...Incoming Transmission...
...Encryption: High...
...Origin: Police Plaza...
Sender: Ensign Ripper, D.
Sir/Ma'am,
Quite an eventful patrol since my promotion to Ensign. *The Officer grins.* People seem to be shooting at my new Avenger rather less. Wonder why. Anyway; I'm sending this report via the LPI, our transmitter seems to be on the fritz.
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Notable Actions- Illegally Armed vessel encountered
- Zodiac Manhunt
- 'Maelstrom' Encountered in California
- Mission request form filed
Well; let's start at the beginning, shall we? After being issued my fresh Avenger (She turns like a brick; thankfully she hits like one too.), I headed out to New York via Texas following reports of a Phantom. Never quite made it, as I found an illegal ship hanging around Houston.
Transponder ID 'Caslav'
This bloke seemed to want to get himself shot. After I stopped him for his armament and informed him of Liberty Law on Rheinland weaponry, he gunned it. Lad claimed that he'd found it and was in Liberty to shoot Xenos. Last time I checked that's our job. Turned up around five minutes later with his tail between his legs once I let him know that he'd become a wanted criminal. *The Ensign grins*.
He complied with demands from there and headed out through Bering.
'Caslav' Departs
Following on; I headed out to Manhattan where one of our patrols, under the command of Vice Admiral Malrone was forming.
Naval Patrol Forces
A splinter group, consisting of three Liberty Navy officers including the Vice Admiral and I, relocated to California. A place that then seemingly became the hub of criminal activity. After receiving system wide taunts from
'The_Raven' I was posted to the Magellan Jumpgate to prevent his escape. To no avail, unfortunately. Additional Naval forces were dispatched to deal with the emergence of the Scylla destroyer
'Maelstrom'. Lacking any weaponry capable of dinting the thing, I held position near the gate, until called back.
Long range scanners indicated that known criminal
'Zodiac' had somehow reached New York. A system wide search operation was initiated, with my posting near Colorado jumpgate interrupted by engine trouble. From there, I set a course to Manhattan and maintenance.
The remaining forces were, I daresay, more then adequete. Notification of
Zodiac's destruction was delivered shortly after.
Remaining Liberty Assets, Manhattan Orbit
Sir/Ma'am, bearing in mind my err... combat skills, I doubt I can provide much in the way of assistance in terms of direct combat with the Rheinland threat. With this situation as it is, I feel I could better aid the Navy through other operations. To this end, I would request permission to conduct a reconnaissance mission into Rheinland territory as follows:
[Request Opened]
Situation
Following Rheinlander incursions, and subsequent rebuttals, we still know suprisingly little of their true military capabilities. A recon mission will be conducted to better acess force strength and deployment ability.
Mission
Extended Reconnaissance
Primary:
- Determination of Rheinland Military Force
- Gather information on Enemy infrastructure
Secondary:
- Detection of weak areas in defence and economy
- Sabotage Enemy production/supply facilities
Due to the extended nature of the mission detection by enemy forces (Civillian or Military) is to be avoided.
Execution
Duration
5 (Five) Days.
Vessel
Owing to it's exceptional record of survival in tough environments, and comparitively small profile, a single 'Avenger' class Very Heavy Fighter will be employed.
Forces
1 x 'Avenger' Very Heavy Fighter - Ensign D. Ripper
[With electronic surveillance and IR detection devices equipped.]
Movement
Will be restricted to asteroid/nebulae fields, excluding during recon runs. Where possible runs will be conducted while hostile forces are otherwise occupied/
Route:
New York - Texas - Minnesota - Quebec - New Hampshire - Bremen - Hamburg
Following entry to the Hamburg system little is known of Rheinland military movements or civilian authority patrol routes. Information will be obtained upon arrival, and further infiltration of enemy territory will be attempted, if it is deemed safe to do so.
Actions on:
Capture:
Ens Ripper has been implanted with a sub dermal chip. In the event of his capture it will activate, alerting Liberty Naval forces to his location via a series of VLF (Very Low Frequency) radio bursts. It is anticipated that the Ensign will last approximately 96 hours under intense interrogation (Owing to the ability of chips to secrete a dosage of anaesthetic as needed. Supplies will be exhausted after 48 hours.)
Ripper is not privy to any information regarding fleet movement or strength, therefore any impact on the Liberty war effort resulting from his capture will be minimal.
*The Ensign scowled. He hated writing in third person.*
Catastrophic Damage:
As Capture. VLF beacon will be activated. Planetary landing is not to be attempted under any circumstances. If possible, contact with Bretonian forces will be attempted, and recovery requested.
Becoming Lost:
Route will be traced back via point of arrival, leading to a return through Minnesota.
Communication
Radio silence will be maintained throughout the duration of the mission. A full reports will be made to Liberty Navy Mid/High Command on return.
Sabotage
Due to his experience in the 6th Liberty Army Air Division, Ripper's training as an infantryman is not to be disregarded. Any sabotage operations will be conducted on foot as the situation demands.
Boundaries
Operation will be restricted to Liberty/Rheinland space. Excluding the possibility of Bretonian extraction.
Administration
Resources
5 x 24 hour ration pack. - Collected from Battleship Concord, New Hampshire on departure.
1 x Light Arms Pack - Consisting of:
1 x CQ-146 Pulse Carbine
12 x Heavy Battery Packs ' Rechargeable
6 x Heavy explosive ordnance Mk1 (HEO-1)
*Ripper retched dryly. He couldn't believe he was posting a request for that stuff. Maybe he'd be better off on 'borrowed' strudels.*
Command
Mission C.O will be Ensign Ripper
[End Request] - Pending Endorsement
Thank you for your time, Sir.
- Regards;
David Ripper
Ensign
Liberty Navy
...Signal Lost...