Subject: Cold Remedies Encryption:There is nothing to see here, citizen. Location: The Spider's Watch, Canberra Star City, Tau-44
We once had two samples of these nanites. Commander Combs went to great lengths to convince the Commission to turn one of them over to one Dr. Holiday for analysis and study, for the purpose of devising a counteragent.
I believe you understand our present concern.
There are no parties in Sirius other than myself that I fully trust with these. I have reasons to rule Auxesia out, Pharaoh Golanski is absolutely out of the question, and most of the Houses would just use it for war.
However, the "attack" on Tombstone has forced my hand. The situation in Omega-49 demands balance. The threat that if one party unleashes such a weapon, that weapon is available to both.
And maybe I will be surprised, and a counteragent will be developed and distributed.
SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE - KINGDOM OF BRETONIA - SEMPER OCCULTUS
From:Agent Mountbatten, SIS
Location:<<REDACTED>>
To:Taskmaster Escher, OIC
Subject:Cold Remedies
Taskmaster,
It's good to hear from you again. I know that my office on Canberra has been a bit empty as of late, but important matters of the Gallic variety have kept me busy closer to home. Once we stabilise matters at home, though, I'll be back. I particularly miss dining at Wellington's down on the Residential Layer. It's one of the few decent places to get Bretonian cuisine outside Bretonia itself.
Now, on to the matter at hand. Prior to the recent unpleasantness, I would've agreed with your assessment that Doctor Holliday was your safest choice. I would hope that he would not allow something like that to be turned into a weapon, but we can no longer be sure. Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service has access to some of the best research facilities in Sirius. We would be willing to take that sample off your hands for the purposes of researching a counteragent. Anything we learn would, of course, be shared with you.
If you like, I can bring the HMS Menzies to Canberra for the transfer. The Menzies is a Cormorant-class light gunship outfitted with a modular interior that allows the ship to be refitted for a variety of mission profiles. The ship is small enough to slip unnoticed through the Gallic lines in Tau-31, and I'm having it outfitted for haz-mat and biohazard containment as we speak.
If this meets with your approval, or if you have a different plan in mind, please let me know so we can make the necessary arrangements.
In Her Majesty's Service,
Lady Sarah Mountbatten, Agent
Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service
Subject: Cold Remedies Encryption:There is nothing to see here, citizen. Location: The Spider's Watch, Canberra Star City, Tau-44
Not long after contacting you, I received a message from Holiday promising a sample of the cure. Curious timing, I'm sure you would agree.
I believe it would be best that we delay this until such time as I confirm the antidote's delivery and formula. Should it arrive and be as effective as promised, that would save considerable effort on your part. Even if Holiday properly secured the sample we provided, these were found on a Cultist installation. We have no reason to believe they cannot create more of these.
I will, regardless, want this sample secured somewhere away from here. And perhaps further research can devise a way to deactivate them instead of reactively curing those that are infected. But it would be better to solve two problems in one trip.
SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE - KINGDOM OF BRETONIA - SEMPER OCCULTUS
From:Agent Mountbatten, SIS
Location:<<REDACTED>>
To:Taskmaster Escher, OIC
Subject:Cold Remedies
Good day, Taskmaster,
It's nice of the good Doctor to take time out of his busy day of stirring up trouble in New Holland to keep his word with you. The timing is curious, I agree. It's likely a coincidence, but I'll check for information leaks on my end just to be safe. I suggest you do the same. If he's delivered as promised, it would indeed save us a lot of effort duplicating his work. If I may ask, is he going to return the original sample to you, or was it used up in his research? If he's returning it, we'll gladly secure both in a safe location for you. In any case, if you're wanting to wait until Holliday delivers, that's fine with us. Give us a call when you're ready to proceed. I'll keep the Menzies mission-ready until then.
In Her Majesty's Service,
Lady Sarah Mountbatten, Agent
Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service