Good evening everyone, this is Base. For the new inductees, I am the CEO of this division of Armor Incorporated. I hope that fact will grant me your ear. This will be informal. I have not rehearsed this because I do not have the time to do so. If you have trouble understanding what I am saying, look for the transcript available on the system. At any rate, I ask you for some of your time to update you on our current status.

I know many of you are frustrated over the council’s inability to make a quick decision but this is done out of necessity. There are too many opposing views and points to make this issue clear-cut.

Just as many of you are frustrated at the U.N.’s unwillingness to help and their various obtrusive policies. I will say that I cannot fault them for their decisions as they do not have the experience and information we do. They only have our word for the situation. For all they know, we are trying to start a war in order to forcefully seize Equestrian lands.

Our U.N. representative, Megan Williams, has stated that they are willing to risk another Rwanda if it means avoiding unnecessary war. Nonetheless, the U.N. will not obstruct Armor Incorporated’s flow of resources. The Armor Incorporated CEO back on Alpha Earth is hesitant to sink more funds into this project but Armor Incorporated has never prioritized profit margins. We can expect some reinforcements and supplies as long as we remain reasonable about our demands. The Nine Unknown Men have already pledged their support, as shown by their extensive covert operations. None of this changes the reality that if we are to fight this battle, as far as support from the majority of humanity is concerned, we are on our own.

We have not conversed with the Equestrian government about these matters because it is not their decision. Even the military does not decide this case as they need the support of the Armor Incorporated staff to sustain any prolonged conflict. No, the Kaze Petition will not influence our decision. Unless everyone volunteers to stay behind, there is no reason for us not to think about the lives of our employees.

I believe I should clear up some other matters.

The increase in causalities is not a rumor. While Kaze was the only guardsman to have died there have been more soldiers, agents, and scientists who have lost their lives. These were all part of the aforementioned covert actions, mostly authorized by the Unknown, which is why there has been no official report. We have had over one hundred deaths and over a thousand additional casualties, including some missing in action. Though I do not know the full details, it appears one of these casualties was an Unknown Soldier. I will let that fact speak for itself.

There is no middle ground on this issue. We cannot simply provide relief to Equestria or supply it with weapons. We will only make more of an enemy of Krastos by doing that. The U.N. will not budge on their resolutions. Even if they would, it could take months or years for them to resolve to do anything. If we stay, conflict will be unavoidable. If we go back to Alpha Earth, we will have to leave our equine associates behind.

For those desiring to leave, I suggest to do it sooner rather than later. You will either leave now while it is easy, leave during the rush while everyone else is leaving, or leave after combat has started. No matter the situation, if you do not want to be involved in the potential conflict, please sign up to leave at your nearest convenience. The company will not blame you for your choice and saying your farewells will not get any easier. I know that from experience.

This was a risky investment from the beginning. Everyone here was written off as a potential loss from the very beginning. Please do not think this means we want anyone to die. We wish casualties to remain as low as possible, with that number preferably being zero.

This does not mean we are unwilling to fight. Armor Incorporated can and has played a major role in revolutionary wars and political battles in order to protect the rights of its workers. There is a key difference in this scenario. We cannot call on the resources of our entire company, allied companies, or the many nations and their people for support. To reiterate, in past conflicts we always had international assistance.

If we get involved, we might win, but it is highly likely that most if not all of us will die.

I do not want to abandon any equine associate but if I have to choose between all of my staff dying and only most of them dying but living with the guilt, my choice is… admittedly, I do not know.

For now, we will do what we can to prepare for either scenario.

Attacks can and have come at any moment. From now on each employee will receive their own powered armor for protection and basic combat training. Augmentations will be available soon.

Everyone will be outfitted with a tracking device.

No one is to leave any facility without military support.

Prepare yourself for any sudden shifts in operation and task.

We will not obstruct any of the Kaze petitioners. If we leave, we will not waste time salvaging our equipment. We will take whatever is reasonable. They can take whatever they want from there.

With few exceptions, no new long-term projects will be approved. Finish up whatever you are working on as soon as possible.

Because they tell us how effective we can expect to be if we choose to fight, military operations will not be halted.

I believe that is it. More changes will come as we think of them.

This is an unconventional situation to say the least. When I agreed to head the off-world division of the company I was expecting any one of three scenarios:

One, be vaporized or otherwise instantly killed from contact with the Spectrum Bridge or the world behind it. Two, come into contact with some strange alien creatures and have to struggle for survival. Three, to have a surprisingly uneventful expedition where nothing goes wrong.

I was not expecting to have to choose between helping a deserving country and protecting my employees. As far as I am concerned, I see myself in a lose-lose situation.

If I am to be frank with my current feelings, this sucks.

Thank you for your time.