To the operators of Gallic Metal Service Station.

[St.Denis]

Comms ID:Marechal Ansel Xavier
Comms Encryption: High
Comms Priority: High

Ansel appears on screen, with a grim expression.

To whoever this may concern...

I am Marechal Ansel Xavier, representing the Gallic Royal Navy. One of our patrols spotted your base in tau-23, and were shot at by the automated defenses. Considering this base is not on record as being a legal installation, as well as it's comparative secrecy and off-radar location forces High command to assume the worst.

Evidence attached.

You have twenty-four hours to explain the existence of this installation, and make an adequate settlement...if you fail in this, your installation will be scuttled and it's inhabitants executed.

I trust the above is sufficiently clear.

Xavier out.

To: Marechal Ansel Xavier
From: Pierre St.Denis

Bonjour Marechal Xavier,

Please accept my sincere apologies Monsieur. I am appalled that the Mining Section of the GMS has gone ahead and built a base in Tau 23 without express permission of myself or the Gallic Authorities.

In their defence they have been complaining for months on the frequent attacks, upon them, from Outcasts and Colonial Republic Forces. I have been extremely busy recently, with the Trading Section of GMS, supplying needed supplies to the War Effort and have therefore had no time to fill in the reams of paperwork required to seek permission. I will be having stern words with the Leader of the Mining Group, when he arrives back at our Headquarters, in rushing ahead with building of this installation.

Having talked to the Leader of the Mining Section, over Secure Transmissions, I can guarantee that is indeed a GMS base and Landing Permission is only been given to GMS Miners and some Kusari Traders who supply needed supplies to the base. The Weapon Systems have been activated to deter the frequent Hostile Forces attacking the Miners.

The base only has a Shield Module and the rest is Storage Modules. There is no intention of building any other Factories.

Yet again, Monsieur, please accept my sincere apologies.

Yours

Pierre St.Denis

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'I would like to be half as clever as some people like to believe they are'
Life is full of disappointments, it is how we handle them that helps to define us, as a person