Sunday, March 29, 2009

Low Sec Shananigans

The kid was walking home from school again, when he saw Lanissum walk out into the docking bay. Watching the holo-screen, it was clear that the pirate was getting ready for a flight. Remembering how often he had seen Lanissum recording the affairs of his work on a PDA, a plan began to form in the kid's mind.

Many people regarded the crypto-pads which guarded the captains' quarters to be impervious. Strictly speaking, the were right, but that was their weakness. Earlier, the boy had easily gleaned the pad's combination by watching Lanissum enter and exit. Now that the pirate was gone for the day, the boy easily entered the room and found the PDA. As soon as it booted up, he opened the earlier log entries.

"After losing my Thorax earlier, I decided to go out today with an Incursus of mine. Intel channels indicated low activity in the systems surrounding Aurohunen, thus my best chances of finding a fight would be in this system.

Thus, I began my normal routine of scanning out belts, but failed to find anything. Fearing a boring night, I warped to a station, where I sighted two frigates."

The PDA prompted the boy to place his thumb on a glowing button to access a "visual net recording." Doing so, he suddenly saw and felt everything that Lanissum had on that day.

"The ship shuddered, sensors indicated that the Kestral was already attacking. Checking the ships' transponders, it was apparent that they were in the same corporation and thus docking would be the wiser choice.

The shuddered again, under a particularly violent missile strike. Where was the enemy Rifter? There was a large amount of static from the explosion... the Rifter had docked!

Now was the time to strike! Yet again, the Incursus shuddered, but this time it was recoil from outgoing blaster fire. The Kestral lost a large portion of it's shields. At the same time, the lone Hobgoblin II drone of the Incursus slipped into the darkness of space and began to hunt it's target.

The Kestral launched another missile salvo, penetrating the shields and nicking a bit of the armored hull. A blaster salvo missed the Kestral, checking the sensors again... my transversal is too high. Opening navigation... Ordering a direct approach at full speed.. the Incursus shudders as the afterburner kicks in again.

Suddenly, the Kestral explodes, inundating the sensor's with static. At the same time, the Rifter undocks, in a belated attempt to aid it's fallen comrade. Unheeding, the Rifter streaks towards me. As the Rifter gains CONCORD aggression, the Hobgoblin and blasters return fire.

The two ships enter a lethal dance, each attempting to maintain their optimal range and transversal. The Rifter enters armor, as does the Incursus. Suddenly, the Rifter scores a critical hit, stripping all the armor off of the Incursus.

Again, Lanissum orders a direct approach at full speed. In a race of who can do the most damage blasters will win if they can get close enough. Holes begin to appear in the Rifter's armor. Checking sensors again, the Rifter is actually losing huge amounts of hull integrity... but so is the Incursus.

As the Incursus reaches 35% integrity left, the Rifter explodes in a fiery display..."

Glistening with sweat, the kid eagerly searched the logs for more, he opened a more recent one...

"Myself, Kaz, and Lachesis set out for a roam in a Brutix, Rifter, and Thorax respectively. I had purchased this triple rigged Brutix from a corpie in need, as I don't normally like to rig ships.

As our home systems were devoid of activity, we set out deep into the battlefield of Black Rise. Our target system was well known for it's carebearish inhabitants. Anytime an outlaw entered the system, the entire corporation which inhabited it would dock up.

As usual, they followed this time honored tradition when my gang entered the system. We almost got a Raven in a belt, but were unable to get it this time. After ascertaining that everyone except ourselves was docked up, we decided to hit back at these carebears. We started to rat, in 'their' system.

The three of us were trying to pilot our ships through fits of laughter at the irony of carebears docked up while us pirates ratted. Eventually, a few others entered local. We managed to get a point on a Drake in a belt. We figured that it wasn't bait, since it was in a separate corporation.

We figured that, until our long range scanners began to light up. I immediately gave the order for my gang to warp out. I began the procedure myself, until I realized that the Drake had me pointed too. Realizing that there was no way we could destroy the well tanked Drake in the time allotted to me by fate, I ensured the survival of my pod.

To it's credit, it took the enormous enemy fleet some time to destroy the triple rigged Brutix."

The Boy checked his watch, and was alarmed at how long he had stayed there. Turning off the PDA, he turned towards the door, only to run into Lanissum.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

And (Green) Blood Shalt Be Spilt by the Heathen!


The wary man in a trench coat nervously tapped away at the terminal's keyboard. Suddenly, the man gave off the briefest of smiles before walking away, unawares that he was being watched. The intelligence officer approached the terminal, and inserted his cybernetic interface. In the blink of an eye, he saw with horror the scope of the crime's committed by the mysterious stranger.
A conversation recording came to him, between the stranger and a victim. Oddly, it appeared that the scammer's name had been censored, as well as select portions of the transcript.
Channel ID: 2141666520
[ 2009.03.25 00:23:10 ] ME > back
[ 2009.03.25 00:23:22 ] ME > You still want one?
[ 2009.03.25 00:23:34 ] Count Requiem > yea
[ 2009.03.25 00:23:46 ] ME > Righto, I'll throw 1 in when you're ready
[ 2009.03.25 00:24:05 ] ME > Rdy
[ 2009.03.25 00:24:36 ] Count Requiem > its unrigged right ?
[ 2009.03.25 00:24:41 ] ME > Yeah
[ 2009.03.25 00:24:48 ] ME > No mods or cargo either
[ 2009.03.25 00:24:53 ] Count Requiem > kay
[ 2009.03.25 00:25:03 ] ME > Though if it was rigged, it'd be boon for you lol
[ 2009.03.25 00:25:08 ] Count Requiem > yea ahah
[ 2009.03.25 00:25:18 ] Count Requiem > thanks anyway
[ 2009.03.25 00:25:20 ] ME > Righto, I've got 4 left; sure you don't want em? I'll even sell them for 50m each
[ 2009.03.25 00:25:57 ] Count Requiem > well i'd maybe take one other if you make it a 40mil :PP so that would end up 2 for 50m
[ 2009.03.25 00:26:06 ] Count Requiem > up to you
[ 2009.03.25 00:26:10 ] ME > hmm
[ 2009.03.25 00:26:26 ] ME > so, you want 1 for 40m; or 2 for 50m (each or total?)
[ 2009.03.25 00:26:35 ] Count Requiem > just one 40m
[ 2009.03.25 00:26:42 ] ME > kk, I can live with that
[ 2009.03.25 00:26:54 ] Count Requiem > after that id be out of my money limit pool
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:03 ] ME > gotcha
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:22 ] ME > by two for 50m, you were including the prior purchase
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:27 ] Count Requiem > yea
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:30 ] ME > Which is 100m for 2 :)
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:34 ] ME > Rdy, btw
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:37 ] Count Requiem > yea
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:43 ] Count Requiem > maths and time
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:45 ] Count Requiem > not my stuff
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:45 ] Count Requiem > ahah
[ 2009.03.25 00:27:48 ] ME > same same
[ 2009.03.25 00:28:00 ] Count Requiem > well ty

However, the victim soon realized their mistake, and began a litany of pleas for mercy...

[ 2009.03.25 00:33:32 ] Count Requiem > come on, cant you take them back ?
[ 2009.03.25 00:33:44 ] Count Requiem > im new to this game, started a few weeks ago
[ 2009.03.25 00:33:44 ] ME > mm, how much isk have you got left?
[ 2009.03.25 00:33:46 ] Count Requiem > and really
[ 2009.03.25 00:33:51 ] Count Requiem > im out of isk now
[ 2009.03.25 00:34:00 ] Count Requiem > please :(
...
[ 2009.03.25 00:38:35 ] Count Requiem > well, ok im willing to believe you are a fine person
[ 2009.03.25 00:39:36 ] Count Requiem > please id be eternally gratefull if you didnt ruin my game experience
[ 2009.03.25 00:39:38 ] ME > Tyvm
[ 2009.03.25 00:39:52 ] Count Requiem > I mean its alright to scam rich people
[ 2009.03.25 00:39:55 ] Count Requiem > but noobs like me
[ 2009.03.25 00:39:56 ] Count Requiem > meh
[ 2009.03.25 00:40:01 ] ME > You got that right
[ 2009.03.25 00:40:05 ] Count Requiem > you can look my history
...
Channel ID: 2141667737

[ 2009.03.25 00:41:35 ] ME > Yes?
[ 2009.03.25 00:41:43 ] Count Requiem > so, when can i have them back ?
[ 2009.03.25 00:41:51 ] ME > Um, nevar?
[ 2009.03.25 00:41:55 ] Count Requiem > come one
[ 2009.03.25 00:41:58 ] Count Requiem > please
[ 2009.03.25 00:42:00 ] Count Requiem > im begging you
[ 2009.03.25 00:42:09 ] ME > You're begging?
[ 2009.03.25 00:42:16 ] Count Requiem > yes
[ 2009.03.25 00:42:17 ] Count Requiem > really
[ 2009.03.25 00:42:28 ] ME > Sorry, no can do
[ 2009.03.25 00:42:37 ] Count Requiem > ...
[ 2009.03.25 00:42:44 ] Count Requiem > why have you yo be so mean to me
[ 2009.03.25 00:42:53 ] ME > Good question
[ 2009.03.25 00:43:02 ] Count Requiem > i need my money
[ 2009.03.25 00:43:05 ] ME > So do I
[ 2009.03.25 00:43:16 ] Count Requiem > don't you have even one little bit of compassion ?
[ 2009.03.25 00:43:33 ] ME > Already spent it on my dog, sorry
[ 2009.03.25 00:43:59 ] Count Requiem > i mean
[ 2009.03.25 00:44:13 ] Count Requiem > if youd give me it back id even be earger to give you it more afterwards
[ 2009.03.25 00:44:17 ] Count Requiem > its just i need it to trade
[ 2009.03.25 00:44:19 ] Count Requiem > and make money
[ 2009.03.25 00:44:24 ] Count Requiem > or i have no base to play at all
...
Channel ID: 2141667901
[ 2009.03.25 00:47:14 ] Count Requiem > id send you real money for 100mil
[ 2009.03.25 00:48:09 ] ME > Sorry, I don't do that
[ 2009.03.25 00:49:04 ] Count Requiem > well what can i do so ?
[ 2009.03.25 00:49:09 ] Count Requiem > i got nothing left now
[ 2009.03.25 00:49:11 ] ME > Go away... and cry?
[ 2009.03.25 00:49:31 ] Count Requiem > why won't you make a good deed today ?
[ 2009.03.25 00:49:32 ] Count Requiem > just for once
[ 2009.03.25 00:49:36 ] Count Requiem > even if you don't know me
[ 2009.03.25 00:50:01 ] ME > Already spent it on my food
[ 2009.03.25 00:50:07 ] ME > wait.. that would be me, eating the food :)
...
Looking into further transcripts, some scams took 4 minutes. Greedy victims borrowed cash from their corporations so they could get in on what they thought was a great deal.

Then, he discovered a fairly disturbing conversation.
Channel ID: 2141671158
[ 2009.03.25 02:32:49 ] ME > Would you like any?
[ 2009.03.25 02:33:36 ] Alastier > what do they do? can't find 'em on the market
[ 2009.03.25 02:33:45 ] ME > One sec, brb
[ 2009.03.25 02:36:03 ] ME > Back
[ 2009.03.25 02:36:17 ] ME > They're not market items, contract only; cost about 90ish mil
[ 2009.03.25 02:36:23 ] ME > [normally]
[ 2009.03.25 02:36:44 ] Alastier > and what exactly are they good for?
[ 2009.03.25 02:37:02 ] ME > Missioning/ PvP; they're much better than the normal THING
[ 2009.03.25 02:37:40 ] ME > Do you even have 60mil?
[ 2009.03.25 02:38:18 ] Alastier > I'm around 1,170 mil
[ 2009.03.25 02:38:59 ] ME > as in 1.170 BIL?
[ 2009.03.25 02:39:09 ] Alastier > yeah
[ 2009.03.25 02:39:19 ] ME > 14 day old with a billion isk?
[ 2009.03.25 02:39:47 ] Alastier > sold some time codes for 600 mil each
[ 2009.03.25 02:40:00 ] Alastier > I've played before, just felt like starting a new toon
[ 2009.03.25 02:40:18 ] ME > I see, anyhow; suffice it to say [kk] that I'm selling THING's for a low price due to time pressures
...
The attacker moved in for the kill, netting 345 Million isk from that naive capsuleer, the only thing that stopped him getting more was a lack of 'stock'.
Digging further into the system, he found that some of the victims tried to threaten the scammer.
...
Mail: No Subject
From: Jin Adam
To: XXXXXXXXX
2009.03.25 04:35
you can either return my money or i will put a bounty on your head!!!! lol

2009.03.25 14:37
oh yes and my warning runs out at 2200hrs GMT today 28 March
...
The intelligence officer was flabbergasted at the stupidity, naivety, and their propensity for meaningless threats and abuse. Then he found a transaction log, hidden at the end of a conversation transcript:
**BEGIN TRANSACTION DATA, ISK IN MILLIONS**
345 ------ Alastier (Loaded Newb, 17 Minutes)
267 ------ Fitius Pandemon (Rigged Myrmidon & Megathron, sent ships before even seeing the goods)
120 ........... Duygu Lyn (6 Minutes)
120 ------- Arubak (6 Minutes)
110 ............ Black Sabbath (4 Minutes)
100 ------ Count Requiem (Beggar, 23 Minutes)
60 .............. Gareth Mythros (3 Minutes 30 Seconds)
60 -------- Garrik Doran (2 Minutes)
60 .............. Jin Adam (Empty Hatemail, 11 Minutes)
60 -------- Aetec Raa (9 Minutes)
50 .............. LT Reed (4 Minutes)
50 -------- Crazy4Swazye (10 Minutes)
30 .............. Dessich (7 Minutes)
28 -------- chemi (Fastest, 3 Minutes)
1,460,000,000 ISK -------- TOTAL HAUL in 4 Hours 30 Minutes
**END TRANSACTION DATA**

Realizing that he had enough to put the scammer away for a long, long time, the intelligence officer reached for his com device. Turning away from the terminal, the last thing he ever saw was the barrel of a blaster.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Roaming and Idiot Removal Operations

Thrashing in his sleep, Lanissum kicked over the nightstand. The resulting crash rudely woke him up from his dreams. Dripping in cold sweat, he bent down to clean up the mess. Picking up his PDA, he developed an inexplicable urge to describe the recent events that kept intruding upon his sleep. Letting out a sigh, Lanissum activated the PDA...

"I was engaged by a Drake at a belt, only moments before I had been hunting a different target in my Thorax. Unfortunately, the Drake had been hunting the same vessel, but had deemed me to be a suitable target.

I could literally feel the hull disintegrating beneath my ship, I had forgone armor in lieu of offensive weaponry. Recalling how I had escaped from an unfavorable engagement with a drake months ago, I threw out my ECM drones.

Suddenly, silence ensued. I gave the order for the drones to return, but before they did, my ship was again being pounded. The situation was now critical, I threw out the drones a second time, they quickly jammed the Drake. This time, I opted to leave them, as I doubted that my Thorax could survive any more damage. As I hurtled through space, we exchanged pleasantries."

Lanissum paused briefly, as he listened to a sound outside in the hallway, before resuming his monologue.

"There was a call for a corp op down into the war zone of Black Rise, Tama. It was recommended that we bring small ships, but I opted for a Myrmidon. We sniffed around the systems that we traveled through, but didn't make any kills until we reached Reitsato.

There was a small gang on the gate there, including a Vagabond. A very still Vagabond. A very close Vagabond. Which quickly became a very dead Vagabond. I was only able to get my drones on it before it died, but as it was aggressed, we received no CONCORD response.

Quickly proceeding to the Tama gate in Kedama, we found a Cerberus. It was a very quick affair, as it was apparently outfitted purely for offensive use. Such a ignominious fate for a tech 2 cruiser. This time, I only managed to get a point on it, and thus elicited a CONCORD response.

As I searched my scanner input in an attempt to nab the pod, I had trouble focusing on it, as there were a great number of ships clouding my sensors. My camera drones soon confirmed what my instincts had already known, we were now on the business end of a factional defense fleet.

I initiated the procedure for a warp out as ships began to appear all over the place and the alarm was raised over the voice coms of my fleet. As my Myrmidon hurtled into space, my sensors picked up the explosions of our Vexor (Spectre3353) and Rupture (Golden Helmet).

When the enemy fleet left the system, the remnants of my gang regrouped and waited out my GCC, as I was the only survivor who had aggressed on the gate. We decided that our group was no longer combat viable and began the long trek home..."

The PDA prompted Lanissum with an "Out Of Memory Error." He fumbled in the darkness for a new memory chip, before finally finding one near the sink. Wondering if it had been damaged by moisture, he popped it in and smiled as the error message disappeared. He once again resumed working on his entry.

"Coms went out with a report of a Drake, missioning in Aurohunen. As our prober worked his magic, we prepped our ships for what would be a grinding fight, as we had only 1 cruiser and my Myrmidon on hand for a scramble.

As soon as our prober got a hit, we warped as a fleet to the indicated spot. Only to land upon a gate. We took this opportunity for our prober to get his own cruiser. When he returned, we sent the Thorax (Lachesis) through. In an attempt to trick the Drake into a fight, if he was too far away to get a point on.

Unfortunately, the Drake warped off to a station. The Thorax followed, so as to keep tabs on it. The Vexor (Nemain Darru) and I stayed on the gate, as the mission was far from complete. Soon, the Thorax reported that the Drake had left the station. Under my orders, Lachesis stayed docked until I picked him up on my scanners.

The Drake soon arrived, and was promptly ganked by our combined firepower. Unfortunately, we failed to nab the pod.

Not too long after, more of our corp undocked. There was a raven sighted in Dantumi, ratting. In a belt. It was already engaged with a Harbinger, which had similar aspirations to ours. We burst upon the scene, pointing the Raven but primarying the Harbinger.

The Harbinger wisely decided to cede us his prey. But let us know of his displeasure.

[ 2009.03.22 20:26:04 ] Mazzarra > he was mine :(
[ 2009.03.22 20:26:09 ] Lanissum > sorry
[ 2009.03.22 20:26:10 ] Spectre3353 > you were ours :/
[ 2009.03.22 20:26:13 ] Lanissum > lol
[ 2009.03.22 20:26:23 ] Mazzarra > lol

We quickly destroyed the Raven, and the subsequent pod, before quickly leaving the scene of our crime; lest we follow the Raven's footsteps. After our GCC's expired, we noticed a pair of battleships floating around a station in Dantumi. We engaged, but were outclassed, as we had only a Dominix and a few cruisers, including my Thorax; which died bravely-- frantically pleading with station control for docking permission."

Lanissum paused briefly for a drink of water, before finishing his report.

"After the loss of my Thorax, many of our members took a breather. I was left working on my now battle scarred Myrmidon. As I briefly checked the station guest manifest, I noticed that the Drake pilot who we had previously destroyed was back, with a new Drake. I looked out my port window, which overlooked the docking bay, to see that very Drake in the process of undocking.

With a speed not seen since my old Python days, I screamed at the master chief to prepare my battle cruiser. I quickly followed the Drake outside. Opening communications with the Drake pilot, I attempted to gain his confidence. I had to get him off of this station, as I would not be able to beat both him and the station guns.

He proved to be surprisingly credulous, joining my fleet after I solemnly assured him that:

[ 2009.03.22 22:06:03 ] Lanissum > If we fleet up, we can do the mish together; we don't shoot at gangmates
[ 2009.03.22 22:06:18 ] Lanissum > [or corpmates, lol]
[ 2009.03.22 22:06:45 ] Snih > :) i knw, I lose 30M for my ship
[ 2009.03.22 22:07:10 ] Snih > temporary?
[ 2009.03.22 22:07:14 ] Lanissum > Yeah

Shocked that he had placed his ship's computers under my control, I quickly warped us to an out of the way spot in space. After a prolonged fight, due mainly to the Drake's natural tanking abilities, I had my way with both his new Drake and pod."

Lanissum put down the PDA, looking visibly relieved. He briefly checked his surroundings for anything out of place, and went back to bed.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Screw that crap!

The kid was just walking home from school at the mercantile station, when he noticed a familiar face sitting in the bar. He was nursing a new alchoholic Quaf drink, and looked deep in thought. The kid hesitated for a moment, and approached the grizzled man.
"Um, mister Lanissum... I haven't seen you for awhile, it's nice to see you again, where have you been all these months?"

Lanissum stifled his annoyance, and put down his drink; giving a kindly smile to the young boy.

He started off in his gruff voice
"Well, after The Python Cartel disbanded, I floated around for awhile before joining the Bastards. Before floating around again, and joining The Python Cartel MkII"

The boy, whose curiosity no longer outweighed his anxiety, scampered off.

However, the man started pondering the events leading up to rejoining the Cartel and began dictating to his digital notepad.
"... Then I got tired of flying around w/ the Bastards. There were TZ differences (Brits and Americans) and I swear the local population of victims must've been Chinese.

Anyhow, I joined Canadian Imperial Armaments, a member of Veritas-Imortalis alliance. They were a nice bunch of peeps... But after getting this Team Speak error:

[15:52:12] Unable to login. Your IP has been banned.
Your IP has been banned for 10 Minutes!

for the third time already, and considering that I still don't know what the alliance's tactical situation is; beyond that we're fighting w-4nuu for sovereignty. I've seen huge fleets of ships not doing all that much, and the fleet op's I've been on seemed disjointed to me.

Then, there's the question of why fight for sovereignty in 0.0? I don't rat or mine, and I can find a fight pretty much anywhere in EvE, so why be subserviant to an alliance? Last time I did that, I lost a 100m Myrmidon, got booted out for 'spying' w/ threats, and abused by the now infamous Kow Killa.

With wormholes... 'neutral' 0.0 is just a few systems away no matter where you are.
So, I joined a re-born

Got on vent, talked to good friends again; and even got a Thorax on Apoc kill. An auspicious start to be sure."

He put down his drink, and walked into the fading light back to his captain's quarters.