Salzik Turf War
Breaks Out, part I
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A series of
skirmishes between two alliances have been reported in the
Salzik galaxy.
Late last week four
members of the Crusaders swept into the Salzik
galaxy and seized
control of one of the several planets belonging to the
Lords of
Melnibone. According to a source inside
the Salzik galactic
network, One LOM
member attempted to defend the planet as it was being
attacked. The LOM defender was able to kill one of the
Crusaders, but was
killed then when he
attempted to drive off the others.
Ultimately, the
planet was taken by the Crusaders, who hastily built up
defenses around
it. There was 28 million in cash bonded
in the
planetary vault with
5 hrs left on the timer, and three of the four Crusaders
chose to wait it out,
try to make off with the money before LOM
gathered for a
counter-attack.
Six hours later, when
LOM members arrived at the planet and blasted thru
it's defenses, they
found and killed a lone Crusader landed on it's
surface. The vault was empty, however and a final
tally showed that 32 million had
been taken.
The following day,
members of Crusaders returned and reclaimed the
planet once
again. This time, they fortified the area
around with mines
and aside from some
deliberate mine-clearing on the part of LOM, no other
activity was
reported.
On the third day,
both Crusader and Lords of Melnibone members were spotted in the
vacinity of the
planet. Two Crusaders took pot-shots at
two different LOM
planets in the
area. A LOM member went to defend one of
the planets,
and while he was able
to kill one of the Crusaders, he was also killed
in the process. That brings the death count to 2 for Lords of
Melnibone
and 3 for the
Crusaders.
This type of
territorial skirmishing is typical in the Salzik galaxy,
where federal law and
order is rarely imposed, and it appears that the
recent violence may
only be the beginning in the struggle between these two
groups.
Salzik Turf War, part
2
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Violence continues in
the Salzik galaxy between the Lords of Melnibone and the Crusaders. Just days after taking control of the Lords
of Melnibone planet and after random fighting with LoM members, three Crusaders
reportedly siezed another LOM planet, this time losing only one member to the
planet's fearsome guns. The following
day, two LOM members were spotted patrolling Salzik, clearing mines and placing
forces of their own in the area, when they were ambushed by a lone
Crusader. Witnesses say both Lords of
Melnibone ships were lost in the attack, and the Crusader ship was also
destroyed.
Two days later, the
Crusaders attacked yet another LoM planet.
This time, several of the Lords of Melnibone came to defend the planet,
despite the LoM alliance having suffered casualties in a brutal battle with
another alliance just prior to the Crusaders' attack. A brief skirmish then ensued across the
Salzik galaxy in which 3 Crusaders and 2 LoMs were killed. This brings the total count to 8 Crusaders
and 6 Lords of Melnibone deaths since the start of this turf war over planetary
space. Federation authorities seem
powerless to put a stop to the ongoing situation, and it is this reporter's
opinion that the end is not in sight.
Salzik Turf War, Part
3
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Events in the Salzik
turf war continue to escalate. Up until
last week, the Crusaders had held their own against the Lords of Melnibone,
keeping their planets for the moment.
And just as it seemed
certain that the LoM would return at any moment for a counterstrike, war broke
out in Doriath which forced the LoM attention away from Salzik. This gave the Crusaders a few precious days
to build up planetary defenses, but the peace was short-lived. According to witnesses, early one morning 8
members of Dark Coalition came and attacked their planet, killing 5 Crusaders. Such a blow might have crushed a lesser
alliance, but within days, however, a steadfast group of 8 Crusaders rallied to
take back the planet they had lost to Dark Coalition. No Coalition deaths were reported in the
action.
Meanwhile, an error
storm last week put an interesting spin on the continued struggle between
Crusaders and Lords of Melnibone.
Observers say 2 LoM members ventured into Salzik late one night. Alerted to their presence, 5 Crusaders in
warbirds were scrambled to meet them. The two groups converged in a single
sector, where combat was engaged.
Warships exchanged blast after blast, and while one Crusader ship was
destroyed, it appeared that the Lords of Melnibone ships were literally seconds
from being destroyed at the hands of the Crusaders.
Suddenly, an error
storm swept thru the galaxies, disabling all ships and effectively calling a
stop to the battle. For several hours,
witnesses say, the ships remained motionless, frozen by the mysterious storm.
When the storm
finally abated, the ships remained fixed and quiet in the sector. Working
quickly, other Crusaders in the area set up a mine field in and around the
sector where the battle had raged, enclosing the combatants in a ring of
danger.
From the center of
the minefield, LoM pilots in their damaged ships called for help. Soon, 2 Lords of Melnibone ships were sighted
in Salzik space. They began clearing a path to the center of the minefield, and
when 2 Crusaders attempted to drive them off, their ships were destroyed by the
rescue team. The Lords of Melnibone
continued to the center of the mines, placed a number of their own mines to
discourage the Crusaders, and left.
It is unknown why the
2 Lords of Melnibone ships remained at the center of the minefield, but before
the ships had a chance to escape, the Crusaders were able to clear the enemy
mines, and once again enclose the LoM ships inside a wide circle of mines.
After a day of
waiting, it appeared that no further help was forthcoming, so one of the LoM
pilots attempted to navigate the minefield and was destroyed. At that time a second rescue mission was
dispatched from LoM bases and within hours, the second pilot was brought safely
home.
Federal authorities
seem unable or unwilling to intervene in this struggle.
