Recipient(s): Hemlocke Sender: Clark Location: Texas
Then I'll be brief.
I managed to make contact with the Zurich Accord, Corsicans from Gallia. They have a unique product that may prove to be a viable fall back pending the outcome of the current situation we find ourselves facing regarding the Outcasts.
An outcome from my meeting with these Corsicans was to arrange for a sample shipment of their product to arrive at Dawson sometime in the next weeks. I believe an opportunity lies in front of us. The potential to be the sole Libertonian distributors of Nox.
Now, to address what I imagine your main concern might be, the Corsicans are already planning a sit down at a base called Davos with the Unioners and the Brotherhood from Crete. Should that meeting go well, the need for trips to Gallia to collect product will be a non issue, instead the traffic of Artifacts and Diamonds trade we work hand in hand with the Unioners on already in Hudson has the potential to be supplemented with the trade of Nox.
However, I imagine the fact that I'm speaking to you already tells you that my main concern about this future endeavour lies with Buffalo. Whilst my operations have managed to pass under Guile's radar for quite the while. I now believe the point where such is no longer the case has finally been reached yet I'd also dare say Guile's recent losses after the Norfolk fiasco may have bought precious breathing room but it will also be those loses that may provoke a desperate move from him.
So in essence, I ask that when the time comes that Guile forces my hand, that I find myself with your backing, so that we may prevent an unnecessary and unneeded wave of bloodshed in these critical times we find ourselves in.
Recipient(s): <|> Clark <|> Sender: <|> Josie "Rose" Hemlocke <|> Location: <|> Dark Matter Interference <|> Subject: <|> Business <|>
"I see."
"You have misjudged my main concern."
"You mentioned something that grabbed my eye. You said they had planned a sit down with the Unioners, a group that went dark on our attempt to repair relations some time ago. As far as I'm concerned in this regard, I'm not willing to take a loss on profit and let a silent party be a middle man."
"No. The profit I've turned, relied on us being self sufficient. Reliance on the Hackers, the Junkers and the Unioners has cost us, only a fool watches history repeat itself without doing something about it. That is to say, having multiple third parties for a drug that can hardly compare to Cardamine or the Artifact trade itself, will diminish the value of the item so greatly we may as well become water traders."
"We'd turn a better profit from smashing their convoys."
"Then there's the mention of the Cretan scum."
"I find myself wondering how.. "tolerant" we must be for this trade deal to function. What they would demand of us in regards to their partners."
"Perhaps I should have asked you for the long version. I have yet to see the profit."
Recipient(s): Hemlocke Sender: Clark Location: Texas
Long version then.
The sit down at Davos was in the works before I even made contact the planned topic of that conversation was not Liberty. And no, I did not inquire as to the topic of discussion but I have two theories, one stronger than the other. I believe It's likely the Corsicans aim is to have Artifacts shipped back into Gallia after the Rheinland distributors make their drops and perhaps they're even planning to offer their product to Crete's overwhelming population itself, an ambitious move, but the viability of such a move need not be our concern. The second, more weaker theory is that the Corsicans which to talk about some joint offensive or alliance to counter Malta, but I find the Unioners to be an odd and unlikely choice for such a meeting.
Regardless, I do not disagree regarding the thought of self sufficiency, it is however rather unrealistic at this point in time, too much distance between where we find what we trade and where we sell it, but if you truly wish to avoid dealing with the Unioners, in theory it is possible to run our own transports through Rheinland up into Gallia itself for this. But this does remove the key detail that I believe will have most Rogues receptive to the idea.
You ask where the profit is in this? The profit lies in the simplicity and the ease, like I said, it's a supplement, not intended to replace the artifacts or diamonds that run through Dawson. Instead it merely adds yet more revenue to the books whilst also granting us the potential later down the line to break in the Gallia's black market fully, allowing us a new destination for exports, and a potential whole new selection of imports.
Besides I'd dare say that is too soon to make judgements about the strength of the product itself, after all, it has yet to be subjected to the infamous practicality that has kept us afloat for all these years. After all not every diamond that passes our way from Rheinland was not touched upon to be made into the stone that fetches such a price on Manhattan or Los Angeles. Perhaps a little pressure can turn this Gallic product into a gem of it's own, it's a venture we have little to lose for have the potential to gain a lot from.
Furthermore there is one thing these Corsicans have over the Outcasts from what I've seen during my time speaking with them. And it's something I imagine you'll be sure to appreciate after having spent the last few years dealing with Fiorella De Marco's antics. They possess the awareness to understand that if they were to ever try and starve the bottom of the food chain that the bottom of the food chain will simply devour them to sustain themselves. In short, actual partnership is on the table, not the expected servitude Malta demands from their pretty Villa's on Malta.
So in regards to "tolerance" I do not imagine we'll need to be anymore or any less tolerant of anyone or anything than we already are. After all, at the end of the day, the Corsicans understand that they do not and will not own Liberty but we do.
Recipient(s): <|> Clark <|> Sender: <|> Josie "Rose" Hemlocke <|> Location: <|> Dark Matter Interference <|> Subject: <|> Business <|>
"I see."
"A misunderstanding then, the Cretans and the "Union"ers are unrelated."
"I've been keeping on eye on you. Clark. While your progress in the.. "food chain" has fast progressed, a noted weakness is that from what I can tell, you're effectively a one-ship show. Further supported by your request that I come to your aid when Guile inevitably shoves in on your little escapade. Maybe you still have that Grendel, maybe it's flown by one of your crew, but a singular Grendel will not be enough for a deal of this scale."
"That means then, that you'll need my manpower to see this trade become efficient, if successful. Manpower that I already have making other moves."
"This was what I meant when I said "profit", mere credits alone are not worthwhile, effective use of manpower, and opportunity, is. You've convinced me of the opportunity, and credits, yet you've missed some very important details."
"You're in the big leagues now, and I'm not convinced you have the full picture of the powers at play."
"You call Dawson your home, Dawson belongs to Guile, and while that may prove he's grown distracted in recent years to have not contested you, that also means he can do a considerable amount of damage if he finds out your play. Guile's a glory-driven young blood that up until Norfolk had never lost a gamble, cause he'd never made a play he wasn't sure he'd win."
"We don't know for certain if he's aware of you or not, and while Guile hates me, I like him where he is. I don't know how much you know of Buffalo's past management, it was quite trendy to be a walking economic disaster with bigger balls than brains, and they dropped like flies."
"Guile's been secure in his position, and hasn't made any hair-brained economic decisions. So I've left him alone."
"What makes you better than Guile."
"And more importantly."
"How are you so sure this goes off without a hitch if you have my backing."
Recipient(s): Hemlocke Sender: Clark Location: Texas
You've already answered your own question. Guile only makes a play he's certain he can win.
Besides as you said, he is glory driven and hates you, put all the pieces together, and me and you wind up being on the same ship.
You're right about my crew still being limited, but that was a calculated risk. I took the time to build a crew that I can trust, and a crew that trusts me. And it has paid off so far, I've only had to make a serious example out of a singular traitor so far.
That means I'm insulated from the usual internal power plays at the moment and I also don't have an issue with or any reason to hate you.