Location: 'The Solace'
Source: Marseilles Communications Relay
-->Initiating Playback
Melusine, hey.
How do you f...fare fleur des ét...étoiles? Busy as ever, I imagine.
Listen, I ur... well, after you shared with me the news about Civil Servant's intentions I've not been able to get the to...t...topic off the mind. I hope it works out for them, truly, but ur... well, what if it doesn't? It's a delicate play. Bold but fraught with risk. Fuck, it's even morally admirable. Hard not to admire the guy. Yet...I've been on t...th...the receiving end of an Artificial Intelligence's callous whims one too many times to trust it'll pan out. I'd rather be proved wr...wrong, but be prepared to be right. I've been thinking there needs to be a c...co...contingency. One removed fr...from those in play on this plan in case there's any subversion. I doubt those in the Pl...platform would work with me anyhow given their membership. I don't blame them... but that's not the point. The point is, if for whatever reason it goes south, there's a backup.
I've got to try. I feel the screws loosening from inaction. I've been jumped on by squadrons with scrambled IFF's a few times now. I get the sense it's re...related somehow to everything that's happened. It began after that fight in Earhart against those Nomads after all, and faith in coincidence is running short. They're going to get me one day if I don't d...do something about it. I can't af...afford to be naïve about this anymore...[sighs]
What a tr...trauma dump. Anyhow, the point is I need to get my shit together and st...start working on this contingency plan. I've got a few ideas in mind, but ur... well, I'm just one person and we both know I'm not much of a fighter pilot. This is going to take allies. Allies with means, wherewithal, and a sense of discretion that run in separate circles to Civil's lot. So... with that in mind, I've got a some questions to ask of you Mel.
You mentioned you'd come to some kind of understanding with folks up here in Gallia. Who does that include, and who among them might I trust with something like this? This is likely going to take folks with both constr...construction capabilities and facilities for developing 'creative' solutions. Is there a big fish you th...think we could trust? I'm wondering if reaching out to one of the Houses might be the call, complicated as that is.
Do you know anyone who'd be willing to hook me up with some proper training? Flying about in a DS-2 Voy...Vo...Voyager just isn't safe anymore, and action mi...might need to be taken if worst comes to worst. Know anyone who might be able to sort out a crew of military minded folks trustyworthy enough if it's needed?
She looked tired. Exhausted, even. With a background resembling metallic insides of a station or a ship, that were patched up so many times, that there was no original material left. Yet, she bore a slight, weak, but friendly smile.
"Being busy, oui, part of the job, a bless and a curse. But faring well, I suppose that's a thing to be glad about."
She made a short pause. And continued after a sigh. For a moment, seriousness came into play, casting a shadow on previously lighter mood.
"I... Did hear of your.. Conflict with some of the Platformers, yes. Past is past, if you ask me, and I hope they will think the same, at least, with time. I can try helping with that, but it will be your call. At the very least, I think it will be possible to work with them through Civil Servant himself. It's very unlikely that he won't be eager to help out with seeking a precaution and solution."
"You running into those unknowns is more concerning, however. We both know what can be behind this, as well as it can still be a coincidence. What I would like to know, is where did you stumble upon them, what ship were they flying. Thinking on that front can help figuring out what is going on and what's behind it. Betteour to know, than to make infinite guesses, after all."
Another sigh. And the agent became more lively once more.
"Yes, contacting a House can be a right call, given that is, as you've mentioned, complicated. To put it mildly, even, since working 'together' from the House's perspective is 'working for them'. At the same time there is Order, they will gladly take part in that endevour, yet you will need to be ready to be recruited. Whilst it's safe... It's a burden, accepted and important, yet still a burden."
"..Gallia. Well. Union Corse isn't really around as of late, though they still missing being trustworthy. Not like I trust more than a mere dozen from all of the people around, Sirius included.
Anyway, the House of Gallia. I have made contact with the GNI, but it is.. Complicated. I would need to offer them something, I suppose. For now it was only me asking for things. And they don't meet AI around this parts.. To put that simple - not their problem."
Once again, she made a short stop in her speech. Just to raise a glass of water for a moment and fix a drought in her throat.
"I will think on this."
"...And, the crew? Are you planning on commanding.. Oh my. You know I know a couple of people on Barrier Gate, but.. I will think on that too. However there are no people as trustworthy as those coming to my mind right now."
"Stay safe, Thal. Looking forward for a response. Au revoir."
Location: 'The Solace'
Source: Marseilles Communications Relay
-->Initiating Playback
Hey Andrea,
I'll ha...handle things with the Platformers, d...d...don't worry. I'm not proud of how we found ourselves in th...that situation. Apart from reaching out to Civil, pr...probably best I keep an eye from afar. Ironic really... but that's life.
Mhm. These scrambled IFF 'unknown' folks have b...been popping up. Starting near Ithaca after a battle in Earhart. Some nomad craft were engaged with Libertonians. I thought I'd help them out, and th...then on the scramble out fought off some Rheinlanders. Military hardware I th...think.
Most recently was Tau-31. A squadron of Kusari Fighters that were then later jo...joined by Rheinlander bombers. That was a close call. A few near misses the Voyager just about scraped through. That was just before those Outcasts showed up looking for their missing persons. We're of the mind these 'unknowns' took them out.
Do you remember the time in Vespucci, early in our knowing each other, when 'Entity' tried to dissolve out the hull of the Aletheia and, whilst we were on the run, we had those 'Unknown' IFF Bretonians turn up near Halifax? It's been a lot like that. A DS-2 isn't going to cut it. I've been keeping an eye on a few deals for a Montante. Little room for the more intensive kit but ur... it's starting to feel necessary. Given it's on Barrier, might be a good time to meet with those friends of yours there?
Yeah... I mean, even just the security of working from within House space with all their resources would be a real dream but it's that control element, you know? Understandably th...they'd want to know everything. A bit risky, not sure how to walk that line without the risk of them co-opting my work. Or, frankly... just imprisoning me. I'll need to be careful about who I approach on that front. Gallia would al...almost be ideal but you're right. Why'd they care enough to help? What does working with the Order look like? Have they got the means to produce what we mi... well, I guess right? All those capitals vessels must come from somewhere. You think they'd let me work freely, or be just as hands on?
You look terribly tired, Andrea. You so...sound drained too. You're usually co...c...cool as a cucumber, and you've only looked this tired before when something real bad has been happening. Something like Andry. Is something up? How about we meet up at Barrier? Have a ch...chat, grab some noodles?
"Those 'Unknowns' are... Concerning. Especially when you mention Rheinlanders being around Taus. The patterns are too clear to ignore, yes. Though their apprearance still might be a coincidence, if that was the last time we crossed our paths in those parts. I still think It is very much interested. In both of us."
"..Thinking about it, getting a tougher hull is even more justified. But it needs a good crew, which is a luxury. I... Honestly don't know if my Barrier friends are willing to leave behind their another life. But we'll see, yes? In the same time, maybe that's what they need, judging by how a bit too tranquil they are."
"Houses are Houses and nowadays - Gallia is no different from any other we have on the table. It could've been, but... Alas. Order, on the other hand, is... They will want to have their eyes on you. You will have to report in from time to time, you will be pledged to duty we all share, without walking away easily. But besides that, at least, safety is coming in as well, together with help needed."
"We betteour meet on Barrier and discuss things.. In person. Feels like a right thing to do, since we both have time for it."
"See you soon, Thallia. Give me a ring if you are going there not by trade lanes and gates. Au revoir."
Location: 'The Solace'
Source: Marseilles Communications Relay
-->Initiating Playback
Hey,
Looking forward to it. I'll be heading up from Newcastle on the lanes up into Coronado and cruising in from there. Should be safe enough, though I h...h...had thought that about Tau-31.
Tr...travel safe, and give a ping if you come across any trouble. You've n...not told me it's been interested in you. You better be ready for a bucket load of questions.
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