Don Hernan Escudero
Legion Maltesa
Financial Support
Buenos dias, Honorables defensores de la Nación,
Soy Hernan Luis Escudero Grijalva. Nuestra gente call me "Don" because I stand behind the Cadiz Cardamine Cartel. I humbly bid you salute and want to bring to your attention una cosa.
Recently, my son who pilots warship "Valladolid" reported a Gallic battleship trespassing Omicron Tau from Tau 37. Since the incident with the Gauls in 817, the Gallic warships have become more and more audacious in their endeavours to enter Maltese space. This concerns me deeply, as well as threatens economic interests of mi familia and whole Malta. La Legion is renowned for amassing the aces on a volunteer basis who know what they are doing and why. I believe if someone has the courage and skills to break the spine of the Gallic incursion, it is La Legion. I also recall that the Second Maltese Legion lost the financial support of Loyola family. In this regard, I would humbly offer you the financial patronage of the Cartel and Escudero familia.
If you are interested, I am ready to make a contribution from my personal treasury to your cause.
COMM-ID: Eliza Valdez Subject: RE: Financial Support Priority: High
Buenos dias, Don Escudero,
The Gallic threat has been a concern for the Legión since it's inception. It is most troubling to hear that after Maltese forces managed to fend off the Crayterians out of Omicron Tau, after our victory in Tau-29 against the Helios battlegroup, now we must face the prospects of Gallic intrusion into our sovereignty. Rest assured that we have been working actively to deter the Gallic Royal Navy and will continue to do so alongside our allies within the sphere of Malta and outside of it.
As for the offer of financial patronage, while very alluring, does beg the question of what exactly you would expect to come out of it? The Legión already paid the price once for falling under familia Loyola's patronage and being used to serve their own political schemes against the National Council of Malta. And that would be a mistake that I would rather not repeat. If you still feel generous enough to donate to our cause, I am willing to discuss things further. But do not expect any special treatment to you or your men to come out of it.
Regardless of the outcome of this communique, the legionnaires will continue to protect the Escudero familia against the enemies of Malta, as you are Maltese first and foremost.
Don Hernan Escudero
Señorita Eliza Valdez
Financial Support
Señorita Valdez,
Es muy agradable to hear from you soon.
I assure you, our intentions are sincere and stem both from patriotic desire to protect Malta as well as pragmatic one to secure and expand our Cardamine routes. More importantly, the Cartel is investing heavily in the colonisation and exploitation efforts of Omicron Tau and Gallic incursions there is the direct threat to the well-being of Maltese expansion and our investments. The latter part is self-explanatory in terms of how the Cartel can benefit from direct cooperation with La Legion.
While I am not aware of the political ramifications of the cooperation between Loyola familia and La Legion, I assure you that Escudero familia is not in the big political game yet, and even if we were, we have our own small army of paramilitaries and mercenaries to push our agenda. Those daredevils, however, are more fit to escort our transports or assassinate single targets, but not to wage war against numerous forces of professional Gallic fleet.
I understand your concern as to Legion's independence and I assure you it is in our interest to keep it that way for corruption and allegiances disrupt the security of our Homeland, which is bad for business. Whether to trust my intentions is up to you, Señorita Valdez. I hope you will show wisdom and restraint in making your judgement. As for us, we will be favourable to the Legion regardless of your decision and always open for cooperation.
COMM-ID: Eliza Valdez Subject: RE: Financial Support Priority: High
Don Escudero,
If your intentions are as sincere as you claim then perhaps you can aid in solving issues more pressing than funding. The addition of the Saint Mark and Saint Theodore, both warships previously belonging to the Serenissima, have put considerable strain on the Legión's upkeep. Those ships and their crew have proved themselves invaluable to the Legión on multiple fronts but their maintenance requires more materials than what our logistics branch can currently handle efficiently.
If you, don Hernan Escudero, and the rest of Cádiz Cártel would be as generous as to help with the steady supply of materials needed for maintenance of warships in Valetta's drydocks then I'm sure that it wouldn't be just the Legión Maltesa thankful for your contribution, but all of the Maltese naval fleets. I understand that this proposition is more entangling than just financial support, but it would also be more beneficial for the defense of Malta and it's people. I am eager to hear what you think of it.
Don Hernan Escudero
Señorita Eliza Valdez
Financial Support
Señorita Valdez,
Your response is most wise and welcome.
Our logistics vessels usually bring back from Liberty premium scrap from Bering system that we buy with the credits earned from Cardamine trade. The rare metals found in the debris of military vessels that used to belong to various factions, including Rheinland military, should serve well in maintaining and/or refitting our warships. If you have in mind some more specific materials, then I would kindly ask you to request those in any form via this or other secured channel.
It is also possible that the Cartel will soon commission our own orbital facility with focus on mining operations. If so, we will have additional source of materials to supply our vessels. We will notify of the developments in the construction later on.
Don Hernan Escudero
Señorita Eliza Valdez
Assured Delivery
Señorita Valdez,
Soy el hombre de palabra, as I assured you, my pilots delivered from Bering a load of Military Salvage to Valetta Shipyard. I open the access to our inner log to you as a proof. We get good profit out of it and will continue running such convoys regularly, so Valetta will not find itself short of exquisite materials to work with. Our patrols have also encountered our Allies from Liberty, as well as independent freelancers hauling Military Salvage to Valetta. Having this in mind, our storage of needed materials for the maintenance of our fleet is not expected to experience shortages. I hope la Legion will find this information useful.
Hasta luego, Señorita Valdez. Until we hear from you again.
COMM-ID: Eliza Valdez Subject: Business Opportunity Priority: High
Don Escudero,
First and foremost let me express my gratitude to you and the Cuatroce for solving the logistics problem with Valetta Shipyard. A steady supply line is just as crucial as having good soldiers if we are to defend Malta from it's adversaries.
Though the reason I'm contacting you is actually of more optimistic nature. The Core has expressed desire to cease its hostilities with Malta and it's people. Of course, if we are to venture further from a fragile and temporary non-aggression pact, mutually beneficial ties must be established. The Core leadership understands that and has proposed ideas for trade between Core's domain and Malta. While the Legion could easily cooperate with the Core against our common enemy in the face of the Order and Corsairs, our logistics branch is rather lacking as you well know. As such if the Cádiz Cártel has interest in negotiating any trade relations with the Core I would gladly forward you to my contacts within the Core since you, the Cádiz Cártel, will be more fit to lead any diplomatic approach of that kind. Of course this is entirely up to your decision, don Escudero, and I do not want you to feel forced to accept it.
Let me know what you think of this. Until then I wish you and your men well.
Don Hernan Escudero
Señorita Eliza Valdez
Business Opportunities
Señorita Valdez,
The Core is indeed an interesting contractor. Cessation of hostilities surely will bring upon profit which is beneficial to our organisation and Malta itself. We might have a few ideas on what to propose and ask in return of the Core. We still have to debate the nature of the agreement proposal within the Board of Directors but I assure you, Señorita Valdez, it will be for the benefit of la Nacion. Hence, I would kindly ask you to reach your contacts among the Core to start the negotiations. We will take it from there.