Ok, you get a message back from Ascar answering your queries (and with a footnote saying he's glad to hear you weren't all horribly killed).
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He knows nothing about Merik that you don't already know.
He has no idea about the info about your planet getting out- his bet is still that Adelmo is responsible.
No, he knows nothing of any other factions.
The Jovano connection means nothing to him and he doubts it has any significance.
The best way to get to Merik is to be a decent gambler. He only ever shows up on the top floor of his casino, which is for the high rollers. A very exclusive set of the super-rich plays there.
Ascar will, of course, express great concern about your intent to enter Republican space.
"Robine is a relatively civilised and well-connected world so the Bureau presence there is relatively light- they don't trample over local law like they do in some of the outer worlds, as that would draw possible Senatorial attention which they wish to avoid. Hence, they won't be running all immigration services, else you're faces would be spotted at once when you landed. But the authorities there will have been receiving Bureau communiques and will have instructions to contact the Bureau as soon as someone like you makes your presence known. The nearest Bureau office is not far. The Agents would be on you very quickly if you make even the slightest error."
That's that for Ascar.