☆ To: Dr. John Holliday
☆ CC: Ezra, Henry Rowan, Saraswati
☆ Subject: Bethlehem Station
Doc,
We had an interesting development from Bethlehem just now. I'd treat it with caution, but knowing how the Navy's acting lately, I'm sending you the details since you're pretty much overseeing the station at this point.
We had several Navy ships show up again, though they didn't take the lane in. They seemed to be watching the station from distance, then disappeared, only to show up again out of nowhere at point blank range, and started opening fire. While the heavier ships and fighters looked to target us, a pair of siege cruisers were reportedly firing at the station, though others claimed they were firing pretty erratically. I didn't find any captures of the cruisers, though, so take that claim with a grain of salt.
I can't imagine this isn't connected with Erie, or that these ships were part of any of the main fleets or the one we've been in talks with. If it is, then it's leverage against Liberty, though I doubt enough to make them reconsider what they're doing in Pennsylvania.
Good luck, Doctor, and stay safe.
James Augustus Porter
Captain, Defense Vessel Dominica
Posts: 8,090
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*incoming transmission*
Comm ID: Doc Holliday
Location: Planet Erie
To: Captain James Porter
Captain,
This is disturbing but not totally unheard of. I have encountered these "Unknowns" in my travels and they are indeed hostile. I have encountered them in the Omegas and Omicrons alike so I do not believe them to be part of the Liberty fleet. I would also suggest we keep a lid on this as the one time I mentioned it to house authorities I was told that I "saw nothing and that this channel is now government property."
Hopefully this is but a one time incident but please keep me posted.
[To]:Dr. John Holliday [From]:Carrier Saraswati, Wilken Sorensen [Subject]:RE: Bethlehem Station [Encryption]: ABSOLUTE
This is Wilken Sorensen, Captain of the Carrier Saraswati.
...The situation at Bethlehem Station over the past six hours is steadily developing. At the current moment, the Navy is attempting to aggressively and forcefully enforce Liberty Laws within range of the No-Fire-Zone, as well as attempting to poke fights for most likely propaganda footage.
...One of these stunts were attempted roughly three hours after the attack by those scrambled IFFed ships where fighter under callsign [Lance-2] alongside [Gunboat Erie] were trying to get a hostile reaction from us, beforehand we requested them to leave Bethlehem's No-Fire-Zone to not cause panic across station's decks - they were ultimately thwarted after my ship had stand-off with these bandits.
You will have logs attached below for context, Doctor.
[28.05.2023 19:47:46] Kismet: Saraswati.
[28.05.2023 19:47:50] Kismet: A pleasure to see you.
[28.05.2023 19:47:51] Saraswati: Good evening, pilot.
[28.05.2023 19:48:05] Kismet: Perhaps you would recognize the callsign "Wyrd" better.
[28.05.2023 19:48:41] Saraswati: Ah, good to see you. Few hours ago we had a IFF scrambled Navy taskforce attacking Bethlehem, seems they won't stop
[28.05.2023 19:48:44] Saraswati: on Erie.
[28.05.2023 19:48:49] Kismet: Disgusting.
[28.05.2023 19:49:17] Kismet: I am always willing to offer my services in killing to those who resist oppression.
[28.05.2023 19:49:50] Kismet: If you should see them again, do feel free to contact me.
[28.05.2023 19:50:26] Saraswati: Will do - Liberty will leave this system, just like Bretonia have from Omega Fourty Nine.
[28.05.2023 19:50:39] Kismet: Yes. That is always the goal.
[28.05.2023 19:50:58] Kismet: The House of Liberty is long past due for reckoning.
[28.05.2023 19:51:40] Saraswati: In mean time, we've sent out ships for SAR operations.
[28.05.2023 19:51:45] Kismet: Good.
[28.05.2023 19:51:53] Kismet: Perhaps the MFE will assist you.
[28.05.2023 19:52:04] Kismet: I have other business to attend to. But I will be available.
[28.05.2023 19:53:00] Saraswati: Problem is: MFE is unavailable, their ships has been attacked during the engagement and were routed.
[28.05.2023 19:53:09] Kismet: Unfortunate.
[28.05.2023 19:53:20] Kismet: Nothing to see here, tyrant.
[28.05.2023 19:53:38] Lance-2: Tyrant?
[28.05.2023 19:53:44] Saraswati: Navy vessel, this is Carrier Saraswati, what are your intetions?
[28.05.2023 19:53:48] Kismet: You serve the Navy.
[28.05.2023 19:53:51] Kismet: You are a tyrant.
[28.05.2023 19:55:15] Lance-2: My intetions? I just partol.
[28.05.2023 19:55:34] Kismet: Yes, you root out dissidence and destroy it.
[28.05.2023 19:55:44] 1st|LNS-Erie: L.L.:Greetings!
[28.05.2023 19:55:46] Kismet: But as I was telling Saraswati.
[28.05.2023 19:55:49] Kismet: I have business to attend to.
[28.05.2023 19:56:02] Kismet: Do call me if the tyrants turn on you, Saraswati.
[28.05.2023 19:56:17] Lance-2: Yeah you better leave
[28.05.2023 19:56:52] Lance-2: What about you Saraswati?
[28.05.2023 19:57:30] 1st|LNS-Erie: L.L:Gentlemen, i won't say anything! I will just wait for you to finish this discussion...don't mind me *smiles*
[28.05.2023 19:57:31] Saraswati: Navy vessels, I request that you leave the area. Your presense is distressing station's population.
[28.05.2023 19:57:56] LNS-Neutralizer: *cough* ah yes, serious time
[28.05.2023 19:57:59] Lance-2: Tell me, where are you Saraswati?
[28.05.2023 19:58:07] Lacerta: Marines have had enough of this crap, this ship's too dam' small.
[28.05.2023 19:58:10] Lance-2: in Liberty right?
[28.05.2023 19:58:17] LNS-Neutralizer: Bethlemen station. You'll comply with docking procedures.
[28.05.2023 19:58:18] Lacerta: Look at that plonker!
[28.05.2023 19:58:38] 1st|LNS-Erie: L.L:Admiral, shall i remind you of behalf of LM , LSF, and LP that the Zoners are safe here..while we do our patrols?
[28.05.2023 19:58:45] Lacerta: Better pick up before I bloody need to make orders.
[28.05.2023 19:58:52] LNS-Neutralizer: Seems like you 1st boys have this in hand.
[28.05.2023 19:59:07] 2023-05-28 19:59:07 SMT Traffic control alert: LNS-Neutralizer has requested to dock
[28.05.2023 19:59:09] Lacerta: Liberty's downfall is imminent!
[28.05.2023 19:59:12] /time
[28.05.2023 19:59:12] 2023-05-28 19:59:12 SMT
[28.05.2023 19:59:32] Lance-2: If you want Zoners
[28.05.2023 19:59:50] 1st|LNS-Erie: L.L:Libery offended you that much?*dissapointment breath*
[28.05.2023 20:00:24] Lacerta: [Loud noise begins overwhelming his COMMs] Gonna get thi-.... [INAUDIBLE] Bethlehem!-- Dock--. Over.
[28.05.2023 20:00:34] 2023-05-28 20:00:35 SMT Traffic control alert: Lacerta has requested to dock
[28.05.2023 20:00:44] Lance-2: Very well.
[28.05.2023 20:02:44] Lance-2: Well, look like everythings is fine here.
[28.05.2023 20:03:09] 1st|LNS-Erie: L.L: I will leave now! patroling! Admiral, Officer, was a pleasure!
[28.05.2023 20:03:21] 1st|LNS-Erie: L.L.:Good bye!Safe flights!
[28.05.2023 20:03:40] Saraswati: Good - leave.
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*incoming transmission*
Comm ID: Doc Holliday
Location: A Medical Facility on Erie
To: Captain Wilken Sorensen
Greetings, Captain,
I am thinking the Liberty military is still poking for reactions. I would say do not give them the satisfaction but that is easier said than done but it seems you did just that. A job well done to your crew. It shows that we are better than they are.
Here on the surface, life is going on. A lot of the Zoner population here and it is large in number are still going about their day as if nothing happened. It sort of reminds me of a time in history on Sol when the German military kept bombing the city of London yet the civilians kept going about their days. Difference here is, they are not being bombed and they refuse to give the Liberty government what it wants by stopping.
I will be here awhile monitoring things. Do keep me posted.