=== Incoming Transmission ===
== Encryption: Good luck breaking into this one ==
Attention, all Raiders. Henceforth all internal affairs and patrol/activity reporting will be done in person on board the Metropolis, in the back of the mess hall on deck E. If for some reason you are away from the Metropolis, for example as part of an operation with Merak Squadron, you may submit a transmission to Internal Affairs through this comm channel. Otherwise, please submit your reports in person to Mr. Tobiah Nitzan (note: if you value your life, and you are not a close friend, do not call him Toby), with a datapad containing any relevant footage and other files.
This initiative comes from our desire to create a more personal, family atmosphere among members of the Vagrant Raiders. If you don't like it, perhaps you should talk to Taskmaster Escher about joining Merak Squadron.
Harold Kane walked into the mess hall, looked at the kitchen, continued straight past the grey aluminum trays covered in different coloured mush, and waved at Tobiah Nitzen. He stepped up to the new Internal Affairs office -- not really an office, more like a table and a billboard -- and chuckled.
"Looks like you've got yourself set up quite nice, Tobes."
Tobiah nodded. "Got a datapad, a neural net connection, and a mini-fridge. Couldn't be better."
Kane laughed again. "Anyways, here's some data for the records:
Yesterday was eventful. I took command of the VCS Silent Man to bring some passengers through Liberty. It's a liner, so it works. Comfortable enough, I think. Of course, a pair of Liberty Navy Primary Fleet fighters stops me, and lo and behold, it's two of the Admirals themselves. Not wanting to get in a fight in our fancy Bretonian Liner, I decided to play along. Somehow, I managed to get an escort to Planet Curacao, my actual destination, where Admiral Rachel Baker gave me a few bottles of wine.
No, the wine is not available for the taking.
Okay, just one bottle.
Lesson learned: If you're moving passengers from Pittsburgh to Curacao, call yourself Valiant R&R.
Oh, and congratulations to Dezmond Giles on his promotion to Marauder. You're now allowed to fly a gunboat if it so pleases you. Be careful with it."
I'm out at... well... let's start from the beginning.
Back around the time of the... disagreement between the three of us that are now high command, I was out in the Omega region. Recon, making contacts, that sort of thing. I wasn't with the Raiders at the time, but that's even more important when you're flying solo.
Moving along.
This was just before Gallia's big push into the Taus. After that, I headed north, into the Independent Worlds. I ran recon out of Coronado for a time, covering my tracks in case the Neo-French found my presence gauling. Retreat proved unnecessary however, so I moved my operation further, to Freeport 6 and then to Freeport 10.
It's interesting what a change of hats can do. Swap the black for the grey, and suddenly the Miners don't pay attention to you. Consequently, I had nearly unrestricted travel in the Taus... for all the good that did. Absolutely nothing of interest was happening, just the usual routines with the addition of a bit more wine moving through the area. Kusari giving up on the war changed even less.
So I found myself out in the Omicrons, and I decided on something. The Raiders are back. The Corsairs will remember us. And if not, perhaps they should be reminded. Now, it's been many years since I engaged in petty vandalism, but I'm pretty sure I got their attention - a Titan pilot chased me quite a distance before I finally shook him.
I've made my way back to the Sigmas. I should be in the Independent Worlds before too long, but Rheinland is rather... problematic to move through. The alternate route involves a trip through the Omegas, and then I'm back where I started. Given recent events, however, perhaps that's not a bad place to be...
Harold walked straight past Tobiah and picked up the intercom, broadcasting a message to all Vagrant Raider holdings in Sirius.
Guys, we have a problem.
Approximately twenty-four hours ago, Warlord Blain Spike went AWOL. He has now just declared his leaving the Vagrant Raiders.
Oh well, right?
If someone involved with purchasing and requisitions for Alcor Wing could please inform me of any software purchases from the Lane Hackers, that'd be swell. And if the Spyglass array's log backups could please be restored, there's a case of beer waiting for the techs who spend some overtime to get those reinstated. We seem to be missing a few files out of the main core storage.
It's a good god damned thing we keep doubles of everything.
Good day to you all! Was on my way to visit some friends in Texas when i came across a navy gunboat. Figured it needed a bit of decorating. Anyways, here's the end result.
=== Incoming Transmission ===
== Encryption: The Lane Hackers are confused at this one ==
I'm in Omicron Beta right now. Why? I'm on a business trip of sorts.
So, welcome to the new bandits: Karim Callanan, Nikolai Hawkins, and William Loc. May you have much success in raiding things vagrantly. Try not to die.
Kane out.
=== Transmis16F2994E16D2A5F8
Okay, if you can read this, you're ranked Marauder or higher. Let's keep what I have to say here that way.
So I've got some squishy bits. Picked them up off some bigger squishy things that ate antimatter. They're mostly intact. Some are charred to hell though. I tried putting a bullet in one that was wriggling around and it just seemed to piss it off. I don't know if it's alive or just tightening up and convulsing.
To make things worse, I haven't got a clue what to do with these things. I don't know how dangerous it would be to bring them back to the Metropolis for study. The one that might be alive doesn't seem like it wants to die. I haven't touched any of these things with my bare hands, because I don't know how these things could affect me.
They're locked up in some of those fancy refrigerated medical boxes for storing organs. Don't ask me how I got some of those.
Nothing good will come of them. I understand the Raiders and The Order have historically had differences, but I think it's safest to follow their security protocol on this one - 300kg of antimatter should do the trick.
Meanwhile, in one of the bars on the Metropolis...
A young half-Kusari man walked into the bar, and he wasn't entirely happy. A few people would recognize him as a Raider, Ken Matsuda, but he usually flew alone.
"One round for my crew, and then another round for me. Damned Colonials. Battleship caught me trying to rob a Gateway diamond transport. A full hold of diamonds! But no, that bastard had nothing better to do than to go after me. What, did Gallia retreat when I wasn't looking?"
:::Incoming Transmission::: :::Sender:Xander Reeves:::
G'day mates, I'm the rook. Y'know, the Xander guy.
Ok, lemme tell ya a lil' bit 'bout myself.
I used to be in the Sirian Vanguard, those terrorist blokes. Blowing up stuff was kinda fun, but after while it got all silent. So I turn my attention to you lot.
I mean; piracy, drink, drugs, women; what's not to love?
Oh, and about my ship. Y'see, back in SV I went on a little operation into the fine ol' Kingdom o' Gallia. I must say, some of the women there are preeeeeeeetty fly. I met one, and well we had a pretty good time together. Sadly, it was not meant to last as just when we were 'sleeping' in a fine double gallic bed, the GRP had parked themselves around our home. So, she gave me a kiss and I ran out the backdoor as fast as I could. I left my clothes behind as a memento.
Since my cutlass was at the front where all the GRP were, I couldn't get to it easiliy without having to break some noses. I wasn't really in the mood for that anyway. So I had to borrow her eclipse. She didn't mind, I think. I still get the odd death threat now and again.
Flash forward a bit, I have an eclipse. And some clothes.
And that is pretty much a little bit of my life Story. Xander out.
So yeah. Recently got to brushing off my blackmailing skills. What skills you ask? None existent i say.
Still managed to pull 2 million out of a transport cap'n though. Got a picture somewhere of the conversation... Where'd i put that thing?