COMM ID: [color=#99FFFF]Fleet Admiral David Hale TARGET ID:Liberty Navy personel SUBJECT:SCRA ENCRYPTION:Medium PRIORITY:Medium
Hale here.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Navy, today has brought up a confusing set of circumstances.
At approximately 2130 hours SMT, Commander Jasmine Greenson on board the LNS-Loveland recieved a report from scouts in the Magellan system, reporting a large SCRA force of fighter and bomber class vessels led by the cruiser CPW-Radek.
They were intercepted in Colorado, having been tracked by our scouts for some time. They attempted to disguise thier intentions, claiming to be present for the signing of a non existant treaty. This clear and blatant lie roused Commander Greenson's suspicions, and she ordered the crew of the Loveland to battle stations.
The Liberty Navy force, consisting of Captain Joshua Ashfield, Commander Angelina Dimitrova and the mercenary Untreue were lightly outfitted for recon duty, and were only on scene due to a series of training manuevers being conducted from the Loveland.
Greenson's attempts to resolve the situation without a pitched battle failed, and the SCRA opened fire, targetting the Loveland. The crew of the Loveland and her escorts fought bravely, destroying the cruiser CPW-Radek before being overwhealmed by the number of bomber and fighter craft fielded by the SCRA.
The Loveland's reactor went critical at approximately 2200 hours, destroying the ship. Fortunately the majority of the crew were already on board their escape pods, owing again to the quick thinking of Greenson, upon the realisation the situation was hopeless.
Any leader in a time of war understands and acknowleges that any force will sustain losses. However that does not soften the blow. The following men and women are believed to have gone down with the ship, and are missing, presumed dead.
Ensign Anthony Tucker
Ensign David Halton
Junior Lt. Sarah Freeman
Junior Lt. Freya Davis
Lt. Samuel Thomas
Warrant Officer Frederick Olsen
Chief Warrant Officer Alice Dufresne
Navyman Apprentice Alan Southern
Navyman Apprentice Helen Gretchen
Navyman Kimberly Weaver
Navyman Arthur Smith
Navyman Sarah Acosta
Navyman Howard James
Navyman Susan Price
Petty Officer Third Class Matthew Underwood
These men and women gave their life in the service of Liberty. Their sacrifice is not to be forgotten nor diminished by time. I find it hard to express the loss this inflicts not only on their friends and family, but on Liberty as a whole. They lived and died as brave men and women, and fought to the last in the service of their country.
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Following the destruction of the Loveland, a number of Hellfire Legion fighter craft arrived and unexpectedly engaged the damaged SCRA vessels, allowing the crew of the destroyed Loveland time to escape. Captain Ashfield, Commander Dimitrova and the mercenary Untreue also used this opportunity to escape the situation.
Commander Greenson suffered minor injury, and is currently being treated on board the Rio Grande along with the rest of the crew.
My commendations to Commander Greenson, Captain Ashfield and Commander Dimitrova for their swift and decisive action. Their bravery and courage minimised our losses, and allowed us to strike a solid blow against the SCRA, with the destruction of the Radek.