»UPLINK: Elgin Primary Node

[Vendetta]

...neural.uplink detected...
...starting encryption...establishing connection...
identified: Navarch Leviathan

...TRANSLATING DATA...

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DISPLAYING MESSAGE

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A rather peculiar situation unfolded in the borders of Liberty and Kusari, which Revenant and I were fortunate enough to be present to witness. What seemed like a recovery operation seemed to quickly devolve into a prolonged skirmish over a Hercules-class lifter, carrying something we weren't able to identify. We opted to stick to the sidelines as the situation unfolded.

As the fighting continued, the Navy made the call to attempt to scuttle the Hercules, though most of their vessels were distracted with pursuing Kusari Naval Forces. The fight had split off into small pockets and spread across a number of systems. This allowed for a gap that a surprising third party capitalized upon: The Lane Hackers. Having seen them in action over the years, it was rare for a coordinated move like this to not have some kind of weight to it. We weighed the odds and considered our options as They navigated the Kepler storm for their exfil. Eventually, we settled on leveraging some goodwill in assisting them in the recovery of the Hercules.

Once clear of the storm, we followed them for a time as I began wide sweeps of the Copperton to keep watch for any following Kusarian or Libertonian assets. Seemed enough time had been bought between us and the two main forces to make it into lawless space. Unfortunately that peace didn't last long, as a couple of small craft attempted to break past the Hackers and ourselves. Our involvement became more direct as the situation continued to escalate, opting to provide direct covering fire for the Lane Hackers.

To what end our cover had been successful remains to be seen, and speculations based on the discussion during and afterwards suggest that the technology recovered could be quite significant. I'll be keeping tabs on further developments, and reaching out to Ling and Chloe once the heat has settled to see what they uncover. The vessel was at the very least secured at whatever site they decided to flee to. Revenant and I stuck around afterwards to mingle and see what we could divulge.

Cipher team indicated that they're open for work, though weren't quite clear on where it was directed. Attached are relevant highlights from the black box recordings of that night. I admit it was quite the spectacle. Notably, the Xenos appeared and seemed to act cordial towards the local Hackers. Though that didn't seem to last long, as the Hackers quickly drove them off.

Future updates will be sent here.

Spoiler

[19.01.2025 19:16:46] Cipher-4: Data link established. Let's keep it that way.
[19.01.2025 19:16:50] Cipher-9: What about the Technocrats?
[19.01.2025 19:16:53] Cipher-3: Standing by, waiting for further instructions.
[19.01.2025 19:16:55] A/)-Revenant: We're not stopping you.,
[19.01.2025 19:17:02] Cipher-9: Alright, good to know.
[19.01.2025 19:17:05] Koichi.Suzuki was slain by IKN-Jingei (100%)
[19.01.2025 19:17:07] A/)-Leviathan: Don't mind us. Your business is none of ours.
[19.01.2025 19:17:11] Cipher-1: Don't stick around much either, sunshine.
[19.01.2025 19:17:13] A/)-Revenant: If anything...
[19.01.2025 19:17:13] Death: Mojo.Jojo suffered a self-inflicted catastrophic decompression.
[19.01.2025 19:17:17] A/)-Revenant: I'm glad Liberty does not have it.
[19.01.2025 19:17:26] A/)-Leviathan: I'm glad it didn't get destroyed.
[19.01.2025 19:17:45] Cipher-1: Close call...

[19.01.2025 19:29:59] A/)-Leviathan: Looks like you're all home free. They're too wrapped up killing each other, or lost in the storm.
[19.01.2025 19:30:01] Argonaut-3: Destination: Cochrane Depot
[19.01.2025 19:30:12] Cipher-3: Do not jinx us, Technocrat.
[19.01.2025 19:30:15] Cipher-44: We're not out of this yet.
[19.01.2025 19:30:36] Cipher-9: Path behind is secured.
[19.01.2025 19:30:47] Cipher-4: Not long left.
[19.01.2025 19:30:50] Cipher-44: Maybe you technocrats can make yourselves useful and stop anyone coming in from behind us.
[19.01.2025 19:30:59] A/)-Leviathan: Sure, if you'd like.

[19.01.2025 19:31:32] A/)-Revenant: I sincerely doubt they'll find you now.
[19.01.2025 19:31:32] A/)-Leviathan: If they do, I'll distract them.
[19.01.2025 19:31:35] A/)-Revenant: Last stretch.
[19.01.2025 19:31:47] A/)-Leviathan: Hello, Ling.
[19.01.2025 19:31:57] A/)-Revenant: Oh, now that is a name I haven't heard of in a while.
[19.01.2025 19:32:08] LH~Ling.Ling: Yeah. Had to lay low to pull this off.
[19.01.2025 19:32:32] );--Virtual.Reality: J: We got a bogie!
[19.01.2025 19:32:36] Sayonara: targets spotted
[19.01.2025 19:32:37] Cipher-9: Hello there.
[19.01.2025 19:32:37] Sayonara: Weapons loaded, time to take out the trash
[19.01.2025 19:32:45] );--Misconfig: C: Homies, are you for real?
[19.01.2025 19:32:55] LH~Ling.Ling: Report from disruption team, we have incoming.
[19.01.2025 19:32:56] A/)-Leviathan: You're a long way from home, Bomber.
[19.01.2025 19:32:58] );--Misconfig: C: Go home Sayonara, you're drunk
[19.01.2025 19:33:08] );--Virtual.Reality: J: This one ain't much for talkin'
[19.01.2025 19:33:12] A/)-Revenant: Suicide bomber coming to make the rush.
[19.01.2025 19:33:17] A/)-Leviathan: More incoming.

[19.01.2025 19:33:49] A/)-Leviathan: Can't say I appreciate this much trouble out here, either.
[19.01.2025 19:33:50] Cipher-44: We're stopping him one way or another!
[19.01.2025 19:34:09] LNS-Arctic: CIC: Fire at will!
[19.01.2025 19:34:16] LSF-Whitehawk: Oliver: commencing attack.
[19.01.2025 19:34:21] LNS-Triumph: Meyers: Jump successful. Gunnery, lock target.
[19.01.2025 19:34:22] );--Virtual.Reality: J: Ya all gunna die out here!
[19.01.2025 19:34:29] LNS-Arctic: CIC: Good to see you Whitehawk, engage!
[19.01.2025 19:34:45] A/)-Leviathan: A lot more incoming. I'll slow them down.
[19.01.2025 19:34:49] A/)-Revenant: More Navy incoming.
[19.01.2025 19:34:51] );--Virtual.Reality: J: Runnin' Interference! BOOMTIME!!!
[19.01.2025 19:35:04] Cipher-1: Cut 'em off! Now!!!
[19.01.2025 19:35:06] );--Misconfig: C: Alright, teach 'em why this is Lawless Territory
[19.01.2025 19:35:13] A/)-Leviathan: Very well. I'll cover you, Chloe.

[19.01.2025 19:37:38] A/)-Leviathan: Scratch that. Two incoming.
[19.01.2025 19:37:42] KMI|-Nobume.Maki: Moving to reinforce, Tanuki.
[19.01.2025 19:37:45] KMI|-Nobume.Maki: No more games.
[19.01.2025 19:37:45] A/)-Leviathan: I stopped one.
[19.01.2025 19:37:48] John.Pickford: Not on my watch.
[19.01.2025 19:37:51] Tora-13: Here to assist!
[19.01.2025 19:37:55] CONSOLE: The Argonaut is stationary near Cochrane depot. It will reboot in 10 minutes and dock.
[19.01.2025 19:38:02] );--Virtual.Reality: J: Make the biggies dead!!!
[19.01.2025 19:38:05] LNS-Triumph: Meyers: Move to cover.
[19.01.2025 19:38:07] LH~Ling.Ling: Shit...
[19.01.2025 19:38:10] LH~Ling.Ling: Break and engage.
[19.01.2025 19:38:15] A/)-Leviathan: Two broke through. Rest are still scattered.

[19.01.2025 19:39:19] A/)-Revenant: We'll help you, Hackers, now that there's uh.... equipment ... -- whatever everything is fine now.
[19.01.2025 19:39:33] A/)-Leviathan: Indeed. Safeties off. Clearing the area.

[19.01.2025 19:51:38] XA-Memento.Mori: Ciphers, you could have called you know?
[19.01.2025 19:52:26] );--Virtual.Reality: J: More of these assholes to burn~?
[19.01.2025 19:52:47] );--Virtual.Reality: J: Lesgo!!! Take this!
[19.01.2025 19:53:13] XA-Memento.Mori: Get us another one!
[19.01.2025 19:53:42] XA-Memento.Mori: Stragglers, over there.
[19.01.2025 19:53:47] XA-Memento.Mori: Kill em all.
[19.01.2025 19:53:58] XA-Memento.Mori: I want this area /sanitzed/.
[19.01.2025 19:54:01] A/)-Leviathan: Think that's it.
[19.01.2025 19:54:09] XA-Memento.Mori: That's no fun.

[19.01.2025 19:55:33] Cipher-9: Hey Technocrats, Argonaut is secured right?
[19.01.2025 19:55:38] A/)-Revenant: Yes.
[19.01.2025 19:55:38] Cipher-9: We missed what it did in the end.
[19.01.2025 19:55:49] Cipher-4: Good shit.
[19.01.2025 19:55:50] A/)-Leviathan: The Navy attempted to secure it, but it was well guarded.
[19.01.2025 19:56:07] A/)-Leviathan: Some bombers took to trying to destroy it.
[19.01.2025 19:56:12] Cipher-9: It's time for you to die as well, Xenos.
[19.01.2025 19:56:16] Cipher-7: Yes
[19.01.2025 19:56:16] Cipher-9: Powering up.
[19.01.2025 19:56:18] A/)-Leviathan: Tsk.
[19.01.2025 19:56:43] A/)-Leviathan: Neighborly love.

[19.01.2025 20:01:44] LH~Ling.Ling: Apologies, Auxo. I'm keeping these to myself for a bit, alright?
[19.01.2025 20:01:44] 2025-01-19 20:01:45 SMT Traffic control alert: Cipher-44 has docked
[19.01.2025 20:02:00] A/)-Leviathan: Not a problem. We've plenty of other business to go over in the future. We can catch up about matters later.
[19.01.2025 20:02:20] Cipher-4: Hit me up if you've got work. Will have to be laying low for a while.
[19.01.2025 20:02:28] A/)-Revenant: To be anticipated. I also suspect you'll get a lot of mail from Malta demanding to chip up the tech, eh?
[19.01.2025 20:02:32] A/)-Leviathan: I'll definitely keep you all in mind.

[19.01.2025 20:03:36] A/)-Revenant: Words will spread.
[19.01.2025 20:03:51] LH~Ling.Ling: Words will. I'm not the only one in the information business, right?
[19.01.2025 20:04:03] GCC|Amalfi: F: You are welcome, Hackers.
[19.01.2025 20:04:04] );--Misconfig: C: Alright, time to check in with the chair jockeys, see if our counter-intel during that op scooped up anything interesting
[19.01.2025 20:04:15] );--Misconfig: C: Stay in touch, yeah?
[19.01.2025 20:04:18] A/)-Revenant: There's certainly a lot of 'independent' spooks popping up. Those Artemis lot were some, weren't they?
[19.01.2025 20:04:19] A/)-Leviathan: Mhm.

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MESSAGE ENDED

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...transmission complete
...terminating stream