To: Pascal Baton (//Accessible by ONI/GRN)

[Camille Gabriel]

Message Received: 5th August 736A.G.S

Warning. Terminal receipt date inconsistent. Error log below.

Error Details

Unrecognized Code:

Public Function Pause(NumberOfSeconds As Variant)

On ErrorGoTo Error_GoTo

Dim PauseTime As Variant
Dim Start As Variant
Dim Elapsed As Variant

PauseTime = 6.048e+6
Start = Timer
Elapsed = 0
Do While Timer < Start + PauseTime

Elapsed = Elapsed + 1
If Timer = 0 Then

PauseTime = PauseTime - Elapsed
Start = 0
Elapsed = 6.048e+6

End If
Send

Loop

Exit_GoTo:

On Error GoTo 0
Exit Function

Error_GoTo:

Debug.Print Err.Number, Err.Description, Erl
GoTo Exit_GoTo

End Function

Please wait.
Retrieving date from cloud.

Message Sent: 5th August 736A.G.S
Message Retrieved: 13th October 736A.G.S

Dear Pascal,

I understand that, at least from your perspective, it has likely been some time. I must apologize for the subterfuge, but I hope you will allow me a chance to explain its necessity. Unless something has gone horrifically wrong I expect you have already received (and long since forgotten) the last report I lodged over formal channels - a little over a day ago to me. If you recall, and I would not blame you if you do not - that was, after all, the intention -, I spoke of obligations that precluded me from further service with the Legion.

As you may have gathered by now, unless dearest Lucie's arthritic grip on the obvious has spread to the rest of the Navy, I was not being entirely truthful.

My departure had nothing to do with my assignment and everything to do with the command that authorized it. I will spare you the tiring details - they would do one in your situation little good and no end of harm, but less us suffice to say that in the final weeks of my service with the Legion I came in to contact with an organisation that showed me what the real threat is - and it lies far closer to our own homes than the Sirian colonies.

We have been lied to, Pascal. Used without exception or exemption and I, for one, tire of being a tool in someone else's war. Again, I fear the details would place you in more danger than I care to place at your doorstep - save serving as my confessor, you are entirely innocent in this. No doubt you can discover more on your own, should you care to look. Despite my best efforts; however, the aforementioned organisation has proved notoriously difficult to track down from Gallia. The presence of our dear friends in the Office of Naval Intelligence does little to simplify matters, as I am certain you can understand.

I intend to seek them out. I leave my destination to your, no doubt capable, imagination. I depart tomorrow morning. Two months ago, by the time you receive this message.

You may wonder why I would speak to you of this. In truth, I wonder myself. Perhaps you remind me of someone I once knew. Perhaps I wonder at your ability to survive unassisted. Perhaps you simply deserve a chance to be free of what I suspect is coming. Or perhaps, far more likely, we all must talk to someone and your name was convenient. If you have heard me out so far you are more patient than I and, if you are wiser than I was, Pascal, you will maintain a healthier distance from the machinations of command than usual.

No doubt I shall be labelled a deserter for this. Perhaps a traitor. It is of no consequence. I have, after all, been called far worse by those far more intelligent.

I would wish you luck, but I fear I will need enough of it myself.

In service to Gallia,

Camille Gabriel
Légion Étrangère

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Dulce et decorum est.
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