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.