TO: GRE HQ || FROM: MAE

[Cat]

INCOMING TRANSMISSION

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Sender: Maximilian Saint-Just, Commandeur Suprême de l'ADE
Recipients: Baron Fabian Montluc // CC: Marshalcy of Gallia
Message Type: Video
Encryption Strength: Absolute

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Baron Montluc,

Always a pleasure to hear from you. I'm glad to hear that your observatory has made progress. As you know, your wish to secure a foothold for the Crown outside the Hebrides aligns with what the Enclave has in mind. But before I can approach Director-Regent d'Avignon on your behalf and petition for the Colonisation Charter, we'll need to iron out a couple of issues.

• You mentioned that solely MAE resources will be used for this operation. And as a corporation, you are of course free to pursue the ventures that will provide more return from your investments. However, there is a risk that such an endeavor would overstretch our limited resources. Every MAE employee currently working in Enclave space benefits the Enclave and the fledging colony of Bordeaux. Their absence would already be felt.
  
  
• I understand your desire to grow your corporation further and manage the colony as you see fit. However, until the system is surveyed by Gallia pathfinders and prospectors, it's too early to speak about giving Montluc Advanced Engineering free reign. We could grant you the executive authority over the system, but only once we are certain that the benefits from such decision outweigh our losses. As a businessman, I'm sure you understand that.

With that in mind, I propose the following course of action:

1. Montluc Advanced Engineering will be granted access to study EFL technology left in the Hebrides, such as the jump gates and docking rings.
   
   
2. Enclave observers will take part in the survey mission to Gallic Antilles. Even if we do grant you executive authority over the system, the Enclave will establish constant and sizeable presence there. Incognito, if necessary, as I understand your desire to avoid being tied to the Enclave by other residents of Sirius and Gallia.
   
   
3. To compensate for the Crown's immediate losses due to your investments into a long-term project outside of the Hebrides, Montluc Advanced Engineering shall construct a processing terminal in orbit of planet Bordeaux. The goal of the terminal would be to replace the damaged docking ring and diminish the reliance on searching for suitable atmospheric entry points. I believe that the ability to haul cargo to and from Bordeaux in larger quantities will benefit your exploration project as well.

If you find these terms agreeable, I'd be willing to present your project to the Director-Regent and vouch for it. Securing the support of the Marshalcy of Gallia in addition to mine would also go a long way to securing your Colonisation Charter.

Do let me know what you think about this counter-offer, Baron.

In service to the Crown,
Maximilian Saint-Just