Ever since we made our first contact, our communications have been silent. It is understandable as we have no common agenda nor our paths have crossed often. That is, they haven't until now. We are not certain on the reasoning behind your involvement in Bering crisis, but the Atacama Cohort as extended their appreciation for the efforts you have made. Breaking Battlegroup Harmony's blockade and standing up to their shameless acts of aggression is certainly not an easy task. Not to mention your contribution to the negotiations between the Atacama group, Lane Hackers and Alster Union which are slowly turning into a fiasco of decade.
Nevertheless, Natio's recent involvement and affairs with groups we consider close to us has revealed us that there might be a potential for our cooperation in the near future. Be it on the Gallic front or in northern Liberty, the list of our foes is getting longer every day, just as the list of our friends is getting shorter.
Signed,
Michael Jones
Keeper, Watchers cell
Gaian Guard
Identification: Taskmaster Harold Kane Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet
To: Michael Jones, Gaian Guard
Subject: RE: Cooperation Encryption:Quite. Location: Canberra Star City, Tau-44
Good afternoon.
We're glad to hear from your organization after all that went down in Bering these past weeks. While we're certainly interested in creating ties between our organizations in unity against the Gallic invasion among other concerns, I must admit we have another motive for looking to work with you.
The Natio is of a similar mind to the Gaians when it comes to avoiding ecological and astroecological impact. Our primary civilian settlement is a retrofitted habitation and research facility in the northern half of the Tau-44 system, constructed who knows how long ago and rebuilt entirely without the use of ecological manipulation. In the long term, we are interested in constructing much larger facilities, but on a much shorter timeline, we're in need of being pointed in the right direction for something.
We've recently come into possession of some second-hand Pitbull-class transports, and my head of engineering says that they have one of the most horrendously dirty reactor-engine combinations she's ever seen. MOX-decay-catalysed deuterium-tritium fusion, so radioactive ignition of a fusion reaction that's about as aneutronic as a Little Terr'ist brand My First Cobalt Bomb. We don't even want to turn these things on, so while we look for a suitable replacement, we were wondering if you had any recommendations on where we could pick up some parts that would be useful for making a retrofit go smoother.
They're standard long-haul transport grade engines so if the end result is going to be "drop in a whole new assembly" -- which Florence suspects it will be on account of the engine reflectors being irradiated to hell and back -- it shouldn't be too difficult. It's just sourcing equipment that we can guarantee is what it claims to be that's a problem, and I trust the Gaians to know more about where to get clean D-3He plants than the local Zoners or Junkers.
Regards,
Taskmaster Harold Kane Fourth Octavarium Fleet
It seems that the Pacifica crisis was only a prelude to a grand series of events. Two days ago around 18:00 Sirian time, the Alster Union has struck Marshall station with a electromagnetic warhead during their counter-attack against Harmony forces. We are still not certain of the damage and casualties it has caused, but our operatives are certain it means the Union is launching a counter-offensive. I do have several questions to ask; what was the reasoning behind Natio's aid efforts? Albeit appreciated, it has came to us as a surprise. Also, will the aid continue until the war is over?
As for the matter of transport refit, I believe we can assist you; consider it a start of hopefully long-lasting and mutually beneficial cooperation between our organisations. The Gaian Guard's fleet is consisted of several refitted Pitbull-class transports so I can confidently claim we know our way around them. We can offer a number of our personal PT-HN series propulsion systems delivered to Tau-44 or location of your choice, as well as a couple of engineers that can aid with implementation of said equipment. While I could certainly claim there's no engine in Sirius nor Gallia that can compete to it, I also understand that evident usage of Gaian technology might create issues with Natio when dealing with certain parties in Sirius. If that will be an issue, we can remedy it with exchanging Gaian PT-HN series for Bretonian PTE. We have more than enough Bretonian engines in our stocks, and ever since the PT-HN has been introduced, they are becoming more and more obsolete. Yet - still space-worthy, reliable and effective.
Signed,
Michael Jones
Keeper, Watchers cell
Gaian Guard
Identification: Taskmaster Harold Kane Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet
To: Michael Jones, Gaian Guard
Subject: RE: Cooperation Encryption:Quite. Location: Canberra Star City, Tau-44
Keeper Jones,
I've heard rumblings of this latest development. This open war is going to be unsupportable after long, and for what? A pair of rocks and a hastily-built shipyard? Disappointing.
Our aid efforts were out of respect for the Union and the sympathy we have for their blockaded civilians. We ourselves experienced a similar blockade in 821 A.S., at the hands of the Gallic Royal Navy. They blockaded our main jump hole in and out of the Kansas system, where we were settled at the time. It cost the lives of several hundred of our civilians and three dozen servicemembers. Despite not being an open party to the Gallic War at the time, we were targeted, with no care given to keep the lives of innocents out of their line of fire.
We may be able to move relief supplies to Pacifica if needed, but if that AO ends up any more of a charlie foxtrot, we're going to have to reduce our scale significantly. We're pretty good at blockade running, but it depends on how the skies are at any given point of time. I'm a bit concerned about the breakdown of the deal with the Lane Hackers and whether or not they'll interfere, though. While I suspect they won't open hostilities with us, I am not sure if they'd be inclined to give our positions as we move through Liberty and into Bering to Harmony. That deal went sideways incredibly violently.
We're glad you have the right parts. I think two PT-HN retrofit kits each for Bullmastiffs and Pitbulls would be a fantastic start. We'll worry about answering the questions they're asked -- our technology stack is enough of a mix that usually we can come up with some convincingly creative answers to handwave away an otherwise volatile situation. Comes with the pirate and smuggler heritages of our people.
Canberra Star City in the Tau-44 system is the best place for delivery. It's a short shuttle ride from there to ADSV Fort Resolution, the liner-turned-mobile-factory that Aquila Defense Systems bases its major repair and refit operations out of. Just let us know what the numbers look like for the order and labour and we'll wire it to you right away.
Regards,
Taskmaster Harold Kane Fourth Octavarium Fleet
The situation has exceeded our expectations as well. I was quite surprised that the situation there has taken a full turn and turned into Alster Union's favour, but I cannot say I did not expect for it to happen. Failed negotiations, quarrels with the Lane Hackers, it was all a prelude to something larger. Speaking of the Lane Hackers, its a matter of time they get themselves fully involved in the war. Their resent towards towards the Alster Union grows stronger, and has arrived to the point that certain Hacker operatives have hired mercenaries to battle Unioner forces in Bering.
Nevertheless, Gaians will continue to run relief convoys to Bering. We simply cannot let Hellfire Legion and their pawns to achieve victory in the southern Liberty. As we have a Cell in their immediate zone of operations, there's too much at stake for us.
As for our business, I am pleased to hear that you appreciate quality, sturdiness and effectiveness the PT-HN series offers. I will personally oversee the transport of retrofit kits to Tau-44 and make sure they are delivered in timely manner.
I do have to admit, I haven't been visiting deep Taus for quite some time and our patrols venture there more and more rarely. If I may, I would like to ask you to provide us with chart that includes exact location of the base where we need to deliver the goods and location of Gallic forces or any other assorted danger to our convoy, either within the system.
Signed,
Michael Jones
Keeper, Watchers cell
Gaian Guard
Identification: Taskmaster Harold Kane Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet
To: Michael Jones, Gaian Guard
Subject: RE: Cooperation Encryption:Quite. Location: Canberra Star City, Tau-44
Keeper Jones,
My sincerest apologies for the delay in our response to you and yours. The situation in Bering has been leaking, to put it bluntly, and is causing political strife all the way up here in Tau-44, and on top of that, our outreach in the Omegas has been taking most of our external logistics resources.
We have cleared up several unloading bays and connected warehouses on Canberra Star City, in sector F2 of the Tau-44 system. You shouldn't have any problems with the Gallic Royalists as long as you stick to the eastern half of the Tau-23 system on your way up, but be aware that the Crayter Republic has a surprisingly well-armed storage facility on the Tau-44 side of the 23-44 hole, and they've been kind of distant lately.
In addition to our original purchase order, we would like to purchase a pair of heavy fighter engine retrofit kits if they are available, one to be dropped in a Bretonian fighter under rebuild by one of my officers, and one to be installed in a Falchion-class Border Worlds superiority fighter.
Let us know how much and where you want the money wired and we'll advance the lot of it to you. Again, my deepest apologies for not getting back to you sooner.
Regards,
Taskmaster Harold Kane Fourth Octavarium Fleet
I am well aware you are a busy man so the delayed response is understandable. We have updated our charts with information you have sent us and you can expect the delivery within two days. As I have already said, the original purchase order is free of charge, in hope it will be a start of long-lasting and mutually beneficial cooperation. All further purchase orders will require a fee of 20,000,000SC per engine to cover expenses of manufacturing, handling and delivery. All payments can be wired to GG-W-Sequoia to conclude the deal.
Signed,
Michael Jones
Keeper, Watchers cell
Gaian Guard
Seems that the task of finding a transport vessel with no assignment during the state of war is a more challenging feat that I originally thought it will be. My apologies for the delay.
Five of the PT-HN refit kits have been delivered to the Canberra Star City and are being offloaded as we speak. There are also several engineers onboard the Tulip that can aid in their assembly and implementation, should you require the help. I hope you will be satisfied with the quality of our products.