Message Class: Textual
Encryption: Apple Wine
To: Commodore Sir Finley O'Dukes, Lord Hamilton
From: Captain Sir George Richard Hall
Commodore Lord Hamilton,
I congratulate you for your assumption to the command post of the Norfolk Fleet. It used to be my own when I was an admiral, and it is a prestigious one. Bearing in mind the stellar work you have done so far with the Merchant Navy, I trust that you will do at least as well as I did with the Norfolk Fleet, but if you ever need advice, you can turn to me.
I need an advice from you now. There has been an issue of conflicting orders. Only three persons can resolve it, and you are one of them. I would like to, by the way, comment on Commander Steiner's order.
His duty is new to him and he is adjusting. I dare not take the other factor as reality, namely, I believe I offended him one time when I was his superior, and that it might affect his objectiveness while dealing with me. He does not know, or does not want to bring to mind, that I have a thorough experience with Southern Front matters, and that it would be most productive if I was left here, instead of being replaced by a less experienced officer. Or did the order for immediate withdrawal to New London refer to all Armed Forces units, including the ones guarding Cambridge?
Message Class: Textual
Encryption: ROYAL
Priority: HIGH
To: Captain Sir George Richard Hall
From: Commodore Lord Hamilton
Location: Battleship Norfolk, Cambridge System
Hail, Captain Sir Hall.
That is disturbing news I am getting, by just boarding the Norfolk. Having taken my duty aboard, just having sat down on my desk and viewing the roster, I was expecting to see you on deck of the Norfolk, to report in for duty.
Instead, I am receiving a forwarded neural net communication, where you are directly refusing to comply to an order given by a higher ranked officer, in this case namely Commodore Edmund Steiner.
Captain, I remember having met you more than once, and I have always respected you as a person, and as a noble knight of her majesty. I even wish to have had more officers of your caliber into my duty in the Tau war, when I was still the Fleet Admiral, before my retirement.
Let me state this clear:
You have openly refused to comply to orders given by a higher ranked officer, not even trying to report to the command centre of the battleship you are actually attached to. By already knowing that Commodore Dagon actually can not be present, this case is even worse. Also refusing to comply to a given order after Admiral McIntire stepped into, no matter what fleet he is commanding, or if you see any reasons of common sense by refusing to that order, I have no other decision left than:
You will sit in the brig, until the time for a court martial has come, or other matters can resolve the situation.
You will be accused of: command refusal and insubordination
Let me, because we know each other for quite some time, give you a personal comment on this matter. Don’t you think it would have been a lot more wise to report to New London, to Commodore Steiner, then to report to me and to ask for yourself being re-commanded to the Norfolk Fleet, if needed?
Now we are actually losing a good captain in active duty, may god be with you, and farewell on the ways you decided to walk.
I expect you to comply with the standing orders,
Lord Hamilton
Commodore
Battleship Norfolk, Cambridge System