The Hessian activity in the Omegas is slowly but steadily growing. Daumann pilots are outnumbered and outgunned by Hessian pirates. In an effort to assist the military with the war efforts, by letting them focus with the Liberty-Rheinland war, DHC will fund the West-Rheinland defense contract. A proper defense group is required in the system, not only occasional mercenaries and bounty hunters, but a proper force stationed in the systems.
After consideration, the Board of Directors decided to contact the EDGE, a professional group of organized bounty hunters to establish a emergency defense group in the Omega 11 system, for the protection of 'West' Rheinland. After negotiations this is what both parties have agreed to.
West Rheinland operations:
- EDGE will establish a base of operation in Omega 11.
- EDGE will conduct anti-piracy and law enforcement actions in the Omega 7, 11, 3, Stuttgart and Dresden systems both alone and in cooperation with Daumann defense vessels.
Targeted parties:
- Red Hessian, Corsairs, pirates, pirating junkers, smugglers, Wilde, and any individual that attempts to disrupt DHC operations, or attacks any Daumann corporate asset.
Payment:
- DHC will pay a flat rate of 50 million credits per month.
- DHC will pay 2 million credits per fighter/bomber, 3 per gb/hegemon, and 5 per capital size vessels.
Additional rights:
- EDGE may use Daumann bases to resupply, repair, or rest.
- EDGE may use force to ensure the DHC rules and regulations are followed in DHC owned space.
- EDGE will be granted full and unrestricted access to O11 for all ship classes
Renegotiation:
- Both parties may renegotiate the contract at anytime, however there must be agreement for the changes to take effect.
- Either party may cancel the contract at any time.
Signed by the Board of Directors
The Ring.
New Berlin.
Business was going slow. With the failed attempt to establish an EDG deployment contract with the IMG, the Enterprise had to find a different place and different conflict soon. It's not that the IMG refused to hire an EDG, but the situation in the Taus left little room for implementing it. The miners relied on the Colonial Republic's military forces reinforced with their own defense wings when things got really grim, otherwise they avoided the Outcasts whenever possible. Eventually the IMG shifted their interests to Dublin and there was little left to do in Tau 23. Business was going slow, but not incredibly bad. The Board's decision to station the main forces in Coronado proved to be a particularly clever maneuver. It allowed the Enterprise to cover almost the entire Barrier Nebula and beyond, enabling quick access to systems where crime was running rampant. Independent worlds, Taus, Liberty and Bretonia became a new and rich hunting ground for the EDGE, and soon the trademark was widely recognized by lawfuls and criminals alike. Particularly good relations were established with the Colonials, who respected the Enterprise's fighting spirit and paid the bounties with no delay, and the Liberty Government which enabled the requisition of military-grade weapons for several fighters and gunships. Nonetheless, business was still going slow, and the Enterprise was growing stagnant. With almost no new pilot recruits and scarce income, the Board of Executives slowly began to realize the hopeless state of the current situation - a situation that called for a new approach, a radical move in order to prevent the Enterprise from collapsing.
Coronado: Planet Pecos
Sitting comfortably at his desk, Payton was busy with paperwork, or pretending to be busy in order to delay the conversation. He could tell that he was not going to like what was ahead, and he tried not to pay attention to Sobchak, who was now sitting in his office onboard the Leviathan, who was drinking whiskey with an angry look and rapidly tapping his fingers. Payton had received no word from him for weeks, and now all of a sudden he shows up in a battlecruiser without notice, requesting to moor. He didn't say anything except "We need to have a conversation, Jack," from the moment he arrived, and the awkward silence was growing more tense each second.
"The..." Payton cleared his throat, still looking at the computer screen, "Liberty Government has finally paid for our bounties, I've transferred your share to..."
"Then transfer it back and tell them to shove it up their ass!" Walter busted out as he habitually does when he's beginning to discuss serious business, this time accompanying this verbal outburst by slamming the armrest with his fist. Payton was convinced now that this cannot be postponed. He shut down the screen, leaned back on his chair and directed his full attention to the angry man, waiting for him to speak.
"I'm ashamed that I'm being paid those dirty credits for what we do!" he said, standing up from his chair. "This whole idea of hunting in Liberty is killing me. All you need to do is take a random tradelane and pull the trigger once you fall out of a hacked sequence. Those punks can't even shoot straight, they might as well just roll over and die! This is not a worthy adversary!" Walter stated angrily, then sat back down and finished his whiskey in one gulp.
"I was just kidding." he added quietly. "I need the money."
"Where have you been?" said Payton, "Let me guess, Curacao? That's how you're fighting crime now? That's how you fight cardamine smugglers?"
"It's none of your damn business!" said Walter. "Goddamn punks, this is not a worthy... Look, if you must know, I was raiding Alpha with the Colonials, at least there's a challenge..."
"Oh great, so instead of dealing with your issues you want to kill yourself, is that right? Come on, tell me what you want or get back to Alpha! You don't like it here now? Might I remind you that it was your idea? Things might be going slow, but they're going forward."
"That's not good enough!" said Walter. "If I wanted to chase punks for a buck I'd have stayed in the Guild! That's not why we formed this Enterprise, dude. The goddamn Emergency Defense Group Enterprise has a mission and a purpose and right now we're accomplishing nothing. This is not 'Nom, there are rules! We need to start doing our job or it's over."
Payton sighed. "I knew it would come to this. You just can't stand the routine, the steady..."
"Damn straight I can't."
"Development of... Look - fine. I have just the thing for you that'll make you happy for a moment, and then we'll all die because..."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." said Walter, folding his arms.
"...we're not entirely ready for this. We don't have the manpower, we're lacking financial reserves." said Payton. "But you'll get what you want, so that when it's over I can say: I told you so. I received an inquiry from Daumann, they're asking for details for an EDG deployment. Apparently there was some mining crisis in the Omegas and now they're having difficulty with all sorts of scum, Hessians, Corsairs..."
"Get it done. We're leaving this hellhole," said Walter, pulling himself up from the chair and heading towards the door.
"Great, I'll just handle everything while you... where are you going now!?" said Payton.
"Curacao. And... maybe Alpha one last time. Don't worry Jack, I won't be long," Walter said, not even looking over his shoulder as he left through the door.
"Yeah right..." said Payton and sighed. He turned his chair around towards the porthole and glanced outside at the Coronado planetary system. He liked this place a lot, but even though he would not admit it before Sobchak, he knew that this is a stalemate, that it's time for the EDGE to move on.
"Computer." he said. "Establish a comlink with Daumann Board or Directors."
Omega-11: Solarius Station
The negotiations didn't take long. Daumann wanted the defense group deployed as soon as possible, and so the Enterprise began the necessary preparations for departure. Walter returned soon enough to help with the fleet relocation, and he also had a permission ready from the Colonial Republic for passage through their space. The route which the Enterprise chose to reach the Omega systems was difficult, hostile, and not entirely charted. It was developed from various bits of information mainly recovered from prisoners, and it involved passing through several systems claimed by Kusari unlawful factions, but it was fast. Fast, and, ironically, easy, because it would take weeks, maybe even months of negotiations and tons of paperwork to arrange a passage of the majority of EDGE fleet through house space. The journey was largely uneventful, as the pirates were completely unprepared for an incursion of this magnitude: two flagships, the Leviathan and Aurora along with battlecruiser Veles, several destroyers, gunboat squadrons and fighter wings, could safely make their way through to the Sigmas, Omicrons and finally to the Omegas without any resistance. It was during the EDG deployment however, that they encountered resistance. Red Hessian presence was strong, especially in Omega-11, and before the fleet could finish the deployment it was already involved in several battles. But the Omegas were not an unknown space for the Enterprise - for some of them, it was almost like returning home after a long journey, and soon the Emergency Defense Group was in position, ready to protect Daumann interests in the area and the lives of their workers.
One of the first operations was conducted by EDGE gunboat Ashur later reinforced by fighter Malakbel. Defender Anthony Ortiz, commander of Ashur, intercepted and destroyed two Red Front transports containing uncut diamonds in Omega-11 and with support of one fighter and also remaining Red Hessian Army empty armored transport. Unfortunately due to high radiation from the sun only last guncams survived.
Another successful operation was conducted by Walter Sobchack, Jack Payton and Vityaz Hunt. EDGE wing consisitng of two bombers and a fighter intercepted Red Front Hegemon class mining vessel in Omega-11 field. Mining vessel full of uncut diamonds was chased down in Omega-54 and destroyed there. To prevent Hessians from retrieving the ore remaining cargo was destroyed. On the way back EDGE wing was ambushed by combined Red Front and Red Hessian Army fighters. Walter Sobchack and Jack Payton managed to destroy two of them before retreating to Omega-7 to regroup. Soon Hessians deployed retalialion squad consisitng of three gunboats. EDGE gunboat wing managed to destroy one ship and drive the battle back to Omega-11 where heavy ships gathered. After show of force on both sides ceased battle operations for that day.
Another day brought some standard house cleaning operations in Omega systems. Lone EDGE gunboat commanded by Jack Payton intercepted and destroyed Corsair transport caught red handed in Omega-3.
Soon after EDGE temporary headquarter in Omega-11 forwarded a distress call from a trader pirated by another Corsair gunboat in Omega-7. Single gunboat was quickly dispatched to intercept and destroy hostile vessel.
Soon after EDGE received another distress call from miners in Omega-7. Apparently Corsair and Hessian gunboat arrived there to pirate. Jack Payton commanding gunboat Mithras and Kyle Winchester piloting his personal fighter made risky attack on both pirates. What was unexpected, Hessian and Corsair decided to put aside their mutual hate and targeted EDGE gunboat. It did not save their lives. Both gunboats were destroyed.
The situation in Omega-11 was critical. As Payton predicted, the EDGE was not entirely prepared to stand against the combined forces of Red Hessians and the Coalition. The Red Hessian Army was hardened by constant struggle with the Corsairs and everything from the environment to the way their pilots were trained was giving them a major strategic advantage in Omega-11. The EDGE Board of Executives was aware that they could not wage full a scale war and prevail. Instead, a different strategy was implemented. EDGE battle commanders were instructed to conduct guerrilla operations. Usually, single destroyers were playing the role of bait in luring unsuspecting enemies into a trap. Multiple ambushes were set that resulted in destruction of several Hessian battlecruisers. However, the Hessians quickly learned their lesson and countered this strategy by instant reinforcements from Omega-5 and Omega-54. Board of executives decided to deploy the battleships Aurora and Leviathan to guard the respective jumpholes in order to intercept incoming hostile reinforcements. However, not everything went according to the plan.
Omega-11: Battleship Leviathan and Battlecruiser Veles
'Additional hostile targets incoming' shouted the Aurora's tactical officer, 'judging from the heat signature it's two battlecruisers,' he added.
'Deploy bomber wing two, and send these bastards to the afterlife!' said Walter Sobchak. The aggravation in the Aurora's CIC had reached critical levels.
'With all due respect sir, we already lost two fighters to Hessians. They won't be able to provide cover!' objected the flight operations officer.
'They will manage. Do it now!' shouted Walter, and the officer immediately forwarded the command. 'And where's the frakkin' Leviathan?' demanded the irritated executor, but his voice was drowned by two loud explosions. Battleship Aurora trembled.
'Two direct mortar hits,' said a damage control officer. 'Engine room reports that shield is down to 45% but our regeneration rate is not dropping.'
'All batteries, target nearest cruiser for God's sake! Prepare main...' barked Walter. His command was interrupted by the communication officer.
'Sir, Leviathan is not responding. We cannot establish connection due to radiation interference!'
'Relay the connection through Solarius Station you moron!'
'Sir, we tried this. Solarius Station is not responding.'
For a moment silence conquered the CIC, only to be interrupted by computer alerts and sporadic explosions.
'Sir, we got another wing of fighters incoming. They are mercenaries, probably Reavers.'
'Good, we could use- '
'Sir, they are targeting our bombers!' shouted the tactical officer.
'What the frakk?'
'I repeat, our bombers are targeted by Reavers. What are your orders, sir?'
'Disengage and perform combat landings, now!' Sobchak yelled hurriedly, 'And set course for Omega-7, we get the frakk out of here or we are all going to die!'
Omega-11: Jumphole to Omega-41
'What the frakk just happened?' asked Walter Sobchak, bashing a table with his hand. A conference hall on Freistadt Station in Omega-7, which was, in fact, little more than a small room with twelve seats and several holographic projectors. Since the room was nearly empty, Walter's bashing was producing an echo.
'Apparently yesterday Daumann Heavy Construction declared bankruptcy. In secrecy they evacuated all personnel from their bases in Omega-11 and Omega-7,' replied Jack Payton calmly.
'Once again, boys, we have been frakked! How much do those damn bloodsuckers owe us?'
'According to our databases, sir, we have not received payment for bounty claims made before finalization of our EDG deployment contract, worth exactly 35 million Sirius Credits. The contract itself was worth 50 million Sirius Credits. We were acting upon the contract for several days and destroyed dozens of hostile targets. According to the contract our operations should be rewarded with bonus in form of 25 million Sirius Credits. This means that Daumann Heavy Construction owes us 110 million Sirius Credits,' quickly recited Heinrich Goldschmidt, the Enterprise's chief financial officer.
'Well, they better...' shouted Walter when a messenger entered the room.
'Apologies for the interruption, sirs. We've just received information from New Berlin that the DHC Board of Directors is missing. It is presumed they escaped...'
'I am going to kill them. I will personally rip their guts from their...' shouted Walter and started to damage everything that wasn't moving, kicking and bashing whatever was in reach. In the meantime, Payton turned over to the messenger.
'Sentinel...'
'Winchester - Kyle Winchester, Sir.'
'Please forward a command to our fleet to retreat to Omega-15 for repairs and maintenance. Our second gunboat squadron is ordered to moor with Elbich Mining Facility, while fighter and bomber wings Iota and Kappa are to dock on Freistadt base and wait for further orders.' said Payton ignoring Walter's outburst.
'Aye aye, sir.' replied Sentinel Winchester and left the room.
'I will sell their mothers to the Slavers Union if I have to!' said Walter, still seriously angered.
'Would you really do it?' asked Payton.
'Try me...'
'No need to. I've already assigned Alfred Strauss to it. He was a lawyer before he joined us. He'll go to New Berlin and represent our interests there, and he'll do a damn good job of it, too. There is only one question.'
'What question?' Walter said, having calmed down a bit.
'Who will write the letters?'
'What letters?'
'To Galen's and Patterson's family,' said Payton, referring to the two fighter pilots killed in Omega-11.