Simple Privateering

[Guyton]

We were employed by the largest corporation in Gallia to protect an serve its citizens. The francs were rather good with hostile encounters rather seldom to my relief. Pilots were free to utilize corporate assets many willingly provided. A much favorite to shotgun flying escorts were the eclipse bombers. It was more like a tank with a easy in easy out mentality type thing to it. Eventually things began to change with the corporation moving further into the Taus. EFL Oil & Machinery deployed its own civilian fleet to construct new space stations to support the royal armada fighting near local sectors. We all knew it was just a ruse for the corporation to increase its influence to manipulate the surrounding area. The Corporate Board wanted control... they were very careful not to make it obvious to the Crown. Various independent miners were bought out their homes some gave them up willingly. With the war blockading many supplies from Bretonia into the Taus it made a way of life very difficult aboard space colonies. This allowed many unexpected infrastructures to arise without warning.

Helmand's original owners were local miners who had become very prosperous and triumphant over their neighboring competition. As tensions escalated with war an inevitable outcome. Many miners fled their homes or returned to more secure locations abandoning even fully operational stations. Helmand was nothing more than a simple resupply depot located closest in orbit around the Tau-31 Star. Once forgotten left to surrender to nature due to lack of maintenance on critical core systems. Helmand lost its orbit and slowly started its drift through the Tau-31 Ice Fields. Eventually, its near collision with Holman Outpost threatened its destruction. Instead corporate officials order Helmand's immediate reconstruction as soon as possible. The station regained its orbit this time in over watch of Holman. Its poorly damaged hull was reinforced with military grade armor to protect it from siege. Lastly a Defense Grid was constructed to defend against any hostile force that may potentially threaten the base with destruction. Now known as Helmand Outpost, the space fortress now effectively gives EFL Oil & Machinery absolute dominion over the system. Providing the Crown's navy with an abundant amount of supplies allowing its advance even further into Leeds.

It became noticeable rather quickly. Hostile corporations tended to blend in with civilian traffic hauling precious resources across the border. Most common to these were Liiberty corporations such as the corporate giant Interspace Commerce. With the royalists advancing from Edinburgh many of these shipments often crossed undetected and unchallenged. In order to display its loyalty to the Royal Family and to gain further political support for its movements. EFL Oil & Machinery's Corporate Board ordered the beginning of a strict and violent embargo. Escort fighters incoming from Gallia were refitted with more military grade weaponry provided by the Royal Armory. Eclipses though already overpowering compared to the Navy's Cougar were upgraded with more advanced shielding technology especially meant to take the bombardment from any vessel. It appeared as though we were moving onward into Leeds ourselves, our tasked proved to be just as eventful.

My first raid took place just off the Tau-29 tradelanes. We were as eager as we were nervous at the time not knowing what to expect often left a mass excitement. Our first catch were 5 transports hauling Helium-3 into Bretonia. Captain Xenc, provided the merchant captains with appropriate orders, "Drop your cargo or be destroyed". Their obvious out gunning our small civilian squadron sparked their inspiration to engaged us in order flee. The constant volleys of turret fire left my Sunbeam rather strained during its maneuvers. Captain Xenc proceeded to bomb each individual target crippling 3 transports before they could escape. Corporate officials were pleased at our progress over the passing months. More fighters arrived from Gallia frequently inside cargo transports. With our corporate fleet increasing in size activity in Tau-31 attracted many groups such as the Outcasts, Colonials, and Exiles. Despite technological advances now present in Gallia many civilian fighters posted at Helmand were old and outdated. More heavily modified transports began to appear covertly through the Taus. EFL Oil & Machinery sought the Royal Navy for aid who which in turn provided further more ammunition and additional ships. Royal Officers were skeptical at the thought of having civilian pilots attempting in the cockpit of Lynx fighters. Such worries were laid aside with the arrival of the Burgundy.

Despite counter assaults against various royalist convoys throughout Gallia's offensive. The Burgundy survived its long 4 month trip from Laval Shipyard in Maine. Commanded by a full civilian crew , EFL Oil & Machinery effectively constructed this vessel for sweeping through fighter wings as well as harassing hostile transports. Often the Burgundy is restricted to Tau-31 where it monitors smuggler activity throughout the system. Though there are not many capital warships in Tau-31's Ice Field, the Burgundy is the first Royal Navy Gunboat to be in service under a civilian command. Since its deployment , Civilian Armed Escorts raid waring corporations far more quicker and effective. The Burgundy is commanded by Captain Lucas Amel.

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Discovery Freelancer [9.5 Years]