Slightly Urgent Message to the Bretonia Trade and Transit Authority

[Scott MacFarlane]

To: The offices of the Bretonian Trade and Transit Authority: Enforcement Section.
From: Master Scott MacFarlane, Clan MacFarlane
Ref:: Convoy security leak
Encyption: EXSEC 118::: MAXIMUM

Sirs,

The matter to which was previously discussed was proven to be quite valid. As was suspected, two of the vessels contracted for today's convoy did indeed attempt to rabbit with the Queen's cargo. Although I was expecting it to occur in Liberty space, it actually occured slightly earlier in Cortez.

The Mercs hired to provide close escort did not show. I will be considering cancelling that contract. However, the Merc I had hired to shadow the convoy was on hand and although he failed to make the intercept in Cortez, he did manage to feed me enough information to take...."additional measures". Back-up was contracted and a successful intercept was made in Leeds. The perpetrators made some noise about heading into Rhineland, but as they headed backwards I believe this to be poppycock, as I informed BAF Commander Woodrow who contacted me moments after I had hired back-up to make the intercept. One of the vessels and the cargo was destroyed in Leeds by the contractor, a Bump.Knuckles. The man may have survived so I must insist that all docking priviledges be revoked and a search be put out.

The second target, a Lil.Joe, was a DL series transport and did rabbit to Cambridge. Current whereabouts unknown as he went to ground soon after. My "additional measures" are keeping a look-out. However, I must insist the same measures be taken versus this vessel in terms of docking rights and such. I also believe it prudent to put out an APB on this vessel and get the BPA involved.

As for losses: They were minimal, insignifcant even. The cargo is covered, and no... the scaliwags are NOT aware that the mining drone tainted the cargo with radioactive UD-23 dust before transfer, as per your instructions. The drone's CPU is a complete loss however, as it did succumb to the radioactivity since an extra large amount had to be used to track the cargo at range. Another has been purchased at my own expense, an even more advanced model. I suspect that the target vessel's flight systems are going a bit "wonky" right now. Hate to think about the condition of the crew. Still, I suppose survival should be possible since the dust is primarily used for the tracking of cargo and shouldn't be lethal. Still the condition of the ship leaves me wondering, hence my concern.

All in all, not a complete disaster, prior planning prevented that, but I can't help but think that the entire affair could have been avoided in the first place had the BAF assets I requested been made available.

---Master Scott MacFarlane, Clan MacFarlane.

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[Scott MacFarlane]

Incoming Transmission NL819 866230293B
Encryption Level: SECURED T145
CommID: MacFarlane: NL:DH 8764501
Message Target: Bretonian Trade and Transit Authority
CC: BAF, BPA
Message Source: Private Terminal 8033956, Devon Highlands, New London
Subject: Situation update for 819-7-12-A

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Sahs.

Just a routine update: The remaining vessel was tracked to the Kansas system by our agent who followed the strong signal received from the UD-23 dust. The cargo was not present, but the dust was still adhered to the cargo bay as predicted. The vessel, Lil'Joe was destroyed by our agent on the 13th. No escape pods were seen, thus it is presumed that the crew was killed.

We are still receiving a strong signal from the cargo and believe we have its location. Even now we are making arrangements to bring the matter to a close.

--MacFarlane

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