Message to: RHA
Comm ID: Fleet Kapitan Conrad Egon
Location: Ronneburg Base, Omega-5 System
Mafia_Boss made another appearance today...this time in Omega-15. I called up Shimada and Gotthard, and we went after him. Two Thors and an Odin vs. a Rheinland bomber and a Spatial armed with multiple codename weapons. Mafia soon fled to Rostock, and I hit him with full guns and my supernova...but he was already inside the station's shield, and it didn't hurt him.
Then it was time to attack the Spatial. Its weapons were potent, but it couldn't out-turn our bombers, and was itself a large target. We beat it into submission, and it docked just before we could finish it off. Then, finally, Mafia decided it was time to negotiate. I told him we would accept no less than one million credits for his crimes and persistance, and that he would have to pay us within three days. Interestingly, he agreed to pay right then. Paid without incident, then he and Outlander left.
Then HOMEWORLD arrived, this time in a snubnose rather than a Wrath. I warned him to leave; he didn't, but kept his distance. We finished off a few nearby Titans, and started cruising towards Dresden...only to find the RM incoming. I turned on my CM and turned back, making for the Omega-41 jump hole and reminding HOMEWORLD that we would remember his treachery...and we will.
HOMEWORLD is now KoS. We were merciful when he was badly outnumbered and outclassed, and he responded by staying to watch us while he called the RM, taking advantage of our kindness. No longer. He tasted our mercy; now he will taste our vengeance.
At any rate, we escaped to Freeport 5 for repairs. A few hours later, we launched again, just in time to see AzzAzzEllo's gunboat emerging from the Gamma jump hole. I figured the odds were in our favor, so we engaged...Shimada's Thor soon fell, however, due to him messing with the comm system rather than his targeting system, sending a message instead of shooting. That left my Thor and Matt's Odin against a well-armed Corsair gunboat.
We nearly destroyed it...made him use all of his batteries and about 1/3 of his nanobots before I ran out of repair options and was forced to flee. Matt ran back to Freeport 5, and I ran to the Omega-5 jump hole just as Homeworld pursued us. The snubnose was intercepted by AzzAzzEllo and destroyed; while Matt and I both escaped unscathed, save for heavy hull damage.
I need better armor. I didn't think I'd need better than Mk4, but I obviously need Mk8 for the sort of foes we face. Regardless, I recovered Shimada's pod and the only loss we suffered was one Thor, in exchange for badly damaging a Spatial and a Corsair gunboat.
Battle has raged for the past couple of days. I have finally made time between refitting the Varyag and killing our enemies to finish this report. The Varyag has been in near constant battle for the past week. They started great with the assist of RHA fighters in the omegas and ending with killing Mafia Bosses whole crew when they attacked Wilhelm. After that, the combat has become much more sinister. A few days ago Corsairs made one of their more frequent trips into our homeland. The Varyag responded by taking on the whole war party. We where able to kill the cruiser flagship and cripple the fighter and bomber escorts but we took extensive damage from the fight eventually. We returned to Dresden for repairs and found them too extensive to fix at our outpost so we proceeded to Alpha to make use of the shipyards there. On our way, one of our allies was getting pirated by Phaedrus, he was killed without incident. We arrived at Malta and repairs went smoothly. I was approached by a ROS agent and was soon underway to help lead an attack on Crete itself. On contact, our small fleet did massive damage near the planet Crete. The Varyag took on the Osiris BS |Lee| forcing it to flee after pummeling its hull with the help of the ROS bomber Vengence. The battle turned to our favor after that until The BS returned after its shields came back, and with the cursed Banderas help knocked out the Varyag. Our fine ship was towed back to Malta after the battle and with the help of grateful outcast, brought back to fighting condition. We returned to Dresden after the refit only to find it under assault from a mercenary team and RNC Cruisers. The crew fought valiantly destroying all ships in the area including among the fighters the pilot named Homeworld. The remaining force fled to the BS in Dresden and cowered from the Varyag like sheep near it. RM Katharina Guntram offered her own ship in a one on one fight for the lives of the Force hiding there, this is curious because RM has never in my experience decided to use words instead of cannon before. It was refreshing to see such honor in an adversary. While the negotiations went on the Merc force along with 3 independent RNC Cruisers attacked the Varyag in force. We took all the ships down quickly, including the three RNC cruisers all named Hamburg//if you get my drift//, with the help of a new RHA recruit in an oden. He was damaged by repeatedly spawning fighters all named Mythic and had to withdraw. Eventually I allowed the surviving Merc to leave in exchange for the 67 Hessians in his hold. Landing at Dresden, we released our brothers and retired for some R&R.
Commander, RH Cruiser Varyag
If the name of the recruit that helped me is known, please tell me so I can add it properly to this post, he fought well.
Message to: RHA
Comm ID: Shimada
Location: Vogtland, Dresden
Today I was patroling in omega 7 and fighting against corsair presence in this system. After few hours I had positive contact on sensors... Trader called Lawbar didnt respond my call and didnt stoped. I had no choice, Lawbar was destroyed by my torpedo.
My another duty was escort and help with buy of our new armory - mission was simple and easy and ended without problems.
Help to Dublin invaded by Bountyhunter cruisers failed due to the strong ionstrom... after storm BH cruisers wasnt in Dublin anymore.
At the end of daily report I must warn you. Sir_Mop didnt fly in advanced train anymore. Now he have Bretonia battleship... Do not engage him alone. I hope he will become soon our target and we destroy him without losses.
Message to: RHA
Comm ID: Shimada
Location: Vogtland, Dresden
Im not happy from this report. I was doing what allways - taxing traders using omega systems. Many of them showed respect to hessians and payd their taxe without any words, few of them wished us luck in war with corsairs. But there were 4 pilots which refused pay and tryed run. I had no choice, their ships was destroyed. Their lives was spared and I hope someone saved them in their rescue pods. Im not murderer than I hope they arent death.
Their names: Lawbar, Trade_Center, Amazon, Ketch.
If our friends on lawfull organizations or friends of our alies know something about them, please inform me.
Another sad part is, I brought to vogtland 3 dead corpses of our comrades and friends. They all were unexperienced and young, that is probably reason why they attacked Rheinland gunboat without efective weapons. Captain of gunboat was gentleman and contact me. Corpses was transfered on neutral place in peace and piety. I know Rheinland war machinery pay for every corpse of hessian, that is reason why I will keep name of captain and callsign of his ship in secret.
Message to: RHA
Comm ID: Rekrut Kaspar Meisnerr
Location: Freital Base, Omega-11 system
This is my first report submitted in serving the Red Hessian Army. I am proud to be fighting alongside fellow comrades dedicated to the liberation of Rheinland from the hands of the oppressive dictatorship of the Kanzler. For our freedom!
Me and Rekrut Shimada had set out on our routine patrols of the Omega systems today. The traffic was quite low, and the frequent ion storms prevented us from acquiring war donations from a few fellows. Although they managed to escape in the confusion, we will keep an eye out for them.
The rise in bounty hunter activity in the Omega-3 system is troubling. We were attacked today by a single Manta fighter hailing from the "PRF" group, callsign Grim_Reaper. I warned him to leave when I detected his ship on my scanners, but he decided to open fire on me instead.
His notion of easy prey turned out false however, as I and Rekrut Shimada had dispatched him in but a few minutes without too much of a problem. Needless to say while this was an easy encounter, I believe we should increase our patrols in that system and make it clear to the bounty hunters that they are not welcome there.
Message to: RHA
Comm ID: Shimada
Location: Dresden, Vogtland
This day was slow and boring... only few traders taxed, few trader ships destroyed, 1 bountyhunter killed in cooperation with Kaspar.
I met today new recruit Leon Hansdorf. I gaved to him 3 milions for new ship and weapons. Now he fly in Odin which is much better than his old rusty starflyer.
Message to: RHA
Comm ID: Fleet Kapitan Conrad Egon
Location: Vogtland Base, Dresden System
Quite a day yesterday...Oberleutnant Black took the light gunship Leopard out of mothballs, Shimada and I got our bombers, and Maus got in his Odin for a little adventure. It started with hunting a cruiser: the newly-repaired RNC_Hamburg. It was something of a lengthy trip, but we made it into Hamburg, where the cruiser had last been reported.
While searching for it, we happened upon a heavy tanker. It was a simple matter for our four-ship fleet to stop this trader and extract a fee for passage...but while we were in the process, an independent Viper Mk2 decided to play hero. Foolish choice...whilst Maus made sure the trader didn't go anywhere, the rest of us dealt with the Viper.
It wasn't long after that, that the Hamburg was teased into the open...we fought her near Alster Shipyard. Oddly enough, the captain didn't think it was a fair fight! Decide for yourself:
We flew circles around him, hassling and preventing his escape while I briefly considered. It took perhaps a minute. "That's the way the dice fall, Hamburg. RHA, engage!" The captain put up a decent fight, but in the end our determined pilots proved to be the better. My gun camera missed the cruiser's final moment, but the killing blow again belonged to Oberleutnant Black aboard the Leopard.
Keeping to guerilla tactics, we hurriedly left the Hamburg system to return to New Berlin, where a NovaPG fleet had apparently gathered. The Leopard stopped at Kreuzberg to resupply while the rest of us pressed on to aid our allies at the Sigma-13 jump hole. By the time we reached it, however, there was nothing...except our old friend, Pinky&Brain. We engaged the cruiser, which was soon forced to flee. An independent Wrath joined the fight, and was also forced to flee.
We entered Sigma-13 before more enemy reinforcements could arrive, and were confronted by a Rheinland battleship...and no NovaPG, who had already fallen back to Chugoku. We played cat and mouse until a third RHA bomber arrived, along with the patched-up Leopard. Then we engaged the battleship, quickly downing its shields and inflicting about 20% hull damage before the massive warship decided to flee. No losses on our side. This shot is from us chasing him, just after he used up most of his regens to restore his ship's shields and hull. Notice how he claimed there were too many of us.
The chase turned deadly, however...the battleship cut its engines, turned, and began firing on us as it coasted along. Now, I've chased ships in engine kill before, and they always lose speed. Within moments, you are gaining on them...but not this one. I have no idea how he maintained separation and speed, but he did, while firing.
Eventually, he used braking thrusters to stop and engage us...I am confused as to what happened next. You see, before, we had easily downed his shields and forced him to flee without him so much as causing minor damage to any of us. He just couldn't hit us. But now, all of a sudden, ALL of his shots hit, in spite of us thrusting and dodging at less than 500 range. It shouldn't have been possible...the Leopard fell within seconds, then Shimada and another of our ships...I barely escaped myself, with the escape pods tractored safely in my hold.
Incidentally, I also discovered that it is possible to leave the cloud in Sigma-13 completely.
However, in spite of the bad ending, the day on the whole was very productive. We interdicted a trader, destroyed a VHF and made another flee, destroyed a cruiser and made another flee, and nearly took out a battleship. Not bad at all.
Now, for some news...Kaspar and Shimada, as soon as you two get your IFF sorted, you will be Leutnants. Shimada, go to Chugoku to remove your Dragons tag; Kaspar, a few more missions should sort yours perfectly (assuming you haven't already done so). Wolfgang, you are also a Leutnant now. Congratulations to you all. Pie and Jaeger in the Vogtland bar tonight!
Today the Varyag entered New Berlin on its usual patrol not encountering any resistance. On approaching the planet I discovered a single RM fighter, Conrad Quentin, guarding its gate. Not wanting to get within the planets missile defense shield I left the fighter alone and asked instead of fighting tonight (it wouldnt have been fun to take on a single fighter in a cruiser to much of that happening in the game already lately) I offered to do a prisoner exchange with the RM. I offered some of their pilots for the release of Hessian political prisoners or war. A second RM pilot, Gunther Rall, showed up and they both agreed to the exchange. I waited 10k off of the ring for the transfer of people. I had just let Gunther know he was safe to approach for the transfer when both pilots opened up on the Varyag in a coordinated attack! Under the flag of a truce! They caught us dead in space waiting for our people. Soon after they called in the backup of a bounty hunter battle cruiser and the Varyag was knocked out of commission. The hulk of our ship was left drifting towards the sun, 60% of the crew dead and dying. We where rescued at the last minute by a friend in a large civilian ship responding to our weak S.O.S. I wish to keep their name a secret because of reprisals. The crew was unloaded and the Varyag towed in secrecy to our base. She is in bad shape men. We are going to try and get it back together enough to make it to our shipyards for repairs but I dont know. In the mean time this ship no longer has any mercy for anyone in support of RM. I was a fool to try and talk to them. Any pilot caught will be tortured to death. Any RM or RN ship we encounter will be killed on sight without the luxury of words. They will wish we left them in space to die. Any pilot tractored in by the Varyag will be killed in the worse possible way. My crew suffered for my compassion. It will never happen again.
Update: Repairs are going well and new men volunteered for the crew instantly. We will be ready for a shakedown cruise soon. Training is being conducted with the utmost efficiency. Some allies in other houses have seen it wise to give the Varyag a little more punch for its new mission. The powerful weapons will be installed as soon as they arrive. We, the crew, hunger for blood.
Message to: RHA
Comm ID: Rekrut Kaspar Meisnerr
Location: Vogtland, Dresden system
It would appear there was a discrepancy with my IFF system that I was unaware of. I have made sure that the problem is fixed, and my Odin should show proper identification from this moment on.
Message to: Varyag
Comm ID: Fleet Kapitan Conrad Egon
Location: Vogtland Base, Dresden System
That's terrible news, Varyag...I feel for your crew. If you need any help in conducting their funerals, let me know. You have fought alongside my own men and women many times, and we owe you at least this much.
------------------------------------
Message to: RHA
Comm ID: Fleet Kapitan Conrad Egon
Location: Stralsund Base, Omega-54 System
We always knew that the Rheinland Military was composed of brainwashed fascists...but I had no idea they were such honorless dogs, as well. No - that would be insulting to dogs. Regardless, new policy regarding RM: engage at will, but do not let them destroy your ship. Pay no heed to their impotent words when they see only your exhaust plume. We cannot engage them in open, conventional combat. They know this, and seek to draw us into fights we cannot win...don't let them. Time and again, the RM and their associated lackeys have made fools of us by taking advantage of our mercy.
In return, we will show them no mercy. Do not kill their pilots in space - no, they don't deserve it. Instead, ransom them at Svendborg Base, deep in the asteroid field of Omega-54. I've begun a rehabilitation program, in an attempt to turn these robots, these tools of the Kanzler, back into thinking, feeling human beings. It is a long and difficult process, but already some former RM pilots have joined us. The Stiletto you see on your wing might be flown by someone you fought a few months ago. And those who cannot be rehabilitated...can mine the rocks for minerals to support our war effort.
![[Image: RHShroom2.png]](http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/I_m_rdy/Shrooms/RHShroom2.png)
![[Image: pasiknp9.jpg]](http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3357/pasiknp9.jpg)
![[Image: velryba5eo0.jpg]](http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4642/velryba5eo0.jpg)
![[Image: Hessiansinformation1.png]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lancerzero/Hessiansinformation1.png)
![[Image: DeathB-SpeedyAgent1.png]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lancerzero/DeathB-SpeedyAgent1.png)
![[Image: Flee-Airage1.png]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lancerzero/Flee-Airage1.png)
![[Image: OutofSigma-13cloud.png]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lancerzero/OutofSigma-13cloud.png)
![[Image: affiliationae0.jpg]](http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1489/affiliationae0.jpg)