The Lane Hackers | Internal Comms

[Dreganius]

...hack.initiated...decryption.in.progress...
...Initiate.Georgi Koskov.recognised...transmission.encrypted...
...uploading.data...

A good morning. A good morning indeed.

At approximately 17:20 SMT, after Mr. Trigger and I had returned from a particularly profitable (if not time consuming) software/cardamine run to Malta and back, Dr. Julius No contacted me regarding a request to perform extortions, so we set out to begin.
Rendezvousing in Ontario, we made our way into Colorado, and took one lane each from the New York Jump Gate, a 20km distance between us should things get hairy - which they did. {GUNCAM}

An Outcast here, a fairly inexperienced and poor Freelancer, nothing much of interest was coming through at this time. Until the Freelancer came back, asking if he could bribe me to allow a freighter he was escorting to pass. {GUNCAM}

At my last check, there were only three contacts on my long-ranged scanners, and not one of them would have had much of worth. Furthermore, since the Freelancer stated he was escorting a Freighter, I likely would have only been able to extort 1.5 million anyway. So, after a moment of thought, I accepted.

{GUNCAM}
Log transcription:

Freelancerjw: Ahoy GeorgiKoskov
LH~GeorgiKoskov: Greetings.
LH~GeorgiKoskov: I would advise you not to loiter.
Freelancerjw: How much are you looking for to allow ships to pass through?
LH~Dr.JuliusNo -> LH~GeorgiKoskov: Who is it?
LH~GeorgiKoskov: For you, nothing. So long as you keep moving, now.
LH~GeorgiKoskov -> LH~Dr.JuliusNo: Same beginner as before.
Freelancerjw: I am escorting a freighter willing to pay up to 1.5 for a bypass
LH~GeorgiKoskov: Very well.
LH~GeorgiKoskov -> LH~Dr.JuliusNo: 1.5 million for a bypass of this beginner's friend in a freighter.
LH~Dr.JuliusNo -> LH~GeorgiKoskov: did he pay you?
LH~GeorgiKoskov: Payment, then passage.
LH~GeorgiKoskov: I will inform my colleagues to let you pass unhindered.

I checked the time, and ensured I recorded the events through guncam footage. Although I had noticed Ageira)Alan.Pace was appearing on my long-range scanners, I was expecting this Freelancer to be escorting a Freighter, and was thus not expecting the turn of events.

{GUNCAM]
Log Transcription:

Freelancerjw: He has agreed to the 1.5M Alan
LH~GeorgiKoskov: Hohoo, not with an Ageira.
LH~GeorgiKoskov: That complicates matters.
LH~GeorgiKoskov -> LH~Dr.JuliusNo: Get here.
LH~GeorgiKoskov -> LH~Dr.JuliusNo: Now.
LH~GeorgiKoskov -> LH~Dr.JuliusNo: He's escorting Ageira.
LH~Dr.JuliusNo -> LH~GeorgiKoskov: ok

I immediately jack the trade lane, and moments later, the Ageiran Train pulls up.
I immediately chastise him for even attempting such a weak, borderline suicidal ploy. I demand he drop and destroy his cargo. He complains, I don't sympathise. I then warn the Freelancer to back off.

{GUNCAM 1}
{GUNCAM 2}
Log Transcript:

LH~GeorgiKoskov: Trying to pull a fast one, Ageira hypocrite?
LH~GeorgiKoskov: Any other trader I would let go
LH~GeorgiKoskov: But not Ageira. Oh no.
Ageira)Alan.Pace: Well you accepted alraedy
LH~GeorgiKoskov: Drop all your cargo.
LH~GeorgiKoskov: All of it.
LH~GeorgiKoskov: And destroy it.
LH~GeorgiKoskov -> LH~Dr.JuliusNo: Take out the trade lanes.
LH~GeorgiKoskov -> LH~Dr.JuliusNo: Ageira is primary target if we engage
Ageira)Alan.Pace: That would mean no profit for all of us
LH~GeorgiKoskov: That's the intention.
LH~GeorgiKoskov: Freelancer, if you value your life you will leave at this point in time.

Thankfully, the Freelancer obliges, and flies directly away. At this point, the good Doctor has arrived to back me up, and with only us and the Ageiran, we supply an ultimatum, at which point our target weighs his options. And chooses poorly.

Log Transcript:

LH~Dr.JuliusNo: This guy will be calling the Navy
LH~Dr.JuliusNo: we'd better hurry this up
LH~GeorgiKoskov: You have 30 seconds to comply.

The target begins to flee, charging Cruise capacitors. Dr. No and I immediately launch CDs to intercept, and begin opening fire as we catch up. He's made his decision, and will pay the consequences. {GUNCAM}
Julius continues to move ahead and take the trade lanes down when the Ageira train approaches them, and I soak up almost as much damage as I avoid, while constantly dishing out Hellflurries.
From further than halfway down the lane, we traveled all the way back to Pueblo Station, where the Freelancer escort had run to. By this time, the Ageira target is flaming, his cargo pods had been destroyed, and he's all out of batteries and nanobots. I myself was out of shield batteries, but still had a stable supply of nanobots to replenish with.
And then, in front of Pueblo station, with the Freelancer watching hopelessly, we send the pig-headed corporate miscreant to an early retirement. {KILLCAM}


His cargo I obtained consisted of mostly Nanocapacitors, with small quantities of raw minerals thrown in. Shortly after his destruction, Dr. Julius and I retreated from the system, expecting Ageira to have unleashed their petty lapdogs in the Liberty Navy. {GUNCAM}

Yes, 'twas a good morning indeed...

...encryption.in.progress...hack.terminated...