AG-6379   Emissary

• Azhanti High Lightning class Armed Merchant (60,000 dtons)
• Owner = Oberlindes Lines
• Builder = Clan Severn
• Laid Down = 138-0997
• First Flight = 121-1000
• Note = Sold to Oberlindes on 321-1023
• Status = In Service

Ex-"Sparkling Distress" (FI-6379) was declared surplus to the needs of the Imperium and sold to Oberlindes Lines. Ordinarily, such ships are sold with a demilitarisation agreement, but delivery of this ship took place outside of the Imperial borders, and (through a technicality) could not be forced to be demilitarised. There was some evidence that the entire transaction was coerced by Oberlindes, but this has never been proven. Because of the technical circumvention of regulations, the ship was not allowed to reenter the Imperium, and was instead operated from an Oberlindes trading center in the Uthe subsector (at Pandrin/Uthe 0610). From their it made excursions into Vargr territory, taking unusual materials, finished goods, and processed ores in exchange for Imperial goods, rare wines, and technological jewels. The retention of the armament by the EMISSARY was a bold and well-reasoned move. The strong show of force to the Vargr created a respect that gave an advantage to the traders; fortunately, the gunnery was never actually used in the trading missions.

Supplement 5, GDW