Engineer killed during pirate attack

Date: 251007
Planet: Tatooine/Karthakk system
Region: Farpoint Valley

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Just when it seemed pirate activity in the Karthakk system had lessened another freighter was attacked by those criminals. The TTC-Sunbeam, a YT-2400 class ship, had been chartered two days ago by the Intergalactic Mining Company for their weekly ore transport to Corellia. Since the Imperial navy, citing two weeks of no incident as proof that the system was secure, had deployed their patrols elsewhere, IMC had hired three freelance pilots as escorts for the trip. Unfortunately, this proved not enough faced with skilled and determinded pirates.

On the way to the refueling station, the convoy was attacked by two Vaksai heavy fighters and one so-called „Ugly“ – a rebuilt TIE craft. The escort ships attacked, but were vanquished quickly, and the TTC-Sunbeam was disabled and forced to jettison the cargo. TTC-employee Ovaon was fatally wounded during the attack when the engine she was trying to repair fractured and she got hit with plasma. Despite assistance by the rest of the crew, the rodian engineer died within minutes from severe burns.

With cargo, ships and a life lost, the question of who was responsible for the desaster is being asked by numerous people. An IMC spokesman stated that the corporation had done all it was legally required to, hiring several escort craft to replace the Imperial TIE Fighters that had protected the last convois. TTC representatives stated that the ships used as escorts were all old designs, manufactured during the clone wars, and therefore not up to the mission. Faced with rumors that the weapons of the TTC-Sunbeam itself had failed during the engagement, the representative cited regulations that prohibited stronger blasters, yet also stated that the firm’s ships would receive weapons with more firepower in the near future. The Imperial Navy released a communique to the press in which it explained that due to pressure from rebel forces in the sector, patrols had to be scaled back. It is expected, according to the communique, that once the rebel forces are beaten and the sector pacified, "the full might of the Empire will be turned upon those wretched criminals". Ovaon’s relatives are said to be looking into suing IMC, TTC and the Empire.

IMC stock dropped 5%, but recovered some when the company announced it was investing into space mining.