Manhattanites were treated to a spectacular fireworks show several days ago that took place in the planet's high orbit. Orbiting vessels scrambled to escape what can only be described as a fleet of Lane Hackers, Hellfire Legionnaires, and Reapers of Sirius that suddenly launched a massive strike right into the heart of Liberty. Details of the attack are only now being released to the public.
The events began with what nearby pilots described as a strange but relatively routine interdiction of a commercial transport by an officer of the Liberty Security Force. Comm intercepts revealed the details of a conversation between the LSF officer and the commercial pilot. Numerous references to the Omega systems and threats exchanged between the two pilots are still under investigation by the LSF.
Trenton Outpost has provided images of the LSF officer's Executioner fighter destroying the evading Interspace Commerce Armored Transport. Orbital radiological sensors were triggered when the vessel was destroyed, and hazardous materials teams quickly moved in and quarantined the area after the pirate fleet dispersed.
The LSF fighter docked at Manhattan and security personnel moved to detain the officer, but were unable to do so before he accessed a nearby private hangar and launched in a Nephthys fighter.
The Nephthys began transmitting an IFF signal known to be used by The Order as soon as he attained orbit, doubtless as a signal to the attacking pirate forces which had moved in immediately after the Interspace Commerce vessel was destroyed.
In a strange twist of fate, no Liberty security agencies were present in orbit at the time, due to both a change in shifts and training exercises that were being conducted elsewhere.
Manhattanites were staunchly but vainly defended by various bounty hunters who happened to be in the area while mercenaries of The Jupiter Guild repeatedly broadcasted their neutrality to the pirates to avoid attack. The pirate forces quickly obliterated all opposition and then vacated Manhattan 's orbit while security forces scrambled to find available ships to send against them. By the time LSF and Liberty Navy ships arrived, there was nothing but debris which was already being picked over by Junker salvagers who were quickly dispersed.
Fortunately, the valiant bounty hunters' escape pods were located and retrieved without fatalities. There has been no sign of the Interspace Commerce pilot's escape pod. LPI has reported that no radiological material was found, and indicate that the orbital sensors may have given a false alarm due to the high concentration of engine fluids and fuel that was dumped into orbit by the exploding capital ships.
The rogue LSF officer's whereabouts are currently unknown, although sources on board the Battleship Missouri report that an Order transponder was briefly detected after the battle. Whether or not this was the fleeing Nephthys is unknown, due to the fact that an anonymous source inside LSF reports that a Black Squadron ship was also briefly in the New York system during these events.
Any sightings of the Nephthys or its rogue pilot should be immediately reported to LSF or Navy personnel.
End Story.
Liberty News Network
Flash Report
This is an update to our previous report on the day's events of a brash pirate attack in Manhattan's orbit.
The Liberty Security Force has released the identity of the Executioner fighter pilot who later fled Manhattan in an Order Nephthys fighter. The pilot's name is Allan Quatermain. The LSF confirms that Quatermain was discharged from the LSF two decades ago and has since been employed by various corporations.
LSF has issued a priority warrant for Quatermain's arrest on the charges of impersonating an LSF officer, espionage, consorting with known terrorists, and murder of an Interspace Commerce pilot. Quatermain's whereabouts are currently unknown.