A ransom that did not go as planned.

The Black-Flag killboard was busy: I had noticed that a gang of four (x2 hurricanes, x1 maelstrom and x1 typhoon) had taken out a gang of three battleships from New Justice. The killmails showed that there was some confusion amongst the NJ guys as they all appeared to have accidentally locked and fired on each other in the confusion. I was running some errands when the Black-Flag Fleet channel winked on.

"Flash." It was Black-Flag's CEO, Viper Sam.
"Hello Sam. Update?" I asked, dispensing with pleasantries as I could smell a fight brewing up.
"Get fleet 'cane and rendevous at Klogori."
"Roger."

I switched to the Black-Flag Fleet Hurricane and undocked into the splendour of Gusandall space. My nav-computer plotted the shortest course and I jumped towards the fleet with minimal fuss. Chatter on the comms channel was kept to a minimum with only our two scouts talking. Snake Boy, now joining Black-Flag on our operations, arrived in his covert-ops.

We had a fleet of six ships: x3 hurricanes, a malestrom, a falcon and cheetah. A nicely balanced force with the valuable force multiplying effect of the falcon and the eyes and ears of the cheetah.
A broadsword interdictor decloaked in Klogori and we decided to lock him. He was a pirate and a criminal and since this was low-sec space, there would be no question or qualms about engaging him. However, he was very fast - hitting his micro warp drive he reversed course and went into Dal. We gave chase and managed to scramble him on the other side, good work by Grunanca. I hit the micro warp drive just as Tor Lann and Viper made a bee-line to the broadsword. We needed to slow him down.

"Broadsword pointed." Said Grunance, his weapons opening up and splashing off the shields of the broadsword. "Damn it we need to slow it down. Where's the webber?"
"On my way. " Replied Tor Lann as he pushed his ship to it's limits, the micro warp drive roaring ferociously. There was a pause. I was now 22km and closing. My warp disruptor was on.
"One point."
"Webbed."
So now we had the broadsword and proceeded to strip it's shields.
"Shall we ransom?" Asked Grunanca. There were some grunts and non-commital noises from the fleet. Not too clear. We continued to fire. The broadsword had very nice shields but it couldn't last. "Am going to ransom. 100million isk for his broadsword?"
"Yeah, sounds good. Go for it. " Said Tor. One hundred million for broadsword and for the pod was a good price. Grunanca started to broadcast in the local coomunication subnet.
"One hundred million to let you." We continued to fire and the shields on the broadsword final broke.
"I don't have that. Eighty million." Bargaining with pirates during a ransom is not usually a good idea. A simple yes or no would be much better. We continued to fire into armour. I stopped firing but kept my point on the broadsword.
"What do you think? Eighty million isn't too bad?" Asked Grunanca, am going to accept it.
"Ok. 80 sounds good." Said Grunanca, who realising that we continued to fire, shouted."Stop firing!" It was too late, a single missile streaked over towards the broadsword and the HIC exploded.
"Shit."
"Oops."
"Who the fuck fired? I said stop firing."
"Did he pay up? We have to pay him back."
"Shit."
"Get the pod! Get the pod!" The pod warped away.

Well, that was interesting. Grunanca got the kill mail and the we looted the wreck. I suppose, bargaining during a ransom is not a good idea. Was 100million asking for too much? Considering VicturusTeSaluto has advertised that he ransoms a pod for 50million a pop, we think the asking price was decent.

''VicturusTeSaluto > 50 for the pod
Nortash > what's the point
Nortash > that was really mean''

Concord kill mail:

2008.02.29 10:04

Victim: VicturusTeSaluto
Alliance: None
Corp: Metafarmers
Destroyed: Broadsword
System: Dal
Security: 0.4
Damage Taken: 25861

Involved parties:

Name: Grunanca (laid the final blow)
Security: -10.0
Alliance: None
Corp: BLACK-FLAG
Ship: Hurricane
Weapon: 425mm AutoCannon II
Damage Done: 13154

Name: Tor Lann
Security: -10.0
Alliance: None
Corp: BLACK-FLAG
Ship: Hurricane
Weapon: 425mm AutoCannon II
Damage Done: 9125

Name: flashfresh
Security: -10.0
Alliance: None
Corp: BLACK-FLAG
Ship: Hurricane
Weapon: 425mm AutoCannon II
Damage Done: 2783

Name: Viper Sam
Security: -10.0
Alliance: None
Corp: BLACK-FLAG
Ship: Maelstrom
Weapon: 800mm Repeating Artillery II
Damage Done: 799


Destroyed items:

220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II
Republic Fleet EMP M, Qty: 199
10MN MicroWarpdrive II
Scan Resolution
X5 Prototype I Engine Enervator
Beta Reactor Control: Diagnostic System I
Beta Reactor Control: Diagnostic System I
Beta Reactor Control: Diagnostic System I
Large Shield Extender II, Qty: 3 (Cargo)
10MN Afterburner II (Cargo)
V-M15 Braced Multispectral Shield Matrix (Cargo)
Scan Resolution (Cargo)
Core Defence Field Purger I, Qty: 2

Dropped items:

Warp Disruption Field Generator I
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II
Republic Fleet EMP M, Qty: 132
F-90 Positional Sensor Subroutines
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Focused Warp Disruption
Beta Reactor Control: Diagnostic System I
Barrage M, Qty: 5191 (Cargo)
Prototype I Sensor Booster (Cargo)
Republic Fleet EMP M, Qty: 3352 (Cargo)


Snake Boy and Prediction where scouting in the nearby system and missed the kill.

We did engage a megathron from VHI at a gate but it had a tremendously thick armour on it. Another few more seconds, and we would have drilled through it but he managed to jump out and into safety.

A good morning's run I think.