To: Omicroners, Subject: Inquiry

[AeternusDoleo]

**** Incoming Transmission ****
From: Danny Sutherland, commander of IMG patrol ship Apollyon
To: Zoner group Omicroners, routed over Freeport XV
Subject: Inquiry
Encryption: Moderate

To whom this may concern,

Some time ago, I was tasked with a small reconniscance mission into the mid Omicron systems. As you may or may not know, the various houses are slowly expanding their borders as they exhaust the resources that exist within their current borders. Bretonia's expansion into Tau space, Rheinland's annexation of Omega 7... just examples of a growing trend. Eventually the Guild will have to find new resources to continue it's work.

While passing through Omicron Theta, one of your fighters (Mr Haines, in the Sparrow) noticed our vessel. We talked a while and he was kind enough to grant me passage through Omicron 74, as well as resupply at Freeport 15. While our mission was interesting to say the least, we were unable to discover anything worthwhile. The Omicrons seem highly inhospitable, it's a small miracle you survive out there.

I have one request and one offer to make. While the Apollyon might not have been able to locate any potential mineral deposits, your group lives out in that region and might be more knowledgeable of the region. If you know of any untapped resources, but lack the expertise or will to start exploiting such yourself, the Guild would surely rise to the challenge. Given the conditions in northern Tau space, we've come to know quite a bit about mining on the fringe, and defending such operations from potential hazards. The benefit for yourselves would be direct: The Guild typically imports basic goods, food, water and oxygen from the closest friendly port, which out there would likely be the Zoner freeports with their large biodomes. Transports leaving with mined goods could also return from House space with commodities your freeports in the region have a need for, decreasing the amount of ships you'd need to send into the Houses yourself. Given that Zoners typically abhor the restrictions the various houses place on their populace, I'd see this as a win-win situation.

My request however is of a more personal nature.
I've seen your vessels defending themselves from what appeared to be spaceborn organisms that exist in the region. Specifically, I noticed one of your Conference class vessels defend itself from a group of these fast moving aliens. I knew from an attack on our own vessel, the amount of damage these beings could withstand. I was impressed by the amount of firepower coming out of those turrets.
To put it bluntly, I would ask if it is possible to replace the Apollyon's current Cerberus version turrets, with those manufactured of your own design. While the Cerberus variant offers superior damage, the drain on the power core is significant, reducing stamina while in a fight. Projectile speed also suffers, which against fast moving threats (such as these aliens) makes Cerberus type turrets difficult to aim.
The Apollyon is an IMG built Hydra class gunboat. It's mainly charged with defending convoys moving between our mining bases and house space. Occasionally, it is tasked with exploration missions, or diplomatic envoys. It's mainly seen action in Tau 23 and Omega 7, defending our installations from Outcast and Corsair incursions respectively.

Sincerely,
Danny Sutherland, Independent Miners Guild

**** Transmission Closed ****

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Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.

Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.