The Murder of Lord Lowfer-Ferrers [19:00 UTC, 20/08/23]

[jammi]

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The murder of Lord Lowfer-Ferrers
Bretonia, Taus, Kusari, Sigmas
A freighter interception event

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Overview

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Lord Lowfer-Ferrers is not a popular man.

Once the Undersecretary for Industrial Quotas on Planet Leeds, he now has a comfortable role in the House of Lords leading a commission on Planet Carlisle. He will soon issue an ecologically devastating recommendation on strip mining, and recommend regulations that significantly harm colonist welfare in the interest of industrial development. Lowfer-Ferrers makes no apologies for acting nakedly in BMM's interests, which he considers synonymous with Bretonia's.

A lot of people would like to see this man dead.

On 20/08/830, Lowfer-Ferrers suffered a "medical emergency" that left him in a critical condition and

fighting for his life. Due to the nature and political sensitivity of the Lord's "ailment", specialist treatment is needed at Cryer's secretive Atka facility in Sigma 17. A nearby Bowex armed courier vessel has been conscripted for the purpose of rushing the dying Lord to his destination.

Someone doesn't want him to make it.

Event Details:

• The Bowex Clydesdale Meles.Incognito will be departing from Planet Cambridge at 19:00 UTC, Sunday 20 August 2023.
  
• It will be carrying 1 Diplomat (Lord Lowfer-Ferrers), 1 Mobile Medical Unit, 1.5 million credits in untraceable credit cards.
  
• An individual known as 'The Benefactor' has tipped off various unlawful organisations along the route.
  
• A tracking device has been planted on the courier. Sending the Meles.Incognito a message saying 'ping' will provide you with its current location and heading.
  
• If the Meles.Incognito is drained of nanobots and shield batteries and its hull is dropped to 25% or less, its engines will fail. At this point, you can either 'board' the freighter (capturing Lord Lowfer-Ferrers), or destroy it (killing Lord Lowfer-Ferrers).
  
• Anyone with ZoI along the route is welcome to participate.
  
• Event ends when the freighter arrives at Atka or is boarded / destroyed.

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Outcome

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Late on 19/08/830, a message was sent from a source identifying itself as The Benefactor, providing pirates, terrorists and murderers with intelligence that Lord Lowfer-Ferrers would tomorrow be rushed through the Taus and Kusari in order to reach a destination in the Sigmas. The following day, the Lord suffered a medical emergency and true enough, was evacuated under a veil of secrecy for critical treatment.

With mere moments of prior notice, a BAF escort wing was scrambled to see Bowex courier Delta 7-2 through to the Taus. Before long, it would become apparent that something had gone extremely awry. As the detachment entered Leeds, a Kusari mercenary warned of an impending ambush ahead. Soon chaos would erupt, with the Armed Forces escort fighting to punch through Corsair raiders and a Royalist blockade. As the escort wing paid with their lives to create a distraction at the Tau 31 gate, the courier and a lone Bowex fighter escort slipped through.

Waiting on the other side was a Molly strike wing, with separatist commandos ready for a boarding action. With no option to retreat to Leeds, the Clydesdale fled towards Barra Anchorage; the Mollys pursued while laying down heavy fire. Before long, the GRN would finish their deadly work in Leeds and give chase, catching the freighter and Mollys near Holman Outpost. The Gallic forces pounced upon the Mollys, intent on seizing the lord alive and for themselves. In an astounding stroke of luck, the freighter was able to slip away towards Tau 29 in the confusion.

Upon jumping through, the Meles would discover a squadron of Golden Chrysanthemums laying in wait. With the Clydesdale burning desperately towards Freeport 6, they moved to intercept... until a squadron of Gallic Royalists jumped in behind them. Apparently considering these to be a far more interesting target, they let the freighter go and moved to engage the foreign invaders. Making best speed towards Kyushu, it was here that the Meles encountered a suspiciously well informed pilot of the Kusari Office of Intelligence.

Between the Chrysanthemum's harassment and a courageous rearguard action fought by the Naval Officer, the Meles successfully escaped into Kusari core space - despite a dogged pursuit by the Gallic Royalists all the way to the Sigmas. Lord Lowfer-Ferrers made it to Atka for treatment. While he remains in critical condition, Cryer specialists believe that his prognosis is good following an 'unconventional' procedure.

The Benefactor will need to try again some other day.

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