| Mactan Base
|
| Freeport
|
| Image missing
|
| Owner
|
| Lnae Hackers
|
| Location
|
| E5, Magellan
|
| Technical Data
|
| Gravity
|
Complete
|
| Docking bays
|
Yes
|
| Amenities
|
Yes
|
| Crew
|
Unknown
|
Lane Hackers are mostly composed of former [[Los
Angeles]] Ageira Technologies employees who
created the extremely complex scanning and
database system known as USI (Universal Ship
Identification). Departing the company rather
acrimoniously in 750 AS, they have become a
growing problem in the Independent Worlds.
The Lane Hackers in Magellan and Galileo share
one common origin -- Ageira. The scandal that
erupted within the company after the great
Galileo bypass project, which resulted in the
unnecessary construction of a hugely expensive
set of Jump Gates and Trade Lanes, forced
several executives and an elite development
team out. This would become the second part of
the core of the Lane Hackers, along with the
original California scanner group that fled to
Magellan.
The investigation continues to this day, but
has so far been unsuccessful in locating the
Lane Hacker bases. No Hacker has ever been
captured, although various Rogues in the
Independent Worlds have been caught possessing
remarkably accurate information regarding
upcoming high-value shipments.
Security measures have been added to the
software, but the Hackers remain one step
ahead, leading Ageira security experts to
believe that there are many sympathetic
programmers still within the company, possibly
being secretly paid off with the proceeds from
the thefts. The Lane Hackers prefer to sell
their information to others rather than do the
dirty work themselves, although they sometimes
swoop in and tractor in a cargo if it’s
particularly juicy. Fancying themselves as
modern-day Robinhoods, they avoid direct
confrontation when possible, unless it is the
henchmen of the despised IC and Ageira.
They like to frequent Freeport 4 and the [[Ames
Research Station]], as their asteroid bases
within the clouds can become claustrophobic.
Their Cardamine addiction forces the Hackers to
trade drugs for Trade Lane info with the
Outcasts at the Mactan base. Leiden is a key
transfer point for smuggled goods between
Kusari and Liberty, especially the Artifact
trade, which the Hogosha dominate. A steady
stream of Hogosha ships make the journey to the
Galileo system. The Lane Hackers have also been
spotted in Colorado, leading authorities to
speculate that there may be multiple Jump Hole
routes into that system from the Independent
Worlds.
