Posts: 6,068
Threads: 304
Joined: Aug 2007
Staff roles: Story Dev Economy Dev
Incoming Transmission from Planet Cambridge, Cambridge System.
06/05/822 A.S.
To: IMG Guildmasters. CC: Bowex Directorate. Priority: High Topic: Potential cooperation.
Message Contents: It could hardly be said that the IMG and Bowex were natural friends. Why, we rather outright disapprove of your methods of business and who you do said business with. I'm sure you all feel much the same way. But life is a funny old thing, isn't it? War has a tendency to shake up priorities, and our cooperation for mutual security in Omega 3 has been greatly effective.
To continue to tug on that last thread, we've been propositioned by several of your captains as to the viability of joint convoy actions. So far, this hasn't been possible because each time we've been asked, we've been off going to places or doing things to people which would get you all in a great deal of trouble. However, we still wonder whether some use could be made of a convoy arrangement.
Bowex has an extremely vested interest in keeping Leeds supplied. We risk life and limb almost daily to manually drop freighters through the atmosphere - while under fire! - to make this a reality. Naturally, we don't expect you to follow suit, that would be unreasonable. But what we do wonder is whether you chaps would be game for joining our larger transports in shipping war goods back from Rheinland and Liberty?
Side Arms, Light Arms, Military Vehicles, all that good, explosive stuff. The end-point destination would be the stockpile barracks' on Planet New London. This would allow us to pool security assets for the trip itself, and the Guild to continue to support their mother House in a discrete and subtle manner. We would, naturally, take said goods for the final leg ourselves. If you were asked any particularly pressing questions by Constable Croak, you could even tell them your goods were bound for Freeport 4's defence staff.
I'm entirely receptive to any thoughts you may have on the matter. I'm sure there is a great deal for us to all discuss.
Yours in service to the Realm
Andrew Peterson
Trade Department Manager
Borderworld Exports
**** TO:Andrew Peterson, BowEx Trade Department Manager ****
Dear Mr. Peterson,
I have to admit personally that this message comes as a surprise to me because - yes - we have always had our differences and issues, but contrary to some other unnamed parties, we have so far always found a way to keep things from blowing up into our faces. I guess the reason is a keen sense for business and also for survival.
I agree that the joint Omega 3 security operations against the Corsair incursions have changed the way we look at each other. I can say that our Omega Defense Wings think highly and talk favourably about the effort and bravery that your wings throw into the struggle against the barbarians. I just got off the communicator with my brother, Mr. Sean Henderson, who leads Omega strike wings, and he confirmed that this change is really going on.
Let's do something with a positive change, Mr. Peterson.
I am informed by Ms. Julia Morrow that informal friendly contacts have been made between IMG flights and BowEx convoys, like exchanging route intel and pirate warnings. Given the Omega situation, I expect that it could prove favourable for both sides if we streamlined flights for maximum security. Combining convoys and also escorts would make sense.
Now, as you pointed out: Leeds is diplomatically too hot for us.
However - as a Dublin-born and London-raised Bretonian - you can believe me that I would love to see the Gallic efforts fail and Bretonia prevail. So yes, there are possibilities.
This is what I could think of immediately: The Guild could supply BowEx with ore resources in Omega 7 for a very competitive price. We ship it to Liberty, as their demand for war-necessary resources is high. We'd thereby assist Bretonia indirectly, and keep a low profile. The New London - Manchester - Cortez route is still rather safe, I am told.
When in Liberty, you would only need to define what we pick up. Stockpiling goods like weapons in New London should not be a problem when the right shippers are in charge and the Bretonian intel on GRN raids and recon missions is good.
So, to sum it up: Yes. Let's give this cooperation a try.
Call me for the details, I am attaching my personal SKY-P3 protocol transponders to this message so the details can be fixed.
I would also like to congratulate you and BowEx for taking this first step and I hope that we can find some more common ground to work on together for Bretonia and ultimately the freedom of Sirius.
Posts: 6,068
Threads: 304
Joined: Aug 2007
Staff roles: Story Dev Economy Dev
Incoming Transmission from Planet New London, New London System.
11/05/822 A.S.
To: Jack Henderson, IMG Operations Coordination. CC: Bowex Directorate; IMG Guildmasters. Priority: High Topic: RE: Potential cooperation.
Message Contents: I hope this message finds you in good health, Mr Henderson.
I believe I had the pleasure of meeting your brother myself during one of those aforementioned forays into Omega 3. A rather terse encounter where we were all snarled up in a fracas around Freeport 1, unless I am much mistaken. Still, that ended rather favourably for the forces or law and order so all's well that ends well.
Beyond that, we're happy to note that you've recognised the impact our ExSec wing is having in the region. With the operational constraints placed on the Armed Forces and Police due to the war, we're making sure we step up to the mark and meet all of our obligations as members of the Civil Defence Initiative. A number of our agents have also commented on the use your men have been in combating incursions from Corsair and their ilk.
Now, on to business. At the present time and for the purposes of this endeavour, Borderworld Exports would not find it expedient to accept your offer for the provision of mineral ores from Omega 7. For runs into Liberty, we currently ship goods produced or manufactured by BMM as a matter of preference and practicality.
Due to this, the detour into the Omegas would make for poor business from our perspective by undermining our core trade partners and exposing our own transports to unnecessary danger. Despite this, we do appreciate the offer as a token of goodwill and wish to underline the fact that we do not intend to offend by declining.
Instead what I would propose is that for joint convoy operations, elements from both our organisations load their own respective cargoes and then rendezvous in the New London system, near Canterbury Station. From there, our security details could brief one another, convoy assets merge and then depart in prompt order.
Should you encounter any trouble between Omega 3 and New London, we would naturally be willing to despatch our own chaps to lend a hand. For the return trip, the acquisition of Light Arms from Detroit Munitions or Military Vehicles from Fort Severn would be preferable. Either would be routed to the mustering grounds on Planet New London where the stockpiles could be moved at a later date.
I trust you find the above acceptable.
Yours in service to the Realm
Andrew Peterson
Trade Department Manager
Borderworld Exports