Xeno Alliance Leadership and Hellfire Legion Leadership "talks". (AO)

[wainwright]

He took some time before answering, considering his response carefully. The wrong words now could jeopardise all chance of an agreement being reached, and that was something the Legion could not afford.

"It is true, we have long had links with all of the groups you mention, and I fully understand your concerns. When we originally broke from the Liberty Navy, we needed sanctuary, and it was the Hackers that offered us this. We owe them much, but as we have regained our strength, we have run into problems with their .............. methods. They, like us, started out as idealists. They have forgotten their past though, or at least chosen to leave it behind, seemingly embracing criminality in all its forms. Our alliance with the Hackers is over. We bare them no malice, but we cannot stand with them and still claim to be what we are."

Richard paused, looking directly at both Coral and Jones before continuing.

"The Rogues and Outcasts we have distanced ourselves from for some time now. We must maintain a pretence of friendliness - or neutrality at least - towards them for the time being, while we finalise our plans to separate ourselves fully from the Hackers, and enforce their vacation of our home system, Vespucci. Once this is done, we will finally be in a position to sever our ties with these groups."

He fixed eyes with Jones. He knew what he was about to say was what Jones really wanted to hear.

"The Outcasts we will tolerate so long as they offer no threat towards us, yourselves, or any honest citizen of Liberty. Smugglers of their dreaded cardamine will be dealt with with extreme prejudice. The Rogues, I expect, will spare no time in declaring us their enemy, and will act accordingly, as will we. I also expect that before long, the Outcasts will respond in kind.

As to the Junkers, that was always a union of convenience. We make use of their bases, as we have none of our own within core Liberty space. With access to Xeno facilities we will no longer require the Junkers, and will be in a position to fight the malignant cesspit of criminality they represent. We will, I am sure, have no troubles in assisting you to erradicate all trace of them from every corner of Sirius.

The Hackers, though, we will tolerate. While they continue to lose sight of the ideals that formed them, we still hope their actions can one day be redirected. We will not fire upon them, save if they target us directly. As I said, we are aware of the debt we owe them. How they will adapt to our separation remains to be seen."

Sitting back, Richard hoped that he'd worded things correctly. What G.R.A.C.E. would do if he screwed this up didn't bare thinking about.

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All the old knives, that have rusted in my back, I shall drive deep into yours.

Betrayed