Sender: Nicole Burton Recipient: Government of Bretonia Subject: Business Offer
Good day.
On behalf of Universal Shipping and all our employees, I want to express our most heartfelt condolences for the billions of Bretonians lost by the genocidal regime of Gallia. Leeds was a primary destination for our shippers, they had many friends, colleagues and partners among the population.
We tried our best to aid our allies and win this war but we could never imagine our foe was capable of committing some of the greatest crimes in human history.
After the successful completion PROJECT ILLUSTRIOUS our company participated in the Aland Airlift where we were attacked by IMG forces. We not only refused to stop our deliveries but we launched a special mass convoy operation to Aland Shipyard while we ceased all business with the IMG. A month later we were attacked again by IMG, this time without any demands, they wanted to punish us for our unwavering support to Bretonia. We refused to be cowed by their threats and brutality and we successfully convinced the leaders of the Republic to outlaw this terrorist organization. Around the same time we actively assisted in the evacuation of Leeds and we successfully managed to get Interspace Commerce involved as well. We worked around the clock and very efficiently, some estimate that Universal was responsible for most evacuations. Here is some reports: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5
Which brings us to the present.
We recognize that Bretonia needs to be rebuilt, heal the wounds of the past and claim a better future for the millions of refugees still stranded in New London and elsewhere. For that we believe it will be essential to multiply, ease and standardize the trade between Liberty and Bretonia. This will allow the quick flow of emergency goods from Liberty as well as increase the exports of Bretonia to Liberty.
Subsequently, Universal Shipping's role is essential for this major project to succeed. Our plan is to purchase the wreck of Birmingham Station. We intend to rebuild it completely, with the primary focus being on the construction of additional large number of storage containers in order to accommodate for the increased trade flow between the two Houses. Simultaneously, the refineries of Birmingham will operate once again, processing the raw Hydrocarbons from the northern ice field. For this part, we intend to contract our partners and friends in BMF who are very experienced with this type of work.
Our support and assistance to Bretonia has been unwavering. With this new plan we intend to take it to even greater heights. We will be eagerly awaiting for your decision on our offer.
Nicole Burton
Vice President
Universal Shipping Inc.
On behalf of the Bretonian government, I thank you for this very interesting offer for the Birmingham wreck.
As you are likely aware, we have a considerable rebuild commitments as well as need for brand new infrastructure across the house, and Birmingham is a unique case.
In principle we are very receptive to your offer. The rebuild of the base would take considerable resources and investment, which viewed in isolation is not an issue, but in respect to the greater situation we find ourselves in, another straw added to the highly strained back that is our economic state.
I have no authority currently to accept your offer outright, but I can certainly say it was met very positively, with some points we should negotiate and iron out. I will outline some points of discussion below:
1. The MOX question
Birmingham, while originally meant for hydrocarbon mining, was converted to a MOX production facility after the loss of LD-14. We now have neither LD-14 or Birmingham, and are importing fuel at a much higher rate.
Ideally, we would like to return the MOX production facilities to Birmingham. Birmingham itself had no access to uranium, and imported it from which to produce MOX.
As mentioned above, MOX production facilities will require considerable import of Uranium either mined from LD-14 (high risk) or imported from available sources in other houses. With USI having considerable transportation abilities, this offers considerable synergy between the proposed depot/trade center and MOX production facilities.
MOX production is a strategic industry for Bretonia, and facilities located on Birmingham would need to be secured, necessitating restricted access to even USI employees in that section of the station, as well as requiring BPA or BAF forces being able to operate from the base to ensure no unlawful forces disrupt the production. The trade center/depot sections of the base may be fully controlled by the USI.
2. The question of facilities
Related to point 1.4, if possible we would like to see a blueprint of the proposed station build. The new station, in contrast to the old, will require:
A trade center (USI)
A storage depot (USI)
A BPA or BAF section (BPA or BAF)
A BMM/BMF fuel production facility (BMM/BMF)
A mining facility (BMM/BMF)
Considering the above, the base would likely be quite large, similar in size to a Freeport, and perhaps requiring a much larger budget than initially estimated by yourselves.
Also, in regards to the build itself, resources permitting, the use of local labour paid for with Liberty capital would be an appreciated plan, to provide jobs to local workers.
I must reiterate that we have generally received your offer well and would like to enter detailed discussions on this base. Proximity to Liberty an the good location of the base in what is essentially the entrance to Bretonia makes a Liberty lead project not only logical but beneficial to both houses.
Best regards,
Benedict Callahan, Secretary to the Cabinet
Sender: Nicole Burton Recipient: Government of Bretonia Subject: Business Offer
Hello Mr Callahan,
You are indeed correct. Proximity to Liberty as well as to the Hydrocarbon field is Birmingham's biggest asset.
Regarding the MOX question, I have run it with our analysts and they believe that the station cannot specialize in too many fields without impacting its primary goals. It is already a very ambitious project. More reasons are that the uranium fields of Leeds are too far from Birmingham to make it an effective investment. And, even worse, the time it will take for the wreck's reconstruction is significant, while I understand the MOX problem is rather urgent and should be dealt with as soon as possible. What we would recommend instead, is the capture of South Shields Refinery and conversion of its refineries to uranium processing. That can be done far quicker and more efficiently than Birmingham ever could.
Regarding your second point, we agree to all your requests however we need to make a few clarifications.
- Point 4. I suspect you imply the concession of a few offices inside the station. BPA has already a strong presence in the system with multiple assets so I don't expect you are requesting anything larger in this purely civilian station.
- Point 5. I suspect you imply the construction of major Hydrocarbon processing plants. That is correct.
- Point 6. I am a bit perplexed with this request. The station is not located inside the asteroid field, the mining is done by the manned or automatic Asteroid Miners, the raw hydrocarbons are then brought to Birmingham for processing.
Our intention is to hire or contract exclusively Bretonian firms, factory workers and miners for all the steps related to the Hydrocarbon mining and subsequent processing. In addition, the station's reconstruction will be conducted mainly by Bretonian workers. We expect this will generate tens of thousands of local work opportunities.
Finally, a station blueprint will become available as soon as all current details and questions have been satisfied and the government officially greenlights the project.
Nicole Burton
Vice President
Universal Shipping Inc.
I hope you can understand the issue I am attempting to deal with. MOX production (point 4) was moved to Birmingham after Leeds fell, and now we are without any production, and are using substitutes and stockpiles. Originally the station was as you say, primarily hydrocarbon focused, and we will abandon the suggestion you also finance a MOX plant, and seek alternatives. In return for us abandoning this request, we do request your corporation agree to assist us in both the import of alternative fuels, and supporting efforts to build new plants elsewhere.
Regarding the garrison of police forces, it is standard practice for high-value stations to have police onboard, like that with Graves. The original requirement was based on the fact we hoped the plant to be a MOX producer, and thus a strategically important station. With that discussion being sidetracked, the station should hold only a small group of police forces rotating between Sheffield and Newgate, providing maximum coverage for the system, which is not planned to have BAF forces garrisoning it, Winchester not being meant for system wide patrols. Security will be relying on entirely on BPA and Bounty Hunter forces.
Point 6 was referring to the hydrocarbon processing part, so we are aligned. Forgive any confusion.
We are happy to proceed forward with discussions now we are mostly aligned.
Best regards,
Benedict Callahan, Secretary to the Cabinet
Apologies for the delay in responding, there's been a lot of pressing matters that Miss. Burton have to deal with. Therefore, I'll be your Contact from now on.
Anyway, about the MOX plant......in return to abandoning the MOX Plant:
1) USI will assist in the import of alternative fuels, possibly H-Fuel.
2) USI will assist in supporting efforts to build new plants elsewhere, only if a Fair Contract is given to USI.
Regarding Station's security..... your option is Accepted. We have no objection on BPA and BHG
presence.
If this is acceptable by Government then station picture will be like this.
1> A trade center (USI)
2> A storage depot (USI)
3> A hydrocarbon processing facility (BMM/BMF)
4> A Security section (BPA/BHG)
Hoping to see a positive response so that we start a joint effort of Reconstruction.
Based on your latest proposal, we have conducted a vote within the cabinet whether or not to accept your offer for the Birmingham location.
I am pleased to inform you that the Bretonian Government is very happy to accept your proposal, and we encourage you to start as soon as you are able.
As is the case with wrecks, they are hazards that need to be made safe before any new construction may take place, and you should start with this immediately.
Best regards,
Benedict Callahan, Secretary to the Cabinet