Corvus News Network has received disturbing reports of Viper pilots attacking unarmed traders in Sedina. These reports have since been confirmed by several TGFT and free trader witnesses.

Since Viper pilot Jenn Danthar narrowly defeated Impavid in his energy only challenge, Impavid/tumblemonster has honored the bet and become a trader for a week. The Vipers have been seen repeatedly attempting to pirate Impavid's unarmed Moth XC (and failing). They have since been reportedly attacking other trade vessels, claiming "defense".

Kharon's Shores spokesman had this comment: "They can't hide their activities under the guise of nobility any more. They've been caught out. Contact available CHRN representatives to hire protection from Viper attack."

VIPERS TO BE IMMEDIATELY SUSPICIOUS OF:

Strat

Tierl

Jenn Danshar

Shmizel

Beware all traders, the Viper's have fallen off their pedestal and landed in piracy. From all reports they have yet to successfully pirate a single vessel, but it's only a matter of time. BE WARY of any offers of help or assistance from the Viper Guild. They can no longer be trusted.

In a stern response to this news, PA has pulled all its stock from the VPR holding company, and has gone further to say that piracy is not very nice at all, and something that meanies do. As-yet-unconfirmed reports indicate that they have taken the additional step of setting VPR as KOS, activating the hidden casket containing Mecha, and beginning to hunt down and eat the children of known VPR sympathizers.

When reached for comment, member Uvguda B Kedenmii had this to say: "Yeah, we've pretty much completely mobilized. After a fine dinner of Viper sympathizer babies I know I'm ready to go out and blast anyone I see out of the sky, just in case they might be a snake!"

Early data filtering in from embedded sources paints a picture of PA pilots rabidly firing upon, ramming, and, in some cases, getting out and attempting to urinate on Viper, Xang Xi, TPG, TGFT, and even other PA vessels. Asked about this new activity in greyspace, PAGA member Natan Urlif somberly stated "We are a universe gone mad."

EDIT: In case it's not clear, this is entirely tongue-in-cheek. It was clearer back when there was a ONE post escalating the matter above it, but now it's kind of standalone. For a non-humourous take on the matter, look here

Now this is a fantastic public opinion campaign. Very well done. Really gets you wantin to go all anti VPR and such.

Sadly, like most public opinion campaigns, this one lacks substance. A pirate in a trade ship is still a pirate and still liable for their crimes. Further, by necessity, pirates are traders first and bandits second as is illustrated by our own notorious victim and commander of the pirate guild CHRN Impavid being a Master Trader of very high distinction.

Interesting... and yet... not our problem.

Oh come on Bojan! Get into the spirit of things. This is hilarious :P

Boo VPR!
Yay VPR!
Some say leave VPR
cause we're peaved VPR!
Others hope you stay VPR
Cause you make our day VPR!

You can't make stuff like that up with just any old guild tag. XD

Believe it or not, I actually don't do this for a living. ;)

Edit: This horrible tune will stick in your mind not for minutes or hours, but you will have it played over and over again in your minds for days. Thus sayeth The Fluffy

I'm master trader IV because for a while I could stuff 200,000cu of cargo in my maud.

I never trade, but I lost a bet. I am a trader for a week. If you attack me in an unarmed ship, you're a pirate. We're happy to admit it, why are the Vipers hiding behind honor and nobility?

They want to punish me while they think they can, take revenge, grief and station camp. It's not even piracy, because pirates take money or cargo, Vipers just want to kill. It's not even piracy, it's arolte style, it's roda slane.

It's what the Vipers really are, sadly.

Whine Whine CHRN
Whine Whine CHRN

Buddy your a boy making a lot of noise,
Playin in B8 gonna be a big rat some day,
Mining dust on your face
Your neuts misplaced
Kickin those newbs all over B8

Singing

Whine Whine CHRN
Whine Whine CHRN

Heh. My mistake. I guess you can do it with any old guild tag

Somebody shot a trader in xc?
You got a little hole in your head now?
Take 2 aspirins and walk it off!

lmfao!!!!

On a serious note though, suck it up and take it like a man. No one heard me pissing and moaning when Chaakin pirated me last night. I complimented him for his professionalism.

That's because Chaakin is a pirate, moron. VPR, on the other hand, is an ostensibly pro-trader guild.

Ah but my dear dumbass, Impavid only agreed to trade for a week if he lost. He says nothing about giving up piracy or becoming a trader. As I said, a pirate in a trade ship is still a pirate.

Add to that he still carries the CHRN guild tag and so far as I know, remains the commander to that group of pirates.

So you're agreeing with me fluffy. The Viper's are using their "protecting the innocent" bullshit to justify griefing and station camping.

That's what I'm saying too.

BREAKING NEWS!

We have confirmed, first hand reports of the Viper's attempting to blackmail traders into pirating other trade ships.

STORY DEVELOPING...

I would absolutely love to see the world through your eyes Impavid. It must be otherworldly!

But to answer your question, umn... No. Well, I guess it wasn't really a question more of a silly assumption.

I suppose I should clarify my opinion. Regardless of what your current activity is, you are a pirate. As such, VPR or any other anti pirate individual or guild is within their rights to attack you as a pirate. That XC your using does not provide a shield of protection against your past actions.

Well then I reverse that on you and say that as a trader for the week, I can attack anyone I like because they might attack me. I believe that means I'm fully embracing being a trader for a week.

Glad the Vipers are too.

Awww, great. Now that Pyroman_Ace deleted his post there isn't the kind of leadup to mine that there used to be. It loses something, I think. *snif*

Nothing worse than corrupt cops turned incompetent crooks. As a trader, privateer, gentleman of fortune and all around good guy... I will offer an armed escort to any member of CHRN who is trading in a peaceful fashion.

The VPR's primary goal is to target players deemed a threat and prevent them from doing harm to interstellar trade. They are not, as I understand it, a vigilante group.

Their goal is not to extract revenge on any former pirate they find.

I would argue that it is NOT piracy, but, rather, a descent into vigilante-style justice, which is hardly lawful.

If Impavid is trading, he poses no threat, and so he is not a concern of the VPRs.

I concur with the assessment that VPR and in fact, all, guilds should consider current threat assessments on their targets before engaging.

Just because someone has been a pirate, or engaged in any other form of hostile activity in the past is not necessarily probable cause to pursue a continuing hostile stance against them in all future encounters.

While I will not go so far as to offer my personal defense of CHRN while trading as Ryan has done, I will go so far as to say that I will not participate in any attack on a peaceful, non-threatening trade ship, CHRN, CLM, or otherwise.