Encrypted Message to The Grand Vizier

Moff_Pike

Date: Monday, 10 Oct 2011, 11:25 PM | Message # 1

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Office of Moff Pike
Doldur
Doldur Sector

To: Sate Pestage
Grand Vizier

From: Kristoph Pike
Moff of the Doldur Sector

Encryption: Gamma Gold

Grand Vizier,

I am currently looking into the situation that has developed around Monor II and its continued complications of the Cirrifog mining. I will be keeping you informed of my findings and at the end of my inquiry, I will inform you of the best course of action, and pending the acceptance and approval, I will take the proper action.

Signed,

Added (05 Oct 2011, 8:50 PM)
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Office of Moff Pike
Doldur
Doldur Sector

To: Sate Pestage
Grand Vizier

From: Kristoph Pike
Moff of the Doldur Sector

Encryption: Gamma Gold

Subject: Inquiry on Monor II

Grand Vizier,

I have continued my inquiry into the events of Monor II and have received copies of communications from various sources that have had dealings with Monor II and its ruler Agapos. Once my office finishes digging through the documents, I will be making the appropriate suggestions in dealing with Monor II once the documents have been looked over.

Signed,

Added (11 Oct 2011, 0:25 Am)
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Office of Moff Pike
Doldur
Doldur Sector

To: Sate Pestage
Grand Vizier

From: Kristoph Pike
Moff of the Doldur Sector

Encryption: Gamma Gold

Subject: Inquiry on Monor II

Grand Vizier,

My Office has looked over extended amounts of files and communications all involving the Cirrifog mining on Monor II. Through all the fact finding it has become clear that two different Moffs have looked into mining operations on Monor II. While one failed, the security forces of which cited that they were not willing, nor did they feel safe in handing over a fleet to such a radical lead as Agapos, the other seems to have been able to secure mining rights, however, he has also provided Agapos with a larger fleet and more ships. It would also appear that Agapos is advocating the attack of E.P.I.C. vessels that operate in the Doldur Sector, actions which Imperial Laws and my own Oath of service prohibit me from overlooking. That is why I must propose the immediate take over of all Cirrifog mining on Monor II by the Empire, under the direct command of my Office in the Doldur Sector. I also suggest that Monor II have its Guardian Class Light Cruisers confiscated, and turned over to the Imperial Navy for proper reassignment and duties.

Signed,

Kristoph Pike
Moff of the Doldur Sector

Sate_Pestage

Date: Friday, 21 Oct 2011, 8:07 PM | Message # 2

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Moff Pike,
(cc: Dorian Covell, Gregorious Gemmell)

Kristoph, I thank you for conducting this fact-finding investigation, as Druckenwell has carried on in an impenetrable manner in its dealings with Monor II, with little and in most cases no consultation with the Ruling Council or the Empire's various bureaus for the exploitation of minerals and other resources. The Ruling Council is grateful for your investigation and your recommendations, particularly as they concern Agapos--a subversive religionist if ever there was one, and not someone who should be in possession of capital-class vessels of a sort that's in widespread Imperial use. The Ruling Council is almost certain to concur with your recommendation on the confiscation of these Guardian-class cruisers, but I suspect there must be additional consideration of the current cirrifog arrangements before the Empire puts a halt to them.

As I understand it, these arrangements include a number of companies that have enlisted the support of Imperial Senators. We will need to tread carefully, gentlemen, bearing in mind the Empire's foremost priority is that the cirrifog supply is assured. It is possible that the current arrangement, which seems to be a stable one that is not disadvantageous to the Empire (not including its supply of arms to Agapos), could indeed assure this for us. Vizier Covell, Vizier Gemmell, what are your thoughts on this?

Sate Pestage
Grand Vizier of the Empire
Assistant to Emperor Palpatine
Chair of the Imperial Senate

Gemmell

Date: Friday, 21 Oct 2011, 8:31 PM | Message # 3

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Grand Vizier,

I believe that the view of Agapos as a "subversive religionist" may be somewhat on the mark. I have taken some time to study him and while he does appear to be religious and so bound by an irrational doctrine he also appears to be a canny political operator with a sense of pragmatism. His recent legislative acts regarding religion and constitutional principles are framed in extremely moderate and secular terms. Indeed in the new Monor II constitution he explicitly recognizes the Emperor as his overlord and renders his "Loyalty and Fealty" to the Emperor.

However, I would not think it unlikely that if we were to take over mining directly we would end up causing a direct conflict with the King. While we could subdue Monor II, I think we are all aware how bloody religious wars can be - we would undoubtedly have a reduction of Cirrifog production for a long period of time.

To be honest, his fleet isn't a threat to anybody - consisting as it does of IPV-1 Patrol Craft (which would take several years to reach even their close neighbour Druckenwell) and several Guardian-class ships (hardly ideal offensive vessels). If we confiscate the vessels we will lose the wiling cooperation of their local staff - such a strike could be devastating as Cirrifog harvesting is a skilled trade and it would take time to either round them up and force them to work for us or train new operators.

The balance of power appears to work? We have a company owned by an Imperial Moff and Druckenwell controlling the majority of the exploitation of the Cirrifog - surely this is a desirable situation? Agapos IX appears fairly disinterested in foreign policy after the Verilia affair and has given Druckenwell representation rights, I hardly think he is likely to upset the status quo at present.

The previous exploitation was handled poorly, I think Moff Verilia has a lot to answer for in the way he explicitly broke a contract with the Monor II Government - while they are Aliens they do seem exquisitely able to study law and to breach a contract with such litigious fellows is foolish in the extreme.

Essentially as I see it

Positives of Status Quo
- Exploitation is at an unprecedented rate with that rate growing.
- Reasonable operators are managing the flow.
- Agapos maintains a fairly weak military (no hyperspace mobile turbolasers for example), he is subservient and shepherds his people to follow the Imperial fold and has introduced secular reforms.
- The taxes are being paid.
- Agapos is making efforts to "crack down" on Anti-Imperial Extremists on his world.

Negatives of the Status Quo
- Bruised egos for Moff Verilia/Pike

Positives of Conflict with Agapos (seizures, taking over mining)
- Complete control of exploitation of Cirrifog.
- Neutralization of "threats" posed by Agapos.

Negatives of Conflict with Agapos (seizures, taking over mining)
- We lose all native support and rather than having complicit workers we now have a religiously zealot population hell bent against us.
- Cirrifog production would stop for a long time.
- Various Deaths and Loss of Material involved in subjugating the Monor II population.
- We become involved in a religious conflict.

To put it in religious terminology, better the Devil we know than the Devil we don't.

If I might suggest an alternative proposal:

We require Agapos IX to publically pledge allegiance and fealty to the Emperor, we require he accept us assigning a Political Officer to his retinue to make sure he is up to no nefarious business.

We buy up the 45% of the Cirrifog Exploitation rights still available and have the Imperial Mining Bureau exploit them as we wish, in the meantime we can train up workers to exploit the Cirrifog so making a later takeover easier if we have any problems with Agapos IX.

I am sure we can get the "Priest-Prince" to concede to these demands and this way we take over neatly a large portion with no conflict or problems. Then when the contracts are up for review in 5 years we purchase the shares owned by Druckenwell and Moff Cole (I am sure they can be persuaded not to re-bid) thus putting us in 100% of the exploitation within 5 years with none of the conflict which would ensue from a hostile takeover.

Lord Gregorious Gemmell
Advisor to the Emperor
Imperial Ruling Council

Message edited by Gemmell - Friday, 21 Oct 2011, 8:41 PM