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File: 7732/92.19_2
Report Filed By: “Samaritan”
IRON COALITION RELEASES “ALADDIN STATEMENT”
Iron Coalition leader Brigadier General Derek Fisk issued the following statement today:
The commander of United Nations Forces regrets to announce the deaths of 15 crewmembers of the independent merchant and prospecting vessel Hermes. The following individuals have been positively identified:
- Captain Augustus Riley
- First Officer Helen Grey
- Second Officer Marcus Kane
- Flight Officer Shelly Staples
- Flight Officer Vernon Weller
- Flight Officer Jacob Toombs
The remaining crew has not been positively identified; inquiries can be directed to Coalition temporary headquarters at comm-node 1029_9291.11.001.
While Coalition forces regret these casualties, it must be stressed that the Hermes had no flight plan or Coalition-recognized registration information. As such, it could only be considered hostile when it entered the “Aladdin” theater of operations.
Independent traders, prospectors and other spacecraft operators are again encouraged to register their vehicles and flight certification with Coalition forces so such tragic accidents can be avoided in the future.
>>SunBlade_7: node 009.66.25.12.63: I can't believe Coalition arrogance here! They blew up a civilian craft and are claiming it's just procedure? Unbelievable...
>>SyntaxError_1: node 910.94.20_912: I can believe it. Probably wasn't anything more than an automated response. In fact, I'll bet it wasn't even a pilot that pulled the trigger it was probably a computer.
>>Blake_111: node 000.01.20.30_2: Hey, I've worked for Riley, and he was no saint. He was a smuggler, a thief and a spy. Chances are, he was on somebody's payroll when he was smoked by IC forces.
>>SunBlade 7: node 009.66.25.12.63: That's a bold statement, Blake. Care to back it up?
>>Blake_111: node 000.01.20.30_2: Sure. Riley could pilot through an asteroid belt with his eyes closed. I don't believe for a minute that he would just “accidentally” stray through the wrong Aleph at the wrong time.
>>ThrillSeeker_Red: node 777.18_9828: So what was he doing there?
>>Blake_111: node 000.01.20.30_2: Could be anything. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say he was hired by GigaCorp to scout out the battlegroup that the Iron Coalition was throwing together.
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