I've spent quite some time mulling over the wording for this transmission, and I can only hope that I manage to convey the importance of this adequately. The Unioners are known as master shipbuilders throughout Sirius, and we would like to arrange for an internships for our engineers, one hundred of them to be specific, to learn from your own.
Now, we're obviously not talking small things, like the standard snub-craft and freighters, but about the capital class ships. We find our experience in such a field extremely lacking, and wish to bolster it by having our engineers learn from yours in this matter. Of course, this isn't an attempt to copy your designs or systems, but to see how your engineers accounted for the challenges in constructing vessels on such a large scale, so that they can replicate the solutions for use in our own projects in the future.
I do hope we can come to an arrangement to make this happen.
To: Argus Nikitas of the Custodi. From: Armin Jansen, der Alster Union. Subject: Brain cells for gun barrels.
Flattering.
This offer for an exchange of expertise is extremely rare from the people of Crete. We have received nothing but cold shoulders from the Council upon being effectively dragged into your war - causing the complete foil of the VonBoyle administration with it. We have had to persist through multiple purges and consolidations to return the Union to fighting strength. Even very loose trading ties have been forged with the Elders under the most onerous duress, and whilst we remain tied together through the artefact trade, any attempt by the Corsairs to tactically co-ordinate has been minimal at best. Our artefact convoys have come under fire within Gamma itself, and the civil defence forces of Crete has not aided us, repeatedly. Trying times.
If you want our expertise, you are going to have to prove that you will not simply exploit us as certain members of the Council have attempted to do. We are direly short of fighter weaponry in our war against the Coalition and the Hesse - weaponry that we have the expertise and experience to mount. Whilst our own manufacturing is gradually picking up, imported Corsair models would be much appreciated, especially regarding your pulse cannons and auxiliary weaponry, which are exemplar, and more than enough to put the fear of God into the Communists. However, the Council has not permitted their sale, much to our chagrin. If the Custodi would be willing to ship us a stash of assorted fighter ordinance, we would be willing to loan to your service a number of technical professionals - professionals that are currently in high demand and short supply, maintaining our own larger assets. Our engineering expertise has been honed over the centuries - and whilst Corsair materials science and weaponry remain quite exemplar, we still have a few tricks up our sleeves regarding MOX reactor overclocking and in-space repair and servicing that will certainly be of use to the Custodi.
Prove to us that you are prepared to come to equal ground, and we will happily assist you. The Unioners have a long history of exchange with your peoples, even if recent encounters have been more than a trifle bleak. We share the same fate in Rheinland and the Omegas - we share the same storm, in the same boat. Is it not righteous that we use the same rope with which to raise our sails?
Think on it. Warm deeds make for warmer words - I hope for many more likeminded conversations in the future.
Regards,
Armin Jansen.
First contact representative and Diplomat-in-Chief of der Alster Union, Pacifica Base, Bering.
Mr Jansen. I apologize for the delay in responding, but I have spent the last few days attempting to find a solution to this problem. You see, the Council continues to prohibit the sale or sharing of technology, in fear that it may be reverse engineered and used against them. While we may be separate from the Council in most ways, we must acknowledge that the majority of Crete, and the Cosair people, is theirs, and we must occasionally bow to their wishes, to preserve our own lifestyle.
One of our own presented the idea of "losing" a few of the weapons, but this is an avenue we can not afford to take, as it puts Heraklion at risk should we be discovered. We are willing to assist you in what ways we can, but we must also look at the safety of our own. In essence, if weaponry is what you seek, we can not aid you further, and you would have to attempt to negotiate with the council for that. If you do take that approach, I wish you luck.
In the mean time, since I did not come expecting you to share knowledge for nothing, is there perhaps some other arrangement we could come to, that is perhaps more obtainable?
Warm deeds do indeed make for warmer words, and I do hope we can find some that do not endanger our entire way of life in the act of carrying them out.
To: Argus Nikitas of the Custodi. From: Armin Jansen, der Alster Union. Subject: Brain cells for gun barrels.
Hm.
This isn’t what we hoped for, but we appreciate that the Custodi is as hamstrung by the Dorians as we are. We were going to turn you down, but circumstances move faster than words and fortune has already opened up a fresh pathway for co-operation. A trade, yes, but one that will further both of our objectives.
The GMG have, as of late, been extremely aggressive in regards to an area of the Crow Nebulae we refer to as “The Southern Triangle” – the area of space loosely correlating to the ancestral borders of the Rheinland empire at its height, just over three hundred years ago. The borders were mostly academic at the time, but with the discovery of Sigmas 21 and 15, they have become all the more pressing. I appreciate that you may not wish to aid, even conceptually, a nation whose warships are presently knocking on the door of your home, however, we have no intention of acting to return said systems to the illegitimate Federalists until the rightful government can be restored. Our short-term objectives are to weaken the GMG’s presence in Sigmas 21, 15, and 13 – hardly their strongest bastions, yes, but each system represents an area of vital interest to all of us. Sigma 21 contains an unoccupied planet that could feed Crete for a millennia, whilst Sigma 13 is still rich with fuel, even after all these centuries, and is still a vital centre of international trade. Sigma 15, likewise, is the Core’s gateway to the Sigmas, representing its own unique set of challenges. We hope to better co-ordinate our efforts with the Custodi in the region against GMG targets, in return for an equal share of the loot. You’ll still be putting Corsair guns to good use – it’s just that Custodi pilots will be manning the controls. I can hardly see the Custodi taking exception to the demise of a common opposition.
We have five, extremely able, master spacecraft technicians who have recently finished the repressurisation of the KKS Germania – a little side project of ours as to which the details are strictly need-to-know, of course. They should be able to assist you in any technical challenge you may require, provided that they are eventually returned.
Do we have a deal, or is anything more you wish to discuss?
Regards,
Armin Jansen.
First contact representative and Diplomat-in-Chief of der Alster Union, Pacifica Base, Bering.
I've spoken directly to General Icarus about your proposal, and have received the go ahead. You will be able to count on assistance from Custodian pilots in the coming days in the Sigma's and I trust that this will be the beginning of a fruitful co-operation between the Union and Custodi. We have already began preperations to mobilize our forces as needed to comply with our end of the bargain.
On that note, we have prepared a berth in Heraklion for your master engineers, and eagerly await their arrival on Crete.
We have begun our operations in the Sigma's as requested, and already begun cargo interdiction of the GMG. We're upholding our end of the bargain, and a freighter has been prepared to collect the promised engineers. All we require is the location for the pickup.
To: Argus Nikitas of the Custodi. From: Armin Jansen, der Alster Union. Subject: Brain cells for gun barrels.
The Arbeitsdirektor is most impressed. You’re working even faster than I expected – this will prove fruitful for the fulfilment of our mutual objectives. You have considerably gladdened us to the prospect of future co-operation with Crete. Sterling work.
The engineers will be delivered to Leipheim base aboard a converted armoured shuttle. If you wish, we can be physically present to arrange the transfer.
Regards,
Armin Jansen.
First contact representative and Diplomat-in-Chief of der Alster Union, Pacifica Base, Bering.
While I thank you for your availability to be personally present, it is unnecessary, and I will instruct our own ferry to collect your engineers at Leipheim. We thank you for your co-operation. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have more mutually beneficial operations in the future.
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