To: Bretonian Government | Report: Maltese Mission

[Thunderer]

Message Class: Textual
Encryption: Earl Grey
To: Government of the Kingdom of Bretonia
From: Governor-General Commodore Elizabeth Hall, BAF

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To whom it may concern,

Three days ago I was politely asked by you fine and noble ladies and gentlemen to examine the outlook of our relations with the Nation of Malta, regarding the latest message sent to us by Dona Enma Loyola. I did so and here I will report my findings.

I first spoke with the Maltese Legion, who were in control of Maltese politics at the time of our last prior dealings with their state. I was greeted rather coldly and they did all they could to avoid the subject and waste my time. There was no definitive answer from them. They did say that they were worried about Dona Loyola's message, but this "worry" was very ambiguous and it seemed as if they were playing with me, apparently expecting me to know something that the SIS has obviously not notified us about. You should already have access to this communique.

I later had a private correspondence with Dona Loyola herself. She and my father were allegedly close associates for some reason, so I used this as a pretext. Honour dictates me not to share what I promised to be private, so I will only summarize what came out as relevant.

This Loyola claims to have asserted herself to power on Malta and she is an impulsive and unpredictable fanatic. She is driven by a fantastical dream that everything north of New London should rightfully belong to Malta. My recommendation is that she cannot be reasoned with arguments and logic and she only understands the force of arms. She should be approached to more like a Cretan than a Maltese. However, below the veil of fanaticism there seems to be a cunning (if unpolished) mind and I warn that she should not be underestimated, but treated with the same caution we treat Corsairs with. A Corsair may be savage, but he will find the way to get what he wants, and if there is none, he will make one.

I have doubts that what she says about having asserted herself to power is true, but there are indications that it is. A promise of territorial gain would be enough to rally many supporters for elections (or a coup, those being more common in recent Maltese history), and now that she is in power, she needs to fulfill her promises. If this is correct, then I retract my accusation of fanaticism, as this would be a credible reason to do what may seem like madness on the surface. Although this possibility has its drawbacks for us, in this case all that needs to be done is that the realization of the promised territorial expansion is denied, and Dona Loyola will soon find a few Maltese knives in her back and probably be replaced by a less belligerent party.

To add, the Legion behaved rather uninterested about the whole affair, which certainly does not fit the expected reaction of a party that is in power, but rather a subsidiary or even a deposed one.

My final advice is that the SIS should be sent on a mission to gather more information on this region, on which the government's decisions should only then be based. I also advise getting in touch with Crayter.

Should the worst be confirmed, then the Basilica Treaty must be destroyed, as well as all the copies, and all mentions of it erased from record. I will let the SIS invent a cover story for the mentions which cannot be erased, as they are supposedly experts at this.

Commodore
Governor-General of Exeter
Bretonian Armed Forces

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[Thunderer]

Message Class: Textual
Encryption: Earl Grey
To: Government of the Kingdom of Bretonia
From: Governor-General Commodore Elizabeth Hall, BAF

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PS: I have just received a message from Dona Loyola where she said that she was, I quote, "a citizen of the Gallic crown" and that this was "public information". If an Enclave agent has taken control of Malta and we were not informed, then this was a serious omission by the SIS and I request that this information is checked as soon as possible. I trust its importance is obvious enough.

Commodore
Governor-General of Exeter
Bretonian Armed Forces

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[Thunderer]

Message Class: Textual
Encryption: Earl Grey
To: Government of the Kingdom of Bretonia
From: Governor-General Commodore Elizabeth Hall, BAF

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To whom it may concern,

I have spoken with Commandant Pierre Vaillant of the Gallic Confederacy and I am sending you an update on my findings.

The commander, who has once served King Charles, says that Enma Loyola indeed was a citizen of the Gallic Crown and her name is still in their database. If you wish, you can request access to our correspondence, but I must warn you that it contains harsh language.

Thinking about this further, I may have made a mistake contacting him. If the Enclave and Malta are now one single force, then they can invade Gallia at the same time on two fronts while Gallia is busy with the Hessians in Cologne. If Gallic defense forces loyal to the Duchy join them, we might see Gallia shift back to its old regime. It was a mistake by the SIS to divert all attention to Rheinland while assuming Gallia had been done with. Now I am forced to employ my amateurish efforts to, at best, hold the front. Please, I implore you, at least give me an answer and tell me I am not alone. These matters concern all of Bretonia, not only me, and they should concern it greatly.

In the meantime, I will be trying to employ the Zoners to investigate whether Loyola indeed does have control of Malta, until professionals can take over.

Commodore
Governor-General of Exeter
Bretonian Armed Forces

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[Markam]

Governor General Hall,

I strongly suggest you get yourself a nice, strong cup of tea and take stock of the situation.

The Bretonian government advises against engaging in the wild schemes of drug barons, and we should maintain the stance we have always held.

There is no relationship with that band of brigands worthy of note, and any evidence cooked up by said band of brigands to tarnish our reputation is nonsense, and any sensible government of a house would do well not to take it seriously.

The Outcasts, by virtue of not being close to Bretonia during our struggle with Gallia, stayed clear of us, and we stayed clear of them. Naturally, we are closer to one another again, and we will deal with them as we deal with other criminals.

Am I clear in what I mean, Governor Hall?

Put on a stiff upper lip, will deal with the issues when they come to us, no sooner.

Best regards,
Benedict Callahan, Secretary to the Cabinet

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Markam is evil

[Thunderer]

Message Class: Textual
Encryption: Earl Grey
To: Government of the Kingdom of Bretonia
From: Governor-General Commodore Elizabeth Hall, BAF

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Esteemed Mister Callahan,

I have received and understood your message. I will have no further correspondence with Malta. Should I encounter them, which is unlikely in Exeter, I will treat them as any other criminals. For me, Basilica is from now on void: it does not exist and never has. Thank you for responding and have a pleasant day.

Commodore
Governor-General of Exeter
Bretonian Armed Forces

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