To: Director Mountbatten, SIS | From: Commander Fairfax, OIC

[Thexare]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Commander Evelynn Fairfax
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission
Division: Internal Security Administration

To: Director Sarah Mountbatten

Subject: The Green Maybe
Encryption: Significant
Location: The Spider's Watch, Canberra Star City, Tau-44

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Director.

One of my agents encountered a Daumann transport that made interesting claims regarding Rheinlandic support for the Bretonian war effort. Claims that are especially interesting given that the ship was bound for Gallia, and the stories I've heard of Gallic lane construction in Rheinland.

Now, my agent has had some concerns about how accurate this is, and whether or not they made the correct decision in allowing the ship to continue unimpeded. Natio Octavarium has historically had... objections to the government of Rheinland, but if they are in fact assisting in the war effort we may need to reevaluate our position. Temporarily, at least.

I've included a log for your reference. I expect the Daumann captain was overselling his nation's support, but it's worth inquiring about.

Communication Log

[22.06.2019 23:42:07] NO-I-Premonition: Oh my.
[22.06.2019 23:42:14] NO-I-Premonition: Now, hold a second.
[22.06.2019 23:42:27] NO-I-Premonition: That's quite the hold. Where's it headed?
[22.06.2019 23:43:05] DHC-Duppel: Can I help you? You are no pirate, and yet you were fool enough to fire on me...
[22.06.2019 23:43:17] DHC-Duppel: I suppose your people have no more need of aid against gallia, is that it? *chuckles*
[22.06.2019 23:43:31] NO-I-Premonition: I believe I asked a question.
[22.06.2019 23:43:50] NO-I-Premonition: And since I'm the one here that has the guns, I'd recommend answering.
[22.06.2019 23:43:58] DHC-Duppel: You did, poorly, admittedly. So let me ask one in return: why is a neutral opening fire against their own laws on a -
[22.06.2019 23:44:01] DHC-Duppel: -RHEINLAND ship?
[22.06.2019 23:44:19] NO-I-Premonition: You're unfamiliar with our history. We remember the atrocity at Zwickau.
[22.06.2019 23:44:42] NO-I-Premonition: There is no "neutrality" with Rheinland for Natio Octavarium.
[22.06.2019 23:45:04] NO-I-Premonition: Now, I'm being reasonable so far by settling for questions. The gold. Where's it going?
[22.06.2019 23:45:09] DHC-Duppel: Oh? So you're willing to bring down our fleets on your little cause... particularly interesting brand of stupidity.
[22.06.2019 23:45:43] DHC-Duppel: Its going to a client. Should be self evident, that being the nature of trade.
[22.06.2019 23:46:21] NO-I-Premonition: I see. You know, information's a valuable thing, could've saved your employer some money.
[22.06.2019 23:46:46] DHC-Duppel: *chuckles* I think changing the direction of weapon shipments *away* from your people will likely make them much more
[22.06.2019 23:47:12] NO-I-Premonition: When have you sent weapon shipments to any of our allies?
[22.06.2019 23:47:25] DHC-Duppel: So, would you like to throw out any more empty threats, or shall we part ways and I forget you were fool enough to -
[22.06.2019 23:47:29] DHC-Duppel: -threaten a Rheinlander?
[22.06.2019 23:48:15] NO-I-Premonition: I'd hear more about that claim of shipments to "my people" before proceeding. It might save your life.
[22.06.2019 23:48:27] DHC-Duppel: Again, you threaten me. Very well *electronic beeping*
[22.06.2019 23:48:52] DHC-Duppel: So, you wish to surrender to the gallians, yes? Thought your people stood against them, guess I was wrong *chuckles*
[22.06.2019 23:49:10] NO-I-Premonition: *he sighs* You're making even less sense than the Unioners do.
[22.06.2019 23:49:18] NO-I-Premonition: Which is an accomplishment, I have to say.
[22.06.2019 23:49:38] DHC-Duppel: Unioners? You just have to know how to speak to them. Primarily with firepower, has been our lesson. They fell in line.
[22.06.2019 23:49:52] NO-I-Premonition: Hm. On that, at least, I'm tempted to agree.
[22.06.2019 23:49:54] DHC-Duppel: As many did before them, and will still. There are no finer weapons, nor ores, than ours. And Sirius wide, you *need* us.
[22.06.2019 23:50:21] NO-I-Premonition: See, here's the problem, as I see it. I've seen nothing to indicate Rheinland supporting any opposition to Gallia.
[22.06.2019 23:50:45] DHC-Duppel: You're not very observant. Though I suppose the bretonnians could do without our ships, our guns, our trade routes-
[22.06.2019 23:50:57] NO-I-Premonition: Hm. Fascinating.
[22.06.2019 23:50:58] DHC-Duppel: -or our ores. Oh wait... No, they cannot. We have fed them, and continue to feed them.
[22.06.2019 23:51:06] NO-I-Premonition: They're not inclined to share a lot of information, the war's made them paranoid.
[22.06.2019 23:51:15] NO-I-Premonition: But this is useful information, and information is why I'm here. Thank you.
[22.06.2019 23:51:23] NO-I-Premonition: Carry on, then.
[22.06.2019 23:51:28] DHC-Duppel: Trade. Must. Flow. Our neutrality is not some act, but a hard fact that does a great deal for both sides.
[22.06.2019 23:51:43] DHC-Duppel: I ask you to remember that. Daumann ships are not your enemy... whereever you find us, we are there for *business*
[22.06.2019 23:51:51] NO-I-Premonition: Hmm. I'll pass that up the chain.
[22.06.2019 23:52:21] DHC-Duppel: Gut. As long as the trade flows, there need be no emnity.

Commander Evelynn Fairfax
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Capt. Henry Morgan]

SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE - KINGDOM OF BRETONIA - SEMPER OCCULTUS

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From: Director Mountbatten, SIS

Location: <<REDACTED>>

To: Commander Evelynn Fairfax, OIC

Subject: The Green Maybe

Classification: SECRET/LOCSEN - BRETNO EYES ONLY

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Agent Fairfax,

It's a pleasure to hear from you again. I'm afraid your Daumann transport captain was stretching the truth a bit. Though trade with Rheinland has been crucial to keeping the Bretonian economy in some semblance of good health, nothing they've done rises above the level of mere neutrality. They haven't lifted a finger in our support, and as you've noticed, are eagerly trading with our enemies as well. In fact, given the presence of an EFL-built Trade Lane in Frankfurt, I'd say they're leaning slightly further in Gallia's direction rather than ours.

I can hardly blame your agent for their abundance of caution, after all, why risk alienating a potential ally? Next time you see one of their traders heading towards Gallia, though, feel free to ventilate them. If they get the idea that trading with Bretonia is the safer option, that can only work in everyone's favour.

In Her Majesty's Service,

Lady Sarah Mountbatten, Director
Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service

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Natio Octavarium
Faction Information and Status • Recruitment
Faction Feedback • Internal Affairs

[Thexare]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Commander Evelynn Fairfax
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission
Division: Internal Security Administration

To: Director Sarah Mountbatten

Subject: The Green Maybe
Encryption: Significant
Location: The Spider's Watch, Canberra Star City, Tau-44

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We had expected a level of... exaggeration. Typical of Rheinlandic pride, really. Still, if they've been an active trade partner, we'll make use of that information.

But while I have you on the line, OIC technicians, along with support from a Fourth Fleet specialist, have analyzed that worm. Fascinating details; only searching for files related to the initial status of the station, explicitly excluding later construction documentation.

This reveals your motive to be something other than boarding the station. I'm sure you understand our concern; you clearly know the value of an installation like this.

Enclosed is an archive with reasonably-full documentation on the structure - anything that's not structural has been redacted, of course, not likely to be relevant to whatever you found. Normally after the worm, we wouldn't be inclined to share, at least without payment. The war changes things - Gallia must be kept from whatever you found, and Bretonia can hardly spare the kind of materiel compensation we might be interested in.

We hope Bretonia remembers our assistance in the future.

Attachment Found: bretonia-exports.arc

Commander Evelynn Fairfax
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Capt. Henry Morgan]

SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE - KINGDOM OF BRETONIA - SEMPER OCCULTUS

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From: Director Mountbatten, SIS

Location: <<REDACTED>>

To: Commander Fairfax, OIC

Subject: The Green Maybe

Classification: TOP SECRET/NATSEN - SIS/OIC EYES ONLY

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===SECURITY LEVEL UPGRADED, RETROACTIVE FOR THIS COMMUNICATION===
===UNAUTHORISED DISCLOSURE WILL BE PUNISHED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT===

Agent Fairfax,

My complements to your codebreakers. Our programmers told me that worm would be undetectable and impossible to decode even if it were detected. Clearly they underestimated your resourcefulness. Or overestimated their own abilities. Either way, I'll be having a conversation with them that they will not enjoy.

The provided information is very much appreciated, particularly under the circumstances. You'll understand, of course, that I cannot confirm or deny anything. If, hypothetically, we did find a station of similar provenance as Canberra, and if, equally hypothetically, it were to be located in an extremely sensitive area of space, I think you could understand our overabundance of caution. If certain parties were to become aware of this information, it would be disastrous to current and future operations.

I am thankful that you recognise that we meant Natio Octavarium no harm, regardless of our deception. As I said in our conversation back on Canberra, Bretonia has never betrayed a friend or ally. Gallic Royal Intelligence is a formidably competent agency with eyes and ears everywhere. To maintain operational security and prevent leaks where we can, we must compartmentalise information, even at the cost of efficiency. Sometimes we must deceive our friends in the name of security, as I'm sure you understand.

In Her Majesty's Service,

Lady Sarah Mountbatten, Director
Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service

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Natio Octavarium
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