After my successful escape I have been working on earning some small credits moving Cardimine shipments between the Rogues and the men of Mactan. With the credits I have earned so far, I have been able to fix up my "Bactrian" to a more suitable level in case any problems arise while moving more shipments.
Today however, while I was traversing through New York, I came upon Mr. Ambrose, who seemed to be on patrol. I decided to assist him in his endeavors of extortion, but we had very little luck in finding anything of note, until a Universal Falcon, callsign "TCL|Sentinel-2" fell in front of us. After being down on my luck I took the opportunity to vaporize the corporate lacky and from there headed back to Mactan. Due to my actions I believe I have met the criteria for Determination. Relevant attachments below.
[15.03.2021 18:44:29] LH~Julius.Krest: Well hello there.
[15.03.2021 18:44:34] TCL|Sentinel-2: Good day to you
[15.03.2021 18:44:52] LH~Julius.Krest: Ah, just a small corporate lacky hm.
[15.03.2021 18:45:16] TCL|Sentinel-2: How are you today?
[15.03.2021 18:45:32] LH~Kurt.Ambrose: He is all yours, Julius. Kill him, rob him, or whatever you want. I dont care.
[15.03.2021 18:45:49] LH~Julius.Krest: Right. My day will be better once your out of the way.
[15.03.2021 18:46:01] TCL|Sentinel-2: Well may i go now?
[15.03.2021 18:46:06] LH~Julius.Krest: No.
[15.03.2021 18:46:10] TCL|Sentinel-2: Please?
[15.03.2021 18:47:09] TCL|Sentinel-2: Sir?
[15.03.2021 18:47:10] LH~Julius.Krest: The only way you leave here is in a pod.
[15.03.2021 18:47:16] TCL|Sentinel-2: huh fine
[15.03.2021 18:47:17] TCL|Sentinel-2: Weapons Ready
[15.03.2021 18:47:18] TCL|Sentinel-2: Engaging Enemy
[15.03.2021 18:52:14] Death: TCL|Sentinel-2 was put out of action by LH~Julius.Krest (Gun).
Due to the increase in Cardamine trade currently, I deployed into space in the Badlands, finding a Rogue Scylla. They informed me of a fire going down in California which I swiftly went towards.
A rogue was engaged by bounty hunters and police units, with disruptors fired at me as soon as I arrived. Interestingly, I also noticed a Xeno engaging the bounty hunter yet leaving the rogue alone. More rogues arrived to assist in the brawl and the foes began to drop one by one. The Xeno left peacefully after the bounty hunter was killed.
Ingeniousness
Interestingly during the fight and afterwards, I noticed one of the rogues having one of our ships. Knowing how we are with our technology I figured I should submit a notification of it. Details can be found in the Mission Archives.
A stimulant substance provided for us by the Gen'an cell of the Golden Chrysanthemums. Following the description provided by Ikeda Yume a Gen'an member.
Quote:t is a combat stimulant that temporarily increases the capabilities of the uses. Among its effects are increased adrenalin levels, heightened senses, and the suppression of pain and emotions. All effects last roughly an hour.
Shigeakiki also has some minor and more serious side effects. Let's start with the major side effects. this stimulant puts a big strain on the body, so excessive use can lead to neurological damage and heart failure. This is why restraint is necessary while using it. We recommend taking at least 8 days between each dose. Cardamine is an ingredient in the mixture, so addiction to it is a second side effect. We added that as a security measure in case a shipment gets captured. Another minor side effect is because it stimulates the nervous system to heighten the senses, that light sensitivity is a real issue. Most uses require darkened visors to not be burdened by the light.
Testphase:
Following the "instructions" I took two units of "Shigeakiki" with me around Liberty - I couldn't test it with regular pilots I had to search for someone who would be more than equal to me which isn't that easy. However, I gave up looking for a stronger opponent and simply tested the substance in a situation against the odds. The first fight was easy and the adrenaline kick felt very exciting and good - returning to Buffalo my body calmed down and I had the feeling of faint. I saw this just as a 'first-time' side effect and gave it two other attempts. After the second one, my body adapted more or less to the side effects and I had no troubles after using it, however as Ikeda Yume mentioned 'light' was an issue my eyes were simply overloaded by the simple light sources inside the station and it kinda felt like back in the day when I was just starting to consume Synthetic Marijuana. The third test was a bit more interesting, I am not a doctor or a scientist but my body was quite sore after the flight and I had trouble with my attentiveness. After landing on Buffalo apparently, I passed out and I woke up in the medical station. I think that my body is simply too 'old' or already used up by my regular consumption of Cardamine and other 'hardcore' drugs.
Conclusion:
After testing "Shigeakiki" I came to the conclusion that it will be best for us that we do not rely too much on combat stimulants or 'boosters'. I agree that the substance has its benefits but the amount of time between every single dose is too large as it would be commonly used by any Warfare operator as we have to operate to the highest of our capabilities all the time and a 'boost' every eight days is not really a bonus. I think we won't need it and I think Warfare Professor Wolfe will agree with me on this case.
Outcome: I will set up a message to the Gen'an Chrysanthemums and explain how and why the Lane Hackers at least the inner circle will not use Shigeakiki and we will refrain from ordering more of it.
I have been enjoying a drink on Mactan, when I got a small little notification by our Spyglass Network about increased movements by various entities around Hudson. Took a trip down to Texas, reminded me about the chaos surrounding Bering I've read about in our database.
With the Rheinland Civil War over and everything, I got curious what the Unioners - seeing as they were once something like a business partner to us - were up to.
Long story short: I've made my way to Bering and stumbled upon a "Hel"-class Cruiser in close proximity to Pacifica.
Turns out the good sir on the other end was more than willing to tell me how the Unioners have fared since Gunda Rhiel disappeared.
Briefly said, their new leadership was even more incompetent and at some point around the end of the Rheinland Civil War signed a letter of forgiveness offered to the Unioner movement by the Rheinland Government. Consequentially, they appear to have lost or disassembled all of their warships of Rheinland Military origin. Furthermore, the movement crumbled into splinter groups. The commanding officer of the "UN]-Black.Arrow" is the new Direktor - namely a certain James Hollywood - of a group that refused the truce with the Rheinland authorities and engages into their usual activities of the pre civil war era.
For a detailed conversation log, please look at the attached file.
I feel like this meeting here - given our current hostile stance towards the Unioner movement - can be seen as valid fulfillment of the Espionage criteria.
Mister Hollywood showed interest in re-establishing contact with the Lane Hackers and the Professorship.
If the Professorship deems me worthy, I wish to request to handle this matter personally in pursue of fulfilling both the Barter and Diplomacy - or in case the Professorship does not wish to re-establish contact with the Unioners on a business level - in pursue of the Subterfuge and Infiltration criteria.
[30.01.2022 17:20:46] LH~Goldfinger: A Hel. Almost a rare sight.
[30.01.2022 17:22:29] LH~Goldfinger: I mean, I cannot really hold it against you, dear radio operator. Taking a nap next to one of your fortified installations is -
[30.01.2022 17:22:35] LH~Goldfinger: not exactly something I'd call foolish.
[30.01.2022 17:23:03] LH~Goldfinger: However, I'd be most pleased if the ability arose to uphold a conversation with you.
[30.01.2022 17:23:13] LH~Goldfinger: I know, you might not be pleased with our presence.
[30.01.2022 17:25:49] UN]-Black.Arrow: ?: Whaaaa. A hacker.... Hello.?
[30.01.2022 17:26:02] LH~Goldfinger: Ah. Back from your break, it seems.
[30.01.2022 17:26:04] LH~Goldfinger: Greetings.
[30.01.2022 17:26:32] UN]-Black.Arrow: Sorry the coffee was bein' made. What were you on about. I think I own you a conversation.
[30.01.2022 17:26:58] LH~Goldfinger: Indeed. Call me a fool, given our organizations last chapters.
[30.01.2022 17:27:19] LH~Goldfinger: But if all I know is correct, contact broke apart after the outbreak of hostilities.
[30.01.2022 17:27:24] UN]-Black.Arrow: Not at all. Our Ligas had some hickups as well. Please... Fear not.
[30.01.2022 17:27:32] LH~Goldfinger: And nobody shed a tear to keep you in check.
[30.01.2022 17:28:03] LH~Goldfinger: Call my visit the desire of a status check up.
[30.01.2022 17:28:10] UN]-Black.Arrow: Well the Unioners are far from perfect as well. As of right now.
[30.01.2022 17:28:29] LH~Goldfinger: Hmh. Where did.. wait, I'd have to search through the files.
[30.01.2022 17:28:41] LH~Goldfinger: You know, your de-facto leader.
[30.01.2022 17:29:00] LH~Goldfinger: Didn't hear a single bit about him whatsoever. What happened, if I may ask?
[30.01.2022 17:29:15] UN]-Black.Arrow: Rheil? Or one of his puppets?
[30.01.2022 17:29:19] LH~Goldfinger: Rheil.
[30.01.2022 17:29:33] LH~Goldfinger: Or was it Rhiel?
[30.01.2022 17:29:36] UN]-Black.Arrow: Went mad. He has an odd habit of leavin' us all to die.
[30.01.2022 17:29:39] LH~Goldfinger: I honestly would have to double check that now.
[30.01.2022 17:29:44] UN]-Black.Arrow: I couldn't give a flyin' f*ck.
[30.01.2022 17:30:01] LH~Goldfinger: Sounds like something went wrong.
[30.01.2022 17:30:04] LH~Goldfinger: Really wrong.
[30.01.2022 17:30:10] UN]-Black.Arrow: It *****' did.
[30.01.2022 17:30:22] LH~Goldfinger: Tied to that whole Vierlande topic?
[30.01.2022 17:30:30] LH~Goldfinger: Apologize my curiousity.
[30.01.2022 17:30:51] LH~Goldfinger: With the events surrounding the Insurgency and Harmony, Unioner affairs fell below the table.
[30.01.2022 17:30:59] LH~Goldfinger: So there is quite a lot to catch up, I assume.
[30.01.2022 17:31:11] UN]-Black.Arrow: No. Are you familiar with the current situation within Rheinland?
[30.01.2022 17:31:33] LH~Goldfinger: Your civil war came to an end. Your political landscape is more confusing than ever, to be blunt.
[30.01.2022 17:31:52] UN]-Black.Arrow: ?: That's a nice way of puttin' it.
[30.01.2022 17:32:03] LH~Goldfinger: That's just staying objective.
[30.01.2022 17:32:21] UN]-Black.Arrow: Let me help you with the missing pieces of the puzzle.
[30.01.2022 17:32:28] LH~Goldfinger: I'd greatly appreciate that.
[30.01.2022 17:33:16] UN]-Black.Arrow: The war ended and we were given the opporunity to be delted from all criminal database and for all of our so called "sins" to
[30.01.2022 17:33:19] UN]-Black.Arrow: be forgiven.
[30.01.2022 17:33:57] LH~Goldfinger: So basically throwing your ideals out of the window for a "legitimate" future, I take it.
[30.01.2022 17:34:09] LH~Goldfinger: Such forgiveness doesn't come for free.
[30.01.2022 17:34:16] UN]-Black.Arrow: And just when the war hit it's peak, Rheil left us. Us and the Arbeitsdirektorat. All alone with an unexpirenced leader.
[30.01.2022 17:34:30] LH~Goldfinger: Hmh.
[30.01.2022 17:34:42] UN]-Black.Arrow: Yes. The biggest fraud is that they made it seem like we are the ones that need to be forgiven.
[30.01.2022 17:34:52] UN]-Black.Arrow: Well... As I was sayin'...
[30.01.2022 17:35:00] LH~Goldfinger: And your new leader got persuaded to believe that deal?
[30.01.2022 17:35:32] UN]-Black.Arrow: Our leader left us to be led by somone who's hand would later be guided to sign the reintergration papers.
[30.01.2022 17:35:35] UN]-Black.Arrow: Yes indeed.
[30.01.2022 17:35:51] UN]-Black.Arrow: ?: They weren't wrong when they told us you guys are smart.
[30.01.2022 17:35:52] LH~Goldfinger: That..surely put the entire movement into an odd spot.
[30.01.2022 17:36:12] LH~Goldfinger: Last I recall you possess older types of Rheinland warmachines?
[30.01.2022 17:36:19] LH~Goldfinger: I doubt they'd accept them staying in your hands.
[30.01.2022 17:36:20] UN]-Black.Arrow: Well it was all opposed by the only other member of the direktorat at the time. The ligadirektor. Certain mister J.
[30.01.2022 17:36:53] UN]-Black.Arrow: Don't worry. We dissassebmbeled those. They're all tucked away in warehouses all around Sirius.
[30.01.2022 17:37:30] UN]-Black.Arrow: Well so what happened a few weeks ago.
[30.01.2022 17:38:09] UN]-Black.Arrow: Most of our workers got fed up of this intergration ***** and we decided not to let our history be forgotten.
[30.01.2022 17:38:53] LH~Goldfinger: As it was to be expected.
[30.01.2022 17:38:54] UN]-Black.Arrow: So we dusted off the old ships and headed out of our bases to show the Rheinland government once more that we're no fools to
[30.01.2022 17:38:56] UN]-Black.Arrow: their games.
[30.01.2022 17:39:44] UN]-Black.Arrow: And this mister J. was in charge of a certain attack on Imperial's shipping and ALG's property that took place a month ago.
[30.01.2022 17:39:55] LH~Goldfinger: Ah, a sudden strike to show them not all Unioners bowed to the new agreement.
[30.01.2022 17:40:11] UN]-Black.Arrow: All over planet Hamburg and New Berlin. It was...
[30.01.2022 17:40:13] LH~Goldfinger: Makes me hope for you that none of your bases were compromised during that phase.
[30.01.2022 17:40:13] UN]-Black.Arrow: It was...
[30.01.2022 17:40:20] UN]-Black.Arrow: Beautiful.
[30.01.2022 17:40:46] LH~Goldfinger: And a clear signal.
[30.01.2022 17:40:51] UN]-Black.Arrow: They were not. We have nothin' else to lose. We already lost all of our ideals and history. All by a simble signing.
[30.01.2022 17:41:58] LH~Goldfinger: Good to know. So I take it the Unioners are still in a recovery phase.
[30.01.2022 17:42:04] UN]-Black.Arrow: So that's pretty much what happened to the Unioners in the past half a year. What about y'all?
[30.01.2022 17:42:16] UN]-Black.Arrow: We're gathering men faster than you would think.
[30.01.2022 17:42:22] LH~Goldfinger: A good sign.
[30.01.2022 17:42:31] UN]-Black.Arrow: But yes. Currently we still have more ships left over then men.
[30.01.2022 17:42:55] LH~Goldfinger: And regarding us? Business as usual, one could say..
[30.01.2022 17:43:30] UN]-Black.Arrow: Understandable. Noone was wonderin' where the 'hackers went. We're used to you workin' from the shadows.
[30.01.2022 17:44:09] LH~Goldfinger: A method which proved to be of great wisdom.
[30.01.2022 17:44:34] LH~Goldfinger: Seeing the rather instable nature of Liberty's underworld and surroundings, it is not advised to act openly too much.
[30.01.2022 17:44:35] UN]-Black.Arrow: I would certainly agree.
[30.01.2022 17:45:36] LH~Goldfinger: We've picked up that somethings brewing nearby; in Hudson.
[30.01.2022 17:45:48] UN]-Black.Arrow: Well should you have the appropriate rank I would like for you to forward a message to your high command.
[30.01.2022 17:46:08] LH~Goldfinger: I'm in the position to inform them.
[30.01.2022 17:46:52] LH~Goldfinger: But yes, originally I've planned to figure out what exactly is going on in Hudson. The spike of activity in our network is -
[30.01.2022 17:46:54] LH~Goldfinger: unusual.
[30.01.2022 17:46:58] UN]-Black.Arrow: Please inform them of the current situation that the Unioners are in... Please let them know we would like to establish ties
[30.01.2022 17:47:04] UN]-Black.Arrow: With the 'hackers, once again.
[30.01.2022 17:47:17] LH~Goldfinger: Take it as a sign of friendliness that I tell you this. It might concern the Unioners or not, I cannot tell at this point.
[30.01.2022 17:47:24] LH~Goldfinger: But it might be worth observation from your side too.
[30.01.2022 17:47:35] UN]-Black.Arrow: Shall we head there then?
[30.01.2022 17:47:37] LH~Goldfinger: I'll let them know about this, no worries.
[30.01.2022 17:47:56] UN]-Black.Arrow: One more things. I will trade you the 'hunter pilots for your cargo.
[30.01.2022 17:48:07] UN]-Black.Arrow: I believe those pilots deserve a better home.
[30.01.2022 17:48:14] LH~Goldfinger: Ah, I assume you wish to get your overzealous rookies back.
[30.01.2022 17:48:18] LH~Goldfinger: Good point.
[30.01.2022 17:48:30] UN]-Black.Arrow: You're quick.
[30.01.2022 17:49:11] UN]-Black.Arrow: Been a pleasure.
[30.01.2022 17:49:14] LH~Goldfinger: Appreciated. I already feel sorry for them.
[30.01.2022 17:49:25] UN]-Black.Arrow: I hope to hear from you soon.
[30.01.2022 17:49:27] LH~Goldfinger: Hunters always get the nice interrogations.
[30.01.2022 17:49:49] LH~Goldfinger: Hopefully, I'll let the Professorship know that they may expect a message from you.
[30.01.2022 17:49:51] UN]-Black.Arrow: Enjoy it then. Safe skies.
[30.01.2022 17:49:53] LH~Goldfinger: Oh, one last thing.
[30.01.2022 17:50:00] LH~Goldfinger: Whom did I have the pleasure with?
[30.01.2022 17:50:30] UN]-Black.Arrow: ?: Ah the one mentioned before. *laughs* James Hollywood. The Direktor of the Unioners.
[30.01.2022 17:50:44] UN]-Black.Arrow: Glad to meet you. *salutes*
[30.01.2022 17:50:58] LH~Goldfinger: Oh. I was pleased to make your acquittance then, Direktor.
[30.01.2022 17:51:05] LH~Goldfinger: We'll meet again.