To: Cobra, Latrodectus

[Old Oak]

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Sender: Angelina "Latrodectus" Miller
Recipient: Agent 'Siren'
CC: None
BCC: XA-Cobra
Subject: Re: Neither confirm, deny.

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Hello again, Siren.

First of all, let me compare the conditions that both of us set for this potential deal. I hope this helps you to understand how destructive too strong conditions can become for a negotiation, especially if they are happening between opponents. Anyway. Let's get over to the comparison.

First, you gave us your conditions, you went for total observation. Of course you would not only have had control over the reestablishment of the battleship, but also the chance to gain valuable information for your entire organization. Your very first offer was favoring you so much more than us, even if we would have gotten a warship out of it. That would have been a small price for you, but a huge disadvantage for us if we consider all the opportunities you would have gotten out of this.

Then, after I cleared up the situation around the Alabama, I handed over our conditions. A list of materials for a squadron, that might support you. It brought you into a situation of concern, since there was a chance that you would support our organization without getting anything in return. We would have won a lot out of it, while you pretty much would not have gained anything. Both offers had enormous disadvantages for one side and huge advantages for the other side.

That's about the negotiation up to this point.

Now, I will not alter my offer by a lot, but make it fairer for both sides. We, still, will give you a list of materials which we will need and decide the place where it will be delivered to. It will be neutral space. Your people deliver it there and our people will pick it up. A third party will be involved. Someone who accepts the cargo of your men, keeps it until our men arrive and hands it over.

Of those materials we will build a squadron. We will pilot those ships and have them ready for your call. As you will call us, we will send them. There's just one more condition, which should be self-explaining, yet, I will explicate it further just to be assured. We will inform you as soon as possible whether we send our pilots or not. If the situation's too hot, there's a chance that we won't. We have to manage our resources carefully. We won't send our people into a suicide-mission, which you can certainly understand. I'm convinced the LSF would not send its pilots to death either, if it can be avoided. However, if we feel like the pilots are not ready to fulfill their part, we may see if we find pilots who are capable of dealing with it. If they are available depends on the then current situation, though. We will do our best to fulfill our part of the agreement.

Let me assure you, we have faith into the LSF, hence why we are still talking. It is just your part to show that you have faith into us as well. You did the opposite when you insulted us. Still, keep in mind that you have been the person to come up with this deal as first. It's a good opportunity for both sides, and those conditions are fair.

Again, if you accept:

• we will send you a list of materials
  
• the delivery will happen to a neutral place
  
• we will build a squadron out of those materials
  
• we will pilot that squadron
  
• that squadron will be ready for your cause (if the circumstances are not too hot)
  

I will await your answer. If you should happen to accept those conditions - I doubt that it will get any better - I will require some time to talk to people to get the list together before you will hear of me again. Otherwise, if you should decline, it will not take all too long until the next time that I will write here.

in the name of the Xeno Alliance
A.Miller

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"Latrodectus"