<COMBAT REPORT 003>
<OUTCOME: VICTORY>
<PILOT ID: Warrant Officer E. Leon; New Hope Rearguard, Planet Pecos>
<TRANSMISSION SOURCE: Carrier Hades, system Tau039>
WO Leon, with an after-action report concerning events in Taus 023, -037. Launching from Carrier Hades I met Miss McCarthy and Warrant
Officer A. Garcia near Java Station. The WO and I began our patrol from there, with Miss McCarthy along as well. As I approached the two were already interdicting a ship that carried cardamine, FOF tagged xshockx. This vessel was eventually pursued to Omicron Alpha by Miss McCarthy and destroyed there. In the meantime, Garcia and I returned to Tau023, after Garcia destroyed a Zoner IFF'd freighter that went to the assistance of the freelance cardamine smuggler. We received reports that a GMS vessel had entered the system, but our search for this ship proved fruitless. It is possible that these rumors were faked to allow that freighter from earlier, FOF tagged JC-Enterprises, to attempt to sneak by our cordon with 2145 units of cardamine bound for parts unknown. Miss McCarthy and I caught up to this vessel and after it refused to relinquish its cargo, destroyed it. Soon after, an IMG IFF'd Sagarmatha raven passed by Java, carrying yet more Cardamine. Officer Garcia and I pursued it to Dounby Station in Orkney and forced it to dock there. The IMG will wish to know that one of their cruisers is being used to ferry the drug, however small the quantity, therefore I request for this information and guncam image to be passed along to them through proper channels.
After we returned to vicinity Java, an Outcast Tridente gunship entered -023. Miss McCarthy apparently knew the pilot, a John Blade, so we held fire to allow her the opportunity to talk him out of his new career path. Along with this pilot was a ship broadcasting Mandalorian Mercenary tags, an Edward Grey. This pilot was later found to be addicted to cardamine, and we attempted to force him to drop his cargo. He refused, after which Miss McCarthy opened fire, along with Officer Garcia. I did not enter this engagement, especially after the pilot of the Tridente entered the fray in Miss McCarthy's defense. Soon after, none other than Chenzo of the Maltese 101st entered -023, claiming to be there to support those he considers allies. It is of note that Chenzo declared the gunship to be stolen, and more or less immediately opened fire, forcing it to withdraw. A long standoff ensued, with both sides trading insults and witticisms. They received a Storta-class destroyer, the Orden's Shadow, to complete their reinforcements; we were joined by a random Red Hessian pilot who claimed to be on the run from 'everyone', FOF tagged Dario Sigmundr. Near the start of hostilities a young Nomad Morph happened upon the area, and made it known it was there to see Miss McCarthy. The standoff was finally broken by the Hessian and Chenzo tiring of the others insults, with Chenzo closing on Java and opening fire on the Hessian pilot. The mercenary followed suit, and the battle was joined.
Miss McCarthy joined the counterattack to even the odds against Dario; I and Officer Garcia held positions to make sure Shadow did not attempt to provide fire support. It is of note that the Morph had perfected its innate weaponry, and engaged the Maltese in defense of Miss McCarthy.
Shadow eventually moved in, and Garcia and I engaged it with torpedo and antimatter fire. It made use of its cloak, but after decloaking a second time we managed to destroy it. The battle degraded for the Maltese after that, with the MM being crippled and Chenzo retreating from the combined force of Java, swarming IMG rookies, and our guns.
The morph and our newfound Hessian friend were both KIA by the MM pilot and Chenzo respectively, but I, Garcia, and Miss McCarthy survived the battle with light to moderate damage.
After Chenzo broke contact, I, following Garcia, RTBed Carrier Hades for repairs. Ion storms will have forced any remaining skirmish between Miss McCarthy and the MM pilot to their conclusion.
End of report.
<ATTACHMENTS>
Mammoth-class Transport ID/Hold Scans: **
Transport Exploding: *
Sagarmatha Scans: *
Tridente Scans: **
MM Sabre Scans: ***
Odin VHF Scan: *
Storta Exploding: **