Lockdown and Elections
25 Jan 2016Jim Beaumont
I delivered the goods I had in my hold, and returned back with some more of the needed commodities for the outpost. Thankfully, all was good with the repair me and Thomo had made. I took a job for the WP, some courier data and a small package which needed to go back to the bubble. This enabled me to do a few little jobs for the Feds, and then it was back to the outpost. And that is pretty much how things went for most of that day.While troughing my way through a hearty meal in the canteen, a overheard some blokes chatting on the table next to me, about some jobs in the contracts office, back at the system where I had removed some of the security. They were offering really good money. They were needing to be, considering the risk involved for me. So I finished off and went to the office.
It involved running a small load of Weapons into the starport, without being scanned. Well with the bounty currently sitting on my head, I didn't need scanning by the station anyway so no worries on that front. So I got the cargo loaded on the Infante and headed on over. I was interdicted on my way to the station, but managed to unshackle myself and then dropped to the station. I took a long view of the entrance then hit the boost. A quick request for docking, and carried on full pelt.
'Steady Jimbo, keep it steady' while rotating with the toast rack. A quick glimpse of the scanner showed me that it was a free run in, no other traffic. I deployed some chaff just incase, and belted my way into the station. Winner, winner.
I docked and completed the transaction, filled the hold and then belted my way out of there. I didn't need scanning on the way out either.
I got back to the outpost, and sold all the goods I had brought back. I checked the info panel in the Commodities Office, and saw a lot of news about 2 other systems. I hadn't heard of these, so went back to the Infante and did a search on the Galactic map. To my surprise, the Comm WP have a presence in those 2 systems, even running one of them. The systems are just planet based ones, and not having the capability to land, it would prove a little harder to have any influence there. Or will it?
I went back to the fleet hold up, and swapped into the Almeida, then jumped to one of the systems. It is was run by the same Coalition that I had removed those Authority ships from, and so I was immediately labelled as Wanted when I entered. The main bodies were located some 58k Ls from the star, so I made the journey out. The System analysis showed me that although the Coalition were running it, the WP had a high influence too, almost on par with the Coalition. And then I spotted a High Res site. So, if I was to remove some of those Authority ships, it would destabilise the Coalition and improve the Comm WP! And maybe put the WP in charge. And that is what I did. I took out about 5 Authoirty vessels, and then jumped out and back to the outpost. I think it was immediately noted about what I had done, as I had some sly smiles coming my way when I walked through the outpost by some Comm WP officials.
The next day, when I woke, the System Map was showing a raise in Comm WP's influence here, so thats good. I then checked on the system where I removed the Authority vessels yesterday. Oh wow. How that had an effect. It had dropped there rating by 5%, but also lowered the WP by 2.5% but the bigger news was that the Coalition had gone into Lockdown. Not only that, but there was Civil Unrest on the horizon AND had forced an impending Election with the WP. But how was I going to help the WP win it, not being able to land on the planet bases? Hello Merc, come in big fella!
'Merc, I have a job for you. Not immediate, but I'll let you know when.' and I explained the full picture. He had been busy the last week, doing his hauling and creating his own waves in another system. And he liked the sound of this.
'Excellent, more than happy to help. Shout when you need it.'
'At least a couple of weeks, while the Lockdown and Civil Unrest calms down. I'll do some pirate clearance at the same time. Some good trading in that new Corvette would help no end'
'Roger that' was his repsonse and with that we left it. For about 3 hours.
I had a Civil War running in my system, not the WP involved but 2 minor factions. I could do with calming that down and make life a bit calmer here. So I decided to hit one of the CZ's, and why not get Merc and Oppo involved. They enjoy some combat!
'I need this CW clearing boys, fancy some CZ time?'
'Absolutely, one Anni on its way, who we playing for?' shrilled Oppo.
'Corvette coming' replied Merc.
'The Nationals, they have the lower influence here, so lets play for the weaker man and end this thing' Only just weaker mind.
And we played in the CZ for a few hours, cashing in over 10 million combat bonds between the 3 of us. I also went and cashed in some of the bounties I had waiting, paid by the Coalition who are less than friendly with me, another dash into the starport without getting scanned. A good time to do it, while in Lockdown it will have no influence gain effect for them. Keep softening that under belly for when the WP are ready to move in.
Hopefully all this work will be having the desired effects. We will see tomorrow.