The following transmission is classified. It is available for viewing to the Liberty Navy [LN], Colonial Republic CR|, Bretonian Armed Force BAF| and the Council [C].

Director Dawson,

I’m here with a proposal to expand the operations of the Liberty Security Force (=LSF=). Currently, our organization is operating inside Liberty, Rheinland, and the Omicron edge worlds and on a limited scale, Bretonia, for various reasons. It is in my judgment that I feel we must expand our horizons and begin intelligence collection in the Tau systems as well. In short, the Taus present a strategic location in Sirius where we will have the opportunity to encourage the free flow of goods into Liberty and strengthen our national security. The details of the proposal are below.

Proposal: Task Force Carentan

This proposal authorizes the creation of Task Force Carentan (TFC) to begin conduct intelligence operations within the Tau regions. Intelligence operations are defined as any form of espionage which would lead to data collection such as but not limited to; reconnaissance, surveillance etc. It recognizes that the Taus present many opportunities for the =LSF= in terms of intelligence collection as listed below:

1. Approves intelligence collection on all Gallic forces (Gallic Royal Navy, Gallic Royal Police, Gallic corporations). We will be collecting information of Gallic military installations such as GRN battleships and military bases in the Tau region. Gallic Forces includes Gallic corporations as they assist the Gallic military forces. This would also present an opportunity to recruit intelligence sources within these said Gallic organisations within the Tau region.
   
2. Allows Task Force Carentan to conduct surgical strikes and other military operations of violent nature with the pre-approval and authorization of =LSF= Directorate/High Command. No violent operations are to be conducted independently by any LSF officer in Tau space. LSF officers will be authorized to carry weapons but only use them in self-defense, never for launching attacks.
   
3. Acknowledges the presence of the Outcast criminal organization in Tau space and authorizes LSF forces deployed in Tau space to begin collection of intelligence regarding cardamine trade routes into the Republic of Liberty. Once again, violence is only to be used in self defence.
   
4. Establishes Task Force Carentan as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) capable of responding to emergencies within Bretonia (specifically at Leeds) from the Taus to assist the BAF with defending their territory against Gallic forces. Once LSF forces enter Bretonia from the Taus, their Rules of Engagement (ROE) will change as per previous agreements and treaties made between Liberty and Bretonia.
   
5. Instructs the LSF to keep watch and report any Nomad activity in the Tau region.
   
6. Does not authorize the deployment of any LSF capital ships (including gunboats) in the Tau region to preserve secrecy
   
7. Encourages the cooperation between the Bretonian Intelligence Services, Colonial Intelligence Services and the Gallic Council Intelligence through methods such as intelligence sharing and/or joint operations. This proposal recognizes that all these organizations have a stake in the fate of the Tau region.
   

Of course, it is to be mentioned that this is a long term plan. There is no expectation that Task Force Carentan’s operations will have any immediate, dramatic effect on the political situation in the Taus. It is likely that if this proposal is approved and LSF assets are deployed in the Taus, it will take months or even a few years before any cardamine smuggling routes will be found for example.

As this is a limited deployment, the LSF units stationed in the Taus will have a very different set of Rules of Engagement (ROE). They are as follows:

Rules of Engagement

1. No LSF forces are authorized to fire their weapons, whether it is a sidearm or a ship weapon. LSF forces must never fire first, even upon citing a Nomad.
   
2. LSF forces are only allowed to fire their weapons in self-defense. This must constitute a hostile force firing upon LSF units first, before LSF forces fire back. If a Nomad does not fire upon LSF units first, then LSF forces must stand down, even if it is a Nomad.
   
3. LSF must respect the laws of the Colonial Republic when in the Coronado space, though LSF forces will maintain diplomatic immunity (the details of which will be discussed with the Colonial Republic of High Command approves this proposal)
   
4. LSF assets are instructed to ‘keep their distance’ from all hostile forces to prevent any engagement from beginning. Refer to Clause No.2 for instructions on what to do if an engagement occurs.
   
5. All LSF forces are restricted from docking on IMG bases
   

As this is a limited deployment, there will be a small application process for any primary and secondary fleet members to be accepted into Task Force Carentan. The application will be drawn up if this proposal if approved. It will be there mainly to make sure that members of the task force understand the Rules of Engagement listed above in the Taus. Recruitment into Task Force Carentan will be handled by me, mid-level =LSF= command and =LSF= High Command/Directorate.

Finally, if this proposal is approved, I will begin negotiations along with the State Department to allow the Colonial Republic to give us docking rights to their bases and planets, in return for the information we give to them regarding the Taus. We will also proceed to fulfill the obligation in clause 7 of the proposal to foster improved relations between the different intelligence agencies that have an interest in the Tau regions.

Let me know if you have any further questions or if you would like to have anything changed.

Regards,
John Major