To: MV-Contents May Differ, Captain Sarah McFarlen

[Thunderer]

- Incoming Transmission -

-= Very High Encryption =-

Priority: High
To: Captain Sarah McFarlen
From: Auxiliary Fleet Vice Admiral Charles Richard Hall
Location: H.M.S. Thunderer, New London System

Salutations, Mrs McFarlen.

As you already know, I have received your application and I am content with all of the data you have provided me, except one detail - the lack of a cloaking device on your ship. The act I want you to perform is illegal in Gallia. Their patrols won't know of it until it's done, and that is when a cloak might be quite useful. Also, the cargo you would ship doesn't have a very nice nature, and it certainly wouldn't be a good advertisement of your liner to the people she might carry in the future. Thus, I must ask you the following questions:

• Would you mind hauling cargo of unspeakably smelly kind, if you are required only one shipment?
  
  
  
• Would you mind getting a bit hostile with the Gauls after the job is done?
  
  
• You will perform an action illegal in Gallia, of which the Gauls will be absolutely unaware, but only before you do it. You will probably be surrounded by numerous police and military ships when the job is done. How would you escape?

I need you to answer them most sincerely. I can't allow any incidents to happen, especially not to civilians. Good bye until then.

- Over -

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[Commissar]

Hello Admiral,

Just before we get in to the marginally more serious side of this discussion, I'd prefer it if you don't call me 'Mrs McFarlen.' It makes me feel twenty years older. Sarah will do just nicely. Although if you absolutely must go with the last name thing, please, use Ms. I'm not married. At least, not as far as I know.

On to the serious side then, I suppose. Awful cargo isn't too large an issue, since the Contents rarely carries people (excluding me, obviously) these days anyway. I'm working on automating the ship, so the odds of someone even coming close to whatever it is we're carrying isn't horribly likely. Besides, it is only one shipment, and as long as the smell costs less then seven million credits to get out, then I've still come out ahead, right? You do have my curiosity though. What exactly would I be carrying here, and why do I have a sneaking suspicion that no amount of cleaner's going to get it off?

I rarely fly through Gallia, and they're notoriously hostile towards everybody, really, so I don't think whatever it is you're planning could make that much worse. If it does, I'm certain I can write up a card and they'll forget all about it, given enough time.

Escape. Well, that is a fun word, isn't it? Not by flying away, obviously. An Ocean-Class isn't exactly a speedboat. It wouldn't be the first time I've been surrounded by large ships intent on doing things to mine that I would rather didn't happen. I guess it would depend more on what exactly I was up against, and how far it was to safety. I can always hire a few local Freelancers, Pirates, and the like, to cause some general chaos and escape in the resulting confusion. Failing that, I suppose we'll have to rely on my sparkling charisma. The Contents is a demilitarized ship - we're unarmed, so you don't need to stress about us ending up in a shooting match with the bad guys, and I've never yet met someone who'll open up on an unarmed ship that's in the middle of politely asking them not to. Seems strange, but you'd be surprised how well it works. Worst case scenario, I can't talk our way out of it, and we're taken into custody, and your guys have an excuse to stage a daring raid, or something to that effect.

Besides, if it makes you feel any better, Free Companies aren't technically civilians anyway. Sirius law classifies us as mercenaries, regardless of whether or not we're even vaguely interested in actually working for anyone else. Funny, huh?

Hope that's fine for you Charlie. Can't wait to take a trip out to Gallia.

Sarah McFarlen

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May you live in interesting times.
| Sarah McFarlen | Jane Hartman |

[Thunderer]

- Incoming Transmission -

-= Very High Encryption =-

Priority: High
To: Captain Sarah McFarlen
From: Auxiliary Fleet Vice Admiral Charles Richard Hall
Location: H.M.S. Thunderer, New London System

Hello again, Ms *Accentuates "Ms".* Sarah.

I'm sorry if you found my courteousness... well, too courteous, but people were appealing that I became a bit vulgar for a lord after I started taking part in the war, so I began ironically being too polite becau... long story. We have other priorities now. Besides that, how is it possible that a girl like you isn't married yet? *His face stays frozen for a second. His look is unspecified.*

*Suddenly* Anyways, to get back to the subject. By what you have said, I think you could do what I need, but I'm afraid you're still not ideal for the job. While I am waiting for someone more suitable, and that's roughly two days, I would like you to prepare a pirate raiding wing of three fighters and three bombers, which would keep the local lawful forces occupied while you're doing the job. It will be ideal if they don't even notice what you will be dong. Ask if you need any funds to hire them, but try to reduce the costs as much as possible. I will still keep the exact location secret, but I can tell you that there will be even capital patrols, and that it's one of the Gallc core systems. You should also get access to Gallia, if you still don't have it. They must think you're a plain civilian transporting goods to their systems.

I will contact you again in approximately two days. If I don't, but if you agree to pass me the raiding group, you will get an apology sum of 500,000 credits, and somebody else will do the main job. Cheers!

- Over -

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[Commissar]

Well hello,

Sounds like a nice challenge you've got lined up.

You've got yourself a deal, Charlie. I'll call in some old contacts and get back to you. Let's kick the Gauls in the teeth!

[She raises a hand to her forehead in a rough approximation of a salute.]

Contents, out!

Sarah McFarlen

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May you live in interesting times.
| Sarah McFarlen | Jane Hartman |

[Thunderer]

- Incoming Transmission -

-= Very High Encryption =-

Priority: High
To: Captain Sarah McFarlen
From: Auxiliary Fleet Vice Admiral Charles Richard Hall
Location: H.M.S. Thunderer, Dundee System

Hello again, Ms Sarah.

As I have promised, I am messaging you again. Although not two days later... but... uh... I had some very important business. Excuse me, please. So, about the mission - you will probably take part in it, but with an accomplice. I do not trust her, or whatever it is, yet, however, but the person has told me I may ask you. What can you tell me about Alice, code "Sleepyhead"?

- Message Over -

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[Thunderer]

- Retransmitting -

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[Commissar]

Hey again Charlie,

Sorry I'm late too. I guess we all got a little bit caught up. Planning raids is harder then it looks in the vids, I'll give you that. I'll get to Alice in a minute, but first I've got a few things I'd like to run by you, if that's alright. I've got an outline of our team ready to go, right underneath this paragraph. Let me know if you've got any issues with that, but it should have us just about covered. I know I've put on two more fighters then we originally planned, but they'll be acting as escorts for the Contents on the way in and out, and I've written them off as Company-Subsidized, so you won't be paying for those two. Hopefully they'll make us look more like a regular trade convoy.

I've had to contract out to a few groups, specifically the Vagrant Raiders (VR), Sirius Vanguards (SV) and Haven Tactical Security (HTS) to make up our numbers, but they seem happy to work with us, and each other, so I don't think that'll be a problem. Besides, they charge fair prices. I'll need to know where and when we're going too, I haven't even looked into getting clearance to travel with the Gallics yet.

Anyway, Alice. Er... She's a little odd, but I suppose we all are. You can trust her. I think. She means well, and if you're honest with her, she'll return the favor. She can take things a little literally sometimes, but she's been a good friend to me and I don't think she'll get under your toes. If nothing else, she'll liven the thing up a bit. As to what she is, well, that's a very personal question, and one I think you'd be better asking her yourself if you really want to know.

Talk to you later, Admiral.

Sarah McFarlen

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May you live in interesting times.
| Sarah McFarlen | Jane Hartman |

[Thunderer]

- Automated Message -

Greetings. This is an automated message. [Vice Admiral Charles Richard Hall] is/are currently not available. Please, try again in [one week]. Thank You.

- Message Over -

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[Thunderer]

- Incoming Transmission -

-= Very High Encryption =-

Priority: High
To: Captain Sarah McFarlen
From: Auxiliary Fleet Vice Admiral Charles Richard Hall
Location: H.M.S. Thunderer, Salisbury System

Oh, my God. It's finally over. Oh, dear God, you have NO IDEA how hard importing tea is! I have been appointed for a tea imports supervisor for Leeds and Newcastle and my shift is FINALLY OVER! *Makes a face expression a runner would make after finishing a marathon and getting a facial paresis. But due to one specific fact, this runner isn't thirsty at all*.
I can now at last devote to my plan again. Sorry for waiting. You've done a splendid job while I was absent. The price is even lesser than I have expected. Good to know that I can trust Alice. I will make a signal which both you and she can see and reply, which will contain all important data about the operation.

- Message Over -

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