So, my lazy, loose-lipped, all-around-useless-yet-somehow-miraculously-still-alive sister decides to write to me for the first time in I believe over a year, and it's to ask a favour, but on someone else's behalf. She assures me it's something I would be interested in, and she does know me, if very little else. Something related to my field of study.
incoming transmission detected...
signal source identified: crimson.veil
establishing secure connection...
video feed active from: Crimson Veil to: Katherine Pennybrooke subject: Your field
. . .
"I'm quite... impressed by how quickly your sister helped me get in touch. She must be a very kind person. Or perhaps she misses you but needs an excuse to avoid seeming intrusive?"
"Anyway, nice to meet you, Miss Pennybrooke. Most people these days call me Crimson Veil. I represent the Bundschuh; more specifically, their branch, the Platform. I apologize if I was a bit reserved and reticent when I spoke directly with your sister. The journey from Rheinland was long and not without its challenges."
"I am currently actively preparing for a journey to a place... of the brightest light... Ahem. Sorry. A place suspected of having a high level of radiation. It's possible I'll have to interact with the object of my interest while in outer space. Therefore, I would like to acquire reliable personal radiation protection... Ideally, one that doesn't restrict my movements too much."
"You've been described as a weather specialist. Since radiation is a fairly common "weather" in some parts of Sirius, I'm hoping you have the expertise to assist me."
"I can compensate you for your efforts with credits or other items that might be of value to you."
Bundschuh. I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't that. Burdensome though she is, I suppose I'm as easy to get pulled into Elise's nonsense as I was thirty years ago.
Your penchant for overly dramatic codenames aside, I'm assuming you must have researched intel regarding my person. To quote from your good friends the Order's "Known Sympathizers/Infected" database, which they have helpfully made available to the public: "Katherine Pennybrooke - Presumed Infected".
That's not true, for what my word is worth, but as you'll likely take theirs over mine, you must be desperate indeed if you're still willing to reach out to me.
But I'm a scientist first and foremost, so I'll take the matter for the sober engineering challenge it is. I couldn't have done much exploring myself if I hadn't had help, and pioneering is ultimately what drives our species forward. Let me hear some details about these weather conditions you intend to brave.
incoming transmission detected...
signal source identified: crimson.veil
establishing secure connection...
video feed active from: Crimson Veil to: Katherine Pennybrooke subject: Specifics
. . .
"Our collaboration with the Order has borne many fruits, but I hardly care about every name on their hit list. I prefer to maintain a more flexible stance on potential dealings. Especially when it comes to my own survival, Miss Pennybrooke."
"I also like having options. So please don't mistake my willingness to cooperate for desperation. I have other solutions, but if your defense method proves most effective, I will use it. Or not. Either way, I will deliver whatever price you name, as long as it's reasonable enough."
"Now, regarding the details... Unfortunately, I can't provide a complete picture—for the simple reason that my destination remains a mystery even to me. Many places, such as the Deep Omega systems, remain incompletely explored. However, I would like to be prepared to encounter radioactive emissions similar to those emanating from the neutron star in the infamous Omega-41 system. Radiation is probably the most common nuisance in space, short of a hostile presence. I also don't rule out the possibility of a pulsar star, although I hope that won't happen."
"I don't foresee a long stay in such an environment, however, as I said, it's quite possible that I'll have to go into outer space for a short period of time. To directly interact with the remains of lost vessels."
incoming transmission detected...
signal source identified: crimson.veil
establishing secure connection...
video feed active from: Crimson Veil to: Katherine Pennybrooke subject: Update
. . .
"It looks like my journey will begin this Sunday. Unfortunately, I can't delay."
"I understand that high-quality work requires more time. Still, if you could send me, say, the blueprints, that would be wonderful. I have production capacity that should be sufficient for this kind of equipment."
The southern Omegas. An intriguing prospect, I have done some tentative prodding into some of the newly stabilized connections myself, but I have little in the way of connections or backup in the area, so I've been cautious. Certainly, I have some technical suggestions for stellar proofing that might be useful for such an expedition, depending on the details.
But I have to say, your time-table here is wildly optimistic. You wish to go from vague correspondence to manufacture of specialized equipment in a few days? I doubt I'd even be able to adequately review the technical details of whatever vessel you're using in that time, nevermind draft up blueprints of my own.
I'm willing to help, but I'm afraid you have wholly unrealistic expectations of the timeframes involved in this sort of work.
If we do figure something out though, and are to discuss compensation: There is no monetary sum you are likely to have access to that will mean anything to me. I'm fortunate enough in that regard. But you might have or obtain information I'd be interested in. Results of your likely ill-fated expedition for example, or perhaps something related to the happenings in Rheinland.
incoming transmission detected...
signal source identified: crimson.veil
establishing secure connection...
video feed active from: Crimson Veil to: Katherine Pennybrooke subject: Information
. . .
"Overall, I have a pretty clear idea of what I'd like to achieve. I need a personal protection suit capable of withstanding the intense radiation in the outer space. Something that would allow me to navigate such an environment more easily would also be useful. Perhaps a miniature integrated thruster. Just to be clear, I don't expect you to invent a completely new prototype in a couple of days. All I need... is a sufficiently protective hazmat suit, in essence. Perhaps even something you already have in your possession, given your field of interests."
"As for my choice of vessel, it's the 07A "Anubis", a very heavy fighter developed by the Order. Sturdy enough to survive on the frontiers, and with sufficient firepower when all else fails. I hope you understand that I can't afford to share information about this group's technology, otherwise I risk ending up next to you on their lists. Which is something I'd like to avoid."
"There are two things of note in the current situation in Rheinland. The first is the unusually high level of Unioner activity. The second... concerns a major clash with Nomad forces near our base in Cologne. I have some information on both: I was involved in limited negotiations with the Unioners, as well as in combat with the Nomads who had approached one of the places we call home."
"Let me know if either of these matters interests you, Miss Pennybrooke."
I'll try to work with your schedule then. I do in fact have an extra spacesuit that would likely suit your demands. Appropriate shielding, maneuvering, integrated cutting and sampling tools. I have used such a unit to examine, shall we say, objects under environmental conditions that most would consider unsuitable for space walks. I think even the Zoners at Five are unlikely to possess equipment of its capability.
I really cannot do much for your craft, especially since it is of a type I have little experience with. Or rather, not the type of experience that would matter. Though I could give some general calibration suggestions.
I could deliver the suit to somewhere in the general region within schedule, I don't know where you wish to start your expedition, Heisenberg or perhaps Gran Canaria would seem a reasonable port.
I'm certainly interested in both the topics you mention, and would be happy to hear more as a trade. Plus of course the implicit understanding that I might call in a return favour one day - not something you could realistically guarantee to be able to provide, naturally, just an honour.
incoming transmission detected...
signal source identified: crimson.veil
establishing secure connection...
video feed active from: Crimson Veil to: Katherine Pennybrooke subject: Rheinland
. . .
"The Unioners, for as long as I can remember, have been little more than self-aggrandizing bandits driven by their lust for plunder. Much like modern-day Xenos, many of them have long forgotten what they once fought for. People from whom you would naturally expect a knife in the back and vile betrayal when it suits them. After all, those who have betrayed even their own once-cherished ideals would hardly find it difficult to betray us. I don't think any of us expected their surge in activity to be anything other than brutality fueled by greed."
"However... Lately, I've seen a somewhat different picture, Miss Pennybrooke."
"Their way of making a statement was quite... peculiar. Imagine waking up at your station to a message on every device from a half-naked old man delivering a fiery speech. Luckily, I wasn't personally on Bruschal at the time, but the information quickly reached me. As did a lot of outrage."
"While they certainly managed to attract attention, I think they overdid it. For many, such a flamboyant performance was a kind of brazen act on their part... But I heard their words through the shock value. They seek reconciliation. They think we want the same things. I'm not sure that's really true, but as I said before, I try to be flexible in such matters. Politics is a nasty thing, where yesterday's friends can turn into today's enemies at the drop of a hat, and vice versa."
"We met them in the Hamburg system, where they confirmed their intentions, after which the dialogue devolved into a litany of mutual grievances and old wounds that have little relevance today. And will have even less relevance tomorrow. Again, I heard the main thing — their consistent intent. So far, it has been largely confirmed in practice: I have not heard of a single organized attack by Unioner forces on any of our assets. This is certainly a good start, but to melt the frozen hearts of my friends, they will need more than simply maintaining distance."
"They need to demonstrate... Humanity. And perhaps... Sacrifice. Then, possibly, we can look them in the eye and call them our lost brothers and sisters in the fight against the corrupt, filthy parody of a government from which the Rheinland is long overdue for cleansing. But this, of course, is utopia."
"As for their primary focus, we've recorded their growing interest in the Zurich and Cologne systems. My primary guess is that Liberty, for one reason or another, has ceased to be of the same interest to them and they see Gallia as a replacement. The Gallic Navy's growing activity in the same systems also hints at this. I'm afraid the true reason for their fiery speeches and words of unity is a fear of fighting on multiple fronts while they attempt to expand into new territory. Appeasing us is currently convenient for them and, unfortunately, doesn't make it any easier for them to convince my friends of their pure intentions, if indeed they are as such."
"Now about the Nomads. On the night of January 3rd to 4th of this year, a small group of my friends and I, myself, were returning from a brief trip into the nearby Omega systems. As we approached Saverne, we detected unusual readings on our long-range scanners. After performing basic repairs, we headed toward the signal with minimal delay. What we discovered was... disturbing. One of the largest Nomads I've ever seen, later identified as "Harbinger". I'll add an image to the attachments to this post. Forces from a wide variety of parties present in the system, including MND, Rheinland Military, Gallic Navy, the Order, and so on, forgot all grievances and united with us for the sake of our shared survival."
"Nothing brings people together like the threat of imminent death, right?"
"The specimen demonstrated... anomalous capabilities, previously unseen by me. Numerous smaller brethren of this Nomad appeared on the spot, perhaps transported or created right there. The specimen itself repeatedly transformed into a gaseous form, invulnerable to damage by standard weaponry. While we fought for our lives, it... seemed to find the whole thing amusing."
"Perhaps it was exhausted by the prolonged battle. Or perhaps it was simply satisfied with this show of force. But ultimately, it vanished, leaving most of us unharmed. I believe the only reason a battle of this magnitude on the Rheinland border didn't make headlines is the deliberate attempt by governments to conceal what was happening to avoid panic. Which, in fact, is quite typical of them."
"I'd be interested in your advice on calibrating my fighter. Heisenberg would be the most suitable delivery location—close enough to my usual place of work."
"I will remain open to assisting you in your endeavours to the best of my ability. Ultimately, I think we both can benefit from long-term cooperation."
Your extensive response is much appreciated. I don't visit the houses very often, and I like to think myself smart enough to view the mixed news reports and articles I rely on for information about political developments with adequate scrutiny, so first-hand reports are always appreciated. I'm certainly no expert in Rheinland politics, so you may imagine myself nodding politely without as much understanding of the overall dynamics between Bundschuh and Unioners as I'd like to have, but this is the sort of thing that helps.
For the sake of brevity, I can't exactly go into a full deep-dive of my philosophical leanings, but suffice to say I consider myself a pacifist and a humanist, and in my experience the various outlawed political organizations of the houses have claims that exceed or at least match their respective governments' in utopian ambition. So, colour me at least sympathetic to this apparent warming of relations between your groups. I'd also consider myself an optimist, so perhaps I would fall into the camp of the "pure intentions assumers", were I a member of yours.
As for the latter incident, that's also an interesting report. I won't presume the ability to scry into ol' Harby's intentions, mercurial even by their standards. I don't think I've ever seen him make in appearance in that region, but he does have the tendency to pop up in unexpected places.
At any rate, I've arrived at Heisenberg with your gear. I hope I didn't miss your departure.
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