*** INCOMING COMSTAR MESSAGE NORTHWIND HPG-A*** Message Route: Robinson-A, Galtor-B, Ozawa-A, Northwind-A Content: Text Y, Video N, Tri N, Data Y Sent: 9 January 3028, 15:36:08 GST Priority: High 852/1000 From: Duke Aaron Sandoval of Robinson Minister of the Draconis March, Federated Suns Blue Ocean City, Kathelaine Steppes, Planet Robinson To: Senior Technician Cecilia "Red" Montgomery Officers and crew of the F.S.S. Screamin' Mimi Officers and crew of the F.S.S. Slipstream Township of MacArthur, Benwyvis Valley, Planet Northwind Dear Friends, I would like to thank you for taking this mission on such short notice. Rest assured, you are doing the right thing helping the Prince in this matter. We are both grateful for your efforts thus far, and upon your return I would be honored to smuggle you a case of Timbiqui Dark from the Kuritan warehouses we plundered last year. You will need to secure the pirate jumpship F.S.S. Slipstream and set course for the planet Errai. Sadly, we have none of the precious ships to spare to simply loan you. The Slipstream was once in the employ of Davion diplomatic forces and may be willing to assist you is approached correctly. Once you jump to Errai, get yourselves to the city of Greymesa on the middle continent Tropica. Attempt to contact Zafir Widakas in any way possible. He is known by the Ministry of Intelligence and International Operations (MIIO) as a known double agent. While I personally despise spies working against my beloved Federated Suns, I feel that we must use this one for now. He presumably knows the location of the stolen MAS package, but may have allies wishing to ensure that no others learn the secret from him. Be wary, a low-profile may be prudent for initial contact. To assist you in this endeavor, as Minister of the Draconis March I have reinstituted the Northwind Armament Act of 3007. With assistance from Clan Chieftain Heather Stuart, we have temporarily assigned your unit as members of the Northwind Irregular's Clan Militias. As you are not part of an officially recognized Northwind Clan, your unit will simply be listed as Irregulars on the OOB for the AFFS. The Letter of Marque follows along with two new datastreams to be loaded into your ship's transponder arrays. I do hope that you accept the standard terms of the letter, the success of the mission depends on it. Best of luck, Duke Aaron Sandoval =============================== Letter of Marque and Reprisal =============================== BE IT KNOWN the officers and crew, hereafter the Owners, are now recognized by the Federated Suns as licensed and authorized by this letter of marque to conduct raids upon the governments of the Kapteyn Concord, subsidiaries, and supporters, to seize their cargo, properties, and vessels, and deliver them unto the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns. Further, to capture the personnel, officers, and officials of these governments, their supporters, and unaffiliated pirate forces. No Jumpship shall ever be attacked. The Owners are authorized and expected to pursue the war against the Kapteyn governments as able, while in no case endangering the innocent civilian public and without causing undue damage to property as stated in the Ares Conventions. The Owner shall surrender all bounty or proceeds of such activities to the review of the AFFS, and in return be awarded 50 percent of their value in c-bills or kind. The Federated Suns may choose to buy an entire cargo at its need. The AFFS shall also award scheduled bounties for Kapteyn prisoners and confirmed destruction of Kapteyn properties. All slaves found in the course of duty shall be freed, all illicit substances destroyed. The Federated Suns shall render such aid it can, subject to availability and discretion, including shelter, intelligence, repair, supplies, and fuel. The officers and crew of the Federated Suns' diplomatic vessels Screamin' Mimi, Lucky Linda, and Slipstream (OOB #'s: D-L66480026, D-L56723, J-M1201) are hereby granted amnesty of all previous crimes so long as they serve our cause, until the Star League is reformed, or this Letter expires, provided they commit no further crimes. Should they do so, all charges will be held against them. This letter shall remain in effect for one year from its date of issue, when it shall be reviewed before a ComStar Board of Inquiry. If either party is dissatisfied, the contract may be dissolved. The Federated Suns reserves the right to assign observers to the ships for the purpose of this review. Signed, Duke Aaron Sandoval of Robinson Minister of the Federated Suns Draconis March 9 January 3028 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Game Notes: The F.S.S. Screamin' Mimi has in fact been renamed the Screamin' Banshee, but Duke Sandoval did not know this when he sent the letter. The Lucky Linda was the ship that blew up during the 'mech fight at the Fleet Yards. "listed as Irregulars on the OOB for the AFFS." Translation: Irregulars are soldiers not part of a standard military unit. OOB is the military Order Of Battle, a listing of all units with their locations, operational status, and known loyalties. The AFFS is short for the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns, the military branch of the House of Davion. "the governments of the Kapteyn Concord" are the Capellan Confederation (Liao), the Free Worlds League (Marik) and the Draconis Combine (Kurita). The FedSuns (Davion) shares a common border with the Capellans and the Dracos. "the Ares Conventions" this near-bloodless combat focused on maneuver and tactics over brute force. While this reduced casualties and massive destruction to the interstellar industries, it did drag battles on endlessly. In the modern times, the honor of the Ares Conventions is nearly forgotten. The planet Errai is Davion held but is a border world. The is no official war declared at the moment, but things are still fairly hot in this region after a successful Kuritan raid recently destroyed elements of the 34th Aragon Borderers and the merc unit "Pale Horses" before returning with stolen supplies to the Kuritan side of the border. This took place in early September. Two members of the party have been to this system before: Ian "Dee" Merritt and JC (Jennie's Character, currently an NPC) The team jumped into system on the morning of January 13th, 3028. The crew of the Banshee expect the planet-fall to Errai to take 5 standard days. All 'mechs and vehicles are being repaired in route by shipboard techs and party-members.