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File: 50891/12.25_904
Report Filed By: “Samaritan”
GIGACORP AND IRON COALITION CLASH AT ALADDIN; NON-COMBATANT CASUALTIES REPORTED
Sketchy reports of a battle between GigaCorp and Iron Coalition skirmish lines have been reported through the Martian Free Press. Though some reports indicate that this is a full-fledged engagement, this has not been confirmed. Onsite intel is not available, as both GigaCorp and Iron Coalition intelligence agencies have stepped up anti-surveillance operations.
One rumor has been confirmed, however. Initial reports - denied by GigaCorp and Iron Coalition representatives - that an independent mining ship, the Hermes, was destroyed after straying through the disputed Aleph.
The following statement, from a Belter enclave near Epsilon Indi, was delivered to Martian, Lunar and independent news agencies less than an hour ago:
From: Ragnarok Independent Prospectors, Ltd.
Today, at 1900 hours local time, the non-combatant vessel Hermes, a RIP, Ltd. vessel captained by Capt. Augustus Riley, was destroyed by clashing military forces near the so-called “Aladdin”system (officially designated GC-109).
Though several crewmembers were able to “ripcord”to safety, several crewmembers - including Captain Riley - are missing, presumed dead.
This communique is directed at both sides of this escalating conflict: if Riley and his crew have been recovered, they must be returned, unharmed, to Hastur Station, Epsilon Indi. They are civilians, not military personnel.
Until further notice, the Hastur Station free port is now off limits to GigaCorp and Iron Coalition personnel. This policy will be rescinded upon the safe return of the surviving Hermes crew.
Orion Sholes
Cofounder, Ragnarok Independent Prospectors, Ltd.
>>StarMerc_8: node: 818_99924.5.2.2221: Aw, man. This is getting uglier every time I log on.
>>Harbinger_99: node 912_91293/8812.2: I'll say. Anybody got anything solid about the battle?
>>Palmetto_X: node 001992_2881.282: Yup. Finished the image scrub from my run in with IC ships a while back. There were two cruisers - the Lincoln and the Robert E. Lee - and two new destroyers. I only managed to snag an ID on one of them, the Odysseus.
>>AlphaMale: node 8182.28281.8_828: No way. That's Fisk's flagship, isn't it?
>>Einstein_101: node 240.29_99.919: Hard to say. He moves around. It's possible that the IC deployed the Odysseus just to spook GigaCorp troops.
>>Samaritan: [node restricted]: I'm trying to get harder intel on the battle. But chances are, by the time we get any kind of info, it'll be old news.
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