COMM ID:Captain Jane Hartman [Independent Trade Vessel Triton, Manchester] TARGET ID: Commander John Graham SUBJECT:Logistics Corps ENCRYPTION:Moderate PRIORITY:Moderate
Commander Graham,
[She could have been in any cheap overnight motel in the sector. A pair of florescent lights in the ceiling bathed the sparse room in uneven white light, lending a veneer of cleanliness to the faded blue plastic that lined the walls, sinking into the carefully-tightened folds of the single bed behind her like rain soaking into the desert. Here and there chips were missing from the walls, the floors - slightly darker lines on the metal marking the locations of cargo containers, scuffed where they had been dragged aside to make room for the handful of fittings that, just barely, rendered the compartment habitable.
Hartman stood before the communicator, hair tied back, uniform pressed - an island of order in a room where even the plastic had begun to peel from the walls. A low rumble rested beneath her words, the omniscient growl of the ship's engines mingling with the hundred other small creaks and clicks of a starship in motion.]
I had hoped to have this conversation in person. Unfortunately I'm on assignment, and it doesn't look like that's going to be possible for some time, so you'll have to excuse the video feed. As you may be aware the Fleet Admiral has seen fit to assign me to my former posting as Fleet Logistics Officer. A position that I understand you have now held for some time. It was not my intention to usurp your post, Commander; however, I will not lie to you and tell you that everything will continue as normal.
I'm concerned, Commander.
I have reviewed what Corps operations I have remote access to, a pathetically limited number from this distance, and the state of two ships in particular jumped out at me. Fort Wayne and Lakewood - both C5 transports operating under the command of First Fleet volunteers. I'm certain you have access to same files I do, Commander. You can look up the details as easily as I can.
Fort Wayne is woefully under armored. The ship was originally equipped with class eight ablative armor - the same sort used aboard Lakewood, and the files I'm reading are telling me that equipment has been ripped out. A battletransport without armor. The ships are already the biggest fire magnets in the fleet, and someone's gone and turned Fort Wayne into a target a near-sighted drunk would have trouble overlooking. I don't know who gave that order, Commander, but I'm countermanding it right now.
Fort Wayne's a military ship, and I will not have it flying under my command with a superstructure best compared to paper mache. I noticed Glenbrook has an excess of hull plating available - including materials for class eight reinforcement. We need that armor installed aboard Fort Wayne as soon as possible. Fort Wayne's maintenance is managed by one Sergeant Ron Briscoe. Speak to him if you need funding and get it done.
Lakewood looks prettier by comparison. Of the volunteer ships, it looks to be the most combat-ready. The thrusters; however, are something I'd expect to see on the back end of a second-rate orbital tug, not pushing an atmo-capable military vessel. Bisons catch anti-capital munitions as well as any cruiser, and I expect them to be equipped with engines that can withstand that sort of bombardment and keep functioning. Talk to Lakewood's next CO and see to it that's remedied.
I accept that I've been away for some time, Commander. I also accept that Fleet expectations of the Corps' role and capabilities have likely changed. What I do not accept is the notion that a naval ship, any naval ship, has an excuse for being anything less than combat-ready. This is not Bretonia, Commander. The Gallics are not on our doorstep. Our industrial centers are entirely intact. We have no excuse for putting our boys and girls on the firing line in glorified tin cans and I will not allow the Logistics Corps to be the first to do so.
[Hartman paused, glanced at something off screen. In the distance, the crash of metal on metal drifted across the connection, followed in close succession by a curse speculating on the origins, promiscuity and parenthood of a set of pots. Hartman stepped neatly off screen and tugged a hatch shut. The cursing cut off with a pneumatic hiss, but not before the unseen speaker churned through another two languages worth of muffled obscenities.]
That aside, Commander, you've done well. Long Island and the corps are both still intact, broadly speaking, and your service record to date is exceptional. Neither of those are things easily accomplished. There are other matters I'll need to discuss with you in person, including the current capabilities of the corps, but they can wait for now. The Fleet Admiral's given me a summary of the situation as the brass sees it, but I'd like to hear it from you once I'm back stationside.
I'll be available on this frequency for the next twelve hours if you need to contact me. In the meantime, Commander, we've both got jobs to do. Let's get to them.
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To Captain Jane Hartman:
Ma'am.
I must say I hadn't expected to get this communication, as your return had been but a rumour in the ranks of mid-command. I'm almost glad you've taken back the position as it means we have one more person in the ranks of the Corps - something we desperately need at this stage.
Not wanting to turn this into some kind of veiled excuse, the only commanders of LLS vessels in the last two months have been myself and Lieutenant Commander Harrison. This has made it...difficult, let's say, to deal with the various jobs and problems the Corps has to complete and solve.
As for the states of Lakewood and Fort Wayne, I actually went to inspect the vessels on-site as I didn't believe what you were telling me. Sure enough, what you had said was true - which was thoroughly confusing given the fact the only two persons given ID code access to these ships were myself and Harrison, as well as some reserve officers that I've not seen in a while.
As it stands, Lakewood is getting an on-site thruster re-fit to a DSE-7-A8 Joust-class thruster, of the same type used in our cruisers. The Fort Wayne is also moving to Baltimore Shipyard to be given a refit to class eight ablative armor, and its shield is being tuned to regenerate at a higher rate, to avoid being turned into swiss cheese by a few Rogue bombers.
I've also put in the request for two Class Four double-reinforced composite armours to be produced for the two vessels, as I don't believe the reduced cargo capacity will significantly hamper the logistic capability of the ships. I'll be looking into what exactly happened to the ships, as they were both combat-capable with the correct equipment two weeks prior.
That should cover it for now, ma'am. I'll of course fill you in more once you return to Long Island.
Sincerely, Commander John Graham X.O., Logistics Corps
First Fleet, Liberty Navy
COMM ID:Captain Jane Hartman [Independent Trade Vessel Triton, Omega-3] TARGET ID: Commander John Graham SUBJECT:Re: Logistics Corps ENCRYPTION:Moderate PRIORITY:Moderate
Commander Graham,
I'm glad to hear it. Following the issues with Fort Wayne's armor, I've requested base security look in to our systems. I don't expect they'll find much, but I don't figure having them look can do us any harm. I've also been advised that the access codes for Fort Wayne, Lakewood, and White Mage have been reset to prevent further incidents. The revised codes have been sent to you over the closest thing to an encrypted channel I can get out here.
I'll be back in Liberty as soon as possible, and I'll look forward to your brief then. With regard to refitting Wayne and Lakewood do what you deem appropriate.