¤ Source:Grid G5, New York ¤ Recipient:Catherine White ¤ User:M.Rockwell ¤ Priority:High ¤ Subject:A Choice
Introductions
Hello, Catherine.
My name is Markus Rockwell. We’ve met before.
In light of your interactions – and infractions – with the Liberty law, we’ve decided to drop the veil. And extend a hand.
You’ve met with Blau – Agent Blau, that is – and made an interesting impression. A valuable one, were his words.
So. I have an offer for you.
The Offer
You've put yourself out there. You've professed a deep love of Liberty. You want to protect your home. That's good.
But you're still an unknown commodity to us.
Luckily, an unknown commodity to us might be an unknown person to others.
The best way to prove yourself is to stretch your wings a bit. Get around. Make some friends.
We will provide you with a substantial sum of credits. What you do with those funds is your own business, provided you accomplish your task. You will head east, into Imperial Rheinland and beyond. And you will find something for us of value. It doesn't matter what it is. It could be the drunken ramblings of a transport captain. But you will find something. And once you find that something, you will fly right back to the nest to tell us what it is that you've found.
You are to confine your activities to passive observation and socialization. You will not do anything to make yourself a target.
If you stay within the scope of your task, and you run into trouble, I promise that you will not be left to rot. We will take care of our own. And you will claim your reward.
The Reward
You will be allowed to choose your own place among the defenders of Liberty.
Maybe you wish to cast a light on the unknown?
We will find you a very dark corner of the Republic to do that.
Do you wish to take flight and strike down Liberty's foes directly?
We are not ace pilots. But we know those who are. And you can be given time with those who laid low Vespucci.
Maybe you would prefer to destroy our enemies from afar.
We will find you time at West Point. And Virginia's finest are always looking for work.
What you are offered is the education to achieve your goals.
The Choice
This is the terminus of our interactions with you as you are now.
Accept the offer, and we will help you become one of the Republic's finest.
Should you decline, do not ever make contact with us again.
We have shown you the fate of those who have betrayed the Republic. I would advise against a bad faith acceptance.
This line of communication will remain open to you. Your answer is eagerly awaited.
Source: Grid D4, Pennsylvania
Recipient: M.Rockwell
User: Catherine White
Priority: High
Subject: RE: A Choice
Thank you, Markus Rockwell, for the trust you are placing in me and for this opportunity to prove myself. As I am sure Agent Blau explained, this chance is important to me and I am honoured you would allow me to serve the Republic in such a fashion.
I understand the offer. I accept the offer, and I shall not let you down.
If I may be presumptious on the matter, I'll be flying under the keyphrase Snow White.
Firstly, there are confirmed reports of large scale conflict at Freeport 9 in Omicron Theta. Local sources indicate that the formerly zoner controlled locale was taken by force by Corsair units, who are now the controlling power on the station. Further investigation is required to ascertain more details, but there are indications that this conflict drew in other local entities such as the Outcasts and wider Zoner militias. However it is known that, at the least, the Corsair band known as DTR or Deterrance, were present and involved.
Secondly, sightings have been made in Omicron space of... computerised probes. It is hard to explain, yet there have been at least one encounter with a ship bearing no recognisable human that have responded to communications with digitally generated responses. With alacrity and clarity, which suggests to me some kind of intelligence beyond a simple dynamic standard response mechanism.
Unless otherwise instructed, Snow White is coming to the seven dwarves.
...
[11.12.2023 21:23:27] (\^/)Whaler: How are things going out here in the Omicrons? I have not been out here in a while.
[snipped audio]
[11.12.2023 21:23:45] Catherine.White: "I ur... Daros? How have they been?"
[11.12.2023 21:24:15] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: Oh well lets say there was a little "dispute" over a place called freeport 9 in theta.
[11.12.2023 21:24:36] (\^/)Whaler: That happened then huh?
[11.12.2023 21:24:53] (\^/)Whaler: I only heard rumors.
[11.12.2023 21:25:03] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: It was a bloody mess.
[11.12.2023 21:25:09] Catherine.White: "How come?"
[11.12.2023 21:25:24] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: Ah well now we are at politics.
[11.12.2023 21:25:52] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: Lets say some of my hermanos went on a little expidition into that base and somehow claimed its ownership.
[11.12.2023 21:26:35] (\^/)Whaler: Well I must dock, see you all around. Be safe out here
[11.12.2023 21:26:37] 2023-12-11 21:26:37 SMT Traffic control alert: (\^/)Whaler has docked
[11.12.2023 21:26:40] Catherine.White: "...oh...the freeport in Theta? I did wonder."
[11.12.2023 21:27:18] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: Well... One of the recent events i really...
[11.12.2023 21:27:56] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: There were losses on both sides. Good people.
[11.12.2023 21:28:15] Catherine.White: *goes to speak, but falls quiet and frowns instead.* "you regret it?"
[11.12.2023 21:28:15] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: Because the politics could not figure that out. So people had to die.
[11.12.2023 21:29:02] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: Yes i do *slams controls*. It is a harsh place and we are looking for expansions but this can be done in other ways.
[11.12.2023 21:29:26] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: Brothers were lost, Mothers left home knowing their sons do not return. For what?
[11.12.2023 21:29:34] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: For a floating piece of metal in space.
[11.12.2023 21:29:56] Catherine.White: "...hmm..."
[11.12.2023 21:30:07] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: I killed some of them.
[11.12.2023 21:30:27] DTR-Mariposa: Daros: Right when they were within firing range i unleashed hell on them.
[snipped audio]
¤ Source:Grid G5, New York ¤ Recipient:Catherine White ¤ User:M.Rockwell ¤ Priority:High ¤ Subject:Adequate Performance
Introductions
Ms. White,
You've given a good showing. Congratulations.
You are correct in the assumption that you are to proceed back to Pennsylvania with all due haste. If you have not already, begin your journey immediately.
As to the Corsair - Daros? Cut all contact, but do not burn the bridge. Your task is complete; you are not to associate with any foreign or unlawful organizations prior to a full debrief and processing.
Results
I suppose I owe you some context for what you've found.
Keeping it brief, considering your current status;
The conflict regarding the Zoner installation was not known to us prior. It was the general opinion of the Bureau that the Erienite resistance primarily received support from their parental organizations in the Edge Worlds. Following the most likely train of thought, there are two possible results for the Republic's interests.
The first is that resistance forces in Pennsylvania will begin to face a drought in funding and material support. Our knowledge on the affairs of the "Outerworlders" who ran Freeport 9 is relatively limited, though we know that they were certainly more... radical in their support of Erie. In an ideal sector, Erienite resistance would starve out.
The second is, unfortunately, far darker. Should the Outerworlders lose their conflict, the Erienite resistance might find a source of very angry - and motivated - recruits. Given your own origins, I'm sure you can find your own conclusions as to the natural consequences.
The probe is more curious. Artificial Intelligence is hardly novel at this point, but not our forte.
I should hope you remember why you undertook your task. We'll be waiting on Erie.
Some of your family filed a missing persons report. I suggest that you pay them a visit when you get back.
One last thing - kindly refrain from contacting the Administrator or our civilian staffers apart from direct queries. They are unfortunately quite busy with the legitimate front of our operations.