To: (=)"Aschenputtel"

[Dusk]

incoming transmission detected...
signal source identified: crimson.veil
establishing secure connection...
video feed active

---

from: Crimson Veil
to: Katherine Pennybrooke
subject: Rheinland

---

. . .



"The Unioners, for as long as I can remember, have been little more than self-aggrandizing bandits driven by their lust for plunder. Much like modern-day Xenos, many of them have long forgotten what they once fought for. People from whom you would naturally expect a knife in the back and vile betrayal when it suits them. After all, those who have betrayed even their own once-cherished ideals would hardly find it difficult to betray us. I don't think any of us expected their surge in activity to be anything other than brutality fueled by greed."

"However... Lately, I've seen a somewhat different picture, Miss Pennybrooke."

"Their way of making a statement was quite... peculiar. Imagine waking up at your station to a message on every device from a half-naked old man delivering a fiery speech. Luckily, I wasn't personally on Bruschal at the time, but the information quickly reached me. As did a lot of outrage."

"While they certainly managed to attract attention, I think they overdid it. For many, such a flamboyant performance was a kind of brazen act on their part... But I heard their words through the shock value. They seek reconciliation. They think we want the same things. I'm not sure that's really true, but as I said before, I try to be flexible in such matters. Politics is a nasty thing, where yesterday's friends can turn into today's enemies at the drop of a hat, and vice versa."

"We met them in the Hamburg system, where they confirmed their intentions, after which the dialogue devolved into a litany of mutual grievances and old wounds that have little relevance today. And will have even less relevance tomorrow. Again, I heard the main thing — their consistent intent. So far, it has been largely confirmed in practice: I have not heard of a single organized attack by Unioner forces on any of our assets. This is certainly a good start, but to melt the frozen hearts of my friends, they will need more than simply maintaining distance."

"They need to demonstrate... Humanity. And perhaps... Sacrifice. Then, possibly, we can look them in the eye and call them our lost brothers and sisters in the fight against the corrupt, filthy parody of a government from which the Rheinland is long overdue for cleansing. But this, of course, is utopia."

"As for their primary focus, we've recorded their growing interest in the Zurich and Cologne systems. My primary guess is that Liberty, for one reason or another, has ceased to be of the same interest to them and they see Gallia as a replacement. The Gallic Navy's growing activity in the same systems also hints at this. I'm afraid the true reason for their fiery speeches and words of unity is a fear of fighting on multiple fronts while they attempt to expand into new territory. Appeasing us is currently convenient for them and, unfortunately, doesn't make it any easier for them to convince my friends of their pure intentions, if indeed they are as such."

"Now about the Nomads. On the night of January 3rd to 4th of this year, a small group of my friends and I, myself, were returning from a brief trip into the nearby Omega systems. As we approached Saverne, we detected unusual readings on our long-range scanners. After performing basic repairs, we headed toward the signal with minimal delay. What we discovered was... disturbing. One of the largest Nomads I've ever seen, later identified as "Harbinger". I'll add an image to the attachments to this post. Forces from a wide variety of parties present in the system, including MND, Rheinland Military, Gallic Navy, the Order, and so on, forgot all grievances and united with us for the sake of our shared survival."

"Nothing brings people together like the threat of imminent death, right?"

"The specimen demonstrated... anomalous capabilities, previously unseen by me. Numerous smaller brethren of this Nomad appeared on the spot, perhaps transported or created right there. The specimen itself repeatedly transformed into a gaseous form, invulnerable to damage by standard weaponry. While we fought for our lives, it... seemed to find the whole thing amusing."

"Perhaps it was exhausted by the prolonged battle. Or perhaps it was simply satisfied with this show of force. But ultimately, it vanished, leaving most of us unharmed. I believe the only reason a battle of this magnitude on the Rheinland border didn't make headlines is the deliberate attempt by governments to conceal what was happening to avoid panic. Which, in fact, is quite typical of them."

"I'd be interested in your advice on calibrating my fighter. Heisenberg would be the most suitable delivery location—close enough to my usual place of work."

"I will remain open to assisting you in your endeavours to the best of my ability. Ultimately, I think we both can benefit from long-term cooperation."




⠠⠠⠎⠉⠳⠝⠙⠗⠻⠎⠀⠠⠠⠱⠕⠀⠠⠠⠺⠑⠜⠀⠠⠠⠮⠀⠠⠠⠗⠕⠃⠑⠎⠀⠠⠠⠷⠀⠠⠠⠧⠁⠇⠕⠗
⠠⠠⠮⠀⠠⠠⠞⠽⠗⠁⠝⠞⠀⠠⠠⠷⠀⠠⠠⠇⠊⠣⠞⠂⠀⠠⠠⠇⠕⠕⠅⠬⠀⠠⠠⠾⠀⠠⠠⠏⠗⠊⠙⠑
⠠⠠⠮⠀⠠⠠⠔⠉⠕⠍⠏⠗⠑⠓⠢⠎⠊⠃⠇⠑⠀⠠⠠⠉⠗⠕⠎⠎⠬⠀⠠⠠⠷⠀⠠⠠⠛⠕⠁⠇⠎

---

attachments

---

connection terminated