Liberty corporations, lawfuls, unlawfuls - The Yellow Brick Road | Jun 22, 7PM UTC

[Barrier]

The first of the Yellow Brick Road convoys was a mixed success. Three DSE and one Ageira vessels moved out ahead of schedule, with a single bounty hunter joining in the escort contingent. After proceeding by the standard route towards Manhattan, the convoy leader got an anonymous tip about a concentration of Rogue pirates between the Manhattan-Fort Bush trade lane. Sending out the bounty hunter to check things out, the threat was confirmed, and the convoy took a detour via Norfolk, warning the Missouri about the increased pirate activity levels in the system.

After arriving at West Point, the convoy waited for their escort, who rejoined them shortly. After being sent out ahead to scout the badlands, the bounty hunter immediately reported a Lane Hacker ambush. The convoy leader decided to run the blockade, as taking the detour through Texas may have brought the rogues back on their tail. After ordering the bounty hunter to engage, the convoy sailed into the trade lane in a tight bunch. However, the wily Hackers weren't fooled by this display, and disabled the lane when the convoy got into range. The convoy leader ordered everyone to proceed to the next juncture, and began drawing off pursuit deeper into the badlands. Although his ship, the Williamson, was eventually disabled, the rest of convoy managed to reach the jump gate and proceed safely into Pennsylvania. With the hackers not equipped or interested in salvaging ops, the trio gave chase, which resulted in a stand-off around Planet Erie.

The convoy leader slowly limped back to Pittsburgh, as the Liberty Navy began engaging the first Rogue group elsewhere in New York. After arriving at the mooring point and sending out for an inspection and rescue crews, the convoy leader began coordinating with Navy assets, who by then have fully disabled all Rogue presence in the system. A Defiant-class gunboat and an Upholder-class bomber were dispatched into Pennsylvania to assist the convoy's county hunter escort. The trio managed to scatter the Hackers, disabling two vessels, and allowing for a smooth repeat run of goods from Pittsburgh to Erie.

DSE security experts expect an even heavier pirate presence during the convoy's next attempt, currently planned for Apr 27, 834 AS, 9pm Universal Trans-Sirian Clock.