Identification:Saronsen Illat, Fourth Fleet Specialist Intended recipients:Taskmaster Kane, Taskmaster Escher Subject:Felicity Willing, Inner Circle Encryption:Get lost chump.
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Met with the Lane Hacker associate as instructed, and we had our conversation. Pleasantly, she was not hostile as I was expecting, and it went far more smoothly than I could have hoped. I will attach logs of our conversation to this message. For now, I'll leave these as your eyes only, as miss Willing did instruct that much of this was to be kept between myself, and the Taskmasters.
Quote:NO-F-Saronsen: Good day.
Felicity.Willing: Good evening, rather.
NO-F-Saronsen: Ehh, my internal clock is definitely in another system. How do you fare?
Felicity.Willing: Good enough. Canberra turned out to be a hospitable place.
NO-F-Saronsen: It's been a bit of a process. I'm not sure how old the station actually is, but.
NO-F-Saronsen: Beds, bath, bar, all the necessities.
Felicity.Willing: I could realise.
NO-F-Saronsen: You'll have to forgive the lack of welcoming party, much of the fleet is spread thin currently.
Felicity.Willing: Picking something up and suiting it to be a better place is never an easy task.
Felicity.Willing: Worry not, this can be forgiven.
Felicity.Willing: The gesture itself was quite a surprisde.
Felicity.Willing: Surprise, even.
NO-F-Saronsen: I wasn't given too much information, just to make sure you're welcomed properly.
NO-F-Saronsen: There was admittedly some amount of hostility in the Natios and Lane Hackers past, but I never knew the why myself.
Felicity.Willing: Whatever the reason was - it apparently lies in the past, prior to me becoming the part of the Inner Circle.
Felicity.Willing: I don't know the whole story either.
NO-F-Saronsen: Mm. I never did get along with the inner circle myself. Mactan was less of a home and more of a pitstop.
NO-F-Saronsen: A one.. Phate wasn't particularly fond of me either if I recall.
Felicity.Willing: Well, i can't help but to inquire on the reason of the invitation.
Felicity.Willing: Natio, apparently, would want to establish some sort of a discussion?
NO-F-Saronsen: That does seem to be the case. It may have been more an open invitation to stop here for whatever we may be able to offer you.
NO-F-Saronsen: I'll see if I can't find out the Taskmasters true intentions.
Felicity.Willing: You know i am not forcing you to dig through their mind intentionally.
NO-F-Saronsen: Well, the more the merrier.
Felicity.Willing: Good evening.
Felicity.Willing: I've expected to be not alone either, but it seems that my colleague will not be present.
NO-F-Saronsen: So much more welcoming than me.
Felicity.Willing: Your hospitality is appreciated, Mr.Riley.
NO-F-Saronsen: Looking through the logs, we're just looking to make things less.. unfriendly, with the Lane Hackers. From what they've decided
NO-F-Saronsen: there's no actual reason for us to be hostile towards the Lane Hackers.
NO-F-Saronsen: Considering the roots of.. a number of people here, it does make sense.
Felicity.Willing: Neither there is such a reason for us. To be honest, we might even have some mutual grounds.
Felicity.Willing: Like those nasty Gauls pestering our borders.
NO-F-Saronsen: I spent years as a Mactan based Hacker myself, and a number of people in the Fleet were Hacker associates.
NO-F-Saronsen: Indeed, we've had our run ins with them out here.
NO-F-Saronsen: Particularly their intelligence branch.
Felicity.Willing: These are the most unpleasing ones.
Felicity.Willing: Sniffing around anywhere, possessing some stealth technologies.
Felicity.Willing: Quite a slippery meat to deal with.
NO-F-Saronsen: Thankfully their navy doesn't seem to actually /care/ about Canberra, or this system.
NO-F-Saronsen: Nor do the.. Colonials. Crayter now is it?
Felicity.Willing: They are more occupied with the actual war theaters.
Felicity.Willing: I believe you are partaking in one of these.
Felicity.Willing: You as Natio, that is.
NO-F-Saronsen: Indeed, we tend to be a large thorn in their side whenever possible.
NO-F-Saronsen: We have a rather large strikeforce of bombers parked comfortably in Bretonia in fact.
NO-F-Saronsen: On the border I should say, Curacao.
Felicity.Willing: That is understandable. Quite a well placed base of operations.
NO-F-Saronsen: Sure, safe skies.
Felicity.Willing: Safe skies, Mr.Riley.
NO-F-Saronsen: Of course
Felicity.Willing: Mister... Saronsen, i assume?
NO-F-Saronsen: Yeah?
Felicity.Willing: A word have been spreaded among our ranks that Natio does have connections to Alster Union, and is concerned with state of-
Felicity.Willing: -affairs in Bering?
Felicity.Willing: Is that so?
Felicity.Willing: It's one of those 'mutual grounds' i've mentioned before.
NO-F-Saronsen: Mm, something like that. We've done business before.
Felicity.Willing: To make it blunt - i am working towards the crysis being resolved.
NO-F-Saronsen: We're definitely not involved in that.. mess. Our concern is the supply of scrap that's made its way to Canberra for processing
NO-F-Saronsen: has..
NO-F-Saronsen: Dwindled, might be the right word.
Felicity.Willing: Do you have intentions of supporting Alster Union in some way? Perhaps, providing them with a temporary refuge?
Felicity.Willing: Harmony will not reach out 'that' far, and certainly not while we are... contact on scanners.
NO-F-Saronsen: Mm? Oh, yeah, she's welcome.
NO-F-Saronsen: As for the support, as far as I know, nothing direct, or indirectly beneficial.
NO-F-Saronsen: We accept refugees all the time, and I imagine if the Alster Union knows of that, they might use that.
NO-F-Saronsen: I do believe the Taskmasters mentioned they're allowed here for humanitarian purposes, whatwith the rumors of what's going on
Felicity.Willing: Given you have had business before - they are aware of this.
NO-F-Saronsen: in the Bering system.
NO-F-Saronsen: Well, most should be aware, but tend to be ignorant of what some people offer.
Felicity.Willing: Trust me, their current state of affairs is unpleasant.
Felicity.Willing: But you know that as well as i do.
NO-F-Saronsen: I'm personally ignorant of the situation, I just skim through our logs on occasion.
Felicity.Willing: If the Harmony will proceed with the current course - they will have their leash pulled.
Felicity.Willing: We find their actions rather... unpleasing.
NO-F-Saronsen: Haven't they successfully lost.. mmmost of their allies?
Felicity.Willing: They have had a drastical change of course, that is.
Felicity.Willing: Which is actually equal to losing allies.
Felicity.Willing: To discover support in alternative sources, that is.
NO-F-Saronsen: They're probably very fortunate Gallia is stepping on Liberty's toes.
NO-F-Saronsen: Probably would've swept through Bering with the entire navy if that wasn't the case.
Felicity.Willing: Well, our course of action is decided at this point. Perhaps we will bring Navy to a conclusion that such a sweep is necessary.
Felicity.Willing: Yet, we are more focused on different concerns.
Felicity.Willing: Specifically - Gauls stepping on Liberty's... just what the hell is that gathering?
NO-F-Saronsen: Well, we are a fairly neutral port afterall.
NO-F-Saronsen: Some people take comfort in 'reformed' scumbags instead of Zoners.
Felicity.Willing: Mister Saronsen, i would like thse individuals to be gone from the area. Temporarily.
Felicity.Willing: Or should we move away from the gathering?
NO-F-Saronsen: We could do that.
Felicity.Willing: Given the circumstances - i would encourage that.
NO-F-Saronsen: Moving
Felicity.Willing: Engage formation, Mr. Saronsen.
NO-F-Saronsen: On your wing.
NO-F-Saronsen: Be back soon folks.
NO-F-Saronsen: You can keep them company over there if you'd like
Felicity.Willing: I apologise for the sudden relocation.
NO-F-Saronsen: Fair enough
NO-F-Saronsen: It's understandable.
NO-F-Saronsen: The inner circle is rather well known for its.. secrecy. Surprising we talked about it there at all.
Felicity.Willing: There are... matters to be discussed without ears.
Felicity.Willing: Having you toe-to-toe with me will allow us to talk more freely.
NO-F-Saronsen: Of course.
Felicity.Willing: Well then, where were we?
NO-F-Saronsen: On the topic of Bering I believe.
Felicity.Willing: Gauls, Bering, somewhere around these two matters that could potentially close the gap.
Felicity.Willing: The gap between the Inner Cicrle and Natio, that is.
NO-F-Saronsen: Was there something you had in mind at this time? Or will we be hearing from the Inner Circle soon about that?
Felicity.Willing: I am working pretty much personally on the case, in tight cooperation with The Union, of course.
Felicity.Willing: Or, at least - with someone representing their interests and the one eager to conclude the conflict.
NO-F-Saronsen: I see.
Felicity.Willing: Mostly now we remain dormant, and are focused on Gallic issue.
Felicity.Willing: In particular - the big nasty construction site in Leeds.
Felicity.Willing: I believe you have seen it.
NO-F-Saronsen: With my own eyes? I have not. Is it that new Jumpgate, presumeably going to New London?
Felicity.Willing: Exactly.
Felicity.Willing: We have a confirmation of this, as well as the supplying going at a constant rate.
Felicity.Willing: Even through it is a bit... chaotic.
Felicity.Willing: So far the shipments do not look somewhat scheduled.
NO-F-Saronsen: Strange considering the rampant piracy and privateering behind Gallic lines. They must be just throwing bodies at the project.
Felicity.Willing: However, neither they bother with setting appropriate escort to the transports.
Felicity.Willing: Above that - i have discovered the source of where commodities are coming from.
NO-F-Saronsen: Oh?
Felicity.Willing: The system's called Picardy. The facility is presumably located in grid square 2B.
Felicity.Willing: A transport intercept in that system only confirmes that assumption.
Felicity.Willing: Intercepted, even.
NO-F-Saronsen: I see. I think we know a number of groups who wouldn't mind having that information as well.
Felicity.Willing: Gallic opposition, mostly.
Felicity.Willing: I would assume that.
NO-F-Saronsen: Indeed.
Felicity.Willing: Let me be honest: we are drastically interested in this shipments intercepted and extorted. Actually, we could perform the-
Felicity.Willing: -extortions ourselves.
Felicity.Willing: On a recent occasion i have discussed that matter with Bretonian intelligence.
NO-F-Saronsen: Their variety of gate and lane technology, no doubt?
Felicity.Willing: Bull's eye, Mister Saronsen.
Felicity.Willing: At this point we have retrieved only one shipment of these parts.
Felicity.Willing: As i have mentioned, these are quite chaotic.
NO-F-Saronsen: Mm. And every blow to that supply line probably drastically lengthens the time it'll take to build that gate.
Felicity.Willing: Precisely.
Felicity.Willing: At this point, Mister Saronsen, i would like you to keep everything said within the Natio's command.
Felicity.Willing: Share this to the taskmasters only.
NO-F-Saronsen: Of course.
Felicity.Willing: There is a reason we are delaying their shipments.
NO-F-Saronsen: I mean frankly, just to spite the gauls is reason enough for me personally.
Felicity.Willing: I hope you are upholding the same principle of your promises the Lane Hackers do.
Felicity.Willing: As such - give me your promise.
NO-F-Saronsen: Mm, what am I promising, to be exact?
NO-F-Saronsen: I do prefer to have the details plain.
Felicity.Willing: To keep the reason of their shipments being intercepted and construction delayed in secret to anyone except your taskmasters.
Felicity.Willing: That is what i would want you to keep in secret.
NO-F-Saronsen: You have my word on that. Only the Taskmasters will receive this information.
Felicity.Willing: The Lane Hackers are 'that' close to produce Spyglass Mark II.
Felicity.Willing: Might be quite a specific reason, but that's pretty much everything i can tell.
NO-F-Saronsen: Ah, I see. I can imagine you'd want that under wraps.
Felicity.Willing: It is relieving to have your understanding.
NO-F-Saronsen: From Ageira to the Lane Hackers to the Natio, I've learned to keep my mouth shut over the last decade or so.
Felicity.Willing: That's certainly a useful trait. Silence is life sometimes.
NO-F-Saronsen: Well, silence when it comes to secrets anyway.
NO-F-Saronsen: Any other time I generally talk too much.
Felicity.Willing: Precisely. You seem to be smart, and resourceful. Which brings me to a confusion you did not extend that gesture of friendship-
Felicity.Willing: -earlier.
NO-F-Saronsen: I'm personally not the one who can make those orders. And the Taskmasters had.. other issues for a time.
Felicity.Willing: I wish i could tell you the details, but the project is kept in secrecy, not even the senior members know a lot about it.
NO-F-Saronsen: I see.
NO-F-Saronsen: Well, hopefully this leads to a warmer relationship betwen the Natio and the Inner Circle.
NO-F-Saronsen: It's bad enough I'm paranoid of the Navy when I'm passing through, let alone running into a Lane Hacker in a bad mood.
Felicity.Willing: Hopefully. I would've personally ensure that warmup if you'd be a little more honest about what you are going to do in Bering.
NO-F-Saronsen: I'm honestly unaware of any planned activities in Bering. So far the only actions we've taken is allowing the Alster Union to
NO-F-Saronsen: send Refugees to Canberra.
Felicity.Willing: I see.
Felicity.Willing: Going to be hell of a task with that blockade, through.
NO-F-Saronsen: Indeed. If they're desperate enough, they might try their luck going through Hamburg, and all the way through the Sigmas and
NO-F-Saronsen: Kusari to get here.
Felicity.Willing: With all the mess going out there? With the Core eagerly shooting everything that comes through Sigma-15, Rheinland affairs-
Felicity.Willing: -with the Gas Miners, and, as the final nail on the coffin - the Sigma-21.
Felicity.Willing: Making hyperspatial jumps with small portions of refugees would be a better option, don't you think?
NO-F-Saronsen: It would, though I'm not certain if they have any ships capable of it.
NO-F-Saronsen: God forbid they attempt to jump with a damaged capital too, they'll break its back and probably never be able to use it again.
Felicity.Willing: All other options involve hell of a risk.
Felicity.Willing: Their attempt to jump with a damaged capital?
Felicity.Willing: Is there something i don't know?
Felicity.Willing: Which capital? When? Have Natio spoken them out of that idea?
NO-F-Saronsen: Ah, no, nothing like that.
NO-F-Saronsen: It's just my personal speculation. Their station was crippled, and I imagine any capitals are probably hurting from the fightin
Felicity.Willing: Crippled. To say the least.
Felicity.Willing: It suffered a direct hit of Nuclear EMP payload.
NO-F-Saronsen: Yeah, that'll do it.
Felicity.Willing: You can imagine the consequences.
NO-F-Saronsen: And I imagine any repairs for their capitals is only for critical damage, which means jumps are probably ill-advised.
Felicity.Willing: I've seen them in person few days ago.
NO-F-Saronsen: Unless they have something no one is aware of.
Felicity.Willing: That's unlikely.
Felicity.Willing: They have been holding close ties with Harmony for years.
Felicity.Willing: Unfortunately, during that time Harmony was able to assess the Unions' powers there, in Bering.
Felicity.Willing: And all this - for a single cruiser and a couple of shots fired.
NO-F-Saronsen: I heard the Union sent them packing quite easily in that altercation as well.
NO-F-Saronsen: I suppose numbers will beat out skill in the end.
Felicity.Willing: To be honest: Harmony might have deserved this.
Felicity.Willing: That's what they get for turning their back on someone who basically saved them few years ago.
NO-F-Saronsen: Indeed. And now they have the Liberty Navy casting a shadow over them again.
Felicity.Willing: When Harmony was nothing but a scattered, vulnerable bunch of rogue Navy and LSF pilots.
Felicity.Willing: As i have mentioned - perhaps they should get their arse cracked a bit.
Felicity.Willing: To have that feeling of their own blood on their tongue to realise their mistakes.
NO-F-Saronsen: It's strange how they've lasted as long as they have. A small battlegroup threatening the entirety of the Liberty forces.
Felicity.Willing: Anyway, mister Saronsen. I would still like to meet one of your Taskmasters in person.
Felicity.Willing: Could i possibly entrust you the arranging of that meeting?
Felicity.Willing: Anwering your question pre-emptively - yes, i will be staying on Canberra for a while.
NO-F-Saronsen: I'll be sure to let them know of your wishes, and get them to contact you directly.
NO-F-Saronsen: And especially if you're staying on Canberra, it's far more likely it'll happen sooner rather than later.
Felicity.Willing: That fits me.
Felicity.Willing: Should we return to Canberra now?
NO-F-Saronsen: Couldn't hurt.
Felicity.Willing: I would not mind a hot bath and a soft bed right now.
NO-F-Saronsen: Wouldn't mind that myself, though I do have some paperwork followed by a patrol to handle.
Felicity.Willing: So do i.
Felicity.Willing: I've climbed high, but not that high to have no one to write reports to.
NO-F-Saronsen: Bah, even at the top you still need to keep track of paperwork.
Felicity.Willing: Farewell, mr.Saronsen.
NO-F-Saronsen: Have a good evening, miss Willing.
Also, there is a concern with the Crayter Republic that I would prefer to speak to you about over live communications, or in person.
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