Important message for the BAF/BPA

[Scott MacFarlane]

Incoming Transmission LS819 41240884I
Encryption Level: ExSec Delta 6: MAXIMUM
CommID: MacFarlane: NL:DH 8764501
Message Target: Bretonian Armed Forces Admiralty, Bretonian Police Authority
Message Source: Trade Combine Offices, Lancaster Station, Newcastle
Subject: Report of Bowex and HGS) engagement against two hostile warships.

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Sahs!

You read it right. TWO Hacker Spyglasses invaded our sacred space recently.
At approximately 0832 hours, SMT on the 10th of August, my crew and I did lay our eyes on a Hacker Spyglass battlewagon in the Cortez system as we approached the Cortez-Manchester gate while on a routine trade mission coming back from Liberty space. The vessel, which was identified as '€œPoppy!!'€ jumped as we approached and I ordered pursuit to confirm the contact so that BAF assets could be alerted.

We again found the vessel directly in front of us as we completed our jump. The Kingston Border Station was firing on the vessel, and taking return fire as we moved past. They warned us to stay off, but also said that the Spyglass had hacked their com systems, preventing them from alerting the core systems. In addition, the Hacker battlewagon was jamming long-range coms in an area of perhaps 12 klicks around it. There were no other ships in the area, so ignoring the risk, we raced ahead of her and made for the lane. The vessel did disable the lane, so we had to race to the next one. Successful, we ran ahead of her and out of jamming range to Birmingham. After warning the station, we alerted the only BAF ship we could see on the Bretonian com board. Ensign William Folge was flying Templar patrol in New London and immediately responded to our hails when we issued a general alert under the authority of section 7 of the Transit Code.

As we raced to the New London gate, the Ensign called back that he had the vessel in his sights. My crew and I were very confused as the Hacker ship was actually coming up behind us at that moment, and the Ensign was nowhere to be seen at the Manchester-New London Gate. To make matters worse, just as we were about to activate the Gate, the damnable thing shut down! Immediately my Systems Officer determined it had been hacked and a virus had been uploaded to the control systems! I thought the new systems were hack-proof, but this '€œPoppy!!'€ proved otherwise. Our vessel was stuck in the docking sequence for several long moments while my Officer did attempt a hack-job of his own to get things moving again. The Spyglass did not fire on us at this point, but she did intentionally ram us, doing significant damage and crushing our number three plasma engine. The Bonny Lass is a DL Series BWT sahs, so frankly I am surprised we were not destroyed by the impact.

The ram job actually did us a favor and knocked us free from the Gate'€™s docking pattern allowing my Helm Officer to at least get us some position away from the gate. Then Mr. Gordon, my Systems man, did get the Gate running again and we made for it. The Spyglass did attempt to bar our way so, well over my First Mate'€™s objections, I ordered our guns to open fire in order to distract the flap dragon long enough to get us through the gate. The gambit proved successful and we were soon through the gate and on our way to safety. Or so we thought.

During the confrontation we had attempted to contact additional Primary or Secondary fleet assets with no luck. Only Garrison fleet dessie patrols responded and where at that moment converging on the New London itself. No Bowex ExSec ships were on the grid, but I did get a hold of the HGS)Angry.Marine, a merc Gunboat we had hired for security. It is the same vessel that assisted the Clydesdale Brigade in intercepting a BDM Gunboat in New London about two weeks or so ago. The HGS vessel immediately launched from Graves in Dublin to intercept us and make sure we got safely home. Then, Ensign Folge dropped off the com grid. Upon reaching New London orbit we saw why, and we understood finally his only message to us. A SECOND Spyglass was in New London orbit and had engaged Garrison forces! It had taken out Ensign Folge's Templar. Numerous escape pods surrounded this vessel, the Mort\Back, and we quickly realized that they were pinging BAF distress codes. Well, we couldn'€™t leave them, so I ordered the cargo hold emptied into vacuum and full ahead. At first the offending vessel did nothing, but then as it saw us approach and we began picking up life pods, she did fire on us numerous times. Evading was difficult due to being down an engine, and as a result, we suffered significant damage. However, we were able to escape with all life pods we could detect, including Ensign Folge'€™s pod. We then managed to limp away towards Canterbury Junction as we fired at the attacking vessel over our stern. Just as we were hitting the Lane, the HGS)Angry.Marine arrived and I ordered Hans Beethoven, her captain, to engage the ship if at all possible. He told us he would do his best and immediately ordered the Mort\Back to leave the area. We did not see the rest of the engagement as we then moved away down the Lane. However, we saw the Poppy!! on the Lane as we came into Canterbury Junction. She was coming to join the fight. I ordered Hans to retreat, as his one Gunboat couldn'€™t possibly match them both, but he refused the order.

From the report and photos Hans filed with me an hour later, I know that he engaged both vessels in a desperate battle. Another Garrison fleet Dessie squadron attempted to assist, but they were decimated. Hans and his crew managed to rescue most of the life pods, however. The battle continued for 40 minutes. Both Spyglasses trying desperately to knock out our Mercs, but to no avail. The crew of the Angry Marine was just too good to be taken out by the likes of them, but even though the Gunboat was able to do some significant damage to both vessels, forcing them both to use up all bats and bots, she just did not have the firepower to finish the job. Regardless, both Spyglasses were forced to retreat for the Manchester gate. The battle continued at the gate as the Poppy!! covered the more heavily damaged Mort\Back as that vessel jumped. The Poppy!! engaged the Angry Marine for several more minutes before it too jumped out. Hans decided it was enough for one day and returned to New London, with no kills, but I say a victory nonetheless.

Losses to the Garrison fleet patrols were heavy with at least three squadrons being taken out, and there was significant damage to Thames Outpost. Waterloo was barely touched, and what shots it did fire, missed completely from what both myself, and Hans, saw. That rubs me the wrong way, needless to say.

This incident clearly demonstrates a need for tighter security and greater patrols by the primary and secondary fleets.

The following are photos taken by my vessel, as well as a number of shot Hans sent me from his.

Alert!
ID'd
Second Spyglass spotted!
Target ID confirmed
Location confirmation
Going in to rescue lifepods
Angry Marine engages!
Another patrol squadron lost
Engagement continues
Angry Marine presses their assault
As the Hackers retreat, Angry Marine picks up life pods, then pursues.


Yours, in Service to the Queen and Bretonia
Master Scott MacFarlane, Clan MacFarlane
Trade Combine Department Manager, Border World Exports

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