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I see you got my message, Admiral Hall is it?
I'm the man who can go anywhere and strike deals with anyone, in this case with you.
Word has reached me of your insurrection on planet Leeds, a small group of soldiers and citizens fighting a guerilla war against the Royalist war machine. A war they are losing and one my services may help win. For a reasonable fee and small consideration I would be willing to supply your forces with weapons, anything from side arms to anti tank weapons and perhaps even war machines.
Naturally all transactions will be dealt with in the strictest confidence, provided no unnecessary questions are asked. Interested?
Priority: Medium
To: The Rat
From: Admiral Sir George Richard Hall, BAF
Location: HMS Norfolk, Cambridge System
Anonymous person,
I do not always like mysterious figures who can go anywhere and strike deals with anyone. For example, Planet Leeds is known for having a relatively powerful underground. I am convinced that the Government would not accept your deal. But, it appears that they are too busy to handle it.
I am not. I also have the authority. I only need your help to provide me a reason.
What has left of industry on the Planet is potent (enough), but soldiers are sparse. There is currently an operation going on, whose aim is to deliver marines to Planet Leeds. I could allow you access, but first I need your assurance that I will receive 20% of your profit.
We both have use of you not sending this message to the authorities. You make money, I make money and the garrison gets reinforcements. And whoever you are actually supplying gets the supplies. If you agree with me, I will turn a blind eye to that.
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As far as I know Admiral its your troops asking for more weapons but if you're turning a blind eye to it, well so much better for me.
I have a counter offer, in exchange for landing access I'll cut you in for 10% of the profits and you get an informant who can travel far beyond the reaches of Bretonia, further even than your Intelligence Service. Of course any information passed will cost you but that can be decided later.
Priority: Medium
To: The Rat
From: Admiral Sir George Richard Hall, BAF
Location: HMS Norfolk, Cambridge System
Honourable(!?) Rat,
You will receive the relevant accesses soon. Send the credits to BAF|Norfolk-F-C-024. You may think of not honouring our deal as much as you like, but you had better not actually do it.
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I keep my deals Admiral, you've been sent your cut. You might want to check your systems, an LSF stooge was waiting for me in Cortez and I wouldn't put it past those mooks to have every computer in Bretonia bugged.
Priority: Medium
To: The Rat
From: Admiral Sir George Richard Hall, BAF
Location: HMS Norfolk, Cambridge System
"Rat",
I have received 450,000 credits, and I thank you for that. Still, I find a certain thing somewhat unclear. If that was 15%, as was our deal, then your total profit amounted to 3,000,000 credits. Planet Leeds pays 2,600 for every marine, for which the Suffolk, the closest and cheapest mustering point, takes the pledge of 500 credits. According to mathematics, you have delivered 1,428.5714 Bretonian marines to Planet Leeds. I conclude that you have either cut some into multiple pieces so they would consume your cargo space more efficiently, or you have profited from something else as well.
I am not interested from what. I only want to know how many marines have been delivered, because your additional profits are making calculation very difficult. By the way, only the live and combat-ready ones count.
PS: Participating in Operation Valletta gives you a bonus per marine, so the answer to the question above is not only my interest.
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I've delivered 650 of your marines, a task that require a ship upgrade as a Kestrel's cargo pods arent what I'd call comfortable for anything other than boxes. Your cut came from something far more profitable, a one-time bonus to showcase my services and to remove any doubt.