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Amy West · 09-15-2024, 10:47 PM,

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[SECURE - YELLOW]

Pleased to report field viability of INCURSUS, although more work will be needed before I'll give it full readiness status.

Set out on interdiction op with Lt. Carmine, departing from Valravn to Ontario. We performed a transit of New York, and Pennsylvania, before moving through California for Magellan.
Overlooking the Cordova Platform, radar showed two 'Interdictor'-class battlecruisers, 1st|USS.Darkstar and Guardian-23, both outfitted for border ops. Following arrival of Cmdr. Freud, we made our move.

INCURSUS performed to expectations given our opposition, although I'd say we're a bit rusty given the timespan between Duskstorm and today.
[15.09.2024 18:58:50] Guardian-23 perished at IN|G-INS-Incursus's hands (98%)
We disabled one of them, but the other forced our withdrawal. Freud and Carmine I'm told forced the second warship to make an emergency attempt on Cordova.

Overall, a good test run. Expect further deployments within the near future.
Report filed under YELLOW level encryption.

Libera te ex Infernis.

West, out.

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"The truth's always harder to swallow than a simple white lie.."
Join the Fight

**Petitioner** · (This post was last modified: 09-24-2024, 11:02 AM by Petitioner.)

Combat After Action Report

Date: 09.23.34, 04:57 GAST
Rank & Name: High Logarch With, Kelly
Reporting From: Valravn Citadel
AAR #002

High Logarch With reporting.
Dependin' on your clearance, this'll be a long one or a short one. First things first, though.

Effective immediately, Lieutenant Bellamy Crowe is promoted to the rank of Commander on account of their unwavering dedication, ferocity and discipline in the field, and sound judgment in face of concerted opposition. Commander Crowe, ya've done the Task Force and yer fellow Legionnaires proud, and yer entitled to a full round on my dime.

Additionally, Warden Yoruha of the Technocracy of Auxo is temporarily admitted to Task Force Prometheus as a military attaché with the provisional rank of Lieutenant. Nurture the flame inside of you, Lieutenant Yoruha, and bring it forth to the world.

A large portion of this report is classified under OPCOM-7E, for eyes of the Exarchy only. If'n you so much as attempt hackin' in, you'll meet far worse than two weeks' latrine-cleaning duty.

On the nineteenth of this month, at exactly 2239 hours, I launched from Barrier Gate to do a brief patrol and ended up findin' a large assortment of people all engaged in conversation, with at least the followin' participants:

Dr. Hans von Goeben (of Med Force Enterprises),
Revenant (you know who),
Lazurith (an informant of Leviathan's, as I gather),
Moreya (a civilian, apparently employin' Lazurith),
Tracey Rivers (a freelancer, apparently also workin' for Moreya),
Menreiki (an IMG pilot with a penchant for exploration; provided their name as Onigawara Haruka),
Bessie "Bison" Bishop (a Hunter with the BHG),
A. Foulke (a Zoner, very quiet and reserved),
Oberth Effect (a 'lancer in a Draugr, suspected criminal connections),
Choomba (a Technocrat asset, think he's... a brain in a jar? directly wired into a ship? been very helpful an' friendly with TFP assets, prime recruitment target in my assessment),
Yoruha (known, of course)

...and prolly several more that I failed to note down. Conversation was mostly trite shite that ain't worth wastin' the breath on, though apparently Crayter recently shot down a Miners' Guild convoy full of refugees from the Slave Revolt, which, can't say I'm surprised, but my god, their depravity knows no limits. I told the Guilder that if Crayter backs the IMG into a corner, they call us up an' we'll shoot 'em. Don't know if we can actually hold to that -- more Megiddo's department to assess -- but hell if I wouldn't be willin'.

Two hours later, at 0038:38 hours exactly, an... abomination with a malformed IFF designator markin' it as "Raspelbock" appeared on the scene, appeared comparable to gunboat-class. Openly said somethin' to the effect of "when I was human", leavin' no doubt that it was some kind of messed-up alien construction. Said it was there just to "check in on" Lazurith, and issued a riddle to him which I didn't really get. After a time, it moved to engage Revenant, at which point me, Yoru', Choomba, and a 'lancer by name of Kitaro Mazda engaged the vessel. Even Lazurith joined in, which seemin'ly traumatized the lad a bit. Guess he's some sorta pacifist. Hope he recovers from that mental disorder soon.

FLAMEWRIGHT2\\root\kelly\blackbox\autotranscription\20 09 834.txt ::> grep 00:59:33' Wrote:

Somehow after this, the conversation went almost back t' normal, with relatively inconsequential tripe an' banter occupying our attention for a good while. So let's skip to the good stuff. We shot the shit for about twenty more minutes before the Vigilant, a gunship of the Gallic National Intelligence, arrived to join us. General consensus of the conversation was that all involved participants think Crayter sucks, with little more of consequence bein' said until approximately 0833 hours, when an ał—̶̲̈́—̶̠̑

[ACCESS DENIED/INPUT USERAUTH BIOMETRICS]

>> ░░▒▒▒▓▓▓ [Image: H7bxoM7.gif]

>> VERIFYING MATCH...
>> AUTHCODE ACCEPTED.
>> BIO-DATA ACCEPTED.
>> ACCESS GRANTED.
>> WELCOME, EXARCH.

—̴̸̸̢̳̇̿—̰êņ an alien form appeared on the scanners. Many present reported feelin' a chill down their spines, yours truly included. A series of brief hallucinations, like flower petals, clouded my vision. Induced no doubt by the alien. At this point, the my Falchion's systems all went bloody haywire for a solid ten minutes. Canopy tint, shields, comms, everythin' save life support. So there's a gap in the info I collected.

When Flamewright II's system reboot completed, I expressed my "suspicion" of the alien's presence, but Choomba implored me t'hold my anger. Appendin' transcribed audio logs, complete with best attempt at translatin' the weird fuckin' way these things "talk" to ya in yer head. God, that shite gives me headaches.

FLAMEWRIGHT2\\root\kelly\blackbox\autotranscription\20 09 834.txt ::> grep 01:45:40' Wrote:[20.09.834 01:45:41] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Fuck did I miss?
[20.09.834 01:45:43] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Another little one."
[20.09.834 01:45:59] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Oh, more of you little bastards.
[20.09.834 01:46:17] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Another?"
[20.09.834 01:46:19] Choomba: Hold on Kelly. This one's different.
[20.09.834 01:46:46] TFP)-Kelly.With!: What makes it different? [Her eyes narrow disbelievingly.]
[20.09.834 01:46:52] A/)-Yoruha-: {She looks behind her, towards Kelly and the others. And then to Psyche. She tries using her working memory, through her brain to warn that it may be too dangerous to be here.}
[20.09.834 01:47:13] Choomba: It's got Yoruha Acting all weird.
[20.09.834 01:47:42] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Only her own swansong compelling her."
[20.09.834 01:47:54] A/)-Yoruha-: {She thinks the message, in the hopes Psyche may recieve.}
[20.09.834 01:48:00] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Since when do squids fuckin' interface with robots?
[20.09.834 01:48:34] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: (Amusement.) "One that is not entirely of lifeless metal."
[20.09.834 01:49:01] A/)-Yoruha-: "This one is metal binded to flesh, machine that inhabits the kingdom of man."
[20.09.834 01:49:37] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Choomba, what makes this squid any different?
[20.09.834 01:49:50] Moreya: That is... bewildering! And confirms that Mister Abrams was able to feel the influence within his cybernetic spine.
[20.09.834 01:49:50] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Hell... why do we call 'em squids? What the fuck is a "squid"?
[20.09.834 01:49:52] Moreya: Marvelous!
[20.09.834 01:49:53] Choomba: All I'm saying is Kelly, I woulda started blasting a while ago if it hasn't got Yoruha under some spell.
[20.09.834 01:50:15] Choomba: I'de rather not find out what Yoruha might do if we piss this thing off.
[20.09.834 01:50:16] A/)-Yoruha-: I was once deaf to the song. The song of Psyche breached the shores and allowed me to hear. Their kind.. is not one and the same as the Infectee. Or their benefactors.
[20.09.834 01:50:19] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Kill the enchanter and their charms'll wear off.
[20.09.834 01:50:40] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "No spell crafted. Only the beauty of song appreciated."
[20.09.834 01:50:55] TFP)-Kelly.With!: What are ya, a cheap panhandler?
[20.09.834 01:51:03] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Playin' for the passersby in the hopes you'll get a coin or two?
[20.09.834 01:51:13] Choomba: Ya'll know Yoruha better'n I do. I'll leave this call to you And I'll back you up.

Yoruha indicated that she was talkin' to the creature willingly, an' with Choomba's insistence that this one was different from those murder machines we used to torch back in the day, I decided to exercise my judgment in not startin' a conflict where no one else seemed interested in one. Just thinkin' about the, uh, "conversation" is givin' me a goddamn migraine, so I'll do my level best to summarize.

The alien identified itself as Psyche, and informed me that there are differences between different types of nomads. Said my heart was "plain, rough to the touch", that I was a "child of the fires of hell" — well, it's got the right of it there. Awfully perceptive. It claimed to be... reborn, like a phoenix or a butterfly comin' out of a cocoon. An' I'll admit, I had a hard time not feelin' a touch of appreciation there given how few others can claim ta know anything like such a thing, save ourselves. Venturing into the inferno to snatch heaven outta the jaws of hell. Ah, fuck it, I'll take some bloody eletriptan, here's another log. Transcribin' this shite's bloody taxin', this better be worth it.

FLAMEWRIGHT2\\root\kelly\blackbox\autotranscription\20 09 834.txt ::> grep 02:05:13' Wrote:[20.09.2024 02:05:14] Moreya: It would seem this alien race is quite interested in artistic expressionism!
[20.09.2024 02:05:27] Tracey.Rivers: Oh, thanks.
[20.09.2024 02:05:42] Lazurith: Some of them are more interested in the indiscriminate eradication of humanity.
[20.09.2024 02:05:55] TFP)-Kelly.With!: I'm interested in the indiscriminate eradication of those fuckers.
[20.09.2024 02:06:03] A/)-Yoruha-: "Ebb.. and flow."
[20.09.2024 02:06:21] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Such fire."
[20.09.2024 02:07:17] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "We recall the source of the flame. Thy hearth, gone cold."
[20.09.2024 02:07:58] TFP)-Kelly.With!: The Flame yet lives.
[20.09.2024 02:08:15] Tracey.Rivers: Well, fortunately, I will not be assaulting your eardrums this time. Show's over.
[20.09.2024 02:08:26] Lazurith: Aww.
[20.09.2024 02:08:36] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "To where shalt thou bring fire?"
[20.09.2024 02:08:56] Choomba: Tracey. Don't be rash.
[20.09.2024 02:08:58] Lazurith: Hey, if only my optic worked, I'd've installed a karaoke soft.
[20.09.2024 02:09:29] Lazurith: But... well. It ain't working now. This is starting to bother me a lot, because I'm not supposed to see blue with my other eye.
[20.09.2024 02:09:43] TFP)-Kelly.With!: To where?
[20.09.2024 02:09:46] TFP)-Kelly.With!: [A scoff.]
[20.09.2024 02:09:57] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Back where it belongs. Back home.
[20.09.2024 02:10:03] TFP)-Kelly.With!: "The hearth", as ya said.
[20.09.2024 02:10:17] Tracey.Rivers: Ship speakers aren't meant for this sort of thing.
[20.09.2024 02:10:19] Moreya: I advise you to visit me at my workshop, Mister Kris. Both for the monetary reward and to have me inspect your ocular implant.
[20.09.2024 02:10:25] TFP)-Kelly.With!: And onto anyone who gets in the way of that.
[20.09.2024 02:10:33] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "A compelling burn. Perhaps one aligned."
[20.09.2024 02:10:54] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Have a hard time believin' that.
[20.09.2024 02:11:05] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "What dost thou believe Us to wish for?"
[20.09.2024 02:11:40] TFP)-Kelly.With!: From what I've seen of ye? Death, destruction, with no care for who or what it rains down upon.
[20.09.2024 02:12:19] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Little bloody parlour tricks cloaked in tantalizin' metaphor, to delude people into overlookin' the fact you only offer death to life.
[20.09.2024 02:12:23] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Death and destruction, parlour tricks... these are not ends. They are means."
[20.09.2024 02:12:52] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Or dost thou believe Us incapable of higher purpose?"
[20.09.2024 02:13:13] Choomba: Well the Higher purpose can wait...
[20.09.2024 02:13:23] TFP)-Kelly.With!: If there's a higher purpose within ya, never seen it. Been a bit busy fighting a war the past decade to try puzzlin' it out.
[20.09.2024 02:13:38] Choomba: Earlier Yoruha and Lazarus were having a good conversation till you showed up and made things all tense.
[20.09.2024 02:13:47] A/)-Yoruha-: If.. I.. I may elucidate.
[20.09.2024 02:14:00] TFP)-Kelly.With!: We can go elsewhere, Choom.
[20.09.2024 02:14:24] A/)-Yoruha-: These seas.. systems - they were originally ordained for the K'hara.. long before man laid eyes on the Sirius star cluster.
[20.09.2024 02:14:29] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Leave ye lot to yer piss-taking.
[20.09.2024 02:14:39] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Not that I'm judgin', mind, done plenty of that myself.
[20.09.2024 02:15:12] Choomba: I'm still trying to process what's going on. Im starting to overheat with logic nulls.
[20.09.2024 02:15:18] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "We wish to reclaim what We need to grow. To evolve. Nothing more. Nothing less. And We are not driven to sundering all like Our Brethren."
[20.09.2024 02:15:29] A/)-Yoruha-: Yes.
[20.09.2024 02:16:07] A/)-Yoruha-: The brethren of these which Psyche resides amongst - are those who are the bigger threat - driven by vengeance, anger and hate.
[20.09.2024 02:17:06] TFP)-Kelly.With!: [A pang of sympathy and despair reverberates through Kelly's mind. Imagery of Galveston being scuttled, forward guns tearing through mighty Arbiters. Humble cities lying in ruins.]
[20.09.2024 02:17:52] TFP)-Kelly.With!: What... specifically... are you seekin' to reclaim?
[20.09.2024 02:18:10] A/)-Yoruha-: [Mieko is reminded again, of the visions evoked by the Wilde operator so long ago - men and women, nomad forms, all gored and blasted, in vain - a tumultuous cycle of hatred.]
[20.09.2024 02:18:34] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "We wish to swim within Our seas, unfettered and unbound, free to access all required."
[20.09.2024 02:18:48] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "All in this sector is crafted for this end."
[20.09.2024 02:19:00] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: **{Sector. An oddly human word to use.}**
[20.09.2024 02:19:23] TFP)-Kelly.With!: [A long pause.]
[20.09.2024 02:19:45] A/)-Yoruha-: We of human-kind are.. one for compartmentalizing that which we see and encounter into categorized sets.
[20.09.2024 02:19:57] A/)-Yoruha-: Hence the use of the term 'sector'.
[20.09.2024 02:20:01] TFP)-Kelly.With!: To live unchained. To take yer future into yer own hands.
[20.09.2024 02:20:10] A/)-Yoruha-: Much like our homeworld, Terra, within the Sol Sector.
[20.09.2024 02:20:22] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "This is the essence of Our desire."
[20.09.2024 02:21:20] Choomba: And how is that achievable with the constant conflicts that arise that is inevitable with hu-
[20.09.2024 02:21:36] Choomba: [Comms shut off after a short realization]
[20.09.2024 02:21:37] A/)-Yoruha-: Long gone, long left behind - much like the Dom'Kavash.. left you and your brethren.
[20.09.2024 02:22:38] TFP)-Kelly.With!: If I had to wager a guess, Choom'...
[20.09.2024 02:22:53] Choomba: No need. I think the odds of that are 0-2.
[20.09.2024 02:22:55] TFP)-Kelly.With!: By fightin' for it. Same as we do.
[20.09.2024 02:23:14] A/)-Yoruha-: Yes.. that sadly seems to be the only viable course of action.
[20.09.2024 02:23:27] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "There are paths beyond spitfire."
[20.09.2024 02:23:41] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "We seek all routes to Our future."
[20.09.2024 02:23:45] A/)-Yoruha-: Please enlighten this one.
[20.09.2024 02:23:45] Choomba: Thus the "means" to an end.
[20.09.2024 02:24:04] TFP)-Kelly.With!: [A heavy sigh as she's reminded of her newfound duties. The headache grows impossible to suppress.]
[20.09.2024 02:24:14] A/)-Yoruha-: Miss With?
[20.09.2024 02:24:16] TFP)-Kelly.With!: [Her voice is strained as she pushes the pain to the side.]
[20.09.2024 02:24:33] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Aye, many ways to skin the proverbial cat.
[20.09.2024 02:24:54] Moreya: As I understand it, "spitfire" means combat? Does this mean these aliens are open to find ways that are not involving fighting?
[20.09.2024 02:25:06] Choomba: But that's mere Ideology. In order to do so would be trampling on other demographic beliefs.
[20.09.2024 02:25:10] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Thou art correct, seeker of truths."
[20.09.2024 02:25:50] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Yet those in power in thy homes are invested in carrying on as though We know naught but war."
[20.09.2024 02:26:17] A/)-Yoruha-: Yes. Spitfire - violence, the exchange of fire betwixt forms.
[20.09.2024 02:26:27] Choomba: Are you implying achieving a form of unified singularity?
[20.09.2024 02:26:45] A/)-Yoruha-: And yes.. the houses have much to gain.. from the exploitation of the Slomon K'hara.. much as the main collective has of our annihilation.
[20.09.2024 02:27:07] Moreya: Hm! It would seem that seeking animosity and holding grudges belong to the negative traits mankind appears unable to abandon!
[20.09.2024 02:27:25] Moreya: And yet, there is hope, on occasion!
[20.09.2024 02:27:35] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "The Brethren are chained by their pain and fear. Just as shadowlings are."
[20.09.2024 02:27:54] TFP)-Kelly.With!: These brethren.
[20.09.2024 02:28:10] TFP)-Kelly.With!: [She tries to call to mind the image of Raspelbock earlier, the unwanted and malicious intrusion.]
[20.09.2024 02:28:20] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Like that fucker from a bit ago.
[20.09.2024 02:28:30] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Hunting dogs."
[20.09.2024 02:28:38] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Hounds of death."
[20.09.2024 02:28:57] A/)-Yoruha-: Ravenous hounds from hell, who spitfire to spitfire, or linger amongst the flocks of man.
[20.09.2024 02:29:06] A/)-Yoruha-: Rarely an in-between.
[20.09.2024 02:29:07] Choomba: Speaking of spitfire.
[20.09.2024 02:29:24] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Don't take hell's name in vain. [She says it dryly, clearly aware of the irony but with a sense of sincerity behind it.]
[20.09.2024 02:29:33] Lazurith: ...Man, just when I thought we had seen enough Gauls today.
[20.09.2024 02:29:35] Guepard-1: Would you look at that...

A lone Royalist operative, Guepard-1, appeared on the scene. We spent some amount of time talkin' with the lad, considerin' what all he'd done and urgin' him to seek out a life not in service to genociders, given he seemed remarkably sane for someone of his affiliation. I certainly wasn't gonna be the one to break the Freeport's NFZ first -- well, first excludin' the riddle-dispensing hostile biomachine from earlier. He seemed adamant on not desertin' given that the remnants practice unit-scale corporal punishment for such things. Despicable it may be to fight for such a cause, gotta admire mate's loyalty to his comrades. Psyche expressed a measure of derision and scorn at the assembled crowd for bein' willing to civilly converse with someone guilty by association of Big Chucky's crimes just on account of their humanity, contrastin' this to the treatment of aliens.

...that's an uncomfortable point, innit?

After some time, "Raspelbock" appeared again. This time, with two brainwashed 'lancers in tow, one at the helm of an Inquisitor, both insistin' that they were defendin' an MND vessel. Repeatedly. Over and over. Unable to say any-fuckin'-thing else. Seems there's a difference between types of alien after all.

FLAMEWRIGHT2\\root\kelly\blackbox\autotranscription\20 09 834.txt ::> grep 03:07:32' Wrote:[20.09.2024 03:07:33] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Ah, an' it's back.
[20.09.2024 03:07:38] Moreya: Goodness me!
[20.09.2024 03:07:40] A/)-Yoruha-: It's the same one from earlier!
[20.09.2024 03:07:44] Jonathan.Guilles: Negative, this vessel is definitely from Rheinland.
[20.09.2024 03:07:50] Hale's.Angel: We have been hired to protect these MND vessels, we will guard them with our life
[20.09.2024 03:08:00] Guepard-1: This vessel is barely human-made.
[20.09.2024 03:08:05] Lazurith: Sellswords, hm.
[20.09.2024 03:08:07] Choomba: You freelancers are truly idiots or infected yourselves.
[20.09.2024 03:08:17] Jonathan.Guilles: You better do not approach this vessel.
[20.09.2024 03:08:23] Hale's.Angel: I am a freelancer, I have been hired to protect them with my life
[20.09.2024 03:08:24] A/)-Yoruha-: What do we do?
[20.09.2024 03:08:26] Wilde.Raspelbock: *** {An insidius rattle takes hold in the minds of all.} *** I am piloting an Experminetal Rheinland Vessel.
[20.09.2024 03:08:28] Moreya: Assistants, please stay close to the station!
[20.09.2024 03:08:33] A/)-Yoruha-: TOMARE!
[20.09.2024 03:08:45] A/)-Yoruha-: I know what you are!
[20.09.2024 03:08:56] Jonathan.Guilles: How do yoou know this vessel is not an experimental from MND?
[20.09.2024 03:09:00] Guepard-1: So, you're hired wings to defend this... Thing?
[20.09.2024 03:09:03] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Shut the fuck up, all of ya.
[20.09.2024 03:09:06] Lazurith: Well, Gardener. You've definitely got my attention now.
[20.09.2024 03:09:09] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Death-bringer, what do you want?
[20.09.2024 03:09:20] Hale's.Angel: I am a freelancer, I have been hired to protect these MND vessels
[20.09.2024 03:09:24] Moreya: Eek! This is truly worrisome!
[20.09.2024 03:09:29] Wilde.Raspelbock: Simple: To cut a deal of wants and wishes.
[20.09.2024 03:09:29] Choomba: Thralls.
[20.09.2024 03:09:31] Choomba: Must be.
[20.09.2024 03:09:32] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Ya've said as much five bloody times now!
[20.09.2024 03:09:34] Jonathan.Guilles: I am a Freelancer, I have been hired to protect these MND vessels.
[20.09.2024 03:09:36] TFP)-Kelly.With!: Shut yer fuckin trap!
[20.09.2024 03:09:44] Hale's.Angel: We are many
[20.09.2024 03:09:45] A/)-Yoruha-: Two gunboat tracks, one fighter.
[20.09.2024 03:10:01] Guepard-1: You're forgetting the space fish.
[20.09.2024 03:10:18] Tracey.Rivers: Kris, I don't know what you're thinking, but I'll follow you.
[20.09.2024 03:10:19] TFP)-Kelly.With!: That one won't be a bother.
[20.09.2024 03:10:23] A/)-Yoruha-: I have a high belief the Nomad will not engage.
[20.09.2024 03:10:24] Lazurith: Okay... what exactly spurred you to come all the way out here in this complete armpit? There's clearly something you want.
[20.09.2024 03:10:43] Jonathan.Guilles: I am a Freelancer, I have beenn hired to protect these MND vessels.
[20.09.2024 03:10:53] Hale's.Angel: We will protect them with our lives
[20.09.2024 03:11:00] Wilde.Raspelbock: You. I need you to keep him... "sane".
[20.09.2024 03:11:04] TFP)-Kelly.With!: I'll hire ya to shut the bloody fuck up, ya gobshites.

So, I wanted to test that theory I had about "kill the sorceror an' the illusion fades", but unfortunately combat ensued quick enough an' was sufficiently hectic that both the freelance vessels ended up splashed before the miraculously-returned abomination did. Received assistance from Guepard, who was unsurprisingly quite skilled in the pilot's seat -- no wonder he's lived all this long.

FLAMEWRIGHT2\\root\kelly\blackbox\casualty reports\20 09 834.dmgprop Wrote:

Looks like Laz might be gettin' over his violence-abstentionist brain disease after all. Exposure therapy works bloody wonders.

Casualties sustained no serious damage to their persons, though we'll have some fairly significant ship repairs to do. In the course of this engagement, Choomba -- who, might I remind, is somethin' like a brain wired directly into a ship -- quickly docked at the Gate, purchased a Magpie from a dealer over the 'net, an' had the techs do a quick an' highly hazardous swap of his, uh, neural architecture or whatever the hell, into the fighter-bomber. Lad came out of a Starflier. Ended up takin' some serious damage to his language faculties as a result, an' only the intervention of Psyche givin' him some kind of stabilizin' alien magic neural imprint horseshite kept the li'l knight alive. First Technocrat I've ever seen that's crossed the transhumanism barrier into fully becomin' one with the machine, and fuck me sideways if he doesn't have the Fire within him as bright as the best of us.

Uncomfortable to think just how helpful Psyche seems intent on being. Maybe this is worth investigatin' further, somehow. Maybe we're not so different. Or maybe I'm gettin' brainwashed like those poor 'lancers. That's for you two, West an' Megiddo, to weigh in on.

Anyway, that'll finally conclude this report. With, out.

Libera Te Ex Infernis
Mihi Vindictam Ego Retribuam

Tantalum · 09-29-2024, 11:40 PM,

Non-Combat After Action Report

Date: <09.29.34, 0820> GAST
Rank & Name: Legionnaire Florence, Jacaranda
Reporting From: Valravn Citadel
AAR # 1

You know who I am, let's get right into it.

Lt. Crowe has excellent combat performance, Gallic rebels are running around unchecked, and those baby Nomads followed us in the America garrison from Kansas. Ouroboros personnel seem skittish, for lack of a better term. As most of them are mechanical, their self-preservation functions seem overtuned.

Lt. Crowe asked me to get some readings of the Vagrants as they engaged Crayter warships and an Order fighter. The Skidbaldnir attempted to engage, but their fire was ineffective and they withdrew after the Tyran was lost. I have attached my guncam footage below.

Attached Files

Code:
[29.09.2024 03:15:34] Choomba: ------Valraven Station---Choomba here--LSF--Requesting--------"Audience"--TFP-- [29.09.2024 03:15:41] A/)-Etna: Fascinating... [29.09.2024 03:15:44] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Heard, need coords. [29.09.2024 03:15:53] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: An Audience? This I gotta see. [29.09.2024 03:15:54] Choomba is rallying you to their position. [29.09.2024 03:16:05] TFP)-Wendigo: Could be interesting. [29.09.2024 03:16:09] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: On it, ETA 120. [29.09.2024 03:16:18] Choomba: --Preem Chrome- [29.09.2024 03:16:23] Choomba: --Simply it- [29.09.2024 03:16:31] A/)-Sakura: Sp-eed demon? M-maybe. I love t-tinkering with sh-ips. B-rother taught me s-ome things. My Hawfinch i-is a complete- [29.09.2024 03:16:34] A/)-Sakura: -custom d-design. [29.09.2024 03:16:39] A/)-Etna: An unexpected variable. Exercise caution. [29.09.2024 03:16:42] Choomba: --Certain---Events-- Happened- [29.09.2024 03:16:57] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Weapons hold, SEDEF ROE. [29.09.2024 03:17:11] =LSF=Advocate-7: You really can just summon traitors. [29.09.2024 03:17:15] Choomba: ---Premium Augmentations-- [29.09.2024 03:17:23] TFP)-Wendigo: Who you calling a traitor? [29.09.2024 03:17:29] =LSF=Advocate-7: Legionaires. [29.09.2024 03:17:34] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Oh great, this guy. [29.09.2024 03:17:44] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: At least we're not Technocrats this time. [29.09.2024 03:17:51] A/)-Etna: Keep us updated, Prometheans. [29.09.2024 03:17:59] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: No offense, Choombs. [29.09.2024 03:18:17] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Wilco Etna. [29.09.2024 03:18:21] =LSF=Advocate-7: Technocrats not really my issue. See, I got orders to smoke them out to give the "Anti-Xenoform" guys room to work. [29.09.2024 03:18:32] =LSF=Advocate-7: Buuuuuut, I heard they were harboring Legionaires. [29.09.2024 03:18:55] =LSF=Advocate-7: Lemme tell you, I cried tears of joy watching the Commonwealth and Legion burn. [29.09.2024 03:19:06] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: That so? [29.09.2024 03:19:08] =LSF=Advocate-7: It had been a long time since I agreed with Navy Admiralty. [29.09.2024 03:19:08] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Are you just a glutton for punishment, or..? [29.09.2024 03:19:10] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: You like being alive? [29.09.2024 03:19:26] =LSF=Advocate-7: Life? Life is great. But I like dead traitors more. [29.09.2024 03:19:28] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: I guess he really wants his Free trial of BDR Defender to end sooner than usual. [29.09.2024 03:19:54] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: *The pilot can be heard audibly gritting their teeth* I've... I've met a lot of you people, you know that? Most of you, [29.09.2024 03:20:15] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Most of you I get the usual.. just doing my job speech. Just, just business. Just genocidal business. [29.09.2024 03:20:24] TFP)-Wendigo: I don't see a parade of dead corporate heads around you, you're doing a bad job of killing traitors. [29.09.2024 03:20:34] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: But I've never had one of you motherfuckers tell me they took pleasure in BURNING DOWN MY HOME. [29.09.2024 03:20:48] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Wendigo, I have this one, going for the merge! [29.09.2024 03:20:56] TFP)-Wendigo: All you. [29.09.2024 03:21:28] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: FUCK YOU! [29.09.2024 03:21:29] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: We're on standby to bring the pain if he manages to get a hit on her. [29.09.2024 03:21:35] Choomba: --Sounds like a whole---Lotta---"Not my business"-- [29.09.2024 03:21:44] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: I won't lose to the likes of YOU! [29.09.2024 03:22:51] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Wendigo, BOT COUNT! [29.09.2024 03:22:53] TFP)-Wendigo: So Choomba, how's that one treating you? [29.09.2024 03:23:03] TFP)-Wendigo: 39 33. [29.09.2024 03:23:06] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Intel officer, run scan! [29.09.2024 03:23:25] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: IO: Got it, i'm in their manifest. [29.09.2024 03:23:41] Choomba: -That one?- [29.09.2024 03:24:34] TFP)-Wendigo: Vagrant inbound. [29.09.2024 03:25:02] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "He dances with another. Quaint." [29.09.2024 03:25:16] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: IO: Bots 24, Batteries are 33! [29.09.2024 03:26:09] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Hey... spook... [29.09.2024 03:26:15] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Tell me your name. [29.09.2024 03:26:26] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: I want to remember. I want to remember who it is that I'm sending straight to hell. [29.09.2024 03:26:27] =LSF=Advocate-7: Armstrong. Mattaias Armstrong. [29.09.2024 03:26:53] =LSF=Advocate-7: Reverend Doctor Mattaias Armstrong. [29.09.2024 03:26:54] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Thanks, Armstrong. I'll etch that notch extra deep in the kill tally on the nose. [29.09.2024 03:26:59] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Helmsman. Tractor beam on stand by. I want us ready to either bust the spook or save our hero here. [29.09.2024 03:27:12] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Reverend? You'd best make peace with whatever god you believe in here and now. [29.09.2024 03:27:13] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: H: That's a bit crass, isn't it? [29.09.2024 03:27:25] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Not at all. She's doing numbers on him. [29.09.2024 03:27:27] =LSF=Advocate-7: My god is Liberty. [29.09.2024 03:27:38] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Typical. He's in love with his boss. [29.09.2024 03:27:40] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: (Interest. Amusement.) [29.09.2024 03:27:42] TFP)-Wendigo: Reminds me of me twenty years ago. [29.09.2024 03:27:57] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Aaand there's that feeling again, I thought I was done with that shit in Delta. [29.09.2024 03:28:21] TFP)-Wendigo: You sat around a campfire with aliens? [29.09.2024 03:28:30] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: Don't FUCK with my COMMONWEALTH! [29.09.2024 03:28:32] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: No, we fought them. [29.09.2024 03:28:57] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: IO: Bots 2, batteries, 6! [29.09.2024 03:29:18] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: H: You've got this, Promethean! Remember what you're fighting for! Don't give an inch! [29.09.2024 03:29:34] Vagrant.Eye.of.Psyche: "Such braying." [29.09.2024 03:29:57] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: PRAY, REVEREND! PRAY! [29.09.2024 03:30:05] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: A.. lot more clearer to hear than the Delta Nomads. [29.09.2024 03:30:11] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Omicrons, even. [29.09.2024 03:30:28] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: IO: Target has expended DCC supply - Go for the kill! [29.09.2024 03:30:39] TFP)-Wendigo: Bellamy's also dry too. [29.09.2024 03:31:14] TFP)-Wendigo: Bellamy's dry. [29.09.2024 03:31:22] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Pray to your god, shithead! Finish im off, Crowe! [29.09.2024 03:31:28] =LSF=Advocate-7 was obliterated by TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe (100%) [29.09.2024 03:31:30] TFP)-BeIlamy.Crowe: DIE! [29.09.2024 03:31:38] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Hooah! [29.09.2024 03:31:41] TFP)-Wendigo: Closer than I'd care to admit. [29.09.2024 03:31:43] O>)OCS_Skidbladnir: B: Damn good fighting!

Libera Te Ex Infernis
Non Omnis Moriar

Unsaved Drafts

Weapon · (This post was last modified: 10-01-2024, 09:18 PM by Weapon.)

Command Hierarchy Update

Date: 10.1.34, 04:00 GAST
Rank & Name: Lord Stratarch Megiddo
Reporting From: Valravn Garrison
Priority: Routine

The following promotions are effective immediately:

Initiate Mason Tennyson to the rank of Lieutenant, for swift response and prowess in the field.

Initiate Jacaranda Florence to the rank of Lieutenant, for keen initiative and unwavering dedication.

Fleet Captain Kelly With has been selected to succeed Denelo Mori as High Logarch. Exarch With has shown unparalled dedication to Prometheus and to the Legion before. She is an exemplar of the dedicated Legionnaire, sword and shield incarnate which stand between the ideals of House Liberty and all who would bring them harm. My artificial self has no doubt that you will follow her into the fires of Hell itself should she give the order. It is my artificial self's mandate that any Legionnaire to encounter Exarch With on any bar within Valravn or aboard the Incursus purchase her a glass of the finest malt whiskey on hand. She will object. You will do so regardless.

Congratulations, Legionnaires.

Internal Communique

Date: 10.1.34, 04:00 GAST
Rank & Name: Lord Stratarch Megiddo
Reporting From: Valravn Garrison
Recipients: Exrch. K. With, Exrch A. West, Cdr. B. Crowe, Lt. J. Florence
Priority: Urgent

With regards to the non-human biological intelligence next door,

It is my artificial self's assessment that based upon the proverbial words and actions of the aforementioned entities that there is a reasonably high enough probability they have been forthright with their motives that we must seriously consider the prospect of cooperation. My artificial self is therefore tasking Cdr. Crowe and Lt. Florence's biological selves to further assess their intentions, capabilities, and willingness co-exist with both human and artificial life, henceforce Operation DOUBLETAKE. Should the Exarchy agree to move forward based on the findings of DOUBLETAKE, the establishment of relations with these entities will fall to High Logarch With, presumably through the one which styles itself Psyche.

Cdr. Crowe and Lt. Florence will report any information even potentially pertinent to DOUBLETAKE via secure internal communique embedded within Firestorm communications strata in identical format. Should there be any attempt successful or otherwise to biologically or psychologically compromise either Legionnaire, my artificial self shall authorize and spearhead immediate and decisive strike on NHBI infrastructure in both the Inverness and Kansas theaters.

Libera Te Ex Infernis
Non Omnis Moriar

Weapon · (This post was last modified: 10-08-2024, 12:11 PM by Weapon.)

Post-Combat After Action Report

Date: 10.08.34, 07:00 GAST
Rank & Name: Commander Crowe, Bellamy
Reporting From: Valravn Garrison
AAR # 002

Tectarch West departed Valravn Citadel and began a patrol at approximately 1900 hours, Guadalajara Time. Immediately upon entering the Ontario system, we discovered the Sudbury anomaly had grown in size and intensity, pulsing a beam of energy towards the Barrier. While our instruments could not ascertain its exact target, we were fortunately able to rule out Inverness from its vector. As a personal note, I'm getting really sick of the Order pretending that the Technocracy and by proxy ourselves are as big a problem as whatever the fuck is growing in Cobra's back yard. Be nice if we could, I don't know, work together on this?

Shortly thereafter we were joined by Lieutenant Carmine and former Star Colonel Osorio, who as I understand it has temporarily been asigned the rank of Commander. We continued our patrol to Colorado and then New York, where we were greeted by an Orbital Spa & Cruise restaurant ship, the Beefmaster, near Fort Bush.

We took this opportunity to engage in some hearts and minds relations building, placing a few orders and making conversation with various civilians in the area, including what I believe was a self-sufficient commune ship, the Meadowsweet. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before hostile combatants began to arrive, including the battlecruisers Upheavel and Justice.

Some verbal sparring ensued, but the shooting began when what appeared to be a rogue Judicator - the INS Subjugator - decloaked nearby and deployed two Rogue strikecraft, presumably with the intent to take out patrol. Judging by the captain's words, him and his crew have a bone to pick with the remnants of the Legion and Insurgency. Almost immediately, Republic forces engaged and regretably the Subjugator was able to slip away amidst the chaos. Towards the end of the engagement a Technocracy pilot callsign Shimmer arrived to assist, as did the Eidolon Wraith, which after a protracted engagement sunk the Upheavel. Full report of combatants and status follows:

INS Subjugator - Judicator - Escaped
Crimson Queen - Broadsword - Destroyed
Suicide Burn - Unknown - Escaped
LPU Justice - Interdictor - Escaped
LSF Upheavel - Interdictor - Destroyed
Gustav Amon - Defender - Destroyed
107th Foxhound 2 - Avenger - Destroyed
Kyle Fredericks - Defender - Destroyed
A German Girl - Defender - Destroyed
ACV Eidolon Wraith - Bullhead - Returned To Base
Trch. Amy West - Defender - Shot Down
Cdr. Emilia Osorio - Falchion - Returned To Base
Cdr. Bellamy Crowe - Prosecutor - Returned To Base
Lt. Sussan Carmine - Lich - Shot Down
Shimmer - Barracuda - Returned To Base

Relevant guncam shots have been attached below:

Attached Files

Internal Communique

Date: 10.08.34, 07:00 GAST
Rank & Name: Commander Crowe, Bellamy
Reporting From: Valravn Garrison
Recipients: Exrch. Megiddo, Exrch. K. With, Exrch A. West
Subject: DOUBLETAKE
Priority: Routine

I encountered the one which calls itself Psyche inhabiting a spaceframe - a shell, I believe they call them - of what appeared to be cruiser specifications. It took an interest in the recent conflict in Inverness, and even offered comfort and advice when I expressed that I was, and frankly still am, struggling with taking pleasure in shooting down a hostile combatant recently. This will probably have me grounded for psych eval for a week, and honestly at this point? That's okay.

I was at a low point, and put myself completely at the entity's mercy. If it wished to, it could have easily shot me down or taken control of my body or mind. To my knowledge, none of these scenarios occurred. Instead, we "spoke" until being interrupted by an Order vessel, the Cognito. Pscyhe's vessel vanished, and the entity continued to communicate with me several lightyears away from Coronado before we cut our exchange short. I would attach a log, but I haven't the faintest idea how to do that with a conversation that took place inside my mind. Maybe R&D can look into a solution to that slight problem.

Non Omnis Moriar
Libera Te Ex Infernis

Locksmith · (This post was last modified: 10-31-2024, 04:46 AM by Locksmith.)

Post-Combat After Action Report

date: 30.10.34
rank & name: Commander Freud, Roland ("Locksmith")
reporting from: Valravn Citadel
ARR # 008

"Been a while since I've done this."

"I accompanied the battleship Incursus under the command of Grand Tectarch West as part of a squadron of fighters. Our destination was the Vespucci system; Since this place is potentially of great importance to us, it is necessary to monitor the possible accumulation of Liberty forces and eliminate it. Personally, I hoped that we would not meet anyone in this half-forgotten system, for I had to take an old Prosecutor fighter, since my Defender was damaged after a visit to the remote Orkney system — I was able to bring back something potentially valuable from there; handed over the find to the command personally."

"We encountered a small Liberty force in Magellan, but they wisely decided not to cross us. Upon arrival in Vespucci, everything seemed quiet, as always. Arriving at the wreckage of the old Legion station in the asteroid cloud, some of us reminisced about the old days."

"It was somewhat difficult for me, who at that time was a boy digging through rusty scrap metal in Pittsburgh, to understand. Everything I know about the old Legion comes from the stories of senior legionnaires and archival records. And yet... I can’t say that the scope didn’t impress me. The station looked impressive, even in its deplorable condition. I don’t know if it’s possible to restore it, but I wouldn’t write this idea off."

"Worst case... I suppose the materials left over from this station could be used elsewhere."

"And then our radars picked up a Red Hessian ship. Their appearance in itself could hardly be considered a threat, given that we have common enemies, and yet it was... Unusual. Following the ship, we came across a Hessian flotilla. With that kind of force they could have laid siege to one of the Liberty systems, but it soon became clear why they were there. An equally large Liberty fleet was approaching our positions, making a collision inevitable. Quick negotiations allowed us to join forces with the Hessians."

"Commander Crowe led our fighter squadron in support of the capital ships. Battle was long, chaotic and intense, taking place across much of the system. Reinforcements joined both sides from time to time. At a certain point, I had to pursue a target who was trying to escape through debris and asteroids. My Prosecutor was damaged and some of the footage was lost, but the battle was ultimately won."

"At the end of the battle, only my Prosecutor and the Incursus remained in a suitable condition for combat — evidence of how large the scale of this battle was."

recording

Locksmith · (This post was last modified: 11-14-2024, 04:25 AM by Locksmith.)

Post-Combat After Action Report

date: 13.11.34
rank & name: Commander Freud, Roland ("Locksmith")
reporting from: Valravn Citadel
ARR # 009

"Busy day."

"Joined a patrolling fighter wing consisting of Grand Tectarch West and several Auxo members: Sakura, Venus, Vengeance. Everything was calm until we reached Vespucci. The Navy doesn't seem to learn from its mistakes; despite recent losses in this system, they continue to send their people there to be slaughtered."

"It didn't take us long to spot their battlecruiser. But just as we were about to jump into action, we received a request for help from Firebrand and Yoruha in California. We had to split up: Venus and I went to help, while the rest stayed behind to expel the uninvited guests from Vespucci."

"Once there, we spotted a battle between the Navy dreadnought New England and the much more modestly sized capital ship of the Militants, Barbarian. The dreadnought used Nightmare-class torpedoes in combat; and yet the Militant ship had the upper hand thanks to its mobility. Having received damage, the dreadnought retreated to the New York system. We chased it all the way to the planet Manhattan."

"As the battle continued there, the dreadnought's crew lured the freelancer's gunboat to their side with the promise of money. We made short work of it."

"Returning to the dreadnought, we enlisted the help of the Militants to break through the shields. Then a torpedo from Firebrand and Yoruha inflicted critical damage on the target, putting a de facto end to this confrontation. Meanwhile, another group moved from Vespucci to Magellan, still fighting the battlecruiser and its reinforcements. We split up with the Militants and headed there. Firebrand and Yoruha took a different route, while Venus and I came across a lone pilot from the 46th. Given that we outnumbered him, as well as the need for urgent help elsewhere, I hoped that we would be able to part ways peacefully. It didn't work out."

"Considering that my fighter was damaged from the previous battle, most likely I would not have defeated the pilot from the 46th myself. Venus covered my back, not giving the enemy any opportunity to take aim, and together we destroyed the target."

"Alas, he delayed us long enough for us not to have time to help in the battle with the battlecruiser. Without sufficient firepower, we had to retreat. However, I am inclined to believe that the Liberty Navy still received a fine blow today."

recording

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