TO: John Silverstone || FROM: René

[Blanc Rouge]

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U MESSAGGIU INIZIA

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• Recipient: John Silverstone
• Sender: Édouard René "Blanc-Rouge" Blanqui
• Source: La Joliette, Marseille
• Subject: HI JOHN

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Bonu dopu meziornu John,

That's René on the phone-line.

I got little bit stuck with my job, so can't get out to Liberty right now - especially since that blockade of Bretonia's is makin' strollin' 'round feel like walkin' on f*ckin' glass shards.

Anyway, how have you been? Still alive, still kickin'? If so - I am delightful, because I need lil' bit direction from you. I'mma swallowin' my pride here, so don't laugh.

Do ya' have up-to-date spatial maps of surroundin' systems of Liberty? I heard people callin' those "Independent Worlds". My people don't stroll there too much, so I don't have much info', on what's points of interest there. Coronado is only thing I can reliably fly through, 'cus Barrier's there. Basically, I'd like to know, is there a quick way to circumvent goin' through Tee-Three-One, because almost everyone's there havin' trigger finger and sh*tty I-F-Fs.

I can also spare some francs for ya', 'cus that kind of service is definetely not free, and I don't like to be in debt. Grazie, mon ami, sendin' ya' kisses.

À bona notte!

Blanc-Rouge
"Businessman"

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MESSAGGI FINITI

[sirlagsalot]

INCOMING TRANSMISSION
ENCRYPTION: None
SOURCE: Silverstone, John, serial #313 248 317 - 422.
SUBJECT: Is an Adventure Stick. Designed for danger. So, why don't you go ahead and have yourself a little lady break, and we'll just take it from here.

Why, hello there, Rene! And here i was, wondering where did you go! Almost made me worried, huh. Glad i shouldn't be.

Always alive in one way or another, not always kicking - and rarely helpful, if at all. But let's see what i can do for you. Without checking the databanks or looking way too deep into my own records, i can pretty much offer you... that?

Reserved for funny comment

Marked Tau-31 and New York on it. For reference, of course, not to make fun of you. And to make the whole mess more readable. Lines on that excuse of a map mean that the systems are connected somehow. Just draw a route or two, maybe more. Any route really. Then send me that funny picture - and i'll show you what's along the way in details.

Make no mistake, what i have is by no means COMPLETELY up to date. But i don't think stations and planets disappear on daily basis. Means it should still be of some use.

And, of course, there is no need to pay me for something that simple. But that will obviously change if you'll for some reason want me to personally re-check what-is-where again and as soon as possible.

TRANSMISSION END

[Blanc Rouge]

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U MESSAGGIU INIZIA

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• Recipient: John Silverstone
• Sender: Édouard René "Blanc-Rouge" Blanqui
• Source: La Villa des Frileuse, Blois, Orléanais
• Subject: Funny pictures

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Salute,

Apologies for not gettin' back as soon as possible, things got lil' heated in Taus and I needed to move 'round Gallia for bit. Rented mansion on Blois, check it out:



Ye', that's what eggheads call 'hypercyclones'. Hope not gonna get blown, hon-har-ha! Anyway, on the topic of the maps and routes. I checked the file you've sent, well-well, now aren't ya' globetrotter? Even visited Gallia, I see. I am kind of interested about that part of space:

fichier.ginf

I am aware of the Tee-Two-Nine connection to Kusari, but what's that shortcut to Liberty? Looks like it cuts lots and lots of time. And that one dead-end system, what's that, isn't that monastery system of those fanatical hobos? Funny thing - we're in a peculiar spot of Kusarian I-F-Fs, my I-F-F is not outlawed in any way in Kusari, but they still haven't updated their software so all their defences are blastin' when I am around, ha.

But yeah, this looks like interesting part of the space. When I'll finish my business in the Noyau dur Gallia, I'll be able to scout out these parts I highlighted.

Also, have ya' heard, Maltese are steering clear of Bretonia? What's up with that?

À bona notte, mon ami!

Blanc-Rouge
"Businessman"

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MESSAGGI FINITI

[sirlagsalot]

INCOMING TRANSMISSION
ENCRYPTION: None
SOURCE: Silverstone, John, serial #313 248 317 - 424.
SUBJECT: Is an Adventure Stick. Designed for danger. So, why don't you go ahead and have yourself a little lady break, and we'll just take it from here.

Again, eh? Makes me curious enough to ask you what's actually going on in Taus. No news about it on this end, really. But first things first.
It's not exactly a shortcut and it doesn't save time. Unless you are willing to use tradelanes and take the risks, of course. Given how you say you -may- be fine with it, though... Actually, let me just send you slightly more detailed maps with patrol routes i am aware of. Keep in mind, though, that our definitions of "trigger finger and sh*tty I-F-Fs" may differ, a lot.

Tau-29 comes first. You probably know enough about it already, but i still marked Tau-31 and Kyushu access points for you.

Tau-29 most common patrol routes, part 1

Tau-29 most common patrol routes, part 2

Tau-29 most common patrol routes, part 3

Then it is Kyushu. You would not want to go through New Tokyo, from what i understand, right? It is a capital system, afterall. Obviously, you should not fly a straight line like the pictures show. Avoid getting too close to Nansei, it belongs to Kusari Office of Intelligence. Lads of this kind are sure to have good scanners, far-reaching radars and lots of funny questions. Avoid Kagoshima, too. Unless you are found of rice, cheap kusarian prostitutes, overpriced kusarian piss tea, drug-addict girls embroidery clubs and all those things - and if you have no plans to end as a fertilizer on some farm in the nearest future.

Kyushu most common patrol routes, part 1

Kyushu most common patrol routes, part 2

Kyushu most common patrol routes, part 3

Shikoku comes next. Kinkaku-ji and Morioka here are all about cheap kusarian prostitutes, overpriced kusarian piss tea, drug-addict girls embroidery clubs and becoming a fertilizer in the end. Noshima is an actual freeport, everyone loves freeports. Especially given that there is a casino not far from it. And a Ryugu comet, if you will ever feel like stargazing. Rest you should be sort of aware about. Now, there are two ways out of Shikoku: Kepler or Galileo. Normally, Kepler would be faster to get through if you use lanes and love adventure.

Shikoku-to-Kepler option, part 1

Shikoku-to-Kepler option, part 2

Shikoku-to-Kepler option, part 3

Galileo is a rather calm and slow one, instead.

Shikoku-to-Galileo option, part 1

Shikoku-to-Galileo option, part 2

Shikoku-to-Galileo option, part 3

Let's start with the calm one. Jumpgate is obvious, there is not much to say about it. You get to Galileo from Shikoku via jumphole - you'll end inbetween Leiden and Atum. Leiden is where you can fix or break you ship software. Normally - both at the time, since it is a Lanhe Hacker station. Atum most probably has nothing to do with you - and you most probably have nothing to do with it. Unless you really hate huge glowing space seafood and plan to waste your life on obliterating it. The Order at its best, huh. Other than that, there are Pauda and Attica. Those belong to Rogues. Normally, your average commoner would belong to nine feet underground soon after meeting one. Nothing but dark matter and great emptiness everywhere else around.

Galileo-to-Colorado, part 1

Galileo-to-Colorado, part 2

Galileo-to-Colorado, part 3

If, for some reason, you pick Kepler-to-Colorado option, we have what you see on the following maps. Ames itself is relatively safe, but it has lots of modular stations and weapon platforms next to it. You should probably take it into consideration. Now, you may also try the jumphole. But it is way too close to Nome to my taste. Nome is a xeeners place, those guys love noone. It is also way too deep inside radioactive clouds. So, maybe if you plan to check what sort of cancer you can get out of all those there are - sure, wander off. I'd rather not, though. Stick to the lanes instead, enjoy the fun at your left and more fun at your right.

Kepler-to-Colorado, part 1

Kepler-to-Colorado, part 2

Kepler-to-Colorado, part 3

There is a Kepler-Ontario option. Problem is, jumphole is unstable and acts funny. Like everything in Kepler. The ship, depending on the size and whatsoever, may not be able to get through. Or, which i see as even more funny option - it may happen so that only a part of it will. What part of you would you prefer to jump through - and what part of you would you rather have to stay?

Kepler-to-Ontario, part 1

Kepler-to-Ontario, part 2

Kepler-to-Ontario, part 3

Honestly, Kepler itself deserves a whole separate lecture. But let's not do that yet - and till you will totally need one.

If, for some even more funny reason, you still pick Kepler-to-Ontario - you'll probably be able to get to California from there. As you can see from the map, i have little ideas of who-patrols-where nowadays. All i know is that there is xeeners love on the west - and messed up software on the east. It should be relatively empty, maybe. Maybe not. I'd still stick to the lanes, though.

Ontario-to-California, part 1

Ontario-to-California, part 2

Ontario-to-California, part 3

The dead end system is Baffin, holyground of Temporary Autonomous Zoners. Great place to check if you are religious or plan to become religious anytime soon. Lads do not patrol the place much, as you can see - and i can't imagine any other patrols around. Somehow, shaking their pineal amulets makes them know all there is to know about what-is-where in their place.

Baffin, part 1

Baffin, part 2

Baffin, part 3

All-in-all, the area you picked promises fun. There is a "south way", too. But i don't use it too often. Last time i checked it was way less populated, though.

Southern bypass

No idea about Maltese or Bretonia. Did not keep an eye on it after the war. Sounds weird to me, though. Isn't after-the-war time just great for one to be selling drugs, arms and whatsoever while making huge profits? It beats me why would they be steering clear of it.

As for the postcard you sent - should i toss you an umbrella? Hyperumbrella maybe, since it is a hypercyclone? Way too hot, way too rainy. Raindrops get in your drinks, dissolve the alcohol in those, make them taste like water. Eww. I prefer someplace more cool. Less annoying insects around, and you should not worry about your food spoiling if you leave it outside. Here's mine, simply left it be for few hours - and look what happened!

Nothing at all! Neither the fork moved an inch, nor the egg leaked any more than when i left it!

TRANSMISSION END