<< INCOMING TRANSMISSION >>
SOURCE: Planet Curacao, Cortez
SIGNAL ID: OS.CPRIVCOMSAT4118.4
SENDER ID: Nathaniel Carter
TARGET: Liberty Surplus Requisition Center; any officers assigned to the disposal of decommissioned vessels
A severe looking, hawklike young man sits in front of a small desk. His elbows are braced on the edge of the desk and his fingers are steepled. To his left there is a small glass of water, and behind him is a wide viewport overlooking the Curacao planetary ocean. He looks just past the camera's focus, as if to confirm normal operation, then focuses his attention to the video feed.
Greetings, receiving officer or officers. My name is Nathaniel, and I represent a small group of trader vessels that are loosely affiliated with OS&C and Universal Shipping, named Push Industries. I shall get right to the point - recently our vessels traveling through Liberty and Bretonian space have come under repeated attack from pirate vessels. These brigands were from factions as diverse as simple Rogues to Hispanian Corsairs, and almost everyone in between. Most of these pirates flew heavy bombers, gunships, and there was even the one incident with a Scylla cruiser just outside the California jump gate in Manhattan. Any attempts we make at running fighter escort have met with either the unfortunate escort's destruction, or the damaging and loss of one or more of our transports before the enemy can be driven away or destroyed. Being smaller time traders, we cannot absorb losses like this repeatedly...
Therefore, in order to safeguard our cargo and our credits, we intend to pay, with the Navy's permission, top rate for an older Type-23 Liberty Gunship that awaits decommission or scrapping at the Norfolk shipyards. Obviously we do not expect them to retain their overtly military and/or classified Navy technology on-board, perhaps excepting their signature forward cannon, and are prepared to compensate the shipyard (and you) for the costs of refitting them appropiately. At the present, the number of gunships we are interested in is limited to two vessels, one to be acquired immediately and permission to use a second at a future date, and ask only that their forward cannons and shields be intact.
He pauses for a moment, takes a quick sip of water from the glass, then continues.
It is our opinion that these vessels suit our needs best, after careful research, due to the sleeker hull design of the ship, generous cargo hold, and the location and coverage of its turret mounts. We also did not want to be seen as affiliated with the Bounty Hunters Guild, as would be the case with their Bottlenose and Orca gunships, nor did we wish to utilize the more neutral but inadequate Zoner Conference gunship, as that vessel was designed for exploration, not defense.
To the topic of trust - none of our fleet members have ever been affiliated with any pirate organization in or around Liberty space, and we each hold good standings with either Spa and Cruise or Universal Shipping, as well as other Libertonian corporations. These ships would be put to good use defending their vessels as well, after all, and can also assist Police and Naval forces in repelling pirate attacks, since if they are present, they are likely escorting one or more of our transports, and it will be under attack.
So, to conclude. A list of the exact hardware requested for authorization is enclosed. Thank you for your time, and your consideration. Should you consider our request, but need more details or have questions, feel free to send a message to Curacao; it will be received, I assure you. Out.
Silence falls as the young man returns to a more upright sitting position. Reaching forward with his right hand, he touches a control that is out of sight to the video feed, and a click is the last thing heard as the message goes dark. Near the title and header of the message a link is dully flashing, indicating that there is an attached file.
FILE BEGINS:
Full name:Nathaniel Carter, representing Push Industries
Callsign of ship in question: Nathan (//Incidentally, the name of the character would be changed to the ship's given name should the request be granted - would the game's permissions carry over if that happened, or would it need to be submitted under the new name?)
Equipment requested: One (1) Liberty Type-23 Gunship, of a status (wrecked, decommission) to be released to third-parties; one (1) Liberty Class 7 Gunboat Forward Cannon; one (1) Gunboat Graviton Shield, rated at 125000 effective shield strength.
Reason for request: See above. Our travels often take us within Liberty space proper, and since as stated combat involvement there usually means getting attacked by house pirates, we would of course be assisting Liberty in destroying those that cling to its underbelly. We also, as a result of travels in Bretonia, sometimes encounter and come to blows with forces of the Gallian Navy. As they are also enemies of Liberty, having the firepower to engage their lighter patrols will aid the war effort for both nations.
Proof of good standing with the forces of Liberty:One, Two
I consent to having the equipment requested above removed upon breaking the Code of Conduct.[X]