[Dated 15/July] To: All Heroes of Light

[shinrasfinest]

[Yet it's actually delivered 16th; via Esdham Mognet office]

Dear All,

Further to the meeting at the Observatory a few days ago, and the previous correspondence from Cid, I have an update with regards to the support that the Republic of Esdham is prepared to lend to our next battle in August.

Regrettably, it's not as positive as Cid's missive might have suggested. The Republic can only afford to grant us the aid of two airships and the accompanying crew. As I might have mentioned to a few of you at the meeting and before, manpower is already stretched thin between the various sets of circumstances which still need the assistance of the military in terms of a standing security force; not least to mention the refugees Esdham continues to see arriving at it's gates alongside the growing unrest within the citizenry itself no doubt caused by an expanding sea of crystal.

In short, I believe we need to inquire in another direction if the desired effect is to throw up anything resembling a strong, viable defense to a potential Weapon attack. Whatever such a defense might entail as this will be completely different in nature to the attack launched by the Heran Empire going-on a year ago. It goes without saying, that I need not remind everyone of the casualties that occurred when we were ripped out of the picture.

That said, there are still forces of my own command deployed within Aqures currently and they will continue to be so throughout the upcoming Festival of Light and for Palitutu's visit. Personally I've approximately one hundred ground-personnel which could be recalled to be at our disposal as well, but at the same time I hesitate to consign an entire army to almost certain death, duty or not.

Regards,
Sephiroth