"Ripper-1"

[Reeves]

☠ Incoming transmission.
☠ Signal source: Free Republic relay, Liberty
☠ Opening video feed...

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Sender: Alliance Commander "Cobra"
Recipient: Captain of the Ripper 1
Subject: Skyscrapers and Pitters

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My expediency is out of respect.

You made an offer of good faith, I might as well consider it seriously rather than leave you with lingering silent treatment for days on end. And yes, I'm aware basic courtesy is a rarity in the underworld that we've both called home for many years now. But I've never played by those rules all that much. I understand them and can appreciate the playing field for what it is, but defiance of a status quo has always been my forte.

And you've misunderstood me. I'm not asking you to defend our country for us. I'm asking you to help us do that ourselves by handling everyone that would detract from the overall mission - that being our total independence from the political apparatus that is House Liberty.

When and if an assault on the Robert Peary is coming, I'd like to have your people on our side to scorch it. The plans as of now are tentative, but the general idea is to plant a lure for its escorts while the true force flanks the construction ship in order to destroy it. Liberty would not risk sending the weasel into combat alongside her interdictor-class escort, and that gives us the only window we might ever have to put a pin in this apparent reclamation of the system.

If we succeed, and the ship is destroyed, then Liberty would have to withdraw. And I sincerely doubt DSE would ever be able to muster the resolve needed to send another capital-class team of professionals out to die in some backwater. Corporates are too fond of their R-O-I.

The Free State of Ontario would then be secure. Your efforts would have helped emancipate an entire star system, and in such a situation, it would be hard not to accredit you as deserved.

Heroes are treated well, because in addition to the fame, glory, and personal status, there's scope for special considerations. I'm happy to let you keep whatever you kill while helping us, even if that happens to be military-grade salvage.

I'm sure you have other things you'd like or need in mind. Is it money? Guns?

Floor's yours to negotiate.

"Liberty or death."
-"Cobra"

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☠ Transmission signal lost.