[Trans-Nebular] [Y24D116]
Representatives from Havoc Drilling and Extractions held a press conference today to update the public on their investigation of recent pirate activity. Over the past few standard months, Havoc has been experiencing a significant uptick in raids on their asteroid mining operations. The frequency of attacks have caused the corporation to establish their own dedicated defense force, Havoc Squad, to defend the mining sites and investigate threats to their operation.
“Pirates are nothing new,” said Brian Almeida, Director of mining operations, “Wherever there is someone else making an honest credit, there will be someone looking to steal it. We’re all veterans, and we were prepared to deal with this threat when we started this business over two standard years ago.”
After conferring with other similar mining operations across the galaxy, Havoc noticed a troubling trend. Attacks weren’t just going up in their sector, but piracy was on the rise galaxy wide and was getting more aggressive. “Something piqued our interest. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but when you spend as long on the front lines as I have, you get a sixth sense about these sorts of things.” Remarked Marshal Magnus Ironside, “Whenever the galaxy becomes less stable or there’s an economic downturn you expect a rise in piracy, but this was different. It’s happening all over, and it appears to be better organized than past pirate attacks.”
They explained that usually the raiders are small-time pirates pulling opportunistic hit-and-run attacks. They’re in competition not just with their target, but with other rival gangs. But analysts with Havoc Squad have noticed an increase not only in frequency of attack but in sophistication of maneuvers and strategy, and even possible coordination between gangs. These suspicions were confirmed when Havoc Squad captured a flagship for a group called the “Rim Raiders.” Data retrieved from the ship’s computer demonstrated a direct link between the Rim Raiders and other gangs like the “Whimsical Wampas” and the “Bandits of the Abyss.”
“Right now we can’t say for certain whether they are simply coordinating activity or if gangs like these are forming into larger coalitions or cartels, but this development does make them more dangerous.” Marshal Ironside extended an invitation for other concerned parties to gather at the upcoming Swap Meet on Tatooine to share data and analysis. “If this is a galaxy wide movement, it’ll take galaxy wide cooperation to put it down.”
In the meantime, Havoc is continuing their investigation into pirate activity in the Trans-Nebular and neighboring sectors. Their records show that around one hundred and twenty captured pirates are currently being processed and interrogated, and both wreckage and captured ships are being searched for further evidence. Currently, attacks on Havoc Drilling and Extraction operations are down eighty percent, and the company has resumed its normal workload. Marshall Ironside credits their success to their using combat veterans instead of formal law enforcement officers, and ended the conference by offering their consultant and anti-piracy services to all mining operations that could benefit from protection.
