:::[INCOMING TRANSMISSION]::: :::[ESTABLISHING SECURED VIDEO FEED]::: :::[VIDEO FEED:LIVE]:::
ID:Ezrael Vertiga Location:Unknown Subject:Briefing ENCRYPTION: AUXESIAN COMM DEVICE Raven only
Hello Raven!
90% of all the preparations are done. In a few days, depending on how fast our engineers are, we can begin this, well, operation, if you want to call it that way. Let me tell you the details:
The Apahanta will, as we do every day, patrol Omicron Delta and the adjacent sectors. Rho, Lost and Minor. As we already concluded, Omicron Minor will be the place of operation. The very strong ion storm that originated in Omicron Major some days ago affected the nebula a bit, moving things within a bit, but that's okay. We already found a good place in the nebula to do it. The sensor range in the nebula is highly reduced, and anyone would need to give the Apahanta a kiss to be close enough to scan it.
As soon as the Apahanta reaches Omicron Minor through the Omicron Delta jump hole, I want you to shadow us, following us a bit deeper into the nebula. Our usual route would lead us to Planet Toledo and the Omicron Rho jump hole. Half way, you appear in sensor range. I mean, my crew already know I'm not interested in shooting you - in fact, that's one thing that makes around 150 of them a bit salty of me. So you will need to actively provoke and attack us. I won't have another choice than to return fire. At that point, lure the Apahanta over to the debris field at E-4/5 of the Omicron Minor map grid. I don't know how many Auxesian assets you want to use for this mission, but here would be a good point to trap us, encircling the Apahanta. This will be the final stand.
Make sure you give us a good show in Minor. Depending on how your performance will be, you will give my crew hell. I want them to fear for their lives. Well, I guess, as I know how confusing and intransparent you and your friend Hunt can be, you won't disappoint me. Anyway, I suggest you target our weapon control systems first, as well as the sensor arrays. Try to not go for the engines. We will need them to reach the Livadia Shipyard later. Also, try not to hit the bridge, because I like the way I look without a mortar kissing my cheek. I know, it's tempting, but kissing my cheek is something that can be enjoyed without mortars.
Also, try to avoid damaging the power core. If it gets damaged, we won't be able to power the cruise engines. Also, it would be cool if the cloaking device would still work after the battle. Maybe I'm demanding a bit too much, but I would prefer to use it later during this operation. I've marked the spots you may want try to avoid damaging.
I was a bit unsure how to mark the zones. Usually one wants to shoot at red targets, but in this case, you want to shoot the green-lighted targets and don't shoot the orange areas for obvious reasons. Remember the time when I asked you if you could need some help in the battle against those big nomads? Well, I asked if you could use a hand, and you shouted at me, demanding less hands but more mortars. Well, use your mortars against the green zones only, right? Don't shoot the orange zones! Just want to point that out. Don't touch the orange.
As you see, the escape pods area and the hangar/cargo bay are also marked in orange. You know, when you're attacking the Apahanta, I want my crew to leave. As many of them as possible. The crewmen who are loyal to me will stay and make sure all the Core-loyals are leaving the ship... one way or the other way. In case of Core-loyals not trying to escape, I buyed some interior defense turrets from Detroit Munitions. That's what my engineering team is about to install once we have them here. I'll transport them later to the Apahanta. Those turrets are placed at the most important points of my ship, and they are non-lethal. I'll try to avoid any unneccesary bloodshed. I know, it's naive of me. The guys who are loyal to me will stay out of their range. Everyone else will get some paralyzing bullets of sanity into their asses.
It's up to you if you want to let the Core-loyals escape or not once they are in the escape pods. I don't really care for them, but as I said, I won't kill them as long as it is avoidable. However, some of them are bloodthirsty maniacs like Core attracts them en massé. Well, Order seems to keep up with them, too. Seriously. As far as I experienced it, the Outcasts are the most peaceful guys that visit Omicron Delta on a regular basis. It's funny.
Anyway. Here's a short footage of the debris field in E-4/5 in Minor.
I guess it looks well enough. You once said something faking the Apahantas destruction. I guess that would be the best place for some Mako leftovers.
Once we're sure that the Apahanta is in our control, we will give you a sign. Preferably using the comms, but if it gets damaged, we will find another way to notify you. If the cloaking device is still functional, we will cloak. If not, well, then the chances are a bit higher that Core forces or anyone else will see the Apahanta moving to Omicron Delta and then to Omicron Kappa. If everything will went like planned, we cruise there, cloaked. If not, we may need you to escort us to Livadia.
Right. Livadia in Omicron Kappa. Finn McCool from the CoF is willing to help us, at least for this time. He doesn't trust us yet, and that's okay, because they have all the justification to not trust a Core captain. Although I hope we can earn his trust in near future. So, we will bring the Apahanta to Livadia, since it's the closest shipyard. I appreciate your invitation to use your repair assets, and maybe that will be needed in future. I know your ressources are limited, and I will try to use them only if there is not other option.
I guess once the Apahanta reached Livadia, we're done.
What do you think, Raven? I mean, you did something like that once. I know, there are some other things I have to keep in mind, like Core trying to remotely control the Apahanta, forcing it to do initiate the self-destruction sequence. We already took care of that. That won't happen, and it just took me to sell my soul one more time.
Speaking of a price. You never told me what you want to get in exchange for Auxesia helping us? I mean, it's not very much I can offer. Intel, money, nomadic materials, a date? I mean, I'm sure we find something.
I'm absolutely sure I will do this. I already passed the point of no return. And I will need your help. You're one of the few people in sirius that I think are trustworthy. Call it an instinct.
- I'll tell you when we're ready.
- Auxesia finds the Apahanta in Omicron Minor, lures it into the debris field by hit & run.
- Be authentic! We need to make a good show so my crew will fear for their lives. And be prepared, because the Apahanta will actively return the fire. Although, you know, my gunners are not very experienced.
- Shoot the Apahanta until it runs out of regens and make sure it doesn't get destroyed. Try to get it down to 10-20%.
- Try to not hit the orange marked areas with the important subsystems. Also, try not to kill me with a mortar in the face.
- Hold the fire once I tell my crew to leave the ship. Just make sure you get rid of the shields if they regenerate.
- I'll try to do my patrol when the Core fleet is busy elsewhere. But be prepared for additional Core or other ships to jump in. It's Minor. If we run out of luck, nomads could even appear.
- Maybe you can "take care" of the Core-loyal crew who escapes from the Apahanta. Me and the other defectors will make sure no Core-loyals will remain on the ship. Can take some minutes. We need your protection then, if something goes wrong.
- If the cloaking device gets damaged, we need you to scout and escort us. The less people see us, the better it is.
- The Apahanta needs to get to Livadia for repairs.
I apologise for the delay as I was eh... in a coma. Now back to business.
Yes, this is possible, but we're also running the risk of getting into trouble with the Order, and not to mention, using up our energy to pull this off. I would also like to state that the Nomads nearby really won't like the presence of the Eidolon, as it contains some of their technology. Not to mention, the Nomads will also pose health risk but I won't disclose why.
Now, for the compensation. Tell me, what's the point of letting a Mako go loose? What's the benefit of this? Why should we - Auxesia - divert our attention to assist you?
:::[INCOMING TRANSMISSION]::: :::[ESTABLISHING SECURED VIDEO FEED]::: :::[VIDEO FEED:LIVE]:::
ID:Ezrael Vertiga Location:Unknown Subject:Briefing ENCRYPTION: AUXESIAN COMM DEVICE Raven only
I'm sure you were busy in the recent days. Maybe one day you will tell me about your motives and what the hell happened to you that you got infected with nanites and were in coma and such. I mean, there is only so much Core tells people like me about the oh-so evil traitor Raven. But since time is running short and I will have to earn my trust first, let's focus on the important things for now.
Things aren't easy, that's true, and since our meeting in space, when I asked you about Auxesia helping me, I tried to make things as easy as possible for it to do see without investing too much ressources. Well, that was before the ion storm, and reaching keypoints in the Omicrons is now way harder, so I guess you have a point there. Omicron Minor isn't that sleepy now, and the nebula doesn't reduce the sensor range anymore, except for one more or less big bubble within the nebula, where the damaged nomadic gate to Omicron Major lies. That area is highly radioactive, too.
Now, good question. How does Auxesia profit from this. That mostly depends on how many goals we have in common, isn't it? I think I already told you about my intentions about being in the edge worlds. Mankind needs to focus their efforts on finding a solution to the nomad threat. But with Core just "harvesting" them for profit and claiming them as one of their sources of income, there is no chance to have a focus on it. Order can't "protect" mankind in a way most of their noble captains trying to convince the people in the Omicrons. Instead, they have to face other threats like the Core and some other groups. I mean, if there was an organization that has the power, the ressources, the reputation, the knowledge and the focus on the nomad threat, I wouldn't had joined the Core in the way I had to. I have to admit, your story about actually "killing" a nomad and your knowledge about Harbinger and stuff, it gives me a little hope, but, you know, your motives are a mystery to me and I don't think you want to tell me about your ideals for now. But Auxesia seems promising enough to, you know, convince me to maybe help each other from time to time in some matters, without having Sirius knowing about it. As you said, Auxesia's ressources aren't unlimited. And that's why you should think about it, investing not only in taking a Mako away from Core, so you don't have another battleship to fear an ressource-wasting encounter in the Omicrons, but also investing in someone that you can call a friend. A powerful friend with a battleship. A friend that shares some enemies with you, but is able to maintain his asset on his own, somehow, without relying on Auxesia's ressources.
I can offer you a payment in credits - an amount a Core captain could offer - or in nomadic materials or in being a friend that shares his intel and knowledge, and maybe even his hide-outs with you. Also, I may remind you of cases where I assisted you earlier, when nomads were about to overpower your assets in Omicron Delta. Not that you in first line asked for it, or even thanked me for it. I don't even know if my assistance in the past was noticeable by you. However, it can be in the future.
There is one thing I want to add. As mentioned earlier, I helped you battling nomads, shared my information with you, for example about the RNC Nestor. You know, my crew is aware that Auxesia is an considered enemy of Core, even bountied. About 150 of my current inferiors aren't very happy about me treating you as I did, instead of just attack Auxesian assets when we had the chance, and chances we had plenty. It's not only my inferiors being not happy about that, but also my superiors, and I think I'm very fortunate that my behavior didn't drew the attention of Nodtviet yet. In fact, I'm fortunate that even my superiors either don't know where the hell Nodtviet is right now, or won't tell me. I believe the first thing is the case, however, don't quote me on that.
What I'm saying is: Once they are convinced of me not just being a terrible idealist when it comes to combat targets, but being a traitor, they won't hesitate to kill me, the people that share my ideals and may also target our supporters. That would mean, the Apahanta would get a new captain that will not be afraid of treating you and the rest of Auxesia as a hostile.
This is an unique opportunity, Raven. Not only for Auxesia.
Aside from all those things I said earlier, just imagine the faces of the proud maniac Core captains when they realise they not only lost a Battlecruiser to you, but even a Battleship to a way less professional appearing dude like me.
As far as my mind goes, I believe to compensate, we would require some monetary values and perhaps an obligation. You are, afterall, making off with a warship, it may as well pay off a debt somewhere, somehow. Intel? Well - we have quite the collection of information, and I can't quite see what new things you could possibly bring to the table.
She chuckles slightly
Remember when I said about caretaking for a warship will be a huge thing? I wasn't kidding. You don't have infinite resources or wealth either. Being alone in the Omicrons is an even /worse/ idea - especially when your ship wasn't conspired to be prepared in being more... self sufficent. And without a large backing, the ship is no use to you as it is to anyone, not to mention, your goals will be... very hard to accomplish.
Oh. And the risks for this are even higher, the Order want me executed, pah. I apologise for this delayed response though. I was out for a while.
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ID:Ezrael Vertiga Location:Unknown Subject:Briefing ENCRYPTION: AUXESIAN COMM DEVICE Raven only
I agree with the monetary compensation. It's not like I didn't prepare myself in, well, the last to months. Didn't took me much time to see I did a mistake joining the Core, you know. So, tell me, of what a sum are we talking about? I'm aware this is not like a contract with the bounty hunter guild or a Freelancer contract...
But an obligation? Sure, it's a warship. It seems you enjoy reminding me of that fact every time we talk about it. Let me assure you I made enough preparations, and although I know that spare parts for a Mako-class battleship won't be easy to get outside of the Core, I'm sure it's possible to, well, improvise. On the other hand, it's not like I'll look to get as many encounters as I can get with the Apahanta. Like Auxesian vessels in Omicron Rho. You and I know how to piss off the enemies, and I tend to avoid it, as well as I tend to avoid fighting other people wars. So, if that obligation contains the extermination of someone or something, I'm afraid that's very unlikely for me to do. There are enough other ways to support someone without getting drawn into their conflicts. In fact, that's one of the reasons I choose to become indipendent.
The preparation on my side are done. I suggest to stop talking on how difficult it can and will be. I'm not in a position where I can turn back, you know that, and I don't want to listen to all the doubts anymore. Time is running short. State your exact conditions, suggest changes in the plan, and tell me: Yes or no.
And Raven, girl, I don't know how you manage to piss off the people in the Omicrons all the time, but for god's sake, try to not overdo it. Although you're one of the most confusing girls I've ever encountered, I'd prefer to see you alive in future and less dead to Core, Order or whatever faction is next.
Hm. I guess in the end, the Core lose a mako either way.
She chuckles slightly
Now, concerning compensation, I believe the amount of £150,000,000 credits should cover it. Not to mention the debt too. I'm going to rely on your word where you confirm your organisation. I can round up as much vessels as possible - before our inevitable departure from the areas of the Omicrons. So yes, we'll do it. There really isn't any other optimal plan of action to do out there anyway. Well, besides us perhaps hacking your network relay to disconnect you from the Core network, but that's just as messy. Ah well.
:::[INCOMING TRANSMISSION]::: :::[ESTABLISHING SECURED VIDEO FEED]::: :::[VIDEO FEED:LIVE]:::
ID:Ezrael Vertiga Location:Unknown Subject:Briefing ENCRYPTION: AUXESIAN COMM DEVICE Raven only
Good news. That's what I wanted to her.
150.000.000 Credits... sounds reasonable enough to me. One hundred millions now, the other fifty millions after the mission. Give your guys a detailed briefing. When we see each other in space, there is no time left for questions about it. We need to make it a good show.
And don't worry about the network relay. Let's say... a godfather will take care of it. I suggest we do this at Sunday, 20 pm. That's when the Apahanta usually patrols Minor. Most Core pilots will still be drunk then. Believe me, I know.
We've left the omicrons in the meantime, although I doubt the Omegas are much safer. Maybe we should do it like your battlegroup does and keep moving? Anyway, I wish you luck on your future paths. Try to stay alive, maybe don't jump into all the wars around you. Would like to hear more stories about you walking around your ship in a pyjama, eating cake and cookies.
I still cannot get the bad feeling out of my mind that something is going to go awfully wrong - maybe it's just me being paranoid. Eh. Oh well.
It's true that idling will bring some attention to you, so I hope that you'd do well in making new friends. And hey, maybe you could visit us some time in Kansas, but I wouldn't say any time soon.
Sorry for the late response, I've been busy and ill. No more cakes for me. Ah well. And hey, if you run into blue trouble, we can help. See - that's my paranoia going off again.
Heh. Take care though.
They rub their nose and reach for the terminate button with their other hand