Transmission to the leaders of The Cartel

[maclypse]

*** Narrowband Transmission to Malta traffic control, origin transport "Cartagena" ****

Malta,
this is captain Carlos Esteban, commander of the Cartagena, series "DL" class cartel black market transport. No doubt, most of your ships are aware of the existance of my ship and the work it performs. With the recent "political issues",I've decided to send a direct appeal to my own people.

I was born on Malta. I flew the gunboat "La Primavera" until just a few weeks ago. I was mostly doing blockade work in the Tau systems, ransoming convoys passing between Kusari and Bretonia. I came into contact with the cartel many years ago, when they had an extended presence on Malta.

I made a career change a while ago, exchanging my run down gunboat for a state of the art "DL" transport, intending to get away from the piracy and into the business of smuggling. As it turns out, I'm extremely good at my job. So good in fact, that some of my old cartel contacts made me an offer I did not want to refuse.

As far as I'm concerned, goods for sale, is goods for sale. That's it. The blue lotus is right though: I and the other smugglers of the cartel have been extremely successful in bringing massive numbers of slaves to Malta. We've also been extremely successful in bringing cardamine back, down into liberty. To the best of my knowledge all outcast ships have been met with the utmost respect, and no laws have been broken.

The accusation against us is simple: we have been too successful.

We work tirelessly, and skillfully, to trade the goods you are willing to buy and sell. The Blue Lotus want this money for themselves, of course. I understand this, but quite frankly I don't see their transports in space. If they want "their" business back, they can damn well buy transports and start competing! If they want money, they better work for it.

I'm outcast, born and raised. I will not be told if and when I can land at my own homeworld, what goods I can and cannot trade. I will not live at the mercy of a jealous and ineffective group of contraband runners. The need for slaves and the supply of cardamine are equally massive, and there's room for many actors on the market, and I am one of these. If the Blue Lotus doesn't approve, tough.

I will see you shortly; for the Cartagena will not stop. I do not stop for Xenos, for Libery police or navy, Bretonian police or navy, Kusari police or navy, for mercenaries, freelancers or hounty hunters that want the price on my head. The Cartagena stops for no one!

I know where my loyalties lie; it's a shame not everyone do. I hope Malta will see my loyalty, my past, and the business I bring, rather than listen to the Blue Lotus. Hopefully, this diplomatic horsedung will be all sorted out soon, but until then, I will place my faith in the Outcasts' sense of loyalty and honor.

Carlos Esteban, Cartagena, out.

*** End Trans ***