To: Jean Leclerc <> From: "Gas.Gas.GAAS"

[Maik]

---

Wherever Jean was now, the thought of the length of time it took to respond might have been suspicious. The stranger had been silent for twenty-four hours, if not more. Had some simpleton pirate deceived him? Circumvented him to earn an extra 100,000 credits? That doesn't make any sense!

The doubts would multiply, but they were all dispelled the moment a new message arrived. When Jean opens it, he finds that the stranger looks more cheerful and lively than when they first met face to face. He is in a bar, a typical diner, of which there are plenty even on the beautiful Ile-de-France, where dishonest salesmen try to cheat ordinary Gallic workers who have come to drink and relax after a hard day's work.

But then a stranger tastes a glass of premium wine, a bottle of which is on the right. Judging by the year - this wine has a very good ageing, and even the most picky taster will willingly agree to try this masterpiece of winemaking. There is an opinion that wine has a positive effect on human health by dispersing blood throughout the body. If you don't overdo it, of course. It seemed to be true, for, as had been said before, the stranger was much livelier than when he had first met Jean.

---

"Hello again Jean. Bargained the life of the captain of the OSC and his passengers in Zurich for a modest fee for fifty thousand credits and 3 kinds of different drinks, among which there was even a premium wine straight from the planet.. Nevers, yeah. Drinking something of quality is not the first time for me, but wine... Yeah, you guys know how to make things cool.

I'll forward you the details of how this liner collided with me and how it ended. You need to make trouble for the competition, don't you? Well, I'm creating them to the best of my ability."

With a relaxed look, he finished the wine from his glass and then poured another. After taking a couple of sips, the stranger set the glass to his left and leaned slightly toward the camera. He didn't really seem to want anyone to hear him.

"As for that idea, I haven't forgotten about it. Anyway, your direct competitors from Sirius have a type of cruise called “Triton Expeditions". The bottom line is that some daredevils pay money for the captain of a well-protected liner to drive himself into and out of danger. Some people are completely insane if they think this is a good idea. This, I gather, is common in Sirius, but not in Gallia. I'll also send black-box communications about that 'Tourism'.

And that's where you have room to maneuver. Let's assume that the people of Sirius have mastered the subject and they like it. But not the people of Gallia. To create an incident with a ship like this, where I raid it and you put out a duck about Orbital and Spa not doing their job... Well, you already don't trust anyone from Sirius, imagine the reaction of a man or woman who finds out that the captain not only doesn't try to save the tourists, but leads them into a death trap on his own.

You'll play on mistrust. And gain acceptance among your fellow citizens. Your competitors are fooled, your fellow citizens trust you more than them. All I need is to hear your approval, and I'll take care of the dirty part of this event. I have an acquaintance who I'll pay to get good footage of the meeting. What do you think about that? Let me know."

---

At those words, he took the glass in one hand and with the other reached for the button that cut off the video recording. Along with the video recording file, he sent two excerpts from the black box. It looked like it would be enough to familiarize yourself with both the context about "Triton Expeditions" and how he had robbed the liner in Zurich.

Black box material - Triton Expeditions

[21.04.2025 17:24:17] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: For the record, you've encountered one of our Triton Expeditions
[21.04.2025 17:24:32] Independent-1: What is that?
[21.04.2025 17:24:42] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: I wouldn't be quick to dismiss their combat skills.
[21.04.2025 17:24:52] Independent-1: He risked tourists.
[21.04.2025 17:25:14] Independent-1: Think about it first. I am not new to bombers too. And he won't knew if there more of us around.
[21.04.2025 17:25:16] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: Ah, this division specializes in Edge World tourism. For those kinds of tourists risk *is* the allure
[21.04.2025 17:25:36] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: Some even pay to be in danger or experience piracy first-hand
[21.04.2025 17:25:44] Independent-1: Same for Gallic and Rheinland ones inside of House space?
[21.04.2025 17:25:52] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: You would be surprised.
[21.04.2025 17:26:04] Independent-1: Pfft. Maschohists.
[21.04.2025 17:26:07] Independent-1: Hey, idea.
[21.04.2025 17:26:14] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: Exactly! But hey, it pays well
[21.04.2025 17:26:34] Independent-1: You want get more profits out of this and I want get more profits just for doing my job well.
[21.04.2025 17:26:54] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: Well, profits *and* positive publicity
[21.04.2025 17:27:08] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: We have a new destination in Gallia
[21.04.2025 17:27:14] Independent-1: Yeah, yeah, you'll get all of this. Just put that guy in Cologne again with his... Strange tourists.
[21.04.2025 17:27:32] Independent-1: I think they'll send you good feedback when I'll put all of them in a risk.
[21.04.2025 17:27:39] Independent-1: BUT not for free.
[21.04.2025 17:28:25] Independent-1: What is that? Hey, I seen your signature, come here!
[21.04.2025 17:28:27] Independent-1: Come out.
[21.04.2025 17:28:33] N52B30: You are violating Rheinland law and will be terminated immidiatly
[21.04.2025 17:28:37] Independent-1: Pfft.
[21.04.2025 17:28:37] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: I see. Just please be sure not to leave -too many- dents in his hull. Those passengers pay for the experience-
[21.04.2025 17:28:39] Independent-1: Shut the fuck up.
[21.04.2025 17:28:49] OS&C|Aestheta: Brooks: -not the injuries.
[21.04.2025 17:28:56] Independent-1: Damn it, got MND guy on my back. Have your day mate. *Terminating communications*

Black box material - Liner in Zurich

• [1] [2] [3] [4]
  

[24.04.2025 15:41:36] Hauptbahnhof: The ultimate destination for this manifest is Sulawesi in Tau-44, a scenic system I think.
[24.04.2025 15:41:42] Independent-1: Hi there.
[24.04.2025 15:41:47] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: RO: a lovely one indeed
[24.04.2025 15:41:47] Independent-1: How it's going?
[24.04.2025 15:41:58] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: RO: captain, you're required on deck
[24.04.2025 15:41:59] Independent-1: Hey bro, do not make me unpolite.
[24.04.2025 15:42:04] Independent-1: Stay and do not move.
[24.04.2025 15:42:07] Hauptbahnhof: Greetings pirate
[24.04.2025 15:42:13] Independent-1: I think you won't gonna try it.
[24.04.2025 15:42:22] Independent-1: Same to you liner cap.
[24.04.2025 15:42:37] Hauptbahnhof: Bad English as normal. How can I help?
[24.04.2025 15:42:43] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: oh, greetings. Who do we have the pleasure to be conversing to?
[24.04.2025 15:42:52] Independent-1: Myself.
[24.04.2025 15:43:07] Independent-1: Okay, so... I'll start as did it many times before.
[24.04.2025 15:43:10] Independent-1: Do you guys like a deals?
[24.04.2025 15:43:31] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: quite classic. Looks like Odysseus answer to Polifemus
[24.04.2025 15:43:39] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: we love deals, no-one
[24.04.2025 15:43:42] Hauptbahnhof: *laughs*
[24.04.2025 15:44:07] Hauptbahnhof: Would you like Dauman Side Arms or would you prefer credits?
[24.04.2025 15:44:13] Independent-1: Credits sure.
[24.04.2025 15:44:23] Hauptbahnhof: No problem.
[24.04.2025 15:44:26] Independent-1: I doesn't have any transport nearby to get something profitable.
[24.04.2025 15:44:29] Independent-1: From these arms I mean.
[24.04.2025 15:44:45] Independent-1: So, there's easy deal.
[24.04.2025 15:44:59] Independent-1: Imperial shipping - 100.000 credits. OS&C liner - 100.000 credits.
[24.04.2025 15:45:02] [2025-04-24] 15:45:02 You have received 100.000 credits from Hauptbahnhof
[24.04.2025 15:45:12] Hauptbahnhof: Done.
[24.04.2025 15:45:14] Independent-1: If you guys gonna test my patience - I'll test my torpedoes.
[24.04.2025 15:45:16] Independent-1: Yeah, you can go.
[24.04.2025 15:45:17] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: I think this sum will require some time, no.one
[24.04.2025 15:45:18] Independent-1: Deal is a deal.
[24.04.2025 15:45:38] Hauptbahnhof: Enjoy your evening.
[24.04.2025 15:45:47] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: I'll have to ask Curacao to wire in the funds and blah blah, gibberish bureucracy
[24.04.2025 15:45:51] Independent-1: You're dying-slow captain.
[24.04.2025 15:46:05] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: how about halw of that sum and something from our canteen?
[24.04.2025 15:46:17] Independent-1: *thinking*
[24.04.2025 15:46:27] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: RO: you can scan it, just ask away
[24.04.2025 15:46:33] Independent-1: I did it before.
[24.04.2025 15:46:44] Independent-1: Hm, I do not even know...
[24.04.2025 15:46:51] Independent-1: Okay, okay, let it be...
[24.04.2025 15:47:00] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: RO: May I offer you suggestions?
[24.04.2025 15:47:25] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: RO: what do you prefer? Drinkin' something straight or mixed?
[24.04.2025 15:47:29] Independent-1: 50.000 credits, right, and... Cigars, 10 Wine, 10 Rum and... Rheinbier.
[24.04.2025 15:47:51] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: fine indeed.
[24.04.2025 15:47:57] Independent-1: Good to know.
[24.04.2025 15:48:02] [2025-04-24] 15:48:01 You have received 50.000 credits from OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion
[24.04.2025 15:48:57] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: here we are, no-one
[24.04.2025 15:49:04] Independent-1: I think, it's a deal now.
[24.04.2025 15:49:07] Independent-1: Well, deal is a dela.
[24.04.2025 15:49:10] [OOC] Independent-1: deal is a deal*
[24.04.2025 15:49:13] Independent-1: Have your day cap.
[24.04.2025 15:49:20] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: the best selection of OS&C delicatessen
[24.04.2025 15:49:25] Independent-1: I never seen you, who are you by the way?
[24.04.2025 15:49:26] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: godspeed, no-one
[24.04.2025 15:49:40] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: I'm franky shocked by this statement
[24.04.2025 15:49:49] OS&C|WSL-La-Reunion: Cpt: Orbital Spa&Cruise
[24.04.2025 15:50:00] Independent-1: I am shocked I appeared somehow in Zurich and finding full cargo of cigars and drinks.
[24.04.2025 15:50:14] Independent-1: Sirius is a strange place, you know.

---