Bowex InfoNet (inRP)

[jammi]

Incoming Transmission from Tower of London, New London system
10/04/822 A.S.

To: Bowex InfoNet
Priority: Medium
Topic: Convoy report and debrief for 09/04/22.

Convoy Participants:

• BES Johnson - Andrew Peterson.
  
• BES Quentin Pelham - David Pelham.
  
• ExSec Sian Breacon.
  
• ExSec Junko Sanada.
  
• Independent Contractor Alex.Freeman.

Convoy Information:
This contains details on two rather fragmented incidents - the first was a scuffle that occurred near Planet New London's orbit, the other a rather more sedate run into Rheinland with a load of Gold Ore. The initial incident was responded to by Mr Pelham, Ms Sanada and Ms Breacon; after the threat had been dispatched myself, Mr Pelham and Ms Sanada departed in convoy formation. Ms Breacon returned to her station on Planet New London. Mr Pelham also clocked off upon seeing us safely through Omega 3, leaving myself and Ms Sanada to proceed to New Berlin alone.

We arrived in New Berlin without delay or incident, making a nice change from the standard fare in the Omegas as of late. Upon reaching Planet New Berlin, I happened across another of our independent contractors - Alex.Freeman - a fellow in a Shetland. After exchanging pleasantries, I invited him along for the trip home - travelling in force is always preferable to alone, after all! From New Berlin we both departed with a cargo of Rheinbeer with Ms Sanada on point. From there, we took the cargo to Koeln, where Uncut Diamonds were collected from our friends over at Diamanten Vorposten. The run back home to Waterloo was again uneventful, at which point we parted ways amicably.

Convoy Incidents:
Ahah, now here is where things get interesting. When I initially departed from Planet New London orbit, I passed the Enterprise Liner Echidna (flashing a Freelancer IFF) who was attempting to line up with the trade lane to Dublin. Normally that would be ordinary enough, but the lane had it logged as a hostile and was merrily (if ineffectually) popping away; a slight aside, but I do wonder what Ageira were hoping for those little pea-shooters to accomplish? Whatever it was, they're clearly failing. I digress. The chap also saw fit to aim a threat my way, so I didn't hang about to see what he wanted.

With Enchidna hot on my heels, I took a sharp right and set course for the Tower of London. My cargo was there, and the defence grid looked appealing. But lo and behold! What should happen, but the Shetland Gateway)-GSV-Mojave jumping through at that exact moment? I didn't even bother sassing the poor chap this time around. Of course, the liner arrived, dropped the lane he'd just emerged from and then disabused all present of any misconceptions about his good intentions. Needless to say, from my position on the sidelines I suffered a slight "engine malfunction" that sadly prevented me from assisting while said Gateway vessel was extorted for $3m.

After an extremely short tussle the Mojave was badly mauled, the captain coughed up and then in poor grace moved on. With the area clear of bystanders who could've been hit in the crossfire*, and the pirate fleeing back towards Planet New London, I ordered the freshly assembled ExSec taskgroup to intercept and bring the bugger to a halt. From there, I parked the Johnson behind him and proceeded with an impromptu decommissioning and recycling routine. Ms Sanada put the fatal hole in his hull, and we all had a hearty chuckle at said villain's expense. Well, all save the Johnson's chief engineer, who was swearing like a sailor at the battering his baby had just taken.

*Another very good reason I hadn't intervened! I wouldn't have wanted the Mojave to be placed in danger by my fire while engaging the fiendish pirate! Naturally!

Andrew Peterson MBE
Trade Combine Manager
Borderworld Exports

Transmission End