Guten Abend Officers,

During a routine patrol aboard the RNC-Sprotte through the Hamburg system i came across something that, quite frankly, left me with more questions than answers.

Initially i conversed with an Orbital Spa and Cruise liner, the 'Red Velvet Club', under command of Frau Caitlyn Cross near Planet Hamburg. Nothing out of the ordinary there, scans showed various quality goods associated with luxury liners as well as countless travelers. The transcript of the conversation between Frau Cross and me can be added if requested.

An unidentified vessel approached quickly, maintaining radio silence while doing so. Its distinctive shape that of a Liberty Defender on closer yet unfortunately short inspection.
It passed both the Red Velvet Club as well as the RNC-Sprotte and proceeded to take the trade lane to Alster Shipyard, where i lost it. I checked the jump gate to New Berlin, but there were no traces.

Returning to the Red Velvet Club in order to ask for any potential footage from their side, the unidentified craft showed up again. After being instructed to halt, it instead proceeded to head for the Nordheide. I gave chase and ordered it to identify itself - which it refused.
I then opted to keep the pilot engaged in conversation with me, while the flight trajectory was being analyzed. Its course led to a jump hole - fearing it could escape before any useful intel could be secured, i decided to continue the pursuit despite the navigational challenges of the Nordheide.

As, at that time, interim kommandant of the RNC-Sprotte, i take full responsibility for potential damage to Rheinwehr property during this maneuver. Our shields withstood the barrage of asteroids and first damage reports turned up negative, while the sensor array managed to get a clear scan shortly after the first sign of compliance.

Now confirmed to be an LSF vessel armed with experimental Nomad technology, our conversation was suddenly cut short. Allegedly the mission had to be continued - so it jumped. We reluctantly followed - the jump hole connects to the Bering system. Once again, there were no traces of the LSF vessel in immediate vicinity of the jump hole. With no further option to reliably follow the target, we returned back to Hamburg and monitored the conventional jump gate for an extended period of time. For a third time the Red Velvet Club crossed our path, a chance i used to inquire about the LSF vessel. It had not been spotted by the cruise liner in my absence, therefore chances are said vessel left Rheinland space for the time being.
The occasional Freelancer aside, nothing noteworthy turned up on our scanners afterwards.

After the gathered data had been sufficiently compiled, i immediately filed this report.
I wish to point out Orbital Spa and Cruise's excellent cooperation during this encounter, as well as refer to Flieger Hans Klein and something he told me during an earlier patrol.
Hamburg seemed, according to Flieger Klein, uncharacteristically quiet.
This and the recent sighting of an LSF vessel in Hamburg might correlate.

Orders received and understood, Herr Großadmiral!

I am deeply honored to have been addressed directly.
Your attention to the previous incident is reason for this forwarded report - the Leitstelle New Berlin received a copy as well.

In light of recent events, i have volunteered for a double shift and kept a close eye on the Hamburg System.
During my patrol i came across a civilian freighter carrying several Liberty Rogue as well as Xeno pilots in its hold, which were allegedly taken hostage by the freighter pilot under the name of 'Dany'. The main cargo was water for Manitoba Station in Hudson, a Bounty Hunters Guild installation. Dany planned to take the captured pilots there.
I lectured the freighter pilot about Rheinland law, yet issued only a warning as he was compliant and cooperative as well as not yet showing up in any prior reports. The Xeno pilots were taken in by Police on Planet Hamburg, after i had informed local authorities about an incoming number of criminals on the freighter.
The Liberty Rogues aboard the frighter, on the other hand, were to be escorted by me to Manitoba, to be handed over to the Bounty Hunters Guild - so they can in turn proceed with them as they see fit.

I used this opportunity to scan the outskirts of the Nordheide, as well as Hudson after jumping there. While at the same time questioning Dany about any irregularities that may have occurred on taken routes. Even though travel between Hudson and Hamburg had taken place recently, nothing matched the description of the LSF vessel according to Dany. I, of course, did not name it as such. Close to the jump gate to Hudson a Zoner vessel passed us, but it jumped before i could scan it. It kept mostly to itself in Hudson, where we encountered it again briefly. Outside of Rheinland Space however, i refrained from following to take a closer look.

The Liberty Rogues were handed over to Manitoba, i remained and ensured everything went according to protocol. Furthermore i took this opportunity, having delivered a group of wanted criminals, and asked about potential sightings of fired Nomad weaponry. Direct mentions of a LSF vessel were avoided. A notice from the Bounty Hunters Guild will most likely arrive after interrogation, if it has not already by the time of filing this report.
An eye will be kept on Dany, as the route to Hamburg seems to be taken regularly - the LSF vessel ignored most civilian craft during my first sighting. This could prove useful in locating it, should it return.

I have to report however, that parts of the flight recorder seem damaged. The direct scans of Liberty Rogue and Xeno pilots aboard the civilian freighter near Planet Hamburg have been lost. I'll have that repaired as soon as possible, Police on Planet Hamburg can confirm the contents of this report.

Guten Abend Officers,

Partaking in a precision strike against Corsair activity in Omicron Xi, i offered bomber support to present Rheinwehr forces gathering in Munich - that being the RNC-Wetzlar and RNC-Eisen.Hammer.
On our way through Omicron Xi, a Police unit joined the formation as well - Klaus Shulz.
Initially the area around the entry point to Omicron Xi seemed clear, we sheered out a few clicks to cover more area with our sensors. Not long and the first hostiles were detected.
Compliance was, as to be expected, exceedingly lacking. Subsequently the first engagement took place and quickly evolved into more.

Through an opening, created by coordinated fire from RNC-Wetzlar and RNC-Eisen.Hammer, i managed to land a debilitating blow against one of the larger Corsair vessels. As valiantly as the Rheinwehr fought, the Corsair's numbers did not waver considerably. A healthy stream of reinforcements from their side leads me to believe they were safeguarding something of value at the time of our arrival.
Due to prolonged heavy fire, the tide of battle turned to the Corsair's favor. For now they may revel in this short-lived 'victory' we kindly offered them.
It is as hollow as their very future.

While an armored finger of the Kaiser alone poked far enough to stir up a hornet's nest, an opportunity for the ironclad fist to squash the erratic buzzing altogether presents itself now.

Guten Abend Officers,

After returning from Oder Shipyard to get my flight recorder replaced, Flieger Hans Klein and me went on patrol.
We combed the Aachenfeld for any unwanted activity - but found nothing that would warrant direct involvement. A system wide broadcast caught our attention, as it aimed to slander Rheinland's great name. While i was about to quickly shut it down, Flieger Klein was more inclined to let it unfold and even turn it around.
Narrowing the source of the broadcast down to Bonn Stations immediate surroundings, Flieger Klein and me altered course and found a member of the Bundschuh waiting for us.
We encountered an unaffiliated pilot at the scene as well, according to own statements merely there to listen.

Considering my wingman at that time was one of the longest-serving veterans known to me, i left the majority of talking to him and kept watch.

Großadmiral von Thielau,

this is a priority report regarding the previous LSF incident.
As usual, a copy has been sent to New Berlin.

I have encountered the same LSF vessel from previous reports, this time in the heart of Rheinland. New Berlin itself, sector D2.
Immediately upon noticing me, it charged its cruise engines and headed for the Ruhrfeld. Once again it refused to comply with my initial orders, instead heading for a jump hole inside the asteroid field. Giving chase i quickly jumped, mere moments after my target did so.
In Hamburg we left the Südheide, the LSF vessel following a course to the Kielfeld and yet another jump hole. Even though it refused to give details or any sort of meaningful insights, it did not, at any point, stopped on its way out of Rheinland space. Furthermore it took no detours and headed for the nearest exit points.
Therefore i saw no need to make use of authorized force against this particular craft just yet.

Ensuring the LSF vessel would not simply return at yet another entry point, i remained as cordial as i deemed necessary and struck a seemingly harmless conversation for a considerable while. I made sure to leave my feed open for prolonged periods of time - hopefully the MND can make good use of the recorded interaction as well as background noise.
Speech patterns, potential codewords, hidden messages or supressed transmissions going in and out during moments of our exchange. Whatever may prove useful to them, i hope i could deliver it.
Pilot itself seemed to open up slighty to me, which may not mean much considering his affiliation to the LSF.

Lastly i was granted another scan while in Hudson, Nomad tech from the previous encounter had been replaced with regular armaments.
Close to the Texas jump gate we parted ways.
I have included the full data as customary, ready to be reviewed at your leisure, Herr Großadmiral.

Guten Abend Officers,

during a routine patrol through New Berlin i picked up a single ping, originating from somewhere close to the Ruhrfeld in sector C4. Upon investigating, i came across a Unioner gunboat. It confirmed having sent the ping, but before i could even inquire what the purpose was... the Unioner vessel made its intent abundantly clear. Firing at me, stripping my craft of all shields in a single volley. While taking evasive action to allow my shields to recharge, a Bounty Hunter arrived at the scene - causing the Unioner ship to cease firing. Apparently the Gunboat had followed him and others since Bering. That alone made the encounter all the more dubious.
With the intent of getting any useable information out of the Unioner i questioned him again, to no avail.

As it opened fire again, i authorized the Bounty Hunter to engage and did so as well. We quickly developed an effective strategy - him drawing most of the fire, while i whittled away at shields and hull when i saw an opening. Each time the Bounty Hunter needed a moment to get a better position or recover, i acted as bait to instead draw fire. Some damage was sustained, but we both prevailed and in the end he landed the decisive blow.
I suggest a compensation for the damage received.

Offering to escort the Bounty Hunter to either Wildau or Oder Shipyard, his employer arrived to check upon us for a short moment. Afterwards we continued our way to Oder Shipyard without further incidents and took care of any damages.
The Bounty Hunter turned out to be an unknown form of combat AI, at least nothing i ever saw before. The ship being able to alter its shape seemingly at will.
His ... or its ... employer transferred a sum of 1.000.000 credits to me, i suspect for the destruction of the Unioner gunboat. The transferred funds have not yet been moved by me again - as i do not intend to keep them. All i did was my duty. Thus, i will attempt to contact the trader in question again and clarify the situation.


About an hour later Flieger Rossmann was assigned to me, so i took him with me on the next patrol. We started from New Berlin, went to Essen Station and headed straight to Hamburg. I began informing my wingman about the current dealings in this system, as well as the occurrence in Thuringia. I do believe i mistakenly called the Liberty Navy craft a cruiser instead of a gunboat in that particular conversation - the full transcript is, as always, part of this report.
Seeing as Flieger Rossmann had just recently returned to a more direct way of serving, i saw fit to test his flying abilites and took him to Hudson - expanding the patrol route, while at the same time showing him which jump holes the LSF craft had taken in the past. Rossmann was able to keep up with me without issues, even in the denser parts of asteroid fields filled with wrecks of the past.

Returning to Hamburg via jump hole from Hudson, the Bering jump hole was next on the list. Even if i had tried, i would've not been able to shake Flieger Rossmann in the Kielfeld or the Nordheide. Instead of jumping to Bering, i made sure he knows the location for future patrols - as our path led back from Altona Station to Alster Shipyard and onwards to New Berlin.
A Zoner vessel was my last task for Rossmann, a simple cargo check after i had done the talking. Nothing out of the ordinary and no irregular sightings.
Patrol ended at New Berlin again.