I The Doctor... an Order agent. I am a scientist and a warrior, although the latter comes somewhat incidentally, given the combatative nature of those I take it upon myself to study - they being the Wild and Nomads.
I am perhaps the scientist who has studied Nomads for the longest any human still in possession of his soul has. I've been in the middle of this mess since.... almost the beginning. I've seen so much, learned more than I could ever want to about these... Nomads, and I've seen many, many good men and women lost to the cause.
Perhaps I ramble in my introductions.
I am a man of learning and research first, and only fighting second.
Knowledge, they say, is the greatest weapon - and, in truth, it is.
I command an Order Geb carrier that is a long range research vessel. I use it to track the Wild, keep an eye on them and their doings, and all the while gather information that has anything to do with them.
I frequent your beautiful locale on my trips through Sirius. Given new regulations put forth by the Rising Sons, I was required to ask for permission to travel through Kusari. It was just now granted by the beneficent warriors. See the attached log.
They suggested that, as I travel through Hokkaido to enter the Tau systems, that I ask your permission before I continue with these flights. My carrier is big, but it is quiet and rather stealthy. Perhaps you have noticed if before on its meanderings through the nebulae Hokkaido, and perhaps you have not. We keep a low profile, we don't want to attract unwanted attention. Yours is not particularly unwanted, as far as human attention goes, but we can not decide who we hide ourselves from and who we don't.
This said, the Rising Sons did advise that I ask you before continuing to fly between Tohoku and Kyushu - that course takes us near to your base. We can always, of course, take a course around it, as I know you are somewhat wary of a ship like mine, with many men on board who have spent quite a while out on the edge - though, I might add, that most of my crew were hand-picked just because they're the misanthropic sort, much like myself, who prefer to survive out past the edge of known space, where we make our home.
Not that this matters, as we do not wish to dock on Ainu, never have, and never will.
I do indeed tend to ramble... apologies again.
Hmmph..
I'm quite simply asking you for permission to travel through Hokkaido on my way to the Taus.
I've been approved by the Rising Sons by this already, so I imagine that this won't be too much to ask... though, I'm more than happy to keep a distance between my vessel and your base. I imagine you might prefer something of that sort.
>>>INCOMMING TRANSMISSION<<<
From: UNABLE TO TRACK
ID: Okasan Matsumoto
To: 'The Doctor'
Konnichiwa, man without a name.
Of course, we have already noticed your ship. It would be bad if we wouldn't notice a potential threat from such a distance.
However, here is what i ask you to do:
You will not enter the sectors B 6, B 5, C 5.
You will not enter the sector C 6 from any other direction than from C 7.
You will not fly past the Kyushu Jumphole.
Once you've reached the Kyushu system, you will grant a group of specialists access to your ship and to your navigational computers.
This will be done for the following reasons:
To secure any information you should not know about us will remain a secret of you.
To secure that in the case your ship should be destroyed, the enemy which hypthetically dstroyed your ship won't find any information about us in your Navigational Computers.
You will allow us the execution of the same procedure on your way back, should you return.
Oh and i hope you won't mind if i talk to someone who i will meet in short about your reputation within the Order? Oh well, if would you couldn't stop me.
That is all.
I'm awaiting your decision.
Matsumoto
>>>LINK LOST<<<
In a brilliant tactical movement, i charged backwards.
I'm quite afraid your requirements are all acceptable except for one.
That is the requirement that I let your technicians into my computers.
I have quite a simple answer to this: No.
Simply no. The data I've collected and stored within my databanks, along with all my research contained in them is suitable for no one's eyes but mine, a select few of my crew, and the Order High Command. I'm very sorry, but there is absolutely no way of getting around the fact that you won't be getting into my computer. There isn't a way around that point - upon that I will remain firm.
If you are worried about my carrier being attacked and the enemy coming upon my data...
I happen to have an exceptionally brilliant Lane Hacker as my communications officer (he is indeed the very one encrypting this signal to you so that it stays utterly private) who has provided my vessel with some of the better firewalls, encryptions, and security systems within all of Sirius. If you would think that I would not take the utmost precautions to make sure that my research and data does not fall into my enemies' hands, you are sorely mistaken. The location of your base is not altogether secret, and is certainly much less important than what I have stored in my database.
There is no chance whatsoever that anything contained on my ship's computers could possibly fall into the hands of the enemy. What I have contained is of much more consequence to my enemies than the location of your base... and there is no chance, however hard they tried, that they could ever even get one measly gigabyte of my information.
I hope that you'll be reassured by this...
But, if not, I do intend to remain quite adamant in my decision that my computer banks stay absolutely private.
>>>INCOMMING TRANSMISSION<<<
From: UNABLE TO TRACK
ID: Okasan Matsumoto
To: 'The Doctor'
Konnichiwa Samuel...*coughs* 'Doctor'
I have to excuse myself.
I was under the impression that such a highly intelligent and qualified man like you are, would have created at least two independant computer systems on such a great ship like you command, one beeing for the research datas, the other for the life support, navigation, all the stuff a ship needs to run.
This was the reason for my thinking that it would not be any problem for you to let a few technicans onboard of your ship so they can check if you have found by accident the exact position of our base.
But apparently i was wrong.
And just in case you fear that we might wish to copy your ship, i have to deny this. We have no wish to have such a ship like you have.
Another thing.
I could also say that your research is completely unimportant for us, and we wouldn't let you pass through Hokkaido.
But i know that the Order is fighting for The Greater Good, or at least, should be.
Because of that, i offered you what i offered.
Oh another thing, the Rheinlanders have a word, it says 'Arrogance comes first, then you fall.'
Keep it in mind. If someone wants to breach through your systems, he will find a way to do so, no matter what you do.
Luckily for you, i've met some people at some place. They have assured me that you are trustworthy.
Because of this, i will grant you access towards Hokkaido and safe passage through it if you follow the other requirements.
Matsumoto
>>>LINK LOST<<<
In a brilliant tactical movement, i charged backwards.
Of course I have multiple systems on my ship. The mere suggestion that I wouldn't have such arrangements is potentially insulting. But, as things are to be cordial, and you'd perhaps be allowed to assume something along those lines, I'll tell you - I have multiple systems, and multiple more contingency systems, even. This ship isn't a fragile beast, though sometimes I do doubt the overall construction of it... (consequently, I wouldn't really blame you if you weren't interested in it, as you said.) It pays to be prepared for the worst where I go, because I often redefine that term.
It, however, just so happens that my navigational archivesaren't required for the ship to function, and such, they're on the secure database. I'm not sure if I made this clear, but it's not just letting you in my databases that is an insurmountable problem, it's letting you into the navigational archives that's an additional insurmountable problem... What information I have in there is exceedingly restricted.
I suppose this is all a moot point, as you've agreed to drop this requirement.
I am glad for it, and I assure you that I will follow the guidelines set forth in your first transmission to be, sans the requirements for your personnel to board my vessel - as has been agreed upon. Thank you for being so understanding.
Ah... and if this were a grey area that needed clearing up - greater good indeed, Matsumoto. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only idealist left who hasn't succumbed to the vapid alliances and diplomatic agreements the Order is tangled up in.