We've been taking a beating out here in New York. Navy are stepping up their patrols, and they seem to be trained better to boot now that they aren't being forced through the pipeline fast to deal with the Insurgency.
There've been rumblings on Pittsburgh that you've been distracted and busy canoodling with the Order over some mystical crap. Came first from a few Steel Circle pilots that've been making up our short-staffed numbers, caught on a little with our own Alliance pilots here. I've been busy telling them you're on task but I'm pretty sure the only reason they listen is because I have both a snake and a lot of kill markers on my nose. Doubt it'll last forever.
I'm going to need you to tell me I'm right, Cobra.
Just so you can safely ignore everything else I'm going to say - you're right.
But this is a little ironic.
Considering that it was the Steel Circle that pulled their stunt, or tantrum, demanding all the other groups to see Ontario as a priority. I imagine transparency about the entire factual landscape would be too honest though.
Regardless, I've been coordinating with forces in the system to ensure the variety of unwelcome guests don't do anything that compromises our position there. I'm not enjoying having to do this from scratch every single time the Order elects to devote some new asset to that emergent frontline.
With the system I've put in place to address this, I'll be leaving oversight in Royce's hands. I've been meaning to review things on Ouray and Milford.
☠ Incoming transmission.
☠ Signal source: Free Republic relay, Liberty
☠ Opening video feed...
Sender:Natalie "Harlequin" Fraser Recipient:Xeno Alliance Communications Subject:Hunter becomes the hunted
Harlequin here.
Take a gander at what I found out in Ontario? One of those Hunters. Seems that the Guild send one of it's dogs to our corner of space. Gotta ask, do all of them bark more than they bite? Did my civic duty and put that poor thing out of it's misery. Didn't take too much a beating but the FCS was acting up so I had to cut the patrol short and return to Ramsey. Was hoping to find one of those Technorats but I guess that'll be something for the next patrol.
☠ Incoming transmission.
☠ Signal source: Free Republic relay, Liberty
☠ Opening video feed...
Sender:Attu Heikkinen Recipient:Xeno Alliance Communications Subject:Spreading wings of liberty
Heikkinen here,
Conducted standard operations in California System.
First thing caught in the fishnet was actually a Maltese transport, filled to the brim with the obvious. Yes, traveling via trade lane system. Bastard didn't seem to give two shits about being on a radar of every glowie in twenty light-years range. You think I'm making that crap up? Just listen to the log. Is this normal here, by the way?
[18.08.2024 10:31:09] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: Are you serious?
[18.08.2024 10:31:15] MNMSV-Diciotti: What about?
[18.08.2024 10:31:20] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: Trade lanes. Really?
[18.08.2024 10:31:24] MNMSV-Diciotti: Hell yeah!
[18.08.2024 10:31:29] MNMSV-Diciotti: Who's gonna stop me?
[18.08.2024 10:31:50] MNMSV-Diciotti: I don't see no damned pilots around!
[18.08.2024 10:32:14] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: Do you really think they need visual on you to track you ship?
[18.08.2024 10:32:26] MNMSV-Diciotti: Of course not. But no one's doing shit about it either.
[18.08.2024 10:32:32] MNMSV-Diciotti: Laws are only laws if you can enforce 'em.
[18.08.2024 10:32:34] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: Every damn glowie in this sector is trangulating your sorry ass.
[18.08.2024 10:32:42] MNMSV-Diciotti: Heheh... They can try.
[18.08.2024 10:32:52] MNMSV-Diciotti: Baby's a blockade runner, hermano!
[18.08.2024 10:32:58] MNMSV-Diciotti: Seeya around!
[18.08.2024 10:33:03] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: It better be.
Another catch, barerly more worthwile. A Cryer Mastodon. Empty, of course... Still, corpo pilot was happy to share his flight data with us. I'm sure it will come in handy.
[18.08.2024 10:52:27] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: WEll!
[18.08.2024 10:52:33] Abstergo: Oh. This is unexpected.
[18.08.2024 10:52:36] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: Papers please, bitch!
[18.08.2024 10:52:54] Abstergo: Scan first.
[18.08.2024 10:53:26] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: Pilot, give me your papers.
[18.08.2024 10:53:45] Abstergo: Certainly. What papers do you require, kind sor?
[18.08.2024 10:53:48] Abstergo: sir*
[18.08.2024 10:54:11] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: Crew manifest, Fightplan.
[18.08.2024 10:54:48] Abstergo: The Abstergo has a crew complement of 30. 5 pilots, 25 auxilliary.
[18.08.2024 10:55:03] Abstergo: Our destination is Syracuse Station in Colorado.
[18.08.2024 10:55:30] Abstergo: At the time being our cargo bays are empty since we are due for redeployment.
[18.08.2024 10:55:33] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: Last port of call?
[18.08.2024 10:55:54] Abstergo: Cordova Station.
[18.08.2024 10:56:59] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: Go away. Thank you for being absolutely useless to me.
[18.08.2024 10:57:02] [OOC] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: thank*
[18.08.2024 10:57:15] Abstergo: I could say the exact same thing about you.
[18.08.2024 10:57:32] XA-FRS-Trunk.Of.Liberty: ?: We will make sure to put the data you provided for a good use.
[18.08.2024 10:58:15] Abstergo: I hope I'll get rid preety soon of the nasty pleasure of meeting you.
Still, Trunk of Liberty did not return to base empty handed. I managed to source 860 units if H-Fuel, recover 2 escape pods containing our regulars, intercept prisoner transport and retake 10 prisoners, including their guard and a crate of... well ... whatever this crap is.
To no one's surprise, this was my first Barge.
I traded a piece of crashed turret to a mechanic in Ouray for two cigarettes and a pack of booze. Worth celebrating.
Good shooting out there.