COMM ID:Ensign Alan Polstari TARGET ID:Primary Fleet Command HQ SUBJECT:Bribery and Extortion Attempts ENCRYPTION:High PRIORITY:Medium
Greetings sirs,
I began my patrol in the Texas system today aboard the LNF Paradise. While standing on station over Houston, we picked up a vessel tagged as Exponent coming from what appeared to be the California Jump Hole based on his vector. While not illegal, it was odd considering that the vessel was a Liberty "Mastodon" Transport. Scans revealed no contraband. He docked and unloaded his Hazmat Container cargo, and I checked him as he took off as again with Nanocapacitors. As I was hailing him, however, he was already making for the Bering Trade Lane and Gate. I ordered him to halt, but he refused to comply. Unfortunately I was not able to receive assistance in dealing with him on the way back into Texas. The following is documented evidence of his willful transgression of the Rheinland Embargo, as well as an attempt to bribe a Naval Officer.
The information with respect to the docking at the Junker Base, especially in light of his statements about how easy it is to change papers, will be relevant to information presented at the end of this report. I've put the bribe towards the Paradise's requisitioning budget unless otherwise ordered.
It was at this point that I noticed a vessel inbound from what I believe to have been the Pennsylvania Jump Hole, based on its flight vector. Scan showed the vessel to be a Corsair Gunboat operating under the same said Papers. Thankfully I was able to talk the vessel into leaving peaceably, though our route was circuitous through the outer Texas space. The target exited through the Hudson Jump Hole, seemingly as if it's navigator already knew of its existance. I followed through and ensured that the target continued on out of Liberty Space. Vessel scan and parting comm chatter given below.
Returning to the New York system from Texas, I began a final system sweep before I was to put the Paradise in at Norfolk Station. While there, I picked up system comms of vessels attempting to extort two million Sirian credits from a vessel known as Star.Watch. Having passed by that vessel at Manhattan previously on my patrol, I made my way there. Arriving at Manhattan, I found two Lane Hacker Gunboats, an SOB-Esoteric and an SOB-inebriated_Hero already engaging the Star.Watch, and attempting to extort a Nathan.Maybourne, a civilian flying a "Spatial" vessel. The Hackers, attempting to extort Mr. Maybourne, moved to engage him as well, and he was forced to fight alongside me against them. Thankfully Mr. Maybourne was well armed and able to assist in engaging the Hacker Gunboats. I would also like to commend my crew for staying calm under fire, as through their skill we eventually managed to get within the turning and firing radius of the Esoteric, and our combined firepower took the vessel out. It was at that time that the LNS-Los.Angeles arrived to help assist against the other Hacker vessel. It's firepower managed to make short work of the Inebriated Hero. I regret that I am not able to confirm which armor enhancements belonged to which vessel, but both were well armed and equipped, and would have required capital class support under any other circumstances. Extortion attempt and victory confirmations given below.
The Paradise suffered some damage, however, and while our crew was cheerful, the vessel was in need of repairs. We returned to Norfolk Station to hand the vessel over to the technicians and so that I could buy the crew a round (or three). It was while here that I noticed a Liberty "Mastodon" vessel with a Junker IFF signal coming in from Texas. While I am not able to confirm this at present, I believe the vessel sighted was the same as the [i]Exponent[i/] that landed on Beaumont, especially given that the vessel class matched and the captain of that vessel's previous statement with respect to changing papers. I'm also not aware of Junkers who would willingly use a "Mastodon" class vessel. Guncam given below.
![[Image: 9igxhx.png]](http://i41.tinypic.com/9igxhx.png)
![[Image: Zr1b4H3.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/Zr1b4H3.jpg)