{"data":{"id":16116,"title":"OP.NET: Family Reunion","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/16116-OPNET-Family-Reunion","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/16116","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/16116","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"News Update","images":[{"id":955,"name":"OpNetFI_2.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/1ejml2ei2zs60r\/source\/OpNetFI_2.jpg","alt":"","size":1508642,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2013-10-16T02:22:57+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/955","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/955\/similar"},{"id":26463,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/weozjmuuh3hwh\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":843046,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2019-09-19T15:49:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463\/similar"},{"id":27892,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/w3o9r4zgppm77\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":900916,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2021-09-06T14:48:40+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892\/similar"}],"images_count":8,"translations":{"en_EN":"Hey sharpshooters, thanks as always for joining us here at OP.NET, the best and only home for non-guild news, tips and reviews \u2014 unfiltered and raw. I\u2019m your host, Conva Maynard, and I\u2019d like to give a special welcome to all the new mercs joining us for the first time. Skiv and I had the honor of visiting the BHM Training School out in Cascom last week and giving a talk to their most recent graduating class. There was a bit of a Q&A with the students afterwards and it was really great to have a chance to explain why I choose to operate on my own instead of joining the guild. How being independent is a bit more work, sure, but for me, the freedom to set my own standards and decide for myself what terms I feel comfortable with makes it worthwhile.\n\nFor those of you not familiar with the school, they offer courses in general tactics, weapon training, boarding procedures, the works. All of the instructors are veterans of the industry and after meeting with the students, I can say the intensive courses they\u2019re offering are a pretty fantastic way to learn the ropes. Especially for those who are looking to go a different route than getting their training in the military like a lot of mercs do. They also offer courses for experienced mercs who are looking to expand and hone their abilities. That\u2019s how I got hooked up with them in the first place. Took a refresher course last year after we did a review of targeting systems and I realized that half the features Skiv mentioned were new to me.\n\nSpeaking of Skiv, there will be no review this episode because the lucky bastard is attending a super-secret sneak peek of a new ship that one of the majors is unveiling soon. I can\u2019t say anything more than that, but I will cop to comming him about ten times a day trying to sweat more details out of him. Don\u2019t worry though, we have plenty of other great stuff coming up. If this is your first time joining us, you have picked a fantastic show to start on. We\u2019re going to do another edition of PsyOps where we get experts from various fields to discuss the latest tricks and tech for the modern merc. Plus, we have a special interview today with a guest who is very near and dear to my heart, and also the whole reason I\u2019m even your host in the first place.\n\nBut before all that, we got some new contracts lighting up the Job Board, so let\u2019s take a look.\n\nFirst up, Blackjack Security is looking to take on a few hands to help handle an escort overflow they are dealing with near Crusader in the Stanton System. Recently, there\u2019s been a rash of mining ships attacked by local scrags, and it seems that most of the companies over there are suddenly seeing the wisdom in ponying up for the extra security. They are specifically seeking mercs with combat experience who have their own rigs.\n\nNext, we have an exotic escort gig out in the Protectorate. A trade caravan is seeking to staff up a fairly sizeable protection detail to accompany them from Corel to Gliese on a bimonthly basis for a year. They are hoping to hire people for the full stint of the contract, so while you can work other jobs in between, it will make scheduling a bit trickier for a little while. Also, before you ask, they do clearly state on their posting that their business is in no way connected to sentient trafficking, which is always nice to see made plain like that.\n\nLast, the good people of Uriel in Oberon are expanding their security forces. The Navy had been maintaining a presence after last year\u2019s Vanduul attacks in the system, but as war efforts concentrate elsewhere, the need for Uriel to provide its own protection has increased. Now, Uriel is a pretty tough place to live, but for the right merc, let\u2019s say one who just graduated, I could see this being a great chance to establish themselves and get some real valuable experience.\n\nAll right, if you\u2019re interested in any of those, we have the details for all of the Job Board listings up on our spec site. As always, make sure to check out all the specifics carefully for yourself before accepting any work.\n\nNow, let\u2019s finally get to that special guest I mentioned. I think it would be fair to say that I\u2019ve been waiting my entire career here for a chance to sit down with her. Please join me in welcoming none other than OP.NET\u2019s own Sabine \u201cMixer\u201d Murillo.\n\nHow the hell have you been, Mixer?\n\nMixer: Surprisingly good, all things considered. I will say it\u2019s a bit strange to be sitting on this side.\nYou can have your chair back, if you\u2019d like.\n\nMixer: No, it\u2019s your chair now. I was glad to see that the show was left in such capable hands.\nLet\u2019s talk about that.\n\nMixer: Me leaving OP.NET?\nYeah, exactly. It caught a lot of us, me included, by surprise at the time. What happened?\n\nMixer: To be honest, it caught me by surprise too. Hell, when I started that broadcast, I wasn\u2019t expecting to quit like that. But telling everyone about what happened to Stephan Ganz \u2026 I don\u2019t know, I just knew I had to do something to make it right.\nAnd did you?\n\nMixer: Not in the way I was expecting. Those first few months in Terra, all I did was try to track down Doormat\u2019s \u2014 Ganz\u2019s \u2014 killer. The official reports were no help, so I hit the streets. Turned over just about every flophouse around those docks trying to find the lowlife who did it. Got to the point where the corner thugs would start shooting at me on sight, but in the end, I wasn\u2019t any closer to finding out who had pulled the trigger.\nThat sounds frustrating and \u2026 and well, kind of reckless. Churning up that kind of trouble couldn\u2019t have been healthy.\n\nMixer: No. It wasn\u2019t. And the worst part was that even after I had a cleared out some ratnest, the very next day it\u2019d be like I hadn\u2019t done anything at all. Slowly, I came to terms with the fact that while someone may have pulled the trigger, it was the Blocks themselves that had cost Doormat his life. The people who wind up there, they can\u2019t help sink lower and lower. Whether it\u2019s drugs or violence or just straight up neglect, everyone there is living on borrowed time.\nYeah, places like that, you take down a thug and there\u2019s always ten more waiting to step up. It\u2019s like trying to bail out a sinking boat with a spoon.\n\nMixer: Right. Even if I could find Doormat\u2019s killer, chances are it would be someone who was just as desperate and out of options as he had been. Started thinking that if I couldn\u2019t find justice for Doormat, then maybe the best thing I could do was help see to it that no one else wound up like him.\nSounds like you decided to stop acting like a bounty hunter, and start behaving like a real merc again.\n\nMixer: Never thought about it like that, but you pretty much hit the nail on the head. While working the case I had met this counselor who had tried to help Doormat get clean, and with her help I got in touch with some vets who had fallen on hard times. I couldn\u2019t pay credits at first, but offered them food, a room of their own and counseling if they needed it. Most people didn\u2019t want anything to do with me, but there were a few who were willing to take a chance and that was enough to start. I worked out a perimeter line and together we took shifts patrolling a few select blocks. And while we busted up some thugs here and there, I think just having a few people around who were willing to stand up and say \u201cno\u201d made the biggest difference.\nI get that. A lot people miss the point that most of the time a merc\u2019s job isn\u2019t to fight, but to act as a deterrent and prevent fighting from even happening in the first place.\n\nMixer: Exactly. Confronted with an actual opposition force, a lot of the worst elements retreated, and those that didn\u2019t, we dealt with. Slowly but surely, we were able to expand the green zone. The Blocks still aren\u2019t the nicest place to live, but now at least, for the first time in a long time, the people there have a real shot at turning things around.\nAnd for me, the fact that you got to help some vets in need along the way is what makes the whole thing really special. I think Doormat would be touched by this legacy you\u2019ve built in his honor.\n\nMixer: I hope so.\nNow, if you were as moved by Mixer\u2019s story as I was, there\u2019s luckily a way you could help, and one that doesn\u2019t involve moving to the Blocks yourself.\n\nMixer: Though I wouldn\u2019t say no to the extra hands if anyone does want to come out, the main thing we need is equipment. We have almost no operating budget, and it would make a big difference to us if anyone was willing to donate some armor, weapons or ammo to help our effort out.\nIf any of you are like me, I know you have a few dented pieces of gear just taking up space. Or maybe next time Skiv does a review and you buy some new piece of kit, instead of selling it or tossing it, you could make a big difference by making sure it goes somewhere it\u2019s needed. We have all the info on our site and to make things even easier, OP.NET has arranged with Covalex shipping to cover the cost of hauling your donation out to Terra.\n\nMixer: What? You serious, Maynard?\nIt\u2019s the least we could do for such a great cause.\n\nAll right, we need to pause here, but we\u2019ve got a lot more great stuff coming up after the break, including a brand new PsyOps. Care to do the honors, Mixer?\n\nMixer: Hold your course, OP.NET is active and unfiltered.\nStill got it!","de_DE":"Hey Scharfsch\u00fctzen, danke wie immer, dass ihr uns hier bei OP.NET besucht, dem besten und einzigen Zuhause f\u00fcr Nicht-Gilden-News, Tipps und Reviews - ungefiltert und roh. Ich bin Ihr Gastgeber, Conva Maynard, und ich m\u00f6chte alle neuen S\u00f6ldner, die zum ersten Mal zu uns kommen, besonders willkommen hei\u00dfen. Skiv und ich hatten die Ehre, letzte Woche die BHM Training School in Cascom zu besuchen und einen Vortrag vor ihrer letzten Abschlussklasse zu halten. Es gab danach ein wenig Fragen und Antworten mit den Studenten und es war wirklich toll, eine Chance zu haben, zu erkl\u00e4ren, warum ich mich daf\u00fcr entscheide, alleine zu arbeiten, anstatt der Gilde beizutreten. Wie unabh\u00e4ngig zu sein, ist ein bisschen mehr Arbeit, sicher, aber f\u00fcr mich lohnt es sich, die Freiheit, eigene Ma\u00dfst\u00e4be zu setzen und selbst zu entscheiden, mit welchen Begriffen ich mich wohl f\u00fchle.\n\nF\u00fcr diejenigen unter Ihnen, die nicht mit der Schule vertraut sind, bieten sie Kurse in allgemeiner Taktik, Waffenausbildung, Internatsverfahren, die Arbeit an. Alle Ausbilder sind Veteranen der Branche und nach einem Treffen mit den Studenten kann ich sagen, dass die Intensivkurse, die sie anbieten, eine ziemlich fantastische M\u00f6glichkeit sind, die Seile zu lernen. Vor allem f\u00fcr diejenigen, die einen anderen Weg gehen wollen, als ihre Ausbildung beim Milit\u00e4r, wie es viele S\u00f6ldner tun. Sie bieten auch Kurse f\u00fcr erfahrene S\u00f6ldner an, die ihre F\u00e4higkeiten erweitern und verfeinern wollen. So bin ich \u00fcberhaupt mit ihnen in Kontakt gekommen. Ich habe letztes Jahr einen Auffrischungskurs gemacht, nachdem wir eine \u00dcberpr\u00fcfung der Zielsysteme durchgef\u00fchrt hatten, und ich habe festgestellt, dass die H\u00e4lfte der von Skiv erw\u00e4hnten Funktionen neu f\u00fcr mich war.\n\nApropos Skiv, es wird keine Rezension dieser Episode geben, denn der gl\u00fcckliche Bastard nimmt an einem supergeheimen Blick auf ein neues Schiff teil, das einer der Gro\u00dfen bald enth\u00fcllt. Ich kann nicht mehr als das sagen, aber ich werde mich darauf einstellen, ihn etwa zehnmal am Tag zu besuchen und zu versuchen, mehr Details aus ihm herauszuschwitzen. Keine Sorge, wir haben noch viele andere tolle Sachen zu bieten. Wenn du zum ersten Mal bei uns bist, hast du dir eine fantastische Show ausgesucht. Wir werden eine weitere Ausgabe von PsyOps machen, in der wir Experten aus verschiedenen Bereichen zusammenbringen, um die neuesten Tricks und Technologien f\u00fcr den modernen Merc zu diskutieren. Au\u00dferdem haben wir heute ein spezielles Interview mit einem Gast, der mir sehr nahe und am Herzen liegt, und auch aus dem Grund, dass ich \u00fcberhaupt dein Gastgeber bin.\n\nAber vor all dem haben wir einige neue Vertr\u00e4ge bekommen, die die Jobb\u00f6rse beleuchten, also lasst uns einen Blick darauf werfen.\n\nZuerst einmal m\u00f6chte Blackjack Security ein paar H\u00e4nde \u00fcbernehmen, um einen Eskorten\u00fcberlauf zu bew\u00e4ltigen, mit dem sie es in der N\u00e4he von Crusader im Stanton-System zu tun haben. Vor kurzem gab es einen Ausschlag von Minenschiffen, die von lokalen Ger\u00f6llhalden angegriffen wurden, und es scheint, dass die meisten der Unternehmen dort pl\u00f6tzlich die Weisheit sehen, sich f\u00fcr die zus\u00e4tzliche Sicherheit einzusetzen. Sie suchen gezielt nach S\u00f6ldnern mit Kampferfahrung, die \u00fcber eigene Taktiken verf\u00fcgen.\n\nAls n\u00e4chstes haben wir einen exotischen Escort Gig im Protektorat. Eine Handelskarawane versucht, eine ziemlich gro\u00dfe Schutztruppe zu besetzen, die sie alle zwei Monate f\u00fcr ein Jahr von Corel bis Gliese begleitet. Sie hoffen, Leute f\u00fcr den vollen Stint des Vertrages einzustellen, so dass, w\u00e4hrend Sie andere Jobs dazwischen arbeiten k\u00f6nnen, es die Planung f\u00fcr eine kurze Zeit etwas komplizierter macht. Auch, bevor Sie fragen, erkl\u00e4ren sie deutlich auf ihrem Beitrag, dass ihr Gesch\u00e4ft in keiner Weise mit dem empfindlichen Menschenhandel verbunden ist, was immer sch\u00f6n ist, wenn man es so deutlich macht.\n\nSchlie\u00dflich bauen die guten Leute von Uriel in Oberon ihre Sicherheitskr\u00e4fte aus. Die Marine war nach den Vanduul-Angriffen im letzten Jahr im System pr\u00e4sent, aber da sich die Kriegsanstrengungen auf andere Bereiche konzentrieren, ist die Notwendigkeit f\u00fcr Uriel, seinen eigenen Schutz zu bieten, gestiegen. Nun, Uriel ist ein ziemlich schwieriger Ort zum Leben, aber f\u00fcr den richtigen S\u00f6ldner, sagen wir mal, der gerade seinen Abschluss gemacht hat, k\u00f6nnte ich das als eine gro\u00dfartige Chance sehen, sich zu etablieren und wirklich wertvolle Erfahrungen zu sammeln.\n\nIn Ordnung, wenn Sie an einem dieser Angebote interessiert sind, haben wir die Details f\u00fcr alle Stellenanzeigen auf unserer speziellen Website. Wie immer, vergewissern Sie sich, dass Sie alle Einzelheiten sorgf\u00e4ltig durchgehen, bevor Sie ein Werk annehmen.\n\nNun, kommen wir endlich zu diesem besonderen Gast, den ich erw\u00e4hnt habe. Ich denke, es w\u00e4re fair zu sagen, dass ich meine ganze Karriere hier auf eine Chance gewartet habe, mich mit ihr zusammenzusetzen. Bitte begr\u00fc\u00dfen Sie mit mir keinen anderen als OP.NETs eigenen Sabine \"Mixer\" Murillo.\n\nWie zum Teufel geht es dir, Mixer?\n\nMischer: \u00dcberraschend gut, alles in allem. Ich w\u00fcrde sagen, es ist ein bisschen seltsam, auf dieser Seite zu sitzen.\nDu kannst deinen Stuhl zur\u00fcckhaben, wenn du willst.\n\nMischer: Nein, jetzt ist es dein Stuhl. Ich war froh zu sehen, dass die Show in solch f\u00e4higen H\u00e4nden lag.\nLasst uns dar\u00fcber reden.\n\nMischer: Ich verlasse OP.NET?\nJa, genau. Es hat viele von uns, auch mich, damals \u00fcberrascht. Was ist passiert?\n\nMischer: Um ehrlich zu sein, hat es mich auch \u00fcberrascht. Zum Teufel, als ich mit der Sendung anfing, hatte ich nicht erwartet, so aufzuh\u00f6ren. Aber ich erz\u00e4hlte jedem, was mit Stephan Ganz passiert war.... Ich wei\u00df nicht, ich wusste nur, dass ich etwas tun musste, um es richtig zu machen.\nUnd hast du das?\n\nMischer: Nicht so, wie ich es erwartet habe. In den ersten Monaten in Terra habe ich nur versucht, den M\u00f6rder von Fu\u00dfmatten - Ganz's - aufzusp\u00fcren. Die offiziellen Berichte waren keine Hilfe, also ging ich auf die Stra\u00dfe. Hat fast jede Absteige um diese Docks herum umgedreht und versucht, den Penner zu finden, der es getan hat. Ich kam zu dem Punkt, an dem die Eckschl\u00e4ger anfangen w\u00fcrden, auf mich zu schie\u00dfen, aber am Ende war ich nicht n\u00e4her dran, herauszufinden, wer den Abzug gedr\u00fcckt hatte.\nDas klingt frustrierend und.... und gut, irgendwie leichtsinnig. Diese Art von \u00c4rger aufzudecken, kann nicht gesund gewesen sein.\n\nMischer: Nein. Das war es nicht. Und das Schlimmste war, dass selbst nachdem ich ein Rattennest ausger\u00e4umt hatte, es schon am n\u00e4chsten Tag so sein w\u00fcrde, als h\u00e4tte ich \u00fcberhaupt nichts getan. Langsam habe ich mich damit abgefunden, dass zwar jemand den Abzug gedr\u00fcckt hat, es aber die Bl\u00f6cke selbst waren, die Doormat sein Leben gekostet haben. Die Leute, die da oben landen, k\u00f6nnen nicht anders, als immer tiefer zu sinken. Ob es nun um Drogen oder Gewalt geht oder einfach nur um Vernachl\u00e4ssigung, jeder dort lebt von geliehener Zeit.\nJa, solche Orte, man nimmt einen Schl\u00e4ger zur Strecke und es gibt immer zehn weitere, die darauf warten, aufzusteigen. Es ist, als w\u00fcrde man versuchen, ein sinkendes Boot mit einem L\u00f6ffel zu retten.\n\nMischer: Richtig. Selbst wenn ich den M\u00f6rder der Fu\u00dfmatte finden k\u00f6nnte, stehen die Chancen gut, dass es jemand sein w\u00fcrde, der genauso verzweifelt und ohne Optionen war wie er. Ich fing an zu denken, dass, wenn ich keine Gerechtigkeit f\u00fcr die Fu\u00dfmatte finden konnte, dann war das vielleicht das Beste, was ich tun konnte, zu helfen, daf\u00fcr zu sorgen, dass niemand sonst wie er auftauchte.\nKlingt, als h\u00e4ttest du beschlossen, dich nicht mehr wie ein Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger zu verhalten und dich wieder wie ein echter S\u00f6ldner zu verhalten.\n\nMischer: Niemals so gedacht, aber du hast den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen. W\u00e4hrend der Arbeit am Fall hatte ich diesen Berater getroffen, der versucht hatte, der Fu\u00dfmatte zu helfen, sauber zu werden, und mit ihrer Hilfe nahm ich Kontakt mit einigen Tier\u00e4rzten auf, die in schwere Zeiten geraten waren. Ich konnte anfangs keine Kredite bezahlen, bot ihnen aber Essen, ein eigenes Zimmer und Beratung an, wenn sie es brauchten. Die meisten Leute wollten nichts mit mir zu tun haben, aber es gab einige, die bereit waren, ein Risiko einzugehen, und das war genug, um zu beginnen. Ich arbeitete eine Begrenzungslinie aus und zusammen nahmen wir Schichten, die ein paar ausgew\u00e4hlte Bl\u00f6cke patrouillierten. Und w\u00e4hrend wir hier und da ein paar Schl\u00e4ger hochgejagt haben, denke ich, dass es den gr\u00f6\u00dften Unterschied macht, nur ein paar Leute um uns zu haben, die bereit waren, aufzustehen und \"nein\" zu sagen.\nIch verstehe das. Viele Leute \u00fcbersehen den Punkt, dass die meiste Zeit der Job eines S\u00f6ldners nicht darin besteht, zu k\u00e4mpfen, sondern als Abschreckungsmittel zu wirken und zu verhindern, dass der Kampf \u00fcberhaupt erst stattfindet.\n\nMischer: Genau. Konfrontiert mit einer tats\u00e4chlichen Oppositionskraft zogen sich viele der schlimmsten Elemente zur\u00fcck, und diejenigen, die es nicht taten, besch\u00e4ftigten wir. Langsam, aber sicher konnten wir die Gr\u00fcnzone erweitern. Die Blocks sind immer noch nicht der sch\u00f6nste Ort zum Leben, aber zumindest haben die Menschen dort jetzt, zum ersten Mal seit langem, eine echte Chance, die Dinge umzukehren.\nUnd f\u00fcr mich ist es die Tatsache, dass man einigen Tier\u00e4rzten in Not auf dem Weg dorthin helfen musste, was das Ganze wirklich besonders macht. Ich denke, die Fu\u00dfmatte w\u00fcrde von diesem Verm\u00e4chtnis ber\u00fchrt werden, das du zu seinen Ehren aufgebaut hast.\n\nMischer: Das hoffe ich doch.\nWenn Sie von Mixers Geschichte genauso bewegt waren wie ich, gibt es zum Gl\u00fcck einen Weg, wie Sie helfen k\u00f6nnen, und einen, bei dem es nicht darum geht, selbst zu den Blocks zu wechseln.\n\nMischer: Obwohl ich nicht nein zu den zus\u00e4tzlichen H\u00e4nden sagen w\u00fcrde, wenn jemand herauskommen will, ist die Hauptsache, die wir brauchen, die Ausr\u00fcstung. Wir haben fast keinen Betriebshaushalt, und es w\u00fcrde einen gro\u00dfen Unterschied f\u00fcr uns machen, wenn jemand bereit w\u00e4re, etwas R\u00fcstung, Waffen oder Munition zu spenden, um unsere Bem\u00fchungen zu unterst\u00fctzen.\nWenn einer von euch wie ich ist, wei\u00df ich, dass ihr ein paar verbeulte St\u00fccke von Ausr\u00fcstung habt, die nur Platz einnehmen. Oder vielleicht das n\u00e4chste Mal, wenn Skiv eine \u00dcberpr\u00fcfung macht und Sie ein neues St\u00fcck Kit kaufen, anstatt es zu verkaufen oder zu werfen, k\u00f6nnten Sie einen gro\u00dfen Unterschied machen, indem Sie sicherstellen, dass es dorthin geht, wo es gebraucht wird. Wir haben alle Informationen auf unserer Website und um die Sache noch einfacher zu machen, hat OP.NET mit Covalex den Versand arrangiert, um die Kosten f\u00fcr den Transport Ihrer Spende nach Terra zu decken.\n\nMischer: Was? Ist das dein Ernst, Maynard?\nDas ist das Mindeste, was wir f\u00fcr eine so gro\u00dfe Sache tun k\u00f6nnen.\n\nAlles klar, wir m\u00fcssen hier eine Pause einlegen, aber wir haben nach der Pause noch viel mehr tolle Dinge vor uns, einschlie\u00dflich eines brandneuen PsyOps. M\u00f6chtest du die Ehre haben, Mixer?\n\nMischer: Halten Sie den Kurs, OP.NET ist aktiv und ungefiltert.\nIch habe es immer noch drauf!","zh_CN":"Hey sharpshooters, thanks as always for joining us here at OP.NET, the best and only home for non-guild news, tips and reviews \u2014 unfiltered and raw. I\u2019m your host, Conva Maynard, and I\u2019d like to give a special welcome to all the new mercs joining us for the first time. Skiv and I had the honor of visiting the BHM Training School out in Cascom last week and giving a talk to their most recent graduating class. There was a bit of a Q&A with the students afterwards and it was really great to have a chance to explain why I choose to operate on my own instead of joining the guild. How being independent is a bit more work, sure, but for me, the freedom to set my own standards and decide for myself what terms I feel comfortable with makes it worthwhile.\n\nFor those of you not familiar with the school, they offer courses in general tactics, weapon training, boarding procedures, the works. All of the instructors are veterans of the industry and after meeting with the students, I can say the intensive courses they\u2019re offering are a pretty fantastic way to learn the ropes. Especially for those who are looking to go a different route than getting their training in the military like a lot of mercs do. They also offer courses for experienced mercs who are looking to expand and hone their abilities. That\u2019s how I got hooked up with them in the first place. Took a refresher course last year after we did a review of targeting systems and I realized that half the features Skiv mentioned were new to me.\n\nSpeaking of Skiv, there will be no review this episode because the lucky bastard is attending a super-secret sneak peek of a new ship that one of the majors is unveiling soon. I can\u2019t say anything more than that, but I will cop to comming him about ten times a day trying to sweat more details out of him. Don\u2019t worry though, we have plenty of other great stuff coming up. If this is your first time joining us, you have picked a fantastic show to start on. We\u2019re going to do another edition of PsyOps where we get experts from various fields to discuss the latest tricks and tech for the modern merc. Plus, we have a special interview today with a guest who is very near and dear to my heart, and also the whole reason I\u2019m even your host in the first place.\n\nBut before all that, we got some new contracts lighting up the Job Board, so let\u2019s take a look.\n\nFirst up, Blackjack Security is looking to take on a few hands to help handle an escort overflow they are dealing with near Crusader in the Stanton System. Recently, there\u2019s been a rash of mining ships attacked by local scrags, and it seems that most of the companies over there are suddenly seeing the wisdom in ponying up for the extra security. They are specifically seeking mercs with combat experience who have their own rigs.\n\nNext, we have an exotic escort gig out in the Protectorate. A trade caravan is seeking to staff up a fairly sizeable protection detail to accompany them from Corel to Gliese on a bimonthly basis for a year. They are hoping to hire people for the full stint of the contract, so while you can work other jobs in between, it will make scheduling a bit trickier for a little while. Also, before you ask, they do clearly state on their posting that their business is in no way connected to sentient trafficking, which is always nice to see made plain like that.\n\nLast, the good people of Uriel in Oberon are expanding their security forces. The Navy had been maintaining a presence after last year\u2019s Vanduul attacks in the system, but as war efforts concentrate elsewhere, the need for Uriel to provide its own protection has increased. Now, Uriel is a pretty tough place to live, but for the right merc, let\u2019s say one who just graduated, I could see this being a great chance to establish themselves and get some real valuable experience.\n\nAll right, if you\u2019re interested in any of those, we have the details for all of the Job Board listings up on our spec site. As always, make sure to check out all the specifics carefully for yourself before accepting any work.\n\nNow, let\u2019s finally get to that special guest I mentioned. I think it would be fair to say that I\u2019ve been waiting my entire career here for a chance to sit down with her. Please join me in welcoming none other than OP.NET\u2019s own Sabine \u201cMixer\u201d Murillo.\n\nHow the hell have you been, Mixer?\n\nMixer: Surprisingly good, all things considered. I will say it\u2019s a bit strange to be sitting on this side.\nYou can have your chair back, if you\u2019d like.\n\nMixer: No, it\u2019s your chair now. I was glad to see that the show was left in such capable hands.\nLet\u2019s talk about that.\n\nMixer: Me leaving OP.NET?\nYeah, exactly. It caught a lot of us, me included, by surprise at the time. What happened?\n\nMixer: To be honest, it caught me by surprise too. Hell, when I started that broadcast, I wasn\u2019t expecting to quit like that. But telling everyone about what happened to Stephan Ganz \u2026 I don\u2019t know, I just knew I had to do something to make it right.\nAnd did you?\n\nMixer: Not in the way I was expecting. Those first few months in Terra, all I did was try to track down Doormat\u2019s \u2014 Ganz\u2019s \u2014 killer. The official reports were no help, so I hit the streets. Turned over just about every flophouse around those docks trying to find the lowlife who did it. Got to the point where the corner thugs would start shooting at me on sight, but in the end, I wasn\u2019t any closer to finding out who had pulled the trigger.\nThat sounds frustrating and \u2026 and well, kind of reckless. Churning up that kind of trouble couldn\u2019t have been healthy.\n\nMixer: No. It wasn\u2019t. And the worst part was that even after I had a cleared out some ratnest, the very next day it\u2019d be like I hadn\u2019t done anything at all. Slowly, I came to terms with the fact that while someone may have pulled the trigger, it was the Blocks themselves that had cost Doormat his life. The people who wind up there, they can\u2019t help sink lower and lower. Whether it\u2019s drugs or violence or just straight up neglect, everyone there is living on borrowed time.\nYeah, places like that, you take down a thug and there\u2019s always ten more waiting to step up. It\u2019s like trying to bail out a sinking boat with a spoon.\n\nMixer: Right. Even if I could find Doormat\u2019s killer, chances are it would be someone who was just as desperate and out of options as he had been. Started thinking that if I couldn\u2019t find justice for Doormat, then maybe the best thing I could do was help see to it that no one else wound up like him.\nSounds like you decided to stop acting like a bounty hunter, and start behaving like a real merc again.\n\nMixer: Never thought about it like that, but you pretty much hit the nail on the head. While working the case I had met this counselor who had tried to help Doormat get clean, and with her help I got in touch with some vets who had fallen on hard times. I couldn\u2019t pay credits at first, but offered them food, a room of their own and counseling if they needed it. Most people didn\u2019t want anything to do with me, but there were a few who were willing to take a chance and that was enough to start. I worked out a perimeter line and together we took shifts patrolling a few select blocks. And while we busted up some thugs here and there, I think just having a few people around who were willing to stand up and say \u201cno\u201d made the biggest difference.\nI get that. A lot people miss the point that most of the time a merc\u2019s job isn\u2019t to fight, but to act as a deterrent and prevent fighting from even happening in the first place.\n\nMixer: Exactly. Confronted with an actual opposition force, a lot of the worst elements retreated, and those that didn\u2019t, we dealt with. Slowly but surely, we were able to expand the green zone. The Blocks still aren\u2019t the nicest place to live, but now at least, for the first time in a long time, the people there have a real shot at turning things around.\nAnd for me, the fact that you got to help some vets in need along the way is what makes the whole thing really special. I think Doormat would be touched by this legacy you\u2019ve built in his honor.\n\nMixer: I hope so.\nNow, if you were as moved by Mixer\u2019s story as I was, there\u2019s luckily a way you could help, and one that doesn\u2019t involve moving to the Blocks yourself.\n\nMixer: Though I wouldn\u2019t say no to the extra hands if anyone does want to come out, the main thing we need is equipment. We have almost no operating budget, and it would make a big difference to us if anyone was willing to donate some armor, weapons or ammo to help our effort out.\nIf any of you are like me, I know you have a few dented pieces of gear just taking up space. Or maybe next time Skiv does a review and you buy some new piece of kit, instead of selling it or tossing it, you could make a big difference by making sure it goes somewhere it\u2019s needed. We have all the info on our site and to make things even easier, OP.NET has arranged with Covalex shipping to cover the cost of hauling your donation out to Terra.\n\nMixer: What? You serious, Maynard?\nIt\u2019s the least we could do for such a great cause.\n\nAll right, we need to pause here, but we\u2019ve got a lot more great stuff coming up after the break, including a brand new PsyOps. Care to do the honors, Mixer?\n\nMixer: Hold your course, OP.NET is active and unfiltered.\nStill got it!"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":35,"created_at":"2017-09-13T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"8 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 22:45:47","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":16115,"next_id":16117}}