Epistolary Experiment (18/20)
FROM: TASK FORCE C-117 (CS THANEBLADE)
TO: CINCCORE; FIELD FLEET COREWARD COMMAND (CS UNCONQUERABLE SELF)
*** ROUTINE
*** EYES ONLY FERVENT SPAN
*** SITREP
INFORMATIONAL:
1. ESTABLISHED FAR PICKET AS PER ORDERS IN SPINDLE SYSTEM.
2. SITUATION NOMINAL. NO HOSTILE CONTACTS.
3. AUTHENTICATION WILDCAT PAWN INCARNADINE ASH MAGMA SLIVER / 0x11EA49BD629A1132
VADM. EXPRY VALIN-ITH-VALADINE
<Calis Corith> We’re getting a lot of pressure in the Conclave to divert forces to kick the Republican remnants out of the Bantine systems. Opinions?
<Releq Claves-ith-Lelad> We could do it with a pair of task forces. Easy enough.
<Calis Corith> Do we want to?
<Istry 0x9987DCBD> For goodwill, perhaps?
<Athenril Vianath> From the Bants!?
<Istry 0x9987DCBD> I was thinking more of the rest of the Accord.
<Athenril Vianath> Calis, most of this pressure is coming from the Interstellar League of Tribal Chiefdoms and the Socionovists, right?
<Calis Corith> Most. Not all, but most.
<Athenril Vianath> So they’re going to find reasons to oppose whatever we do. I propose we avoid getting stuck in that tar-pit and ask some of our lesser allies with smaller logistic spheres to tackle the job, through back-channels. What’s left of the Bantine authorities won’t throw a fit, it’ll disarm the Socionovists’ main reason for getting in the way, and the job will still get done.
<Istry 0x9987DCDB> And the credit goes elsewhere.
<Athenril Vianath> How much do we care?
<Istry 0x9987DCDB> It’s convenient when people owe us favors. But it does seem the best option on the table right now. Affirm.
<Releq Claves-ith-Lelad> Affirm.
<Calis Corith> Affirm, but get your meme-wranglers figuring out the best way I can sell this.
– from the Ministry of State and Outlands internal policy memeweave
From: Adm. [blank], Imperial Naval Intelligence
To: Imogen Andracanth, VP Research, Ring Dynamics
Subject: UNSEEN KEY; info req.
Security: EYES ONLY UNSEEN KEY
Nothing in current records.
We have some partial matches in found londian historical records that would correspond to a system perhaps eighty-four light-orbits from Vonis Prime, plus or minus twenty for parallax, but they’re pre-nomadic period, from around minus 100,000 – pre-Imperial, pre-Worlds, pre-Republic. It doesn’t seem relevant.
“…we’ve lost most of the outlying towns on Ódeln at this point to guerillas and local militia forces, backed up by the local mercenary cadre. We’re still holding the capital and the starport at this time, but we’re bottled up there by entrenched forces, and our network support is dubious at best. I repeat: I need clearance to use my orbital fire support, and I need reinforcements. Without them, I won’t be able to hold the planet. This is…”
– Republic communications intercept, received (and subsequently jammed)
by Interstellar Interceders forces in Ódeln System
“Admiral, along the rimward routes out of Uinul System, in the last month alone I’ve lost half a dozen fuel tankers, eight other freighters, three personnel transports, and their crews, and that’s just those specifically assigned to your logistics! I am losing ships, I am losing men, and the Fleet isn’t doing a damned thing about it.
“Find these commerce-raiding brigands and stop them. My people are being slaughtered trying to keep up your optempo, and we cannot sustain these losses, not for nothing. If we don’t get some Fleet support, I’m taking this to Admiral Sijntar and shutting down these branch routes.”
“Commodore Lath Iqevar, Logistics Command”
– Republic communications intercept, received at Tarqil (Crimson Expanse)
From: Lt. Halet Makeer, VNS Social Harmony
To: Simichie Anant
Subject: Re: Homemade cookies!
The cookies were delicious. I’ll have finished them all soon.