The Lane Hackers | Manual

[The Lane Hackers]

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⚡ Independent Worlds

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▸ Western Operations

The Lane Hackers mainly operate in the Independent Worlds. It is much safer than the core systems of a House, since law enforcement is less present in these areas. No doubt this is why the first two, and biggest, Lane Hacker bases are located in the Independent Worlds. Subsequently, the Lane Hackers can frequently be encountered in the systems of Magellan and Cortez. Both of these systems are patrolled by the militaries of the two Houses and host a large contingent of Bounty Hunters. As of late, mainly the Liberty Navy is patrolling the Independent Worlds since BAF is occupied with the war against Gallia, but some believe that the Liberty Navy does not have enough men in order to be efficient. These patrols are usually based out of Battleship Yukon and are considered very dangerous and risky, some Naval officers even state that the LPI would never be able to respond sufficiently. Orbital Spa & Cruise security is also known to conduct patrols inside the Paloma Ice Field. Furthermore, the ice clouds provide excellent cover for Lane Hacker attacks inside the Barrier, Roatan and Corcovado. Being too close to California's jump gate for comfort, Hackers leave operations inside Wendell Ice Field to the Rogues. Accessing Cortez from Magellan system is quite safe and quick as the jump hole lies just to the north of Mactan Base while the jump hole to access Manchester lies west. Inside Cortez, the Lane Hackers use Montezuma as a forward tactical base to stage their attacks as well as a place to sell information and cardamine. ^{[News reports §3.3, 12.1, Infocards §5.5, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 19.4, Rumors §10.11, 10.17, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 12.10, 12.11, 12.12, 12.13, 12.14, 12.15, 12.16, 12.17, 12.18, 12.19, 14.8, 14.9, 14.10, 20.8, 20.13, 20.14, 20.15, 20.16, 20.17, 20.18, 20.19, 22.25]}

Despite all those advantages, Hackers attack only high-value shipments and prefer to sell information about less important convoys to the Outcasts and Rogues. High-value shipments include gold coming from Dublin, luxury goods from Manhattan, robotics from Aland Shipyard, H-fuel and optical chips bound to Bretonia, MOX from Bretonia and Boron from Pittsburgh. They do not smuggle the stolen goods themselves, preferring to sell most of them to the Rogues in order to keep them pleased and instead they elect to smuggle cardamine into Liberty. ^{[Infocard §13.1, Rumors §4.5, 4.6, 12.19, 12.20, 12.21, 12.22, 12.23, 12.24, 12.25, 12.26, 12.27, 12.28, 12.29, 12.30, 12.31, 13.9]}

The Mactan Lane Hackers regularly visit Freeport 4 for supplies and because their asteroid base gets claustophobic at times. Bounty Hunters surround the freeport too, but the no-assault policy does not allow them to engage their targets. In the long past, Wendell Ice Field was used as a test field for jump gate technology by the government of Liberty. Eventually, the Lane Hackers were founded and salvaged whatever was left behind. Now, it is only used by the IMG for the production of water and oxygen. ^{[Rumors §1.19, 12.32, 12.33, 12.34, 12.35, 12.36]}

12. Western Operations sources

MANHATTAN -- The Liberty Navy announced today that it will soon extend its patrol routes to include the previously unprotected stretches of Trade Lanes extending into the Barrier Clouds east of Freeport 4 and Curacao. New London has supported the move, noting that the Bretonia security forces will be unable to fulfill their patrol duties in the Independent Worlds for some time to come. Observers of the situation remarked that the Bretonia Armed Forces is more concerned with possible Molly attacks on New London than rampant piracy outside of its frontiers.

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Completed in 684 AS, Montezuma has been the main base from where the Liberty Rogues raid civilian traffic in both the Magellan and Cortez systems. Trade between Liberty and Bretonia has always been heavy, so the Rogues have no shortage of targets to ply their brutal trade. The base isn't as well concealed as most other Rogue bases, and some of the Rogues suspect that both Liberty and Bretonia are aware of the base's location, but so far, neither nation has made an aggressive move towards the Corcovado Ice Field. The base is also frequented by Outcasts, Lane Hackers and Junkers seeking to buy and sell Cardamine, supplies or information.

As the Gallic incursion pushes into Cortez, Montezuma has attempted to remain unnoticed and has significantly reduced its patrols of the system in a bid to remain hidden. With security on high alert, all rogue ships in Cortez have been instructed to flee into Bretonia or Liberty instead of risk giving away Montezuma, Inverness or Coronado installations. The notable reduction in activity in Cortez has lead to a surge of rogue activity within the neighbouring systems.

An outcropping of the Barrier, a massive cloud of ice crystals. The scattering effect of the crystals provides excellent concealment for Lane Hackers to attack the traffic passing between Bretonia and Liberty. Liberty Navy patrols have been increased, but with little effect.

A medium-sized cloud of ice crystals. A popular hiding place for Rogues and Lane Hackers to attack Trade Lane traffic to and from Manchester.

The Charles Kane and its escorts were ambushed in the Roatan Ice Crystal Cloud several weeks ago, probably by Rogues or Lane Hackers. They commandeered the ship and flew it further into the cloud. Several Bounty Hunters happened upon the hijacked ship, and a fierce firefight ensued. Only one limped back to tell the tale. She said the ship was still out there in the cloud, abandoned and drifting with the field.

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Universal Shipping brings us our Mining Machinery out of Liberty. We also need a steady supply of Engine Components for ships that need repairs. These Independent Worlds can be a bit rough, especially towards Bretonia. Their Armed Forces are a bit tied up with Gallia at the moment, so they don't have many patrols out. The nebula is also much more dense at their end, which makes for a better ambushing spot, something the Hackers make liberal use of.

I'm on leave from the Yukon. They gave my squadron some time to recuperate after doing a month of combat patrols in Cortez. Liberty is a joke compared to the Independent Worlds. The LPI wouldn't last two seconds out there.

I'm doing patrols into Cortez. We usually just hang around at the Gate, but sometimes we venture down to Curacao. After that the convoys are on their own. I call it the "Cortez gap."

Polymers are a valued Commodity in Liberty. We used to produce them here, but Douglas Station in Omega 3 received equipment upgrades that we didn't get, so now they are BMM's main supplier. The Liberty Navy is responsible for patrolling the Independent Worlds, but I can tell you her fleet ain't big enough to get the job done.

These Independent Worlds are the roughest areas that Universal has to traverse. At least we don't have to deal with the Border Worlds. Just last week we lost a shipment to Hackers in the Roatan Cloud.

I just signed off a load of Side Arms to the Bretonian Police. It's a rough run from Detroit - seems like the bad guys know every move we make, especially in Cortez. Must be those Lane Hackers at it again. Still, we made it in one piece. Must have helped to let it slip within a Bounty Hunter's hearing that there'd be a Side Arms convoy departing. I choose being bait over being game any day.

The Lane Hackers and Outcasts prefer the safety of the Barrier Clouds for their attacks. The bloody Rogues don't care - they'll attack shipping in the Wendell Field, until the Liberty Navy shows up from the California Gate. Then they all scatter like rats. Kind of funny to see as long as you're not the one getting shot at.

In this system we make plenty of raids on valuable shipments traveling between Liberty and Bretonia. We use the Jump Hole to raid shipments in Cortez that may be trying to bypass Magellan, and the Jump Hole from Cortez to California let's us get back to our beloved homeland. Financial freedom has its costs, I guess but it's quite the adventure being out here. More exciting than that stuffy lab in Pueblo Station.

There's a Jump Hole into Cortez from here. That's how the Rogues get into this system. There's no way directly into California except through the Gate. It's been a while since I've seen the beautiful skies of Los Angeles.

I'm not supposed to say anything, but there's a Lane Hacker base in the Barrier Cloud in the west. You'll also find Jump Holes to Manchester and Cortez. Watch yourself out there. Outcast drug runners will waste you in a second if you don't know what you're doing. They don't like us miners much.

We mainly use Montezuma as a forward tactical base to stage attacks on Trade Lanes in Cortez via the Jump Hole into California. We prefer the safety of the Barrier Clouds, whereas the Rogues will attack almost anywhere.

Things got a little frosty around here last week. An Outcast killed one of ours for accidentally alerting some Bounty Hunters to his location. When the Outcast landed, the kid's best friend stood up to the masker. The Outcast, without saying a word, pulled a Detroit Pocket Canon and blew him in half.

Running Cardamine from Cortez is one of the toughest jobs you can do in Sirius. I don't know why the Outcasts can't do it themselves. They always make us do all the dirty work. One day we'll be in charge.

Be careful in those Barrier Clouds. It's hard to see until it's too late. Lots of Lane Hackers and Outcasts but little in the way of security forces. My best friend's convoy got nailed last week at the Manchester Gate by some Lane Hackers. He was hauling Gold from Bretonia to New York, not low-value stuff like Oxygen and Water.

Once you leave Bretonian space into the Independent Worlds, you are usually rid of the Gaians. Of course, that's when the Outcasts and Liberty Rogues become a problem instead. We rarely get hit by the Lane Hackers, I guess they don't think our cargo is worth the time.

Bowex deals in Luxury Goods acquired from Newark. Only the finest products are shipped by Border World Exports. Unfortunately, these are the very items coveted by the villainous Lane Hackers. They attack our shipments in the Independent Worlds of Cortez and Magellan between here and New London.

Just got in on a Gold run from the Hood in Dublin. Everything was fine until we got to the Barrier Cloud in Magellan. The Lane Hackers were waiting as usual -- pounced on us as soon as we entered the Trade Lane to Freeport 4. We got lucky when a Universal convoy showed up. Still lost one of my escorts.

Normally I run Luxury Goods from Newark to New London. That is a cargo more befitting of a senior Bowex captain. Unfortunately, I lost a recent shipment in Magellan to Lane Hackers, and was promptly demoted to the Pittsburgh to Stokes Boron run. Maybe it's a hint that I should get out of the shipping business.

Universal handles various levels of Commodities on the Manhattan to New London route. Our armored transports handle the Bretonian Gold bound for Manhattan, and the Luxury Goods on the return trip. If they're well escorted, they usually make it okay through the Independent World gauntlet. The same can't be said for all their escorts. Between the Liberty Rogues, Lane Hackers and Outcasts, they've got a lot to do.

I hate crossing the Independent Worlds. When I signed up for the H-Fuel run from Los Angeles to here I thought it would be an adventure. I'd say it's closer to a nightmare. Gateway doesn't pay me enough to get killed. Gateway's route goes by Sheffield and over Manchester. Our IMG partners often help us out near Freeport 4, but travelling through the Barrier ice fields is quite dangerous. Lane Hackers, Outcasts and Liberty Rogues are on the prowl there.

I've heard that some of the Rogues in this system have been tipped off about our Gold shipments to Fort Bush, not by the Lane Hackers but by Bowex. I wouldn't put it past those corporate bastards.

The Robotics shipments we bring in from Omega-3 are a fight all the way to this station. First we have to fight the Hessians out of Omega-3. Once we hit the Bretonian Trade Lanes, we have to contend with the Mollies and Corsairs and in the Independent Worlds there's the Lane Hackers or whomever they've sold our cargo manifests to. Once we get into Liberty space, we have to fight the Rogues off.

I haul Fertilizers from Shinkaku Station all the way here. You really have to push it to make it through the Tau war zone. We typically pick up a load of Optical Chips for Waterloo on the return. That's less time-sensitive but more dangerous for the Lane Hackers in Cortez and Magellan. They always seem to know when we're coming. Waterloo always has Passengers ready to head out to Dublin's Graves Station, and from there it's through the Taus again with Gold to Narita. From there, it's an easy trip with Mining Machinery back to Shinkaku. Not a circuit for the fainthearted, to be sure.

Since we know what ships are hauling what, we can hit the Gold freighters and sell the Gold to the Rogues at their Montezuma base in Cortez. This keeps the Rogues pretty happy with us, and oftentimes they do our dirty work, which leaves more time to pursue our own diversions - like dropping Cardamine.

MOX shipments from LD-14 are scheduled regularly for this battleship. We've had added trouble in the past year from the Hackers in Cortez and Magellan, but hopefully they'll shift more of their attention to Ageira's operation in Alberta and we'll catch a break for a change.

Bowex transports Basic Alloy from here in Manhattan to Pittsburgh, where we pick up Boron for delivery to Ship Hull Panel factories. I was hired by Bowex to pilot their freighters, but I've been thinking about going into a new line of work. I was almost killed a few days ago when Lane Hackers attacked my ship in the Independent Worlds.

Between you and me, that chunk of ice in the Barrier Cloud gets a little close at times, especially with those weirdo Outcasts stopping by on their drug runs all the time. It's a beautiful view of the Barrier from the Freeport, so we visit here as often as we can sneak by the Bounty Hunters. Or blast through them if need be. It helps to know when they go out there alone.

The Lane Hackers sometimes land here to get supplies. The Bounty Hunters are always hovering around the station, watching their prey mosey right by them. That's the way it is with Freeports. Both the Bounty Hunters and Hackers know better then to start trouble near a freeport. That just gets them thrown out.

It's pretty frustrating not being able to just take out my Detroit Executioner and waste the Lane Hackers that come into this bar. It'd certainly be easier than chasing them down in space. Guess that's the downside of Freeports, but you can still pick up on a good lead or two. The IMG folks running the place are okay, but not real friendly. Got that Bretonian superiority attitude going or something.

I don't even like stepping foot onto this base because the stench is overpowering on the cargo deck. No telling what goods pass through there, but that's a freeport for you. Next time I'm going to bring a breather mask. I run the Gold from this base to Liberty. Once I leave this system I have to cross the Independent Worlds, which is always a fight. The criminals always seem to know when I'm passing through, too.

We produce Water and Oxygen here from our mining operations north of the base, in the Wendell Ice Field. The Liberty government used the area for jump gate technology tests in the past, but those operations have been moved. The Lane Hackers have secreted away whatever Liberty left behind, so it's just us and the ice up there.

▸ Mactan Base

The first, and most populous, Lane Hacker base, Mactan was built in 753 A.S. and was the home of former Los Angeles Ageira employees who created the software known as USI (Universal Ship Identification). The authorities have so far failed to locate Mactan which serves as the Hacker base of operations in Magellan and the surrounding systems such as Manchester, Kansas and Leeds. Rogues and Outcasts also maintain a permanent presence there. ^{[Infocard §13.1, Rumors §1.9, 12.15, 20.7, 20.8, 20.18, 20.19]}

Mactan Hackers purchase most of their supplies, such as water, oxygen, food, H-fuel and various consumer goods, from the nearby Freeport 4 and thus maintain cordial relations with the IMG. Some of those supplies are then taken further north by the Rogues in order to supply Montezuma. Gateway Shipping is the main supplier of Freeport 4. Since Bounty Hunters lurk around the freeport, the Lane Hackers prefer to utilize freelancers to move those supplies as that would generate less attention. ^{[Rumors §12.32, 12.33, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6]}

Mactan is also a major cardamine smuggling center. Cardamine from Cali Base or Cape Wrath reaches Mactan before it is taken further into Liberty by the Rogues, Hackers or Outcasts. After Gallia invaded Magellan system and it became a warzone several crucial assets of the Lane Hackers were moved to Airdrie Hideout however Mactan still remains a significant producer of unregistered Detroit firearms known as Black Market Light Arms. ^{[Infocards §13.2, 17.1, 22.20, Rumors §3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 13.7, 13.8, 13.9, 13.10]}

13. Mactan Base sources

The Magellan Lane Hackers are mostly composed of former Los Angeles Ageira Technologies employees who created the extremely complex scanning and database system known as USI (Universal Ship Identification). Departing the company rather acrimoniously in 750 A.S., they have become a growing problem in the Independent Worlds.

The investigation into the former Ageira employees continues to this day, but has so far been unsuccessful in locating Mactan Base, which was completed in 753 A.S. No Hacker has ever been captured, although various Rogues in the Independent Worlds have been caught possessing remarkably accurate information regarding upcoming high-value shipments.

Security measures have been added to the software, but the Hackers remain one step ahead, leading Ageira security experts to believe that there are many sympathetic programmers still within the company, possibly being secretly paid off with the proceeds from the thefts.

The Lane Hackers prefer to sell their information to others rather than do the dirty work themselves, although they sometimes swoop in and tractor in a cargo if it's particularly juicy. Fancying themselves as modern-day Robin Hoods, they avoid direct confrontation when possible, unless it is the henchmen of the despised IC and Ageira.

The Mactan Hackers like to frequent Freeport 4, as their asteroid base within the ice fields of Magellan can become rather claustrophobic. Their cardamine addiction forces them to trade Lane shipment info for drugs with the Outcasts and the Liberty Rogues at Mactan base, although usually it ends up being the Liberty Rogues who act upon any information, taking the fall when anything goes wrong.

The Outcast ship Lorenzo was making a Cardamine run from Cali to Mactan when it was caught by a military patrol in the LD-14 Asteroid Field. It turned further into the heart of the field to escape its pursuers and stumbled into an old radioactive pocket. The crew is presumed dead, but the ship is probably still intact. No one has retrieved the cargo yet due to the high radiation danger in the area.

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This base requires that all of its supplies come in from the IMGers at Freeport 4. We bring Water, Oxygen, Food, and Consumer Goods from there.

The Lane Hackers got themselves a deal with those miners on Freeport 4. They pick up a lot of basic stuff. Food, Water, Oxygen, that kind of things. We need some of that for Montezuma in Cortez, so we pick that up here, if we can't grab what we need from passing transports.

We buy supplies for our base in the Barrier Cloud to the west. It's pretty mundane stuff - H-Fuel, Food, Oxygen, and Water. We prefer if freelancers like you haul them, as it attracts less attention with Bounty Hunters. Watch out for the Rogues though, they will try to rob freelancers like yourself blind.

Gateway supplies most of the IMG bases in the Sirius Sector and hauls their products to market. Take Freeport 4 in Magellan, for example. We ship them their Food and H-Fuel. We bring Passengers back into Liberty, and Consumer Goods or Basic Alloy back here. Not a killer run, but it pays the bills.

The Outcasts use our base as one of their waystations on the long journey into Liberty from the Edge Worlds. We trade information for Cardamine, which we need on a daily basis. Funny, we didn't use to need it all the time like nowadays. We have to take Cardamine with us any time we leave base, as we start to get sick pretty quick otherwise.

The Outcasts run Cardamine in here from somewhere out in the Tau worlds. They ship it out from here into Liberty, with the Rogues handling much of the dangerous work in New York. We pay a pretty high price even here. If you wanted to make a killing, get in close with the Outcasts and buy some Cardamine further up the stream, closer to the source.

We often make Cardamine shipment transfers at the Rogue base in the Cortez system, or here. I'm heading on to California Rogue hideout with my Cardamine - I can take more money with a little more risk. The Rogues can then handle the last leg into Liberty. I don't like going there, too many Bounty Hunters.

We pick up Cardamine from this base and take it out to Montezuma and further into Liberty. The Outcasts sometimes carry it in themselves, but other times they don't want to and we have to handle the last leg. That's fine though, bringing in a load of Cardi always gets you free drinks at the bar in Buffalo.

▸ Planet Curacao

Curacao is a planet in the Cortez system exploited by Orbital Space & Cruise as a luxury holiday resort for the wealthy and the elite. According to the Boorman Treaty, Curacao operates outside of House Law and thus its patrons can enjoy a wide variety of exotic comforts and even contraband such as cardamine if they can pay the price. The planet is also known to contain high levels of oxygen which creates a rejuvenating effect. Anyone who can afford the costs is welcome and thus many Lane Hackers wish to spend their free time there. ^{[Infocard §14.3, Rumors §1.16, 14.4, 14.5]}

However, Lane Hacker attacks on supplying vessels for Curacao, Interspace Commerce's threats that they will stop insuring cargo bound for Cortez system and the negative publicity that they may receive are the three main reasons why Orbital does not allow Lane Hackers to visit the famous resort. OS&C security is also known to conduct patrols in Cortez for the purpose of keeping the unlawful population in check. ^{[News report §14.1, Rumors §1.16, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8]}

Despite that, Hackers still visit the planet without Orbital's permission; a dangerous undertaking considering that the Bounty Hunters Guild maintains a large contingent on the planet and even agents of Liberty Security Force and Interspace Commerce sometimes operate there. ^{[News report §14.1, 14.2, Rumors §10.17, 14.8, 14.9, 14.10]}

14. Planet Curacao sources

CURACAO -- Orbital Spa and Cruise Lines responded vehemently to the claim made by a Liberty Security Forces report, which stated that Lane Hackers had occasionally been spotted at the Curacao resort in the Cortez Border World. The report also inferred that some Orbital staff aware of the infrequent Lane Hacker visits looked the other way because of potential profits from vacationing pirates aboard the base. "This accusation is an outrage," said an anonymous Orbital executive. "If it were a private organization making such claims, our lawyers would be preparing for a libel suit."

CURACAO -- None of our numbers have ever been captured alive, but that fact almost changed recently when one of our own was identified while she was on an impromptu vacation in Curacao. Sue Williams found herself surrounded by undercover IC operatives at the Orbital Spa and Cruise Lines Resort last week. She was able to send a distress call to a patrol that was passing near the planet. "We got her message. She seemed worried, so Jake and I went to get her out of there," quoted Hacker pilot Robert Butcher. The two pilots flew in and picked her up just as the IC agents were about to close in.

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Unfettered by colony law, Curacao is run by Orbital Spa and Cruise Lines as a pleasure planet where every whim and decadent urge is fulfilled. Many goods that are illegal in the neighbouring houses (such as Alien Artifacts, drugs like Synthetic Marijuana and even Cardamine) are available on Curacao - for a price.

The planet is largely tropical. There are no large landmasses, but several beautiful archipelagos exist with some native palm-like forests growing on the larger islands. The waters of Curacao were unsuitable for any Earth fish species, or even algae, and the planet was initially ignored as one being unable to support human life. The Boorman Treaty forbade either Liberty or Bretonia from laying claim to the planet, so any expensive terraforming operations were out of the question.

It wasn't until 375 A.S. that Curacao became a place of renown. The planet was used as a midpoint for the trade lanes leading through Cortez. Realising the inherent advantage of a lawless tropical world, an upstart Liberty luxury cruises company called Orbital Spa and Cruise made a gamble and established a resort planetside. It was an instant success. Free of any taxations on gambling, royalties on trade and regulations on conduct, the company could cater to every whim of those select few who could afford their services. The company was the first private entity to be able to afford a Valhalla Research (which later became Ageira) docking ring in 432 A.S., without needing to take out a loan from Interspace.

Curacao is still a very exclusive resort planet, with less than 100.000 guests and 300.000 people employed in the pampering of said guests. The planet features state of the art casinos, gigantic ocean liners that navigate its vast ocean, multiple small aerodromes for orbital shuttles - including a racetrack for the daring pilots, and possibly the most luxurious accomodations that can be found anywhere in Sirius.

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The unusually high oxygen content of Curacao's atmosphere has a rejuvenating effect on most of our patrons, which primarily include the Liberty wealthy. They can hop a special transport and be here in a matter of days via the Jump Gates and Trade Lanes.

Orbital will normally accept any guest that can pay their way, even a Bounty Hunter. On our Hawaiian ship you can spot Hogosha and even the odd Corsair or two. The Lane Hackers have expressed interest in staying here, but we feel their piracy against our ships is too severe to ignore.

We'd like to use the hotel on Curacao. Orbital Spa and Cruise wouldn't care if we did, but IC won't insure any Trade Lane shipping in this system. Besides, there are too many Bounty Hunters lurking around the hotel. They give me the creeps.

We ship Luxury Goods from here at Newark to Curacao in the Cortez system. We strive to provide our guests with the absolute best of all things, so when they think luxury, they think Orbital. It's quite a commitment since these shipments are often attacked by Rogues and Lane Hackers.

We send patrols out into the eastern fields to keep the considerable criminal population in check. Fortunately, there is a substantial Bounty Hunter contingent based here to provide some sense of security. Unfortunately, their rather crude behavior and offensive odor has been a problem with our regular guests.

This is one nice place to be based, although those snooty, rich Manhattan types don't seem to like us much. Lots of work around here. Rogues, Lane Hackers, Outcasts. We've got our hands full in Cortez.

We do a lot of patrols in this system. There's a Rogue base somewhere out in the Corcovado Field. Good luck getting close to it. It's swarming with Rogues, Hackers, and Outcasts.

▸ Northern Operations

The northern Lane Hackers are based out of Leiden Base in Komatsu Cloud, and, because of the frequency of their attacks, the authorities of both Houses suspect that they have a base hidden somewhere inside. The dark matter clouds provide excellent cover but they are also lethal to unshielded ships. The Libery Navy's patrols on Galileo and Kepler systems begin from Battleship Rio Grande in Colorado system, and, because of the dangers involved, only experienced Navy pilots are assigned missions in those systems while the rest patrol the trade lanes in Colorado. Furthermore, the navies of both Houses have split the two systems in half. The Liberty Navy patrols the southern trade lanes while Kusari Naval Forces, which operate from Battleship Myoko, patrol the northern part; because of this agreement, Kusari does not allow the Liberty Navy to search in their sector for the Lane Hacker base. In addition, according to Interspace Commerce, Kusari Naval Forces contribute very little in the protection of their section which prompted the economic giant to increase its premium insurance on cargoes travelling through those two systems. ^{[News reports §15.1, 15.2, Infocards §15.3, 15.4, 15.5, 21.2, Rumors §15.6, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9, 15.10, 21.14, 22.46]}

Leiden Hackers share the system with the Rogues of Padua Base and thus, they maintain an unofficial arrangement; the northern part of the system is operated by the Lane Hackers and the southern part by the Liberty Rogues. As expected, the Hackers sell the majority of their tracked information to the Rogues, but they keep the most lucrative intel for themselves. The Lane Hackers have also involved the Rogues in the artifact trade by having them purchase artifacts from Leiden and move them to the Junker base in the New York system, a run considered quite dangerous. The return trip to Galileo usually involves light arms smuggling. ^{[News report §1.1, Infocard §15.3, Rumors §8.1, 15.9, 15.10, 15.11, 15.12, 15.13, 15.14, 15.15, 19.30]}

As strategically important as the jump hole connecting Liberty with Galileo is, the jump hole leading to Kepler is equally important to the Lane Hackers as it enables them to purchase all the basic supplies from Ames Research Station but also to hit convoys travelling in the system, such as niobium shipments. However, unlike Galileo system, the presence of the Bounty Hunters Guild and Xenos in Kepler is much more intense, adding an additional danger to Lane Hacker operatives. Kusarians blame Liberty for not cleaning up the Independent Worlds from criminal activity since the criminals originate from their House and find the Independent Worlds much more dangerous than Kusari space. The Xenos of Nome Base are buying their supplies from Ames and their main concern is to attack Kusari shipping. Deshima Station is the main supplier of Ames and Universal Shipping is usually hired to conduct those trade runs. ^{[News reports §15.1, 15.2, Rumors §10.6, 11.5, 11.6, 15.16, 15.17, 15.18, 15.19, 15.20, 15.21, 15.22, 15.23, 16.3, 16.4, 21.9, 22.25]}

When the Houses of Liberty and Kusari sought a jump gate connection, they couldn't bypass Kepler and Galileo systems because of the existence of dark matter in those systems. As it was painfully learned from the Texas Incident, the concentration of dark matter along the jump route would possibly create a disaster. Subsequently, Ageira Technologies constructed in 550 A.S. Langley Research Station in Kepler to study the Kuryo Anomaly in preparation for the construction of trade lanes in the eastern part of the system which would bypass the dark clouds before reaching the jump gate to Shikoku. Many years later, it was discovered that a dark matter storm would pass through Kepler and possibly destroy the trade lane network. In 677 A.S., Deep Space Engineering established Ames Research Station in order to investigate the strange dark matter clouds and also to study the dark matter storm that was scheduled to pass through the system in 780 A.S. On the advice of Ageira Technologies, the Liberty government funded the construction of the auxiliary trade lane routes and jump gates through Galileo since they couldn't allow trade with Kusari to stop. This became known as the Galileo Bypass Project and it was fully funded by Liberty since Kusari did not wish to pay for it. The storm did not arrive when it was expected but four years later in 784 A.S. and it destroyed Langley Research Station as well as the trade lane network of Kepler, the remnants of which can still be found within the eastern dark matter fields. Deep Space Engineering subsequently faced heavy financial losses by constructing new trade lanes and was eventually forced to abandon Ames. Around 790 A.S., a group of Zoners moved onboard the station and eventually DSE agreed to transfer the full ownership of the station to them. Since then, the research station operates as a freeport. ^{[News report §16.1, Infocards §22.6, 22.13, 22.14, 22.15, Rumors §15.9, 15.23, 22.39, 22.40, 22.41, 22.42, 22.43]}

15. Northern Operations sources

GALILEO -- Shipping insurance giant IC has once again raised premiums on cargoes traveling through the Independent Worlds. Company executives claim that without additional military protection they can no longer assume the costs of lost cargo, given the current rate structure. They also specifically cited the inability of the Kusari military to properly secure the safety of vessels near the Shikoku Jump Gate. The Kusari government and Samura condemned the action, asserting that Liberty criminals inhabiting those areas were responsible for the bulk of the recent insured losses.

KEPLER -- In a blunt communication sent to Manhattan from New Tokyo, the Kusari government blamed Liberty for the pirate troubles in the Independent Worlds between the two Houses. The key to their claim is the number of area pirates that can be traced to Colorado or other Liberty systems. Manhattan issued a terse reply to sum up Liberty's official position. The Independent Worlds are not the territory of either House, and therefore any pirates who operate in that area are not the personal responsibility of Liberty's government.

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Undoubtedly the most veiled and well-hidden of all Liberty Rogue hideouts, these murky tunnels, roughly cut from the core of a massive, deformed asteroid in the centre of Galileo's Reppu dark matter cloud, have housed perhaps the shadiest and most dubious elements of the Rogues for over a century, ever since the base's construction in early 602 A.S. Copiously dosed with pharmaceuticals to counter Reppu's constant radiation, Padua's murderous population subsists by striking at and hijacking trade between Kusari and Liberty.

The Reppu cloud scatters most known scanning devices. The Rogues use this effect to strike from the nebula unexpectedly, and often vanish into the murky mists once law enforcement shows up. Rogues generally waste no time in travelling to Padua once in the Reppu, as the disruptive effects of the nebula will quickly erode most normal matter, including their own spaceship hull. The Kusari and Liberty navies are reluctant to enter the nebula for this reason, although Bounty Hunters will sometimes follow the Rogues in.

Padua is also frequently visited by the Lane Hackers from Leiden. The two groups have an informal division of their influence in the system, with the Rogue turf being the south part of the system, and the Lane Hackers staying up north. The two factions trade frequently, as the availability of goods on both bases tends to depend on what their raiders are bringing in.

A medium-sized cloud of dark matter. Lane Hackers are believed to be taking advantage of the scanner-blocking properties of the cloud to attack traffic throughout the system; however, neither the Liberty nor the Kusari Navies have located their base of operations.

The Universal Shipping transport Chesapeake was hijacked several months ago and flown into the Komatsu Cloud. It is rumored to still be there, serving as a Pharmaceuticals storage depot for the Lane Hackers and Rogues.

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I'm stuck running Trade Lane patrols. We do all of them that fan out from the ship. Pretty boring work, not what I signed up in the Navy for. I hear they put you on the Galileo and Kepler patrols when you've proved yourself a bit. Don't want any greenies out there.

The navy patrols the Independent Worlds of Galileo and Kepler. We split duties with the Kusari armed forces. They cover the northern half of the Trade Lanes; we do the southern half. It's kind of dark and spooky up there -- no suns. All those dark clouds make the baddies hard to see.

The Lane Hackers make attacks upon our vessels in Galileo. They have a base there in the Komatsu Cloud, though its exact position within the cloud is unknown. They are always able to sniff out the most expensive cargoes to seize. We have taken to escorting the most lucrative shipments; sometimes it is not enough just to run patrols.

The Lane Hackers and Rogues both have bases somewhere in Galileo, probably in those dark matter clouds. Kusari won't let us go take a look though. Says it's their responsibility. Hey, Liberty was the one that paid for those Trade Lanes up there. Kusari didn't have to put up a cent for the Galileo route.

We share this system with those posh Lane Hackers. They attract the Liberty Navy 'cause Ageira despises them. It's a nice dark system -- lots of places to hide. But you gotta have a decent shield if you want to hang out in the clouds 'cause of all the radiation from that dark matter, or whatever they call it.

Although we sell much of the information we retrieve from Universal's data banks, we use some of the data ourselves to attack the most tempting targets. There are four jump holes in this system. The two most valuable to the Lane Hackers are the jump holes to Colorado and Kepler.

We don’t like dealing with the Hogosha, and they don’t like dealing with us. But we get along with the Lane Hackers alright, and they cut us into the Artifact trade.

We ship Artifacts to Rochester from Leiden. They are highly illegal, and the LSF will smoke you if you get scanned with 'em. But the demand is high on Manhattan's black market, all the Manhattanites love 'em.

That Artifact run from Leiden can be rough. There's a long stretch across Colorado where you're pretty exposed -- Bounty Hunters always out there, circling like vultures. Once you get to the Silverton Field, you got the Xenos.

The Freespirit was beginning its regular Artifact run from Leiden to Rochester when it was ambushed by Bounty Hunters. It fled into the Reppu Cloud and disappeared. No one has been able to locate the ship for some time.

The Jump Hole to Galileo is between the edges of the Kuryo and Matsuo Clouds. Aim for the gap and you won't miss it.

In the east of this system between the Kuryo and Matsuo Clouds, you can find a Jump Hole leading to Galileo -- and Hacker territory.

We like to hit Niobium and other high-value shipments coming through this system. Unfortunately, the misguided Xenos and scumbag Bounty Hunters are often lurking, so we have to be careful -- especially when we leave the no-fire zone around the station.

The criminals in the area use our base as a supply point. Lane Hackers and Xenos come here to buy various supplies.

Xenos have a strong presence in Kepler. I must admit, I don't mind those psychotic bastards. They don't really attack us; they're too busy blowing up Kusari ships.

Ames, our base in Kepler, gets almost all of its supplies from Deshima. Aside from the basics, we also get Engine Components here. We are pretty close by, really.

I'm a pilot for the Universal ships that come through this area. They usually just need me on the stretch from Deshima to Ames, with the clouds and all. It can get really bad through here. Depends on how hungry the Hackers are. They tend to strike from the east side of the Trade Lanes, Xenos from the west. They don't bother us much.

Dropping off some Water and Oxygen for those antisocial Zoners. Can't see what they like about this dark and forbidding place. Just look around you -- Xenos, Lane Hackers, and those sleazy Bounty Hunters. Not exactly a savory bunch. I can feel the predators' eyes watching me. They'll probably ambush us once we get out of the Freeport's no-fire zone.

▸ Leiden Base

A major scandal occurred when the Dark Matter Storm did not arrive in Kepler system when it was expected; Ageira Technologies, who was responsible for advising Liberty's government to construct the extremely expensive set of of trade lane routes and jump gates in Galileo system was blamed. Thus, the company tried to redeem itself by forcing out several executives and the USI scanner hardware R&D division. These employees would eventually re-emerge as the second core of Lane Hackers, constructing Leiden Base in 782 A.S. in Galileo system and establishing operations in northern Liberty. The base, which has not yet been discovered by the authorities, is strategically positioned next to the jump holes leading to Kepler and Shikoku allowing them to easily operate in both of those systems. Ironically, the storm arrived four years after its original prediction in 784 A.S. vindicating those who had supported this theory but the damage to Ageira has already been done. ^{[News report §16.1, Infocards §16.2, 21.1, 21.4, 22.6, 22.13, 22.14, 22.15, Rumors §11.5, 15.8, 15.9, 15.11, 15.16, 15.17, 15.18, 15.19, 15.22, 15.23, 16.3, 21.10, 21.11, 21.12, 22.39, 22.40, 22.41, 22.42, 22.43, 22.44, 22.45, 22.46]}

The Leiden Hackers have several important trade agreements. They purchase most of their basic and consumer goods from Ames Research Station, and, in return, they provide the Zoners with counterfeit software to distribute. The Golden Chrysanthemums maintain a permanent presence on Leiden as they purchase all their basic supplies and software for Ainu Depot and bring cardamine and H-fuel from Kusari. The Hogosha occassionally visit the station as well in order to sell alien artifacts. The Liberty Rogues of Padua bring side arms and pharmaceuticals; in return, they purchase most of the basic supplies that their base requires as well as software and artifacts. ^{[Rumors §7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 15.15, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8, 16.9, 16.10, 16.11, 19.30]}

16. Leiden Base sources

KEPLER -- Ageira scientists believed that a phantom dark matter storm passing through Kepler would destroy everything within the system. It was estimated to hit the system in 780 AS. This was the justification used by company executives to convince the Liberty government to build the auxiliary Trade Lane routes and Jump Gates through Galileo. When the storm didn't arrive, the ensuing scandal fueled the growth of the Lane Hacker criminal organization. Most people believed that the storm would never arrive but four years after the prediction the storm arrived in Kepler dramatically confirming Ageira's claims.

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Leiden Base was built in 782 A.S. by a group of former Ageira Technologies employees after the Galileo bypass scandal resulted in several executives and an elite development team being forced out of Ageira. They quickly got in contact with the Lane Hackers at Mactan, securing the northern Independent Worlds as their primary areas of operation, preying on the heavy shipping between Liberty and Kusari.

Originally the Lane Hackers on Leiden focused on simple piracy, using their knowledge of the Trade Lane systems to obtain information on the most tempting of targets, carrying off what they could loot and destroying the rest. In recent time, the Lane Hackers have also begun to take an interest in smuggling Alien Artifacts. The Hogosha control the flow of artifacts through Kusari, and the Lane Hackers deal with them on Leiden out of necessity. The Lane Hackers also have dealings with the Golden Chrysanthemums, trading Cardamine for information on ship movements along the trade lanes in Kusari.

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There are two Jump Holes in the Komatsu Cloud, which hides the Lane Hackers' Leiden base. The northern Jump Hole leads to Shikoku, the other to Kepler.

The Ames Research Station is the main supply source for our base in Galileo. We ship all the essentials like Food, Water, Oxygen, and Consumer Goods there.

The Rogues are very good customers for the Software we distribute through the Zoners. Cardi and the latest hologames make for serious relaxation after a day of raiding.

We receive Side Arms and Pharmaceuticals from the Rogue base Padua in the Reppu Cloud and ship Food, Software, Oxygen, and Water there.

Padua receives the supplies we get from the Lane Hackers at this base. Padua requires the importation of all of its vital supplies, including Food, Consumer Goods, Oxygen, and Water.

We make a run to Leiden every third week to pick up the essentials that keep this base going: Food, Consumer Goods, Oxygen, and Water.

The Lane Hackers' Leiden base provides us with all of our supplies. Their base is located in the Komatsu Cloud due north of the Reppu Cloud that hides this base.

We get shipments of H-Fuel from the Golden Chrysanthemums in Hokkaido and ship them Food, Side Arms and Software. Those Golden Cs love the latest Software versions. And guns, they really love guns.

This base serves as the primary trans-shipment point for Artifacts inbound from Sigma-17. The Hogosha run them through Kusari space, terminating their long run here. The Rogues then haul the Artifacts into Rochester via their base in the southern end of the system. Don't know why people love those Artifacts so much.

...part.three.concluded...accessing.part.four...