¤ Source:Temuria Club, Chadwick Station, New York ¤ User:M.Rockwell ¤ Priority:High ¤ Classification:Routine ¤ Subject:Zone 21 Breach
There are several incidents to report from our shakedown voyage.
Our flight out of Alaska picked up an unknown signature within Zone 21 upon connection with Chadwick Station's battlenet. At the time, it was just a neuralnet address. We saw nothing on our way out.
The shakedown cruise was intended to help us get acquainted to Pennsylvania. The Erienite resistance is still festering, if somewhat abated. While searching the Meadeville, a rather unique Orbital Spa and Cruise liner named "The Stagecoach" jumped in and announced that it was selling alcohol. Notably, the liner seemed to be advertising to pirates. I'm inclined to mark this off as an... interesting marketing strategy.
The liner was not hauling any contraband, despite its' less-than-compliant captain.
Upon our return to New York, we joined Chadwick's defense patrols until a drydock was cleared for our landing.
Around 17:30, the local battlenet once again received a proximity alert. The intruder was a pilot named Catherine White.
The full extent of Miss White's interrogation will be attached to this transmission and reported elsewhere, but for now I will go over the salient information.
Catherine White appears to be a new pilot. She followed an unknown ship into the field [most likely triggering our first alert], whom she lost track of. Miss white claims to have been in the field looking for the unknown ship out of concern for them.
Miss White came up with several names for this unknown ship:
"Candy",
"Candy 1",
Finally settling on "Canary 1-1".
As Miss White had not fully breached Zone 21, it was decided to recognize this instance as an "honest mistake" and escort her out of the Navy and Security Force's area of operations. Before leaving, Miss White inquired, in so many words, what it would take to join the Republic's Security Forces.
Pending a fuller investigation into Miss White, and recognizing the larger issue of an unknown ship at large within Zone 21 (and potentially Alaska), it has been decided to extend her the opportunity to prove herself to House Liberty.
Agent John Blau has been instructed to proceed to Valley Forge Flight School. There, he will pose as a performance evaluator. Miss White will be instructed to seek him out. Once she has made contact, he will proceed with a faux recruitment regime to gather more information from her. Should she prove useful, she may be recruited as an asset.
Regardless of Agent Blau's true evaluation of her, Catherine White is to be considered a person of interest, and watched closely for the foreseeable future.
An inquiry will be put to the security apparatus at large as to "Canary 1-1's" identity. We will proceed to interdict them within restricted areas until they are cleared as one of our own.
Agent Markus Rockwell Mirage
LSF-Lansdale Devil, Liberty Intelligence Bureau
Mission Results
LSF-Lansdale Devil ready for deployment
OS&C's The Stagecoach scanned; unlikely to be a smuggler
Catherine White to be considered a person of interest
Catherine White marked out for potential recruitment
Callsign "Starcat" reassigned to Pennsylvania for prospective evaluation
[25.11.2023 15:21:16] Catherine_White: *A ship registered to a Catherine White trips the Chadwick proximity alerts, before heading back out towards Norfolk.*
The Stagecoach
[25.11.2023 15:43:39] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Drinking before 10am makes you a pirate not an alcholic, Tip-sea Tours, now serving here and there
[25.11.2023 15:43:57] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: ...Traffic received, OS&C. Please cut your engines.
[25.11.2023 15:44:19] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: You'll have to speak up officer, I can't hear you from /way/ back there
[25.11.2023 15:45:01] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Once more, then. Cut your engines and await inspection.
[25.11.2023 15:45:11] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Hurry up, I don't have all day
[25.11.2023 15:45:18] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Unfortunate.
[25.11.2023 15:45:25] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Moving at the speed of smell
[25.11.2023 15:45:33] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: ...Agreed.
[25.11.2023 15:45:35] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: You'd give LPI a run for their credits on slowness
[25.11.2023 15:45:49] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Are you trying to apply, is that why your are taking so long to talk so slowly?
[25.11.2023 15:46:14] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Who is the captain of this vessel?
[25.11.2023 15:46:28] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: That would be me, Larry Loggins, the one who's on a timetable
[25.11.2023 15:46:33] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Not that you would understand that
[25.11.2023 15:46:45] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Where are you off to in such a hurry, Mr. Loggins?
[25.11.2023 15:47:01] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Manhatten, like usual, have you never worked this beat before?
[25.11.2023 15:47:05] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: We're hear daily
[25.11.2023 15:47:15] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Not, uh, like this. [Referring to the task of conducting a cargo inspection on such a large vessel.]
[25.11.2023 15:47:24] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Ugh, why do I get stuck with the fresh meat
[25.11.2023 15:47:56] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Are you aware of the general prohibition on vessels such as yours, Mr. Loggins?
[25.11.2023 15:48:07] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Oribtal has an exception
[25.11.2023 15:48:14] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: For /years/ at this point
[25.11.2023 15:48:31] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You'll have to wait a moment longer for me to check the database, then. Standby.
[25.11.2023 15:49:00] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: I'm looking at the laws right now, the word Pilgrim Liner doesn't appear within them
[25.11.2023 15:49:04] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: call yourself an LSF officer
[25.11.2023 15:49:57] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Mm. You appear to be correct. Our apologies.
[25.11.2023 15:50:14] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Like I said, lucky me to get stuck with the fresh meat
[25.11.2023 15:50:28] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Can't believe they let you pilot a gunboat with zero understanding of the laws you are enforcing
[25.11.2023 15:50:40] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: One last question - I can see tht you're hauling a substantial amount of alcohol.
[25.11.2023 15:50:51] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: What do you expect the guests to drink?
[25.11.2023 15:50:55] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Water?
[25.11.2023 15:50:58] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Have you been drinking yourself, captain?
[25.11.2023 15:51:07] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Orbital Policy Prohibits drinking on the clock
[25.11.2023 15:51:19] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: and tours of duty for Captains are for a year at a time
[25.11.2023 15:51:25] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: Haven't touched the stuff
[25.11.2023 15:51:47] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Very well. On your way.
[25.11.2023 15:52:02] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Apologies for the holdup, captain. Safe flying.
[25.11.2023 15:52:11] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: Larry: ta-ta
[25.11.2023 15:52:26] OS&C|TE-The.Stagecoach: A drink a day keeps reality at bay, Spa and Cruise, once you cruise you just can't lose
Zone 21 Breach
[25.11.2023 17:18:08] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Unknown ship, cut your engines immediately and transmit identification.
[25.11.2023 17:18:23] Catherine_White: I ur... ah shit... cutting engines.
[25.11.2023 17:19:41] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You are currently in violation of Article 2 of Liberty laws - violation of Zone 21.
[25.11.2023 17:20:07] Catherine_White: One sec... sorry... getting that identification urm... Catherine White. sir? Maam? Article 2? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry!
[25.11.2023 17:20:36] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: The pilot of this ship is named Catherine White?
[25.11.2023 17:21:14] Catherine_White: That's, ur... that's correct. I'm just sending my citizen identification over now (attached to this transmission).
[25.11.2023 17:21:26] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Signal received.
[25.11.2023 17:21:31] Catherine_White: Sir? Ma'am? I'm sorry, I ur... I didn't know this would cause such a fuss.
[25.11.2023 17:21:53] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You are currently trespassing in heavily restricted Liberty space.
[25.11.2023 17:21:59] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Please explain yourself.
[25.11.2023 17:22:11] Catherine_White: *audible gulp*
[25.11.2023 17:22:13] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Coming clean immediately is your best way out of this.
[25.11.2023 17:22:52] Catherine_White: I, urm... ok. I was following a Freelancer vessel earlier this cycle. Candy 1-1? I think, something similar. I saw it headed -
[25.11.2023 17:23:27] Catherine_White: this way... then later I saw the mines. I got concerned,and tried to find the ship. All I found was this pass. I chickened out-
[25.11.2023 17:23:35] Catherine_White: then... came back just now to try and find them.
[25.11.2023 17:24:07] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: In no uncertain terms, this was a mistake. But it could be seen as an honest one.
[25.11.2023 17:24:34] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You said there was another ship which entered this field? They displayed as a freelancer?
[25.11.2023 17:25:23] Catherine_White: I do apologise for that Ma'am. Sir. I'll come clean when I say my curiosity does often get the better of me. They were -
[25.11.2023 17:25:32] Catherine_White: flying some sort of transport I think.
[25.11.2023 17:26:19] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Is this the full account of your interactions with them? You merely saw them flying in and decided to follow?
[25.11.2023 17:27:06] Catherine_White: I did say hello to them first at the West Point lane crossing. That's all I know, but when you see a ship flying into mines -
[25.11.2023 17:27:14] Catherine_White: well... does it matter if it only hello?
[25.11.2023 17:27:27] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: In this instance, it does. Did they say anything at all?
[25.11.2023 17:28:00] Catherine_White: hmm... let me see. I keep a black box log of all my comms. Just me just a moment? *She gets up fromt he vid-screen*
[25.11.2023 17:28:10] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Acknowledged.
[25.11.2023 17:28:31] Catherine_White: "Canary!" *she calls from the back of the cockpit. "the ships name was Canary, not candy!"
[25.11.2023 17:29:03] Catherine_White: "Canary 1-1"... I hate to be a disapopintment but the log's a bit lame. I say 'heya'... they say 'heya', and that's it.
[25.11.2023 17:29:09] Catherine_White: (*disappointment
[25.11.2023 17:29:20] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Acknowledged. Thank you for your candor.
[25.11.2023 17:29:24] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Standby.
[25.11.2023 17:29:36] Catherine_White: Mind if I sit by instead? *chuckles a little*
[25.11.2023 17:30:15] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Catherine White, this appears to be an honest mistake, so here's what we'll do.
[25.11.2023 17:30:43] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You will be escorted out of Zone 21. You will not return. Ever. Understood?
[25.11.2023 17:31:06] Catherine_White: "...I... I understand... Ma'am? Sir? May I ask I question before complying?"
[25.11.2023 17:31:09] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You will proceed now back to Norfolk Shipyards by impulse drive alone.
[25.11.2023 17:31:21] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You will then take the tradelane to Fort Bush, where our encounter ends.
[25.11.2023 17:31:27] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You may ask.
[25.11.2023 17:31:31] Catherine_White: "Not that I ain't complying now!" *nervous chuckle* "But you know what I mean? Thanks."
[25.11.2023 17:31:54] Catherine_White: "What ur... what do I need to do, or learn, or be... to be able to know and go what's past this point?"
[25.11.2023 17:32:14] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: ...Standby.
[25.11.2023 17:32:35] Catherine_White: "I shall." *She sits down in the cockpit and fastens in, nervous as all heck.*
[25.11.2023 17:33:56] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Why do you ask, Miss White?
[25.11.2023 17:34:40] Catherine_White: *She goes to speak, but hesitates for a moment before clearly changing her answer* "I trust that this security is for the -
[25.11.2023 17:35:10] Catherine_White: best of the Libertonian people and I care about that. My space legs new but... I want to be a part of it somehow. Ya'know?"
[25.11.2023 17:35:23] Catherine_White: "Trust's a hard thing so... where do I start earning it?"
[25.11.2023 17:36:06] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: The Republic guards its secrets well, Miss White.
[25.11.2023 17:36:15] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You are correct that trust is earned.
[25.11.2023 17:37:04] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: If you wish to serve in the Republic's best interests, you can be judged on your merits.
[25.11.2023 17:37:22] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Begin your flight to Norfolk. By impulse.
[25.11.2023 17:37:50] Catherine_White: *She slowly nods, and then gives a warm smile* "Yes Sir. Ma'am. All the best t'ya."
[25.11.2023 17:38:31] Catherine_White: *settles into her cockpit with a thoughtful expression, having not turned the comms off herself.*
[25.11.2023 17:41:39] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Approach the tradelane to Fort Bush. You may take it and await us at the end.
[25.11.2023 17:41:57] Catherine_White: "Oh, you're co- yes Sir. Ma'am."
[25.11.2023 17:42:50] Death: VG3R-6 was put out of action by a hostile vessel.
[25.11.2023 17:43:10] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Where is your destination, Miss White?
[25.11.2023 17:43:34] Catherine_White: "In all honesty, Sir/Ma'am, I don't have one. I'll find one though if ya'need me to."
[25.11.2023 17:43:46] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Find one. Stay out of militry areas.
[25.11.2023 17:43:59] Catherine_White: "Yes Sir. Ma'am."
[25.11.2023 17:44:06] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: The Republic of Liberty has taken notice of you now. You will be given a chance to serve if you wish.
[25.11.2023 17:44:23] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: Ensure what we see is nothing but the best of you.
[25.11.2023 17:44:46] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: You will receive an invitation at a later date.
[25.11.2023 17:44:51] LSF-Lansdale.Devil: R: We're gone.
[25.11.2023 17:44:59] Catherine_White: *her eyes noticably light up and with a smile she nods.* "Yes Sir,Ma'am. You'll only be getting the best from me. Safe travels.
I took White out on her run-down today. Whoever set up that fake-ass militia training program made the right call – Pennsylvania’s the place to do this business.
Enclosed are the black box logs. Evaluation to follow.
Catherine White is a newer pilot. White’s family were, by her telling, Liberty natives who recently emigrated to Erie.
White is, by all accounts, a model citizen. Aside from a few teenage speeding tickets, White has had no run-ins with the law before or after her meeting with the agency. What was recovered of Erie’s provincial records makes no mention of her, aside from some educational attendance. As of this Dossier, White is working as an independent contractor for Liberty Police, Incorporated. No ties have been established with any unlawful organizations or groups of interest.
Over the course of the evaluation, White was shown the wreck of Fort Riley and Mulvane Outpost. By her remarks, she seems to understand the difference between a Libertonian, and a loyal citizen of the Republic. She seems at least accepting of Erie’s new place in the Republic and professes to join in the defense of Liberty for her homeworld.
I’ve fortunately not had the opportunity to test her combat skills. She professes having participated in some scattered skirmishes. Regardless, her incident in breaching Zone 21 suggests that she possesses other qualities our agencies may value.
Choosing to breach a minefield is a fool’s errand. Choosing to do so in the heart of New York doubly so.
But she chose to do so anyway. And she survived. Thrives, even.
Catherine White has shown by her actions that she is willing to take steps into the unknown that lesser people would balk at. Liberty needs willing men and women to go where the Republic’s interests lie. Anyone can be trained to shoot – to kill. White will need this. And we can provide. It is White’s character that makes her valuable to us. White’s willingness not only to go where only danger lies, but to reach out for greater service is commendable.
Give her the chance to join. Send her out, let her bring something back.
Agent John Blau Starcat
Liberty Intelligence Bureau
Critical Takeaways
Catherine White is an Erie native
No known ties to Erienite resistance, Insurgent actors, Xenos, Pirates, or other malcontents
Professes a deep sense of patriotism
Foolish (brave?) enough to penetrate Zone 21. Get caught. And get away with it.
Suggested course of action: Immediate recruitment as an asset and deployment abroad
[26.11.2023 15:25:04] Catherine_White: *patches comms open* "Officer Blau?"
[26.11.2023 15:25:22] J.Blau: Yes.
[26.11.2023 15:25:26] J.Blau: You're Catherine White?
[26.11.2023 15:25:36] J.Blau: I wasn't expecting a policewoman.
[26.11.2023 15:25:58] Catherine_White: That's me sir. I'm here for the Auxiliary Evaluation course.
[26.11.2023 15:26:21] J.Blau: You got our message then, at least.
[26.11.2023 15:26:27] J.Blau: Let's go for a little fly.
[26.11.2023 15:26:45] Catherine_White: Yes, Sir. Where to?
[26.11.2023 15:27:02] J.Blau: Proceed to Planet Sayre - that's the big Purple 'un - and make a full rotation.
[26.11.2023 15:27:08] J.Blau: We'll have a little chat on the way.
[26.11.2023 15:27:34] Catherine_White: "Aye, setting course now sir."
[26.11.2023 15:27:54] J.Blau: I hear you're a newer pilot, White.
[26.11.2023 15:28:05] J.Blau: That correct?
[26.11.2023 15:28:21] Catherine_White: That's true - I've been in the black about... four or firve days now.
[26.11.2023 15:28:47] J.Blau: Mm. Run into any trouble? And if so, get out of it alright?
[26.11.2023 15:29:39] J.Blau: To be clear, I'm not referring to your little incident in New York.
[26.11.2023 15:29:50] J.Blau: Do you have any combat experience?
[26.11.2023 15:30:04] Catherine_White: *a brow raises as her vidcoms come into focus.* "I di - ah, understood. A little, I've come into some run ins with pirates-
[26.11.2023 15:30:17] Catherine_White: and the like. Was trying my hand at some freelance work.
[26.11.2023 15:30:31] J.Blau: Freelance work is pretty broad. What'cha been up to?
[26.11.2023 15:31:03] Catherine_White: First couple of days I spent learning the lay of things - getting stuck in with a skirmish or two. Recently I-
[26.11.2023 15:31:22] Catherine_White: picked up a sub-contractor role with Liberty Police, thus the IFF and craft.
[26.11.2023 15:31:48] J.Blau: Fair enough. I'm sure it pays well.
[26.11.2023 15:31:58] J.Blau: You from around here?
[26.11.2023 15:32:28] Catherine_White: Pay isn't everything though, ey? Erie, Sir. I grew up on a mining colony on the surface.
[26.11.2023 15:32:47] J.Blau: Now that's interesting.
[26.11.2023 15:32:59] J.Blau: So you're Zoner-born then?
[26.11.2023 15:33:14] J.Blau: Sorry, Erienite?
[26.11.2023 15:33:39] Catherine_White: *she goes to speak, but pauses for a brief moment.* "Yes, sir. Technically... my family emigrated from Liberty to Erie."
[26.11.2023 15:33:55] J.Blau: Mm.
[26.11.2023 15:34:22] J.Blau: Can I assume you're up to date on recent events?
[26.11.2023 15:35:10] Catherine_White: I hope so sir, I hope I haven't missed anything going on
[26.11.2023 15:35:32] J.Blau: What do you think of the Republic, Catherine?
[26.11.2023 15:35:49] Catherine_White: "The Libertonian Republic, Sir?"
[26.11.2023 15:35:52] J.Blau: Aye.
[26.11.2023 15:36:36] Catherine_White: "I care for it, Sir." *She falls quiet for a moment in contemplation* "It goes beyond merely family ties. -
[26.11.2023 15:37:17] Catherine_White: The values it's citizen live by, and the role it plays in protecting it's people from this rather hostile -
[26.11.2023 15:37:39] Catherine_White: galaxy... I want to be a part of that proper."
[26.11.2023 15:37:59] J.Blau: There's an unfortunate difference between Liberty as a whole, and the Republic proper, White.
[26.11.2023 15:38:23] J.Blau: Make sure the people you want to protect are the right ones.
[26.11.2023 15:38:24] DTR-CCS>Andorra died to {DHC}CSD-Weisshorn (100%)
[26.11.2023 15:38:54] Catherine_White: "Please may you expand on that, Sir? Which people are the right ones?"
[26.11.2023 15:39:27] J.Blau: By all means.
[26.11.2023 15:39:38] J.Blau: Proceed to C7. I'll show you who isn't before I show you who is.
[26.11.2023 15:39:47] Catherine_White: "Understood, setting course."
[26.11.2023 15:40:41] J.Blau: Give me your events of how Erie joined the Republic proper, White.
[26.11.2023 15:42:20] Death: BMF|Discovery suffered a self-inflicted catastrophic decompression.
[26.11.2023 15:42:48] Catherine_White: I, ur.... ok. *she considers her response for a moment, a brief flash of unease on her face.*
[26.11.2023 15:43:24] Catherine_White: "Ultimately, it was by force. Annexation. Conflict around security and those the zoner communities were habouring grew -"
[26.11.2023 15:43:44] Catherine_White: "... difficult"
[26.11.2023 15:44:01] J.Blau: Agreed. But do you know why?
[26.11.2023 15:45:01] Catherine_White: *she nods, shifting in her seat.* "They were welcoming Liberty Insurgent groups into their communities."
[26.11.2023 15:45:16] J.Blau: Take the jumphole to the Kansas system. Fly on in.
[Jump to Kansas]
[26.11.2023 15:46:31] J.Blau: You should have a visual on a *very* large asteroid in the solar south right now.
[26.11.2023 15:46:36] J.Blau: Approximately B7.
[26.11.2023 15:46:45] J.Blau: Proceed at your leisure.
[26.11.2023 15:46:47] Catherine_White: Copy that, I have visual.
[26.11.2023 15:48:22] Catherine_White: *White's shift in demeanour is noticable as she falls quiet.*
[26.11.2023 15:48:51] J.Blau: The ships you see around you are either Liberty Insurgents, Pirates, or our own.
[26.11.2023 15:49:18] J.Blau: Ultimately, these were all liberty servicemen.
[26.11.2023 15:49:27] J.Blau: They wore Liberty uniforms.
[26.11.2023 15:49:45] J.Blau: They are the reason Erie had to be pacified.
[26.11.2023 15:49:58] J.Blau: These are the wrong kind of people.
[26.11.2023 15:50:17] J.Blau: They knowingly betrayed the Republic. But they were Libertonians all.
[26.11.2023 15:50:31] Catherine_White: *nods, listening solemnly*
[26.11.2023 15:50:57] J.Blau: There's more. D2. Far side of the planet.
[26.11.2023 16:43:48] J.Blau: I've shown you the who. This is the why.
[26.11.2023 16:44:28] J.Blau: This was a civilian installation. I'll be brief with the details - they ended up torn between their own -
[26.11.2023 16:44:43] J.Blau: - And eventually fell to the Liberty invasion.
[26.11.2023 16:45:23] J.Blau: These civilians didn't take up arms against the Republic. They tried to go their own way. And they fell the moment their -
[26.11.2023 16:45:46] J.Blau: - weaknesses allowed others to take advantage of them.
[26.11.2023 16:46:31] J.Blau: The Republic of Liberty is the single most prosperous entity mankind has ever known.
[26.11.2023 16:46:54] J.Blau: If it isn't guarded against the *wrong* kind of people, as we've put it,
[26.11.2023 16:47:02] J.Blau: It'll end up just like the wreck you see here.
[26.11.2023 16:47:17] J.Blau: Questions?
[26.11.2023 16:47:42] Catherine_White: *nods slowly, blinking back water from her eyes.* "I understand, I believe. The Republic needs guarding not just from the -
[26.11.2023 16:48:13] Catherine_White: those without. But also from the weakness within. From those who would lead the Republic to ruin?"
[26.11.2023 16:48:25] J.Blau: Correct.
[26.11.2023 16:48:43] J.Blau: I've shown you the wrong. We've seen the why.
[26.11.2023 16:48:49] J.Blau: Now let's see the right kind of people.
[26.11.2023 16:48:56] J.Blau: Head back to Pennsylvania.
[26.11.2023 16:49:02] Catherine_White: *nods* "Yes sir"
[Jump to Pennsylvania]
[26.11.2023 16:51:48] J.Blau: Take up a position in D4, middle of the Wilkes-Barre asteroid field.
[26.11.2023 16:52:36] Catherine_White: "Understood, plotting course now Sir."
[26.11.2023 16:54:52] J.Blau: Direct your attention to Planet Erie. And please, forgive the unsubtleness.
[26.11.2023 16:55:16] Catherine_White: *nods, making sure they had good vid-comm connection with a tweak of her comms panel*
[26.11.2023 16:55:24] J.Blau: I'm sure you get the point I'm making here, but I'll say it for the record.
[26.11.2023 16:55:34] J.Blau: Erie has long enjoyed the protection of the Republic.
[26.11.2023 16:56:02] J.Blau: It's doubtful it would exist without the efforts of more than a few Liberty servicemen.
[26.11.2023 16:56:29] J.Blau: The annexation was crude, and regrettable, but necessary.
[26.11.2023 16:56:59] J.Blau: Erie would be a very different place if some of Liberty's less-than-equitable elements were to take hold of it.
[26.11.2023 16:57:22] J.Blau: Likewise, full membership within the Republic is not without its perks. But we're not here for politics.
[26.11.2023 16:57:36] Catherine_White: *takes in a long breathe, and exhales as she nods at Blau's words.* "I wish to protect my home, sir. That's why I'm here."
[26.11.2023 16:58:09] J.Blau: The protection of the Republic is the protection of Erie. The defense of Erie is a defense of the Republic.
[26.11.2023 16:58:33] J.Blau: I'm going to ask a very tough question now.
[26.11.2023 16:58:59] Catherine_White: "Fire away, Sir."
[26.11.2023 16:59:03] J.Blau: Do you have any current or former links to Erienite resistance members, Insurgents, or foreign agents?
[26.11.2023 16:59:19] J.Blau: Pirates, malcontents?
[26.11.2023 16:59:24] Catherine_White: "No, Sir. None."
[26.11.2023 16:59:46] J.Blau: Alright.
[26.11.2023 16:59:57] J.Blau: Make a good note of where we are.
[26.11.2023 17:00:16] J.Blau: If we meet again, it'll be here.
[26.11.2023 17:00:25] J.Blau: Any final questions?
[26.11.2023 17:01:24] Catherine_White: "Will I receive notification of the results of this Auxiliary Evaluation Course, Sir, either way?"
[26.11.2023 17:01:41] J.Blau: Most likely.
[26.11.2023 17:02:02] J.Blau: I'll get word to you myself if you don't.
[26.11.2023 17:02:33] Catherine_White: "Then I have no final questions, Sir. Thank you for your evaluation and your time today Sir."
[26.11.2023 17:02:54] J.Blau: Aye. We can end it here. Safe skies.
[26.11.2023 17:03:17] Catherine_White: Safe skies, Sir. *waits a few moments, then lets out a relieved sigh as she turns comms link off*
White returned to the nest as promised. Given the expedited nature of her recruitment, I figured it would be best to get her a ship that properly displayed her new allegiance. Juneau recently discharged a few of the old testbed Sentries for field use, so I took up BLUEBIRD and SNOWHAWK. As well as our old pal SOLIE. Doesn’t seem right to let it hit the scrapyard given how Lee died
I left BLUEBIRD on Chadwick for anyone’s use, SOLIE is scheduled for the next transport to Katalla. SNOWHAWK was transported to West Point where Catherine picked it up.
An “original” defender from the late 700’s with virtually no service record. Project BLUEBIRD is one of the last vestiges of a time when Liberty deigned an interest in monopolizing the fuel trade. What few records remain of the project indicate that this vessel’s production flight was initially destined for an expeditionary fleet stationed in Texas. For reasons unrecorded, none of the vessels were ever recorded as delivered and were instead largely retained at the production facility. The engine assembly bears markings indicating that it was in use at Ithaca Research Station for some time. How the vessel ultimately ended up at Juneau is unknown.
Note by Blau – Found an old maintenance log while I was inspecting the hold. Lot of Ageira technicians on here. Could be worth a checkup?
An intermediate design intended to bridge the gap between the original BDR-337 “Defender” Block I craft and the Hudson Conflict-era BDR-804 “Guardian” upgrade package (now the BDR-337 “Defender” Block II). The Sentry was designed with Rheinland’s newest generation of bomber forces in mind, sacrificing shield integrity for the sake of bringing more firepower to bear – though the Defender’s admirable armor plating enabled initial prototypes to shrug off blows and rejoin the fight again. An initial flight of 60 fightercraft were constructed at Kodiak Research Station, with an additional production block of 177 craft completed at Juneau before production was halted. The project saw cancellation due to safety concerns regarding the craft’s weaker shielding and overcharged batteries, as well as the end of the Rheinland-Liberty War pushing up production of the Defender Block II. A number of 609’s still remain in service as LSF testbeds and auxiliary unit craft.
A Sentry (xBDR-609-72) registered to Chesapeake Research Station. Recently refitted for active service.
Note by Blau – Seems like this was being used to test out some of the weapons we recovered from the Zoners that came to Erie. Doesn’t look like anything too crazy’s been done to it.
One of the first production-variant Sentries, xBDR-609-43 bears a modest service record with recent service in the Omicron Nu system. A cursory inspection indicates heavy damage around the cockpit from Liberty-made weaponry. An LSF after-action report claims that the prior pilot was killed in an “unexpected decompression”.
Note by Blau – Shame what happened to Lee. He was the best of us. We ought to find someone good to fill his shoes.
Maiden Flight
We met at the usual spot, as discussed. After the detour to the Academy, we crossed the line into 21. I’m sure it was a momentous occasion for Catherine. More of a pain in the ass to me at this point, to be perfectly honest. Our ever-efficient and absolutely kind people over at Chadwick routed us to the Alaska gate. Eventually.
We took the northern route by Prudhoe and the Supergate, terminating at Chesapeake. After our turn on the graveyard shift, we took a trip down to Texas. You know, after the Chadwick thugs shook us down for the second time.
White took a particular interest in an IMG transport hauling nanocapacitors. She was quite insistent in the usual checkpoint protocol – manifest, neuralnet identification, the works. Probably a holdover from her stint in the LPI, but worth working out of her. Not a real good way to make the kind of contacts that we need in our line of work.
Our ships ran low on fuel, so we docked on the Arkansas. I had some prior business with the Hunters, so I let her loose in Texas.
Agent John Blau Starcat
Liberty Intelligence Bureau
[14.12.2023 20:08:39] Starcat: Catherine.
[14.12.2023 20:09:00] Catherine.White: oh! Blau?
[14.12.2023 20:09:02] Starcat: You're early as usual.
[14.12.2023 20:09:05] Starcat: Mhm.
[14.12.2023 20:09:28] Catherine.White: Well, what can I say? *she grins widely*
[14.12.2023 20:09:31] Catherine.White: How are you?
[14.12.2023 20:09:39] Starcat: You could start with what the hell *that* thing you're flying is.
[14.12.2023 20:09:51] Starcat: I know we said a civilian ship, but... Jesus.
[14.12.2023 20:10:17] Catherine.White: *bursts out into laughter* "Well, what better way to be...inconspicuous?"
[14.12.2023 20:10:35] Starcat: Right. It's a problem we'll fix anyway.
[14.12.2023 20:10:44] Starcat: Form on me.
[14.12.2023 20:10:53] Catherine.White: *her brow raises curiously* "Understood Blaue. So, you've been well?"
[14.12.2023 20:10:59] Starcat: Relatively.
[14.12.2023 20:11:15] Starcat: Busy, unfortunately.
[14.12.2023 20:11:23] Catherine.White: Work keeping you busy?
[14.12.2023 20:11:27] Starcat: Mm.
[14.12.2023 20:11:32] Starcat: Mostly work.
[14.12.2023 20:11:46] Catherine.White: ooo~ Mostly work?
[14.12.2023 20:11:47] Starcat: But what about you?
[14.12.2023 20:12:00] Starcat: When did you get in?
[14.12.2023 20:12:25] Catherine.White: "Not long ago... perhaps... a cycle ago? I visited home briefly."
[14.12.2023 20:12:47] Starcat: That's good. You run into any trouble on the way back?
[14.12.2023 20:13:25] Catherine.White: "No, not a dickybird."
[14.12.2023 20:15:01] Catherine.White: Where are we headed?
[14.12.2023 20:15:07] Starcat: We're already here.
[14.12.2023 20:15:20] Catherine.White: Oh, right! *chuckles*
[14.12.2023 20:15:23] Starcat: Dock in the visitor's lot, I'll meet you at the security point.
[14.12.2023 20:20:20] Snowhawk: "Snowhawk, reporting."
[14.12.2023 20:20:21] Starcat: A little heavier than you're used to, I imagine.
[14.12.2023 20:20:36] Snowhawk: "It is but... it feels right. Thank you." *She beams a bright smile.*
[14.12.2023 20:21:12] Starcat: Alright. It's time to cross the line, then.
[14.12.2023 20:21:20] Snowhawk: *her eyes widen* ... really?
[14.12.2023 20:21:31] Starcat: No reason not to.
[14.12.2023 20:21:37] Starcat: Well, plenty of reasons.
[14.12.2023 20:21:42] Snowhawk: *her eyes brighten up no end*
[14.12.2023 20:21:56] Starcat: But we might as well get it over with.
[14.12.2023 20:23:32] Starcat: The station coming up is Chadwick. The operators there manage the defense lines, yield to their directives.
[14.12.2023 20:23:45] Snowhawk: Understood, Chadwick is king.
[14.12.2023 20:23:53] Starcat: Bank left.
[14.12.2023 20:24:48] Snowhawk: "This really is a metric ***tonne of mines."
[14.12.2023 20:24:59] Starcat: This is nothin' compared to what's next.
[14.12.2023 20:25:09] Snowhawk: *looks quizzically into the vidcomm*
[14.12.2023 20:25:39] Snowhawk: "What the....
[14.12.2023 20:25:45] Starcat: Yeah.
[14.12.2023 20:25:57] Starcat: Obscene, iddnit?
[14.12.2023 20:26:17] Snowhawk: "How the... but.. wh...why? How?...Is there even that amount of metal in the world?!"
[14.12.2023 20:26:44] Starcat: There's not a whole lot'a space for cruising here, we'll have to take it slow.
[14.12.2023 20:27:00] Snowhawk: "Understood... yeah... dyamn that's tight."
[14.12.2023 20:27:11] Starcat: You know they run carriers through here?
[14.12.2023 20:27:19] Snowhawk: "Carriers?! Bloody nora."
[14.12.2023 20:27:21] Starcat: Convoys.
[14.12.2023 20:27:24] Starcat: Everything.
[14.12.2023 20:28:05] Starcat: You given any thought as to your future?
[14.12.2023 20:28:20] Snowhawk: "With the LSF, of course." *She beams a smile.*
[14.12.2023 20:28:41] Starcat: Right. But how?
[14.12.2023 20:28:51] Starcat: LSF's a big organization.
[14.12.2023 20:29:00] Starcat: Lot of roles need to be filled.
[14.12.2023 20:29:09] Snowhawk: Honestly Blau? I'm not sure. *her smile falters* What's needed the most, do you know?
[14.12.2023 20:29:47] Starcat: Hold the thought - this is Prudhoe.
[14.12.2023 20:30:04] Starcat: It's Ageira-run. This is the end of the line for most corporate interests.
[14.12.2023 20:30:21] Snowhawk: "Ageira huh? What do they do here?"
[14.12.2023 20:30:54] Starcat: From what I know, mostly a bunch of jump research.
[14.12.2023 20:31:36] Starcat: The more "interesting" stuff happens deeper in, but we won't be touching it today.
[14.12.2023 20:31:43] Snowhawk: "huh... well, more than a safe place for it I suppose. Ah, ok... you tease!"
[14.12.2023 20:32:02] Starcat: As far as what we need?
[14.12.2023 20:32:16] Snowhawk: "mm?"
[14.12.2023 20:32:29] Starcat: Navy's more than capable of fighting against most things we run up against.
[14.12.2023 20:33:10] Starcat: Recent events mean that a lot of our budget gets sent towards research endeavors.
[14.12.2023 20:33:21] Starcat: Lot of open jobs there.
[14.12.2023 20:33:36] Starcat: But a lot of our hands-on agents have left.
[14.12.2023 20:33:56] Starcat: Or uh.
[14.12.2023 20:33:58] Starcat: Well, died.
[14.12.2023 20:34:05] Snowhawk: "... i was going to ask."
[14.12.2023 20:34:58] Starcat: But we offered you the chance to do what you want.
[14.12.2023 20:35:11] Starcat: Serve how you want, anyhow.
[14.12.2023 20:35:20] Starcat: What strikes you the most?
[14.12.2023 20:36:07] Snowhawk: "Honestly, whilst I could get into the role of researcher.. I'd prefer something more hands on. Is there an intelligence -
[14.12.2023 20:36:16] Snowhawk: operative role open? Analyst? Anything of that ilk?"
[14.12.2023 20:36:25] Starcat: Always, unfotunately.
[14.12.2023 20:36:51] Starcat: Especially after the Erie fiasco.
[14.12.2023 20:37:03] Snowhawk: *goes to speak, but falls silent and nods.*
[14.12.2023 20:37:05] Starcat: Lot of folks had a real change of heart. For the best, I guess.
[14.12.2023 20:37:22] Starcat: Right here's the center of it all.
[14.12.2023 20:37:41] Snowhawk: "ur... it's registering as a... super...gate?"
[14.12.2023 20:37:55] Starcat: Mm. It's beyond me.
[14.12.2023 20:38:08] Starcat: We're not authorized for a looksy at the moment.
[14.12.2023 20:38:16] Snowhawk: "Ah, shame~"
[14.12.2023 20:38:38] Starcat: Navy sends scouts through every so often, but it's a one-way.
[14.12.2023 20:39:01] Snowhawk: "how, ur... do the scouts come back? Where does it go?"
[14.12.2023 20:39:06] Starcat: Couldn't tell ya.
[14.12.2023 20:39:33] Starcat: Ageira and the usual suspects are authorized to use it, everyone else ain't even supposed to be here.
[14.12.2023 20:39:53] Snowhawk: "... and just when you think you've crossed the line, there is another one!" *laughs*
[14.12.2023 20:40:07] Starcat: You joke, but it really is that way.
[14.12.2023 20:40:29] Snowhawk: "Suppose I'll just have to earn my way passed this next line." *beams a grin*
[14.12.2023 20:40:55] Starcat: Ain't really a matter of earning as much as necessity.
[14.12.2023 20:41:40] Starcat: We'll get our shot eventually. But it might take a bit of waiting.
[14.12.2023 20:41:57] Snowhawk: *smiles warmly* "It'll be worth it."
[14.12.2023 20:42:22] Starcat: So who's this Daros guy you ran into?
[14.12.2023 20:42:46] Snowhawk: *raises a brow* "Daros? Ur... long story, but a Corsair who I think has a crush on me."
[14.12.2023 20:43:06] Snowhawk: "Or at least, fancies the idea of a romantic elope"
[14.12.2023 20:43:47] Starcat: ...Odd.
[14.12.2023 20:43:58] Snowhawk: *snorts* "A little."
[14.12.2023 20:46:07] Starcat: You familiar with the Virginia system?
[14.12.2023 20:46:17] Snowhawk: "Virginia? ur... I'm not actually."
[14.12.2023 20:46:24] Starcat: You won't be, then.
[14.12.2023 20:46:36] Starcat: Used to be our center of production
[14.12.2023 20:46:54] Starcat: We pulled out a year or two ago, moved most of Chespeake here.
[14.12.2023 20:47:00] Snowhawk: "Ah, how come?"
[14.12.2023 20:47:15] Starcat: Costs mostly.
[14.12.2023 20:47:29] Starcat: There were some... extenuating circumstances.
[14.12.2023 20:47:41] Snowhawk: "Dyamn, that's a beautiful ship. Extenuating? Conflict?"
[14.12.2023 20:47:53] Starcat: Used to have another supergate there, led all the way out east. Towards where you were.
[14.12.2023 20:48:17] Starcat: The locals had some "interesting" proclivities.
[14.12.2023 20:48:41] Starcat: The whole thing ended up being way more trouble than it was worth.
[14.12.2023 20:48:57] Snowhawk: "so cut the costs and move things here... yeah, sounds like it makes sense."
[14.12.2023 20:49:00] Starcat: Even ended up having some of your Corsair buddies coming through the other side.
[14.12.2023 20:49:18] Starcat: On top of that, well.
[14.12.2023 20:49:27] Starcat: Like I said, not all Libertonians are good people.
[14.12.2023 20:49:37] Rules Tip: This is a roleplay server, so keep your ship's name in line with the setting. Do not use references to pop-culture such as memes or distasteful subjects.
[14.12.2023 20:49:49] Snowhawk: *nods curtly.* "hmm... true."
[14.12.2023 20:49:58] Starcat: There were some renegades holed up there. You can read about it most places.
[14.12.2023 20:50:28] Snowhawk: "In Virginia? Is there a way to get there?"
[14.12.2023 20:50:35] Starcat: Nope.
[14.12.2023 20:50:42] Starcat: They shut down the gate from Texas.
[14.12.2023 20:51:01] Starcat: Used to be a jumphole somewhere around here, but it's inaccessible for the obvious reasons.
[14.12.2023 20:51:01] Snowhawk: "Oh right, fully cut it off."
[14.12.2023 20:51:19] Snowhawk: "to think that jumphole might still be out there."
[14.12.2023 20:51:40] Starcat: Could be. Plenty of other places to stick our noses, though.
[14.12.2023 20:52:01] Starcat: Anyhow, Chesapeake's the main nerve center for the LSF as a whole.
[14.12.2023 20:52:43] Starcat: We primarily report through Kodiak, though.
[14.12.2023 20:52:52] Snowhawk: "I see, what's Kodiak?"
[14.12.2023 20:53:02] Starcat: Old research station. Way off in the oort cloud
[14.12.2023 20:53:21] Starcat: Now it's mainly just a stack of servers.
[14.12.2023 20:54:51] Starcat: There's some other stuff around here, mostly Navy involved.
[14.12.2023 20:55:49] Starcat: Fairbanks is the main prison for anyone we really need to get a firm grip on.
[14.12.2023 20:55:57] Snowhawk: "So this system is a joint venture? Who knows about what's in Alaska?"
[14.12.2023 20:56:53] Starcat: It's been fairly publicized lately. Not our biggest secret anymore.
[14.12.2023 20:57:04] Starcat: Virginia was an attempted answer to that, but didn't work out.
[14.12.2023 20:57:41] Starcat: Before the mines, we used to have a small Xeno population.
[14.12.2023 20:57:42] Snowhawk: "Oh, I see. Just well guarded... makes me wonder if there is a truly secret nexus to the service somewhere."
[14.12.2023 20:58:12] Starcat: A few foolish smugglers used to try and use the system as a shortcut - that was before Chadwick sealed the exit.
[14.12.2023 20:59:04] Starcat: Other than those, plenty of government contractors are around.
[14.12.2023 20:59:09] Snowhawk: *raises a brow* "That's pretty brave of them. Or foolish. Surely that's an easy way to get tagged at the least."
[14.12.2023 20:59:12] Starcat: Ageira, DSE, all them.
[14.12.2023 20:59:21] Starcat: It was, but Alaska's a big place.
[14.12.2023 20:59:33] Starcat: And smugglers aren't always the smartest folks.
[14.12.2023 21:00:12] Snowhawk: "hmmm, true. suppose it's natural selection at work."
[14.12.2023 21:00:43] Starcat: That would imply that the navy is breeding smugglers, which is absolutely hilarious.
[14.12.2023 21:01:05] Starcat: Or is that artificial selection? Either way.
[14.12.2023 21:01:15] Snowhawk: *grins mirthfully*
[14.12.2023 21:09:40] Starcat: Evenin'.
[14.12.2023 21:09:44] IMG|Hard.Work: P: Hello
[14.12.2023 21:10:10] Snowhawk: "SKipping the land gate?Odd."
[14.12.2023 21:10:17] Snowhawk: *lane
[14.12.2023 21:10:24] Snowhawk: Nanocapacitors, huh?"
[14.12.2023 21:10:41] IMG|Hard.Work: P: I dont like to make to much maneuveres
[14.12.2023 21:10:55] Snowhawk: *shrugs* "Your ship doesn't like it does either."
[14.12.2023 21:10:58] Starcat: I don't blame him.
[14.12.2023 21:11:03] IMG|Hard.Work: P: this thing has a heavy bottom
[14.12.2023 21:11:17] Snowhawk: "Mind submitting your ident and manifest?"
[14.12.2023 21:11:43] Starcat: Manifest? You think he's smuggling nanocapacitors?
[14.12.2023 21:11:47] IMG|Hard.Work: P: Philip Steiner, en route to kyushu
[14.12.2023 21:12:19] Snowhawk: "No, the protocol is the point, ey? Philip Steiner... let;s see... well, nothings coming up. Ring a bell Starcat?"
[14.12.2023 21:12:21] Starcat: *Laughs* You already know what he's hauling.
[14.12.2023 21:12:41] Starcat: Not particularly. Well, Steiner does.
[14.12.2023 21:12:45] Starcat: But not this Steiner.
[14.12.2023 21:13:10] Starcat: He's an independent, if he's not on our list then he's not done anything.
[14.12.2023 21:13:18] Snowhawk: "Well... thanks your Stei- time. Thanks for your time. Off you pop."
[14.12.2023 21:13:24] IMG|Hard.Work: P: well "officers" i dont understand a shit what are you talking about
[14.12.2023 21:13:35] IMG|Hard.Work: P: Have a good day, officers
[14.12.2023 21:13:44] Snowhawk: "Tschuss"