Incoming Transmission
Transmission Origin: New Berlin
Vessel ID: [FL]-FireHawk
Sender ID: Adam Spire
He stood by the communications link, the lig glow of the remi transparent view screen and a back light seemed to be the only illumination in the room. The young man waited for the communications link to bounce off of one repeating communications satellite after another. Connecting, bypassing, redirecting, until it finally managed to open a channel through to its source. He leaned forward, trying to address a foe he had fought against for so long, and now, only to communicate with them. Taking in a shallow breath, he watched as the signal lag became nearly compensated and started to speak.
My name is Adam Spire. I am a Rheinland citizen, and I care deeply about my people, all of them. Everything else is irrelevant.
Let's make one thing clear. I don't trust you, I don't like you. You're murders, thieves, and if the rumors are true, cannibals. You've dedicated the entire foundation of your cause to chaos and the destruction of civilized society. We've also run into your people a number of times and sent a whole lot of them to their graves. This and many other reasons is why I've never bothered to even give you a second of my time.
Yet, someone asked me to be a bit objective about this and so I'm giving it a shot.
Speaking of which, the freelancers working with me have monitored your ships, sometimes in fleets, rushing into Rheinland space then simply disappearing with only wrecked Hessians ships and several unknown ship scraps floating in space.
Now the Hessians are the machine behind nearly every criminal and combat infraction into Rheinland space, my home, yet your men have taken such a direct and forceful action against them, I cannot help but continue to ask, why?
I know next to nothing about your people and yet you are hurting the enemies of Rheinland over and over. I should be thankful.
You hunt the Reaver Mercenaries who seem to have a contract out on us from, we believe, from the Hessians.
And the thing that perks my attention the most, you are also plagued by the man named John Roary Santiago, better known to you as Rorry.
Knowing all these things I am forced to admit that I am utterly confused by this.
I thought Roary WAS a corsair, rising through the ranks, making a name for himself, forsaking everyone and anything to get what he wants more than any singular man I have ever met, power. Anyone who flys with him has no idea what, I believe, he is capable of, yet they follow him unquestionably.
The Hessians, by themselves, can be reasoned with. Hell, one even took it upon himself to protect Rheinland miners from one of your raiding parties. Now, they have all the sudden become more determined to end Rheinalnd and its structure once and for all.
Then there are the Corsairs. Your people spared one of my freelancers in Omega 7 to which he was stuck between defending a mercenary who would, in the same breath, cut his throat or assist taking down the mercs with the most powerful criminal organization in Sirius. You can see where this would be a difficult choice for a former Law man.
I must admit I have no idea what I am to think of all of this. Rheinland has enough issues and all the most powerful criminals of Sirius seem to be doing is hitting its enemies at their heart. So for me, this is equally difficult to understand how to proceed with this.
What I'm trying to do in Rheinalnd is something it's people needs, and its police and Military are actively hostile to the Corsairs. Though it tempts me to enter into some kind of ask first and shoot second policy, I'd rather not have to compromise my ethics and stance with my people just to enter into some type of understanding with you.
One thing is clear, The Hessians will not stop, nor will Roary. And it seems after my attempts to bend the idealism of some of the LWB and Unioners, they continue to act on behalf of the Rheinalnd people with terroristic acts and complete disregard for the people they are supposedly fighting for. In other words, hypocrites.
So do I help the evil I know over the evil I don't? Or do I just let you do your thing and blow each other to hell?
The problem is, I want to know why Roary has picked Rheinland for his focus. What does he want here that he can't get anywhere else and if he is a Corsair, why are you finding yourself openly defending yourself against him? What are his ties with the Hessians and this new LWB/Unioner alliance? It has to be more than mearly combat corporations. Also, what sent the Corsairs into such a frenzy to so expose their forces to direct Rheinland attack that you would commit so many forces to wipe out the Hessians?
I have a feeling your people know. I'd like to as well.
Transmission timed out
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.
Incoming Transmission
Transmission Origin: New Berlin
Vessel ID: [FL]-FireHawk
Sender ID: Adam Spire
And here I thought I was handing out a compliment.
Perhaps I should have started out by saying all the good things the Corsairs have done for Sirius over the last one hundred years.
Problem is I can't find a single one. Fine.
You've made my decision for me.
Transmission timed out
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.
This is indeed a surprise, Spire. I always considered you a brainless worm, nothing more than a pupped of the corrupt Rheinland Government and nothing you said made me change my mind. However, I am open to talking to you, tho’ I’d rather do it on a private channel.
You see, freelancer, I have a couple of questions for you. What makes you think we care about what you want? What makes you think we are ready to share information with someone who sent a lot of energy and antimatter in the direction of our ships on several occasions?
Once you have the answers to my questions head to Freeport One and ask its administrator how to contact me in private. Then send 25 million credits to the account that will be give you and attach the transaction details to your message. Then and only then I will consider talking to you.
<div align="right] Vittorio Fernando de Sanchez Rodriguez of the Black Sails
I do sense some desperation in your transmission gringo.
Your cry for help warms my heart.
My glorious leader is a man of few words as you might notice,
so let me make it more clear.
I would happily provide you with answers to your questions for a small token in return,
namely your dismembered head on a silver plate.
With honour dignity and pride, Centurion Juanez Buonocore of the Corsair Brotherhood.
Incoming Transmission
Transmission Origin: Freeport One
Vessel ID: [FL]-FireHawk
Sender ID: Adam Spire
His ship streamed through Rheinland space, never once letting up on the engines. The Jump holes were out of the way but made it faster than having to show his credentials to every border patrol agent. He wasn't even thinking about how bad this could all go. Placing doubt and fear all to the side, his fighter entered the gate through to Omega-3. There was no communications traffic.
He flew to the Freeport, to find a Corsair Gunboat rather close. He stayed at the gate, bantering with the Gunboat captain to no avail. If he was going to get his answers, It would be on the Freeport.
He took a cautious approach to the docking bay and left his fighter to find the bay was relatively empty. The lights passed up the lack of a greeting, but he decided to head down the corridor anyway.
The bar still had its mellow music playing, lights lit nearly every corner of the room, and with the exception of a few people, there was no one else.
The administrator seemed rather composed as he walked up to him, showing him a Sirius Credit card in one hand and his Mag-Gun in the other.
Adam Spire here to see Vittorio Fernando de Sanchez Rodriguez.
The Administrator just nodded and pointed over to a communications terminal that was already active.
Holding both sides of the console Adam spoke up.
Freeport seems neutral enough, if you abide the No Fire Zone. A little be more quiet than I'd hope and a lot of cloak and dagger for my taste.
He waited for a while with no response from the communications console, remembering that there was a question this person wanted answered.
Fine then. you want an answer?
You should care what we want because we run into Rorry and his group almost daily.
Because deep down behind our vaunted ships and power we were all once.... brothers.
Because I think you and I both know that if Roary gets what ever he wants, he will not just be a thorn in both our sides, but someone whom we wished we agreed, needs to be erased from Sirius like every other mad self-seeking monster needs to.
Because if the Hessians rule this part of Sirius and with Rheinland out of the way, they can focus all the have at you.
And most of all, because, I have your 20 million.
Tell me where to send it to and then we can start talking.
The other five million is my agreement that I can actually leave without, how did your friend put it, put my dismembered head on a silver plate.
Now show yourself!
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.
You are no brother of ours, gringo! For that insult alone I should cut you in pieces and feed you to my dogs!
Lucy for you I am a business man and most problems can be solved with cash, you know? Transfer 40 million credits to the account tagged Sails.Loot and I might forgive your offending words. Just make sure you transfer the entire amount and do not worry about Sephardi. Once I see the transaction logs I will send someone to pick you up from the Freeport.
<div align="right]Vittorio Fernando de Sanchez Rodriguez of the Black Sails
Apparently you think Im some kind of bank.
Apparently, if you've changed your game and I've played long enough, it has no winning option.
And now to ask for more money?
At this point, I doubt you have anything to offer, and I'm back to square one.
So long, and thanks for the fish.
Transmission timed out
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.