I'm Kai Richter, ALG's director of security.
I am contacting you with regards to a special request.
We are examining the long-term feasibility of operating an IMGC-104D Sagarmatha-class Battlecruiser as ALG Security's flagship.
Such a vessel would constitute a security and combat presence our few gunboats simply do not possess, something we fear may become necessary in the foreseeable future. We have reports of a dangerously deteriorating security situation in Rheinland, particularly Frankfurt, a system largely ignored by Federal forces due to the war front in Hamburg and the perceived greater importance of Stuttgart and the Omega connection.
As we are told, Corsairs regularly invade the system, and if this weren't enough, there has been an increased presence of Nomads and infected agents in the area.
This creates an intolerable situation for us as a security crisis in the area would jeopardize our entire business.
Furthermore, our combat wings in other areas of operation could at times benefit from the presence of a more significant defensive anchor when dealing with major threats, in particular our newly constructed outpost in New London if the situation in the area becomes dire.
The main obstacle to the operation of a Sagarmatha-class is that we simply do not have crews with the know-how necessary to operate a vessel of this class. Therefor, we propose the following:
- The vessel in question will be owned by ALG Waste Disposal and leased to the Independent Miners Guild, until we possess the capacity to operate it on our own. As such the vessel's identification will be that of the Independent Miners Guild until that time.
- The vessel will be crewed doubly by Independent Miners Guild and ALG Waste Disposal personnel, with IMG constituting the primary crew.
- The purpose of this joint operation is to train the ALG Waste Disposal crew in the unassisted operation of the Sagarmatha-class.
- The vessel's home port will be Aland Shipyard. The vessel will not enter house controlled systems until further notice, upon agreement between ALG Waste Disposal and the Independent Miners Guild.
- The vessel will naturally not be used in combat operations against organizations or individuals considered friendly by the Independent Miners Guild, nor in aid of organizations or individuals considered hostile by the Independent Miners Guild.
Easy things first: Your request for a IMGC-24C Gasherbrum-class Gunboat is granted. Pick up the boat by using the attached keys. Monsun sounds like a fitting name. There is no need for bringing in building material, I know how your shippers have aided our bases in the last weeks.
Your request for an IMGC-104D Sagarmatha-class Battlecruiser has led to a lot of discussion in the higher echelons of the Guild and I have to tell you that we have not reached a final decision on this matter.
The main problem I see is the legal situation of operating such a vessel. Bretonia (Omega 3) as well as Rheinland has clear laws that forbid the unauthorised use of warships and they count the Battlecruiser as a warship. Therefore the cruiser would not be able to legally operate in Omega 3 where it could be serviced or stationed. Bretonia only hesitatingly agreed to allow a very limited number of IMG Cruisers into O3. I doubt they will make another exception easily.
I also think it is highly doubtful whether Rheinland would allow a Battlecruiser that has even some faint Guild influence into Rheinland. Rheinland has been traditionally even more restrictive than Bretonia in questions of warship deployment. But likely you have better channels to make things happen.
Therefore I sadly do not yet see how an IMG/ALG warship could operate in the Area of Operation that you described.
Don't get me wrong: the Guild is not opposed to providing their friends of the ALG with the technology, however the Guild has trouble seeing how this ship can be actually operated legally in any system that is claimed by either Rheinland or Bretonia.
Therefore, I would like to ask for clarification in the name of the IMG Guildmasters about the named issues in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Jack Henderson
IMG Operations
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Richter here. First things first, the new Gasherbrum-class Monsun has been received, outfitted, and stationed in New London as per agreement. I am confident she will serve well.
Second, the more complicated matter. Of course we've anticipated the diplomatic difficulties of operating a vessel of this class in systems claimed by the houses.
The vessel would be equipped with supplies and fuel for extended journeys away from any port - this being the original purpose of the Sagarmatha-class, it shouldn't pose a significant hurdle.
Therefor, the only situation in which the vessel would need to return to Aland is if major repairs are needed.
In such a scenario, the crew would contact any available Bretonian ships directly to arrange one-time access. The vessel would in any case remain well away from the inhabited parts of the system.
We don't foresee this posing a major issue, however if preferred by the Guild, the home port could be redesignated to Wuppertal Refinery, Koeln.
Which brings me to the next point, operation in Rheinland. Naturally, the ship would be registered in the Rheinland Special Permission Ship Registry. As a major Rheinland corporation, I doubt we would have major issues obtaining the license, even with the politically sensitive IMG connection.
We will do everything necessary to gain approval from both governments, however if this turns out to be entirely infeasible, we will confine the operation to outside house space entirely for the time being.
Connections in the far Omicrons would allow for largely unproblematic operation in this manner, though that solution obviously would not be desirable.
With your general positive response, we will initiate diplomatic proceedings immediately.
Finally, the team has come up with the name Erdbeben for the vessel, if everything goes according to plan.
The Guild will gladly provide ALG with a Sagarmatha Battlecruiser once the necessary legal paperwork has been obtained.
I'll be frank: no IMG Cruiser has ever managed to get permission to be operated in Rheinland, not even in Omega 7, and the Guild is not interested in creating a diplomatic issue with Rheinland, nor with Bretonia in O3.
Operating it fully outside of House Space is hardly possible. With no shipyard for repairs, in a thoroughly hostile environment and the lower Omegas full of radiation, the operation parameters sound not sustainablein the mid- or long term.
It would make a lot more sense to operate it from Omega 3, Aland Shipyard, as this is the only shipyard that has the experts and the technology to repair this class of vessel. And believe me: it will need repairs sometimes.
I suggest you seek permission from Bretonia to regularly pass through O3 for refitting the Cruiser at Aland. This should be possible, even though I do not think you can obtain anything else. Asking for permission to operate it in O3 might already be too much to ask in my personal experience.
Once the paperwork has been completed, we can talk about how to operate it.
The name Erdbeben seems quite fitting, by the way.
I wish you luck with the paper-pushers and I apologize for what must seem a hesitant approch to this project, but experience has shown that trouble doubles whenever a Sagarmartha-class is concerened in any possible way.
Yours sincerely,
Jack Henderson
IMG Operations
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Though it has taken some time, we have managed to acquire permission from the Kingdom of Bretonia for the the operation of the vessel within Omega-3 - beyond what we requested, covering the entire system - as well as the Federal Republic of Rheinland for operation within Rheinland space.
Everything has been submitted where data is available, since the ship itself has not been launched this doesn't include everything.
However, all diplomatic issues for the Erdbeben's planned main area of operation have hereby been smoothed out.
Of course, we understand your caution regarding house diplomacy in respect to the situation involving our operation of such a vessel. We hope these assurances will satisfy your doubts.
All the required paperwork seems to be alright so that any diplomatic fallout seems rather unlikely with the Houses. ALG seems to be well-connected to get deals like that as quickly as you managed to obtain them.
Before the construction of the Sagarmartha Battlecruiser is ordered, I need confirmation that the Rules of Engagement for the Erdbeben include a no-engagement policy for any party that the Guild is neutral with. We do not take sides in intra-House conflicts, and thus do not want to see our equipment used in it.
Once this last hurdle is taken, production can immediately be started.
Yours sincerely,
Jack Henderson
IMG Operations
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For the most part, we have no issue with your requirements. We share most of our enemies with you, and we too take no part in house conflicts.
However, there is one issue: the Red Hessians. We're aware of your less-than-hostile relations, unfortunately with the vessel likely to spend much of its time in Rheinland, we would be hard-pressed to guarantee that conflicts would not occur.
While we maintain somewhat cool though not outright hostile relations with the Red Hessian Army, it cannot be denied that the movement overall is one of the main threats to civilian shipping, including our own, within Rheinland.
Their followers have highly varied stances towards us, from downright friendly to full-on hostility.
We do not go out of our way to search and destroy them, but if they are causing problems our policy is removal.
Even if the Erdbeben were never used proactively against Hessian vessels, simply by operating within Rheinland space she is bound to be targeted by some of them at some point.
Therefor, I hope you can agree to the following engagement policy:
- The Red Hessian Army will never be attacked by the Erdbeben
- Other Hessian vessels will only be attacked if they are both
- Cruiser-class or larger
- Causing problems for civilian shipping
Aside from the Hessian issue, we are not one hundred percent familiar with your diplomacy, as you are understandably cautious with it. If you can think of any other diplomatic issues, please inform us.
Thank you.
The Guild accepts the forwarded draft of the Rules of Engagement for the Erdbeben.
Construction orders have already been given. ALG can help by shipping in the necessary components. This will significantly reduce the price of the construction.
Quote:1. Engine Components: 4.000units
2. Polymers: 2.000 units
3. Ship Hull Panels: 5.000 units
4. High Temperature Alloys: 5.000 units
5. Shape Memory Alloy: 4.000 units
6. Ablative Armor Plating: 8.000 units
7. Energy Field Equipment: 8.000 units
9. Lasers: 2.000 units
10. Tungsten: 4.000 units
11. Superconductors: 2.000 units
12. Titanium: 2.000units
Yours sincerely,
Jack Henderson
IMG Operations
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Greeting, Mr Henderson. Anita Raichert here, director of shipping.
I've been informed that at long last, the final deliveries of materials were delivered to Singapore today. We've had many other projects running simultaneously, so all of this took longer than expected.
Fortunately, I have heard that construction has already begun, with most of the materials having been delivered long ago.
We've also dropped a provisional crew at Singapore for the handover when the Erdbeben is completed, and will be contacting the Republic of Kusari and the Gas Miners' Guild for passage to Rheinland.
Attached are the records of all related cargo manifests. We send warm regards for this great collaborative effort.
The Guild is happy to announce that the construction of the 'Erdbeben' is all but completed. Chief engineer Luther told me that ALG crews can take the Battlcruiser on her maiden voyage Friday morning. They are running last checks to the onboard systems to make sure that the updated subsystems work properly.
The materials your shipper hauled have been used to restock the storage facilities on our shipyard, and there were no noteworthy delays in the construction process due to logistic delays.
We are looking forward to the launching ceremony.
Yours sincerely,
Jack Henderson
IMG Operations
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