TO: Bretonian Parliament and Cabinet of the Kingdom Of Bretonia

[ONIKS]

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identified: Venator ONYX STATUETTE

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To venerable members of Bretonian Parliament, Cabinet of the Kingdom of Bretonia and Bretonian government in general.

I contact you as a second-in-command of Technocratic Covenant of Auxo, name's Onyx Statuette.

I am sorry for my lack of diplomatic courtesy and thus I'll be very brief to not waste your time.

We, Technocracy of Auxo, are proposing you a trade deal. Our money and cooperation in exchange for full control of Inverness system.

We do understand that Inverness is an integral part of Bretonian society, its values and a part of Her Majesty's sphere of influence but let us reassure you that trading off Inverness will be much more beneficial for you than trying to keep it.

Inverness is undoubtebly an outskirt system, a badlands, with no infrastructure and any kind of economical value. More over it's a dangerous badlands with possibility of becoming even more extreme. We do not know how much intel you have on hands but our recent recon gave us information about dormant nomad alien activity and very recent jumphole anomaly reshuffle, namely the one in West Avlemore nebulae. Right now it leads to still unrecognizable system and our numerous recon there were cut short by presumambly nomad infectees or were worthless because of a dark matter storm of paramount intensity interfering with our systems. But just hours ago we managed to secure few footages that we are about to show you.



Let's be short and concise. There's literally infested system with super-heavy class warship of Gallic origin, right on your border. But if you agree to sell us Inverness, we will make sure that everything is contained and that small issue wouldn't bother you. Moreover after this trade deal we can focus on mutual threats, Corsair bandit hegemony for example.

Think about this offer to purchase as a form of compensation for all the assets and economical backlash you will experience after giving up control.

I hope our talks will be fruitful for both sides and there's possibility to de-escalate this conflict.

Sincerely yours,
Venator Onyx Statuette.

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On hiatus for unspecified amount of time

[The Kingdom of Bretonia]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Holyrood
To: Venator Onyx Statuette, Auxesia
From: Assistant Undersecretary to the Foreign Office Nigel Swindle

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Ah, good morning to our subtenants! It is relieving to hear that you are still alive. My name is Nigel Swindle, I work for the Foreign Office and it is my pleasure to meet you, mister... Onyx Statuette. I have been instructed to deliver the Cabinet's proposal about how to resolve our little misunderstanding.

It has been a long time since the Kingdom of Bretonia received you as guests in Inverness and gave you a place to settle yourselves there. You might have forgotten. People forget, that's what people will always do. That is why people should be reminded. Since you are still alive, I assume nobody has yet been sent to remind you. I personally disapprove of the way the SIS likes to remind our debtors, so that is good. Well then, we'd better get this over with before they finish their tea and start moving!

Dunedin can be sold. That shouldn't be a problem. We can sell it, we can lease it, we can move it too... At your expense, of course. It is you who is bothered by its presence, after all. But Inverness as a system will demand more.

Yes, it is a bit desolate and our corporations and military forces have more important things to do. At this moment. That will probably change within the next couple of years, but this is not what makes it complicated. We will be interested in exploring the threat level of the supposed aliens and the phantom Gallic warship that you've mentioned, but first we must settle the matters at hand. Inverness is part of Queen Carina's title. I quote: "Carina I, Queen of Bretonia, Empress of the Taus, Sovereign of the systems of Exeter, Inverness and Nottingham." The Cabinet has a special proposal for you in this regard.

We are ready to recognise Auxesia's claim over Inverness under one condition: that Auxesia becomes a Commonwealth state. This would mean that Auxesia would recognise Queen Carina as its head of government, but still keep much of its autonomy. The limitations would include that Auxesia will not attack Bretonian allies, that Auxesia will not work with Bretonian enemies and that our two states may request aid from each other against common enemies. Since Bretonia has a claim on Inverness, then this would also imply that Bretonia would defend it from invaders -- the system and those who hold it in the monarch's name.

How does this sound then?

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[ONIKS]

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identified: Venator Onyx Statuette

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Mister Swindle,

Technocracy has reviewed and processed the proposition from Foreign Office and We came up with counter-proposition. This took more time than was anticipated so I personally express regret for stretching out the process. But matters are delicate so there's no need for rush.

We are ready to buy Dunedin but we can't accept the proposal to become part of Commonwealth as Auxesia, its High Command and population, don't want to be a part of any intergovermental organization as this clashes with our ideas and ideals. So, let's separate these two cases and review them individually.

For Dunedin, We are ready to discuss the price and terms of conduct of said deal.

For idea of Commonwealth, We would like to keep status quo and We are ready to upheld early agreements. If We achieve arrangement on that matter, We are ready to discuss new protocols such as approach for a mutual adversaries, cooperation and other.

Sincerely yours,
Venator Onyx Statuette.

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On hiatus for unspecified amount of time

[The Kingdom of Bretonia]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Holyrood
To: Venator Onyx Statuette, Auxesia
From: Assistant Undersecretary to the Foreign Office Nigel Swindle

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Well, would you look at this! We're speaking like true allies again! Even while we are holding daggers behind our backs...

Before we delve into the matters at hand seriously, if we do at all, I must ask you one thing, sir. Why did they send you? It is public knowledge that Auxesia doesn't hesitate when there is a chance to use words as weapons. But you, your tone is civil, diplomatic, even reconcilable... Auxesia's initial message to us sounded as if it had come from the mouth of a delusional Gaul, but now, now it's just that same old tedious ennui of classic Sirian diplomacy. What is it, then? Fear? Sobriety? What changed? Why are you suddenly willing to work with us? ...Are you, actually?

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[ONIKS]

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Mister Swindle,

I am not a diplomat and thus I use standartized procedures of inter-Sirian diplomacy. It's all consisted of general phrasing and neutral tone.

We do not act out of 'fear'. 'Fear' is irrational. This whole process of 'diplomacy' is a result of calculations and prognostications. I'll be brief while talking about that.
It's more practical and cost-efficient to not fight you rather than trying to assert direct dominance over Inverness. You say that we hide daggers behind our backs and that's not really true. We hold daggers at each other throats and do that for a long period of time. And we are both content with that status.

We both know that in case of direct confrontation there's low likelihood that something happens. Your forces are already over-stretched and if Bretonian Forces make somekind of movement - all the numerous enemies of Bretonia will make their move. It's easy part.

You have numerous fleets and menpower. We can tunnel through space-time continuum and wreck havok in heart of Bretonia. We would not hesitate to share that technology with those numerous enemies of yours. But what would that achieve in a bigger picture? Nothing. Her Majesty's Treasury will have another hole in the budget, Navy will try to cover new frontline and people of Bretonia will become more discontent with internal affairs. Auxesia? We will fight. This is matter for other type of calculation and analysis.

It's all waste of resources. Pointless and illogical. So it's more efficient to keep the current state of affairs as it is. We get the Dunedin, we can do what we always did and everyone is untroubled and interests of Auxesia and Bretonia do not overlap.

I'll answer the other question. Nothing has changed in Auxesia. We are commited to our self-determination and we always were. This communication would occur in any case and could occur any time in the past. It's a feedback to a developing situation in sector.

But everything that was wrote by now is semantics. We can stretch the talks for a very long period of time but it won't change the outcome - it will change the reaction on that outcome. Auxesia will get control of Inverness, the uncertainty is how will it happen. We are using the possibility of non-violent resolution as it is an option.

Question is, will Bretonia act logically and pragmatic?

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On hiatus for unspecified amount of time

[The Kingdom of Bretonia]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Holyrood
To: Venator Onyx Statuette, Auxesia
From: Assistant Undersecretary to the Foreign Office Nigel Swindle

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Sir, you have proven Auxesia's strength with words, but it is the only strength it has. You see, we would be willing to sell Inverness to you, but here it is believed that you wouldn't be able to afford it! It's an entire system, sir, and it's part of Her Majesty's title too! What do you think Her Majesty will tell us when we come to her and ask her to strike Inverness out because her irresponsible government sold it for a trifle? No sir, this will not happen. All the brave Bretonians are in the army, we here are politicians. None of us will dare to do this, unless the deal is good enough to make Her Majesty happy. I don't think you can afford this, but let us prove it: what can you offer?

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[ONIKS]

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Mister Swindle,

I'll use the opportunity to remind you that Technocracy is buying the station, not the whole system. Answer on your question will be in some extent technical and I presume it won't be very likeable.

The price of a system consists from the next elements: economical value, territorial value and military or strategical value.
Economical value of Inverness system is minimal as system, according to public and our own survey, is devoid of any strategical resources, is located in a remote location and has no logistical routes and all the planetary bodies in the system are very expensive to colonize.
Territorial value of the Inverness is also quite lacking as was mentioned before - it is in a remote location.
And finally, the strategical value. Inverness, according to Technocratic calculations, hold absolutely no significance to Bretonian Navy as it is very hard to use as staging ground for any operation and it has no logistical routes so supplying any kind of battlegroup there would be a difficult task. Bretonian Navy officials do understand that so they never visitied this system for years by now.

In consideration of all aforementioned aspects, the price for Inverness would be 4 369 200 000 inter-Sirian credits.

I am not taking the 'sentimental' value in the formula as it makes no sense for us by being illogical statement. I do understand shared pride of Bretonian nation towards Her Majesty but the nation should notice the fact that, for example, the "Empress of Tau" part of Her Majesty's title is now being challenged aswell. I hope you do remember, why and how. Moreover, the funds you will get from selling the Aland and this deal could be used to solidify the positions of Kingdom of Bretonia in New Holland and Nottingham, for example.

Let's re-rail the topic back. 4 369 200 000 inter-Sirian credits in exchange for Dunedin Station and status quo OR in exchange for the whole system. This might not sound pleasant but it is actual value and as trade goes - we are listening for your counter-offers and your own prices. I am also not trying to offend you by any mean, I do think about Bretonians highly and I do revere their valour. So, please, think about that proposition with cold heads and don't make rushed statements.

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[The Kingdom of Bretonia]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Holyrood
To: Venator Onyx Statuette, Auxesia
From: Assistant Undersecretary to the Foreign Office Nigel Swindle

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Well, if it's worthless, we'd be very grateful if you stopped trying to take it from us.

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[ONIKS]

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identified: Venator Onyx Statuette

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Is it possible to elaborate what are you trying to say? If you do agree that it is worthless then there's no problem with selling it.

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[Thunderer]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Holyrood
To: Venator Onyx Statuette, Auxesia
From: Assistant Undersecretary to the Foreign Office Nigel Swindle

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I did tell you it was complicated, sir, and Auxesia seems to have got itself entangled into the complexity of the whole affair.

You see, as I explained before, but it seems I have to do so again, Inverness holds a certain degree of significance for the Bretonian Crown. It is a matter of prestige and tradition. But it was you who said it was worthless: it has, according to Auxesia's own survey, no economic value, no strategic resources, no logistics and so on. And while Bretonia values prestige and tradition, Auxesia, as you said, does not occupy itself with such emotional affairs. Thus, Inverness is, for Auxesia at least, worthless. This would explain why you offered as little as four trifling billion.

But now there is a paradox. Auxesia claims the system is worthless, yet you are willing to risk your own lives for it!? This is, as you would say, illogical.

I believe I have made it clear that Inverness is valuable to Bretonia. Before we continue the negotiations, we must draw a conclusion: is Inverness valuable to Auxesia as well?

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