To: Harmony High Command. | From: Cmdr. Cheryl Augustine. | Subject: Lost faith.

[Aoi Oono]

Detected secured incoming Neural Net transmission.

---

Decryption in progress... done.
Accessing contents... done.
Displaying the transmission...

---

---

Greetings, Admiral,

you are, most certainly, not aware of me, but i am pretty well aware of you; putting the personal aside - allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cheryl Augustine, and currently i am assigned as the commander of 'Overlord'-class Dreadnought "Chefornak", usually stationed in California as a part of the battlegroup tasked with countering the ongoing Gallic invasion and to eliminate any forces advancing from the neighbouring Magellan and Cortez system on almost daily basis; during one such raid "Chefornak" was assigned to hold it's position at planet Los Angeles and prevent any opportunities from Royal Navy on advancing at this direction and eventually flanking the battlegroup engaged with main force of Gallic Crown trespassing the borders of Liberty Sovereign space once again.

An issue have appeared pretty soon as Dreadnoughts' long range scanners caught multiple contacts, which appeared to be a wing of Gallic bombers; they did not hesitate about engaging, and the battle erupted immediately as they got in range. Somehow, we have managed to get the upper hand, however, the ship sustained heavy damage from hostile antimatter fire, and, upon passing this information to Naval high command - was comissioned to Norfolk Shipyard for common maintenance and recovering from the sustained damage.

However - this is not something i would want to bring up now; as my ship is currently a useless chunk of metal stationed in the drydock - i have had a chance to talk with the crew to understand their moods and general morale level, concerning the recent Pyrrhic victory in the space of California; while i was satisfied with overall result - it is turned out obvious to me that my crew were slowly loosing their faith in Naval high command, concerning the lack of successful actions against the invaders in current battle theatre, ceasing Liberty support to struggling Bretonia has only added fuel to the fire.
I should acknowledge this, confess to myself that i am sharing their opinion at most points.

We can no longer rely on someone incapable.
Someone unable to perform it's main role.

After a short discussion with my most high ranked crew members representing the interests of their part of the crew it turned out obvious that we no longer want to stand by the side of the incompetent chain of command, and are up to denounce our loyalty to Navy if such opportunity opens up; however, we can not just board on "Chefornak" and leave the drydock - it will certainly catch too much attention and most of us will be processed for execution upon seizing control of the crippled battleship, and this is not something we can afford at this point.

Also, most of the crew representatives have spoken their word that, if the opportunity would open - they would gladly stand side by side with Battlegroup Harmony.

However, that's there the tough part comes, as acquiring access to our Overlord won't be an easy walk, and this brings up a question if you are capable of dispatching a sufficient amount of troops to board "Chefornak" and seize control of it? I will inform the crew, so you will meet little to no in terms of resistance, and will assist your marine crew in any way they are capable in terms of their section of the ship. Also, we will try to keep your troops disguised as long as possible and will leave the drydock in case of the serious threat posed We will accept no risks of failing the operation.

Our fainth in Liberty Navy have been lost.
However, we still do believe in ourselves.
And we believe that you will help us to preserve this faith.

I am looking forward to your response.

---

Signer: Cheryl Augustine, Commander, LNS-Chefornak.

---

Tranmission terminated.

---

[Victoria Knight]

Incoming Transmission

---

---

ID: Admiral Victoria Knight

Subject: LNS-Chefornak

---

---

Loading Message

What you're explaining me here is no small thing. Has the situation become really that obviously dire that whole battleship crews abandon their stations to be with us? I certainly won't turn you away but you must be aware that I cannot just trust this. This is one of those situations that could just as well be a trap.

You're offering me what is essentially the chance at another battleship to bolster our forces. I am sure the Navy knows just how much of a chance that is. What are your reasons? I am sure there must be heavy ones considering the severity of the actions you are planning.

How much of a fighting force could you gather should we decide to support you in your mutiny. And be well aware that you'll essentially join our part of the Navy and the Chefornak would be under our command then.

If you got answers for me and agree to this I'll be awaiting your response.

Admiral Knight out.

Transmission Ends

[Aoi Oono]

Detected secured incoming Neural Net transmission.

---

Decryption in progress... done.
Accessing contents... done.
Displaying the transmission...

---

---

Greetings, Admiral Knight,

Your concerns are understandeable to me, as in your case i would be sticking to the same line: trust no one but myself - until they proovr themselves otherwise.

I think i have my proper words for you, Admiral Knight.

So. Our reasoning... Is the incompetence of the high command, mostly; i was always of those captains trying their best to get along with the crew; to get to know them, to help them out when they are in trouble... Because this is a mutual responsibility of the captain and his men.
A captain can't always be a heartless ice queen, not when you were knowing almost every person on the ship by it's name, you can just stop and ask 'is there something concerning you?' - and get a clear and honest answer.

'You are assigned to California war zone to bolster the defending fleet successfully repelling the Gallic invasion. Be proud, captain Augustine!' - they told me shortly after they new assignment of Chefornak.
By that moment - no good news have been coming out of California - only Dreadnoughts, that were barely holding in one piece, and lists of pilots with status 'killed in action' after another bloody skirmish with Royalists.
I wonder what yet is stopping them from eventually breaching to Manhattan...
... I have been watching over Naval admirals sending us out to a potentional death - me, someone who was valuable to me, even my crew, that suffocated partial replacement already twice...
... Those who never returned to the shipyard - wasn't even buried properly. Empty coffins with the names on it is what was buried.

I am tired of watching over this ridicolous nonsense and standing speechless, so does my crew.

We will be able to gather a sufficient force in case we reach the conclusion here - the whole crew have undergone basic combat simulation training and knows how to handle a gun and how to shoot it - that's one thousand men splitted over the different sections of the ship; also, as one of the ships assigned to the combat zone, Chefornak has combat capabilities bolstered by four companies of marines, one hundred men in each connection; they are under my direct command, besides that, we have the agreement of their commanders as well, so this won't be a trouble.
At this point we are capable of providing one thousand four hundreds of units for station/ground operations, however, in space we will only rely on Chefornak own guns - our ship currently carrying no snubcraft, besides the fact it is capable of containing few smaller vessels.

Yes, admiral. I clearly understand Chefornak will be under your command, so i have made it clear to the crew. No disagreement were met along.
I am looking forward to your response.

---

Signer: Cheryl Augustine, Commander, LNS-Chefornak.

---

Tranmission terminated.

---

[Victoria Knight]

Incoming Transmission

---

---

ID: Admiral Victoria Knight

Subject: LNS-Chefornak

---

---

Loading Message

I assume you have already made a plan, checked patrol paths and estimated the best way to get out of there?

Is your ship still capable of moving or do we need to go to great lengths to get it out where it is currently? Jumping it might be an option if its structure is still intact enough but that would strain both our resources greatly.

May I ask though what happened to your snubcraft? Are they assigned to other ships? Especially those would have been a great help to us as well as yourself. A ship of that size without escorts is really not going to stand a chance against the Navy figuring out what's going on.

How much time do we have? I need an assesment of the area so we can see what our options are.

Admiral Knight out.

Transmission Ends

[Aoi Oono]

Detected secured incoming Neural Net transmission.

---

Decryption in progress... done.
Accessing contents... done.
Displaying the transmission...

---

---

Greetings, Admiral Knight,

Yes, the estimated best way out of our current location have been calculated; however, we are not going straight to Bering gates, as this is the most obvious option for us, and there are plenty of places where the ship can get caught.
Given the circumstances - i would suggest using intersystem New York anomaly that leads into the Badlands. From there we should be able to make it safely to Texas. Still, i as well suggest not taking a direct route to Bering and using Hudson one instead - as, approximately, that would be what they expect the least.

Latest maintenance have shown that the engine is stable enough to travel at full cruise speed for six minutes thirty eight seconds after the maximum speed is reached, then we shall be bound to 'impulse-only' mode for approximately four minutes seven seconds for the engines to cool down.

Taking Chefornak out to Texas and using a jump drive from here seems like the most sufficient option in our case, that promises the lease of casualties and the highest probability of success.

We have plenty of time bidded until Naval forces in the area find out what is actually going on - we are keeping our intentions disguised as much as posibble, and now are simply following our daily maintenance routine, all works are performed by onboard engineers and no outstanding influence is allowed by my order - aside from the maintenance reports.
I expect us to have at least eight minutes window before first interceptors will be dispatched. Should be enough.

Most of the snubcraft listed to Chefornak have been lost in the recent battle. Currently, we possess only 22% percent of the total amount of snubcraft usually hanging aboard, 6% is also under the maintenance, which means we will only be able to dispatch one fighter wing at best. My 'Guardian' is hopefully intact, too, so we will be able to at least bind the hostile ships to place with combat and buy some time for Chefornak to make it to the target.

Chefornak is currently assigned to the drydock #2 of Norfolk shipyard, that means a constant prescense of at least one heavy unit, two smaller capital ships as it's cover, and up to three snubcraft wings as an auxillary force, considering this i recommend to keep our intentions disguised as much as possible - at least until we reach the intersystem anomaly.
Successfully moving to Badlands unsuspected will almost mean an operation success for us.

---

Signed: Cheryl Augustine, Commander, LNS-Chefornak.

---

Tranmission terminated.

---