Montezuma Base

CLASS: Ramshackle

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Limited

CREW: 410

Completed in 684 AS, Montezuma has been the main base from where the Liberty Rogues raid civilian traffic in both the Magellan and Cortez systems. Trade between Liberty and Bretonia has always been heavy, so the Rogues have no shortage of targets to ply their brutal trade. The base isn't as well concealed as most other Rogue bases, and some of the Rogues suspect that both Liberty and Bretonia are aware of the base's location, but so far, neither nation has made an aggressive move towards the Corcovado Ice Field. The base is also frequented by Outcasts, Lane Hackers and Junkers seeking to buy and sell Cardamine, supplies or information.

As the Gallic incursion pushes into Cortez, Montezuma has attempted to remain unnoticed and has significantly reduced its patrols of the system in a bid to remain hidden. With security on high alert, all rogue ships in Cortez have been instructed to flee into Bretonia or Liberty instead of risk giving away Montezuma, Inverness or Coronado installations. The notable reduction in activity in Cortez has lead to a surge of rogue activity within the neighbouring systems.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Outcasts

* Liberty Rogues

## News

Once they had captured the Outcast, the Rogues broadcast a message to their cartel, threatening to kill the hostage unless they were promised regular Cardamine shipments to keep turning a profit. The response was quick, and far more brutal than they could have anticipated. All six of the Rogues were found killed after several days of silence, with no Outcast hostage in sight. While it is unclear exactly what happened, the message was very clear to any who might tug at the Outcast leash; the reprisals would be unforgiving, and serve as a reminder that anyone can be replaced.
While many other Rogue groups have sought to distance themselves from the actions of the young and brash, grumbles of discontent have nonetheless been heard around our bars and bunks, and it is unclear if this is truly the last we will hear of conflict between us and the Outcasts.

The Outcasts and their most loyal agents stepped in almost immediately in anticipation of something like this happening, and set new rules for distribution according to set keys. A small group of Liberty Rogues defied them and followed their own rules of distribution, but they didn't fare too well - the Dons, despite the ongoing crisis in Malta, do not tolerate insubordination.
For this reason, several powerful Junkers and Rogues immediately decided to dilute Cardamine instead of redistributing ostentatiously against the wishes of the Outcasts at the expense of their clients, thereby raising their own shares. Fortunately for these savvy businessmen, word did not reach the Outcasts until some time later, and thanks to an improved network of cooperation, most of the organizers were able evade Malta's assassins.
However, all these measures had only limited effectiveness. Many end-clients and casual Cardamine users have been forced to seek medical attention due to their deteriorating health due to potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms. It is not known how many Cardamine users eventually died because of the shortage, but it appears to be in the order of single-digit percentages - much to the very verbal displeasure of the Outcasts themselves.

Professor Nagel and her team are certain the Pulse originated from outside Sirius, but are otherwise no closer to identifying its source or mitigating a future Blackout event. "Following the Blackout, we began to see immediate signs of jump hole destabilization in multiple different regions, with many ultimately falling out of phase alignment altogether", she commented. The dramatic upending of Sirius' jump hole network has already prompted many groups to abandon stations and withdraw from systems that appear to risk being cut off.
While months-long trips between the stars are possible thanks to the Liberty Engine and many centuries of innovation, few ships are designed or provisioned to make such arduous journeys. Those who were displaced by Sirius' redrawn map hope that system connections will return, while adventurers and explorers rush to discover new routes.

For some time, it had been alleged that Insurgent and Xeno-backed cells had been stirring trouble on Erie, inciting violence in the population and seeking to turn the planet into a second Veracruz. Never, however, had such open acts of terror been visited upon the governing Libertonian forces.
The response was quick and decisive. In coordination with the LSF, Vice Admiral Hamish aboard the Battleship Alma lead a Liberty Navy task force directly into the system in Operation Pesticide, escorted primarily by Siege Cruisers, Gunboats and fightercraft, with many of the Navy's capital warships tied in the Vespucci campaign or ever watchful at Liberty's borders. They were met by Zoner Q-ships based from Bethlehem, with many coming from as far as Galileo or even the Sigmas, accompanied by a motley assortment of freelancers and other anarchist elements. Leading the Zoner line was a Aquilon-class carrier, the Pinnacle.
While the Pinnacle came under heavy bombardment from the Alma and her task force, supplies quickly gathered onto Zoner transports from Erie attempted to run the Navy blockade. While some transports were lost to Navy bombers, others yet escaped to parts as of yet unknown. This 'victory', however, came at a heavy price. The Pinnacle was lost with most of her hands still on board and the rest captured, while the Liberty Marines landed virtually unopposed, quickly securing population centers for both the safety of Libertonian assets and the civilians on Erie itself. The Alma is settled now into the low orbit of Erie, a constant reminder to those below that they are under the protection of the Liberty Navy. A comfort to some, a dire warning to many more.

## Rumors

* I love seeing the Outcast ship landing on this base. Some folks get so excited when he drops the inbound call that they fly out to meet him. Once one our greeters blew the Outcast's cover and put a couple of Bounty Hunters on him. When the mask breather was done smoking the two Hunters, he vaped the poor kid, too. Things got worse when he landed.

* Things got a little frosty around here last week. An Outcast killed one of ours for accidentally alerting some Bounty Hunters to his location. When the Outcast landed, the kid's best friend stood up to the masker. The Outcast, without saying a word, pulled a Detroit Pocket Canon and blew him in half.

* There's a Jump Hole into California in the Paloma Ice Clouds just south of the Jump Gate. If you're trying to move some illegals and wanna stay clean of the scans, then that's the way to get into California.

* A few days ago, the Outcast ship Balboa was damaged by an LPI patrol that surprised it in the Tahoe Ice Cloud. It escaped its pursuers, but the failing control systems eventually caused it to hit an ice crystal and explode -- at least that's what they've been able to piece together from radar and the pilot's last words. The wreckage was scattered and drifted over a large area. The Cardamine cargo remains missing, probably still in the hold of the ship.

* A lot of money flows into this system from Liberty and Bretonia. All the Manhattanites come to Curacao to drink and snob it up. Sometimes their luxury transports don't always make it. And we are happy to lift the Commodities between the two Houses that cross our paths.

* Some of the Light Arms we get from the Junkers is shipped to Gibraltar in Newcastle. We pick up Cardamine for the return trip.

* Our base is fairly well hidden here in the Corcovado. It's useful to know that there is a Jump Hole into Magellan in this ice cloud, too. From Magellan there's a Jump Hole to Manchester, so you can cross into Bretonia space unscanned if you need to.

* When we head to Alcatraz to deliver Gold, we pick up Side Arms to bring back here. That way our esteemed guests can haul weaponry to the far edges of Sirius.

* We juice up on much of the Cardamine that the Outcasts bring here. They take the rest with them as they go into Liberty. The Hackers ship from Mactan to Buffalo, Alcatraz, and Rochester.

* Heading back out to Cali with Side Arms. They're so cheap here -- much better deal than at Trafalgar. On my way in from Buffalo yesterday I did some target practice on a Universal convoy in California. Paid off -- got some Luxury Goods bound for New London.

* I'm making the quick hop to Alcatraz tomorrow with a small payload of drugs. They've got Cardamine sleep chambers at the base here for itinerants like me. Not bad for an icy rock in the middle of nowhere.

*NOTE: Page generated on the 28/10/2023 at 17:59:46 UTC*