//------------------------------//
// 16.5 - Emails Cont. 
// Story: The Stars Beyond The Veil 
// by Charlemane 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 16.5 - Supplementary


Emails cont.




J,
I have a favor to ask. And it’s kind of a big one. I’d rather ask it in person though, so let me know the soonest we can meet up. We’ve been friends for a long time now, and if I’m going to help, I’m gonna need you to help me help you, you know? Thanks.
-WS





J,
I did it. I managed to get a position in the armed forces where I can finally do some good. It’ll take time to figure out who I can trust, but once I do, I’ll be able to expand our network from there. Things are looking up. I’ve already found three like-minded ponies who’re looking for some payback against these jerks. I just need time, and resources. My funds are being monitored by my work for security purposes, so I’m going to need a separate bit account to deal with bribes. Think you can set something up for me?
-WS





SZ,
I understand that you might be a little surprised to see this email on such a sensitive information network, so please, do not panic. I mean you no harm. I merely have taken an interest in your research as of late. I’ve seen that you have been doing quite a bit of poking around lately, and on such a wide variety of interesting topics too. I could use a competent hoof like you. While I am sorry to hear of J’s death, you seem to be making excellent use of his network, so it is my hope that we can still work together in the future, if you are willing. Please, send me a line, sometime.
-0






[This message has been marked as Spam]
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J,
I think I found a lead on this 0 guy, albeit a really weird one. Now, this is just a fringe theory so take it with a few grains of salt, but, I don’t think this guy is inside any of the known star systems.
I’ve been taking some ships out on some scouting runs, checking random nodes to try and trace that signal. I still haven’t found much on the where end of things, but I might have a lead on the how. Weird signals have been popping up on the M-Net, and I’ve been trying to triangulate some of them to get a closer look at them. No such luck so far, but in the process we found something else. A ship.	
It was only a short glance, and command would start asking questions if I tried to explain why I tried to cart it home, but we found an ancient battleship east of the Rim. A big one, and a really, really old one. I don’t know how, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we found this while looking for 0. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to board, but all of the information we got from the various satellites you’ve been harvesting have been pointing to the ship as a possible lead.
We also found something else. Not even a short jump from the ship we found an M-Net repeater, only this one was running silent. It was still running, I checked, but it was locked out to all access, and without the correct codes and port numbers, I don’t think I’d be able to break in. I sent some word up the chain about them, implying that there might be some shadow network somewhere. That should at least get them to send more teams to investigate. As to who would be able to finance such a thing I’ve got no clue, but what I know for sure is that somepony, somewhere is fielding illegal repeaters to spread their own network. Next chance I get, I’m looking for more. In the meantime, what would you think about recovering that ship?
-WS





J,
We lost a big one today. The UCC authorized it despite the opposition we’ve been trying to build out there. A whole damn center full of the fucks. I don’t know what they’re planning, but I don’t like it, and it can’t be good. They’re not just working in the shadows any more. I worry about a full mobilization, but my allies here in the military just don’t see it. I’m getting frustrated here. How are things back home?
-WS





WS,
Please stop making traceable references. If anyone finds these messages they’re gonna find us. You know we can’t afford that.
-J





J,
Sorry. I’m still new at this. 
-WS






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J,
Remember when we were younger, and I met my wife? Times were so much simpler then. No skulking around, dodging inspections and generally bucking up the system. Of course, that was before I had a kid. I… sorry. I know you hate it when I talk about personal stuff. I wanna drop by sometime soon and catch up. I have some leave coming up and I’d love to drop in. Let me know if we can arrange it.
-WS






J,
We don’t really talk anymore, do we? Feels like it’s all business between us now. This crusade, it’s eaten us. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it. Maybe I should have stayed home. Still, I’d love to talk again sometime, maybe when this is all over. I know we can’t now, for obvious reasons, but it’d be nice to just sit back and shoot the breeze, like we used to. Know what I mean? Update soon.
-WS






SZ,
Who are you? What do you want? and what do you mean J is dead?
-WS