[color=#CCCCCC]Hell of an engagement last night.

The patrol started off normally, Lt.Cmdr Sius [Aboard the [LN]-LNS-MacArthur], Rct. McKenzie and I shifted to Manhattan to assist R.O Walker [LPI] in intercepting a Freelancer calling himself Repeater. Contact fled into the debris field behind the planet and we moved in pursuit. Once R.O Walker and I were in range we opened up on the Sabre.

And that's about where it all went to hell.

Numerous hostile signatures jumped in right on top us, including a Rogue Cruiser. Lt.Cmdr Sius radioed for reinforcements, despite being under heavy fire himself. We managed to hold long enough for reinforcements to arrive in the form of one of our Dreadnoughts, but the pirate forces just kept pouring in. The MacArthur was bought down by the concentrated fire of multiple hostile gunboats, as was Rct. McKenzie. The Dreadnought reported severe damage and I ordered it to fall back and repair, which triggered a barrage of fire from the hostiles. All forces were ordered to cover the Battleship's retreat, and R.O Walker was cut off from our fleet. Shortly after we attempted to break contact, sensors reported Walker's ship flaming out, followed by a large detonation. Still not sure how he did it, but it looked like Walker managed to take that Rogue Cruiser out of action as well.

Friendly reinforcements were waiting in Manhattan orbit, including another Dreadnought and a Carrier, which engaged the enemy as we came into view. They were too late to save our initial Battleship, which lit up shortly after we rounded the planet. From there, I lost track of targets. Despite targets and objectives being pointed out for them our forces fragmented and were being picked off one by one, on one occasion a Dreadnought holding position while a Carrier was torn apart less then a kilometre from it. At some point in the battle a Hellfire Legionnaire, Ryan Williams, arrived and began directing the fire of the hostile fleet, finishing off what remained of our capital support.

With our forces taking heavy losses, I ordered all ships with drive systems to regroup at West Point. Again, I was ignored. Besides my Executioner, one ship complied with the order. As far as I can determine, all other friendly vessels that were in Manhattan orbit are now destroyed or missing.

That's where I contacted the Legionnaire. Figured that if I could arrange a meeting between West Point and Manhattan he might have been able to call them off, or at least pull them somewhere less damaging to civilians. LPI Officer Matthew.Scott did nothing to help the situation when he insisted on opening fire on Williams mid-negotiations, again despite orders to the contrary. Looks like the Legionnaire did something though, since I received word of an attack on West Point minutes later.

Flt.Adm Hale was already in combat with multiple hostiles, as well as a few of our ships that had finally pulled out of dock when I arrived. Finally the cavalry arrived in the form of an =LSF= strike force, as well as Lt. Cahoone, forcing the pirates back and destroying a hostile gunboat.

There were too many contacts to keep track of, so the patrol summary's a best guess. Any ship not noted as destroyed, survived or fled is presumed missing. A number of Freelancers also flew alongside or against us, I don't have their names or status available right now. ADMINO can chase it up if he really wants to know.

Patrol summary follows:

Quote:Patrol Strength [5]

• [LN]-David.Hale [Guardian] - Survived
  
• [LN]-LNS-MacArthur [Liberty Gunboat] - Destroyed
  
• [LN]-Natalie.Cahoone. [Unknown] - Survived
  
• [LN]-Jeremy.McKenzie [Executioner] - Destroyed
  
• [LN]-Jane.Hartman [Executioner] - Survived
  

Additional Friendlies [18]

• LPI-Lee.Walker[RO] [Liberator] - Destroyed
  
• =LSF=Grandbell [Unknown] - Survived
  
• =LSF=Morenes.Anadar [Unknown] - Survived
  
• LNS-Douglas [Battlecruiser] - Destroyed
  
• LNS-California [Carrier] - Destroyed
  
• LNS-Rooivalk [Dreadnought] - Destroyed
  
• LNS-Kennedy [Carrier] - Destroyed
  
• LNS-Norfolk [Siege Cruiser] - Survived
  
• LNF-Hope [Unknown]
  
• Jack-Jones [Unknown]
  
• Timothy.Hawk|Delta.1 [Unknown] - Survived
  
• Ben.Ranger|Delta.2 [Unknown]
  
• Matthew.Scott [Liberty Police Inc. Officer]
  
• <Ghost> [Unknown] - Destroyed
  
• Johnaffen.Green [Unknown] - Destroyed
  
• Jack.Castaway
  
• ROManiac [Liberty Gunboat] - Destroyed
  
• [NG]-Assault1 [Liberty Gunboat]
  

Quote:Hostiles [18]

• LR-Perfectly.Imperfect ['Werewolf'] - Destroyed
  
• Repeater [Sabre]
  
• Liberty's.Finest [Rogue Cruiser] - Destroyed
  
• Dean.Winchester [Unknown] - Destroyed
  
• Kyopus [Unknown] - Destroyed
  
• BB|Shadowberserker [Unconfirmed: Hacker Gunboat]
  
• Abismo [Kusari 'Explorer' Gunboat] - Destroyed
  
• Novus_Necrontyr [Unknown]
  
• CreeChy [Unknown]
  
• [TAU]-F-Satorius [Unknown. Hostile status unconfirmed. Seen flying formation with Rogue Cruiser]
  
• Don't.Kill.I.Am.Virgin [Unknown]
  
• Sonny.Black [Unknown]
  
• Anshlag [Rogue Cruiser]
  
• Richard.Cranium [Unknown]
  
• Spirit.Shadow [Tridente] - Destroyed
  
• The.Rolling.Stone [Unknown]
  
• FireDance [Unknown]
  
• Pomper [Unknown]
  

Quote:Noteworthy Contacts [1]

• [HF]-Ryan.Williams [Prosecutor] - Fired on us at Manhattan, and later assisted us at West Point.