The S/D Agency Files

[bluntpencil2001]

To: S/D Agency HQ
Comm. ID: Agent Roland Deschain
Subject: Manta/Bomber

---Transmission Initiated---

My thanks for the full-time position, sir. Before helping to finance and outfit my new vessel, would anyone be able to inform me the proportion of current bounties which would require a bomber as opposed to a fighter-class ship?

Most appreciated,

Agent Deschain

---Transmission Terminated---

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[Agmen of Eladesor]

**Incoming Transmission**

To: The Director
From: Special Agent Max deVirgo
Priority: Normal
Subject: Patrol report

Started my patrol almost right in Texas. How about death sentence a for a smuggler?

I didn't kill him (couldn't catch him)- but I think that's fairly much proof positive that ReDragon is a confirmed slaver. Nothing like condemning 3500 souls to a life as property to earn the title of scum.

I was responding to a call from Feral for assistance in New York then when a drugged out Lane Hacker jumped me almost to the Texas/NY JG. This guy liked his cardi - which for personal use is fine, but it sure clouds your judgement. He demanded that I drop my cargo of captured pirate pilots. I got on the comm channel to Feral and Bobafett, and both responded. Unfortunately, Phate managed to destroy my ship just after Feral joined me. I suspect that he used a computer virus to infect my controls, as I was barely able to eject safely. That, and I had a hard time controlling the Memory. I KNOW he had to have some kind of nefarious virus, because he also managed to destroy Feral's ship, with a virus that mimics ion storms. Fortunately, a passing freighter tractored us both in, and put me back on Texas.

I know that the Surma needs some repairs. Planetary sensors saw ReDragon coming BACK from his slaving run, and I thought I could get him. Yes, I went against medical advice and left the medical section before I was fully checked out after ejecting, like we're supposed to do. However, I thought catching this guy was worth the risk. I got this shot of his full hold of Cardimine coming back. I didn't KNOW that the control that was damaged was the train disruptor - so his Firefly was able to sail past me undisturbed.

The Surma is re-docked at Freeport 2 for repairs - she needs a new computer control board for disruptors. The fire control for missiles works wonderfully - she's a great anti-fighter gunship. (So when will we get those parts in?)


**End transmission**

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Oh god... The end of days... Agmen agreed with me.

[SigCorps]

**Incoming Transmission**

To: The Director
From: Agent Breako
Priority: Normal
Subject: Bomber Commssion

Sir, Since we are allowed to have two ships, I wanted to put in a formal request for a bomber to be commissioned under the name S/D-Cestus. This would be a back up ship for myself in case of the need for heavier fire power.

I await your response


Agent Breako out

**End of Transmission**

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Formerly Sam Nichols, creator of OSI

[Athenian]

Incoming Transmission
To: All agents
From: The Director
Subject: Updates
Priority: Normal

Message reads:
Agent Breako - application approved. Call-sign Cestus approved. No custom paint jobs please.

Agent Deschains - as we used to say in the military: "Why have one when you can have two." Fly the ship you feel most comfortable with. The Bomber is a fine ship - one of the finest in all Sirius. It can handle targets both large and small. The Manta and Hammerheads might lack the punch to disable gunboats and the like on an individual basis, but with a wingman you can harass large enemy ships and, more importantly, live to tell the tale.
There is a simulator on the Doghouse that will allow you to test each ship. Alternatively ask your fellow agents. Generally speaking, most contracts can still be fulfilled using a bomber.


The Director

Transmission ends

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Former member of "the most paranoid group of people in the community"
Discovery Community Forum Rules

[SigCorps]

**Incoming Transmission**

To: The Director
From: Agent Breako
Priority: Normal
Subject: Bomber Commssion

Message reads:

Sir,
The S/D-Cestus is almost ready for patrols. Still working on getting propper BHG license for her, using a Merc one for now. I also need to touch base with either Provider or Doghouse to aquire a Heavy CM and possibly a Paralyzer missile system. Other wise she is doing really well in her trials. She is outfitted with twin SN's for heavy hitting and 5 Reaver Mk III's. I expect her to be ready for duty and patrols at the end of tomorrow. Those folks at Sheffield are finiky about giving out BHG Ship Id's.

On a side note I used the Manta to pick up some supplies from Capetown for the Bomber and getting out of Colorado in one peice was interesting. Since the bounty on LN and BHG forces was put out, the Xenoes have swarmed up there at times. 3 of them chased me to the jump gate to New York from Peublo. Just a note to our folks If you go up there...go with friends.

---

Formerly Sam Nichols, creator of OSI

[SigCorps]

**Incoming Transmission**

To: The Director
From: Agent Breako
Priority: Normal
Subject: Bomber Commssion

Message reads:

S/D-Cestus ready for duty. Propper IFF and License aquired and she is ready to go at Cambridge. She passed her trials and stress tests with flying colors. Will use her for patrols over the next week to further test her systems.

Agent Breako out

**End of Transmission**

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Formerly Sam Nichols, creator of OSI

[John Keel]

**Incoming Transmission**

To: The Director
From: Agent Varron
Priority: Low
Subject: (none)

First off let me apologise for my recent absence Mr Director, I don't know if you heard but I got in a little ruckus with some fool in a bar off on New London. I gave the lad a beating but the sneaky little wretch went and sabotaged my Hammerhead on the pads. I've been looking for this guy for a couple of days whilst the 'head gets fixed up, but I can't find him anywhere. The techies say it should be done pretty soon, so I'll be able to get up off this rock and shoot some bad guys down.

Will keep you informed.

Agent Varron, out.

**End Transmission**

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A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.
~H. L. Mencken

Levi Ripley // [Civilian]

[Agmen of Eladesor]

Incoming transmission

TO: The Director
From: Special Agent DeVirgo
Priority: Normal

Subject: Patrol Report

SGT Limbaugh and I had brought the Surma back from Bering and docked her at Sheffield, as per your orders. We then caught a ride on the APM-Sagittarius to Cambridge, where the Athena's Memory was docked.

Just to make sure that all the repair work on the Memory was done, we took her up for a spin of the Cambridge system. We were contacted by Esther Carson regarding training, but I told her that we were only running a quick patrol, and didn't have time to train.

Well, so much for the quick patrol...

First we encountered a pilot from the RA in a recon ship. He was ... rude, to be nice about it. There were no shots exchanged between he and I, I simply made sure that he knew I knew he was there, and we left it at that.

"Rush" saw that three ships that had been in Omega 5 entered the Cambridge system. Using our new scanners, he noted that they were a freighter, a Titan, and a Corsair Gunboat. Since there were no other S/D pilots available, I attempted to gather as much information as I could, while SGT Limbaugh was warning the civilians that Corsairs were loose in Cambridge.

We started running the trade lanes to find them, and trying to contact other S/D pilots for back-up. About the time I got a reply from the S/D Swordfish, I noticed that they had jumped into New London. I ran to the planet first in case this was an assault there, and was relieved to note that it was clean. The Memory then headed for Leeds - and "Rush" saw that they had jumped into Manchester. We immediately headed that way. In communication with the Swordfish, Special Agent LaRouche opined that they were headed for New York.

He was right.

California, here I come...

I chased them through Manchester and Magellan, briefly engaging them in Magellan (no where near any bases). Rush caught sensor scans of all their vehicles - they were escorting a freighter loaded with artifacts. They disengaged and jumped into California. During this engagement, I was able to rescue two other guild pilots from Barracudas that were destroyed by the Corsairs. I was able to contact an LSF officer, Mike Edwards, on comms to warn him of their approach.

Upon entering California, I saw them on my scans briefly, at 13K distance. I thought they'd taken a trade lane, and immediately headed for Cali Minor, Mojave, and the JG. Rush and I set up an interdiction of the JG to NY, remaining in contact with the LSF the whole time. Finally the LSF made it to California, and we could STILL see these craft on system scans, but no where close to us. We quickly checked the trade lanes again to Los Angeles and Cali Minor - the LSF officer was ready to give up.

About that time I headed back to the JG and saw them forming to jump into NY. They'd flown through normal space, avoiding the trade lanes. In pursuit, I followed them into New York, with the LSF officer behind me a bit too far. Once I got into NY, I was able to maintain sensor lock as they headed through normal space towards Manhattan. The LSF officer took the trade lanes to head them off. Unfortunately, he got entangled with Solari near West Point.

As we approached the junk field, I was able to get clear scans of all three ships. The gunboat Albator and fighter 'lost_children' then turned and engaged me while the freighter 'the_french' continued on to Manhattan. During the ensuing combat, my computer received damage, and I lost the other two scans, but was able to keep this computer record of the gunboat and her ID - in New York...

After doing some serious damage to the gunboat, I was out of bats and bots and had to retreat from the combat. We docked at West Point, where the Liberty techs said that it would be a couple of days before we could get our ship repaired and spaceworthy again. Something about that hole in the side where the oxygen tanks used to be causing them problems.

Unfortunately, the Swordfish was too far away to make it to the combat - otherwise things might have turned out differently.

While we're waiting for the Liberty repair techs to get our ship done, Rush and I will engage the two rescued pilots in a long series of double pinochle games - for money. We figure they owe us at least $50,000 credits each for saving them from the Corsair (one of the destroyed scans showed she had 14 other BH guild pilots on board). I'll give them a chance to win it back - and of course, pump them for any and all intelligence information I can about their home systems (one of them is from Planet Kurile, in Sigma 17 - the other from a Freeport in Omicron Delta).

Special Agent DeVirgo, out

End Transmission

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Oh god... The end of days... Agmen agreed with me.

[Athenian]

[color=#FF0000]Employment Roster Update

Agent: Harvey
Location: The Doghouse

Details:
Recruit Torre Magusson joins us today. Assigned to Zone 1 - Liberty only.

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Former member of "the most paranoid group of people in the community"
Discovery Community Forum Rules

[Athenian]

Briefing

Good morning, Agents.

The Director is away on business at present so I have been asked to provide this morning's special briefing to clarify several issues that have arisen.

We are, whether you realise it or not, a business. A vibrant, successful and expanding one, to be sure, but we are always in competition with others.

How can we best remain competitive? Well, we must do several things.

1. Under no circumstances should agents consume enough whiskey to render an elephant comatose, shoot up the locker-room and attempt to access a gunship in a bid to "kill them cretards".

A few facts and figures: the GBH1 gunship, though an old model, has proven to be a versatile and efficient defense ship for both stations and convoys. It costs somewhere in the region of twenty million credits for the bare shell of the ship; factor another fifteen for armour plating; maybe four for shielding; additional components and turrets can add another ten million to the bill. Making the ship suitable for a human being to live somewhat comfortably in adds another five million.
That comes to....tum te tum...let me see....carry the four..... fifty five million credits.

Fifty five million credits to equip a GBH1 gunship.

Running costs for fuel and power cells for the turrets can run as high as two million a week, more if a missile launcher has been added.

All told, I'm sure you can appreciate that risking one of these ships to deal with a few corsair pick-pockets doesn't make firm economic sense.

2. We are awaiting a license to operate Sirius-wide from the Sirius Crime Commission. We have placed securities in the sum of 500 million credits with a SCC appointed financial services division. In order to distinguish ourselves from the other reckless and amateur organisations that bid for the law-enforcement contracts within our zones, we must ensure that we offer to people a far superior service. [color=#FFCC33]Failure to remain professional in our dealings with others could cost us this security deposit.

3. The Agency has contracted Miss Esther Carson as a trainer for agents wishing to improve their skills. She was retained for the princely sum of ten million credits. This covers our first week. Details of how the contract operates can be accessed through her direct channel here. Please make sure you utilise this valuable resource we have put in place for your professional development.

4. And finally, and hear let me speak frankly. We are all human beings. Well, I have my doubts about a few of you occasionally, but nevertheless. We have something resembling lives outside this difficult job we do. I would kindly ask agents to try to make their personal calls somewhere other than through the Guild Bounty Network. A rather erotic, crude and possibly illegal conversation between Agent Alpha and his new lady-friend in which they discussed their previous achievements in bed and declared their shared intention to perform a physical act considered both amoral and unhygienic found its way onto the Admiralty's channels last night. As a result, a member of the staff had to be treated for coronary arrhythmia. (//skype chat is ooRP; ingame group and system chat is RP only)

Thank you for your time.


Brian
Administrative Officer, The Doghouse

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Former member of "the most paranoid group of people in the community"
Discovery Community Forum Rules