Francis_Costello catches a cab from OOC Avenue, where he heard some fool rabbit on and on about the violence and immorality of city takedowns.  Compelled to speak, he grabs a soapbox and stands on it...

Friends, there is simple antidote to the swift taking down of cities.  It is understanding the value of information.  Now, when one becomes a CL, one is automatically a target.  Who are the threats?  The others crews and families.  A city that is taken down in one fell swoop failed.

It failed because it had nobody with the necessary vision to see and understand why so many prominent people from another city were suddenly there, right outside the HQ.  More than that, they failed the intelligence war. 

Let me explain.

Let's imagine there are two evenly matched crews of about 25 members each; A and B.  A decides to attack B, draws up plans, briefs their hitters, distributes targets, back-up, money and so on.  At least 15 people in crew A knows what's about to go down.  And they'll have known for some time.

Why didn't crew B have people in crew A who would pass on intelligence?  Why didn't they cultivate sources?  Hell, why didn't someone from crew A have a friend in crew B and realise that he had information worth untold millions?

Looking into my family journals, I can see how information has been sold, traded and exploited for a very long time.  This latest generation seems to have forgotten about it.  And that's to their detriment.

Information is key.  Information is power.  Information is the most valuable resource that this thing has.  Learn to harness it, or die in your sleep.

Video listens to Francis_Costello speak on war and how sides win or lose in this life. Listening intently a couple of phrases stick out to him. The idea that a city loses a war because it doesn't have the needed people for seeing who is lurking in the shadows was explosive to him. 

Francis, I believe with thoughts like this shared so publicly you are setting yourself up to be a perennial leader in this thing of ours. I want you to know for that, i applaud you. 

Now i speak with you not because i want to debate with you but more so i would ask if you would not mind expanding on some of your beliefs. I do consider that when you speak of reading journals of your ancestors there lies so much truth in those writings. In fact i would love to grab a cup of coffee with you to learn more of what you have discovered. 

My main hope for you to expand on is the practicality of those within our crews who have vision to be used. How do they notice a sharp change in additions to a city? In my mind i have a difficult time grasping at the concept that a visionary would be checking his or her locals every five minutes. I would fear this would develop a sense of paranoia. So this is my question for the side who is to be defensive and avoid being caught up in one quick swoop. 

Actually rethinking some of what you said had me come up with a second question as well. Can you clarify your example for me when you speak of Crew A and Crew B, specifically when you question, "why didn't someone from crew A have a friend in Crew B and realize that he had information worth untold millions?"?

Whatever the case once again i would like to commend you for coming to the streets and being so bold. I look forward to your response. 

Video - regarding those with vision, there should be people looking at the locals.  Wars have been affected by people spotting an influx.

And as for my example of crews A and B.  If one was so minded, he or she could leak info of an impending attack and charge a vast sum of money.

As John listened to the man's speech and the conversation that followed shock showed on his face. Clearing his throat to let the men know he wanted to speak he looked at the first speaker and began

"Sir, forgive me if I am wrong but it seems to me that you are advocating that members should turn on their crews and families as soon as it is financially advantageous to do so. That they should forget their oaths of loyalty and think only of their own bank account. If that is what you are advocating for then how are we better than common thugs on the street stabbing each other in the back for a buck? Have we fallen so far that omerta means nothing anymore? And if so, how would anyone be able to trust anyone within their family? I for one look back at the journals of my fallen ancestors and read of men and women dying rather than betray their family - I'm sorry that you cannot say the same."

With his final words John takes a step back into the shadows to see what more the man might have to say on the subject. 

John_S - what I am saying is that getting caught in your sleep, blindsided by another crew, and wiped out in the blink of an eye, is avoidable.

And we are all criminals here

I wonder what my LHM,  Vincent-Valentine, would make of this?  His speech elsewhere made think about this

John chuckles at the man's last statement before taking a moment to think. Nodding slightly he responds. 

"I certainly agree that being blindsided is avoidable and some of your suggestions do have merit. If a crew is able to infiltrate another crew even I do not find fault in that; after all, the person who does the infiltrating is doing so on the orders of their actual family and it is up to any crew leader to make a judgement call as to if an individual they are bringing into the family can be trusted. The only part I took exception with is your indication that someone who has in good faith - that is not as a spy but with the intent of actually being part of a family - joins a crew and gives their oath and especially if they become a made member of the family - which one would assume those that know of an imminent attack would be - should consider leaking information to the targeted crew because of friendship with one of the members or worse yet for financial gain. You are of course correct, we are all criminals, however, we are not street rats; we hold to our honor even as we walk he dodgy path."

Vincent has stood to the side while watching an associate of the family have a very different speech from most he has hear, he wasn’t going to say anything and let the young man have his ideas. Then as he was about to walk away he hear his name get spoken by the young man and was curious for my opinion. Well I’ve nothing better to do, let me chime in on the conversation at hand.

” Well young Francis I must say you aren’t wrong in saying that information in extremely valuable, information about a takedown would be worth tens of millions to certain people. You must realize who has has such information days before something like this happens, most people find out just before or maybe a few hours. Only a leaders most trusted and capable personnel would have access to such information. For one of their first thoughts to be how can I sell this to the enemy and not only make millions but get everyone I know killed. Whew I must say I’ve never though like that, they must be one who is considered as reliable by not only their own boss but the city they’re selling this info to for them to consider it creditable. Then realize they may be killed when crew leader B confronts leader A instead of just stacking guns on line ready to fire.”

Vincent takes a second to breath after spouting out his unexpected speech, then continues.

”All in all I think this is quite a dangerous venture for every party, when the snake in the situation could just continue to fall in line and do their best to ensure they’ll continue to live in this thing of ours. Which is never to be taken for granted.”

Francis, I appreciate your time in addressing my question. 

When i was younger my father used to say to me, Knowledge is King. Then i read a book about several habits of people who were effective and the author said something along the same lines. I think what you are saying is something quite similar. When you say information is power i believe what you mean to say is perception is the actual crown of value to this thing of ours. Which i respectfully disagree. 

The ability to sense someone or many people coming and lurking in the shadows is only hindered by your ability to properly communicate that fact to the leader and his or her members in time. If this was not able to be fully done all the eyes will see is a bunch of names turn red. 

Lets go back to your example of a person trying to be advantageous and bring in some cash flow to their bank account by informing their friend in another crew about an impending attack. Person B tells Person A that Person B's family is coming to shut down Person As family. Then one of two things happen, Person As family attacks person B's and also kills Person B. If not that then Person As leader discusses this issue with Person B's leader and Person B and Person A die.

Of course if we go through with your example and say Person B properly warns Person A of that impending attack, and Person B survives...Then person B will always be recognized as a rat. Person B then joins Person A's family but everyone knows he has loose lips. He flaps those fat lips when things get hairy and he snitches out his crew. He wont be trusted by Person A's family, which would also be person B's new family, and eventually he will be rouged out by a descendant of his former family because their parent spent days building a good life and it was tossed into the sea by a person who could not be trusted.

You stated to John_S that we are all criminals  here yet if records have shown you anything records should show you that those who betray friendships and relationships for profit are never trusted again by the future ancestors. 

You have journals and so do i. The only reason i am disagreeing with you is because i don't believe this is the way we want to teach young mobsters to go. I don't believe we want to create a world where people should betray their families for personal gain. I know this was not the main part of your message but it is the part i wish to focus on since you did state it. 

If i have misunderstood you in any aspect I would love to understand you more fully.