Transmission starting...
Sender:Willows, Sarah - Commodore Recipients:All Liberty Forces, especially Lieutenant Commander Malrone, Recruit Tyin and Recruit Baker
After reading through the reports, I have some good news and some bad news.
[color=#FFFF66]• For a start, the High Command is still debating on the smuggler issue.
We're aware that the LPI is not always present when needed, and we're trying to find a solution to the problem, but we're trying to figure something out.
For now smugglers are to be treated as usual.
To Lieutenant Commander Malrone:Malrone, I don't like letting a smuggler go even though I could force him to get rid of his load at the spot either.
Until we've found a solution I simply can't give you the permission to act as you requested.
• As for the breaches of [color=#FFFFFF]Zone-21, we will increase the security in the area to handle further incursions.
• The most concerning thing however is the [color=#FFFFFF]Phantom activity in recent days.
My last order still stands, and there is only little we can do but try to monitor their movements and bolster West Point's defenses at this time.
Quote:You are all ordered to be on the lookout for the Phantom ships, and to excercise extreme caution when approaching them.
If disabling the ships to capture the pilots proves impossible, you are to gather as much data as you can, without taking any unnecessary risks.
And most importantly, do whatever is necessary to defend the citizens of Liberty.
Additionally, the Catapult-class Siege CruiserCarson City and the Defiant-class GunboatsChicago, Indiana and Lansing are now assigned to the West Point defense contingent.
• On a happier note, we have two promotions today. Recruits Tyin and Baker have both passed their trial periods, and are hereby promoted to Ensigns of the Liberty Navy.
It's good to see our new blood to be so dedicated and active right from the start, and I hope you two will stay the same in the future.
As for everyone else, show them around until they know every corner of Liberty in and out as you all do.
Especially Ensign Baker, since she seemed a bit lost in Virginia earlier.
[color=#FFFF66]• And, on another more or less happy note, we've had an encounter with the [color=#33FF33]Rheinland Military in Hudson earlier.
Long range scans prior to the engagement indicated five Rheinland MilitaryVery Heavy Fighters moving from Hamburg into Hudson.
I took the liberty to gather a volunteer force of equal size to repel the intruders.
Our flight consisted of Captain Peters, the three Liberty Security ForceAgents Internity, Jacob Hagel, Jordi, and myself.
After jumping into Hudson we immediately noticed Rheinland Military IFF signatures on our scanners, and proceeded to "meet" them.
Hostile list: [RM]Fw.Hans.Klemmer - 90-ARKM-N45 "Wraith" Very Heavy Fighter [RM]Maj.Auztin.Engels - 90-ARKM-N45 "Wraith" Very Heavy Fighter [RM]Maj.von.Engel - 90-ARKM-N45 "Wraith" Very Heavy Fighter Jacob.Klein - 90-ARKM-N45 "Wraith" Very Heavy Fighter
and Stephen.Horst. - 90-ARKM-N45 "Wraith" Very Heavy Fighter
I gave them the option to power down their craft and surrender, which was returned with them giving us the same.
The fight erupted directly afterwards, and lasted for a good hour.
It would've lasted less, but the area was full of Ion Interferences.
We managed to shoot down both Majors of the Military and Jacob Klein.
A minute afterwards Stephen Horst was struck by an Ion Anomaly and vanished from our scanners.
The remaining hostile, Feldwebel Klemmer, first wanted to surrender, but then opened fire on my ship and tried to make a run for the Hamburg gate.
We pursued him to the gate, but I let him jump freely to deliver the message to his Major that he might hopefully make wiser decisions in the future.
To summarize:
No casulaties on our side.
Three Rheinland MilitaryVery Heavy Fightersdestroyed, one vanished, one retreated.
• Aaand on a final note, I'd like to give [color=#66FFFF]Captain Peters and Agent Internity a verbal pat on the back for their performance in the fight.
Both got focus-fired for extended periods of time, but managed to stay alive and deal damage to the hostiles regardless of gunfire hammering on their hulls constantly.