I play the Freelancer character "A.Harsh.Mistress" and built up some ties with the IMG, gave some escorting services and had good RP with them, certain members. Now, today I came across another group of players of your faction and tried to RP with them, while they were fighting off pirates. I was ignored, utterly.
My Greeting were ignored (okay, they fought), my offer for help was ignored (the pirates were outnumbered and one was shot down, however one got away and he also managed to kill another IMG, so help was not that inappropriate), my little taunt on letting a pirate flee easily was ignored and finally, my goodbye also remained unnoticed. Another BHG player joined the scene shortly after, she got at least a response to her aid offer. A polite refusal would have made me felt much better than complete ignorance. A complete lack of RP towards players that clearly have a desire to roleplay is absolute misbehaviour from an official faction, in my opinion.
As a general rule, when the shooting starts the time for roleplay has ceased. I was not among this encounter, but would have remained quiet as well until the combat situation was resolved. IE all pirates dead or fleeing, or us ourselves kaboomed.
Best you can do is throw something simple among the lines of "Ey, IMG, offering to lend ye my guns. 2 Mil and I'm unloading on these pirates. Whaddayesay, yes or no?". Something like that requires only a very brief yes or no answer, and leaves people to focus on the pewpew. Especially if there's bombers involved, chatting can be instant death. Further RP can be done after the encounter. With probably additional escort duty options;)
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.