Natio Octavarium Internal Affairs

[Kazinsal]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Taskmaster Harold Kane
Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet

To: Natio Octavarium Internal Affairs

Subject: All Not Quiet on the Gallic Front
Encryption: Loose lips frag ships
Location: Planet Curacao, Cortez

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All Fleet pilots:

Since Canberra is going well, we've invested some time and money in additional materiel. We have produced or procured multiple small craft in and around the western Independent Worlds and will be stationing them there for local defensive operations. All core pilots of the Fourth Octavarium Fleet may at any point sign out one of these ships to assist our allies against threats in the area if you happen to be passing through. Just give your friendly neighbourhood Taskmaster a ring first to make sure the keys are still there.

Regards
Taskmaster Harold Kane
Fourth Octavarium Fleet

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[ Secondary Transmission ]

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To: Johnathan Jones, Aquila Defense Systems
CC: Lieutenant Florence Clemens, Fourth Octavarium Fleet

Subject: Fighter production focus
Encryption: Better built than that old Bayonet

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Director Jones,

Some of our older fighters are no longer able to keep up in the current combat environment. While part of this is definitely due to human rust, there is an element of mechanical age to it as well. It appears the Gaul's taunt that his technology is superior is in fact correct when he fights that Natio, as the old Hacker-derived first generation Bayonet-class EWAR fighters cannot withstand the Gallic Lynx in a head-on engagement. I have just now learned this the hard way, having limped approximately one third of a Bayonet back to Curacao from what is now a small ship graveyard in the aerospace of Birmingham.

We need to take stock of what we have and begin constructing modern fighters. The Raven would be a solid starting point if it weren't a goddamn brick. I recommend we work off the Falchion platform; we have the Mk I and Mk II blueprints handy and will send them to you, and I will be making a trip down to visit some old friends aboard Leiden to ask about the Mk III. They're loyal to the Raiders so we should see results by this time tomorrow.

I know a retooling like this can get expensive, but clearly, while the brute force of smashing an IMG-derived brick covered in tubes and armour plates works against the common rabble it will not work against organized Gallic forces.

Harold

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[ Transmission Ended ]