Independent Sirius Review - Issue 001

[Captain_Jim]

Getting the Dirt On Organized Crime
- confirming and refuting the questions all in the back of our minds


By CPT. TREY RAMIUS


The infamous Starkiller incident. I was one of the people who were around the New York system when it happened, and I was lucky not to get involved. It started when a couple of new, young, recruits of the Cartel family just got their first ship. They then went and got some guns, some thrusters, and some brand new shields. Feeling all invincible and possessing itchy trigger fingers, they decided to test out their new weaponry on some of the passing cargo ships. People thought it was just another one of those Liberty Rogue attacks: Ships get blown up, cargo gets scattered, but no one would be hurt (for the most part). That wasn't the case today. The first cargo ship not only had its containers destroyed, but half the crew's life pods were mercilessly incinerated with the blast of a gunship cannon.

That was the first one.

Before anybody knew what was happening, 18 ships were destroyed, and the whole of New York was in an uproar. Before the dusts were settled, not only were the Cartel and LPI members involved, but there were bounty hunters, mercenaries, freelancers, and the navy, who all wanted a piece of these two kids that got ahold of too much power too quickly.

But is that what Cartel all really like? Are they all such dangerous and reckless individuals?

I was fortunate enough to meet one of the members by chance, and was allowed an exclusive interview. For reasons of confidentially this Cartel member has chosen to remain anonymous (Although I will provide evidence for this encounter).

It was as I said a chance encounter. I was asking for information around the California system regarding the location of the elusive Lane Hacker base, and was coming up empty. Before I knew it, someone was shouting out orders over the comm system. I immediately tuned my comm system to the optimal frequency, and luckily for me, it was a Cartel member. Despite being somewhat guarded at first, he was quick to acknowledge the Starkiller incident as a notorious one. Without being prompted, he even described the incident as a 'rampage.' What follows was a description of the event. He admits that he was not certain regarding who started the incident, but that the Cartel family lawyers will 'smooth out' the incident.

What is not revealed in the police report, was that Starkiller himself could be unstable at times. I asked him if he thought that had anything to do with Starkiller's cardemine usage. Cardemine he said, was never used by the Cartel family. Its relationship with the Cartel family is said to mainly used as one of the sources of income (the method of which I cannot divulge). With that being said, I asked for the distance to be closer, as to move to a more secure comm channel. He obliges, and we met somewhere behind California minor. I then asked him what has happened to Starkiller, as that the member is no longer seen around New York (or Liberty for that matter). He stated that he could not comment on the official status, but notes he has an idea of what has happened to Starkiller. Understandable, as that there have been upwards of 1.5 million credit bounty on Starkiller's head.

As our two ships closed the distances, a form of bounty hunters surrounded us. I, having my civilian ID shown and scanned, was left to the side. The bounty hunters then proceeded to move into attack formation and began a barrage of positron beams on the Cartel member's ship. To attest to the Cartel's power, the ship was not even grazed, and the member himself continued to speak calmly and answering to all my questions without taking notice of the bounty hunters. A squadron of Rogues showed up soon after and the bounty hunters were destroyed. I was impressed with the stoic facade that was shown in the face of danger by this Cartel member.

I soon learn that this is one of the council members of Cartel, and that he has known the don since childhood. In fact when the don of the Cartel was just having his aspirations, this member was beside him. He said that they started off as small time cardi[mine] dealers on Manhattan, with the business taking off soon after. The don, now known was 'the butcher of liberty', is one of the most well known criminal in all of Sirius. No doubt due to the rumored relationship between the Cartel family and the source of Liberty's cardimine.

Before I could finish my questions, we were interrupted by one of the periodic tachyon waves that sweeps the system. I said my thanks, and we parted ways. I followed up on one of the leads that I overheard on the comm system, and was able to find the Lane Hackers' Alcatraz Depot. Just as my ship was being checked and my ID was verified, I found that the Cartel member was about getting ready to dock as well. I saw in his window a thumbs up and a smile, and I couldn't help but wonder if this was a coincidence, or just one of those signs that my bad luck, was about to turn around.


Cpt. Trey Ramius is a second year Sirius journalist and has worked for Liberty Medium Blue before joining with the ISR. His reason for joining the ISR is that he hopes to give the citizens of Sirius a better understanding of the workings of its organizations and individuals.