The Lane Hackers | Internal Comms

[Felicity Willing]

...hack.initiated...connecting.to.Spyglass.Network...decryption.in.progress...
...Deceiver.Felicity.Willing.recognized...encoding.transmission...
...uploading.data...

Good evening, dear colleagues, esteemed Professorship.

Took my opportunity to accept Natio's invitation to Canberra, had a dialogue with their representative. Haven't met their higher-ups yet, but requested such to be done as soon as possible.

Flight log: Felicity Willing Vindicator, Tau-44, August 30, 825 A.S.

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.

I will be staying at Canberra for a while longer, digging for more information.

...encryption.in.progress...disconnecting.from.network...hack.terminated...

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The Lane Hackers

"Making the corporate weenies cry,
so our kids can live in a free and just galaxy."