LH / CR / IMG - Ceasefire Negotiations, Barrier Gate, Coronado

[Nicole Hunter]

A holographic projection of Nicole Hunter was extremely realistic, portraying a woman in her thrities in an evening black dress and a diamond collie.

- Ms O'Reily, you're simply too modest. It were your ideas and energy that led to this meeting. It was also you who proposed preliminary terms of a truce which seemed a starting point for all sides. The Independent Miners Guild is not only a mediator here, but an active participant.

Nicole Hunter smiled and gave a gentle nod.

- Mr Corvin, Mr Richard. Let me start by observing that the history of our relations with the Republic is in fact relatively short. Excluding very rare encounters, during your reign in Taus we simply ignored each other. Most likely due to our business partnership with the IMG the Republic was mostly keeping a blind eye to our convoys going through Taus. A rather long distance between our zones of active operations was also helpful in maintaining this largely neutral status quo.

The Professor paused to ingest a small Cardamine pill.

- This changed drastically over five years ago when the Gallic onslaught forced you to evacuate to Coronado. Initially, the Professorship decided to maintain neutrality, though very quickly it became apparent it was an unrealistic goal. The Republic decided to treat both Cortez and Magellan as their own playground and sent regular combat patrols into the area. I was actually present during the first hostile encounter between The Lane Hackers and The Republic in Cortez over four years ago.

Professor Hunter stopped her narration to launch holographic playback of a recording. A large holographic screen appeared over the table and played an archive log.

Flight log: Mactan Interceptor, Cortez, 2nd July 820 A.S.

CR|-Jester[15th]: There you are.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: And what a Colonial vessel is doing here in, Cortez?
CR|-Jester[15th]: Patrolling this place, sniffing you out.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: If you want a Cardamine fix, we can of course help you.
CR|-Jester[15th]: Though I know those that do, I would rather soil myself than try that stuff.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: So may I ask you since when do the Republic send patrols here?
CR|-Jester[15th]: Since Coronado became our home after the Gauls took Tau-44 from us.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: You moved there more than a year ago and this is probably the second time I see you here.
CR|-Jester[15th]: Well, now you know not to make your presence too prominent here. As easy access to Coronado, this is territory that we patrol.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: Well, it's hard to make our presence not too prominent in "our home".
CR|-Jester[15th]: Unlucky. I could ask you to drop your Cardamine but...it's just the one. I'm assuming that'll be gone in minutes.
CR|-Euryphaessa[FF174]: Personal use is even allowed for those who require it. So no, we need not have this one strung out. Well this thing can toddle off to their base, or one or two of you can force it. Unless the ions are too much for any action.
CR|-Jester[15th]: Alright, I don't like your presence here either. I suggest you leave for your base of operations, if you have one.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: It's quite entertaining. So let me sum it up. You do have hostile intentions towards me and my organization, am I correct?
CR|-Jester[15th]: That would be correct.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: And when this policy was introduced, may I ask?
CR|-Jester[15th]: Since you're allied with the Maltese trash.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: You're not the brightest officer, are you?
CR|-Jester[15th]: Tell me why that is.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: Well, I am afraid it is not my role to educate you. I will, as all Hackers do, simply adapt.
CR|-Jester[15th]: I care not, you're allied and therefore in support of Cardamine trafficking.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: Like you ever cared about it...
CR|-Jester[15th]: Quit the assumptions, trashcan.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: "Trashcan", that's a very elaborate insult.
CR|-Jester[15th]: Should I insult your fighting skills as well then?
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: This conversation is a bit monotone.
CR|-Jester[15th]: Until next time, Hacker.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: *laughs*
CR|-Jester[15th]: Laugh away, next time you'll be laughing in your grave.
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: That was a threat.
CR|-Stinger[15th]: Sure it was.
CR|-Jester[15th]: Well done, Sherlock.
LH~Nikolai.Diavolo: I am too late, right ?
LH~Mactan.Interceptor: They decided to trade some insults and then break off without firing. So yes, you're too late. Anyway, it looks like CR is hostile to us.
LH~Nikolai.Diavolo: I guess they have problems with our attitude towards certain groups.

First skirmishes with your forces followed soon after this very encounter. For instance, 27th squadron went as far as attacking our forces in Magellan. The Professorship decided to take a stronger action against forces of the Republic and began elimination of all Crayter combat targets of opportunity within our operational zone. Furthermore, we decided to put more pressure on your logistic corps. Once the negotiations were opened by the Frumentari we temporarily ceased hostile operations against the Republic, but it appears we were not given the same treatment.

A long series of guncam shots were displayed on the holographic screen as the Lane Hacker Professor was speaking.

- I made this presentation to make several points important for these negotiations. First, it was the Crayter Republic who consciously and voluntarily broke the informal neutrality and initiated this hostility four years ago. Secondly, despite the total number of combat encounters is relatively high, if we consider that they span for over four years, we will arrive at a conclusion that their intensity is low and our hostilities could hardly be described as a war. Thirdly, even though the statistics of lost and destroyed assets are clearly in our favor, gains from interdiction of Crayter assets are too low to cover for our losses. Finally, we recognize that current Crayter administration cannot be personally blamed for actions of past Republic's leaders and military commanders, and as such we are open for a reset of our relations.

A holographic woman paused and measured carefully reactions of both Crayter delegates.

- With all that being said I will eagerly listen to the precise propositions covering points proposed by Ms O'Reily.

---

The Lane Hackers
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