To: The Order, The Omicron Research Group. From: Armin Jansen. Subject: A way in.
The Union has been subject to too many sleepless sunrises, Order. No more.
I will be plain with you. We consider yourselves persona non grata in the Rhein. You have an obnoxious disposition to waltz cloaked warships through the Republic’s sovereign territory without making use of the appropriate diplomatic channels, a tendency that has persisted since the Nomad War and has not relented since the conflict’s expiry, and thus, your reason for doing so. In addition, you are known circumventors of house sovereignty - you impose dogmatic, unaccountable legislation on the citizens of houses and organisations which you are not accountable to. This directly contravenes the Union’s beliefs of individual autonomy and opposition to parasitic special interest groups. Nearly as heinous is your, very public, embrace of the Bundschuh. Whilst we appreciate you shared no small service with the organisation during the Nomad war, the Bundschuh remain as little more than violent revolutionaries and GMG puppets. Usually, we would not care who you were allied to, however, when we see extremely sophisticated Order combat hardware piloted by Bundschuh insurgents, our toleration for your antics remains thin. It remains our policy to drive your agents beyond the perimeter of Rheinland space whenever you are found within our perimeter.
Yet this attitude overlooks commonality of interest. We are both organisations founded off the principle of self-sufficiency, survival, autonomy, be it racial autonomy in your instance, and socioeconomic autonomy in ours. Neither of our organisations has anything to gain from a repetition of Rheinland’s rape during the Nomad conflict. I was a supporter of Niemann, representative, as were a great many Unioners. Before his infection, Rheinland, for the first time in over a century, was on the upswing. Tantalising was the potential of undoing the years of collusion between the oligarchs and the globalists, between the federalists and the Libertonian demagogues who held their pursestrings between a wire cutter. In one year, the Nomads effected desolation on the Rhein comparable to that which took an entire eighty years to effect. Even today, Sirius remains prejudiced against us.
This was less than a lifetime ago - locked within the memory of most. Every reasonable step within our power to prevent Rheinland’s re-infection, will be actualised. And, your pernicious foreign policy aside, you are the party responsible for the endgame of the last holocaust - perhaps you can save us from the holocaust starting afresh.
We have strong, if circumstantial evidence that the Buro Der Marineintelligenz is infected, or, at minimum, acquiring xenobiotic technology at the same reckless abandon as it did in the years before the Nomad War. Further evidence of their potential infection is their known collusion with the Maltese, a government that remains as outcast as their namesake from Rheinland - the last house not to suffer a cardamine problem, for all our other faults. They have been so overt as to publicly assist each other in conflict, especially within the system of Omicron Xi, a concerted push ground for the Federals against the Corsair Empire. Of a lesser concern is the Buro’s acquisition of military hardware sourced from the Core, up to, and including, an AP-540 ‘Bullhead’ battlecruiser. We do not know what trade the BDM made for the vessel, but their current antics strongly imply the impact of special interest groups into their otherwise reasonable cause of providing intelligence services for the federal bureaucracy. In addition, there has been a four hundred percent rise in the acquisition of Nomad bioforms along the route of the Federal incursion into the Omicrons, from entities measuring a mere twenty five metres long, to kilometre long monstrosities, sighted in Munich and Frankfurt respectively. MND agents have been acquired exhibiting bizarre behaviour, and our pilots have reported hallucinogenic experiences around undisclosed individuals within the intelligence directorate. Oddly, the number of third party, uninfected individuals carrying some prescience of an alien apocalypse has risen beyond the point wherein their antics can be ascribed to mere insanity. On the human front, we believe we have convincing evidence of ties between the BDM, the VWA, and Auxesia. This alone should fascinate you.
This does not paint a flattering portrait of the current state of Rheinland infection. Under this circumstance, we will willingly do trade.
Whilst your cause is just, you can understand why your methodologies invite extreme suspicion. Therefore, the Union proposes an agreement for an agreement. Provide us with the relevant hardware and skillsets to detect infected individuals within our own ranks, and we will consider slackening the kill-on-sight order presently placed over all Order vessels found interloping into Rheinland. This, of course, will only apply to your light assets.
We maintain a working relationship with Operative Taylor, of the ORG - she is the reason why we would even begin to contemplate colluding with those who sell firearms to our nemesis.
Take it or leave it. Prove to us that you are genuine in your objective. Help us, help you.
After all, there is no sense in bickering if we're all a-riddled with incubi.
Cordially,
Armin Jansen,
Location undisclosed.
Transmission Ended
// thanks greens - got spellcorrected to Admin incidentally. No, I am not changing my character name, yes, I will proofread in the future.
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's Shipping Unions, retired from a life of piracy.)
I am Admiral Golanski, leader and spokesperson of The Order Overwatch. If you insist on talking to us, you would do yourself a favor by not spilling your grievances towards us at this stage, gunship diplomacy you employ should have be reserved for your enemies. The Order does not actively target Unioner targets despite what your experience may have lead you to believe, even your high intensity rivalry against Bundschuh movement in mind. Your ships will however be targetted if they object to our presence in Rheinland - big war flotillas or scout wings is of no importance to us - if you insist to back your words with weapon's fire. We will also defend our supply lines, our allies that we shed blood alongside each other for sake of loyalties exceeding mundane reasons of common defense against threats both alien and human.
The Order deals with both the arbitrarily named Right and Left wing as neccesary. We hold no ideologies beyond those of furthering legend of humanity everlasting, all nations whether current or those yet to come included. I won't waste my breath criticizing Unioners modus operandi as you did ours as it is pointless exercise either. My wrath and ire is entirely reserved for individuals that had forsaken their humanity entirely or done great ill to the Sirius as a whole. Our primary directive is to destroy The Buro in its entirety and burn their immoral research to literal ground. In universe where weakness is extinction, ends justify the means and our operations in Rheinland are no different.
The Order's view of Bundschuh movement will not change unless they fall as a whole to the enemy. Bundschuh have sacrificed beyond expected and reasonable count to ensure that Niemann's regime and your House's obedience to his Nomad overlords ends. You will propably not believe me, yet your late hero was unfortunatelly nothing more than another pawn on the table that brought Rheinland to its knees by manipulating highest instruments of power. His body and all intricate details of alien enhanced anatomy remains still property of Liberty Navy R&D since time he fled Rheinland in the very end and attempted to rendezevous with his infected kin in Liberty where he met his demise.
We always strive to ideally acquire binary solution. Either hinder us or allow us to work in peace. We are quite happily to lend assistance to any neutral entity for so long it cannot be used against us or our brothers and sisters in arms. Where we had taken our leave from troubles of the Colonies, you either greet friendly armed behemoths at your gates and beyond or keep any unauthorized intruder at bay with nuclear fire. We expect the prior treatment from those we co-operate with.
Grand Admiral Michal Golanski
Black Fleet, 1st Battlegroup "Wargods"
O.C.V. Fedayeen
To: The Order, The Omicron Research Group. From: Armin Jansen. Subject: A way in.
Promising.
You are quick to the punch and you do not equivocate. You do not escalate threats, nor do you discount them. This is an attitude we require in our present times.
This may surprise you, considering the BDM’s prevailing narrative that the Unioners are nothing but ideologues, but we ourselves are great supporters of the binary solution. For centuries, we nurtured and supplied the Hessian movement into its present state, whilst simultaneously plying the Corsair Empire with items as innocuous as food, for items as portentous as artefacts. Lying hand in glove with two hands in a great, interstellar arm wrestle. Whilst both sides died in the Hammen hole, we used the conflict as a means to ensure neither side gained a controlling interest over our homeland. Now that the balance exists no longer, we have swung our weight behind the Corsairs. It is not just politics we fight for, Order - it is stability, something the Federals lack the ability to give (the BDM is a prime example), and the volksrevolution would destroy. You cannot build a socialist utopia without cleansing all those who lack party fervour.
This is the environment the Nomads thrive upon. With little variation, their tactics remain the same since the 800 war - distract, confuse, beguile, subvert. Why engage humans directly when they can be encouraged to take each other apart? We Rheinlanders have a… unique perspective on what the Nomads can do to humanity. We cannot be nonchalant after our house has been desolated.
In Rheinland, Rheinland is more-than-willingly accelerating towards anarchy on its own, without any alien intervention whatsoever. I can imagine the Nomads are astounded.
Yes, we realise that the artefact trade may be at least partially responsible for the events of the Nomad war. Our movement may be comprised of dissolutes and dissidents, but it is capable of self-analysis. It is why we have survived. It is why we have flourished. We played our part in the Rhein’s undoing. Whilst we cannot free ourselves from our bread, we can attempt to undo the damage of those much, much more destructive than ourselves.
Alright, Admiral. We will willingly let you work in peace, if you will work in peace. A Rheinland with the with the Order is infinitely preferential to a Rheinland without. We may not disagree with each other’s mode of employment, Admiral - you are an intelligence officer, and I am a mouthpiece for those who deal in the dark. However, dissimilar methods create unique angles of attack.
We are aware of what the Nomads did to Niemann. This is not the core reason why we despise the bloody creatures, of course, but it is substantiative. Niemann was the first leader Rheinland had seen for a century who acted, within the early years of his reign, in the interests of the Rheinland social body. The economy, military, social conditions, all flourished under Niemann. The hessians were kept in check. Dresden remained secure. Life was frugal, but life was recovering. Niemann’s primary mistake was an undue lapse of caution in authorising extended planetary exploitation of the outer Omegas and the Omicrons. However, the source-point of the infection remains with the BDM, the MND, and their reckless internal proliferation of alien matter for the military industrial complex, independently of public oversight. They have learned nothing from the Nomad War, and are arrogantly strutting down the same path. Will it take the total destruction of our society, again, before the BDM learn the truth? Or must the BDM themselves fall? Presented with the two alternatives, the latter is infinitely preferable. We may take lives every day within the independent systems, but our objective is to undo structures which themselves take far more lives than we could ever effect. Our opposition is not people, it is self-interest. The Nomads are self-interested to the expense of our species - this is alarm enough.
Niemann, a benign leader, loved by the populace, will forever be remembered as a monster, as the most despicable tyrant in human history, the source of so much pain. That is the sorrow of the Nomads - even achievements, they corrupt. They undo what renders humanity righteous, which makes the guile of their cause all the more alluring.
If your own word matters to you, Order - we will cautiously rescind the fire order. For now, we advise a perimeter of five kilometres kept around Unioner fixed orbit structures, but that will be sufficient for now. With time, we may remove that limit - it depends on trust.
However, I do have one ask to make of you; we are -extremely- concerned that the Nomads will make use of our position within the black market (we do handle goods imported from the Omicrons, after all), to infect our cells. The Unioners are heavily decentralised, and the Pacifica cell cannot be everywhere at once. Indeed, we are concerned that many of our operants within Munich and Frankfurt, in light of intensified BDM operations within said systems, may be either vulnerable or compromised. However, short of cutting them open, we neither have the means to verify their condition, nor prevent spread. We are considerably, duly, alarmed - but have no present means of containment or verification.
Order, if you would provide us with the means of self-diagnosis, the Arbeitsdirektor would be more generous in his trust. Be advised - he barely confides in anyone out of choice. He did not get to his position through being magnanimous. If we come to you, it’s because we believe the danger is sufficient to be existential.
Yet we have a position we can offer in return. With our unique position within the black market, our ability to gather intelligence on intra-Rheinlandic affairs are considerable. We may be able to pass intelligence upstream to assist your efforts.
Rheinland will not fall again. One way, or the other.
You are correct in regard that we have no particular business loitering aroud Unioner installations. Any instances of unprovoked aggression should not be taking place and best it would be reported for an investigation on our part.
We shipped neccesary equipment to Rheinland which will approach Unioner installation known as Pacifica which I believe is your most busy port and destination of all nodes of ressources and information among your faction. The exact details are up to you, by default assuming the exchange will happen aboard nearest Freeport which is best suited facility. Devices were designed to identify targets near instantly at low distance by minimally trained personnel. Armed escort is requirement to ensure safety unless you intend to utilize more elaborated holding cells. Discovered Wilde are hazardous threat at close quarters due to supression of pain receptors and little regard to sustained damage. Incendiary munitions are advised.
The infested forces modus operandi changed a little: They are still the same murderous rabble using whatever pieces of hardware they can assemble to pose as local forces. Occasionally they will not even bother with that, going as far as to complement their strike groups with infested from other areas: Kusari and Gallic ships are likely to appear. They are still capable of organizing ruses beyond the ussual terror attacks. Assuming command and authorative positions to lure transports and inexperienced travellers into untimely demise.
Whenever stealth is not an option, their ships are equipped with plethora of semi-organic systems in place of reactors, weapons, defense and propulsion. However not all humans in servitude to Nomads are infected: much worse are agents that willingly abide them. There's no help to either of those pathethic creatures allthough agents can be interrogated. Unnaturally prolonged use of cloaking devices, more so than military standard employed by some units of Miltar is one of the indicatives of unholy alliance.
Sufficient educational materials will also be supplied in paper and electronic/holographic media. We ourselves will investigate any lead, especially tied to BDM and Core who are in dangerous position of influencing Rheinland politics to their liking. Not so long ago, the BDM was separated from Militar into whole new Federal entity after failure to abide Admiralty's right of investigating Buro's facilities and operations.
Grand Admiral Michal Golanski
Black Fleet, 1st Battlegroup "Wargods"
O.C.V. Fedayeen
To: The Order, The Omicron Research Group. From: Armin Jansen. Subject: A way in.
Noted. Das Wilde we have encountered so far have predominantly gone the route of infiltration - they have been flying ostensibly Rheinland vessels - some of original serial numbers, others of Nomad War vintage. This is rather concerning as it infers that they have an objective for us. One man who was strongly suspected to be infected was BDM flottenadmiral Stephan Hoffman. He was last located commandeering a wraith sprouting some rather bizzare EM emmisives - from the little information we possess on the subject, they appeared to be native Nomadic bioforms as opposed to any hybridised abomination. Promptly after, the traditionally aggressive officer attempted to parlay with one of our agents - a bizarre change in behaviour. Fortunately, our woman declined. Hoffman has not been seen on regular operation duties since. We suspect that he has "disappeared", or been made to disappear. The BDM has been acting subduedly of late.
Our interest is piqued for more reasons than mere survival, Order - this is about revenge. We have suspicions that the K’hara played a part in the complete breakup of the Arbeitergewerkschaft as such acts go against the traditional Hessian realpolitik.
Inform us when the transport is due to arrive. We will have an escort waiting.
You may have made notice of our recent contact reports of Order agents within the Prussia system - Sigma 21, to your navigational charts. Our Arbeiters are ostensibly there to enforce Rheinland’s claim on the territory and map the system in full. Simultaneously peculiar and reassuring to see Order agents in so newly discovered a territory.