Treasure for trash [320 AG]

Extra Canon
1

Archer station’s security was heightened that day. Trade delegates from the Krondel Hossreach and Federated Trade association ware there to discuss a important deal.

The chairman of the governing council spoke

“Friends, if you don’t mind me calling you that, we are honored by your presence. This arrangement is very important to us. Let’s get straight to the point. Helios, as the center of the once mighty gaian empire, has more ruins and scrap than probably any other system in the cluster. A good chunk of that scrap makes up tech lost with the collapse, possibly more advanced than anything we have now. Great tech has been harvested from gaian ruins before, for example the “godspeed” drive, the strong and efficient engine that now powers our lanerunners.
But there’s one big problem to harvesting the scrap from Helios, and that problem is called Corinthia. More precisely New Gaian Order of Corinthia. We have been fighting them over Helios for as long as both of our states exist, and no one has managed to gain the upper hand, Helios has stayed contested and uncontrolled. We need your help to do change that. We ask of your military support to capture and secure Helios, and in exchange the Directorate will give you 15% each of the profit from all scrap gotten from the system, as well as unlimited access to all tech gained from it. What do you say?”

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FAV Point Refuge II
Ekota System
Nation: The Winchester Commonwealth / Federated Trade Association
CMDR Raleigh Vance, Ms. Anastasia “Ana” Starfelt

CMDR Raleigh is a young, human Commander in the Association’s 13th Naval Task Force, and Ana is an Elven Diplomat from the Alissi Periphery. Their ship, the FAV Point Refuge II, one of twenty pocket cruisers in the Association’s service. Recently, they had received an invitation to meet with the Orion Directorate regarding trade agreements.

“All hands, all hands, man action stations, man action stations.”

“Is that needed?”

“Yes ma’am, never know when pirates will present themselves.”

“Fair enough.”

“Helmsman all ahead, bring us into course with the lane.”

“Aye ma’am, All Ahead, bringing course into lane.”

FAV Point Refuge II
Sigmund’s Rest System
Nation: Orion Directorate
CMDR Raleigh Vance, Ms. Anastasia “Ana” Starfelt

“This is FAV Point Refuge II, requesting permission with escort to move onward corresponding to the request in Archer’s Eerie for council of the Federated Trade Alliance, Appreciation in advance.”

Receiving confirmation, they moved onto the next system, Archer’s Eerie.

“Aye, Helmsman continue course.”

“Continue Course into next lane.”

FAV Point Refuge II
Archer Eerie System
Nation: Orion Directorate
CMDR Raleigh Vance, Ms. Anastasia “Ana” Starfelt

“This is FAV Point Refuge II, requesting docking permissions for associated meeting. Thank you.”

“Raleigh, you nervous?”

“Nope. Normal Business. A few attacks in the Free Port does that to you. You going to be okay?”

“Yeah. Ain’t really nothing I can’t handle.”

“Take care, Ana.”

Meeting Room
Archer Eerie System
Nation: Orion Directorate
Ms. Anastasia “Ana” Starfelt

“We’ve been eyeing the situation between the Directorate and the NGOC, and we’re sympathetic to your cause. We’ll provide military support, direct and indirect. We’d like to establish a military outpost in Archer’s Eerie to help with the systems defense, in the event Helio does fall.”

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“Thank you for your offer, Ms. Starfelt. I personally am all for the establishment of a military outpost, but for that the governing council needs to make a vote. I do though expect them to vote for it.”

He pulls up a map on the display

“We have a plan to eventually, as in a few months, lead a full incursion into Helios and try to establish a permanent presence. Now this will definitely cause corinthian backlash. Similar attempts before have all been failures, but with foreign support it could be done.”

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4

The Krondel ambassador carefully studied the display, or at least that’s how it appeared. None could actually see the creature’s face, as his formal robes came up to cover his head in a fashion not dissimilar to an executioner’s hood. He turned to face the Chairman.

“I am going to be honest, if not brutally so. The Hossreach does not care about this little squabble you have over the smoldering remains of an irresponsible empire. We do not need or want your tech, we have our own. That being said… we see great merit in knowing what exactly you decide to start playing with. If another… incident is on the way, we want to know about it beforehand. How much ‘military support’ do you expect of us?”

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“As much as you’re willing to provide, we do not request exact numbers. And you will know about the tech we aquire from the deal. And no incident will probably happen soon, Archer is far too broken to be repaired by just getting some tech.”

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Meeting Room
Archer Eerie System
Nation: Orion Directorate
Ms. Anastasia “Ana” Starfelt

Starfelt’s ears twitched upon hearing the Krondel speak. She felt a shiver go down her spine. Unsure what that could be, she pushed the thought from her mind and continued speaking.

“Regarding trade, are hyperlanes still going to be open?”

“We’ve been kinda stuck in the our little corner of our cluster and would like to trade across the cluster, so if we could have confirmation that we can use these, that’d be amazing.”

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7

“Yes our hyperlanes will remain open to all of your ships as part of the deal, allowing you to trade directly with the whole cluster. I will have to warn you though about piracy. Yes you have pirates in your own part of the cluster, but you haven’t seen this kind of piracy. You have probably heard of the free port of Panasu from your interactions with us, but one must experience a attack by them to truely understand their power. These are large scale organized attacks, larger than anything you have seen before. Panasu has gotten space supremacy over systems before (as in controlled the system not considering planets), though never held it for long. And thanks to Alarian military industries they’re well equiped. This is confidential information, but trough espionage we managed to track that in the last 5 years they have gotten their hands on 50 alarian-made state-of-the-art ships. Alarian is on the bleeding edge of development, not many can say that their tech is better than Alarian’s, if any. It is also well known that Alarian gives prototype weapons to Panasu to test them. The most recent example we managed to trace is them giving 50 units of “project Ragnar” to Panasu to test in a attack. We have no ideas of what it is.”

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The krondel cocked his head.

Pirates are scum, ones that we have no problem purifying the galaxy of. I do not foresee my people venturing there often, but either one of you are free to propose a joint venture against them. As for this ‘alarian technology’, that should not be a significant problem for us. However, there is no honor in putting people in danger out of pure cockiness, so we’d appreciate greater details on it should such a collaboration occur. But, I must ask, if the Alarians are the source, why haven’t you cut the problem off at the head?" As he said this, he made a chopping gesture with his arm.

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9

Meeting Room
Archer Eerie System
Nation: Orion Directorate
Ms. Anastasia “Ana” Starfelt

Starfelt’s ears twitched again. She was writing notes, but she stopped upon hearing the Krondel’s question

“Alarian sells to everybody, attack them and everybody else here gets pissed because they’ve given up their domestic military industry. They all buy from Alarian. So you risk blowing up your supplier if you shoot at Alarian. Not an issue for us, but a big issue for your idea.”

“I expect the Conference to bring a resolution to vote concerning the safety of our two nations, chairman. The Conference will be hosting their first session in a few days. I will be representing the combined interests of the FTA and Orion Directorate, and the benefits therein. Is there anything you wish for me to say on your behalf?”

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10

“Yes, but a small correction. Most nations still have their own defense industries, but they use Alarian equipment to strengthen their supply and capabilities. And not to mention that destroying alarian isn’t some small feat. They pack far above their weight class. A single system state with a navy of 500 ships, not to mention that because of the sale of older ships it is fully up to date and cutting edge. They’re terrifying.”

“Regarding the conference i think you already know all you need to. Orion is a well capable and good partner to your people. The opportunities we can grant each other are endless. I hope that the conference sees that.”

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Meeting Room
Archer Eerie System
Nation: Orion Directorate
Ms. Anastasia “Ana” Starfelt

“Well, I should be going, I have things to report to the Conference. When something happens, I shall return. I thank you all for your time.”

Starfelt leaves.

FAV Point Refuge II
Combat Information Center
Sigmund’s Rest System
Nation: Orion Directorate
CMDR Raleigh Vance

“Helmsman, take point. You know where we’re heading, bring us into route with the hyperlane. Ekota to Acaia, Unitas.”

“Aye ma’am on point.”

“I’m gonna run to the Berthing, grab something out of the heritage room, anybody want anything?”

“Cider.”

“Gotcha.”

FAV Point Refuge II
Berthing “Heritage Room”
Ekota System
Nation: Orion Directorate
CMDR Raleigh Vance, Ms. Anastasia “Ana” Starfelt

“Hey Commander.”

“Hey Ms. Starfelt.”

“Holding up?”

“Yeah. I’m waiting. It’s quiet… Too quiet. The Conference, the upcoming PKCOM deployments, the new Missile Tenders. Somethings being prepared.”

“I feel that, but don’t drink yourself to death.”

“Mhm, I know, Traditional Cider soothes the soul, and it’s tradition on this boat for some nice cider every time the job is done.”

“Take care.”

The Association Conference
Planet: Unitas | The Conference Hall
Nation: The Alissi Periphery / The Federated Trade Association
Secretariat Trace Frackie, Represenative Vanessa Tolisi, Ms. Anastasia “Ana” Starfelt

Forty or so Represenatives of various Systems, Nations, Companies, and a few officers from both PKCOM and CDCOM, each talking among each other, with Starfelt being among them. Eventually, the sound of the gavel of the Secretariat causes the represenatives to go quiet and return to their seats.

“I call to order the The Association Conference of 320 AG. I will sound off on Represenatives as stated and as noted. Is the Ekotan Represantive Vanessa Tolisi, in attendance?”

“Present.”

“Is the…”

Trace works his way down the list of forty represenative

“Is the special delegation for the Establisment of Mutal Treaties with the Orion Directorate present?”

“Present.”

“Then we are ready to proceed…”

Starfelt whispered a quote to herself as proceeding started

“Ālea Iacta Est.”

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The krondel looked between the other members, before once again resting his gaze on the chairman.
"I’m afraid that this is where my authority ends. I must take this matter before the government before I can make any more promises on behalf of the Hossreach. He bowed down his head and backed away from the display.

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14

“I will then also leave for the governing council and bring this up as a priority subject. I hope that our future cooperation is successful and fruitful.”

The chairman was pleased. This went well. The governing council will certainly pass the resolution. Many they’d finally take Helios. Only time will tell.

This marks the end of “treasure for trash”. You can find the story of the following war in “Back to the cradle”

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