Admiral Kinnaird speaking from the Captain's quarters aboard the Leviathan.
Our maiden voyage has been more eventful than I anticipated. Our task force initiated a Glaive-pattern sweep across the lower core belt and we encountered no resistance until we reached the Texas system. We were accompanied by the bombers Beta 4 and Raptor, piloted by Lt Markus Epps and PFC Chavez James respectively.
[29.03.2012 15:44:31] Death: BuB. was killed by [HF]-Raptor (Gun)
- Liberty Navy Gunboat.
[29.03.2012 15:46:56] Death: Alan_Polstari was killed by [HF]-Raptor (Gun)
- Liberty Navy Avenger VHF.
A primary fleet officer, Jane Hartman, recovered Polstari's escape pod before we could get a lock on her interceptor. The task force then returned to the New York system. To our surprise, we encountered a Rogue Scylla-class Destroyer near the Texas Jump Gate, but it fled into the Badlands before we could destroy it.
Not willing to risk getting caught between Rogue and Navy reinforcements, I ordered the task force to head to California. We had nearly jumped clear when an LSF Liberator spotted us and called in reinforcements. Soon, we were outnumbered by a multiple fighters and a pair of Gunboats at the California Gate. However, none of their vessels posed the slightest threat on their own, and thanks to some deft manoeuvring from the helm, we re-aligned with the Jump Gate and broke through to Cali.
At this stage, the Beta 4 was badly damaged and we brought it aboard. That just left PFC James as our snub cover. Suboptimal as the situation was, things took a turn for the worse when the Navy officer Jane Hartman reappeared in pursuit of the Leviathan. Unfortunately, her Light Fighter was able to gain on us. PFC James turned back of his own accord and engaged Hartman, buying enough time for the Leviathan to get out of range of any Naval pursuers.
We just managed to recover the PFC and what was left of his ship. For his excellence in battle today and his sacrifice which preserved valuable Legion assets, I have decided to promote Chavez James to Lieutenant and award him the Phoenix's Tears medal.