Name: The Beginning of the End Priority: High Secrecy: Assembly Eyes Only Department: Provisional Republic Fleet
The Bretonian Armed Forces have officially begun their counterattack. We are seeing the initial stages of it, with intense anti-smuggling operations undertaken by New London patrols and a probing incursion into Dublin to establish a forward operating base for BMM and regain access to the gold fields. In the background, the Kingdom is preparing a task force for a full-scale assault on Dublin, with Battleships Essex and Somerset undergoing refits at Portsmouth with technological assistance from Kusari.
We know this, because after the failed interception of the Kishiro convoy in Leeds that was heavily guarded by a combined KNF and BAF force resulted in the death of Commander Harris, we have been keeping an eye on their operations. We can surmise that the two Houses are closely cooperating to outfit a Bretonian fleet for an attempted hyperspace jump attack on Dublin.
Rheinland, for their part, promised direct military aid to the Kingdom, spurred by the latter's support during the Imperial coup. Both Kusari and Rheinland have started committing their military assets, which have been seen entering Bretonia as peacekeeping forces. Several foreign ships have already been witnessed assisting the Bretonian forces with their latest incursion into Dublin. The Houses are expected to escalate their intervention in Bretonia as the gold shortage is intensifying. Liberty remains quiet on the matter, but it is only a matter of time before they get involved as well.
Sources from the Technocracy have confirmed all this, as well. The Technocracy are the only organisation in the Independent Worlds that not only reached out to the Assembly but has consistently followed through on their pledges, providing our movement with advanced technology and combat support. They are isolationist and outlawed by the Houses, and we still don't know much about them, but we have no reason to doubt their word on this.
In short, the Houses have their eyes on Dublin, seeing it as the next major flashpoint that they may use to further their political interests. More importantly, they want to regain gold for their economies but are content with letting the Kingdom do the heavy lifting, for now. The initiative is on their side for once, and all we can do is gather our allies and prepare for the inevitable.
Recommendation:
Each asset the Houses commit to helping Bretonia is no longer available to secure their own territory. We should expand our network and reach out to underworld groups within the other Houses, who can disrupt their operations more effectively with this opening. Without their logistics, the foreign interventionists in Bretonia will have little effectiveness.
It may be fruitful to continue with Minister Burns' plan to smuggle gold into Liberty and Kusari through intermediaries to discourage them from escalating their support for the Kingdom. It is a gamble betting their greed and interest in regaining gold against their desire to help their Bretonian allies. Rheinland is unlikely to be placated like this due to their Imperial government's ties to the Crown and historic hatred of workers' rights movements.
Resolve the Corsair question. While these pirates can be a complication for Bretonia, the Santander raiding group has caused us a lot of damage as well. On the other hand, they must realise that they will not survive if the Kingdom regains control over the system. Reach an accord with them, or failing that, destroy them.
Fortify our Dublin installations against the imminent full-scale attack by the Bretonian Armed Forces. We will need every ship, every able man and every weapon our gold can purchase if we are to hold.
This is a defining moment for our movement. With our past victories, we have found ourselves entering the larger international stage, and every actor on it will test us. If we fall now, everything our Founders fought for will be for nought. We have to hold. The future depends on it.
