"You do not need to worry about me surrounding myself with those who would shoot me for stepping out of line." There was a tone of past experience in that. "What is happening on Atka interests us for two reasons. Allowing Planetform to expand their market outside of Bretonia is a horrible fate, meaning we are not able to influence or stop them as easily. The other is the simple fact that such actions they do will end up hurting humanity in the long run. However it is very far from any of our operational zones and would need us crossing at least part of a house to get to." It was true. With Hudson towards Liberty's bordering systems with Rheinland, any Gaian efforts would need to cross through Liberty, at least two systems, to get there. Without supplies and a resupply point, it would just be sending those pilots to their deaths.
"I will not sit here and say that what you are suggesting is not a good and proper idea. It truly is. I know little of Erie outside of what I can read and seeing it once on a star chart. You need to remember you are trying to convince more than just me. And, I feel I need to remind you again, my movement is focused in and around Bretonia. Not once have you brought up matters that would directly benefit our purpose. We are not going to fight your war for you, sir. If we gain nothing from such agreements than fighting for far off colonies, we will be lacking in our own duties to our own people. Speak directly what we have to gain from this. I do not care for notions of standing together against vague foes, or fighting for freedom or yet more obtuse subjects too wide to pin down. If we were to join in this initiative, what would the Gaians gain from it. What would Bretonia gain from it. If we can not help our own people then there is no reason for us to strain ourselves trying to help others."
The elderly captain was both showing his hand while being direct. To anyone who watch the wider Bretonian news would know that the Gaian movement has been vastly scattered due to the war and was only just recently reconnecting for their efforts. His retort was truthful. The Gaians couldn't fight for someone else's freedom. They were too tied up in their own struggles. There would need to be a proper exchange for anything to work.
As Gellen spoke, Morreti would occasionally nod to show attentiveness and understanding, once the old man had finished he carefully considered what the perspective of the people across from him might be. "The next time people try to occupy Gaia, it won't just be you fighting against it. I'll also grant ships of the IWA complete freedom of movement on our end of the border and access to our bases. That solves logistical issues if you ever want to hit Planetform in Hudson. If you have empty hangars, I'll put ships in them. Spare beds, soldiers, the LFR does maintain a growing militia after all. And a lot of guns. I just need to know where to send it all, something like an embassy on one of your installations, preferably a fortified location, and you'll start seeing benefit." It was likely only obvious now, but the IWA was a convenient excuse to evade the strict nature of his group. It was an independent, non-aligned entity that favoured no House, something the Xenos would look at the same way as the IMG or Zoners. The added bonus was the fact that the group's nature would reflect some of the ideals every member faction or state was known for, fostering respect and relatability.
"Something that resembles a military coalition, prepared to augment your forces and deter the Houses from crossing the line. I consider that something we'd both objectively benefit from. But I'll understand if you prefer that things stay the way they are, it's certainly simpler. But you stand a better chance of protecting the green jewel with a supplementary force available." There was nothing further he could say, the utility was there, and it could prove substantial in the future and with more members. Gellen was not a man who could be easily read either, so Morreti just looked at him and waited for a response. All his cards were on the table.
The captain seemed pleased now that the meat and potatoes of the offer was out on the table. He glanced towards Mary for a moment. She shrugged and lifted a flat hand, tilting it from side to side in a so-so gesture. A nod, his attention on the Xeno once more.
"That is a proposition we can work with. Consider us interested. However what would be the view on systems like Coronado, Inverness, Kansas, and Vespucci? Each comes with a host of groups who either act independently or try to stand up for a cause. What would be the standard idea towards the Crayter Republic? How about that strange Technocracy, or the rapidly name changing insurgents from Liberty?" A positive response. Here was the home stretch to iron out a few overhead details and make sure there was nothing else that could trip this up. "And I hope you won't expect us to stop going after other targets. Curacao and the corporate masters that control it will need to be dealt with."
His expression visibly soured at the mention of the Crayter Republic and Insurgency, and it took him a flat second of consideration before he responded with certainty. "The Traitor Republic and the other group of traitors in Vespucci have both bent the knee to house influence one way or another, and that makes them an extension of the Houses and sworn enemies all the same. If the Technocracy decides to get into bed with a House, the same will apply to them." The response was firm and concise, there was a lot he could say and a lot he wanted to say about the first two groups, the Insurgency especially was an organization with years of mismanagement behind it. The last straw was their unwillingness to abandon the political misadventures that the Commonwealth started, and Morreti could not allow another group to smother the LFR before it was even born.
"What your group does is up to you, feel free to slaughter the corporates in the Independent Worlds. If House forces get involved then you can do it with the IWA and us involved too." After saying this, he tilted his head to the side, a quiet way of asking for an answer to his question from earlier because it still stood. Was Gellen in or out?
The Captain's gaze moved to Grey. The bureaucrat shrugged, tapped something on the datapad and angled it so only his side of the table could see. Gellen frowned to whatever was written, then nodded. His gaze then went to the Quartermaster. Mary, having been bored again and only here to be witness and bring up logistical matters, had stolen up the abandoned bag of food and was munching on it quietly. As attention fell on her, she lifted a crumb covered hand and made a thumbs up gesture that steady switched to and from a thumb pointing sideways. Such a vague hand motion seemed to mean something to Gellen as he understood it instantly. His gaze went towards Morreti.
"This will all take time, and some details will need to be ironed out before I can formally agree to them. The exchange of personnel likely will not happen outside of requests. Though docking for resupply may be of benefit, and local offices or embassies, as you wish to call them. For the core basic idea of this, you can consider my squadron and those under my wings to be on board, until it is no longer beneficial." It was something. Gellen was playing it diplomatically. Not a hard commitment but an agreement to at least explore this avenue. What would come in the future is an unknown.
A simple nod conveyed Morreti's thoughts on the matter. "Welcome to the IWA." This time the offer of a handshake was put forward by him, and its meaning was different to the formality at the start of this meeting, it was symbolic of the spirit that this agreement was fostering now. "I'll be on the station for the rest of the day, so if there's anything else we need to discuss, door's open." It was certainly not picked up by the other two people in the room, but there was clear intent behind the fact that when he said those words he fixated on Mary last. It was an open invitation, just more open to one than the others, he never claimed he had no personal biases.
When the door opened upon his exit, it was clear that there was something that resembled an honor guard waiting for him outside, promptly following him as he left.
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