The Lane Hackers | Internal Comms

[Maxwell Tarn]

...hack.initiated...connecting.to.Spyglass.Network...decryption.in.progress...
...Interruptor.Maxwell.Tarn.recognized...encoding.transmission...
...uploading.data...

Today is a day for celebration, my friends. With the gracious help of the talented Mr. Yoshida I was able to participate in a slew of cargo interdictions over the past few days. After little success on the first day we were finally able to make good on our schemes. Three transports were caught, two extorted and one destroyed. If you wish to hear the thrilling tale, read on!

We set up our initial position in Manchester, hoping to catch two corporate flunkies Mr. Yoshida had noticed on the Spyglass network scanner. I set up my position on one side of the system while Mr. Yoshida set up on the other, hoping to catch any of the pilots if they chose to travel via the jump hole instead of through my blockade. However, in a surprising turn of events, both ships attempted to enter the lane near my position.

The ship Harpia, a Deep Space Engineering Mastodon, was the first out of the lane and as such I disabled their drives first and swooped in to extort them. it was shortly followed by the BMM ship BMF|Homeros, which I allowed to head towards Mr. Yoshida's trap on the other side of the system while I kept my priority target locked down. Unfortunately the pilot of the Harpia refused to pay the cost for his filled cargo hold and so I was forced to destroy the vessel.

Thus the more interesting aspect of our hunt began. The BMF|Homeros sought shelter near Birmingham Station, but that was hardly the end of things. Instead of docking or attempting to follow another route, perhaps due to my ploy of appearing to enter the opposite trade lane, he attempted to remain in the area an wait us out. However, in a great stoke of luck, we encountered a Gateway Shipping pilot at Mr. Yoshida's blockade location. There, Yoshida spun a fantastic story of betrayal for the poor corporate stooge. He laid out a scenario in which the BMF pilot had sold Gateway out, leading the Gateway pilot to order a bounty on BMF|Homeros and graciously donate funds before the bounty was even filled. What a marvelous deception.

Filled with a renewed sense of mischief and emboldened by our success, I took Mr. Yoshida up on the offer of a small fishing expedition. Utilizing a spoofed bank account balance and posing as a Junker collector, I convinced a Republican Shipping pilot to deliver a cargo hold full of Junyo Fire Pearls right into Yoshida's trap. Indeed the story was spun so well that even after he encountered Yoshida he still proceeded to the rendezvous point! I'm still not even sure his small cargo-pilot mind could comprehend the magnitude of his folly.

The most amusing aspect of the chase was that we underestimated the transport's armor and escape mechanisms and were briefly worried that he would be able to make a successful run to the station, but I was able to convince him to surrender without a fight.

Here is the full interaction between myself and the cargo pilot. Enjoy!

Spoiler

Note: These logs have been partially edited to keep relevant messages close together and to separate conversations between myself and the cargo ship and myself and Yoshida so as to avoid confusion.

[18.02.2016 06:25:59] The.Artisan: Excuse me, may I have a moment of your time?
[18.02.2016 06:26:17] RS|RTS-Alster: yes
[18.02.2016 06:27:04] The.Artisan: I have an urgent request that I require a transport's aid with. Particularly, I must acquire Junyo Pearls.
[18.02.2016 06:27:42] The.Artisan: Unfortunately as a Junker my reputation is... Unsavory with the Kusari people. If you recover me some I can pay a hefty sum.
[18.02.2016 06:28:15] The.Artisan: I'm unsure how large your transport is, but I can give an estimate based on your hold size if you wish.
[18.02.2016 06:28:23] RS|RTS-Alster: and were need to buy it ?
[18.02.2016 06:29:10] The.Artisan: Planet Junyo in Shikoku is the location of purchase.
[18.02.2016 06:30:10] The.Artisan: If you provide your ship's hold size I can give you an offer of my purchase price.
[18.02.2016 06:30:24] RS|RTS-Alster: it is long range from my location , i will dock and contact you if maybe other transport near
[18.02.2016 06:30:44] The.Artisan: Another member of your company, perhaps?
[18.02.2016 06:31:09] RS|RTS-Alster: not possible
[18.02.2016 06:31:17] The.Artisan: I understand if it seems like a great distance away from your current location, but I assure you I can pay in full.
[18.02.2016 06:31:24] The.Artisan: It will be absolutely worth your time.
[18.02.2016 06:31:57] The.Artisan: You are in the Sigmas, correct? Shikoku is only three main-line jumps away.
[18.02.2016 06:32:20] RS|RTS-Alster: yes , sec plz
[18.02.2016 06:35:21] RS|RTS-Alster: ok , i coming
[18.02.2016 06:36:06] The.Artisan: Excellent! Do you prefer Kepler or Galileo as a meeting place?
[18.02.2016 06:36:32] RS|RTS-Alster: Kepler
[18.02.2016 06:36:49] The.Artisan: I will travel there and wait for you.

[[Note: I then traveled to Kepler in order to maintain an appearance of legitimacy while waiting for the target to move.]]

[18.02.2016 06:37:32] The.Artisan: He's on his way to Shikoku now.
[18.02.2016 06:37:37] Mr.Yoshida^: Good.
[18.02.2016 06:37:55] Mr.Yoshida^: Once he purchases the pearls, ask him to meet you at Deshima.
[18.02.2016 06:38:58] The.Artisan: He believes we will meet in Kepler, but I can ask to change meeting places due to "local security."
[18.02.2016 06:39:12] The.Artisan: Otherwise that is along the same jump route.
[18.02.2016 06:39:18] Mr.Yoshida^: Okay.
[18.02.2016 06:39:28] The.Artisan: Is it suitable?
[18.02.2016 06:40:10] The.Artisan: Target is in Honshu presently.
[18.02.2016 06:42:11] The.Artisan: New Tokyo.
[18.02.2016 06:44:06] The.Artisan: Target has reached Shikoku.
[18.02.2016 06:44:15] Mr.Yoshida^: Cryer extorted, now waiting between Junyo and Deshima.

[18.02.2016 06:45:11] The.Artisan: I've arrived at Ames Research Station in Kepler. Tell me when you reach Junyo.
[18.02.2016 06:45:21] RS|RTS-Alster: i rich
[18.02.2016 06:45:51] The.Artisan: Can you say that again?
[18.02.2016 06:45:52] RS|RTS-Alster: wich commodity need ?
[18.02.2016 06:45:58] The.Artisan: Junyo Pearls.
[18.02.2016 06:46:26] The.Artisan: How many can you deliver?
[18.02.2016 06:47:24] RS|RTS-Alster: 4610 , but here only pearls and junio fire pearls
[18.02.2016 06:47:37] The.Artisan: Fire Pearls are the commodity I want.

[18.02.2016 06:47:30] The.Artisan: He's at Junyo purchasing pearls. He claims to be "rich."
[18.02.2016 06:47:45] Mr.Yoshida^: Double the pride, twice the fall.

[18.02.2016 06:47:48] The.Artisan: I apologize for not saying so more clearly.
[18.02.2016 06:47:53] RS|RTS-Alster: it is legal cargo ?
[18.02.2016 06:47:58] The.Artisan: Yes.
[18.02.2016 06:49:47] RS|RTS-Alster: you want to trade it ?
[18.02.2016 06:50:21] RS|RTS-Alster: pirate here
[18.02.2016 06:50:27] The.Artisan: I'm helping a wealthy collector acquire a large amount of gemstones and that sort of thing.
[18.02.2016 06:50:33] The.Artisan: A pirate? Where?
[18.02.2016 06:50:59] RS|RTS-Alster: e-5
[18.02.2016 06:51:56] The.Artisan: Has he caught you?
[18.02.2016 06:52:08] The.Artisan: If not you should be able to make it to the gate, right?
[18.02.2016 06:52:14] RS|RTS-Alster: he stop me
[18.02.2016 06:53:25] The.Artisan: Well, I'm willing to pay you 5000 per unit for those pearls. How much is he asking for?
[18.02.2016 06:54:32] RS|RTS-Alster: it is not you's buisenes i think
[18.02.2016 06:54:46] The.Artisan: That's about 24 million for you, so whatever he's asking for isn't worth the risk. Just pay it so you aren't attacked.
[18.02.2016 06:55:11] The.Artisan: I'd prefer the pearls don't get blown up or stolen.

[18.02.2016 06:56:31] Mr.Yoshida^: Target succesfully extorted.
[18.02.2016 06:56:59] Mr.Yoshida^: Make sure he feels the humiliation he deserves. You did an exemplary job Mr Tarn.
[18.02.2016 06:57:09] You have received 2.500.000 credits from Mr.Yoshida^

[18.02.2016 06:57:23] The.Artisan: Thank you for your donation to the Lane Hackers Retirement Fund. I hope you have a nice day.
[18.02.2016 06:58:21] RS|RTS-Alster: i coming
[18.02.2016 06:58:35] The.Artisan: I don't believe you understand the gravity of the ruse that's been pulled on you.
[18.02.2016 06:59:20] RS|RTS-Alster: you need this cargo ?
[18.02.2016 06:59:53] The.Artisan: You were set up, mon ami. That's the beauty of the thing.
[18.02.2016 07:00:25] RS|RTS-Alster: if you need this , come to Ames
[18.02.2016 07:01:36] The.Artisan: It was a trap. There is no buyer. Feel free to curse at the stars or pray or whatever it is that cargo pilots do when sad.

And as an additional piece of entertainment, here is some of the recorded footage from Mr. Yoshida's perspective.

Scanning Cargo

Identification and Armor

Advanced Thrusters

The Sweet Reward!

What a merry chase, and an enjoyable way to fulfill my promotional criteria. I would like to once again thank the talented Mr. Yoshida for helping me reach the requirements for the rank of Interruptor, and for mentoring me in the necessary skills to outwit my opponents.

...encryption.in.progress...disconnecting.from.network...hack.terminated...