-- Incoming Transmission --
-- Sender ID: Ensign Jennifer Kelly --
-- Sender Location: Planet Manhattan, Fort Bragg --
-- Subject: Patrol Report
Evening, High Command.
As you probably already know, this afternoon, Texas was assaulted by a heavy group of Rheinland Capital vessels, that even were supported by the Order in the last push through Houston.
As i was one of the first on the scene i will recount all the happenings since the beginning.
As i left West Point, to hookup with the current patrol, i was alerted and contacted by Ensign Arthur Crawler, one of the pilots in the patrol, that several Rheinland vessels were at the Hudson gate in Texas.
I immediately sounded the alert in the general Liberty Navy comms, and proceeded to the Texas system.
There, i found out that Ensign Barney Ross was being engaged by that same group, alone.
So i quickly dispatched all the guidance i could spare at the moment, asking for the other pilots to coordenate the capital support effort around Planet Houston, while i moved to support Ross.
There.. Well.. A sheer nightmare. Two Battleships, one Cruiser and two Gunboats unloading their ordinance against Ross. With some well placed CD's and a little distraction, me and Ross managed to gain some distance, while pulling the Rheinland group at a turtle's pace to Sugarland.
Thankfully, the LNS Carrier Impreza, managed to quickly divert, and headed to Sugarland to provide fire support and to give that group a bigger and more juicy prey. Still proceeding at a low pace, when the Rheinland group arrived at Houston, they have found already an organized defense, with Captain Zanders in command.
The Impreza however, got badly damaged and had to crash-dock for emergency repairs. I saw several layers of it's armor being ripped apart by the combined fire of the Rheinlanders.
But that was that. The Houston group quickly did a number on the Rheinlanders, and soon with the Integrity, a Liberty Navy cruiser, the fire started to consume the 'green turtles'.
Alas, a surprise awaited us. A small Order detachment awaited and they send their forces as support for the Rheinlanders. But even so, we stood our ground and completely annihilated all their capital hardware.
And then, one of my engines died out on me.. With less than nominal speed, i was in no shape to give my contribute to the effort, and i had to dock in the Mississippi, while watching the Liberty group totally wrecking the remains of the Rheinland/Order group. The engineers said i had forced the engines too much, but knowing that Ross, a fellow Navy Officer was alive after all that, heck, it was worth it.
And that concludes the afternoon happenings.
At late night, with two new engines in my Guardian, i went for a 'joy ride' per se. I wanted to see if the handling and the ship itself was in top condition.
Well.. In Liberty, the wicked never sleep, and the Navy is always alert. And so, as i joined up with Vice-Admiral Malrone group, Captain Zanders received information that several ne'er-do-wells were near the California Gate in New York.
We quickly moved to the spot and found a Hacker Gunboat, and two other hired hands laying waste to the lanes and traders coming from California.
As Captain Zanders ordered, we moved in and concentrated fire on the gunboat and soon, it was up in flames. And guess what, another surprise. A Red Bayonaise appeared in the scanners, and asked if the Hacker needed help. I quickly remembered the LCDB (Liberty Criminal Database) and that this one was a Bravo priority target.
As we quickly disposed the Hacker, Vice-Admiral Malrone ordered me to accompany him to check on the other two hired hands of the Hacker. As we arrived, they were shooting each other, and one Hayate quickly came out as the winner.
Not so long after, he moved to provide support to the pilot of the Bayonaise (that now i know is called Alan Moore, a known unlawful in Liberty), and for some minutes the battle raged on, even with support by a Rogue bomber that was also quickly dispatched by me.
I must note that this Alan called me cup-cake and even had the nerve to send me cash in the middle of the fight, probably as a distraction maneuver. This.. show of underestimating me couldn't be ignored.
Suddenly another surprise popped up. A Phantom with the name Nightsmoke which quickly went after Lt. Jack Will and managed to considerably shave off his supply of nano-bots.
But we persevered.
With a lucky mine, the Phantom was dispatched by Lt. Will, and that gave us a new boost of confidence and while we were ordered to focus fire on Moore, i went after him with a whole new sense of delivering some pain to him.
Which i succeeded. Then we went after the Hayate character, which proved to be a relentless fighter. Lt. Will was being the one targeted since the beginning of the battle, and i gave him all my bots for him to hold on a little while longer. The Vice-Admiral stood in the side lines at the moment since he had several electronic malfunctions due to a localized ion-storm.
Alas, the combat attrition was too much to bear, and Hayate was finally defeated by a mine of Captain Zanders.
With that, i went to Fort Bush for some paper shuffling and repairs, but not ten minutes after Lt. Will called for support against a Rogue Barghest that was selling what it seemed steaks. Probably one with too much blows to the head, or a scheme of sorts to harness targets of opportunity.
Well, with some good shots, he went down rather quickly and i decided to head to Fort Bragg to finish this report and to get some shut eye.
COMM ID: [color=#99FFFF]Commander Jasmine Greenson TARGET ID:Liberty Navy personel SUBJECT:Promotions ENCRYPTION:Medium PRIORITY:Medium
Commander Greenson here
Recruits Simon Sartori and Jennifer Kelly have been promoted from Recruit to Ensign, having both completed their eight hours flight aptitude training in an Executioner.
Miss Kelly, just checking, did your parents intentionally give you two first names?
I do not know where to begin. I encountered pirates, smugglers and helped nip several Kraut raids in the bud. I flew wingman to very skilled, and honorable, pilots and, despite the sheer terror, I enjoyed my time within Miss Liberty Belle.
I had to many encounters to list here, but our combined strength made Liberty safe to travel this day. I truly look forward to my next patrol.
I included some brief glimpses of our trials this day within this transmission.
Transmission; Start
Identification: Commodore Christina Robinson
Location: New York system, Planet Manhattan, Fort Bragg
A few promotions here and there;
The Captaincy passed on their recommendations for a few promotions, they have been considered and some acted upon. The High Command does feel that, given the recent restructuring, some vacancies should be fulfilled, and dedication rewarded.
The list is as follows:
Joseph Tippman - You're promoted from your current rank of Sub-Lieutenant to Lieutenant. I've heard good things about your performance and dedication, but to climb the ranks further, you'll need to up your game significantly in the coming weeks and months. The Captaincy will doubtless be watching, and so will we.
Barney Ross - You're promoted from your current rank of Ensign to Sub-Lieutenant. You managed to catch the eye of the Captaincy, so you're obviously a good candidate for promotion. Some things still need development at this stage, but it's like putting a knife to a whetstone. Keep going, and it'll become very sharp. Good luck for the future, sub lieutenant.
Joshua Ashfield - You've been promoted from Ensign to Sub-Lieutenant. You've been quietly working towards this goal, and both the Captains and the High Command feel that this diligence should be rewarded. Good job so far, sub lieutenant, and we hope to see more of you in future.
There were many others that the Captaincy have been watching, the main obstacle to promotion being the simple lack of experience. Just because your name isn't here now, doesn't mean that it won't be in the future. Keep impressing us ladies and gentlemen.
Congratulations to all of our new Sub and Full Lieutenants, I look forward to flying with you.
With that leak in the fuel tank fixed, I was contacted by a Bounty Hunter gunboat concerning an Outcast presence in California. *Ripper chuckles.* By the time I got there, Mr Blue had the situation well under control. The hostile vessels were all destroyed before I could fire a shot. Round one to the good guys.
Outcast Incursion, California
Just before the final Oucast ship was destroyed, I picked up another contact closing on our location. Jarek_70, a Lane Hacker 'Broadsword' Bomber. Scans detected Liberty and Civilian personnel on board and the pilot was ordered to drop them. He failed to comply and Blue and I went weapons free. The target unfortunately dropped off our scopes before we could deliver the killing blow; reappearing a few minutes later without our pilots. When questioned he admitted to spacing their pods and opening fire.
Jarek Confession, California
The criminal didn't do so well against opponents who could shoot back. Combined fire from Blue and myself resulting in the destruction of his vessel and the safe recovery of two civilians by the LNS-Liberation. We didn't locate the escape pod. I hope no-one did, it's better then he deserved.
I've forwarded details to the criminal registry.
Moving to New York I detected a target displaying Lane Hacker IFF's (Tei.Kiyes). He refused to stop for detailed scans, and I was given clearance by L.T Villers to pursue. Following a tip off from the Battlespec (A Battlecruiser.) I located the pilot near Rochester base, with a Xeno Dromedary in tow. Scans detected 20 Bounty Hunters aboard the Dromedary (Svejk) and a successful recovery was made. The pilots have been returned to Navy processing facilites on Manhattan and should be flying again in short order.
'Svejk,' New York
We then received scattered reports of Research.Drone in New York space. The drone itself broadcast its intentions over system-wide communications, prompting a search and destroy operation. Regretfully, despite the unexpected assistance of Mr Kiyes, we lost the Drone when it closed to within twenty kilometres of New York's sun. Due to the radiation at that point; neither I nor other vessels could risk a further pursuit.
Blue and Myself were then joined in our patrol by the LNS-Liberation (A Gunboat), and Battlespec. The Patrol moved to California, following reports of Rogue activity. *Muttering to himself.* Don't know what it is with that system.... Regardless, we picked up a Rogue vessel almost as soon as we hit the Mojave tradelane. After a brief chase LR-Hysteric.Venture halted and was made to hand over two captured pilots.
LR-Hysteric.Venture
The pilot was utterly drunk. Could barely operate his communications. On that basis I judged that he was no longer a threat to shipping and the patrol set course for the New York jumpgate. Where we encountered Ms Veera.Allen. Already listed as a Liberty Criminal, scans detected cardamine onboard her Sabre.
Scan of Vera.Allen
Despite numerous warnings Ms Allen refused to drop the drug and vessels were dispatched to bring her in. At that point we were joined by [LN]-Gold-19 and [LN]-Gold-7, both of whom moved to intercept. Ensign Blue and Gold-7 were cleared to fire with the rest of the fleet maintaining a two kilometre distance.
Intercept
I left the fire fight in the hands of our snub craft and the rest of the patrol (At this point the Liberation, Battlespec and I.) jumped to New York. Shortly after the jump we detected a vessel (transponder 'Slave_Master) though I couldn't close to scan range, the craft matched visual profiles of the 'Pilgrim' Slave liner. Fits I guess. The ship was making a hard burn for the Badlands and we turned to follow. The Liner dropped off my scanners as he entered the Badlands; though the capital craft were able to track his signature. At that point I cut off my pursuit, ordering the [LNS]CapeTown (A Siege Cruiser.) to take up position near the Texas jumpgate in the event that he tried to run. My suspicions were confirmed when the CapeTown reported a hostile contact.
The CapeTown held position just off the tradelane, rather then risk more vessels to the Badlands. Our vessels finally closed to scan range of the Slave_Master revealing 41 men and women on board, thirty two of which were civilians. Without cruise disruptor technology available, I couldn't risk firing on the ship. The Liberation and Battlespec then reported contact with a Rogue installation of some size and I issued the order to pull back rather then risk the crews of two Navy vessels.
Log 1.
Log 2.
From that point the patrol split; with Liberation hunting Research.Drone, the CapeTown attempting to track Ms Allen's transmissions (Evidently having evaded our squad. Say what you will about her, but she knows how to handle a spacecraft.) and myself tracking another Hacker contact. Due to my lack of CD missiles I was unable to close the gap and returned to Manhattan to assist the CapeTown with a Pirate Transport.
Pirate Transport 'Enemy.of.state
We informed the pilot of the legality of his vessel, with minimal success. Despite offers of an escort to Pittsburgh; where he could pick up a substitute, he refused to comply. The ship ran for California and we lost him shortly after the jump.
Making the jump to Mojave; we once again detected a Rogue signature. The same fighter that we'd warned off the lanes earlier. I stuffed up; Sir/Ma'am. I issued a fine of two million credits and sat there like an idiot waiting for him to pay it. A few minutes later I picked up a hostile contact, Capital-class.
Rogue Destroyer; 'I.Blame.My.Mother'
I pulled back; expecting the CapeTown to follow. She didn't. The Siege Cruiser was engaged and destroyed by Rogue forces, despite my attempts to provide assistance. I couldn't scratch it; Razors, Nukes... May as well have been tickling her. I fell back to West Point with a damaged electronics kit.
***Incoming Transmission***
CommID : Ensign Chris Elias
*yawns* time for me to sleep, so I will make this quick.
Today i got called in by some of our fellow Navy pilots... They had sighted The_Joker and some bombers that helped him, and they resisted arrest, so we had to take care of them. Laws Joker and his thugs broke:
Quote:II. Piracy.
III. Assault.
and posession of ships, banned from Liberty according to The Laws of Liberty
e.g. Tridente
We needed to take care of him, so a fight emerged... First it looked like my help was not needed, but then another Tridente tried to assault one of our officers, which resulted in me powering up weapons... A little bit of my beloved Magma Hammer fire, along with John Smith's prototype guns and other officer gunfire, and soon it was clear that the Outcast tridente wasn't going anywhere, a little bit more gunfire, and his ship was "divided into multipliers"
Soon one of their bombers was down too, and i powered down, knowing the remaining officers could handle the pack. Then the remaining outlaws, except The_Joker, either commited suicide or were killed.
The_Joker, realizing that he cannot win, seeing that his turrets barely hold on his ship, because of him trying to evade our gunfire by approaching the danger zone of the sun, he started to run towards Rochester base. We followed him, until he stopped near the base
and docked...
With that my time in space today ended... High five to all Navy officers involved in that fight, and a High Five to officer John Smith for the first two plus the last guncam image he provided.
Chris out!
***Transmission ended***