Liberty Forces Message dump

[Commissar]

Not a good night for the Navy I'm afraid.

The patrol started well enough. I joined Lieutenant-Commander Dimitrova's flight in tracking down our old friend Veera Allen, once again with Cardamine on board (As an aside, I'd recommend anyone else encountering her not bother explaining the consequences of the crime. She damn well knows by now. Expect her to run.). Ensigns Willmott, Falconer and Whitehall were already present and we worked to cut off her escape routes.

Veera Allen

Fort Bush's scanners picked up a Rogue Werewolf near the trade lane, so I left the Lieutenant Commander to deal with Ms Allen. The Rogue, transponder ID: William.Baer, ran as soon as I was within range, despite orders to stop. Of course. I followed him to Detroit where the criminal finally halted. He claimed he didn't have the credits to pay the million credit fine, complete rubbish of course, but I did retrieve all his nanobots and shield batteries and ordered him to get out of New York. To my knowledge he complied.

Rogue Werewolf Scan

The remainder of the patrol had dropped out of conventional scanner range, so I had to relay on their transponders, placing them somewhere in the Pittsburgh Debris field. I located the team dog fighting Veera Allen, with Rogues (Non Personalised Call signs) hindering our attempts to apprehend her. I opened fire on the Rogues before warning systems went into the red. Heavy missiles right out of the field, signature analysis put them at cruiser weaponry at least. Now under capital fire, Ma'am ordered the patrol back to Fort Bush. We lost Whitehall's signature somewhere in the field.

Skirmish in the Field

On our return to Government space, Captain Zaunders arrived and took command. The patrol set a course for Cortez, and a reported Hellfire Legion presence. We were accompanied by a Task Force Seven Vessel; the LNS-Audacity (Gunboat Class.). The Captain then ordered a search for the reported ships (A Dreadnought among them.). I took the trade lane to Cortez, and picked up a contact twenty clicks short of the jumpgate. Closing on the ships, I ID'd a secondary fleet Guardian fighting a Lane Hacker Light Fighter. It looked as if he had the situation under control, and the Hellfire ships had been spotted in Cortez, so I left him too it. The Hacker was later destroyed by Falconer.

Hacker

By the time I arrived in Cortez, providing fighter cover for the Audacity, Battle was already joined. *Ripper winces.* I strayed too close to the Hellfire Legion Battleship 'Ven-Gyr' and was informed, by way of plasma volley, that exploding was standard procedure. I complied. We'd been promised bomber support that never arrived; and Captain Zaunders ordered the retreat. In all the action I lost track of who it was that pulled me in. Whoever it was, thanks. Remind me to buy you a drink.
*Ripper frowned. Now he was going to have the whole Navy claiming.*

Hellfire Legion Forces

On acquiring a second fighter from the Yukon, I set a course for Dudley.Willmott, the sole member of our force that hadn't pulled into base. I found the Recruit engaged with another Legionnaire, presumably a remnant from the original battle. In a few minutes Willmott had torn the hostile ship apart, a commendable piece of flying on his part (He proceeded to destroy my Avenger with equal ease in training.).

The Duel

Following the encounter Willmott headed into dock, and I set a course for New York. *Chuckles.* I hadn't even made it to the jumpgate when I recieved word of an Artificial Intelligence Cruiser Research near California's sun. I summoned support in the form of the LNS-Liberation (Gunboat) and moved to assist.

Battle Report

Hostile Forces
Chemical, A.I Cruiser - Destroyed

Friendly Forces
Bounty Hunter, (Actual Transponder Unknown.) Fighter
Carl.Anabis, Fighter (Likely Liberator)
[LN]-David.Ripper, Fighter -Destroyed
LNS-Liberation, Gunboat -Destroyed
LSFC-Norfolk, Siege Cruiser-Destroyed

Result
Pyrrhic Victory

Additional Notes
In short, Sir/Ma'am, things went to hell. On reports of the Cruiser I set about gathering whatever support was available, and it was while communicating our position to the Bounty Hunter that I bought it. The Liberation was on the scene before I arrived; however, the Gunboat made for a large target and was rapidly targeted and destroyed by Chemical. Anabis and I continued to peck at the ship with fighter weaponry until the Norfolk arrived. For some reason, instead of staying and range and using it's guns, the Siege Cruiser charged right in next to the hostile. She never had a chance against that volume of fire, and at such a range, couldn't bring her main gun to bear. The ship was destroyed in seconds.

At that point I was contacted by the Bounty Hunter, who'd received word of the skirmish and offered his assistance. It was while uploading our location that I was hit by the Cruiser. Suffice to say the Avenger buckled like a tin can. I made it out fairly intact, minor lacerations.
*The Ensign holds up a bandaged left hand.*

I was later informed that the Hunter and Anabis had succeeded in felling the Cruiser in strike craft, despite it's attempts to escape into the sun. A damn good effort on their part, particularly without bomber of capital support.

Ultimately, as the officer in command, I screwed up here and it cost us two ships. It will not happen again.

Additional Files

Loss of the LNS-Liberation

Arrival of the LSFC-Norfolk. The ship was destroyed shortly after.

Chemical makes a run at the Sun.

End Battle Report

Captain Zaunders returned shortly after the A.I's destruction for scheduled training. I was loaned an Avenger from Fort Bush for training purposes, and our newly-assembled formation set a course for Texas, and Virginia. Taking the Norfolk-Texas lane, we encountered an Order fighter, which was engaged by the Sir and I. See why he's our instructor, I barely had to touch my weapons.

Order 'Bastet' Very Heavy Fighter

On arriving in Texas we picked up a Pilgrim 'Slave Liner' on scopes. The vessel was found to carrying Blood Diamonds, and Vice Admiral Anderson gave the orders to drop them. After a fair bit of back and forth, he finally agreed to drop them in exchange for our not replacing his ship with a dust cloud.

Order 'Bastet' Very Heavy Fighter

Finally, under the command of Fleet Admiral Hale, our Patrol arrived in Virginia for training. *Frowns.* Oddly enough; I didn't do much better.

Patrol makes the Virginia Jumphole

*Ripper stands, ignoring the sea of 'Damaged Equipment' forms on his desk.*

I'm going to log some more simulator hours.

Ripper Out.

...Signal Lost...

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May you live in interesting times.
| Sarah McFarlen | Jane Hartman |