Mission Day:  124

ECEI:           7
Morale:         7
Supplies:     88%


Nouakchat, again.

The rest of the tour through Gulf-Central-Formative, while thankfully free of the complications endured at Beaxon and the brief excitement at Iruku, isn't entirely dull. A couple of ships are found to be carrying contraband, another is caught - albeit seemingly unknowingly - carrying a wanted fugitive, and Intel is kept busy searching for further signs of the mysterious raiders. They find some, but at Nouakchat, in the midst of the resupply, things take a new turn.

A naval courier awaits the Sharshana; while it is on station and taking in resupply, the ship's small craft (and Ishakhi, overseeing them) busy ferrying barrels and crates from the scout base, an updated orders packet is conveyed to Captain Thenroy...
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:11, Thu 08 July 2021.

The Baron Captain signaled for the senior officers to meet him in the ready room ahead of schedule. It seemed that there was some new piece of information the Baron wanted to pass along.

Jacqueline hurries to the ready room. "Sublieutenant Yune reporting, sir" she said quietly, then did her best to blend into the wall.

Once everyone is assembled Baron Thenroy activates the central display putting the intelligence file he was delivering on display for the rest of the senior staff.

"It seems Intelligence has finally put together the identity of the pirates plaguing this sector. A group operating under the name Rosax Security..."

As he spoke a logo was displayed, a stylaized rocket ship and an axe against a red background.

"There is no listing of a security  license under that name in the Deneb or Spinward March sectors leading us to believe these are pirates masquerading as mercenaries. All indicators show they are causing more damage than protection and given their professional tactics and discipline command believes it may even be a privateering operation."

The holographic display shifts to show their patrol sector and a big question mark flashes in the middle.

"As of now we do not have enough information to pinpoint their base of operations. Perhaps the scout base on Nouakchat might have additional information we can use but likely we will need to capture one of the pirates alive or recover an intact flight computer to discover their whereabouts."

He paused, waiting to see if any of his officers had any insights or comments to make before proceeding.

Iita chew her stylus while organizing all her creative ideas on how to force the pirates out of hiding, but knew better and waited for the disclosure of all the data.

Seeing there were no issues or questions so far, Baron Thenroy continued.

"Even though we  do not know where they are basing of, Intelligence believes they know where the pirates will be striking next. Soon will be the start of the Trin-to-Deneb yacht race. The elite of the Empire are racing and it is believed that pirates intend to ambush vessels in the Taomina system..."

The hologram zooms in on the Taomina system, several sectors away from their current position.

"Initial reports show a large number of small vessels are being assembled and intend to hijack ships and take hostages.

In addition command believes it is linked to a few other incidents that have occurred in the area recently..."

The hologram flips through various field reports highlighting:

*  A raider force, powerful and very well organised, hit a freighter belonging to the Trin-Deneb line a few weeks ago. The freighter was carrying large numbers of naval missiles which were intended for the sell-on market, having been removed from storage at the end of their mandated lives. The strike is thought to have been specifically targeted.

*  A new starmerc outfit, Rosax Security, has undertaken a number of escort and convoy operations in the area. Personnel and ships seemed smart and efficient. There are indications that some of the ships escorted by Rosax vessels never reached their destination. It is possible that the escort ship waited for a quiet moment then attacked the target it was supposed to be protecting. Furthermore, the wreckage of the raider in Iruku incorporated a rose-and-axe design matching that of the starmerc company.

*  The upcoming race is set to begin in a few weeks, but some of the yachts taking part in it were scheduled to pass through the area ahead of time, scouting out the route.


"All these reports seem to point towards a major operation by the Rosax pirates and it is our duty to the Empire to put an end to this threat by any means necessary."

Jacqueline tried to swallow her nervousness. She was afraid she would make a fool out of herself in front of the captain. "We can't proceed to Taomina in one jump. Proceeding via Endup might give us a chance to conduct a quick patrol of that system before heading to Taomina... if some yachts are scouting out the systems beforehand, we could encounter pirates hunting them. I wonder if we c-can't convince some yacht captain to help us draw them out." It was an uncharacteristically bold suggestion for the usually shy astrogator.

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 6):

The chief engineer checked whether the logo of Rosax Security was a rocket ship and an axe, or a rose and an axe. Either the Int Team muddled up, or - God forbid! - the baron-captain did. They better not confuse if someone had a similar-looking logo.

While doing that, she inquired :

"Captain, given our suspicion towards that organization, what are our instructions if we meet a Rosax Sec ship and it seems it's doing nothing illegal? Are we to take control of it, search it and interrogate the crew?"

"Any Rosax Sec ship should be considered a matter of interest and should be marked for immediate inspection. Even if they are not doing anything illegal we are well within our rights to investigate any ship for signs of contraband or piracy. Their manifest and logs will tell us where they have been and where they are going, more information for our Intelligence department to narrow down their search.

After that I am confident we will find a reason to impound the ship and detain the crew until our operations here are concluded."

"Regarding the attack on the freighter transporting the missile, I suppose we can surmise the pirates have an inside accomplice, either in the Trin-Deneb Line firm, or in the Navy's supply department. What I would like to know is the mark and number of missile stolen, which may... would... be fired against us, so we can prepare ECMs against our own missiles."

Iita searches this info into the Intel files. [I guess there's no difficulty there, so I don't bother to roll ;)]

Noticing that the captain did not react to Jacqueline's comment, Iita added : "Captain, given the advice of Lieutenant Yune, may our own supply service consider that Endup will be our next stage?"

Iita had not given up her idea of getting her friend Jacqueline out of her shyness pit.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:34, Fri 13 Aug 2021.

Jacquline nodded softly. "Understood, sir." She wilted a little when Iita drew attention to her, but agreed "That is my recommendation, sir."

The Baron nodded at Yune and Ita.

"If that is the recommended course then so be it. We will refuel in Endup and proceed on to Taomina. I want every station to start preparing for combat above and beyond what we have already been training for. It is very likely that we will not only encounter adversaries in Taomina but may also have to perform rescue operations and boarding actions. It isn't enough to just chase away the bandits, we must do so while ensuring the safety of the highest echelons of Imperial society and we must endeavor to capture as many traitors as possible so we can hand them over to Intelligence for interrogation."

Thenroy flexed a glove hand, forming a fist and pounding it into the open palm of his other.

"We cannot be reactionary, we must crush these roaches in their nest. We were sent out on a shake down patrol but if we can disrupt an operation of this magnitude, vanquish an enemy with this much audacity, that is a career making triumph...if we succeed."

He paused a moment, locking eyes around the room to let the his words hang heavy in the air.

"It is best not to consider what will happen if we fail to stop the attacks. Dismissed."

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 12):

Once again energized by the Baron-Captain speech, Iita jumps on her feet : "Victory or Death in Service, Sir!".

She then conveys the energy to her department, focusing on the preparation of ECMs against the type of missiles stolen.

Jacqueline stood and saluted crisply. "Understood, sir. I'll start the calculations right away." The effect was somewhat undermined by the fact that she knocked one of her tablets to the ground when standing up. "Oh!"

After the officer's meeting, Lt Tsetsegmaa called in all the members of the Engineering and Technical teams into the worshop, which was quickly filled and full. Having changed her dress uniform for a jumpsuit, the Chief Engineer sat on a heavy machinery with Lt Kaouthrak at her side and sensed the mood of her team. The week of intense repair in Iruku had tired the department, and all they were looking for now was getting back to Zeng and enjoy well-earned permission.
The meeting was video-recorded for those on the shift to watch later.

"Team, I'm really satisfied with all the effort and energy you injected into this ship. We know there's a big list of tasks and improvements to do at the Zeng dockyard", she admitted.

"The Sharshana also behaved well in its first combat against pirates. The captain renews his compliments."

"Now... we have some information that we're the nearest to the path of some other pirates. What I can disclose is that the pirates have put their filthy hands on a cargo of 80 of our own naval Trident Mark 16.3 missiles, removed from storage at the end of their mandated lives. Yes, the Navy's missiles are so good that the pirates wanted it! Who said the navy's purchases were all the result of bribes?", she said ironically. But nobody smiled and all were tense.

"See it as a challenge, with your life, and your life of your comrades, as the stakes. I know you know each-other by now. You like some of your comrades, and some others you like less. I am like you.

But now we have to forget our grumbles and focus on those missiles. The captain, being a PADIU [see thread "Briefing Room Three" msg #9], will just charge into the melee... every missile sent in our direction, he considers as a medal to pin on his chest..." (She was cynical, but unexpected giggles erupted in the crowd)

My office door is open at all times, to validate and discuss your ideas to counter the missiles. Leave all you're doing which is not critical"

"It's an honor and a constant pleasure to lead a band of brilliant geniuses. Prove it again, folks!"

Iita Tsetsegma rolled 11 using 2d6+1.  leadership project "trident shield". Hoody-hoo! We'll waste the missiles with our crossbow!