To the Head of Samura| Corsair Outreach Programme

[DarthBindo]

It is a distinct honour to speak directly with yourself, Mr. Kayuza.
On the first order, I think it was not made clear.
Crete already possesses an ad-hoc satellite network that handles many adminstrative and security tasks, and while it is certainly not Samura quality, it suffices for the purpose it serves.
The satellites the Empire would purchase from you are for rapid, military deployment above foreign skies in support of military goals.
Recent events and future plans have revealed to us how poorly prepared the Empire truly is for a planetary assault against both conventional and irregular opposition.
The purchase of modern military equipment and schematics, designed for battle by professionals, is the first of many, many steps and partnerships the Empire will take in the coming days to ready itself for any scenario which we might face.
The technical specifications for what we would require are being finalized now by my command staff, and will be pushed to my office for approval and then sent directly to yourself or any recipient you care to designate.

As for the second order, formalities with Gallia is something the Empire has put off too long already.
As the Royal Navy steadies itself for a final push to Leeds, the respective interests of Gallic and Corsair alike come ever closer. Already our advance scouts on the edge of the piracy zones have seen at a distance Gallian ships. If we do not soon establish a positive rapport with the King and his Navy, I fear it will lead only to more chaos in the free-for-all that is the current state of Bretonia, and chaos is something the Empire does not need; it only interferes with our efforts to pick at her bones, to use the vernacular.
There is, however, good reason to suspect we might be able to establish an agreeable relationship with His Majesty; already we have had positve dealings with the IDF over the past several years, and we hold two common enemies and a common business partner.
The stars do indeed seem to be aligned in our favour, but still the Empire and myself will proceed in a cautious, careful manner in such delicate diplomatic negotiations; both to avoid any embarrassment nor consequences for you, our most steadfast ally, and to avoid for myself and my staff the inevitable suicide missions into the heart of Nomad territory required of any who fail the Council in such bold and spectacular fashion.

And your price for such, is certainly acceptable.
The Brotherhood, although we have few capitals and the shipyard at Rhodes to ourselves, does maintain and use several bays aboard Tripoli for it's proximity to Crete; one of those bays is operated by my Agency, in which a Praefect-class cruiser is undergoing complete repair and retrofit after being salvaged from a hulk following the Battle of Gran Canaria. She finishes rebuilding in a week and a half's time, after which I will gladly turn over the bay to Samura.
I would warn you though, given the position and isolation of Tripoli, parts and electronics that cannot be manufactured on Crete are...expensive, to say the least. The electronic systems aboard a Legate easily cost the Empire three or four times what the House governments pay for them, the result of the dangers and time investment involved in shipping to the Omicrons, of which your corporation is already keenly aware of).
The trade-off is, of course, as you have already stated, privacy from prying eyes, and very, very loose law statutes on everything from xenotechnology to human trials to bioengineering.

I am sincerely gladdened that in these ventures we might be able to work together for mutual benefit and profit.

In Service to the Empire,
Ezio Ricardo, Conte Della Francesca, Comandante de Agenzia dei Corsari per Intelligenzia i Operazioni, Elder of the Brotherhood of the Corsair Empire

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gone four years, first day back: Zoners still getting shot in Theta :|