To: [RHA] | From: Octavarium Intelligence Commission | For The Hel Of It

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Identification: Taskmaster Escher
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Red Hessian Army

Subject: Purchase Inquiry
Encryption: Oh my.
Location: Melbourne Station, Tau-44

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It has been brought to my attention that refits on the Angurvadal have completed.

Now that our previous business has properly concluded, we would like to make another deal. When we first purchased the Hel frame, the Red Hessian Army was rather... protective of the design. However, up here in the Taus, we can't exactly call on you for maintenance.

We would therefore like to purchase the blueprints to the Hel-class cruiser.

I have also heard that the Sichel strike fighter and Sense heavy bomber have been in wider circulation in Rheinland since the decline of the LWB. These craft are of interest to us, as well; being derived from the CTE line, maintenance should be relatively straightforward.

Taskmaster Escher
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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[Zayne Carrick]

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Source: [RHA]SOA-Yggdrasil, high orbit over planet Tangier, Omega-47 system
Сomm ID: Director Siegfried Draay

Guten tag, herr Escher.

You indeed bring wonderful news, I'll assign one especially promising Oberleutnant to Angurvadal and we'll begin testing your modifications in the field. I really count on this vessel's performance.

Quite unfortunate, our protective stance on Hel-class cruiser blueprints still stands. If you have troubles with the ship, we're more than happy to fix it for you. On Vogtland's drydock. The blueprints are intellectual property of Red Hessian Army and would remain so for the foreseable future.

As for your second request, I'll make necessary inquiries with our remaining LWB friends. But all assembly lines may belong to Unioners now, so don't get your hopes very high.

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Identification: Taskmaster Escher
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Red Hessian Army

Subject: Purchase Inquiry
Encryption: Oh my.
Location: Melbourne Station, Tau-44

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The power distribution array is severely burned out, and the Black Cloud II is here in Tau-44. Hidden, but present. We overloaded it in the course of securing our civilians' safe passage through the Barrier. At this point, it can power engines, shields, or life support, but no more than one, and at no more than half power.

You understand where this would complicate bringing it to Vogtland, I trust.

The good news is that this is all internal damage. We could probably cobble together a solution, between Zoner and Crayter tech, and strictly speaking this probably doesn't even require a drydock. You're familiar with the Metropolis and the many alterations we made to that ship over the years; we could manage it again here. Or we could buy replacement parts from you and save some time by using the original equipment.

The immediate damage isn't our true concern.

We live adjacent to a warzone. This was simple burnout, and readily repaired with the right parts. Potential future battle damage is another concern entirely. We fully intend to remain defensive as per the original terms, and from a strategic perspective we don't have the resources to go on offense, but if the Royalists move more within the Taus we may not have a choice in the matter.

I will instruct Aquila to accelerate their planning for a future drydock. Bringing the ship back to Vogtland simply will not be feasible, but it would be trivial for us to shuttle your technicians up here. If the damage is enough to require a drydock and specialists, surviving a trip from Tau to Omega seems... unlikely.

Taskmaster Escher
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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Identification: Taskmaster Escher
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Red Hessian Army

Subject: Purchase Inquiry
Encryption: Oh my.
Location: Melbourne Station, Tau-44

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A solution has been brought to my attention.

We could rig a simple AI routine up. Tether to a lead ship, have it escorted into the Omegas by the Fourth Fleet, and from there to Vogtland by Hessian personnel. This is a large ship, and I don't much like the idea of it being effectively a dead weight to escort, but it's the only feasible way to get it to Vogtland that I've found.

If this is more agreeable, I will begin making arrangements.

Taskmaster Escher
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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[Zayne Carrick]

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Source: [RHA]SOA-Yggdrasil, high orbit over planet Tangier, Omega-47 system
Сomm ID: Director Siegfried Draay

Herr Escher, some of our other friends, like LWB or Mollys managed to operate Hel-class cruiser without serious maintenance for many years. And you've broken it in what? A year? That's quite an achievement.

Well, if you have a proper repair facility, we can send a team of our engineers to fix it for you. If the damage is indeed internal, as you say, drydock may not be required.

Also, I've managed to find quite a couple of dozens of Sichel and Sense strikecraft in cold storage on Merzig Depot. I've transferred a pair of vessels for you to pick up on Vogtland. If they would perform adequately, we can talk about selling you the rest.

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Identification: Taskmaster Escher
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Red Hessian Army

Subject: Purchase Inquiry
Encryption: Oh my.
Location: Melbourne Station, Tau-44

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This was not normal wear.

Our exodus from Kansas was a dangerous thing, given Gallic forces in Magellan and Cortez. With the Metropolis only barely holding together after the Zwickau massacre, many of its systems were transferred over to the Black Cloud II in order to ensure our safe departure and, more importantly, that of our civilians. We could not fight our way through; if Royalist forces detected us, they would move for a decapitation strike. We had to put everything into evasion.

The oversized jammers and scanner systems worked admirably, but we had to keep them running long enough to reach the upper Barrier. Those systems were designed for a far larger vessel. The core was tapped out purely from engines, half-shields, life support functionality, and electronic defenses; nothing remained for even point-defense cannons. That maintaining this power usage for such an extended period would cause this kind of damage is inevitable, and it's a credit to Hessian engineering that this only damaged the power arrays.

Prior to that, the Huginn-pattern refits were performing very well, and power draw was well within the Hel's standard allowances. Had we been able to continue operating the Metropolis's systems aboard their proper vessel, it's very likely we would not need any repair assistance at all.

I will have the ship moved to a mooring position with Canberra. The station is not publicly open yet, and hidden away as it is that should be a suitably-concealed location for at least initial inspection. A mooring umbilical will also allow us to make temporary use of the larger station's life support, so we can more easily offline the existing power array for repair or replacement.

I will also arrange for the pickup of those two vessels.

Taskmaster Escher
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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Identification: Taskmaster Escher
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Red Hessian Army

Subject: Status of Huginn
Encryption: Oh my.
Location: Canberra Star City, Tau-44

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The ships were picked up by ADSV Fort Resolution. Testing so far shows promise, though we may have to replace some of the internals.

VCS Black Cloud II has been securely moored with Canberra Star City, and is completely isolated from all external systems. Apologies for the delay, we've had an interesting month.

I have also arranged for lodging for your engineers, with the finalization of the arrangements only needing one last detail - how many?

The accomodations will include food, housing, and access to all civilian facilities, along with access to the Fleet's gym and shooting range. We have a few engineers of our own that aren't comfortable when idle, I suspect it's common in the border worlds.

Taskmaster Escher
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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[Zayne Carrick]

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Source: [RHA]SOA-Yggdrasil, high orbit over planet Tangier, Omega-47 system
Сomm ID: Director Siegfried Draay

Herr Escher, it's good to hear that those ships can still serve the right cause.

The team of engineers is already assembled. I'm sending 10 engineers, chief engineer Gotthold Mann, who has worked on Angurvadal and therefore familiar with some of your upgrades and SOA Leutnant who'll be there just as formality, 12 men(and women) total, you can expect their arrival on next week.

Provided accomodations will be more than enough, although they might need some rgeneral workers to drag, haul, tinker and other stuff which doesn't require qualification.

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Identification: Taskmaster Escher
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Red Hessian Army

Subject: Status of Huginn
Encryption: Oh my.
Location: Canberra Star City, Tau-44

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Have the accomodations been suitable? And, more importantly, how is our project coming along?

We had a few LSF annoyances in the area recently. While their ego often leaves them blind to both the forest and the trees, I would like to be better-prepared for their next unwanted visit.

Taskmaster Escher
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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