Stoat - A log

[Stoat]

Oh boy, it's getting busy! I can't remember the last time I was able to just kick back and relax. There seems to be an unending stream of scum and villainy making there way into Bretonia these days. It's nice to be busy, and it keeps the balance good, but damn I need a rest! And paperwork! I got so sick of paperwork I had to hire an assistant. She's a good lass. Pretty I guess, but she ain't my Vole. She keeps the guild off my back, and for that I love her dearly!

I can't remember the last time I saw Esther around Bretonian space. She seems to be spending all her time elsewhere. I can't say that I'm surprised. She's never been one to get tied to a single place. It was a bit of an eye opener when she accepted the guildmastership, I thought she'd have run a mile at the first whiff of responsibility. Still, I'll be happy to see her when she next shows up around here, and I won't be calling for her removal from the role of guildmaster, that's for sure. She's far too useful when she is around to consider that.

Corsair activity in the core systems seems to be falling. They still appear here and there, but their numbers a re greatly diminished. The Mollies are still kicking up trouble, but I find it difficult to target them directly, unless I catch them in the midst of piracy. I feel some sympathy for their cause, I must admit, though god help me if that ever gets out! They do good work in keeping the Corsairs out of Bretonia, and considering what was done to Cork.......... well, I think they need every break they can get, and there are plenty of BAF around to chase them if they see fit. That's a political argument I'll not want to be getting involved in.

The SCRA are getting bold again. Their presence within the core systems is definately increasing. I ran into one just the other day. Death's Hand it was, a gunboat, and a right nasty piece of work. I picked him up on my scanners around the Dublin jump hole, and went to investigate. I did my best to keep my distance, and scans revealed he was packing two missile racks. I'm not qute sure how it happened, but as I was advising the BAF as to his presence, he got within firing range and before I knew what was happening I was fighting for my life. He was relentless, and those twin missiles meant that my bomber was no match for him. Try as I might to run, he kept on catching me, and my supply of bats and bots was worn away. I finally managed to evade him when he was engaged by some freelancer with a grudge. I've no idea who she was, but her appearance gave me just the diversion I needed to get away, so I headed for New London. It wasn't long before I heard her falling to the missiles of the SCRA vessel.

I limped to Southampton, and was regrouping myself when something made me head for Kensington. I still don't know why I did it before docking, but as I popped out of the trade lane, there was that damned SCRA vessel again. As soon as he saw me he engaged again. He chased me towards New London, scoring more hits with those missiles, and I could feel my ship coming apart. It seemed like hours that he pursued me, taunts coming all the while. I was finally able to lose him in the asteroid fields new New London. A single BPA vessel was able to intercept and delay him long enough for two Mandalorians and an independant hunter to get there, and finally one of the Mandalorians was able to take out the ship. I have never felt so relieved! I have never been hunted like that before. The experiance wil doubtless make me into a better hunter.

My bomber had to be destroyed though, it was completely beyond repair. Thankfully a vessel I know, Isolde's Demise, was in the area of Southampton shipyards and he vapourised the craft at my request. There's no way I was going to risk having any of our technology finding its way into the wrong hands. I have a day or so more of waiting for a new model to arrive from Sheffield.

It seems a new load of paperwork has arrived from headquarters. I'll be leaving that to Evelyn, while I do what I'm best at.

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