TO: IMG Defense Division
FROM: Ishmael Neumann, captain of the (former) Hydra gunboat Prinz Eugen
RE: Outcast presence and the mysterious group VR
Greetings. As mentioned previously, I am an independent, long-term contractor for IMG security. I am writing from the medical ward at Falkland base. At present, only myself and my second mate have survived the encounter we just had in Tau 37, escaping in a pod and hiding near an asteroid until found by an IMG patrol.
Earlier I had received a report that an Outcast named ElDora was robbing IMG vessels in Tau 37, at an exorbitant rate even (7 million for a relatively empty vessel). Naturally, we responded to check out the area. We encountered a small fry Outcast patrol near the jump hole in Tau 37, who engaged me. While I was fighting them, ElDora showed up and engaged.
ElDora himself was not a significant threat. Though he could damage the Prinz Eugen, we clearly had the upper hand. However, midway through the combat, four vessels with the tag "VR" appeared through the jump hole. My comm officer intercepted communications that indicated these rogues offered their assistance to ElDora, and that he accepted. We tried to flee, but given the 5 to 1 odds we were gunned down in seconds.
VR is not an affiliation known to me, and my subsequent database scans revealed no information. If anyone has any information regarding VR, I would be happy to receive it. In the meantime, be aware that vessels with the tag VR should be considered hostile to IMG operations.
I will recuperate here on Falkland and attempt to find a ship to pilot. I may be able to contract a second gunboat, but the status of that is indeterminate as of yet.