Intergalactic Summit

Intaki, Viriette, Placid
by Zorzion, Reporter for The Scope

Federation Customs officials today announced the arrest of small-time hoodlum Aacryx Vultron, a drug dealer, slaver, and minor scourge of the Intaki system.

Posing as CEO of Serpentiis Mercantile (SMYRK), a subsidiary of Serpentis Corporation, Vultron had in recent months attempted to greatly expand narcotics distribution at locales throughout the Intaki system, including planet Intaki V, homeworld of the Intaki people.

In addition to importing large quantities of narcotics to Intaki, he and his gang had managed to construct a Serpentis Drug Outlet in the system, as well as an "Orbital Narcotics Distribution Platform" a mere 2.5kkm above the homeworld.

As the following image taken by undercover Fed Customs agents shows, the narcotics platform served as storage and distribution for numerous banned substances, including Mindflood, X-Instinct, Blue Pill, and Crystal Egg. It also housed over 200 slaves along with their Slaver handlers and Slaver Hounds.

Intaki Homeworld - Orbital Narcotics Distribution Plaform (SMYRK):
http://i.imgur.com/XwF4Toi.jpg

The hubris of this criminal Vultron, to imagine such blantant disregard for law and order would go unchallenged!

Serpentis Drug Outlet (SMYRK):
http://i.imgur.com/Ygale76.jpg

Vultron's drug dealing and other illicit activities, including secret importation to Intaki of slaves, were destined to meet a bad end. His machinations quickly attracted the attention of local Intaki law enforcement, such that it is, as well as independent vigilante capsuleer groups based at the Intaki system such as the Intaki Liberation Front (ILF).

The ILF, in particular, forcefully intervened, destroying SMYRK narcotics transport vessels and obliterating the Drug Outlet and Orbital Narcotics Distribution Platform, as killmails show.

Responding to a request for comment, ILF Diplomat Bataav had this to say regarding his corporation's motivation for destroying SMYRK's drug facilties and ships:

"Unlike many other organisations, the ILF is not interested in fame or fortune. Our efforts are for the betterment of the Intaki system and its people. Pirates such as Serpentis threaten to undermine Intaki's potential, and so our pilots frequently seek out and engage their patrols and installations." - Bataav (ILF)

Serpentis Drug Outlet (destroyed):
http://i.imgur.com/TFZKPv1.jpg

Combat pilot Hecate Luger, CEO of Summanus, often seen flying the Intaki system, was contacted for independent verification of the ILF's pirate-fighting activities in the area:

"To my best knowledge the ILF is genuinely interested in Intaki independence and general prosperity, and its members are actively opposing drug smuggling and Serpentis activity at all times." - Hecate Luger (SUMMS)

His drug empire crumbling, Vultron's capture followed soon after the destruction of his corp's main space-bound installations, caught by police at a stargate with slaves in his cargo. As it turns out, undercover Fed Customs agents had been tracking Vultron for some time and had received a tip on his whereabouts.

Other members of SMYRK appear to be lying low, but your faithful reporter managed to track down SMYRK pilot King Armer at the Rissa Bar (Astral Mining Station, Intaki system) for comment. Armer didn't offer much, but did state, "You nabbed Vultron, eh? Forget it, that won't slow us down for long." He then shoved his way past and out the door, disappearing into the crowded station.

Federation Customs are keeping most details about this bust under wraps, but a source within the agency who wishes to remain anonymous shared this: Customs agents have whisked Vultron to an undisclosed secure location for questioning, and he likely faces years of incarceration in federation prison for his crimes.

The source did provide the following covert image of Vultron in his holding cell:

Aacryx Vultron (CEO SMYRK) Behind Bars:
http://i.imgur.com/iWtMFAs.jpg

As for the other members of SMYRK, their whereabouts are currently unknown. At a guess, they'll move their operations deeper underground to avoid further disruptions, especially with the annual Serpentis and Angel Cartel gatherings, known as the Guardian's Gala, imminent.

A good day then, for the residents of the Intaki system and the Viriette Constellation generally, with this criminal menace Vultron off the spacelanes.

For The Scope, this is Zorzion, reporting on this breaking story from the Intaki V-5 Astral Mining station, Intaki system, Placid.

A mobile depot? My my, a proper kingpin. If you'll excuse me, I have to go check on the CEO office. There's a very weird sound coming from there.

Edit: Nevermind, he's just laughing so hard I think he'll wake up in a softclone in a bit.

Do you have the proper facilities for taking care of the freed men and women? The trained personnel? I can send experienced and trained personnel free of charge.

Another small business owner subjected to overzealous enforcement of burdensome regulations.

We capsuleers may be jaded in such matters, but this does seem a bit.... unimpressive? Like, you could be covering a purse snatching and it would be about the same.

Hisssssssssss

I uh mean...Good catch. Very well done

You forgot that a 'small time' capsuleer is capable of impacting the lives of at least a couple thousand baseliners. Heck, I personally am the lifeline of approximately two thousand and five hundred personnel living out in my industrial colonies, managing my hangars or ship maintenance, and workshop and proving grounds support, and I'm a freelancer.

To us, this 'hoodlum' is small time, but for the people down in the gravity well, his removal is a big deal.

My congratulations to my dear colleagues over at ILF on a job well done. We stand ready to protect the interests of the Intaki should our assistance ever be requested.

The power vacuum(the lower position the easier and quicker it happens) after him will fill soon if it hadn't already.

Small victories are victories nonetheless.