25th February 743 A.G.S.
Burgundy system, Gallic sector
Sender: Enseigne de Vaisseau Miroslav de Gobineau Recipient: High Command of Independent Miner Guild Subject: Questions and curiosity
Bonjour, cher mesdemoiselles et messieurs.
My name is Miroslav de Gobineau and I am Enseigne de Vaisseau, or "sub-lieutenant", of Marine Nationale Gauloise. I am contacting you on my personal behalf and with utmost respect for you.
I know very well that this message is unexpected and aware that this message also might be unwanted. But don't close this message yet and do not think of me as an oppressor who is trying to take away your autonomy. You see, just half a year ago, while Gallic Civil conflict raged, I was a part of Gallic Council and Guild was closest we could call a 'friend', a 'cher ami'. I remember the time when members of Guild kept hangar bay doors on Java unlocked long enough so I could escape Royal Marine detachment stationed there after I crash-landed. But I digress a lot.
I will ask you a very simple question now. What is your stance on Maltese outcast? Are these pesky drug-addicts still plague and endanger your operations in the area of Tau?
Would you like to see them as, let's say, least of your problems?
Marine Nationale Gauloise is currently dealing heavy blows to their operations in a system formerly named 'Omicron Tau', we call it 'Berne' now and I am thinking about every possibility to further cripple their activities. Are you interested?
I am looking forward for your answer. Also, this communication is more of an informal discussion, a chat between former partners, than a real diplomatic talk. I do not handle these matters but I am sure that my superiors are willing to cooperate with you because now we have the same enemies. This time without holding hand on a grip of a gun.
Sincèrement
Marine Nationale Gauloise, Enseigne de Vaisseau Miroslav de Gobineau.
To:Enseigne de Vaisseau Miroslav de Gobineau. From:Guildmistress Celestia Ludenberg. Origin:Deep Omegas. Encryption:IMG M.E.T.A.N.O.L. Code.
Monsieur de Gobineau.
I shall be honest - i found this message confusing; confusing from the point where it is your personal initiative rather than a message of which your superiors are aware and supportive of. That aside - we can agree on one thing: each and every Outcast are miserable subhumans, a stain on the face of Sirius, and the only way to release them from their misery is to slaughter every single last one of them. That is the objective truth.
We are not opposed to the idea of eradicating these vermin in their homes.
However, we are opposed to the idea of getting involved in strong relationship with any of the Houses.
They may come up with whatever excuses they have to get close to the Guild, but they will be dismissed as supposed attempts to harm The Guild.
We have been hunting down any Outcast we've seen the opportunity to hunt down. And we will keep going with that approach. Should there be any ongoing assault against the authority of Malta in Omicron Tau - we will consider taking a part in it with the forces currently available to be dispatched. I highly suggest you patch your superiors into this channel - or, at least, make sure they are aware of our stance.
That is all i have to tell to you.
~Celestia Ludenberg.
Attachments: None.
Peace, being the distant dream it is, comes inevitably, and goes hand in hand with justice.
Cursed be the war.
5th March 743 A.G.S.
Burgundy system, Gallic sector
Sender: Enseigne de Vaisseau Miroslav de Gobineau Recipient: Guildmistress Celestia Ludenberg Subject: Planning and video-chatting
As soon as communication feed is established, receivers screen opens up with a window of a video-feed. Miroslav de Gobineau in all his splendor comparable to a very humble and gentle bear is seen sitting in a small and cramped dimly lit office, holding a glass of a crimson-red wine and reading a tiny booklet. Right now he is without his visor he usually wears and instead there's tiny round glasses on his eyes. In a great high definition quality of a video feed receiver can observe him in a details: manly and muscly, he is epitome of Gallic raw physical power, something only diet of wine and onion soup can achieve, but at the same time, he is docile and warm, like a big fuzzy teddy bear. It took him a moment to notice that live-feed is active now and he almost jumps in his seat as he closes the book, throws it away and places glass of wine on a table. With a welcoming gestures as elegant as wanna-be-noble peasant can do, he starts softly but very enthusiastically speaking with a hints of a Gallic accent.
Ah, bonjour, belle mademoiselle Ludenberg! Excusez-moi, you caught me off-guard. To be honest, I haven't expected such splendid and lovely lady to contact me. I am so glad that you actually have answered my message and that you decided to open communications with me once more AND I am even more happy to see that you are ready to help all the known Universe with it's drug abuse problem. And, oui, after some persuasion my superiors gave me an approval to continue talks and start plotting with you all the future endeavors against Maltese danger. But I don't want to twaddle, just take a look.
Miroslav lifts his mighty meaty hand and presses holographic buttons on a screen that appeared near him. Suddenly, holographic figure of a Pierre Vaillant, Commandant of Marine Nationale Gauloise, formed instead of a screen. Even while he is one sixth of his actual size and holographic, he is still graceful as a falcon and comparison goes further as he looks on a receiver with his eagle eyes and speaks in a commanding and firm tone:
"Ouais, Miroslav, je t'en donne l'autorisation. Ne foire pas sur ce coup là." Pierre slightly tips his extremely fashionable hat and every movement of his is absolute of a word 'suave'. After that gesture this noble man disappears and now there's again only one Gaul in a room.
So. This out of the way. We honor your ideals of autonomy as I have written before and thus all future cooperation is, alors, strictly in a name of a fighting Outcasts. Nothing else, I assure you. Well, maybe a little bit of 'other'. Personal camaraderie, I suppose? Anyway, doesn't matter for now.
We don't have one-hundred percent of intel about movement of Maltese forces, how united in their movement they are and how they actually managed to survive that long but we do speculate that majority of their raiding parties comes through Tau-37 as this is only system that directly is connected to temporarily-controlled sector of theirs. As major breakthrough in Ber-, Omicron Tau did not happened YET the connection between Bern-, uh, I mean Omicron Tau is still utilized by their forces. And that's why we need to seal them off and systematically eradicate Taus of their cardamine dens.
Screen, once again, changes but this time for a big map of a Tau Sector. Miroslav slowly takes off his tiny glasses which looks even tinier in his big soft hands and points them at small dot on a map representing Tau-37.
We can supply you with all the war-gear you might need. Torpedoes, missiles, armaments, bombs, handguns, vibro-knives and everything else you want so your forces can blockade this one entryway. I think we can even spare some brave Gallic warriors but only in case if you need support. We'll time it simultaneously with our major advance in Omicron Tau. They won't be able to call back reinforcements and they won't be able to escape to Sirius. So, what are your thoughts?
I think that these live-feeds are quite restrictive and that we might need to look at the strategic map in a personal meeting. With a glass of wine and a plate of escargots and ideally with a great scenery on a background. I invite you for a 'meeting' to a Lorraine and it's absolutely beautiful planet of Metz. I know one great restaurant there, on a cliff side with a view on a lush green forests.
Map turns off as that holographic screen near Miroslav and with a gentle smile on his virile face, he stands up and slightly bows.
I am looking forward for your answer. Au revoir, mademoiselle Ludenberg.
Video-feed turns off and there's only black void with a rotating logo of Marine Nationale seen now. And there's one more thing left: suspense. Will Celestia answer Miroslav, will she agree for a meeting and how she will react?
Marine Nationale Gauloise, Enseigne de Vaisseau Miroslav de Gobineau.
To:Enseigne de Vaisseau Miroslav de Gobineau. From:Guildmistress Celestia Ludenberg. Origin:Pecos, Camp Lister, Coronado. Encryption:Twin Drill Certified.
The video feed turns on. It depicts Celeste standing against a large window, observing the landscape - a vast, cold plain, covered in snow and ice, stretching to the horizon; Guildmistress quickly glances over to her wrist watch, turns around and walks over to her table with pure elegance, rensembling some trait that barely catches one's eye that only nobility could possess. Ludenberg takes her seat and greets Miroslav with a small smile. Her voice sounds almost unnaturally calm.
Bonsoir, messieur Gobienau. It is a pleasure to hear from you so soon - and with such splendid news. However, i feel obliged to correct you, as reluctant i am to admit this, but Outcasts are so much more than your regular drug dealers. Slavers, raiders, murderers. The longer such stain is tolerated the more it harms us. They have been trying very hard to play civilised, pretending to be a House, going out of their way to institute some organisation in their society. All have miserably failed, their nature resurfaced despite their commendable efforts. Le chien enragé ne doit pas aller contre sa nature.
Celeste allows herself a quiet laugh, covering her lips with her left hand, visibly pleased with her remark. Though she quickly regains her composure and listens carefully to the continuation of Miroslav's speech after it took a minor break for Pierre to express his approval of de Gobineau's initiative.
Calling these rabid dogs anything but Outcasts is an insult. And there is nothing we do not know about them - as always, they miss centralised power, miss any semblance of order, for most of the power is held by the Dons, and the dons are... just average human beings. Selfish and ambitious, they only exist to pursue their own good, with sin of greed rooted in their hearts. Even little personal gain have always been their major weakness that separates their society. These vermin are engaged in an endless loop of hatred and misguidance, mindless grudges for the rest of Sirius. That is how miserable they, in fact, are.
Naturally, we will appreciate any supplies and equipment that may bolster our local forces and assist us in upholding the blockade - what Marine Nationale is willing to share, however, i will leave to the discretion of your superiors.
Celestia rubbed her chin and tilted her head slightly, pondering over whetever to accept the invitation or not. In the end, Ludenberg nods in agreement.
Planet Metz... it have been a while since i have last visited Accueil Native. Choose the time at your convenience - and i will make sure to attend the meeting.
Celeste fell silent, obviously, she finished her speech, with pure elegance she stood up and walked over to the window, once again adoring the bright landscape bathing in the cold northern sun; Guildmistress have snapped her fingers and the receiver screen turned blank as the video feed turned off.
7th March 743 A.G.S.
Lorraine system, Gallic sector
Sender: Enseigne de Vaisseau Miroslav de Gobineau Recipient: Guildmistress Celestia Ludenberg Subject: Planning and video-chatting
At some moment of time after a brief pause in communications, video communication comes back to life once again. Miroslav de Gobineau in his freshest and smuggest officer uniform he could find in his wardrobe proudly sits in an officer chair. His visor dimly shines in a cigarette smoke filled bridge of a capital ship, people can be seen running around with their usual capital-ship-maintain business. One moment of just looking cool and Miroslav finally speaks, again, softly but enthusiastically.
Ah, mon magnifique cher ami, I am so sorry for this slight delay. Bonsoir, mademoiselle Ludenberg.
Oui, I do understand, what 'Outcast' is. I am just not using big and bloodlust-y words. Trying not to look like a savage. But! This doesn't mean I don't feel good when I and my proud crew break apart their lines and end their miserable lives. I consider this as a mercy killing.
But what I enjoy more - is a positive answer from a magnificent lady. Video-feed can't convey how great you look today.
Unfortunately, I would like to say "today, right now, as soon as possible", but my hands are tied because, well, we have some small operations to do. And that's why I reserved VIP table on a twelfth of March, three o'clock. As soon as you land in Metz-Nord Patrotte, Metz's spaceport, just message me, I'll be around.
Anyway, I would like to have a long and great chat with you. But there's plenty of Outcasts crawling in Omicron Tau near minefield and we are tasked with clearing them out. So, excusez-moi, Lady Celeste, but I must end this very brief conversation here.
Au revoir, I'll hope to see you soon.
With a look of a ghastly disappointment on his face, Miroslav hasn't ended the video-conversation yet. He stood up, turned to the side and pulled the microphone from the ceiling closer to his face.
Sombre Destin, c'est Succube Mignonne, nous sommes prêts pour la bataille, fin de la transmission.
Miroslav turned his head to the receiver, warmly smiles and nods. After that, video-feed stopped. Once again, Marine Nationale logo is rotating and it's definitely awaits for a new video-feed session.
Marine Nationale Gauloise, Enseigne de Vaisseau Miroslav de Gobineau.
The screen flashes black and, after a second of delay, the video feed turns on, revealing Celeste standing at the window in dimly lit apartment; the landscape outside is swallowed in darkness, which leaves no doubt that it is likely night time there on Pecos. Ludenberg turned towards the camera, revealing for a moment somewhat exhausted expression that quickly returns to normal. She is holding a glass of wine, and begins her transmission in a manner way less formal.
A glass of red semisweet is the best in the evening, would you not agree, Miroslav? I have always enjoyed it the most. As you may have figured out - i am not exactly opposed to the opportunity of you addressing me Celeste; besides, i feel informal this evening, so let us settle at that. And i could not agree more - killing them is, indeed, an act of unparalleled mercy. And for one of the greatest acts of mercy we have already began preparations.
I wish i would say the same, for i have high expectations for our meeting, and the date and time is just perfect. Have no doubt i will be there on time precisely to the minute.
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours, and hope you will make it through this chaotic week in one piece.
Until we meet in person, Miroslav.
Celeste walks over to the table - and first the video feed and then transmission itself ends.
~Celestia Ludenberg.
Attachments: None.
Peace, being the distant dream it is, comes inevitably, and goes hand in hand with justice.
Cursed be the war.