Don't judge me... the Commander ordered me to do it. You better not make the name stick, ok?
Commander O'Brien and Ivy Grant were in a deep discussion, and given the fact an unescorted convoy carrying a
huge amount of ore had passed through, she thought it best to put me on patrol duty. Patrol duty is splendid; put your feet up, punch in the route and keep at least one eye open. This wasn't a specific gig so Hawkins and Moose were most likely grabbing the R&R they could. I don't blame them. O'Brien pushes us hard.
The convoy made it clear through Colorado no problem, despite a shifty looking Junker vessel. Satisfied no innocents or gold was lost to some bandit-scum, it was almost muscle memory plotting the patrol back through to California. That's... where things got interesting. Out of nowhere some 'XT-8' jumps through like a tractor into the broadside of a barn, enters the lane and drops traffic, thinking it'd get out of dodge. Not on Harmony's watch it wasn't. Directly outside Manhatten, O'Brien and Ivy intercepted the AI vessel. After a bit of probing...
*the sound of mutted chuckles come through the vidcom*, it spills the beans on some kind of 'Protocol 7' before engaging. The rustbucket is space dust now, but it left behind some charred materials. O'Brien's taking it to the bigwigs to get it analysed.
[10.02.2016 21:00:09] Eagle_John: good day navy fighter
[10.02.2016 21:00:27] Mikel.Thistle: *sighs*... Apparently, my name is 'Navy fighter'.
[10.02.2016 21:00:33] Mikel.Thistle: It is not wrong, I suppose.
[10.02.2016 21:01:21] Mikel.Thistle: You have... probably friendly... capital class ships inbound.
[10.02.2016 21:01:33] Kelly.O'Brien: Maybe that should be your nickname. Very great. I am sure you will be having a lot of fun with it. *chuckles*
[10.02.2016 21:01:40] Kelly.O'Brien: "Probably"?
[10.02.2016 21:02:07] Mikel.Thistle: Confusing bunch of IFF readouts. Either my rig needs kicking or they're playing at something.
[10.02.2016 21:02:46] Kelly.O'Brien: Got it. I will pay attention.
[10.02.2016 21:03:12] Mikel.Thistle: copy that... *sigh* I hope that name doesn't stick. *grins slightly*
[10.02.2016 21:04:15] Kelly.O'Brien: Navy fighter? you tell me if anything happens? *smug*
[10.02.2016 21:05:19] Mikel.Thistle: *mockedly sulks* Oh... great. Copy that... Ma'am.
[10.02.2016 21:07:53] Mikel.Thistle: Ma'am... we have an AI
[10.02.2016 21:08:01] Mikel.Thistle: An AI? here?!
[10.02.2016 21:08:04] Kelly.O'Brien: What? Halt it.
[10.02.2016 21:08:10] Mikel.Thistle: And it just dropped the lane behind it *frowns*
[10.02.2016 21:08:15] Mikel.Thistle: Headed to Westpoint maam
[10.02.2016 21:08:21] Kelly.O'Brien: Got it.
[10.02.2016 21:09:17] Mikel.Thistle: XT-8, by authority of the Liberty government, I request you sto- ...oh
[10.02.2016 21:09:37] Kelly.O'Brien: Manhattan. We got it.
[10.02.2016 21:09:37] Mikel.Thistle: Lane dropped towards Manhatten, looks like it went towards you
[10.02.2016 21:09:44] Mikel.Thistle: Copy that, inbound.
[10.02.2016 21:10:02] Mikel.Thistle: My gratitude for keeping the lane clear
[10.02.2016 21:10:20] Kelly.O'Brien: Ship designation XT-8. Identify yourself.
[10.02.2016 21:10:23] Mikel.Thistle: There's the bu...
[10.02.2016 21:10:25] Dakonet: he shot of me xt 8
[10.02.2016 21:10:39] XT-8: Object: XT-8. Bayonet-class scout ship.
[10.02.2016 21:10:44] Mikel.Thistle: That was a nasty trick you pulled rustbucket.
[10.02.2016 21:10:51] Kelly.O'Brien: Yeah I see that.
[10.02.2016 21:11:09] Kelly.O'Brien: Then... *sighs* Tell me your... "purpose"
[10.02.2016 21:11:10] Mikel.Thistle: The machine is getting its due justice.
[10.02.2016 21:11:13] Kelly.O'Brien: I hate robots.
[10.02.2016 21:11:23] XT-8: Purpose: scout.
[10.02.2016 21:11:28] Ivy.Grant: Scout what?
[10.02.2016 21:11:37] XT-8: Marked navigation points.
[10.02.2016 21:11:40] Mikel.Thistle: *crosses his arms, watching intently* Scouts dropping traffic?
[10.02.2016 21:11:51] Kelly.O'Brien: Why do you scout?
[10.02.2016 21:11:57] Ivy.Grant: Just wanted to ask that.
[10.02.2016 21:12:03] Kelly.O'Brien: See. Good idea.
[10.02.2016 21:12:09] XT-8: Reason: Directive from XT-100.
[10.02.2016 21:12:17] Ivy.Grant: What is XT-100?
[10.02.2016 21:12:19] Mikel.Thistle: *takes notes in cocnsole*
[10.02.2016 21:12:23] Mikel.Thistle: //*console
[10.02.2016 21:12:28] XT-8: Database Ship.
[10.02.2016 21:12:32] Ivy.Grant: Where is it?
[10.02.2016 21:12:37] XT-8: Omicron Kappa.
[10.02.2016 21:12:47] Ivy.Grant: Why are you scouting out so damn far?
[10.02.2016 21:12:49] Kelly.O'Brien: Omicron... that is damn far.
[10.02.2016 21:13:02] XT-8: Access denied. Code required.
[10.02.2016 21:13:25] Kelly.O'Brien: Denied? Who is sending you then?
[10.02.2016 21:13:30] Kelly.O'Brien: Rheinland?
[10.02.2016 21:13:31] XT-8: XT-100.
[10.02.2016 21:13:36] Kelly.O'Brien: Yeah I got that.
[10.02.2016 21:13:45] Kelly.O'Brien: Who is sending XT 100 then?
[10.02.2016 21:13:51] XT-8: Protocol 7.
[10.02.2016 21:13:59] Ivy.Grant: What is protocol 7?
[10.02.2016 21:14:11] XT-8: Access denied. Jumpgate detected.
[10.02.2016 21:14:18] Ivy.Grant: What?
[10.02.2016 21:14:35] Kelly.O'Brien: Jumpgate... What is wrong with this thing.
[10.02.2016 21:14:38] Mikel.Thistle: pffffft.... typical. Listen, rustbucket... you're not in a good sitch. Level with us, 'ey?
[10.02.2016 21:14:55] XT-8: Protocol 7 directive set up date: 01.02
[10.02.2016 21:15:19] Kelly.O'Brien: Huh. Recently.
[10.02.2016 21:15:31] XT-8: Code source: Unknown.
[10.02.2016 21:15:37] Kelly.O'Brien: The LSF might want this...
[10.02.2016 21:15:47] Mikel.Thistle: *sighs* They get all the good gigs...
[10.02.2016 21:16:02] Kelly.O'Brien: Do you want to search through it's database?
[10.02.2016 21:16:17] Mikel.Thistle: *looks blankly at it for a moment* ...hardpass...
[10.02.2016 21:16:18] ATL-387: Rheinland could have captured and reprogrammed this unit
[10.02.2016 21:16:22] XT-8: Access denied. Database access is restricted.
[10.02.2016 21:16:27] ATL-387: I advise extreme caution
[10.02.2016 21:16:36] XT-8: Neuralnet connection disabled.
[10.02.2016 21:16:46] Kelly.O'Brien: Rheinland is negotiating for peace... they have no reason.
[10.02.2016 21:16:54] ATL-387: Maybe
[10.02.2016 21:17:16] XT-8: Coronado Squad activating progress: 70%. Advised retreat.
[10.02.2016 21:17:18] Kelly.O'Brien: So it is taking care. I don'
[10.02.2016 21:17:21] Mikel.Thistle: Ma'am... I say we scrap the shell...
[10.02.2016 21:17:29] Kelly.O'Brien: Stop it!
[10.02.2016 21:17:49] Mikel.Thistle: oh ok then, lets party
[10.02.2016 21:17:49] Ivy.Grant: Seems like it's engaging.
[10.02.2016 21:17:52] Ivy.Grant: Alright.
[10.02.2016 21:18:22] CONSOLE: Base Long Island Station is under attack by ATL-387!
[10.02.2016 21:18:36] ATL-387: retreating
[10.02.2016 21:18:59] 2016-02-10 21:19:08 SMT Traffic control alert: ATL-387 has requested to dock
[10.02.2016 21:19:13] Death: XT-8 was put out of action by Mikel.Thistle (Mine).
That would have been enough drama for one patrol, if it weren't for some Freelancer with a callsign of 'Catharsis' showing up and dropping some intel on these XT rustbuckets. Turns out there's a group of these pests roaming around Coronado and Liberty dropping off nuclear arms. I don't like the sound of it... too convenient and sounds like a trap but it's O'Brien's call.
[10.02.2016 21:21:01] -Catharsis-: Here you all are!
[10.02.2016 21:21:07] Mikel.Thistle: Got some interesting data out of the microwave nonetheless.
[10.02.2016 21:21:09] Ivy.Grant: Considering it was just a mere scout, it wouldn't have anything important on it.
[10.02.2016 21:21:11] -Catharsis-: I saw the blast on logs and came as fast as possible.
[10.02.2016 21:21:22] Kelly.O'Brien: We will still send it to High Command.
[10.02.2016 21:21:26] -Catharsis-: I have something to tell.
[10.02.2016 21:21:29] Mikel.Thistle: *raises an eyebrow at the newcomer* Good Day... Cartharsis?
[10.02.2016 21:21:30] Kelly.O'Brien: We can't have drones strolling around.
[10.02.2016 21:21:56] -Catharsis-: This XT. You don't the hell know with what are you dealing with. I have some info for you.
[10.02.2016 21:22:04] Kelly.O'Brien: And you are?
[10.02.2016 21:22:14] -Catharsis-: It will move nukes soon...
[10.02.2016 21:22:17] -Catharsis-: yes, you heard right
[10.02.2016 21:22:19] -Catharsis-: the nukes
[10.02.2016 21:22:42] -Catharsis-: They have a lot of activity in Baffin and Coronado
[10.02.2016 21:22:49] Kelly.O'Brien: And how do you know that?
[10.02.2016 21:22:56] -Catharsis-: Well
[10.02.2016 21:22:58] Mikel.Thistle: Nukes... *scratches his head* Great.
[10.02.2016 21:23:04] -Catharsis-: i've lost 3 pilots already in Coronado
[10.02.2016 21:23:08] -Catharsis-: that's from where do i know
[10.02.2016 21:23:26] Kelly.O'Brien: Damn. I am sorry for your loss.
[10.02.2016 21:23:38] Kelly.O'Brien: We need all the information we can.
[10.02.2016 21:23:47] -Catharsis-: All i know is the signature of transport...
[10.02.2016 21:23:57] Kelly.O'Brien: A Transport? We take whatever we get.
[10.02.2016 21:23:58] -Catharsis-: It's XT-7200. And it will move from Sigmas.
[10.02.2016 21:24:04] -Catharsis-: It won't be alone.
[10.02.2016 21:24:10] -Catharsis-: I'm pretty sure it won't.
[10.02.2016 21:24:21] Kelly.O'Brien: Copy that. How do you know where it comes from?
[10.02.2016 21:24:38] -Catharsis-: All i saw is cruiser in Delta.
[10.02.2016 21:24:43] Kelly.O'Brien: Can you tell us when, too?
[10.02.2016 21:24:57] -Catharsis-: It's already killed near 15 pilots in omicrons.
[10.02.2016 21:25:03] -Catharsis-: I won't count the standart patrols.
[10.02.2016 21:25:22] Kelly.O'Brien: That is serious... You sure you have nothing else?
[10.02.2016 21:25:40] -Catharsis-: Sadly not. But... damage, i saw a gallic gunboat in Texas.
[10.02.2016 21:25:53] -Catharsis-: I can understand the drones, but captured gallic gunboats...
[10.02.2016 21:26:03] Kelly.O'Brien: What...Gallic... in Texas you say?
[10.02.2016 21:26:10] -Catharsis-: It is.
[10.02.2016 21:26:28] Kelly.O'Brien: Still there?!
[10.02.2016 21:26:45] -Catharsis-: Dunno, damage. From where could i know? XT-CP-Discredete was the sign.
[10.02.2016 21:27:03] Kelly.O'Brien: Understood. You are very helpful. We appreciate it.
[10.02.2016 21:27:07] Mikel.Thistle: *looks suspiciously at Catharsis* Thank you for your co-operation... *looks at Kelly and Grant*
[10.02.2016 21:27:19] -Catharsis-: Looks like it have some kind of techs compatibility researching in progress, becouse it's avoiding any conflicts there.
[10.02.2016 21:27:26] -Catharsis-: *cause
[10.02.2016 21:27:42] -Catharsis-: And also sometimes shouting about it in local...
[10.02.2016 21:28:03] -Catharsis-: Damage, i have no more commentary.
[10.02.2016 21:28:08] -Catharsis-: My apologies, just when saw it...
[10.02.2016 21:28:38] -Catharsis-: Can i assist you somehow else?
[10.02.2016 21:28:59] Kelly.O'Brien: Could you... tell me your name?
[10.02.2016 21:29:04] Kelly.O'Brien: This... seems weird.
[10.02.2016 21:29:17] -Catharsis-: It won't tell you anything, but my name is Doran.
[10.02.2016 21:29:21] Mikel.Thistle: I... don't like the sound of this. Feels... trap like.
[10.02.2016 21:29:27] Kelly.O'Brien: Aha... who do you work for?
[10.02.2016 21:29:41] -Catharsis-: None. I had my own company.
[10.02.2016 21:29:44] -Catharsis-: Before it was started.
[10.02.2016 21:29:54] -Catharsis-: Had... damage.
[10.02.2016 21:30:00] Kelly.O'Brien: Damage?
[10.02.2016 21:30:10] -Catharsis-: Means "damage", as insult word.
[10.02.2016 21:30:21] Mikel.Thistle: *carries out shortrange scan of the ship*
[10.02.2016 21:30:21] Kelly.O'Brien: Aha...
[10.02.2016 21:30:33] Kelly.O'Brien: Who uses Damage as a swear word...
[10.02.2016 21:30:45] -Catharsis-: What the hell are you doing?
[10.02.2016 21:30:51] Mikel.Thistle: The guy's nuts, surely.
[10.02.2016 21:30:58] -Catharsis-: This outcast is holding here for a while.
[10.02.2016 21:31:06] -Catharsis-: Taken somewhere in Taus.
[10.02.2016 21:31:14] -Catharsis-: Or Kepler, can't recall.
[10.02.2016 21:31:15] Mikel.Thistle: Urm... *keeps a straightface* rountine ship integrety examination
[10.02.2016 21:31:23] Mikel.Thistle: //*integrity
[10.02.2016 21:32:03] -Catharsis-: Am i free now?
[10.02.2016 21:32:09] -Catharsis-: You are making strange moves.
[10.02.2016 21:32:10] Mikel.Thistle: That... or he's seen enough to /make/ him nuts.
[10.02.2016 21:32:14] -Catharsis-: Especially after all this i told.
[10.02.2016 21:32:32] Mikel.Thistle: Hey hey... *holds hands up* I'm not holding you to anything.
[10.02.2016 21:32:35] Kelly.O'Brien: Well. Thank you for your cooperation.
[10.02.2016 21:32:40] Kelly.O'Brien: We will see what we can do.
[10.02.2016 21:32:54] -Catharsis-: Good. If i will be around - i will join you in battle. That all i can promise.
[10.02.2016 21:33:07] Kelly.O'Brien: Thank you.
[10.02.2016 21:33:16] Kelly.O'Brien: Well if this wasn't odd...
[10.02.2016 21:33:17] Mikel.Thistle: This shift gets wierder and wierder.
*A yawn echoes through the vidcam* I'm not done just yet. A Coalitioner by the name of Yuriy Gagarin flew into Manhatten space, and after a little facy flyin decided to engage us. Seems the Socialist got lost and wanted to get some of his disappointment out? Unclear, but he engaged O'Brien - enough said. The job done,
yet another XT showed up, this time carrying Artefacts and weaponry. After the information from earlier that patrol, we were having none of it. The rustbucket docked up in Rochester so there's nothing we could do about it...
[10.02.2016 21:46:16] Kelly.O'Brien: Attention!
[10.02.2016 21:46:30] Kelly.O'Brien: Don't let it enter the Manhattan area.
[10.02.2016 21:46:30] Mikel.Thistle: Fancy maing it easy and stopping to talk?
[10.02.2016 21:47:16] Mikel.Thistle: oh... no you dont
[10.02.2016 21:47:28] Mikel.Thistle: you want to party lets party
[10.02.2016 21:47:41] Death: Yuriy.Gagarin was put out of action by Mikel.Thistle (Mine).
[10.02.2016 21:47:51] Mikel.Thistle: Old tricks work the best.
[10.02.2016 21:47:57] Kelly.O'Brien: Damn... Ensign. Today you are at your best.
[10.02.2016 21:48:04] Mikel.Thistle: *salutes* Thank you ma'am
[10.02.2016 21:48:17] Kelly.O'Brien: Coalition... here.
[10.02.2016 21:48:31] Kelly.O'Brien: Today is not ceasing to be an eventful day.
[10.02.2016 21:48:41] Mikel.Thistle: Didn't have the usual tags.... rogue pilot? Indeed... whatever next.
[10.02.2016 21:49:06] Mikel.Thistle: Another XT....
[10.02.2016 21:49:11] Kelly.O'Brien: What is going on here?
[10.02.2016 21:49:22] Kelly.O'Brien: Is the Coalition connected?
[10.02.2016 21:49:40] Mikel.Thistle: Perhaps... wouldn't put a 'Protocol Ominous' past them
[10.02.2016 21:50:00] Kelly.O'Brien: *sighs* This is a lot of chaos.
[10.02.2016 21:50:10] Mikel.Thistle: Where are the borderforces?!
[10.02.2016 21:50:11] XT-15: Explain: Coalition connection!
[10.02.2016 21:50:30] Kelly.O'Brien: You should explain.
[10.02.2016 21:50:39] XT-15: No information found.
[10.02.2016 21:50:54] Mikel.Thistle: IT would say that... wouldnt it
[10.02.2016 21:51:02] Kelly.O'Brien: Sure.
[10.02.2016 21:51:08] XT-15: Explain!
[10.02.2016 21:51:35] XT-15: Information required.
[10.02.2016 21:51:53] Mikel.Thistle: It is heading into the Debris field Ma'am
[10.02.2016 21:52:06] Kelly.O'Brien: Damn these things
[10.02.2016 21:52:19] Mikel.Thistle: *crosser his arms* One moment... an XT shows up. Causes trouble. The next... A coalitioner... now another XT.
[10.02.2016 21:52:30] Mikel.Thistle: This is getting too strange to be coincidence.
[10.02.2016 21:52:33] Kelly.O'Brien: This is getting out of hand.
[10.02.2016 21:53:28] Mikel.Thistle: *raises an eyebrow*
[10.02.2016 21:53:53] Mikel.Thistle: Seems this one has alien items on it Ma'am.
[10.02.2016 21:53:57] Kelly.O'Brien: I see that.
[10.02.2016 21:54:09] Mikel.Thistle: and personal weapons... I dislike where this is going.
[10.02.2016 21:54:18] Kelly.O'Brien: Unidentified ship. Drop your cargo and get away from the installation.
[10.02.2016 21:54:28] XT-15: Subjects: Navy. Status set: restricted access. No further access to Database.
[10.02.2016 21:54:37] Kelly.O'Brien: Now!
[10.02.2016 21:54:51] XT-15: Hostile intentions detected. Locking down the communication protocols.
[10.02.2016 21:54:53] Mikel.Thistle: *thumps the flightboard* I've had enough of this rustbucket nonsense.
[10.02.2016 21:57:06] Kelly.O'Brien: Damn this!
Ensign Thistle, signing off.