To: The Core/APM; From: Bretonian Office for Trade and Industry | Aland

[The Kingdom of Bretonia]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Whitehall
To: The Core HC, APM Management
From: Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Sir Henry Fairfax, Bretonia

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Hope you've been doin' well, old chaps. You've prolly seen me advert about Aland. No, no, we haven't forgotten about you and your help durin' the crisis! We'll pay our debts to you chaps, you'll see! Anythin' you offer in that tender -- as long as it's reasonable, of course -- will have an advantage over any other offers. If that's not fine for you, we can always go back to our original deal. One drydock for your use, for free... but don't give a fuss about whoever becomes the new owner of the rest of it. Alright, eh? Do we have an understanding?

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[Lythrilux]

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»ID: Supreme Guildmaster Nathan Archos
»Location: Durban Station, Omicron Rho
»Subject: Aland
»ENCRYPTION: INVINCIBLE

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Sir Henry Fairfax,

For starters, we don't share. If this thing is going on the table as payment for us doing a job, we want the whole thing. If that requires more credits, then money is no issue. I assure you, we've got the capital. I'm also willing to sweeten the deal with a few weapons we've been working on in our labs. Fresh on the market, and very deadly. I s'pose we can toss in a load of Azurite and Iridium, to help soothe your wounds from the war.

-N. Archos
Supreme Guildmaster, The Core

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[The Kingdom of Bretonia]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Whitehall
To: The Core HC, APM Management
From: Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Sir Henry Fairfax, Bretonia

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Yes, I like your offer. But we can't exclude the possibility that someone makes a better one. See, this is what we'll do. We will wait until the tender is nearly expired. And then, then I call you, let you know of that, and you chaps make one final offer, better than any before, without anyone to outbid you because there won't be any time. The government hasn't given the Office a deadline yet, but when they do, you'll be the first to know. Sounds good, eh?

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[Lythrilux]

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»ID: Supreme Guildmaster Nathan Archos
»Location: Durban Station, Omicron Rho
»Subject: Aland
»ENCRYPTION: INVINCIBLE

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Sir Henry Fairfax,

Hmph. I'd like to think that our assistance to Bretonia during the whole Gran Canaria affair would have earned us more than simply being another participant in an auction. Either way, regardless of what happens, Aland is going to end up in our hands at the end of the day. Worst case scenario, our capital ships outside of Aland will just simply remove the would-be owners after auction if for some reason our near-infinite cash flow isn't enough to purchase the shipyard in it's entirety. The best thing about this solution, is that you'd still get to keep your money, and be clean of whatever comes next.

-N. Archos
Supreme Guildmaster, The Core

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[The Kingdom of Bretonia]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Whitehall
To: The Core HC, APM Management
From: Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Sir Henry Fairfax, Bretonia

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That... might prove to be a problem. Whoever we sell it to will certainly demand us to protect it, and a compensation too, if they can't get one from the Core, then from us! But I understand your concern. Agreements should be respected and you are worried that the Cabinet might not respect ours. Frankly, I am worried too. They are all under the influence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Nathan Graham would sell his soul if it was worth anythin'! But alright, we should prepare for that, not lament it. Say Aland is sold to someone else. If we gave the Core full rights over all currently unused alien ruins on Sprague, for free -- and there's quite a lot, as there hasn't been enough funding for any serious excavation -- would the Core refrain from any inappropriate gaffes about who gets Aland?

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[Lythrilux]

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»ID: Supreme Guildmaster Nathan Archos
»Location: Durban Station, Omicron Rho
»Subject: Aland
»ENCRYPTION: INVINCIBLE

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Sir Henry Fairfax,

The Core has been invested in your Omega operations since even before Aland, before Gran Canaria and before I took leadership. When Bretonia is strong in the Omegas, The Core is strong in the Omegas, and vice versa. Deployment of our assets into Omega-3 and Omega-49 have been key to Bretonia making gains. And past that, our shipments of rare and exotic resources, ships and equipment, and Iridium to Bretonia would make us believe we have a special - if not crucial - relationship as compared to the other buyers in the auction.

Offering us some half-used dusty dig sites when we've had your back for a very long time will leave us feeling a bit miffed. Sure, dig sites could be useful, but what is that to a strong base which could manufacture Core Capital ships - two of which we have constructed for Bretonia in the past, and if we have a shipyard in which we can construct them closer to Bretonia, we could build you more. That, or I'm sure APM can continue to construct Bretonian capital ships if need be. They've already got experience through maintaining the Invictus and the Caesar. And Aland could potentially be used as a refinery for Iridium ore closer to Bretonia. Iridium for it's considerable rarity, rendering Nauru pretty much the only known economically viable source in the sector for extracting the metal, is critical in the applications of many naval items such as anti-matter weaponry and ship hulls. If we want to get Bretonia's strength back up, helping Core to help you produce warships more efficiently would be beneficial to your interests. But without Aland, given some of the costs involved, we might have to de-prioritise Bretonia and divert Iridium shipments elsewhere.

Basically, we've had interest in Aland for quite a while, and the presence of our capitals there was to protect it, for the both of us. This isn't the first time Bretonia had offered all, if not part of, Aland for our assistance in the Omega conflicts near the end of the Gallic War. If the station changes hands and the other end of that transaction isn't us, we might be inclined to take action. We both know that if someone else takes ownership, they'd have to actually deal with the process of getting personnel and security to the shipyard from wherever in Sirius they've sent the payment from. That will take time. That could leave the shipyard vulnerable and exposed. Y'know, it looks like we'd be the only people on site. And realistically speaking I don't know if it's worth the security risk and potential vulnerability for you, or within your interests, to suddenly divert your fleet resources back towards Aland just because of some mis-guided obligation or notion that you have to make sure the transaction goes through smoothly after you get your money. The Core assets are already there.

We can keep this seamless. As I said, we'll entertain the thought of paying for this station, and I'm sure we'll meet the Bretonian Government with a very good offer they can't refuse. Let's just make sure we come out of this clean, without any drama or crises, in a way that benefits us both.

-N. Archos
Supreme Guildmaster, The Core

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[Thunderer]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Whitehall
To: The Core HC, APM Management
From: Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Sir Henry Fairfax, Bretonia

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"APM can continue to construct Bretonian capital ships if need be?" Does this mean that Aland will support Bretonian interests in case of another shipyard crisis such as the loss of Southampton was?

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Bretonian Treaty Database Bretonian Armed Forces Recruitment Center
Bretonian Charter of Interstellar Law Bretonian Secrets Act

[Lythrilux]

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»ID: Supreme Guildmaster Nathan Archos
»Location: Durban Station, Omicron Rho
»Subject: Aland
»ENCRYPTION: INVINCIBLE

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Sir Henry Fairfax,

Yes, APM are the best in the sector at what they do. Building Bretonian Capital ships should be no issue if the order is made.

-N. Archos
Supreme Guildmaster, The Core

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[The Kingdom of Bretonia]

Message Class: Audio-Visual

Encryption: Whitehall
To: The Core HC, APM Management
From: Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Sir Henry Fairfax, Bretonia

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Hello again, Mister Archos. Sorry for leavin' you like that, I had to consult with the Cabinet. We deem it somewhat improper that anyone else save a Crown corporation is contracted to produce Bretonian capital ships, but we could make an arrangement. In case of a shipyard crisis for Bretonia, would the APM be open to the idea of leasing Aland to the BMM? Not for free, of course, I think that implies!

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[Lythrilux]

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»ID: Supreme Guildmaster Nathan Archos
»Location: Durban Station, Omicron Rho
»Subject: Aland
»ENCRYPTION: INVINCIBLE

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Sir Henry Fairfax,

Provided we are given enough notice, if possible, then it should be no issue and absolutely doable. We like to think that in both our times of need, we'd be willing to help each other.

-N. Archos
Supreme Guildmaster, The Core

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