Mallera Strategic Times Interview With Vanessa

Last week I sat down with Vanessa, former Standard Combat Uni turned Admin assistant,  Former 2ndin charge of Black Faction, Former Rebel and Former CPD commander to talk about rumoured plans to start her own faction. At just 22 years old she has been on a roller coaster over her 4 years on the island. Many experts in the strategic commentary community of Mallera-9 believe she attained her position through being some what of a manipulative concubine to the Mistress. Others believe that the Mistress had lost her mind handing over the keys to a then 19 year old Combat Unit turned admin assistant. What is known however she was the only person to return from the very bottom of Mallera-Deep during the operation which its speculated that she was removed from combat duties due to what she had seen. But what cannot be denied is the impact on Mallera-9 she had, particularly Black Faction, which seen the most violent 36 months in its history. No doubt everyone who works on Mallera-9, in direct combat roles, or support roles or contractors to consultants was impacted by her in one shape or another. After Being actively hunted by an elite team from Black Faction, Vanessa loaned her services to CPD for protection which many would say was a cowardly move but in the end its smart and cunning. But not everything is down to her success. At her side for most of her tenure in Black Faction and into her post BFC career into CPD has been former Black Faction Commander Lani. Strategic commentators unanimously agree that without Lani, Vanessa would have been captured or expended a long time ago which in lays the greatest mystery on Mallera-9, why does she serve Vanessa? But that’s for another interview. Sit back, put your boots up and enjoy the following fascinating interview with Vanessa.

Interviewer (Q): Is it true, Vanessa, that you intend to start your own faction?

Vanessa (A): Yes, word travels quickly, doesn't it?

Q: Can you elaborate? What are your motivations?

A: Azologoth have infested this island, more so than ever. There is room in the unoccupied zones to harvest Neon Dark from Azologoth, and there is plenty of wiggle room in the current market price to warrant more supply.

Q: According to Black Faction, the Azologoth stocks are dwindling, and there are supply issues in the near future.

A: Well, it's quite obvious who made that tripe up. Of course, the Mistress will say that.

Q: She says that another company will increase competition to unsustainable levels, pushing the price beyond where it is now and impacting energy supply globally and in our system.

A: Supply and demand impact prices less than speculation. Since the end of the Apex wars, supply increased, but the price continued to grow. Neon Dark is a speculative asset more than anything.

Q: In a statement from Black Faction, I quote, "Any new company that begins operations will be removed from the island forcibly." How do you respond to that?

A: We have a memorandum of understanding with CPD, specifying a no-attack, no-step clause. No stepping on territory. We have a supply deal with Zuvic for weapons and equipment. Starcorp is supplying us with surge units for our facilities, and I am in the process of speaking with Tanaka of KTS for training packages. The only company I have to worry about is Black Faction.

Q: But they outnumber you and everyone else combined, with immense resources. Surely you can't risk everything for your little startup?

A: We took a training sector turn junction off her, held it for weeks, eliminated hundreds of their combat units, and they lost transports plus key individuals. That was a well-placed few dozen units. A few thousand of my units? She doesn't have a chance against me.

Q: Will you be seeking to engage in combat operations against Black Faction?

A: Not actively, no. Defensively, yes, and that includes pre-emptive action. Our area of operation will be well away from their further outpost, so any attack from them will be by air, and we all know how well that goes for them.

Q: Do you have investors?

A: No, this is fully funded by myself.

Q: There are reports you stole Neon Dark from Black Faction extraction teams with help from a cross-fragment advanced combat unit. Is that what is funding this?

A: That's correct. Mallera-9 is the wild west, the good, the bad, and the sexy. But I did make a substantial amount of money with Black Faction also.

Q: Any final message to potential employees?

A: I don't think any potential employees read these financial articles, but I can say we will be offering 1-year and 2-year contracts with bonuses also. We will pay 30% above Black Faction's day rate, plus leave every year. Without going into the nitty-gritty, we will have a recovery policy for combat units, meaning we aren't just going to let you die when you get hit. That being said, our entry standards will be much higher for our in-house combat units, so not everyone will be accepted into the training program, and also we do not expect everyone to pass the training program. If you have served one or two contracts with Black Faction and are thinking about jumping back in, then look at us really hard against Black Faction.

I'm not going to treat you like a princess, and I expect you to do your duty for me, but we will not treat you like a robot. No ORC will be installed, but we will use compliance collars. If you do your job, follow orders, it's no problem. I sat at the top of Black Faction, I know the Mistress personally. She thinks of you as a Black Faction unit as some sort of mannequin or doll, actually not even that. She thinks your destiny is to lay lifeless in her uniform after sacrificing yourself for her at some point, almost non-human. I'll never forget she told me on my first day as Mistress, "Punish them, Vanessa." I responded, "I'll punish everyone in Red, Mistress." She then corrected me, "Punish everyone, including my units." So if that's what you want to serve, go right ahead.

Q: Ok, thanks for that final rant, Vanessa. Pleasure talking to you once again.

A: Go f*** yourself.