SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE - KINGDOM OF BRETONIA - SEMPER OCCULTUS
From:Director Mountbatten, SIS
Location:<<REDACTED>>
To:Lane Hackers
Subject:Request from the BAF
Good day,
My name is Lady Sarah Mountbatten, and I have the honour of serving as a Director of Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service. I've been approached by the Armed Forces and asked to seek your assistance with an operation they're planning. I'll quote the relevant parts of their request directly, to prevent any miscommunication.
Let's just say I've been hard at work thinking of ways to hurt Gallia.
My request is somewhat tricky, but I think it may be in itself a reward for the Hackers, though that is up to them.
We're still in the planning stages, but I desire large quantities of counterfeit software and data, but completely riddled with all kinds of malware, malware that connects data back to us, be created by the Hackers, for it to be transported to Gallia, the Maquis bases there I have in mind. The Maquis will then distribute this content amongst the general populace, after which I hope we will gain valuable intel on our Gallic foe, and in the most favourable of outcomes, be able to hack into core systems and wreck economic havoc in Gallia.
it may just end up with Spacebook profile data, but it's better than nothing, who knows who will be tempted by the content on offer.
The reward is the Hackers will have this data too, for their own aims, and we can also pay them for the costs in creating this illicit software. Also we will be hurting Gallia, which I understand is aligned with their aims too.
For practicality sake, Hackers will deliver the goods to Foster base in Kepler, and Junkers will ferry it to Denver, where our transports can take it to Gallia. Naturally Hackers are free to take it from their base directly to Gallia if they are so inclined. If they do wish to get involved, they are free to bring Gallic fugitives to Omega 49, where I intend to house them, and of course Dueterium will provide a lucrative good to take back to Liberty.
I'm not sure how much experience your organisation has with Gallic computer systems, but if you're willing to do this, the SIS can provide Gallic hardware and documentation on Gallic programming languages should it be required. We also have an admittedly imperfect compiler that will compile standard Ageira code to run on Gallic equipment, but we've had problems with it. You'd honestly have more luck programming directly in native Gallic code.
Please get back with me at your earliest convenience. I will relay your reply back to the BAF.
In Her Majesty's Service,
Lady Sarah Mountbatten, Director
Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service
A week ago I met with Director Steiner. He didn't mention that he was about to retire. What happened to him? And on top of that I hear that your second-in-command, the Chief of Staff was assassinated as well by the hand of the transhumanists of Auxesia. Or so it is rumored.
This recent purge of SIS leadership is quite puzzling Lady Mountbatten. We are still patiently waiting to deliver what was agreed on my meeting with Victor Steiner. So that we fulfill our part of the deal as well.
As for this request, we can indeed help. Civilian software are easy to decode unlike their military counterparts or even worse, Gallic royal encryptions. We would of course ask for something in return depending on the complexity of the hacking software you wish us to install as well as the total amounts you wish to be delivered to Foster base. It is also curious that this request came from BAF, I thought that the SIS was responsible for designing this sort of thing. Perhaps you can tell me who is the mastermind of this plan?
Lady Mountbatten is the second in command of the SIS. She is therefore afforded the title of 'Director' as well. Fear not sir, I am still here. In regards to my earlier requests it seems that there has been a change on that front. Naturally I cannot say what the changes are, only that your support is unfortnately no longer required. Although your willingness to continue supporting us has been noted, for that you have my gratitude.
This plan is the brainchild of Commodore John Redmond. Although I would advise against contacting him directly, it would not do his image any favours within the admiralty or the Noble families.
Regards:
V. Steiner
Director of the Secret Intelligence Service
The Lane Hackers have prepared a type of virus with the primary purpose of posing as an innocent software and remaining undetected by civilian firewalls in order to spread to as many terminals and computers as possible. After one week it is coded to switch into an aggressive and lethal mode, transmitting all personal data and passwords before deleting essential and unique parts of the code of the computer's data in order to inflict as much damage as possible.
We are currently in the process of developing various versions of the same virus in case the original version is uncovered and countermeasures (such as system updates) are deployed before the mode switch.
As for the mastermind of this scheme, I am not surprised to hear it was the Red Commodore. Fear not Mr. Steiner, I have no desire to speak to him or his political allies directly. My condolences again for the untimely death of Chief of Staff Perry.