A Kingly Gift [ATTN: GPE]

[The Ctan]

Transmission Source: Telissat Amris, Arnstorana of the Great Civilization of the C’tan
Destination: Alexander Blaken-Kazansky - Emperor of Greater Prussia, Cassiopiea Blaken-Kazansky – Empress of Greater Prussia, Sirithil nos Fëanor – Arch-Treasurer of Greater Prussia, Secretary of State Norton Simons – New Dornalia.
Subject: A Yuletide Gift
Security: N/A - Open Letter

Dear Friends,

I hope that this letter finds you well. Some time, and much water under the bridge ago, it was discussed by my predecessor that we should contribute new resoures to the Greater Prussian Empire. Although much has happened since then, we have been continuing to develop some of these projects as a courtesy since our detachment from the Greater Prussian Empire, although at a lower priority.

We have now completed one such project, the Frederick-class missile destroyer, intended to be used by the Alliance Fleet. We have now completed one hundred and twenty of these vessels at one of our shipyards, and offer these now as a gesture of reconciliation. I have attached full design specifications.

We are aware that some well versed in history will allege that our products have previously included safeguards designed to prevent the use of classified technologies in an impecunious way. The Frederick-class incorporates no proprietary technology of the Great Civilization that would compel the installation of such safeguards, and herefore there are none installed; though they are based around logistical supplies available chiefly from Menelmacar and ourselves, we do not see this as a problem. We are sure that our Menelmacari brethren would be happy to confirm that no such control devices or monitoring systems exist, should any security concerns exist.

The initial production tranche of warships comprises two hundred and forty, intended to replace the oldest two hundred ships in Imperial service; as such we would like to gift one hundred and eighty ships to the Greater Prussian Imperial Navy, Twenty to the Imperial Guard of Greater Prussia and the remaining forty to the New Dornalian Navy in recognition of its sterling work in building peace and security throughout the galaxy.

May The Greater Prussian Empire Flower Forever Free,
Telissat Amris

[Allanea]

Reichsburg Winter Palace, Reichsburg, Capital of Greater Prussia

”I believe that, were your illustrious Husband here, he would make some quote about Danaans and their gifts.” - Colonel Morrison said, looking at Cassiopeia.

“Please rest assured I am not foolish enough to actually trust the Necrontyr.” - Cassiopeia said. “I am however, also not foolish enough to refuse their gift.”

“...beg pardon, Your Imperial Majesty?” - the Colonel was well aware that Alexander Blaken-Kazansky did not bother with his titles, and was content to be addressed merely as “Sir.” He knew also that Cassiopeia took the matter of her crown very, very seriously.

“You understand, of course, that we do not have any evidence that there is anything wrong with the ships, and that a Menelmacari inspection of the vessels will not reveal anything wrong with them. Nobody would suggest such an inspection if, at any turn of events, it were likely that it would turn anything up.... Although, of course, we will still conduct an inspection.” - Cassiopeia said. “It would also be against my responsibilities as Empress and Queen to turn down any weapon, or piece of equipment, or sum of money that would better the interests of Greater Prussia.”

“There is still the possibility that this is a ploy of the Great Civilization, Your Imperial Majesty.” - the Colonel said, calmly.

“There is not a possibility, there is a certainty, Thomas. The Necrontyr do not do anything at all unless it is a ploy. No doubt the goal is to improve relations with us after the previous series of debacles. But let me play along with you: let us assume momentarily that the ships have a hidden monitoring device, or perhaps even a hidden bomb that somehow evades all inspections even by Menelmacari technology.” - Cassiopeia said. “We can minimize all risk by tasking them to tasks where they will not be used for strategically vital missions, because I am not totally fucked in the head.”

For a moment, the Queen pondered what she would say next, as she looked at the painting on the wall in front of her, a vast canvas portraying Napoleon IV Sanglant on a rearing horse, his sabre in his upraised hand.

“We should not allow any appearance that we owe the necrontyr anything at all. For this reason, I would like Prussian authorities to look at the possibilities for a gift for the Great Civilization. Perhaps vessels for their bluewater fleet, which I do know they maintain. Perhaps even organize a stabbing of some of their enemies.”

“Would this not, essentially, make us their friend?”

“Happily, most - say, three-quarters - of their enemies are people whom we are already planning to kill. It’s just a matter of rearranging our schedule, perhaps. Pencil in some religious fanatics ahead of the Communists, or some racialists. Let me think...”

*

Transmission Source: Cassiopeia Blaken-Kazansky – Empress of Greater Prussia
To: Telissat Amris, Arnstorana of the Great Civilization of the C’tan
CC: Sirithil nos Fëanor – Arch-Treasurer of Greater Prussia, Secretary of State Norton Simons – New Dornalia.
Subject: A Yuletide Gift
Security: N/A - Open Letter

Greetings!

I approve of the new ships, and particularly of their internal layout and decor, and thus gratefully accept them. The first action will be to assign two of them as GPS Nargothronde and GPS Dorthonion, as advanced training vessels for naval officers and crew, to generate crews for other ships of the class, and to later designate additional vessels as needed. The Imperial Guard actually does not require a naval capacity of its own at the moment but it’s possible that we will organize one at a later date.

On a more pertinent point, how is the bluewater navy of the Great Civilization doing? I believe that there was once a fleet of arsenal ships you’ve managed to fund with OHTO money, are these still afloat or have you managed to get them to explode spectacularly in yet another, I am sure amusing, prank on some other group of dirtbags?

Yours,
Cassiopeia.
P.S. I am sending you, by diplomatic courier post, the painting Perseus and Andromeda, by an award-winning painter from Allanea. I’m sure you will find a proper place to display it.

[The Ctan]

Transmission Source: Telissat Amris, Arnstorana of the Great Civilization of the C’tan
Destination: Cassiopiea Blaken-Kazansky – Empress of Greater Prussia, Alexander Blaken-Kazansky - Emperor of Greater Prussia
Subject: The second day of Christmas
Security: N/A - Open Letter

Dear Cassiopeia,

Thank you for the painting, which has now been installed inside me. A phrasing I hope has never been included in this kind of missive before. Specifically it’s decorating the antechamber of my ceremonial bridge spaces. Cela thinks it’s a terrible symbology and protests that she’s not a coastal drake at all. I thought that might amuse you.

Speaking of coasts, we currently have no bluewater navy, our current needs don’t include such a thing, though as you are aware we did have a substantial number of missile ships constructed during the OHTO affair that were later used (with limited effect) in Operation Recompense against the slaver domain of Emporer [sic] Pudu. We still have some of these Bulk Missile Conveyers available and some civilian designs altered for the Pudu operation in harbours in the Worldspine Mountain region, but they aren’t crewed at the present time, and maintained by automatons.

We also maintain the Seroic Confederate fleet which was brought out of retirement for some use in the Iesian Campaign, those ships have again returned to museum status but are operational though without munitions loaded and still exceed the mode-terran technology level.

We also constructed an experimental craft a while back to assess the utility of dedicated aquatic environment engine forces at our own primary technological level, at present we have no plans to expand in this area.

Of course, should you have surplus that you wish to gift us, it would be quite remiss of me to say no; although the more duplicitous strategies of my predecessor are no longer in vogue here we can always find a use for such things.

As to yourselves we have a further gift for you, in the form of a herd of horses, specifically we have for you a substantial stock of Hell Blacks, a breed created by ranchers in the fourth circle of Occupied Hell, of ‘fiendish’ stock from a magebred line, they are adept learners for non-sapient horses, and remarkably easy to handle. They are also resistant to extremes of temperature and cold, and as might be expected, remarkably at home in diverse environments, sure-footed, and difficult to spook. Averaging nineteen hands high these animals are larger than most breeds of conventional horses, with deep jet-black coats.

We have procured one thousand eighty seven of these animals; the current total that the breeders would allow for any given purchase, many of them with significant training already, and have made arrangements to ship them to Reichskamphen for you; I’m told depending on the ceremonial structure of imperial regiments this would be suitable for the duty uses of perhaps four regiments, with about one hundred new horses per year; which we are have made arrangements to provide on an ongoing basis.

I do hope this gift will bring joy to you and your family at this time of year.

May The Greater Prussian Empire Flower Forever Free,
Telissat Amris

[Allanea]

Battle-Brother Telissat!

At my wife’s instruction, I have ordered the procurement – at my own expense – of twenty Tiamat-class fast transports, and in addition, a hundred Type 67 nuclear-powered frigates. The former are a type of Fast Transport, which can be used to deploy a regiment’s worth of men. While I of course do realize your national forces are capable of deployment at great speeds to any point of the globe, sometimes – as you may have observed from my dear wife’s tendency to smack down slavers and communist rebellions as if we was playing Whack-A-Mole with guided missiles – a more low-tech solution is appropriate. The latter can feasibly play the role of a bluewater equivalent to the Frederick-class.

Moreover, as you have granted me a gift of horses, I will reciprocate likewise, although perhaps with animals that may seem less obvious. I have purchased, for the use of the C’tani military, or government offices, or anywhere you choose, of a thousand Kalandian Coons, which are a breed of Maine Coons that is purchased as standard by the Free Kingdom Navy as the shipboard cats in our use. These cats are quite large in size, and improved genetically by the advances of science, both to improve the health of the cat itself and the curative effect which the presence of felines regularly grants.

For you personally, on the other hand, I commend a pup from my own kennels, which is a genuine Lyran warhound. You have the privilege, of course, of naming him yourself.

Yours,
Alexander.