Treachery and Thunder strike cargo convoy

Date: 300310
Planet: Tatooine/Naboo System/Ord Mantell
Region: Farpoint Valley/Nova Orion Station

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

The Naboo system was one focus point of the recent interdictor operation of the Imperial Navy. Some analysts expected that local pirates would also be affected by the operation, and the general security of the system would improve. Last night's events proved them wrong.

The Intergalactic Mining Corporation sent one YT-1300 freighter, Captain Sive'a Allande's YT-1300 "Light Ray", with a cargo of carbonate ore from Farpoint Valley, Tatooine to Nova Orion Station, Ord Mantell. As escorts served Traynu, Ramona and Falcun Nix, in two scyks and one interceptor.

Even before the convoy left the Tatooine system they came under attack by an ARC-170 and a scyk. The "Light ray" jumped out while the escorts engaged the raiders, shooting down the ARC-170 and driving the scyk away. One scyk suffered disabling damage, but jury-rigged repairs from Falcun Nix allowed it to reach the Naboo system, where further repairs followed at the Rori Orbital Station.



At that point though treachery struck - Traynu, obviously a pirate plant, switched sides and attacked the remaining two escort in concert with the returned scyk. After a furious fight both escorts were left floating in space, disabled, while the "Light Ray" suffered extensive damage to hull and systems, with the cargo being destroyed.

The pirates then revealed themselves as the infamous Thunder Pirates and left a warning message - threatening to destroy the next transports as well, unless they were paid off. IMC management hasn't yet revealed how the company will react to this demand.

Falcun Nix, who had gone drifting in space following the fight with his disabled interceptor and had lost his distress beacon, was recovered later by Captain Nee'ki Starr in her "Aegis of Farpoint" vigo-class medium freighter after a short search - just in time before his air ran out.

IMC shares fell 5 % at the Coronet Stock Exchange following the news.