COMM ID: Agent 'Hellcat'
TARGET ID: LSF Operational Data Network
SUBJECT: Developments
FILE CONTENT BEGINS
Agents,
We have - not for the last time, I suspect - acquired definitive proof of Nomadic influence within the ranks of the Navy. Following an urgent hail to the Kodiak communications array from one of the Harmony battlegroup's pilots, a certain Lieutenant Layla Whitaker, I led a reconnaissance mission to the indicated coordinates. Upon arrival at the scene, I discovered that elements of the Fifth Fleet were involved in an ongoing altercation with an unresponsive, suspicious, and badly-IDed Archer-class cruiser. The discussion appeared to have been ongoing prior to my arrival at the scene, but I will include a transcript of the relevant section here.
Code:
[01.08.2016 15:45:16] D9|LNS-Ottawa: ?: We are going to follow the orders of ranked LSF Officers only.
[01.08.2016 15:45:41] Coyote:404: Fair enough, the commanding LSF officer will arrive shortly.
[01.08.2016 15:45:43] =LSF=Hellcat: Excuse me?
[01.08.2016 15:45:44] 5th|Ethan.Taylor: Ottawa, think about the easy way.
[01.08.2016 15:45:45] LNS-Archangel: Hawk: Not a wise decision.
[01.08.2016 15:45:55] =LSF=Hellcat: I don't know you, captain.
[01.08.2016 15:46:16] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Oh, crap.
[01.08.2016 15:47:02] =LSF=Hellcat: Naval officers, I'm confused as to why you haven't lit this suspicious vessel up already.
[01.08.2016 15:47:15] =LSF=Hellcat: I had assumed some of you might've still been halfway competent.
[01.08.2016 15:47:18] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: We have orders to take it back to the Virginia system for inspection.
[01.08.2016 15:47:28] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Meanwhile, it insists in staying here.
[01.08.2016 15:47:34] H|-Layla.Whitaker: That ship says it will follow LSF orders exclusively.
[01.08.2016 15:47:43] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Which makes no sense!
[01.08.2016 15:47:54] H|-Layla.Whitaker: Perhaps you should bring it to Kodiak for inspection, agents?
[01.08.2016 15:47:57] LNS-Archangel: Hawk: Do you have any records about this hip, Security Forces?
[01.08.2016 15:47:58] H|-Layla.Whitaker: Or something.
[01.08.2016 15:48:23] D9|LNS-Ottawa: ?: We agree to return to the Kodiak.
[01.08.2016 15:48:25] =LSF=Hellcat: I am not permitting a suspicious vessel entry to the Kodiak Perimeter.
[01.08.2016 15:48:38] LNS-Archangel: Hawk: That's actually the first time I see this kind of technology.
[01.08.2016 15:49:11] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Why is Ottawa control so insistent in staying in Alaska and hell, going to Kodiak?
[01.08.2016 15:50:18] D9|LNS-Ottawa: ?: I'm not in possition to answer this questions. Ask the LSF?
[01.08.2016 15:50:55] =LSF=Hellcat: I have no idea why your rogue vessel is so insistent on trying to breach our security perimeter.
[01.08.2016 15:50:55] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Ugh.
[01.08.2016 15:51:23] LNS-Archangel: Hawk: The hell a member of which unit you are, Ottawa?
[01.08.2016 15:51:32] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Alright, we have received orders to engage the Ottawa.
[01.08.2016 15:51:42] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: I'll give you one more chance to reconsider your options, Ottawa control.
[01.08.2016 15:51:50] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: You and your crew have 10 seconds.
[01.08.2016 15:51:57] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Five.
[01.08.2016 15:52:00] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Four.
[01.08.2016 15:52:01] D9|LNS-Ottawa: ?: Pilots. Engage
[01.08.2016 15:52:02] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Three.
[01.08.2016 15:52:04] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Oh woops.
[01.08.2016 15:52:05] LNS-Archangel: Hawk: Engaging target: D9|LNS-Ottawa!
[01.08.2016 15:52:11] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: All ships, engage at will!
[01.08.2016 15:52:11] H|-Layla.Whitaker: Agents? What should we do?
[01.08.2016 15:52:20] Coyote:404: Recover the cell, of course.
[01.08.2016 15:52:34] =LSF=Hellcat: LSF forces, hold your positions.
[01.08.2016 15:52:49] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Snubcraft, throw disruptors at it!
[01.08.2016 15:53:29] LSFC-Burnt.River: CO: Burnt River on station, T-30 to intercept.
[01.08.2016 15:53:54] =LSF=Hellcat: Burnt River, the Navy is already engaged. At your discretion, captain.
[01.08.2016 15:54:26] Verdict: Watch out, Agent. You don't want to eat Razors.
[01.08.2016 15:54:31] LSFC-Burnt.River: CO: At my discretion, indeed. Gunnery, lock it up, let's have some targeting practice.
[01.08.2016 15:54:39] Coyote:404: I got this, buddy.
[01.08.2016 15:54:49] =LSF=Hellcat: Keep your eyes peeled. If this is a false flag attempt, I want the Burnt River going evasive. We'll need to help it against-
[01.08.2016 15:54:52] =LSF=Hellcat: -both cruisers if so.
[01.08.2016 15:55:03] Verdict: Doubt that's the case.
[01.08.2016 15:55:07] =LSF=Hellcat: Otherwise, if the Navy have finally wised up, you're clear to assist
[01.08.2016 15:55:13] =LSF=Hellcat: until the damn thing is a smoking wreck.
[01.08.2016 15:55:37] Verdict: Solaris?
[01.08.2016 15:55:45] Death: D9|LNS-Ottawa was put out of action by LSFC-Burnt.River (Gun).
[01.08.2016 15:55:46] LNS-Archangel: Hawk: Kill confirmed!
[01.08.2016 15:56:02] LSFC-Burnt.River: CO: Splash one. Good work, gunnery.
[01.08.2016 15:56:02] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Right.
[01.08.2016 15:56:08] =LSF=Hellcat: Naval pilots, good work.
[01.08.2016 15:56:09] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: Uhm... thank you for your help, LSF.
[01.08.2016 15:56:12] 5th|Carl.Harrisford: We'll be on our way.
I think the flight recorder's logs speak for themselves - the Fifth Fleet proceeded to engage the cruiser while the LSFC Burnt River was still in transit, which is an important development in and of itself. Soon enough, the suspicious vessel was destroyed, and when our taskforce combed the wreckage we soon recovered an alien artefact - a power source, in fact, from what my ship's equipment can discern. From what the crews on Kodiak are telling me, the Security Force has encountered similar devices in the past, and each time they have served as an almost ironclad indication of Nomadic activity.
For the record, this report is being filed from within Kodiak's quarantine sector, and my Avenger is also currently undergoing a thorough inspection to ensure that the problem does not spread aboard our facilities as well. Fortunately, that's a price worth paying to ensure we root out this poison for good.