrera. I hope your ambitions and deeds will benefit Malta and it will be proud of its son. Serve it well.
Respetuosamente,
Hernan Luis Escudero Grijalva
Don of Cadiz-de-Malta
From: Escobar Cabrera. To: Hernán Escudero. Subject: Plans.
Hernán Escudero.
This is bad. To see Malta again tearing itself apart when it has one chance in a million - to make itself a great state, and not what we are called now. "Outcasts," "orange children". These Sirians from Liberty, Bretonia, Rheinland, Kusari and Gallia should call us "Maltese". It is somehow strange that we are driving ourselves into what we were in before. 800 years passed, we got a tremendous experience of war, but never learned to use this experience together. At least this is my vision of the situation.
Since I am a soldier, I don’t even know how I can rectify the situation. I never thought that I would go so far as to try to resume your policy of our small corner in Omicrons. I cherish the hope that loyal to the Cartel people from other families have remained. I think it’s worth starting with this the first time. Are there any such families at all? I'm sure it should be. Can you tell me about them? So far I need information, nothing more. If you had allies, then I think it's time to come to ensure that they become my allies. We have to start somewhere.
What about the Rogues, this is a difficult situation, as you have already explained to me what the problem is. On the other hand, how did the other Dons react to this "Orange Treaty"? Do you have any information about this?
As for Enma Loyola, I agree with you: traitors have no place in Malta. By the way, you often indicate that she is possibly infected. What about the Nomads and their minions? Are we all burning this shit too, or are there any changes?
From what I know, most of my former comembers of the Cartel be they noble or not stepped out of business and active involvement in any matters, enjoying their quite generous pensions following the dissolution of the Cartel. Some of them even left Maltese Space. You can try reaching to Senor Daguza Ecoas, my former Chief of Security. Perhaps, he can offer you some insight on the matters. De Motti are trickier. One of them vanished without a trace, leaving Maltese space. The other as far as I know is running family matters on Malta and is unlikely to get involved in another adventure. There was also a skilled fighter, Luis Torres. He also vanished without a trace. One of our former R&D divisions, "Navarro 5" seems to operate now independently as a small R&D company. Aside from Cartel members, you can try reaching to IRMM and their administration. From what I know, they are still operating.
As for the rogues and the dons, from what I have heard, most notable families support the position of Malta we preached when dealing with them, namely, that Orange Treaty lacks benefits for Malta and thus was considered null and void. There might be smaller dons who oppose, but usually just a short experience of dealing with the rogues convinces them otherwise.
As for the nomads, current standing is that we tolerate their presence outside of Maltese space, i.e. not actively hunt them. However, they are considered a threat and their presence within Maltese space is not tolerated and any incursions should be met with force and, if an entity does not leave our space, its immediate destruction.
As of now, I have no intentions to return to politics of Malta, at least not until I have rested from the headache it gave me and some people who cringe me disappear. Until then, you can give it a shot and try Maltese politics yourself. Such a circus can give a wide range of emotions. Wish you luck with that, should you undertake this path.
I hope this answers your questions.
Respetuosamente,
Hernan Luis Escudero Grijalva
Don of Cadiz-de-Malta
From: Escobar Cabrera. To: Hernán Escudero. Subject: Answer.
Hernán Escudero.
Well, I will try to contact the above people and factions who were on good terms with the Cartel. My family still needs people who can carry weapons in their hands. Perhaps your people will not mind doing the dirty work of improving Malta and understanding why they were given weapons and a ship. Personally, I accept Malta’s weapons as the soldiers in Liberty do - with honor and understanding of the responsibility that falls on their shoulders.
But I was distracted. I will inform you here about all the major changes that you will be interested in looking at. I will try not to plunge Malta into even greater chaos.
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