Enterprise was on a brink of collapse, slowly bleeding out in Tau-23. The only way to avoid it was to broaden the area of operations. A number of patrols were sent to Bretonia and Liberty to asses threat levels there and estimate profitability of possible bounty contracts. In December negotiations with Liberty and Bretonian Governments were started and soon Enterprise received hunting license from both states. In the meantime Liberty Government issued a Cortez and Magellan lockdown to counter piracy there which was slowly getting out of control. Any unidentified pirate vessel was to be shot on sight and each kill was heftily rewarded. Indeed, situation in both systems was critical. Gold rush in Dublin system was fueling a constant stream of transports heading to New York the shortest possible way, through Magellan and Cortez. Such a traffic, not to mention the regular trade between two houses, was attracting a huge population of Liberty pirates. Lane Hackers, Liberty Rogues, Outcasts and even Junkers were trying to cut out their piece of a cake. Liberty Rogues, specializing in attacking convoys in California, were relying on their brute force. But due to lack of organization any experienced escort was able to evade them easily. More dangerous were the Outcasts who were bringing their powerful gunboats from Malta. However, the worst enemy were the Lane Hackers. Relying on their finesse and tactics, Lane Hackers were able enforce a complete blockade of both systems and derive insane profits from it. Additionally they were known from their trickery and deadly ambushes. Enterprise decided to relocate its flagship, Battleship Aurora, to Coronado system in order to set a base for operations in Bretonia and Liberty. For three months, small EDGE wings consisting mainly from light gunships and gunboats were relentlessly hunting pirates across the nearby systems. Enterprise's efficiency became its trademark. It also had its downsides. Criminals united themselves against a common enemy and even hired mercenaries to do their job for them, like in the case of Reavers Mercenary Company. But then the mining crisis came. With trade in decline also the piracy levels dropped significantly. Enterprise had to extend their hunting grounds in order to maintain its position. Patrols were being sent deep into Omega systems and even into Rheinland territory...
There is little personal information that Walter has disclosed even to his close friends. What is known and mostly confirmed, is that he was born on Los Angeles in 772 A.S., both his parents were DSE engineers, and that he graduated from West Point to serve in the Liberty Navy during the Nomad war, to which he often refers: This is not 'Nom, there are rules.
It is his life after the war that is a bit sketchy. He never talks about it openly, though one of his closest friends Payton has an idea what has happened. He continued to serve in the LN as an undercover intelligence officer, trying to work his way into the Liberty Rogues to provide information that would help cripple the organization. It wasn't very difficult for Walter, thanks to his rough demeanor, pride and sometimes uncontrollable anger he quickly gained trust of the Rogues who saw him as a strong man, bent on seeking revenge on the corrupt house of Liberty. He made a lifetime friend among the rogues - Donny - who was more of a social outcast than a criminal, working as a treasurer on Buffalo.
After this episode of his life there is a big gap up until when Walter met Payton through Donny, their mutual friend who revealed only this to Payton: "Walter chose to turn his back on the Navy to save my life". He worked shortly with Payton in the Bounty Hunters Guild. After that there is another unclear period of his life, but eventually Walter and Donny found employment in the IMG, to work hard and honestly for their retirement. That was when Walter slowly realized he cannot stand idly in the face of a great evil that is working it's way to dominate the entire Sirius sector - the cardamine. He decided to withdraw credits from his retirement fund and contact Jack Payton. Shortly after, the Enterprise was born.
Unlike others in the Enterprise, Alfred Strauss has never had any problems with revealing his past, though according to him it's "not particularly interesting." Some agree with him, and others do not - regardless, he has compiled all of the pertinent information regarding himself and his background in this document. Alfred was born to a middle-class family on New Berlin in the 13th Federal District, famed for its "diverse" nightlife. He graduated at the top of every class he attended, and eventually received a full scholarship from the local governor to attend any college in Rheinland he chose. He chose a prestigious law school located in Hamburg, the Joachim University for Legal Studies and the Arts. (Mr. Strauss has later commented that his parents did not seem to approve of his choice.) He worked as a lawyer successfully for approximately four and a half standard Sirian years, producing a small fortune for himself. However, in his own words, he decided "[...that] bringing them in [would be] more fun than keeping them [out...]" He, along with other like-minded individuals, founded the Pagan Mercenary Subject Retrieval/Deep Space Exploration Company, which collapsed shortly after formation. He then enlisted in the Emergency Defense Group Enterprise, his employer to the present day.
Full Name: Alfred Friedrich-Immanuel Strauss Age: Thirty-One Standard Sirian Years Place And Date of Birth: Williamstadt Municipal Hospital, 13th Federal District, Planet New Berlin, New Berlin System (DOB: 1:17.59 AM, 27th December, 778 A.S.)
After long negotiations with Liberty Forces Surplus Requisitioning Centre by Walter Sobchak and Jack Payton final agreement has been achieved. In exchange for settling all outstanding bounty claims concerning Cortez and Magellan lock-down Liberty granted Emergency Defense Group Enterprise access to some of their weaponry. Three days ago in Cortez Liberty Navy battleship Plymouth Rock delivered one Liberty Battleship Flak Turret, eight Magma Hammer MK V and twelve Liberty Gunboat Turrets to be used on EDGE flagship Aurora, gunboats Nergal, Orome and Radegast as well as fighters Beelzebub and Raiden.
Emergency Defense Group Enterprise has already established itself as the most reliable bounty hunter organization in the region. During two months, from 7th December to 9th February, EDGE has claimed 153 bounties worth exactly 424 700 000 Sirius Credits. That's right. This means more than two contracts per day worth averagely 2 770 000 Sirius Credits each. Biggest paymaster was the Republic of Liberty that paid for 102 bounties exactly 239 200 000 Sirius Credits. Second place belongs to Colonial Republic that paid for 23 bounties exactly 51 500 000 Sirius Credits. EDGE was working also for Government of Bretonia, Ageira Technologies, Independent Miners Guild, Interspace Commerce, Orbital Spa & Cruise, Universal Shipping and even fulfilling legitimate contracts offered by Junkers and Zoners.
Bounty Statistics 101107-110209
Since EDGE was operating mainly in Tau-Coronado corridor most of the bounties were claimed in California (43 claims), Magellan (32 claims), Tau-23 (22 claims) and Cortez (17 claims) systems. EDGE targets were mainly Outcasts (61 ships destroyed), Lane Hackers (38 ships destroyed) and Liberty Rogues (30 ships destroyed). Amongst the targets the most popular ship type was gunboat (55 ships in total including 33 Tridente class gunboat) and bomber (47 ships in total including 15 Barghest, 13 Broadsword and 12 Falcata class bombers).
Business was going slow. With the failed attempt to establish an EDG deployment contract with the IMG, the Enterprise had to find a different place and different conflict soon. It's not that the IMG refused to hire an EDG, but the situation in the Taus left little room for implementing it. The miners relied on the Colonial Republic's military forces reinforced with their own defense wings when things got really grim, otherwise they avoided the Outcasts whenever possible. Eventually the IMG shifted their interests to Dublin and there was little left to do in Tau 23. Business was going slow, but not incredibly bad. The Board's decision to station the main forces in Coronado proved to be a particularly clever maneuver. It allowed the Enterprise to cover almost the entire Barrier Nebula and beyond, enabling quick access to systems where crime was running rampant. Independent worlds, Taus, Liberty and Bretonia became a new and rich hunting ground for the EDGE, and soon the trademark was widely recognized by lawfuls and criminals alike. Particularly good relations were established with the Colonials, who respected the Enterprise's fighting spirit and paid the bounties with no delay, and the Liberty Government which enabled the requisition of military-grade weapons for several fighters and gunships. Nonetheless, business was still going slow, and the Enterprise was growing stagnant. With almost no new pilot recruits and scarce income, the Board of Executives slowly began to realize the hopeless state of the current situation - a situation that called for a new approach, a radical move in order to prevent the Enterprise from collapsing.
Coronado: Planet Pecos
Sitting comfortably at his desk, Payton was busy with paperwork, or pretending to be busy in order to delay the conversation. He could tell that he was not going to like what was ahead, and he tried not to pay attention to Sobchak, who was now sitting in his office onboard the Leviathan, who was drinking whiskey with an angry look and rapidly tapping his fingers. Payton had received no word from him for weeks, and now all of a sudden he shows up in a battlecruiser without notice, requesting to moor. He didn't say anything except "We need to have a conversation, Jack," from the moment he arrived, and the awkward silence was growing more tense each second.
"The..." Payton cleared his throat, still looking at the computer screen, "Liberty Government has finally paid for our bounties, I've transferred your share to..."
"Then transfer it back and tell them to shove it up their ass!" Walter busted out as he habitually does when he's beginning to discuss serious business, this time accompanying this verbal outburst by slamming the armrest with his fist. Payton was convinced now that this cannot be postponed. He shut down the screen, leaned back on his chair and directed his full attention to the angry man, waiting for him to speak.
"I'm ashamed that I'm being paid those dirty credits for what we do!" he said, standing up from his chair. "This whole idea of hunting in Liberty is killing me. All you need to do is take a random tradelane and pull the trigger once you fall out of a hacked sequence. Those punks can't even shoot straight, they might as well just roll over and die! This is not a worthy adversary!" Walter stated angrily, then sat back down and finished his whiskey in one gulp.
"I was just kidding." he added quietly. "I need the money."
"Where have you been?" said Payton, "Let me guess, Curacao? That's how you're fighting crime now? That's how you fight cardamine smugglers?"
"It's none of your damn business!" said Walter. "Goddamn punks, this is not a worthy... Look, if you must know, I was raiding Alpha with the Colonials, at least there's a challenge..."
"Oh great, so instead of dealing with your issues you want to kill yourself, is that right? Come on, tell me what you want or get back to Alpha! You don't like it here now? Might I remind you that it was your idea? Things might be going slow, but they're going forward."
"That's not good enough!" said Walter. "If I wanted to chase punks for a buck I'd have stayed in the Guild! That's not why we formed this Enterprise, dude. The goddamn Emergency Defense Group Enterprise has a mission and a purpose and right now we're accomplishing nothing. This is not 'Nom, there are rules! We need to start doing our job or it's over."
Payton sighed. "I knew it would come to this. You just can't stand the routine, the steady..."
"Damn straight I can't."
"Development of... Look - fine. I have just the thing for you that'll make you happy for a moment, and then we'll all die because..."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." said Walter, folding his arms.
"...we're not entirely ready for this. We don't have the manpower, we're lacking financial reserves." said Payton. "But you'll get what you want, so that when it's over I can say: I told you so. I received an inquiry from Daumann, they're asking for details for an EDG deployment. Apparently there was some mining crisis in the Omegas and now they're having difficulty with all sorts of scum, Hessians, Corsairs..."
"Get it done. We're leaving this hellhole," said Walter, pulling himself up from the chair and heading towards the door.
"Great, I'll just handle everything while you... where are you going now!?" said Payton.
"Curacao. And... maybe Alpha one last time. Don't worry Jack, I won't be long," Walter said, not even looking over his shoulder as he left through the door.
"Yeah right..." said Payton and sighed. He turned his chair around towards the porthole and glanced outside at the Coronado planetary system. He liked this place a lot, but even though he would not admit it before Sobchak, he knew that this is a stalemate, that it's time for the EDGE to move on.
"Computer." he said. "Establish a comlink with Daumann Board or Directors."
Omega-11: Solarius Station
The negotiations didn't take long. Daumann wanted the defense group deployed as soon as possible, and so the Enterprise began the necessary preparations for departure. Walter returned soon enough to help with the fleet relocation, and he also had a permission ready from the Colonial Republic for passage through their space. The route which the Enterprise chose to reach the Omega systems was difficult, hostile, and not entirely charted. It was developed from various bits of information mainly recovered from prisoners, and it involved passing through several systems claimed by Kusari unlawful factions, but it was fast. Fast, and, ironically, easy, because it would take weeks, maybe even months of negotiations and tons of paperwork to arrange a passage of the majority of EDGE fleet through house space. The journey was largely uneventful, as the pirates were completely unprepared for an incursion of this magnitude: two flagships, the Leviathan and Aurora along with battlecruiser Veles, several destroyers, gunboat squadrons and fighter wings, could safely make their way through to the Sigmas, Omicrons and finally to the Omegas without any resistance. It was during the EDG deployment however, that they encountered resistance. Red Hessian presence was strong, especially in Omega-11, and before the fleet could finish the deployment it was already involved in several battles. But the Omegas were not an unknown space for the Enterprise - for some of them, it was almost like returning home after a long journey, and soon the Emergency Defense Group was in position, ready to protect Daumann interests in the area and the lives of their workers.
It has been four weeks since EDG was deployed to Omega 11. Hessians, after suffering minor loses, became less active. Situation seemed under control. Whole storm begun with an emergency call coming from a Daumann convoy that was going through Jeschko Fragment asteroid field. Distress call stated that the Daumann convoy was under attack by a number of enemy fighters and a gunboat. They were requesting an immediate backup. A local EDG consisting of four fighters, two gunboats and Ares - Thresher class light destroyer, was dispatched to deal with the situation. Upon the arrival, EDGE found the Daumann convoy accompanied by number of enemy ships, including fighters and gunboats. Apparently Red Hessians were able to capture Titanic class transport, managed to break into Daumann secure comms and set up a trap. Despite all of this, situation did not look that critical taking into account inthat EDG had a destroyer leading them. Enemy made the first move. Strangely, gunboats were mainly armed with pulse types weapons, and couldn't provide much damage to the reinforced Thresher's hull, causing painful damage to its shields instead.
Omega-11: Battlecruiser Hors mooring Solarius Station
In the 39th minute of the battle enemies lost already two out of three of their gunboats and three out of five of their fighters.
"Attention. 7th and 8th turrets are operating at half power. De-pressurization of 8th module in progress...", in the Thresher's command damage control officer was shouting.
Guardian Vityaz Hunt, commander of the destroyer Ares ignored this warning.
"Alright, two gunboats are down, we've got one more to go. This one does not seem to be pulse based. Cerberus battlestations, target the gunboat on eleven o'clock. Rest of the power into shields."
"You will pay... You will all pay me for all my fallen comrades, commies.", after issuing the commands Vityaz started to whisper to himself. He was angry. He already lost a few members of the crew and the destroyer was badly damaged. Despite all of this, battle seemed to be won.
"I bet you did not expect a Thresher here to fall on your heads.", he thought.
Suddenly sounds of a huge explosions shuddered the ship one after another. Lights turned off for a second and afterwards numerous alarms went on.
"Attention, critical damage detected, 5th, 6th turrets lost, 7th, 8th, 10th module critically damaged, radiation leak in 3th module...", damage control officer shouted after checking the readings.
"What the frakk was that? Situation report, now!", shouted the commander.
"Sir, we have two more hostile vessels on scanners. They're... those are cruiser class vessels. We probably got hit by the mortars.", answered first officer.
"We're lucky we had half of shield regenerated, otherwise we'd be dead by now.", thought the commander and started to issue orders "Maximum power to the engines, move on six o'clock, all remaining energy to the shields! Commence evasive maneuvers. I command a full retreat. Set course to Solarius and send the distress call."
"And let's pray that Leviathan will meet us before we turn into scrap...", he added in his thoughts.
"Mortar incoming", shouted tactical officer and everyone held their breaths. For a second everything in the CIC went silent.
"It missed us.", tactical officer stated the obvious. But the situation was critical.
"Sir, if we're to get out of their effective range...", said first officer.
"Initiate the cruise engines, now.", commander did not let him to finish.
"But Sir! Reactor is damaged, cruise will increase radiation leaks into module 3rd and 4th. Our men there might...", damage control officer opposed the command.
"Pull yourself together! If we do not get the hell out of here now glowing at night will be the least of our concerns. Engage cruise, now!"
Aftermath of the battle was rather grim. Due to the asteroids and radiation EDG was not able to detect Red Hessian reinforcements in time. Destroyer Ares lost thirteen crew members, another twelve were wounded and twenty one had radiation sickness of various levels. Other ships of the EDG were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair. Ares was moved to Alabama shipyard for repairs and it looked like it was out of action for a long time. During this operation EDGE gathered incredibly important intelligence. Red Hessians had heavy cruisers at their disposal. Where those miners were building them? Guardian Vityaz Hunt, having another near death experience, decided to invest his personal funds into a more suitable ship for a deployment to Omega-11.
"Tell them I am taking a vacation on Alabama. No frakkin way I will allow this to happen again! Tell them I am getting myself a Bullhead."
"Excuse me, Sir. What? EDGE funds are stretched thin right now. They won't be able to fund another battlecruiser. How could you have the money?", asked the first officer.
"My past and the size of my bank account is none of your concerns, my friend.", Vityaz made a very unkindly smile, "But don't worry, if you ask why I am doing this, the answer is very simple. I have some debts to pay back from the Dublin times. Now, leave me please, I think I need to contact an old friend of mine."
A month later registration papers were put on the table of Executor Walter Sobchak.
"Would you be so kind to sign it, please?", Vityaz smiled. Walter took a glance of the specification and then rose his brows sceptically. Guardian Vityaz Hunt, who was standing before him, noticed it.
"Yes, I do understand the responsibility concerning Sirius Codex and house regulations. We already discussed that when I was commissioning Ares.", he recited.
Walter who was still not convinced took a second glance into the specification of the ship.
"No, it is a little modified design, EDGE won't be able to use it to supply deep space operations due to reduced cargo hold. Well, you see, I requested as much autonomy as it was possible to exercise in an already built ship. I've go an increased power generator, shield capacity and hull strength. I don't want to be on the brink of death like the last time."
Walter was not really listening to Vityaz. What he was looking for was estimated monthly up-keeping cost. Once again Vityaz read Walter's intent flawlessly.
"And yes, I do want to put this ship on EDGE supply line. Do you expect me to constantly supply the whole battlecruiser from my wallet? Yeah, I almost forgot to tell you. It's gonna be called Hors. So, can I get your signature, please? And your fuel, too.", Vityaz smiled again.
"I will sign it Vityaz, but remember! Always bring it back to base before eleven!"
The situation in Omega-11 was critical. As Payton predicted, the EDGE was not entirely prepared to stand against the combined forces of Red Hessians and the Coalition. The Red Hessian Army was hardened by constant struggle with the Corsairs and everything from the environment to the way their pilots were trained was giving them a major strategic advantage in Omega-11. The EDGE Board of Executives was aware that they could not wage full a scale war and prevail. Instead, a different strategy was implemented. EDGE battle commanders were instructed to conduct guerrilla operations. Usually, single destroyers were playing the role of bait in luring unsuspecting enemies into a trap. Multiple ambushes were set that resulted in destruction of several Hessian battlecruisers. However, the Hessians quickly learned their lesson and countered this strategy by instant reinforcements from Omega-5 and Omega-54. Board of executives decided to deploy the battleships Aurora and Leviathan to guard the respective jumpholes in order to intercept incoming hostile reinforcements. However, not everything went according to the plan.
Omega-11: Battleship Leviathan and Battlecruiser Veles
'Additional hostile targets incoming' shouted the Aurora's tactical officer, 'judging from the heat signature it's two battlecruisers,' he added.
'Deploy bomber wing two, and send these bastards to the afterlife!' said Walter Sobchak. The aggravation in the Aurora's CIC had reached critical levels.
'With all due respect sir, we already lost two fighters to Hessians. They won't be able to provide cover!' objected the flight operations officer.
'They will manage. Do it now!' shouted Walter, and the officer immediately forwarded the command. 'And where's the frakkin' Leviathan?' demanded the irritated executor, but his voice was drowned by two loud explosions. Battleship Aurora trembled.
'Two direct mortar hits,' said a damage control officer. 'Engine room reports that shield is down to 45% but our regeneration rate is not dropping.'
'All batteries, target nearest cruiser for God's sake! Prepare main...' barked Walter. His command was interrupted by the communication officer.
'Sir, Leviathan is not responding. We cannot establish connection due to radiation interference!'
'Relay the connection through Solarius Station you moron!'
'Sir, we tried this. Solarius Station is not responding.'
For a moment silence conquered the CIC, only to be interrupted by computer alerts and sporadic explosions.
'Sir, we got another wing of fighters incoming. They are mercenaries, probably Reavers.'
'Good, we could use- '
'Sir, they are targeting our bombers!' shouted the tactical officer.
'What the frakk?'
'I repeat, our bombers are targeted by Reavers. What are your orders, sir?'
'Disengage and perform combat landings, now!' Sobchak yelled hurriedly, 'And set course for Omega-7, we get the frakk out of here or we are all going to die!'
Omega-11: Jumphole to Omega-41
'What the frakk just happened?' asked Walter Sobchak, bashing a table with his hand. A conference hall on Freistadt Station in Omega-7, which was, in fact, little more than a small room with twelve seats and several holographic projectors. Since the room was nearly empty, Walter's bashing was producing an echo.
'Apparently yesterday Daumann Heavy Construction declared bankruptcy. In secrecy they evacuated all personnel from their bases in Omega-11 and Omega-7,' replied Jack Payton calmly.
'Once again, boys, we have been frakked! How much do those damn bloodsuckers owe us?'
'According to our databases, sir, we have not received payment for bounty claims made before finalization of our EDG deployment contract, worth exactly 35 million Sirius Credits. The contract itself was worth 50 million Sirius Credits. We were acting upon the contract for several days and destroyed dozens of hostile targets. According to the contract our operations should be rewarded with bonus in form of 25 million Sirius Credits. This means that Daumann Heavy Construction owes us 110 million Sirius Credits,' quickly recited Heinrich Goldschmidt, the Enterprise's chief financial officer.
'Well, they better...' shouted Walter when a messenger entered the room.
'Apologies for the interruption, sirs. We've just received information from New Berlin that the DHC Board of Directors is missing. It is presumed they escaped...'
'I am going to kill them. I will personally rip their guts from their...' shouted Walter and started to damage everything that wasn't moving, kicking and bashing whatever was in reach. In the meantime, Payton turned over to the messenger.
'Sentinel...'
'Winchester - Kyle Winchester, Sir.'
'Please forward a command to our fleet to retreat to Omega-15 for repairs and maintenance. Our second gunboat squadron is ordered to moor with Elbich Mining Facility, while fighter and bomber wings Iota and Kappa are to dock on Freistadt base and wait for further orders.' said Payton ignoring Walter's outburst.
'Aye aye, sir.' replied Sentinel Winchester and left the room.
'I will sell their mothers to the Slavers Union if I have to!' said Walter, still seriously angered.
'Would you really do it?' asked Payton.
'Try me...'
'No need to. I've already assigned Alfred Strauss to it. He was a lawyer before he joined us. He'll go to New Berlin and represent our interests there, and he'll do a damn good job of it, too. There is only one question.'
'What question?' Walter said, having calmed down a bit.
'Who will write the letters?'
'What letters?'
'To Galen's and Patterson's family,' said Payton, referring to the two fighter pilots killed in Omega-11.