[To]: SIS Defence Intelligence Staff
[From]: Jonas Hudson, SIS
[Subject]: Field Report
[Encryption]: High
Status report:
After some R&R on New London, I have continued to make short range patrols throughout the contested systems along the Gallic front over the last several weeks. Aside from the now well known placement of a new enemy shipyard in the Edinburgh system, there are no major developments in the occupied systems. The Gauls, however, have continued to expand their trade lane network in Leeds, now extending unabated from Planet Leeds to their new jumpgate construction site, and the old Edinburgh jumpgate. I have participated in several engagements and one long range patrol. Summary reports to follow.
~Fleet Engagement, Magellan
Answering an emergency call while in Manchester, Magellan seemed quiet at the Freeport 4 wreck. The battle had drifted almost 30k above the system plane when I arrived. Several Gallic warships remained and were engaging a Bretonian/Allied fleet. They had already taken a couple of enemy ships out, and I helped finish off the rest. BAF reported a total of 3 enemy battleships, a battlecruiser and destroyer were destroyed.
~Newcastle Patrol
I responded to a direct call from Agent Skirka to meet him up in Tau-31. We had a brief encounter with a 'rogue' operated Core Battleship named The Apahanta. I was unfamiliar with the vessel, but Skirka had struck up a rapport with its captain, and was working on gaining intelligence from him regarding an entity called "Inqusitor Darkness". A follow up on that name is to be conducted. Skirka was also particularly interested in starting a profile on a "Megaera", some operative that's been coming up in chatter recently. I was going to take the job myself but we met a Freelancer that was willing to try to dig up some info for us. With a few other inquiries, we got some answers, and we'll be keeping our ears open for more. Skirka would have more on that. Afterwards, to my surprise, Skirka handed over to me a recovered Nomad Fuel Cell, that he'd got from a battle with an Order ship that attacked them and the battleship in Tau-31. We hauled the cargo back to Manchester, to Fort Winchester, where it can be kept safe and secure.
~Fleet Engagement, Magellan
Not long after I responded to a call over in Magellan again. Allied fleets continue to engage around the Freeport 4 debris field. Both sides called in all they had available on this one, but we came out on top thankfully. They keep sending them, we keep knocking them down. Another battleship and destroyer put out of action.
~Omicrons/Kusari Patrol
Later that day, I met up with Skirka again and we set out, under his initiative, to conduct a long range recon patrol out to the Omicrons. While there, we picked up sign of a Blood Dragons vessel at long range, in the region near Kusari space. So we circled around and made our way back down through Kusari, and managed to catch up with the vessel at Hikone Base. The captain was a little disgruntled about the 'impromtu' nature of our visit, but was willing to answer our queries and provide yet again intel on Megaera. Around that time, a member of the Apostas arrived at the scene to make contact with us. We must have been picked up coming into the system. Such are the dangers of longer ranged patrols. But it worked in our favor, and we got some updates from them about their situation, and they requested we follow up with more delivers of financial aid to them, and more military hardware. We should try to arrange for that asap if not already done. The patrol ended without incident, and we parted ways so I could head back to Bretonia for a break.
~Valour Interception, Manchester
Responding to a call that an enemy battleship was crossing New London, and into Manchester, I launched from Birmingham asap. I just missed the ship at first, who was being pursued by one of our Dunkirks, that was just too far our of range to intercept. The ship almost made it down to the Magellan jumpgate when I took the lane ahead and intercepted it at its bow. After disrupting its engines finally, we took the ship down without much resistance.
Otherwise, I have been investigating several contingency plans to help maintain the initiative against the enemy, and assist in our greater defensive posture. The placement of the shipyard in Edinburgh suggests the Gauls are afraid of losing territory, which means they may be compensating for a vulnerability. I suggest we consider the following plans and have them ready to execute, even as fallback plans. I have attached my assessment.
1. NEMP dispersal: All agency NEMP's should be equipped on appropriate craft, and made ready to deploy on short notice. These craft should then be dispersed to critical points along the defensive line, so the weapons will be distributed along the front, and increase our ability to get one to a critical battle zone ASAP.
2. Special Strike Teams: Assemble and deploy a small special operations force to specialize in increased attacks on enemy supply lines. Agents, mercenaries and privateers would qualify to be used for this. This force may be able to be used to attack enemy infrastructure behind the lines, perhaps via NEMP attack. In conjunction with this, we should now focus more attacks on (now fixed) Gallic controlled trade lanes in the Leeds system.
3. Defensive Bases: Deployment of 1 or multiple single core modular base installations along the front, within the contested zone. With the proper use and placement of single core modular bases, we can reinforce now weakened zones in New London, Manchester, Dublin, and even Leeds. These bases could be deployed to hidden locations, and equipped with shields, and multiple weapons platforms. Rather than attempt to establish long term, permanent bases, we should consider the option to deploy several smaller scale facilities, that require less time and resources. This plan would require the cooperation of the BAF and the Merchant Navy, but if we were to lay the ground work and perform the administration and intel gathering, a coordinated effort could allow for the deployment of 2-3 bases per month. These bases could then not only extend the range of our capital vessels once more, but provide a focal point for the Royal Navy on our terms. Assuming they would be secret as long as possible, if discovered, a chance to defend such a base is a chance to inflict damage on the enemy. Additionally, in the event of a catastrophic loss of leadership, government collapse or an attempt at surrender, secret facilities should be established as fallback positions for long term resistance.
4. Intelligence Operated Cruiser Force: In conjunction with options 2 and 3, the launching of several of our own SIS operated (classified) Crecy Class battlecruisers should be considered. Such vessels operating strictly under SIS authority could serve as excellent long range command ships for strike teams, and provide a 'secret' defense force to augment New London's defense, and to be deployed to defend potential 'secret' bases, until the BAF could take over. Having our own vessels will also establish a force less likely to be compromised by espionage.
5. Superweapons: We should continue to stockpile NEMP's as much as possible. These weapons are critical for defense from large scale fleet attacks. Pilots should be assigned as NEMP bombers, and trained to specialize in weapon deployment. Development of larger scale conventional weapons should also be elevated in priority. Also, development of any other large scale weapons of mass destruction (WMD's) now ought to be considered as a primary deterrent from any further Gallic advances or plans for long term occupation.
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*TOP SECRET*
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Standing by,
Agent Hudson Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service, Bretonia