Good morning citizens, this is your Fastforecast SI, Oracle reporting to you from the quantum space. We have several stories to get to but first, certain triggers have occurred that have resulted in the trigger of automated protocols for our field reporters. To all field reporters, Gold Protocols are in effect. Due to the assault on Fastforecast Actual as well as several of our field reporters going MIA and KIA, this was not a decision to be made lightly. This file may be found on your Mobi under your standard "Assignments" file heading. Simply scan your retina and it will unlock. For more information, please contact us here on Clio at McGrath or I can be contacted virtually anywhere. That's the great thing about being a simulated intelligence, the ability to multi-task. With that out of the way, Stanton is still under quarantine. With the Fleet Week over, rumors are spreading that the expo was really an excuse for the Imperial Navy to show Stanton what can be brought to bear if needed to be and what is policing the jump points out of Stanton. It's also of note what wasn't brought in. While several ships were brought in and citizens were allowed to walk through, many areas were off limits. This is normal on combat ships but not during expos as these ships would have gone through certain procedures to render them safe for civilians. The fact that they weren't indicates that they were shows of force, not necessarily marketing as advertised. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVYM-qx2dYQ Finally, we have the scourge of Stanton, Chaos Squad. As their name indicates, this group of ruffians sow chaos wherever their thrusters take them. Today their hunting grounds was over Bezdek on Arial, a favorite of miners, traders and pirates alike due to the rich ore deposits located below the surface of the small moon. The pirate's attention was caught by a miner engaging in a very novice move, pinging very close to a trade hub. Citizens, 2k is too close and pining is a death sentence these days. If you're going to do it, don't do a strong ping. It makes mining easier but it makes you a bigger target. As the miner works, he is unaware that above his head the vultures circle with shields and weapons off to present the smallest EM and IR signatures possible. Instead of racing in and engaging, Chaos Squad patiently circle, mapping out the area around the miner, seeing how they can approach on foot as the objective is always to get the payday, not necessarily to make a kill. Killing is expensive and messy according to Pirate Lord Captain DirtyBoots. "You just don't want to waste the rounds if ya don't have ta ya know? If ya can just get tha booty, you just slide in like yur date on prom night and Dave's yur uncle." We maybe a simulated intelligence with massive processing power at our disposal but...we are unable to make out what half of that sentence meant. Maybe you will reader. With the belly of the Roc full of Hadanite, the Squad begins their drop. As Citizen NinetyNineSolo mined, the wolf pack deployed ground troops and began arming EM pulses renegaging sleeping combat systems. It was only when everything came back online that they noticed that the Citizen had not just one Roc onboard his ship but several. Pirate RatJack, on foot, quickly made his way onboard the Cutlass Black and jumped into the turret to hide onboard to permit them negotiating ability should the citizen escape initially. We remind you once again citizens, always keep your ship locked and closed when you are not onboard. It may take a second to get back in but it will limit instances like this. At over 200 Hadanite, the miner continues to mine while the pirates salivate at the prospect of an easy kill. The vote is made to kill until they realize he is new to the system, having only arrived the day prior. It's when this is discovered that vote is made to offer a ransom and the ransom is a very reasonable 25k. Instead of paying, the new pilot makes a very new pilot move and tries to outrun Sentinels with a Cutlass Black. Drake is not known for their speed outside of the Herald. Baiting the pilot to run to the black, Citizen NinetyNineSolo thought he was free until the pirate in the turret appeared as a ghost and fired once into the back of his skull, leaving the Squad his ship full of cargo to be looted at their leisure. Freshly awoken in his cloning bed, the new arrival, justifiably confused, was educated on the rule of "Always pay your pirate." Citizens both new arrivals to Stanton and veterans of the black, we urge you to lock your ship and to keep your eyes on your radar. Don't mine close to outposts, keep an eye to global and if you're offered parlay, at least respond. It buys time. Always, always, always, check your ship for stowaways. Even if you escape an ambush, having a stowaway could cost you your life and cargo. New Advertiser: Krash Convoys: Want to protect your cargo and cash? The answer is simple, better call Krash. Krash Convoys, offering security services for traders, miners, and the general public. Robertsspaceindustries.com/orgs/Krash" Christmas in July During the month of July, respond to any of our reports and your name goes into a hat. End of July we start handing out 2 million aUEC packages until we empty the bank. That simple. We're looking for organizations to donate to make this as big as our Christmas giveaway and put some new pilots (and not so new pilots) in ships that they otherwise would have to save up for or cargo in those C2's. However the pilot wants to spend it. Up to them. Comment, win, spend. So if you or your org wants to donate, let us know. We'll keep track of who donates what, if you leave us your org logo, we'll post it on our "Donor list" on giveaway day and post up screen shots of the payout so that every aUEC is accounted for. Fastforecast Archives:https://www.reddit.com/r/starcitizen/comments/iuymhv/fastforecast_archives/