I will keep this short and simple.
The system state of Kansas does not discriminate or look down upon any individual.
We know of the violent past , and many feuds your brave pilots got themselves in.
Glorious Uncle Pete instructed us to welcome your people with open arms ,
and will invest credits and effort in the rehabilitation of the poor damaged traumatized souls of these veterans.
Do not worry anymore of those nasty people that tried to throw dirt upon you brave legionaries in the past.
Plea allegiance to our king and embrace a happy future!
Perhaps you do not understand the situation, or whom exactly you are dealing with.
I can think of no other reasons to be hearing such complete and utter ignorance coming out of your mouth.
The Legion is not one of the sniveling little pirate bands that you may have encountered lurking around Liberty. Nor are we the disorganized 'traumatized' rabble you seem to think we are. Carry on like you are, and you will find out first hand exactly what the Legion is capable of.
Continue to try and enforce your 'claim' on the Kansas system, or attempt to move against us in any way, and we will crush you.
-Lord Commander Alan Markson of the Legion, Vespucci Sector of The Barrier March.
Characters Alan Markson: The Hellfire Legion's Lord Commander The Perihelion: Freeport Four's guardian, and yet much more. Missing and assumed Lost with all hands. Eric Dresmund: Junker, smuggler, thief. Last seen drunk on Beaumont Vayrn Wyard: IMG Recon pilot turned Neo-Terran Captain. Last location unknown
King Pete has informed me that he is very sad to hear that our relations have been damaged.
As a token of goodwill he would like to know where I can send this box of chocolates,
accompanied with this bouquet of flowers.
This to share our sympathy and best wishes.
Incoming transmission...
Source: Slum City, Office Room 042, ToP Security, Public Relations and Transportation Department
Recipient: Lord Commander Alan Markson
Unknown encryption method detected...
Accessing external memory drive, extracting codesolver.exe...
Message encryption recognised. Encryption pattern: CORSAC
Bypassing security protocols, probing system.
System probe sucessfull. System sucessfully entered. System ID: Unknown
Acessing internal mainframe, anchoring connection, securing data uplink stream...
System anchor in place, streaming transmission. Executing Protocol C...
Message decrypted in private channel. Video uplink established.
Greetings, esteemed Lord Commander,
You're probably wondering who this random person with a pinstripe suit is. Well, before our little friend Borba became Chief of Security here at Slum City, guess who had to handle that job?
That's right. You guessed it.
Now, it seems my former/current boss seems to have stopped using his medication lately, but still retained some of his sanity, enough to call me for damage control.
Again.
Jonathan sighs
Maybe it's too much to ask for a clean restart, but, just as I kick Borba's round behind out of my office (goddamn guacamole stains everywhere), I feel like I must still ask for a chance at a renewed relation between our two groups, even if it is a strained one.
Now, I have nothing but respect for your pilots, and calling them traumatized veterans would be the last adjectives I'd think of. I've had the distinct... pleasure of running into your forces, on several occasions, and can personally attest to your flying skill. And the long conversations I managed to maintain with some of your individuals have assured me of the quality of your personnel's personality (ie: not the average pirate we're so many times plagued with, for clearly obvious reasons).
Also, the whole King thing? Completely metaphorical. As in, one might call himself king of the bedroom, or king of the bathroom. He may hold some power over it, but when push comes to shove, the smell dictates when you have to flush, not you. What I'm trying to say is... I'll be frank, the whole medication thing I mentioned earlier?
Not metaphorical. In the slightest.
Anyways...
I see no reason why we can't co-exist. Kansas is untapped, ripe for development outside the influences of corrupt House corporations/governments/armed forces, a haven for those who prefer to live life justly, instead of what's been defined as lawful. I think we can agree on that point.
In my eyes, I do think we can both make concessions. As a start, how's about my dear Uncle Pete stops waving his tinfoil crown around and starts acting his age and, in return, your side may feel more inclined NOT to begin shooting, and instead to reopen talks. All I'm askin'.
Looking forward to continue talking,
Jonathan Cook
Connection lost, system probe withdrawn...
Data uplink stream cut, source disconnected...
<span style="color:#000000">The awful plight of he who cannot draw to save his own life.</span>
I have to admit, after the last message, I was sorely tempted to ignore this one and erase it without reading.
That may have been a satisfying move, at least on a personal level, but what it would not have been is a smart move.
With that in mind, and having read your latest dispatch, I do believe restarting talks between us is a mutually beneficial option. None the less, perhaps it is best we start with the formalities.
Would you mind explaining what your organization is exactly?
-Lord Commander Alan Markson of the Legion, Vespucci Sector of The Barrier March.
Characters Alan Markson: The Hellfire Legion's Lord Commander The Perihelion: Freeport Four's guardian, and yet much more. Missing and assumed Lost with all hands. Eric Dresmund: Junker, smuggler, thief. Last seen drunk on Beaumont Vayrn Wyard: IMG Recon pilot turned Neo-Terran Captain. Last location unknown
Incoming transmission...
Source: Slum City, Office Room 042, ToP Security, Public Relations and Transportation Department
Recipient: Lord Commander Alan Markson
Unknown encryption method detected...
Accessing external memory drive, extracting codesolver.exe...
Message encryption recognised. Encryption pattern: CORSAC
Bypassing security protocols, probing system.
System probe sucessfull. System sucessfully entered. System ID: Unknown
Acessing internal mainframe, anchoring connection, securing data uplink stream...
System anchor in place, streaming transmission. Executing Protocol C...
Message decrypted in private channel. Video uplink established.
Jonathan smiles warmly as the camera flickers softly.
Esteemed Lord Commander Markson,
I am glad to see my predecessor's antics didn't irreparably damage our relation (which is more than I can say for several other groups, sadly). I am glad to see your side is still open to negotiation.
But of course, formalities are a necessity, if I'm not mistaken. A brief introduction, then:
My name is Jonathan Hamilton Cook. I am here today as a representative of the organization called The Outer Project, a syndicated group of entrepeneurs that brave those wild, untapped lucrative options most other... mainstream shipping companies have yet to consider. Be it bringing food to starving settlers or robbing the Gallic Navy from right under their noses, as long as they're some sort of gain from it, we'll be there.
As long as the other side means no harm, we'll be more than happy to aid them. Do not presume, though, that we are amoral money diggers. Last time someone asked us to deliver nuclear components for "A variety of uses. Mostly weaponry", we did not bother to respond. And the client found his house was a bit... untidy, by the time he got there.
We have had a few rough patches, especially with Liberty police enforcement, in the past. When talks inevitably broke down and we were forced to use the traditional method of negotiation, we prevailed, despite having been branded "thieves" and "filthy smugglers" on a daily basis.
Put simply, and quoting our dear Uncle Pete (in his more sane years):
"We are like cosmic gypsies, wandering from one place to another, never truly accepted. It is our will to go on that makes us unique".
I do believe that answers your question, esteemed Lord Commander.
I will, so, await further communication,
Jonathan Cook
Connection lost, system probe withdrawn...
Data uplink stream cut, source disconnected...
<span style="color:#000000">The awful plight of he who cannot draw to save his own life.</span>