From: Hannibal Bishop, Captain of the Caveat Emptor Location: Yanagi Depot
Conflicts are escalating as of late.
My craft was badly wounded in an encounter with the Wilde Scorpion-class gunboat almost a week ago. I lost my two ships' engineers, whose work in their final moments allowed the Caveat Emptor to escape total destruction. She was towed to base as a derelict and hastily patched by our teams of elite shipwrights and on-station engineers.
I have since brought my original 'Nomad Hunter' implanted subroutines back online and will be fully ready for the next encounter. We will not only be rid of the scum, we'll have a captive living sample to use as a bargaining chip if anyone's willing.
But this report is written chiefly about a threat more immediate than the Wilde or Nomads. A greater infection with more direct consequence to our operations in Sigma-13.
I talk, of course, about the rogue Bounty Hunter battlecruiser flotilla. Captained by trigger-happy ignoramuses with delusions of good deeds and too many credits for their own good, they have as of late posed a tremendous liability to our operation. Not to mention the operations of many of those that would use our station as a waypoint.
I bring to light offenses I encountered simply today, on my rare patrols between prisoner interrogation and ship maintenance duties. All perpetrated by Bounty Hunter Battlecruisers. There's just something about the ship class that attracts those that crave a short lifespan.
Baltukin:
- Witnessed firing indirectly at our station, in his unsuccessful attempt to take down a solitary {SOB} Sabre.
- Witnessed shooting down Junker CSV patrols.
Verdict: I vote for persona non grata status. When sighted near our beloved station, kindly remove him.
DeathStalker: (already known to us. Adding another offense.)
- Guilty of murder. When confronted about the Junker escape pods he'd tractored in after shooting their ships, he spaced and shot them to ditch the evidence.
Verdict: Nothing has changed. Add him to the hulks we're salvaging.
Reapster:
- Guilty of kidnapping. He'd taken Junker hostages when he was pursued to Helgoland station, where he forced a hasty moor and locked himself in the station's shielding. The fate of our brothers is unknown but hopefully our sympathizers aboard have taken them in.
Verdict: Again, I vote for persona non grata status.
Amaranth:
- No offenses perpetrated. Simply warned me in an encounter above Planet Hamburg (I turned in some salvage and used the proceeds to pay some... outstanding fines with the RFP.) that he'd gun me down if I was reported doing anything illegal.
- Demanded to know my personal IMG connections regarding my choice of ship. I pointed out that he is apparently a double-agent with the Order, considering his weaponry. I would not divulge any information to such an obvious spy. He had no response.
Verdict: Keep a close eye on this one. He has yet to cross the line, but is clearly toeing it.
The response to today's threat was both satisfactory and highly amusing. I look forward to further displays of business might.