The Lane Hackers | Manual

[The Lane Hackers]

...hack.initiated...connecting.to.Spyglass.Network...decryption.in.progress...
...Cochrane.Network.recognized...transmission.encrypted...
...uploading.data...

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Lore Manual

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Directory

⚡ The Lane Hackers ⚡The Tripartite Alliance............. ❖ Outcasts ❖ Liberty Rogues ⚡The Archenemies ❖ Ageira Technologies ❖ Interspace Commerce ⚡Business Partners ❖ Golden Chrysanthemums ❖ Hogosha ❖ Mollys ⚡Secondary Hostiles ❖ Bounty Hunters Guild ❖ Xenos ⚡Independent Worlds ❖ Western Operations ❖ Mactan Base ❖ Planet Curacao ❖ Northern Operations ❖ Leiden Base ⚡Liberty ❖ Alberta ❖ Cochrane Depot ❖ Amarillo Base ❖ Other Operations ⚡Foreign Houses ❖ Bretonia ❖ Kusari ⚡Miscellaneous ❖ Counterfeit Software ❖ Rheinland-Kusari Embargo

The Lane Hacker Manual is composed of the Technical Manual and the Lore Manual.

The Lore Manual focuses on the saga of the Lane Hackers; essentially, it serves as a presentation and repository of all Lane Hacker-related news reports, infocards and rumors of the organization. It also includes information about the activities of organizations which indirectly affect the Lane Hackers and provides further analysis on some historical events that happened in Liberty.

Hopefully, this encyclopedia will provide players with a better understanding of the history, relations and operations of the Lane Hackers without adding the development that the LH~ player faction has contributed since 2007. Even for the most proficient in Lane Hacker lore, there is always something new to learn.

Each chapter provides an accumulation of all the information about a subject while the original sources can be found inside the spoilers. The blurred spoilers work as references to the exact sources of each passage. For more information about the history of Liberty you can also download this document.

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⚡ The Lane Hackers

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The majority of the Lane Hackers are former Ageira Technologies employees. The organization was founded when Los Angeles Ageira employees who created the extremely complex scanning and database system known as USI (Universal Ship Identification) left the company rather acrimoniously in 750 A.S. and built Mactan Base in Magellan system. The last straw was that they did not receive anything for creating USI, a software which revolutionized Sirius' commerce overnight. Some decades later, a major scandal erupted within the company because of the Galileo Bypass Project which resulted in the unnecessary construction of a hugely expensive set of jump gates and trade lanes in Galileo system and the company "redeemed" itself by ousting several executives and the USI scanner hardware R&D division of Planet Denver. This would become the second part of the core of the Lane Hackers which was established in Galileo after building Leiden Base. The investigation continues to this day, but, so far, authorities have been unsuccessful in locating the Lane Hacker bases. ^{[News reports §5.1, 16.1, 22.3 Infocards §13.1, 16.2, Rumors §1.3, 1.8, 1.12, 1.13, 1.16, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.17, 5.18, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 19.15, 22.43, 22.44, 22.45, 22.46]}

The Hackers' ability to access the USI allows them to accurately project the position of any vessel and the cargo that it is carrying at all times, a powerful tool as long as the vessel keeps using the trade lanes. Additional security measures have been added to the network, but the Hackers have remained one step ahead, leading Ageira security experts to believe that there are many sympathetic programmers and executives still within the company.^{[News reports §3.2, 5.2, 19.2, 20.1, Infocards §12.2, 13.1, 16.2, 19.3, Rumors §1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.7, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 12.11, 12.26, 12.27, 12.28, 12.29, 12.35, 15.8, 15.9, 19.13, 20.8, 20.9, 20.19]} It should be noted that the Gallic trade lane network operates in a different manner than Ageira's and the two networks are not connected, which means that the Lane Hackers do not have access in Gallia.

Although minions and accomplices with no meaningful information are being occassionally arrested, no Lane Hacker has ever been captured despite having very large bounties on their heads. The Hackers prefer to die rather than be captured. Furthermore, they prefer to sell their information to others rather than do the dirty work themselves, although they occasionally intercept a convoy and tractor in the cargo if it is particularly desirable. ^{[News reports §10.1, 14.2, 20.1, Rumors §1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 6.9, 6.10, 10.7, 10.12, 10.13, 12.19, 12.20, 12.21, 20.19, 20.20, 21.10]}

The Lane Hackers believe that Ageira is lying and oppressing to its employees. On top of that, they believe that they did not receive the recognition and money they deserved; while, within the Lane Hackers, their work is acknowledged and rewarded. Most Hackers are rich, living luxurious lives and thus can afford to have as much cardamine as they want and possess the best artifacts. They are very intelligent and speak in a sophisticated manner. Some of them them do not enjoy permanently living in their asteroid bases, and miss the planetary life. As heavy cardamine consumers, the Lane Hackers find Maltese food more palatable than synth paste. On the other hand, their cardamine dependency frequently allows the Outcasts to have the upper hand in negotiations. The Lane Hackers ignore politics and live for pleasure and for every moment. Female slaves can occassionally be found working in Lane Hacker bars which reveals that Hackers have little to no morality. They are also known to avoid direct confrontation when possible, unless it is the henchmen of the despised Ageira and Interspace Commerce. ^{[News report §1.2, 3.1, 22.2, 22.3, Infocards §13.1, 17.1, Rumors §1.6, 1.9, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.9, 4.10, 5.9, 6.9, 10.14, 10.15, 12.14, 12.32, 13.7, 14.5, 14.6, 16.5, 17.3, 17.4, 17.16, 19.15, 20.21]}

Lane Hacker operatives reportedly use Tachyon weapons and Graviton shields. Some of their secondary enemies include Deep Space Engineering because of its close association with Ageira, and Cryer Pharmaceuticals due to its research into a cardamine alternative. Captured corporate employees are usually interrogated by Lane Hackers specially trained for the purpose of extracting any valuable information they might have. ^{[Infocard §1.2, Rumors §1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22]}

1. The Lane Hacker sources

MACTAN -- Every Hacker has Artifacts these days, and it looks like there isn't much of a market for them among our own numbers. This is a good thing, since we can sell directly on Liberty's black market. "We'll make more off of them if we stop picking the best ones for ourselves anyway, plus with the new ban on Artifacts, the prices should go up, netting us more in the long run," quoted John Gustafson.

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Cryer Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology corporation headquartered in Liberty. They focus on drug research and other medical sciences. Their research into a Cardamine alternative, dubbed "Stabiline", have made them a target for the Outcasts, Golden Chrysanthemums, Liberty Rogues and Lane Hackers.

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Our founders designed the entire USI software system to track ships and their contents throughout the entire Trade Lane network in the Sirius Sector. Ageira didn't give us a penny extra. So they left and started the Lane Hackers, along with a scanner hardware development group from Colorado. IC uses the USI system to calculate precise shipping insurance rates. With USI there is no cheating, like there was in the old days. The shippers hate it, but they have to insure their shipments. Since we have access to the data, we know the precise cargo each ship is carrying, along with it's position on the Trade Lane network - so long as the ships are using the Lanes.

Universal Ship Identification (USI) is a system in which ship cargo manifests are downloaded into databases as ships pass through Jump Gates and Trade Lanes. Somehow the Lane Hackers got their hands on the technology and now know which shipments carry the most valuable Commodities, making it easy for them to target specific transports.

The Lane Hackers are Ageira’s worst enemy. They use their stolen technology to interfere with our shipping and undermine the safety of our Trade Lane systems. Our USI system was supposed to benefit commerce in Sirius, but it has been twisted into a way to know which ships to pirate.

The Lane Hackers have stolen advanced Ageira technology, which has given them the ability to predict and intercept cargo shipments throughout the Trade Lane network. They are a very smart criminal organization, but sooner or later they will make a mistake.

The Lane Hackers' theft of our proprietary technology has been most unfortunate. Ageira is in the process of patching the software and modifying the hardware scanners to make it Lane Hacker proof, at which point we feel that full confidence in IC and Ageira will be restored. Problem is, so far they seem to keep up with the changes we make. I don't like it, it suggests either Ageira or ourselves have a leak quite high in the organization.

Ageira wonders how we can keep up with its advances in Trade Lane technology and security. Truth is, everybody who was sympathetic to the Lane Hackers didn’t necessarily stop working for Ageira. That’s right -- we’ve got insider friends who keep us one step ahead of the game.

I hear the Lane Hackers get lonely for California sometimes. They got some asteroid base out in the Barrier someplace, where you never see the sun. IC and Ageira are determined to catch them. They might start right here. Word is, the Hackers got some secret friends inside still. That's how they are keeping up with all the security patches that Ageira releases.

The Lane Hackers very rarely do their own dirty work; they usually sell or trade ship Commodity information to the Rogues or Outcasts. The most infuriating part of it all is that there has been no way to stop them yet. We kill the occasional Rogue or Outcast, but we’ve never been able to catch a Lane Hacker.

If I can ever capture a Lane Hacker alive, Ageira and IC would both pay me enough money to retire. No Lane Hacker has ever been captured -- though occasionally one will get blown to pieces with his ship.

No actual Lane Hacker has ever been captured. Sure, some of our lackeys have gotten tagged by the police or military, but nobody ever knows enough to finger the Lane Hackers. It just goes to prove that we’re smarter than everyone else. That’s why we left Ageira. We didn’t get the recognition and money we deserved. The executives thought they could get fat and rich on us carrying them, but now they have to spend billions on upgrading their security with new, cheaper "experts", only to find we are always one step ahead.

Becoming a Lane Hacker was the best choice I made in life. I was fed up with all the lies and oppression Ageira was doing to their workers. Here my work is recognized and awarded, I have all the things I need in life.

I stop here occasionaly with my smuggling convoy for a drink and some holo entertainment, but I never have too many contact with the Lane Hacker pilots. They seem like an odd lot, I can't even understand half of the words they are saying.

Cardamine has changed my life. It's the greatest stuff you can imagine. You have really strange hallucinations with heavy doses -- flying across alien landscapes, seeing creatures and places that you can't imagine. It's truly an amazing trip, I've noticed that I'm gradually losing interest in eating the regular old Synth Paste. I've heard that Outcast Food is more palatable to heavy Cardamine users. Not sure why.

Being a Lane Hacker is a commitment to a way of life. I guess some would call us hedonists -- maybe we are. We live for pleasure and the moment. I used to work for Ageira and I can tell you that this is a much better way to live. We enjoy the finest things in life -- we eat the best foods, we wear the best clothes, and we have the best toys. And the Cardamine. As much Cardamine as you want. If we could just land on Curacao, life would be perfect.

The Lane Hackers are disinterested in politics. We do not fight for any political cause or rally behind a flag. The only thing that is important to a Hacker is money so that any wants are fulfilled. Ok, money and bringing down Ageira. I almost forgot how I've dedicated my entire life to destroying Ageira... I must need to replenish my Cardamine.

Not many people are aware of this, but Lane Hackers sometimes buy off slave girls for their bars. I guess they appreciate better things in life with the best women they can find in Sirius sector. That is why I often come by on this base.

Those Lane Hackers are a funny bunch. They fancy themselves as the Sirius Sector's Robin Hoods. They avoid direct confrontation when possible, unless it is the henchmen of Interspace, DSE or Ageira. They like to frequent our base a lot, as that cloudy ice asteroid base of theirs can become a wee bit claustrophobic at times. A lot of them are addicted to Cardamine. They also trade drugs for Trade Lane info with the Outcasts.

I've heard that the Lane Hackers use Graviton-based shields around their ships, so Laser or Photon-based weapons only have a minimal impact. You're better off using something else.

Lane Hackers often employ Tachyon-based weapons in combat, making them a serious threat. Keep that in mind when venturing forth in the Independent Worlds.

If you manage to kidnap any of these corporate brainiacs, don't listen to their technobabble. Just drop them off here for interrogation. All you're going to get from them is lies until they've had their tongues loosened up by our Specialists.

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⚡ The Tripartite Alliance

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It is widely known that the alliance between the Outcasts, the Lane Hackers and the Liberty Rogues serves as the dominant unlawful force in Liberty space and most Independent Worlds. In this alliance, the Outcasts provide cardamine and extremely skilled pilots, the Lane Hackers provide valuable information and the Rogues have the numbers. ^{[News reports §2.1, 2.2, Infocard §19.3, Rumor §4.4]}

So, it comes as no surprise that, when Interspace Commerce announces the number of shipping losses, the Lane Hackers are responsible for the greatest loss in profits of stolen goods, the Liberty Rogues for most strikes undertaken and the Outcasts having scored, by far, the most kills. ^{[News report §2.3]}

2. The Alliance sources

BUFFALO -- The trade and use of Cardamine has brought three criminal factions together around the Outcasts, who produce the powerful narcotic. The Golden C. use Cardamine as part of their ritualistic subculture and distribute it into Kusari space. The Lane Hackers trade valuable shipping information to the Outcasts in exchange for the drug. Finally, there are the Rogues. They supply and shelter the Outcast smugglers on their way through Liberty space. This symbiotic relationship has been very effective in spreading the drug throughout Sirius.

BUFFALO -- Since early 812 A.S. tensions have been steadily rising between the houses of Bretonia and Kusari, and it is expected open war will break out soon. What was less than expected however was news of Corsair involvement. A few weeks ago the Corsair plot was uncovered by Outcast operatives: the Corsairs and their Hogosha allies are attempting to use their influence on Samura to steer the Kusari government into open war with Bretonia! While the reasons for such a move are unknown as of yet, many speculations have emerged, including a possible renewed Corsair offensive on Cambridge while the Bretonian Armed Forces are busy elsewhere, and perhaps even a renewed strike on Outcast holdings in the Omicron systems in an attempt to tip the scales in the long war.

Word has also came in of many factions now supporting the Corsairs in their move, including the Gaians in Bretonia and the Farmers Alliance movement in Kusari. This has immediately prompted a call for a summit on the issue, and today marks a breakthrough in the proceeding talks as a majority of Liberty Rogue, Lane Hacker and Molly leaders officially came together on Buffalo base to sign an alliance with the Outcast nation. The Junkers have also expressed their support, and in Kusari the Blood Dragons and Golden Chrysanthemums have invited Outcast representatives to discuss long term plans. Outcast leaders have stated that they hope this to successfully tip the scales in their favour and nip the Corsair threat in the bud.

CORTEZ -- IC has released numbers detailing the credit amount of shipping losses incurred each year by the three criminal groups that populate the system. According to IC statistics the Lane Hackers are responsible for the greatest loss in profits of stolen goods. The Liberty Rogues account for the most strikes undertaken, and the Outcasts kill more than both of the other two groups combined. "These numbers are very disconcerting, and obviously more must be done to stop the perpetrators of these terrible crimes," said Raymond Green, an IC representative.

▸ Outcasts

The Lane Hackers maintain strong ties of cooperation and respect with the Maltese, more commonly known as the Outcasts. The Hackers receive cardamine, and, in return, they sell information to the Outcasts about upcoming convoys. As the Lane Hackers are dependent on cardamine, the Maltese exploit it during negotiations. They particularly want to learn to hack into the trade lane network, something which only the Lane Hackers are capable of. The common zones of operations between the two organizations include the western Independent Worlds, California and Manchester systems.^{[News reports §2.1, 3.1, 3,2, 22,2, Infocards §12.2, 13.1, 13.2, 19.8, 22.5, Rumors §1.10, 1.15, 1.19, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.18, 10.11, 10.12, 10.15, 12.12, 12.19, 12.20, 12.24, 12.25, 12.32, 13.7, 13.8, 14.9, 14.10, 19.20, 19.21, 19.22, 19.23, 19.24, 20.7, 20.11, 20.12]}

The biggest cardamine smuggling route begins from the Taus, moving through Baffin and Coronado to reach the Montezuma and Mactan bases. It is then shipped deeper into House Liberty, currently the biggest cardamine consumer in Sirius. When the Outcasts are away from Planet Malta, they use inhaler masks which allow them to constantly inhale trace amounts of cardamine. The Outcasts are considered as odd by the Lane Hackers and during the heat of combat they can give themselves a cardamine boost with a flick of the wrist, giving them the edge over their enemy. This cooperation also extends in providing military assistance whenever possible. It is quite common for Hackers to rescue Outcasts or the reverse. ^{[News report §3.3, Infocard §13.2, Rumors §3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 12.15, 12.32, 13.7, 13.8]}

Freelancers who want to be on good terms with the Outcasts, are first expected to work their reputation with the Rogues, then to smuggle cardamine for the Hackers. At this point, these individuals cannot easily turn back since they are cardamine addicts. ^{[Rumors §3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 13.8]}

The Outcasts treat the Rogues as expendables by assigning them the most dangerous smuggling operations, and, in more rare cases, even killing a low-ranked Rogue for endangering them during an operation. ^{[Rumors §12.17, 12.18, 13.10]}

3. Outcast sources

LEIDEN -- The days of trading information with the Outcasts for Cardamine may soon be drawing to an end as Outcasts threaten to boost Cardamine prices. "The Outcasts have to realize what a service they are getting by trading us for information," said division manager Gary Holden, "If they try and put the squeeze on us, then they are going to lose millions when they stop getting all those choice shipments." Information will be withheld from the Edge World Cardamine suppliers if they hike the prices again.

MOJAVE -- The Outcasts are the scourge of Sirius and have now emerged as the most pressing security problem in California. No shipping convoy or transport is safe from the drug-smuggling mask breathers who call themselves Outcasts. They have attacked yet again; this time it was Gold shipments inbound from Bretonia. IC contends that the attack was premeditated and that the Outcasts had inside information regarding the convoy's cargo manifests. This is a tell-tale sign of Lane Hacker involvement. The cooperation between these two criminal groups can only spell more trouble for the people of this system.

MAGELLAN -- A military patrol witnessed a strange example of fraternity between criminal factions last week when Lane Hackers came to the rescue of a badly damaged Outcast ship. The patrol came upon a single Outcast and damaged his craft considerably, but before they could finish him off four Lane Hacker ships swept in and fended off the patrol until the Outcast's nanobots got the engines going again. The Hackers provided cover for the ship until the pilot escaped, and then they retreated into the Barrier Ice Cloud.

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Of all the factions in Sirius, these are the ones that know what they want and how to get it. They have more money than they need, and all the information they need to get more. We are blessed that the Hackers are so willing to spend their money on our Cardamine. Their intelligence helps us nab the goods we need back home, so once we deliver a load of Cardamine, we're always eager to fill up our freighters again before heading back.

The Lane Hackers Trade Lane technology access is truly remarkable; Hackers give us specific information regarding ship manifests. As payment, they often alert us to high-value cargo coming through the system in return for our Cardamine shipments. If we could only get our hands on their technology...

Our most valued Cardamine customer is the Lane Hackers. Not only do they pay us well for our Cardamine, they will barter valuable Trade Lane information for it. I foresee them becoming completely dependent upon us. Soon their Trade Lane technology will be ours.

The grant "Outcast Alliance" has really taken a beating in the past few years. We've fared the worst in Bretonia and Rheinland, and a lot of Outcasts think that is because these Houses are free of dependence on Cardamine. Fortunately, Liberty is not similarly free... You have to love the irony.

I just came back from a tough battle in the Roatan Cloud. I was ambushing some Lane Hackers when some Outcasts showed up out of nowhere. Barely got out. My wingman didn't. I think I'll need a couple of those Curacao shooters from the bar tonight.

I'm starting to get sick - guess I've been away from home too long. These runs to Liberty can be taxing. The inhaler masks aren't a long term substitute for the Cardamine-infused biosphere of Malta, and the concentrated Cardamine doses we sell to the Rogues and Hackers aren't suitable for us. It'll be a week or two before my condition gets critical. I plan to be back home well before then.

The Outcasts are a pretty odd lot. Can't figure them out sometimes. They wear those funny breathers that act as Cardamine inhalers. In the heat of battle they can give themselves a Cardamine booster with a flick of the wrist. Maybe that's why they're such awesome pilots.

If you want to get in with us, you'll need to take some Cardamine on a short run. Be friendly to the Hackers and Rogues; stay away from those Corsairs, though. Bad news. The Corsairs came here on the same sleeper ship as us, the Hispania, but decided to abandon the ship before it arrived at its destination. We had to build our fortunes with less then half the resources the other Houses had.

We have stopovers in Trafalgar, Mactan, and Montezuma on our journey in from Tau-23. If you want to make big money in the Cardamine business, you need to work your way up the stream a bit from here.

I've just completed a Cardamine run from our base in Newcastle, Cape Wrath. Unlike Liberty, there aren't many places to lay over in Bretonian space, but that's alright. The main route into Liberty doesn't go over Magellan anymore, but passes by Baffin and Coronado.

So you're interested in working for us? Try running a load of Cardamine to Magellan or Cortez for us. The Lane Hackers would appreciate that. Be sure to stay away from any military or police ships, they'll likely open fire on you if you're loaded with Cardamine.

They say if you want to get in with the Outcasts, get friendly with the Rogues. Then graduate to the Lane Hackers. Run some drugs. Then you're on your way. Hard to turn back at that point, since you'll be a Cardamine addict for life.

▸ Liberty Rogues

The Liberty Rogues are the main allies of the Lane Hackers. The two organizations have numerous dealings, the biggest of which is the exchange of information about upcoming shipments. ^{[News report §19.2, Infocards §12.2, 13.1, 19.3, Rumors §1.10, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 12.26, 15.11, 19.13, 19.30]} The Lane Hackers move cardamine from Mactan to Montezuma Base and supplies from the black markets of Alcatraz Depot. The Lane Hackers also maintain a permanent presence in Padua Base and Fort McMurray. ^{[Infocards §12.2, 15.3, 19.3]}

Another major business between the two organizations is the exchange of goods. Mactan and Leiden provide most of the basic supplies for Montezuma and Padua bases respectively. Considered a dangerous task, the Rogues are usually hired to move stolen or illegal cargo from the Independent Worlds deeper inside Liberty where the Junkers smuggle it into the legal markets. Unlike most commodities however, the Lane Hackers are heavily involved in cardamine smuggling. The Rogues still retain the majority of this business, however, and are not expected to easily let it go. ^{[News report §19.2, Infocard §15.3, Rumors §4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 12.29, 13.4, 13.8, 13.9, 13.10, 15.12, 15.13, 15.14, 15.15, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16,8, 16.9]}

The Rogues consider the Hackers as posh and rich corporate types, and it is true that few things a Rogue has in common with a Hacker. While the Rogues are the product of Liberty's penal system, the Hackers are usually former Ageira employees and thus many of them have a smug attidute towards their allies. Despite their differences, however, the Rogues consider the Lane Hackers as valuable assets, so they prefer to kill one of their own rather than let him cross their allies. As it is well-known that Lane Hackers are usually wealthy, Liberty Rogues who have been captured sometimes claim that they are Lane Hackers in order to bribe their captors to set them free, supposedly in exchange of large amounts of money. ^{[Rumors §4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 15.10, 17.17, 17.18, 21.15]}

4. Liberty Rogue sources

The Rogues in the area seem to know which ships are bringing the Gold into Fort Bush. They must be getting the information from the Lane Hackers. Whenever Gateway ships Jump into the system, some of us are contracted to escort them into this base.

There are many Silver and Diamond shipments in this system that the Lane Hackers give us information on -- well, perhaps "give" isn't the right word. The Lane Hackers are eager to trade their information for access to our black market contacts.

Gateway ships Robotics to this base from Aland Shipyard in Omega-3. The Rogues' ability to sniff out the Robotics convoys seems uncanny. I'm told that they get their info from the Lane Hackers, so they are the real enemy -- the ring leaders versus the attack dogs.

Even the Liberty Rogues have tested the Council of Dons' patience in the past year. So far, things are tense but we have maintained a working relationship. I sense trouble ahead, though. The Lane Hackers are increasing their Cardamine requisitions all the time. Some of us think they intend to replace the Rogues as the primary Cardamine suppliers in Liberty. The Hackers would have to be crazy to try that. The last thing anyone wants to do is cross the Rogues.

We juice up on much of the Cardamine that the Outcasts bring here. They take the rest with them as they go into Liberty. The Hackers ship from Mactan to Buffalo, Alcatraz, and Rochester.

We ship Gold stolen by the Outcasts and Lane Hackers in the Barrier on to Buffalo. It eventually gets sold by the Junkers planetside -- a nice, clean operation.

If the Hackers ever do make a move against the Rogues, the Junkers will be the first to know about it. Most of the Cardamine only gets to Liberty's planets on Junker ships, so the Hackers would have to obtain Junker cooperation in order to push the Rogues out of the Cardamine business. The Junkers would drive a hard bargain to participate in something like that. Rogues aren't known for forgiving anyone who stabs them in the back.

The Junkers don't take a lot of new blood these days; they have their own inner circle. The LPI are corporate lap dogs, the Lane Hackers are rich corporate types turned bad, and the Outcasts - hell, they aren't even human anymore. And don't even get me started on the Xenos or the Legion; fanatical patriots, the whole lot of them. It was Rogues or nothing for me.

The Lane Hackers appreciate the good things in life -- the Cardamine -- just like us; difference is, they got things all figured out. Me, I’m just having fun. After my last trip through the Huntsville I didn’t really care what happened to me, I only knew I’d be damned if I was gonna play by the rules anymore.

The Rogues are a simple lot. We don't really have much in common with them, except maybe the love for Cardamine. Most Rogues are products of the Liberty penal system. We're too smart to get caught by the LPI or navy. We'd rather die than set foot in Texas.

One of our guys was gonna rat the Hackers out to a Hunter that had credits to burn. He didn’t make it to the rendezvous. The Hackers are too valuable to us to scrape for some temporary cash. Too bad I was the one who had to smoke one of our own.

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⚡ The Archenemies

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▸ Ageira Technologies

Part of the "Big Three", Ageira Technologies is a corporate giant with a long history of both major innovations and achievements. Known as Valhalla Research in the first centuries after settlement, its founders were among Liberty's initial population. The company is also infamous for its failures and scandals, the biggest of which are the Texas Incident and the Galileo Bypass Project. ^{[Infocards §14.3, 24.1, 24.3, Rumor §5.6]}

The Texas Incident, also known as the Dallas Incident, happened in 500 A.S. During tests which would revolutionize jumping technology, an unforeseen concentration of dark matter along the jump route created a feedback wave that not only destroyed Dallas Research Station but expelled huge masses of dark matter and radiation into the entire system while the jump gate collapsed in itself creating a black hole which still lies on the edges of the system. According to some, Texas used to contain a number of planets, while others attribute the creation of jump holes to this failed experiment. Valhalla Research did not pay reparations to the citizens of the now-irradiated Planet Houston, probably because it would bankrupt. Shortly afterwards the government also pulled their funding from the system and ever since Texas has been plagued from high criminal rate while the prisoner labor is the only business that thrives. Naturally, the citizens of Texas still have bitter feelings about the government and Ageira Technologies. Even after three centuries have passed, the extensive debris fields scattered all over the system have not been salvaged because of the high levels of radiation except the East Dallas Debris Field in which salvage operations by ALG and LPI Sugarland's inmates have been initiated the last few decades. ^{[News report §22.1, Infocards §22.4, 22.7, 22.8, 22.9, 22.10, 22.11, 22.12, Rumors §22.27, 22.28, 22.29, 22.30, 22.21, 22.22, 22.33, 22.34, 22.35, 22.36, 22.37, 22.38, 22.39]} The Galileo Bypass Project was the construction of the auxiliary trade lane routes and jump gates in Galileo system after Ageira advised Liberty's government that a dark matter storm would pass through Kepler system in 780 A.S. The storm did not arrive when it was predicted which evolved into a major scandal for the corporate giant and ultimately led to the creation of the second core of the Lane Hackers. ^{[News report §16.1, Infocards §16.2, 22.6, 22.13, 22.14, 22.15, Rumors §15.9, 22.39, 22.40, 22.41, 22.42, 22.43, 22.44, 22.45, 22.46]}

It is commonly known that Ageira's intellectual properties have been stolen by their former employees, the Lane Hackers. They frequently use them during their operations, the most important of which is their ability to hack into the USI and monitor the trade lane and jump gate network. Subsequently, the mega-corporation would go to extreme lengths to monitor and spy on its employees in case some of them seek to join their nemesis. In return, the Lane Hackers frequently attack Pueblo Station in order to disrupt its daily operations and their top priority is the interception of transports carrying new versions of trade lane and jump gate components. ^{[News reports §3.2, 5.1, 16.1, 19.1, 19.2, 20.1, 22.3, Infocards §5.4, 5.5, 12.2, 13.1, 16.2, 19.2, Rumors §1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.12, 1.13, 1.16, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 12.11, 12.26, 12.27, 12.28, 12.29, 12.35, 15.8, 15.11, 19.12, 19.14, 20.8, 20.9, 20.19, 22.43, 22.44, 22.45, 22.46]} Every year, the very best students from Liberty's universities are handpicked by Ageira recruiters, a fact which reveals why it produces the most sophisticated technology in Sirius. Despite Ageira's constant upgrades in its security systems, the Lane Hackers remain one step ahead, no doubt because they have sympathizers and operatives who are still working inside the company. It is also well known that Ageira offers massive bounties for captured or dead Lane Hackers. ^{[News reports §5.2, 22.2, Infocard §13.1, Rumors §1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 5.9, 5.10, 10.12, 10.13, 20.20]}

For centuries now, the corporate giant's headquarters have been moved from Planet Manhattan to Planet Los Angeles. Since 215 A.S. Ageira mass-produces its two most valuable products; jump gate and trade lane components with the highly-secure Pueblo Station being the main manufacturing plant for many centuries. Considering that they have maintained this monopoly ever since these technologies were invented, the company goes to extreme lengths in order to ensure that it does not fall to unauthorized hands. In addition to the multiple security layers of the containers, they closely monitor the transporation as well, trusting only Ageira, Deep Space Engineering and Universal Shipping transports. Before they reach the construction site, the containers are temporarily stored in Interspace Commerce stations. Over the years, Ageira's competitors managed to retrieve some containers; however, their efforts to reverse engineer the technology have proven futile. It is also known that Ageira Technologies has the ability to remotely deactivate trade lanes and jump gates. ^{[Infocard §24.1, Rumors §5.11, 5.12, 5.13, 5.14, 5.15, 5.16, 5.17, 5.18, 5.19, 24.8]}

Other Ageira products are the military-grade superconductors manufactured by their industries at Planet Denver; they are much more advanced than the ones produced in other Houses and, it thus comes as no surprise that the militaries of most Houses are major clients of this product. Detroit Munitions is where the famous light arms are being produced and shipped to all corners of Sirius. Ageira's manufacturing plants in Los Angeles also produce competitive optical chips which dominate Liberty's market. Hamilton Station in Ontario system serves as a storage depot and a mining machinery manufacturing plant which mainly supports the mining operations of the nearby Planet Huron. Leduc Station in Alberta produces bio-neural processors; however, there are rumors and oddities which imply that there is something more sinister at work there. Finally, after the Liberty Navy's failure to effectively produce military vehicles on its own, the government in 819 A.S. handed the lucrative contract to Ageira Technologies along with a large portion of Liberty Navy's military production. This led to a dramatic increase of Ageira's influence to Liberty's government and it is obvious that it is to the company's advantage for Liberty to remain at war for as many years as possible. ^{[News report §5.3, Infocards §17.2, 18.1, 18.2, Rumors §5.20, 5.21, 5.22, 5.23, 5.24, 5.25, 5.26, 5.27, 5.28, 17.19, 17.20, 17.21, 17.22, 17.23, 17.24, 17.25, 17.26, 17.27, 17.28, 17.29, 17.30, 17.31, 17.32, 17.33, 17.34, 17.35, 17.36, 17.37, 17.38, 18.8]}

5. Ageira Technologies sources

LOS ANGELES -- Ageira employees are threatening to strike after management's last request that every employee be fitted with a location transmitter. It would be inserted under the skin as a permanent fixture, which would allow Ageira to monitor the location of its workers at all times. The device was proposed to combat the chance that any more Ageira staff would join the Lane Hackers if they decided to leave the company. "If their intentions are innocent, then no one should have a problem getting the chip," reported an Ageira area director for operations in California.

COLORADO -- Our code breakers cracked the new encryption code that Ageira designed to protect its USI systems. It would not have been possible without the help of our company operatives. It looks like we are still one step ahead of the game; Ageira will have to come up with another way of stopping us from conducting business. Scores of Lane Hackers still work for Ageira and act as informants for our organization. Through their brave contributions we continue to prosper.

FORT SEVERN -- 819 A.S. -- Ageira Technologies has secured a highly sought after contract to take over Military Vehicle manufacturing. Despite the highly sensitive nature of the top secret design specifications developed by the Navy for construction of its equipment, cost overruns and failure to meet production deadlines led to the Liberty government forcing the Navy to license the production to a civilian company. Ageira sees the new contract as a means of diversifying its military hardware portfolio, while other Liberty companies are quietly concerned about Ageira's rising influence within the Liberty government. Critics are quick to point out the "close" relationships between government and industry in Bretonia, Rheinland, and Kusari as problematic for civil reforms, but Ageira spokesmen herald the close cooperation between the company and the government as necessary for the profitable and efficient manufacturing of military equipment and the stability of the Republic.

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Pueblo Station is the main Ageira Trade Lane and Gate component manufacturing plant. It has been in operation for centuries, but much of it's interior is still a very closely guarded secret. Components only leave the secured sections in "Whiteboxes", secure containers with an elaborate locking mechanism set to destroy its contents if any form of tampering is detected. To date, no white box is known to ever have been compromised - but to keep up with innovations, Ageira continues to refine their design, and holds an annual "Crack the Whitebox" contest to see how the boxes stand up to Liberty's finest rogues.

Security around Pueblo is tight. The Lane Hackers frequently attack the facility, but their attacks are more a disruption then a serious threat to Pueblo. Rogue fighters have also on occasion threatened the facility, but aside from a major incident in 800 A.S., their attacks seem mostly focused on seizing cargo they can use.

Notice: All ships should be aware that Ageira Technologies facilities are protected by private security authorized to use deadly force against any deviation from standard flight procedures.

The transport Bradley was attacked by Hackers in the Barrier Cloud in Magellan a while ago. It was carrying Trade Lane parts to Bretonia. The Hackers supposedly towed it off the Trade Lane somewhere into the cloud to study the latest version of those Components more carefully, but were ambushed by Bounty Hunters before they could do so. That transport is probably still out there.

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Ageira has a long and distinguished history. Its founders were among the initial population of Liberty, soon after planetfall on Manhattan in 1 AS. All scientists and engineers -- they were handpicked by the Liberty government to exploit and develop new transportation technologies for the future.

The Lane Hackers are a misguided group of software and hardware development engineers that never appreciated the opportunities that Ageira presented. They stole extremely valuable Ageira intellectual property and used it to their own personal advantage. Due to their shortsighted actions, the criminal scourge has spread like a plague throughout the entire Sirius network of Trade Lanes.

Security around here seems pretty lax compared to a Kishiro base. I guess Ageira is not nearly so paranoid. You'd think they would be, since so many of their former employees are now Lane Hackers.

The very best students from the Liberty University of New York are handpicked by Ageira recruiters. Our corporation has always selected from the top one percent of each graduating class. The members of the Lane Hackers who left Ageira were no different.

Ageira Technologies produces the most sophisticated technology in the Sirius Sector. We have exclusively designed and manufactured all of the Trade Lanes and Jump Gates that have made hyper-fast, long-distance space travel feasible for the first time in human history.

Originally, Ageira was headquartered in Manhattan, but we moved our operations to California. We felt it was important to put weapons manufacturing in the heart of Liberty.

The LPI does its best in this part of space, but it just doesn’t have the agents or the ships to protect all the shipping that passes through this system. IC, which insures much of our cargo, has been a close Ageira ally since Trade Lanes first went into mass production back in 215 AS.

The Trade Lane technology that Ageira uses to run its Jump Gates is its most sensitive secret. We manufacture the Trade Lanes, but the real technology, the Jump Gate “engine” if you will, is housed in a black box that is plugged into the Ring that we construct. Any attempt to open the box will cause it to self-destruct, and it usually takes whoever was trying to open the box with it.

Our shipping firm brings Trade Lane Parts from Trenton to Waterloo. It is a lucrative run, but exclusive to the triad of Universal, Ageira and DSE. That may seem a bit extortionate, but it's neccesary because of the sensitive nature of those components. Less reputable firms don't have the neccesary security measures in place.

Universal hauls Trade Lanes Parts wherever there are Trade Lanes between Liberty and the House capitols. Interspace has stations like this one in all the capitol systems, which are used to store the Gate and Lane Parts temporarily. Then Deep Space takes over and ships them to the actual construction or repair sites.

Planet Kurile has become a prime destination for Trade Lane Parts. Samura has lagged behind schedule for years with the Sigma 17 lane construction project. They claim that Corsair attacks have caused unavoidable setbacks, but I have my doubts about that. This product is so expensive that it would be far more economical to pay an entire BHG battle group to guard the construction project than to keep on losing so many shipments. At least our self-destruct protocols keep our technology safe from prying eyes. By now, the Corsairs know to just blow up the cargo themselves rather than to let it blow them up when they inspect it.

We have several large laboratories here dedicated to reverse engineering the Liberty Jump Gates and Trade Lanes. Parts have been gathered in random criminal raids throughout the years to avoid arousing the suspicion of IC and the LSF.

If we unlock the secrets of Trade Lanes and Jump Gates, Kusari will finally be free of the Liberty yoke. We have been exploited far too long by Ageira and IC. All of Sirius will be on a level playing field.

We've attempted to reverse-engineer Ageira products at our Kansai research center, but so far, unsuccessfully. If we could duplicate the Trade Lanes, we could finally be free of Liberty's stranglehold on that most critical technology.

Ageira is the most lucrative producer of Superconductors in the Sirius Sector. None of the other Houses can stay competitive with Liberty. We ship them from Denver to Southampton Shipyard in the New London system.

Samura uses Superconductors for construction of Kusari naval force ships in the Yokohama Shipyard. House Kusari would love to manufacture these items internally, but we have been unable to duplicate Ageira's manufacturing techniques, which are truly a mystery.

The antimatter research is a cover for our real purpose here: replicating the Ageira Superconductors. Somehow Liberty has learned extremely advanced manufacturing techniques to create compounds that we've never seen.

In 614 AS, Ageira began crafting Side Arms and personal weaponry at this manufacturing plant, and since then Detroit has been synonymous with firepower. When you want to put someone down fast, look to Detroit to meet your needs.

When you think Optronics, the Kusari manufacturers come to mind. But when it comes to Optical Chips, Ageira builds some of the finest in all of Sirius. They are shipped here from Los Angeles to be used in the construction of ships of all sizes.

Ageira managed to corner the Liberty market for Optical Chips. But don't worry, we'll eliminate that little slice of competition soon enough.

The scientists at Cambridge Research Station really prize Ageira's Optical Chips. There are always Pharmaceutical orders waiting for delivery when you arrive.

Ageira has been supplying the technological innards for Liberty's military hardware for decades, so moving into control of full scale production is not really a stretch for us.

War is good for business, no doubt about it. Most people worry about wars starting, but I worry about when they end. Who will we sell our new line of military hardware to if all the politicians decide to talk instead of shoot? We need to keep electing warmongers if this company is going to stay on top.

▸ Interspace Commerce

Part of the "Big Three", Ageira Technologies and Deep Space Engineering created Interspace Commerce in 204 A.S. initially named as Interspace Corporate. This economic giant dominates the market through its control over the USI (Universal Ship Identification) which allows it to accurately insure ships and cargo. Before the Rheinland-Kusari Embargo of 521 A.S., Interspace Commerce's main activity was to provide loans for the construction of trade lanes and jump gates; after the fiascos, they reoriented on insuring all of these constructions. Kusari and Rheinland have banished IC from residence in their major planets and they are not allowed to build bases in their minor systems. The USI was created by Los Angeles Ageira employees who eventually left the company and founded the Magellan Lane Hackers. Ever since, the Lane Hackers use the USI to their own advantage which has incurred massive financial losses for the IC since almost every commercial transport is insured. One of the latest great ventures of Interspace Commerce is the funding and insurance for the development of the Okinawa system; in spite of the Hogosha's efforts, it was completed; ever since, IC receives 5% of the H-fuel profits made by Okinawa's gas mining production.^{[News reports §2.3, 3.2, 19.2, 15.1, 20.1, Infocards §12.2, 13.1, 16.2, 19.3, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4, 24.5, 24.6, 24.7, Rumors §1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.7, 5.18, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.11, 12.11, 12.26, 12.27, 12.28, 12.29, 12.35, 15.8, 15.11, 19.13, 20.8, 20.9, 20.19, 24.8, 24.9, 24.10, 24.11, 24.12, 24.13, 24.14, 24.15]}

One of the main goals of this mega-corporation is to limit trade lane piracy, but not fully, since no one would then insure their cargo. Subsequently, the Bounty Hunters Guild is one of main partners of Interspace since the corporation offers the largest number of bounties of any entity in Sirius, and its guild members maintain a permanent presence in IC installations. Interestingly enough, the largest bounties placed by Interspace and Ageira are for the live capture or assassination of any Lane Hacker. IC also uses its own agents in order to track down the Hackers. As expected, of course, the Lane Hackers also share a similar animosity towards Interspace Commerce. ^{[News reports §10.1, 14.2, 20.1, 22.2, Infocard §24.4, Rumors §1.9, 1.11, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.12, 10.13, 10.14]}

6. Interspace Commerce sources

Interspace Commerce began as a banking institution formed to supply other Houses with the capital necessary for the construction of Trade Lanes within their space. Over time we became an insurance agency.

Few people understand what Interspace Commerce really does. We are primarily in the insurance business - specifically, hazard insurance for ships and cargos that use Ageira-manufactured Jump Gates and Trade Lanes in the Sirius Sector. Stations like this one are both major trade hubs, and control stations from which we keep track of insured cargo.

Any Trade Lane construction venture that begins is insured by us. If it isn’t, then the Trade Lane doesn’t get built. No one can risk losing the enormous capital required for the construction.

Recently we partnered with Ageira to create the Universal Ship Identification system, or USI. It is installed in Jump Gates and Trade Lanes so we can see the cargo that is being hauled by each individual vessel, allowing for proper tariffs to be levied and shipments to be properly tracked.

We developed USI technology in tandem with Ageira. It allows us to track shipments anywhere on the Trade Lane grid using powerful ship-sized scanners. There is no easy way for shippers to cheat us by overstating the value of their cargos in case of loss, or attempting to ship high-value cargos without our knowledge. This allows us to set our rates at a premium and minimize fraud.

This is where they do all of the software development for Ageira. Few years back, some programmers got uppity and took off with a bunch of source codes for the USI tracking software. IC was furious; came in and had a big investigation done. Hasn't stopped the Lane Hackers.

The Lane Hackers are a bunch of California boys who split on Ageira and became the worst possible enemies of IC. They have Trade Lane technology, which allows them to punch ships out of the Trade Lanes. Once that happens, the shipments are basically theirs.

The Lane Hackers must be destroyed. They know which shipments to hit that hurt us the most. Once they are gone, IC will double its current profits; the increase in revenue will be enormous.

The Lane Hackers’ illegitimate use of our Universal Ship Identification system is infuriating. A technology created for the good of Sirius commerce is being exploited by a bunch of hedonistic junkies! That is why IC has begun hiring the Bounty Hunters in force.

Outcasts, Corsairs, Red Hessians, Blood Dragons, Golden Chrysanthemums, Liberty Rogues, Unioners, Xenos, the LWB, the Farmers Alliance, Gaians, and Lane Hackers -- all these groups attack Trade Lanes. And that’s why IC will pay any Bounty Hunter top dollar to kill them, any of them. But especially Lane Hackers.

We work in tandem with the Bounty Hunters. They perform the unpleasant job of criminal disposal, much like the Deep Space workers handle the manual labor of building and maintaining the Trade Lanes and Jump Gates for Ageira, and ultimately, us. We offer more bounties then any other company out there, and tailor them to specific regions. We know where the hotspots are since that's where most insurance claims get filed.

The Bounty Hunters Guild, though perceived as not entirely trustworthy by some, is very helpful to us. They handle all of the nasty work that goes into insuring the progress of Sirius and Liberty.

We maintain a presence here at the IC headquarters as a show of support. After all, IC has been insuring investments throughout Liberty for a very long time. This corporation is very interested in curbing piracy. Of course not entirely, or no one would need IC anymore.

...part.one.concluded...accessing.part.two...