To: Natio Octavarium - From: Aquila Defense Systems - Subj: Little help here, guys?

[Thexare]

Message Received...
Visual feed damaged. Attempting to compensate...


I'm Johnathan Jones, acting Director of Aquila Defense Systems. Maybe you've heard of us.

We make ships, guns, and personal equipment. The so-called "Pirate" ships mostly. Turns out, it was... look, how good is your encryption, really?

Oh, to hell with it.

It was a scheme by the Rogues and Mollys. Sell their ships openly, take the profits, use Aquila as a front. Only the Directors ever knew the real details; everyone else - me included - thought it was just a little protection money.

Well, Whittington thought that a change of leadership in the Mollys was a good time to try to negotiate a better deal. They buried his head in one grave and the rest of him in another. I got the hell out of there, evacuated everyone I could, shut down all our Bretonian facilities... and I'm left with three places I can go.

I think you're our best bet. We need protection, we need new factories, and I think you need people that can build ships.

All we have left right now is a couple escorts, a few cargo ships, the Tortuga, and the Port Royal, Sanford & Wahlberg's mobile factory and showroom. Give us some space to set up a new factory, and we can do it.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get the blueprints for the "pirate" fighters, or our variants. We can get the cargo ships from our evacuation convoy, but we may have lost the fighters for good. But we've got four transports, two fighters, and a bomber, counting the plans we've bought or reverse-engineered.

Message Ends.

[Kazinsal]

=== Incoming Transmission ===
== Encryption: To hell with Dublin's fair city ==

Good day, Mister Jones. I'm Harold Kane, Minister of Relations for Natio Octavarium.

Your predicament is quite a pain for you, I'm sure. Those Mollys are ruthless. We're not quite a fan of them either. I can see why you're on the run. My condolences to Mister Whittington's family for their loss.

We have some... work that needs to be done. We don't have a whole lot in the way of facilities, but we would be more than happy to have you and your company based in our space. The Vagrant Raiders will protect Aquila's assets in Natio Octavarium space. You will, if you wish, be considered a lawful corporation of Natio Octavarium.

We have cleared your small craft for docking with Seasons Base, and your large craft for planetary orbit anywhere in the system. We suggest orbiting Planet Wichita, where Seasons is located.

Welcome to Natio Octavarium, Director. Enjoy your stay.

Sincerely,

Harold A. Kane
Taskmaster, Vagrant Raiders
Minister of Relations, Natio Octavarium

=== Transmission Ended ===
== Trace Failed ==