To The Junkers

[Rudo]

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COMM ID: Arbiter Hannibal Bishop
LOCATION: Bridge of Congress frigate 'Machiavelli' - last relay point Texas ComSat X-34

Salutations;

I'll skip the pleasantries. Let's not waste valuable time and transmitter wear and tear. I'm curious about this myself.

Perhaps what you see is the salvaged hulk of one of those ships missing in action, though certainly through our running of Puerto Rico we'd have either seen the vessel being refitted at Vieques, or observed the requisition of parts that only we can provide. I have no records of material or personnel requisitions to suggest such an event, and such things do not pass unnoticed.

Or maybe a thorough audit of your own shipyards' stockpiles and the recent monetary acquisitions of those managing them may turn up what you want to know. Every man has his price, after all. And few such as me know that no matter how tightly you police what you believe is yours, if there are two people working for you then there will be secrets kept from you. Look for subnets in your networks as well.

Congress agents and myself will attempt to contact 'Walter F.' of the nameless mystery destroyer. We will ask him to replace what you now claim is stolen and is irrefutably in his possession. If he is another of the recent scores of Junkers with too much personal capital who has forgotten his roots under the vague notion of "Protecting Junker Interests", instead endangering them through blatant military bravado and wasted manpower... well, that a long sentence. Pardon me.

*Bishop pauses, gathering his thoughts. His face lights up as he remembers where he was going with this.*

There have been many 'military' Junkers in recent times. Few have done us any good as there are always repercussions for your finger being on the trigger. We are a scattered people and can't afford such repercussions. More importantly, we are a pragmatic people and don't want such repercussions.

I'm aware that if there is anything an outsider knows about the Junkers, it's that we look out for our own. We do. My personal annoyance aside, it's for that reason we'll act as a mediating party so this comes to a peaceful solution. The crew of that ship shouldn't be put in danger based on the misguided decisions of her captain.

To prosperity,

Hannibal

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