**** Incoming Transmission ****
From: Johnathan Sanders, Independent Miners Guild
To: Rheinland Military, internal affairs; Marine Nachrichten Dienst (//not sure who fills the internal affairs role in RM)
BCC: Bounty Hunters Guild (// and therefor available to BHG Core)
Subject: Rogue gunboats in Omega 7?
Encryption: Severe
Gentlemen,
I have some disturbing news regarding the shared mining system, Omega 7. A flottilla of at least 3 Rheinland gunboats has been spotted performing combat operations within the system. While this may not be that unusual, the fact that they seem to be seeking a reason to attack anyone, including your own Kruger and Daumann mining ships, at random, makes me suspect there's something very amiss here.
The latest report I have is of one of our patrol ships. While performing a routine patrol of the northern mining fields, he was engaged by two Rheinland gunboats, without provocation. Some of these vessels were equipped with weapons FAR more powerful then the standard Rheinland weapon systems. What limited data could be recovered suggests these gunboats were equipped with weapon turrets that have a damage output an order of magnitude higher then is common for gunboats, rivaling that of cruiser turrets.
I have thus, three questions:
1: Is Omega 7 being used for some kind of field test? I will not be as presumptious to request any information on it if so, but these vessels are drawing a lot of attention, from mercenaries and other corporations alike. A standard scan is quick to do, after all.
2: Are these vessels in fact part of the Rheinland Military? Their behaviour is erratic, and does not conform to that which we've come to expect of your military forces. Disregard for, and ignorance of, Rheinland law and extreme agression are not traits we've come to associate with your forces.
3: Can we expect assistance from Rheinland in dealing with this threat? As it stands, we're outgunned, unable to field capital vessels by your edict, but faced with what we've classified as cruiser class weapons. If these vessels are indeed rogue, it would help to know the transponder codes for all Rheinland vessels operating in the Omega systems, so we can more easily identify the false ones. I will however understand if that information is classified.
The vessels we've positivily identified to be using nonstandard weaponry:
Gunboats Panther (Wilde.RNC-Panther) and Erfurt (Wilde.RNC-Erfurt)
A third vessel, also suspect due to erratic behaviour:
Gunboat Wilde Jagd (RNC-Wilde.Jagd)
At present we would request of you to look into the matter. Given you're in a dual war, this is not the time for Rheinland to have it's mineral supply lines choked off. If you can confirm these vessels are not acting within standing orders, I'll have them added to a watchlist for patrols, marked as a confirmed threat.
Regards,
- Johnathan Sanders
**** Transmission Closed ****
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
[font=Verdana][color=#33CC00]SUBMITTER: [color=#FFCC00]Franz Leiche, Rheinland military Marinenachrichtendienst [color=#33CC00]RECIPIENT: [color=#FFCC00]Johnathan Sanders, Independent Miners Guild [color=#33CC00][b]SUBJECT: [color=#FFCC00]Rogue gunboats in Omega 7?
[color=#FFCC00]
Guten Tag Herr Sanders,
It was a good decision to contact us in this matter.
The Rheinland military is not aware of any technology tests in the area of Omega 7. The tests are performed on secret and abandoned locations, without any civilian presence there, to avoid any risks.
The Rheinland military High command has already ordered us, the Rheinland Marinenachrichtendienst, to find out whats going on in the system of omega 7 lately.
We would also like if you could provide us with more information in this matter, we are not aware of any "rogue" gunboats so their identification numbers could be of well use.
The reasons for their hostile behavior could be more, but I wouldn't like to spread panic and I hope you won't do that either.
This case needs to be examined properly and we will try to do everything in our power to find out what that should be.
We will also suggest the Rheinland military to send patrol wings more often to the omega 7 sector to make sure it wont happen again.
Signed,
Franz Leiche
Rheinland military marinenachrichtendienst department
**** Incoming Transmission ****
From: Johnathan Sanders
To: MND, per attention of Franz Leiche
Subject: Omega 7 situation
BCC: BHG
Encryption: High
Sir,
The situation appears to only be escalating further. The gunboats thus far have eluded our scanners, but another unwelcome visitor breaching the Freistadt perimiter could not be missed. Relaying image: http://hendrik0.home.xs4all.nl/pics/110711/screen9.jpg
The situation was resolved once battleship Pommern (RNC-Pommern) responded, and forcefully booted this intruder out of the system. The suspect gunboat Erfurt was also present, but fled once the two battleships started to exchange fire. Current whereabouts unknown.
I'm doing what I can to prevent any panic, but a battleship engagement less then 5 kilometers from Freistadt doesn't really help in that respect. I'm not certain what more we can do in this matter. Up in the Taus we'd have an Argus or two guard the station, but standing regulations of your nation does not allow us to deploy such vessels in Omega 7. Fighters, bombers and gunboats have been proven ineffective to these rogue gunboats due to their superior weaponry.
Regards,
- Johnathan Sanders, on behalf of the Independent Miners Guild
**** Transmission Closed ****
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
Omega 7 is the place to be, si? Everything exciting happens there. Anyway, to the matter at hand.
The Guild already has ships running around Omega 7 and 11. We provide security and hunt down your not-so-nice neighbours. But shooting at Rheinlnad Military gunboats does not fit in our tasks.
You must understand that we cannot start shooting at military ships because they 'may be' rogue. As it stands, we cannot engage these ships. Not unless they attack our ships first for some reason or if they indeed attack innocent civillians.
I wish to await more substantial proof of just what these ships are and what is wrong with them before I can decide upon our modus operandi regarding them. It's more the Military's mess to sort out, si?
As for the Core...
I think they are a bit busy keeping those Order terrorists at bay. But I will relay this message to them. Maybe they see fit to send a few Morays down. But that will do more harm than good perhaps as Core operatives are known to be rather.... crude in their ways.
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[font=Fixedsys]
Today IMG was attacked by a Rheinland Military gunboats that fielded again non-sirian technology in Omage 7 ( << Evidence File 1: Erfurt >> ), as well as by some alien gunboat-sized ships armed with even more powerful weapons.
The Audio log shows the first seconds of the attack that came surprising to a mining operation of the IMG and its gunboat escort.
Quote:IMG|V|Tunguska: Ah, no... they're in those gunboats.
Wilde.RNC-Erfurt: Kill them, kill them all.
Wilde.Suende: *** 'We' follow -Community- demands***
Wilde.Zweifel.: ***...*they*-stupidity....(amusement)....***
Wilde.Zweifel.: ***....running away....a sight of weakness.....*They* shall perish....***
Freistadt called the Rheinland Military for help, who sent the Battleship Pommern, and scrambled bomber and gunboat wings. In the fierce fight all three attackers could be destroyed.
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The IMG suffered the loss of an independent Nyx fighter, a core Hydra gunboat, as well as a core civilian Hegemon mining craft that were totally annihilated by the alien gunboats' guns. Whatever that is, it has the potential to take down the strongest armour in a short fight and burn through the standard plating of our mining craft in seconds.
We are deeply concerned by that attack and wish to thank the Rheinwehr for the swift response. These creatures could have destroyed the complete mining operation, likely causing the destruction of many ships and the death of up to 80 civilians on board of defenseless mining platforms.
Perhaps you can work with the data our guncams provide.
Thank you for your efforts.
Yours sincerely
Samuel Degenhardt
IMG Guildmaster
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[font=Fixedsys]
More attacks. This time Rheinland Wraiths ordered transports and miners to their position somewhere in the nebulae to "scan them to prove that they are no smugglers". Luckily, a Defense vessel - alarmed by the last incidents - flew there first and scanned the Rheinland ships.
Some of them carried non-sirian technology again. Some did not.
We just want to make sure that these individuals cannot successfully claim that the IMG engaged in any actions against the Rheinwehr. This is why I submit these evidence files proving that they fielded alien technology in their attacks.
The IMG requests to be told what is going on in Omega 7 as far as these rogue military ships are concerned.
We have been attacked numerous times, lost about 10 ships to these ships and received no word of explanation on what is going on. Please let us know so we can protect ourselves better and adapt to the threat that these Rheinland military vessels undoubtedly pose to us.
Yours sincerely
Samuel Degenhardt
IMG Guildmaster
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[font=Fixedsys]
The situation is getting even worse, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Just 10 minutes ago 4 alien vessels identified as Scorpion class by our new detection software attacked IMG at Freistadt base. The ships in question were: Zweifel, Sünde, Abschnitt, Verteidiger. All armed with excessive firepower alien weaponry.
The IMG managed to avoid losses, docked the transports that came under attack, then scrambled bomber wings to defend the close vicintiy of Freistadt and keep the gunboats from attacking the base.
This effort was successful. After about 10 minutes of fighting the Scorpions left without any further word. IMG did not give chase as the chance of an ambush was too high.
I must renew my request: What is going on? Who is attacking us and how can we protect ourselves from these creatures that seem to be coming after us in shorter periods with even more excessive power?
Yours sincerely
Samuel Degenhardt
IMG Guildmaster
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[font=Verdana][color=#33CC00]SUBMITTER: [color=#FFCC00]Vizeadmiral Gunter Weissman, Rheinland military High command [color=#33CC00]RECIPIENT: [color=#FFCC00]Samuel Degenhardt, Independent Miners Guild [color=#33CC00]SUBJECT: [color=#FFCC00]Wild threat in Omega 7
[color=#00FF00]...Uploading video sequence...
Sehr Geehrter Herr Samuel Degenhardt,
As the representant of The Rheinland military Marinenachrichtendienst told you, this matter is already taking care of some agents in the Omega sector.
The infected humans, known as Das Wilde are using stealth and cloak technology what makes them strike in a moment when there are no military patrols, what you propably experienced in the past days or even weeks.
We are trying to fight them for already many years, but their technology is too much overpowered to do a big progress. All we can do is to try to defend ourselfs from the destruction they bring.
Futhermore, the Libertonian agressors are making our forces tired and so we can't send the entire fleet to defend the omega 7 sector. I'm sorry but these are difficult times and we are trying our best to keep our systems safe in a way what will not harm the Hamburg defences.
I'm glad that there were not casualities so far. All I can do is to make the Rheinwehr patrols stay in Omega 7 longer as they are usually staying to asure safely mining operations.
When the Libertonian agressors will be defeated, I'll promise you, we will send more Rheinwehr forces in this area, so any hostiles will not enter omega 7 at all.
Signed,
Vizeadmiral Gunter Weissman
Rheinland military High command