To: Ansel Xavier

[Jihadjoe]

****INCOMING TRANSMISSION

****RECEIVING.
****DOWNLOAD COMPLETE.

COMM ID: Leon Chavalier.
TARGET: Ansel Xavier.
SUBJECT: Check.
ENCRYPTION: EYES ONLY

Leon Chevalier sits infront of the comms camera in the cockpit of his Lynx.
The brown skies betray the fact he is flying through leeds.

Ansel. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I am not.

You may not be a man to trifle with... But the word implies some petty disagreement. This is no such petty disagreement. They do not factor into my game.

You may move the white rook forward to block Le Chevalier Noir after he makes his move, but all he does is leap clear. You neglect the black queen and her bishops.

But in chess, there is no third "blue" side, oui?

This is a different game, Monsieur Xavier. You and yours may believe you made the first move... You will find the truth to be quite another matter. There are factors in this game which you are neither aware of, nor do you possess control over them.

The game started before you knew you were playing... I don't lose, Ansel.

Au revoir.

He gives a smile and turns the camera off.

****TRANSMISSION TERMINATED...

---

[Rodent]

Comms ID:Marechal Ansel Xavier
Comms Encryption: High
Comms Priority: High

Ansel appears on screen, with a grim expression.

Ah, Leon.

Over-estimating your own importance in this conflict is the first mistake you've made. With the forces at work here, you may as well be a 'petty disagreement'. Give yourself a moment to consider the forces arrayed against you and your princess.

You think you have made a clever move, but every aspect of it was carefully orchestrated by your enemies. You're leaping where I want you to leap. A fortuitous departure, at the right time.

Humorously enough, Leon...I'm playing with half a deck at this time, and that is still enough to control proceedings...for now. Only time will tell whether you'll make me use the rest or not.

And keep in mind...even a lowly pawn can remove a piece that is over-confident.

Xavier out.


Xavier smiles in slight amusement. Chevalier had been goaded into making a reply to him, and Ansel knew that he would, and before he was entirely clear.

His location was certainly Leeds. Xavier had already commanded all patrols in the region to block all exits out of the system. Chevalier would not have an easy time with his escape.