A small beacon has just started beeping, right outside the Omega 41 jump hole. The signal it emits is broadcast only on low frequencies, but is easily detectable by anyone flying in the vicinity of Omicron Gamma. The signal displays two sentences : "ping me back if you want to make friends" and an enigmatic compound word : "Casgiu merzu". Upon closer inspection, there appears to be a Moor's head painted on the side of the beacon by someone with a lot of time to waste.
The beacon displays three possible responses : A) Boiled B) Fried C) Fermented. What will you answer to the beacon ?
Origin: Planet Crete. Omicron Gamma. Corsair Space| LOCATION NN-GUID HASH OK Sender: Jason Alberts/Birdie| SENDER NN-GUID HASH OK Recipients: Whoever the heck you are | RECIPIENT NN-GUID HASH OK Carbon Copy: | NONE! Encryption: None| NO ENCRYPTION! Format: Audio Subject:
*The voice of a young woman is heard* Interesting... Well, since the other two answers are taken... A, Boiled...
*In the distance* Birdie? Birdie! Ignore that thing! Oh... Goddamn it woman.
You selected response A... After a slight moment, punctuated by electronic beeps and bops from the beacon, you are greeted with the following audio recording, from a deep, honeyed voice :
"Har har har har har ! You have fallen into my trap, Bretonian ! For it is known to us that, when presented with such a choice, only the poor, culinarily-disadvantaged Bretonian mind would go for "Boil". Nice try, Breton ! Enjoy this meal of boiled shame with mint sauce, you were not the target of this transmission. Har !"
The recording continues like this for some time, with other voices joining in a very nasal laughter and mockery. Then you can make out a distinct "Merde ! Ca enregistre toujours !" before the recording abruptly ends.
You selected response B... After a slight moment, punctuated by electronic beeps and bops from the beacon, you are greeted with the following audio recording, from a deep, honeyed voice :
"Well well... It is unexpected to find a Libertonian this far from home ! Yes, do not deny it : only your kind seemingly enjoys putting everything you can find in a vat of frying oil. We do not deny that good things came out of it, but you went too far with the fried synth paste. So long, Libertonian : it is not you we have business with today.
The recording continues for a few seconds with a background voice making a rather distressingly accurate parody of the Libertonian accent... As perceived by someone who hasn't talked with Libertonians much.
You selected response C... Immediately, the beacon bursts to life and broadcasts the following video transmission, loudly, on all frequencies. A strikingly handsome face appears on the screen, with an amused smile.
Honoured Corsairs,
I see you have managed to defeat my most clever enigma ! I had tailored it specifically so that only our latin brothers and sisters from the Hispania, bound by the same love for fermented delicacies, would manage to unlock it. If my friend Sauveur here did his job properly, this message should only appear to you, as befits our purpose.
And here is said purpose. Let me introduce myself : I am José Nivalgo, member and tribun of the Unione Corse, looking for his next big score. And that big score is you, my friends. You see, the Unione is a quiet organisation, but not a passive one. Anyone needs anything special in Gallia, they come to us, and we provide. There is nothing that we consider out of our reach, and no limit to our... or perhaps I should say, my ambitions. Ever since Gallia and the rest of Sirius were... Reunited, so to speak, we've been observing, listening, and making small steps to gain an ever greater foothold in Sirian markets, be they white, gray, or black.
Recently, we've noticed a surge in interest in your group from our Royal friends. We had heard from you before, from a mortal enemy that we seem to share : the Outcasts, and a mutual friend, the Hogosha. So I thought the Unione should not pass this opportunity to make contact with its long lost brothers and sisters. You see, Gallia may be one thing, but the Corsicans have not forgotten their roots : there was much we shared once, and more still to be shared.
So, on the meat of the matter : we want to exchange goods. There are all kinds of goods the Unione has easy access to, that could benefit your industry : samarium, nanotubes, energy field equipment, even those blue diamonds that seem to be all the rage over yonders. With our expertise at moving anywhere discreetly, as demonstrated by the insertion of this elaborate beacon, our partnership needn't even be apparent. In return... Well. It's hard to visit Liberty as often as I do and not hear of those famed Artifacts of yours. The Unione would love to get into that trade and support your... export ventures in that field.
But I may get ahead of myself. For now, let us start with a formal shaking of the hands. The Unione doesn't have the firmest grip on whom it is that runs Corsair affairs and I wasn't sure whom to contact. Hence this clever beacon plan. I... huh... Hope that this message reached a relevant receiver. So let's start with introducing yourselves in return, and we'll see where we go from there. In the end, my objective is that all profit from this new adventure, so let us lay the first brick on our common road to great fortunes together. You may reply to this beacon, and it will... should... take care of bringing your message back to me.
A prestu, then, honoured friends. The Unione will be waiting eagerly for your reply.
End of transmission.
Oh, merde. I hope I don't get too much Zoner spam from this beacon... Should have thought of a more clever filter, perhaps...
Sender: Luciano Vasquez, The Brotherhood Location: Tripoli Base, Sparta Encryption: Mucho strong Recipient: José Nivalgo, [UC] Topic: Greetings
Saludos Senor Nivalgo,
Well well. My men told me of a strange beacon with a strange message emanating from within the Gredos Nebula. We are, perhaps, not the most well versed in Gallic factions, but relations must start somewhere, si? To introduce myself: I am Luciano Vasquez, Consul of The Brotherhood and an Elder of the Corsair People. It is strange to think of others as our long lost hermanos, after many centuries apart, so forgive me for my bluntness, should it become too much. Life on Crete was never easy, and until we started the Artifact trade, even harder.
So. It is true we have been in talks with the Royal Navy, looking to work together to crush Bretonia, yet negotiations have cooled down, but recent news is quite troubling, if perhaps not fully evidenced yet. Either way, I think it would be prudent to start... investigating other potential allies, should talks with the Royal Navy break down.
Given the long separation, I'm sure there is a lot of differences between our technologies, even within Sirius, the variety available is outstanding, let alone from a separate house, cut off for centuries. While I will readily admit that Corsair technology is some of the best around, that is not to say it cannot be improved further. I'm sure should some of our engineers get together, they would find many an avenue to benefit both of us.
And of course, no revolutionary break through in science is possible without funding. Our artifacts are some of the most sought after luxury items, not only on Manhattan, but many other planets too. I'm sure that, given the right marketing, Gallia's elite would become just as interested in our... special decorations. I believe most of the artifact trade that exists within Gallia is done through second-hand markets; Dealers picking off select items and charging an exorbitant fee to do so. I imagine there would be much profit to be made by collection them straight from the source, so to speak.
With an innovative mind like yours, I would say that breaking into the Artifact trade could easily be your next big score, senor Nivalgo.
From : José Nivalgo, membre and tribun of the Unione Corse.
To : Luciano Vasquez, of The Brotherhood
Location : Restaurant "Le grenadier de la Garde", La Canebière sector, planète Marseille.
Encryption strength : Muntanacciu
Sujet : Nos amis Corsaires.
Transmission begins. Nivalgo appears much like he did on the beacon transmission, his face equals parts curious and amused.
Honoured senor Vasquez,
My brave beacon has finally reached us, and I was pleased with what it brought me. No Zoner spam, for starters, which came as a surprise, but first and foremost, welcoming and warm news from you, our Corsair friends. Thank you for taking the time to send a message our way - to be entirely honest, I had no idea whether my plan would work, or not. I could conceive a million reasons why you'd turn us away, or ignore us - there has been so little prior contact between our organisations that I couldn't really be sure of anything. Your reply brings me great joy : I can already see it, a long, fruitful, and most of all friendly relationship between your glorious empire and our resourceful Unione.
To that end, I plan to bring forward a proposal to the next session of the Corsican Senate : a diplomatic visit from the Unione to your Empire, in the area of your choosing. I and other dignitaries from the Unione would attend onboard my personal liner, the Mazzeri. It would be the occasion for us to formally meet, and lay the foundations of our cooperation. The delegation will be loaded with examples of what the Unione is able to offer to the Corsairs, as well as fine, fermented and possibly explosive goods typical of our rich culture. I will let you know what the Sénat thinks of this proposal : if it enjoys enough support, and should you accept it, I will return to you to request an appropriate time and place for what promises to be... An historical event.
A prestu, sgiò Vasquez.
He ends on another of his puzzle smiles, then nods to someone offscreen. End of transmission.
In addition to Luciano Vasquez's transmission, Nivalgo noticed another message, heavily encoded and hard to decipher. Stroking his chin as he so often did, he managed to piece together a welcoming message from one Council of Elders, seemingly accepting cooperation with the Unione. Good ! Indeed, very good. The brave beacon reached out further than he had hoped, and with better results than anticipated. Much further, apparently... The garbled transmission mentioned only one place : Freeport 11... Omicron Delta ?
"Well, another occasion for us to expand our knowledge of that particular region, then." He said, to no one in particular. Getting there, wherever that was, would likely be quite the trip... The perfect opportunity for a young and ambitious Aspirant of the Unione to prove his or her worth while bringing back hopefully useful information. Nivalgo had a few names in mind... Another motion to put forth at the next Senate meeting. It'd be an interesting one for sure.
(06-14-2019, 12:25 PM)Sombra Hookier Wrote: If everyone was a bit more like Lanakov, the entire world would be more positive. Including pregnancy tests.
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