Dear Sir/Madam
I regret to inform you that your daughter, Jenny, died heroically while defending my vessel, Safe As Houses, from an vicious and unprovoked attack.
Jenny was a well-liked and respected member of the crew. She was often early for her duty shift, and always acted in a professional manner. Well, apart from the time when she - accidentally - enabled silent running while we were in close proximity to a White Dwarf. The resulting increase of heat within the ship meant an unexpected barbecue from the 180 tons of animal meat we were transporting. If only we had some salad on board.
But, apart from that single incident, Jenny was an invaluable member of the crew. Her sarcastic sense of humour (especially in combat zones) and her tales of life within the Empire (did she really assassinate four Senators in one weekend?) often lifted sprits, enabling improvement in morale and the destruction ofdefenceless haulage vessels well armed and very deadly Anacondas.
Jenny was an excellent fighter pilot, often displaying skills well beyond her Master Combat rank. Under my tutorage, I have no doubt she would have made Elite ranking one day. I know that she often dreamed of exploring the stars, and told me on several occasions she would wait until the fourth quarter of the year to do so.
However, she will never be able to do that. Because we were ambushed within the wretched hive of scum and villainy: The Sol system.
I have no idea why System Authority within Sol opened fire on us. I can assure you that under my command, your daughter was never ordered to perform any illegal act. Not in the last week anyway. Upon arriving in Sol, for a totally legal and routine cargo run - we were interdicted and – very rudely I’ll add – ripped out of super cruise into normal space. The System Authority vessels told us that we “shouldn’t be transporting caves!”. I know right? Earthers talking nonsense. Jenny thought they said we “shouldn’t be transporting slaves!” I’d ask her, but alas, I can’t.
Seconds after their vocal broadcast, we were attacked by two Anacondas.
Because they feared us, they brought two Vulture-class vessels with them.
Because they were cowards, they fought us with engineered hardware.
I, naturally, deployed hardpoints. I didn’t have to order your daughter to deploy her fighter, she had already done so, and was performing her duty with her usual skill and enthusiasm before the first plasma accelerator shot smacked into our shields. Jenny dispatched plasma repeater fire into a Vulture's shields while unleashing a volley of insults at the same ship.
Meanwhile, I flew with my usual level of cunning and agility (flight assist on, Netflix off) while providing covering fire for Jenny’s fighter.
Alas, one of the pesky Vultures destroyed the fighter with a lucky railgun shot. During the chaotic seconds that followed, an army of red triangles appeared on my HUD, telling me to abandon ship.
As I’m sure you’re aware, Jenny signed the standard FP-34 form, which clearly states that Under imminent ship destruction conditions, only the Commander can use the escape pod. Space is big, but space is at a premium within spaceships, especially on smaller ships like Safe As Houses, a T9 class vessel. There simply isn’t enough room or power for another escape pod onboard. What space is available has to be allocated to primary systems: Life Support, My Private Cinema, My Private Swimming Pool and of course, cargo space for the Slav-I mean, caves.
Alas, I could only watch from my escape pod, as Jenny rammed Safe As Houses into one of the Anacondas, in a last act of defiance.
Please find attached a bank order for the transfer of compensation funds from my personal account. I’m sure you and your family will find the 6,000CR useful.
The Commander.
I regret to inform you that your daughter, Jenny, died heroically while defending my vessel, Safe As Houses, from an vicious and unprovoked attack.
Jenny was a well-liked and respected member of the crew. She was often early for her duty shift, and always acted in a professional manner. Well, apart from the time when she - accidentally - enabled silent running while we were in close proximity to a White Dwarf. The resulting increase of heat within the ship meant an unexpected barbecue from the 180 tons of animal meat we were transporting. If only we had some salad on board.
But, apart from that single incident, Jenny was an invaluable member of the crew. Her sarcastic sense of humour (especially in combat zones) and her tales of life within the Empire (did she really assassinate four Senators in one weekend?) often lifted sprits, enabling improvement in morale and the destruction of
Jenny was an excellent fighter pilot, often displaying skills well beyond her Master Combat rank. Under my tutorage, I have no doubt she would have made Elite ranking one day. I know that she often dreamed of exploring the stars, and told me on several occasions she would wait until the fourth quarter of the year to do so.
However, she will never be able to do that. Because we were ambushed within the wretched hive of scum and villainy: The Sol system.
I have no idea why System Authority within Sol opened fire on us. I can assure you that under my command, your daughter was never ordered to perform any illegal act. Not in the last week anyway. Upon arriving in Sol, for a totally legal and routine cargo run - we were interdicted and – very rudely I’ll add – ripped out of super cruise into normal space. The System Authority vessels told us that we “shouldn’t be transporting caves!”. I know right? Earthers talking nonsense. Jenny thought they said we “shouldn’t be transporting slaves!” I’d ask her, but alas, I can’t.
Seconds after their vocal broadcast, we were attacked by two Anacondas.
Because they feared us, they brought two Vulture-class vessels with them.
Because they were cowards, they fought us with engineered hardware.
I, naturally, deployed hardpoints. I didn’t have to order your daughter to deploy her fighter, she had already done so, and was performing her duty with her usual skill and enthusiasm before the first plasma accelerator shot smacked into our shields. Jenny dispatched plasma repeater fire into a Vulture's shields while unleashing a volley of insults at the same ship.
Meanwhile, I flew with my usual level of cunning and agility (flight assist on, Netflix off) while providing covering fire for Jenny’s fighter.
Alas, one of the pesky Vultures destroyed the fighter with a lucky railgun shot. During the chaotic seconds that followed, an army of red triangles appeared on my HUD, telling me to abandon ship.
As I’m sure you’re aware, Jenny signed the standard FP-34 form, which clearly states that Under imminent ship destruction conditions, only the Commander can use the escape pod. Space is big, but space is at a premium within spaceships, especially on smaller ships like Safe As Houses, a T9 class vessel. There simply isn’t enough room or power for another escape pod onboard. What space is available has to be allocated to primary systems: Life Support, My Private Cinema, My Private Swimming Pool and of course, cargo space for the Slav-I mean, caves.
Alas, I could only watch from my escape pod, as Jenny rammed Safe As Houses into one of the Anacondas, in a last act of defiance.
Please find attached a bank order for the transfer of compensation funds from my personal account. I’m sure you and your family will find the 6,000CR useful.
The Commander.
