I submit the following as a record of the negotiations between representatives of the Council of Dons and the Vagrant Raiders in the Baffin system several days ago. An accord was reached and we now count them as friends to our cause.
To perform optimally in future operations, I decided to get acquainted with my surroundings. Malta itself was - not unexpectedly - clear. No Ghosts to be seen either. After travelling through the Taus, which were equally quiet, I found myself in Leeds.
Quite a change from when I last went there. The Gallics seem to have most of the system firmly under their control. I did not feel like being overwhelmed by one of their patrols, so I slipped into Magellan and into Liberty.
As I entered the Badlands, I found an LSF pilot prowling around. They were oddly uninterested in me, so I chose to pursue.
I managed to bring them to a halt just after they left the asteroid field. One less security force pilot surely wouldn't hurt, so I chose to engage. The fight didn't last long.
A second LSF agent soon arrived to the scene. Their treatment was similar to that of their colleague. They were swiftly neutralized.
Guncam shots taken during the encounter:
The trip back home was long and uneventful, so I will spare you the details.
I am happy to inform you that the Lazio has been making regular deliveries of Cardmine to the Junker base in New York. We have been bringing back a lot of Black Market Munitions, which should keep our men well armed and equiped.
Most of our journeys have been smooth. However, yesterday we had an encounter with a pirate gunboat who stopped and pirated us. The ship name is Zileas. I tried to explain to him that this ship belongs to the ontari familia, but the idiota wouldn't listen and decided to tax us 4 milion credits. I hope this idiota will be made an example of what happens to those who dare to mess with Contari business. I am Sending in the oversation logs recorded from the encounter.
I give the following report on a successful exertion of our influence.
Launching in the Tau-23 system, I met with Lanciere Cipriano Adimari to investigate reports of unknown vessels operating in our territory. While I waited for his arrival, I overheard several transmissions by a mining sub-company expressing outrage at a group of Junkers. Moving to investigate, we found one these Junkers engaged in a duel with an IMG| identified vessel. The Junker lost, so we were not able to question him on the matter. Receiving further reports of unusual activity in the Kyushu system, we moved there to intercept and interrogate. There we managed to come upon a collection of Junker vessels hauling Niobium Ore that could only have come from our territory. There was a Brigand vessel attempting to pirate them, we chased it off. Lanciere Adimari and I interrogated the vessels, known as Junker Mauraders under the JM| identifier. They spun a story about mining the ore I did not believe, but confirmed its origin in our territory. We charged them nine million for the privilege of taking our ore. I advise keeping an eye on this group as they may wish to expand operations in areas our influence extends to.
Pushing further into Kusari, we came intercepted a Cryer vessel known as Qnvadis bearing that knock-off known as Stabiline in New Tokyo. The vessel refused any reasonable attempt at communication, and we were forced to destroy it.
We made another vessel pay a sum of three million to us that was bearing Helium to Okinawa. Lanciere Adimari then noticed some engine trouble and was forced to turn back.
I was able to continue on to the Okinawa system where I ran across vessels operating deep in the gas cloud. My very presence so intimidated them they requested my price right away. Taking three and a half million for each of the seven vessels they claimed to have, I received the largest single payment yet received by our organization in this sytem.
I then returned home. This concludes my report.
Addio.
~D. Celestino
(--- USER SIGNING OFF: Drago Celestino, Familiare ---)
Today we launched an old family business again in the hopes it'll bloom to something. After the problems with the Council of Dons and this mistrust within the families of Malta, it is about time we properly support ourselves.
The Omicron Express is now fully operational. Updates are still being preformed, but it is now out and bringing business.
I'm sending this message from the MNS-Flame-and-Ice's deck, after some skirmishes in the Taus.
My patrol started in Tau 29 when a red fly, with Colonial ID, passed by. I tried tobe nice and pirate him, but he wanted to use his stupid Colonial laws and fine me 1 million credits. I gave him 2 options: 1. leave; 2. die. I suggested the second one and he accepted. Don't worry, we always win.
After this, i was called by other outcast forces into Tau 23 where, not so well-organised, they were under fire by IMG and MiCo vessels. Because of our numeric advantage and under my command, we managed to destroy 2 of their cruisers and some gunboats and snubcraft. Because of some system failure, my ship was damaged but the captain of MNS-Flame-and-Ice saved me. Later on i was told that he also recovered my ship's wreck as well as that we won, losing only one capital (no crew survivors).
Attached below i bring images from my ship's camera.
Three hours ago, I decided to head for Kusari to earn the Lance additional funds taxing the traders passing through. However, instead of running into large, slow and clumsy trains - the kind signore Alcantra favours - filled to the brim with valuables, I ran into this lone Neon-hauling Serenity.
Knowing that there was little to gain for me demanding a petty sum from this particular vessel, I took a different approach.
Since our last harvest at the Contari Compound provided us with more of our product than we could conveniently move ourselves, I negotiated a deal with this Serenity's captain, a certain Gregory Reinhardt. I would provide him with restricted docking rights at our facilities - enough for him to load the Orange and possibly provide us with laborers on a return trip in the future, but no more - as well as allow him to live, and in return he would purchase a cargo hold of Contari-produced Cardamine. Then, I suggested he ferry our product to Liberty, to our contacts aboard Junker installations.
Unsurprisingly - given the circumstances -, Reinhardt agreed and headed for Malta, escorted - and held at gunpoint - by yours truly.
Upon arrival, the Serenity moored with precious Malta, and I ordered our men, planetside, to begin loading her. Once the process was complete, the Serenity embarked on its journey to Liberty. I chose to escort Reinhardt, to ensure that our product reached its destination safely.
As the journey was, fortunately, uneventful, I believe there is no need to bore you with a detailed report. You can be certain, however, that our product swiftly and securely reached Beaumont base.
In short, signori, we may have a new shipper in our employ.
I bring you news of one of our competitors, if you will - the Crimson Cross.
Yesterday, I found and uncovered a rat within their ranks. A certain Aelita Stone, who proved to work not only for the Cross, but for the Order as well. Naturally, I contacted the men and women in charge of the Cross, hoping that they would deal with this infiltrator of Maltese society.
Unfortunately, the rat slipped away. Whether this was caused by the rat's uncanny ability to flee, or the Cross' incompetence, I do not know.
It is safe to assume that the rat managed to gather at least some intelligence prior to her discovery. Most of it will likely relate only to the Cross, and as such, this information falling into the wrong hands should not harm the Lance itself.
However, there is always a chance that the rat learned of weaknesses in Malta's defensive grid, or other similar matters that could, potentially, affect all Maltese - including the Lance.
Therefore, I would suggest that - should we catch a glimpse of her - we prioritize neutralizing this Order agent.
At the end of this transmission, I will provide "read-only" links to the transmissions between the Cross' leadership and myself. Of course, Comandantes Orsini-Contari and Alcantra-Contari, as well as Familiare Castro, will receive full access to the transmissions instead.