Recording 1: The crew report various internal arguments and struggles of authority breaking out between the C.O and X.O. Most matters are handled by way of vote among the crew, with the C.O acting as the ultimate tie-breaker in the event of a dead-lock regarding how to handle a matter.
The X.O insisting on a more straight-forward, potentially cruel set of methods, citing Reeves' way of Commanding the ship was far too unorthodox to truly help the Republic.
The C.O argues against her methods, stating that a little consideration may go a long way, not to aid and abet ones enemies, but not to stoop to their level either.
The ship remains divided, while most don't openly condone X.O Hayden's methods, they don't see her as entirely wrong. Those brave enough openly speak out against her and support C.O Morrell's orders and judgement, lauding him as the more sensible of the two and capable of making tough decisions.
Internal strife is inevitable, half the crew refuse to follow Morrell's methods in all situations, likewise with Hayden's. The ship undergoes numerous votes for a change in command, but all remain inconclusive and dead-locked.
Desperation to see the ship held together and following their methods, both individuals begin closely conversing with their 'followers'.
The crew has never missed its original C.O more than it does now, someone capable of holding a middle-ground, as such a third group forms, of a different opinion all together. Removing themselves from the vessel, these ten individuals dub themselves "Group - Ninety", composed of Marshals 90 through 99. Tensions continue to build and worsen despite effective performance of duties, the ship held together by a rubber-band as it remains on over-watch in Alaska.
Recording 2: Group - Ninety are reunited briefly with their previous C.O, pleading with him to return to hist post and resume duties, stating that Salem won't stand divided for very long.
Despite their efforts, Reeves seems the least bit moved to return to his post within the Navy or put up with the strains and encumbering nature his rank 'entitled' him to.
The nine presently AWOL Marshals further state that they will not return to their duties without him, unwilling to turn away the very people he had trained, Reeves offers them a place at his side, working for him directly and in extension Agency : 404.
Conditions aboard the ship have worsened, the C.O putting a 'curfew' of sorts into effect, to keep all non-essential working personnel in their quarters, so as to avoid another fist-fight on the bridge.
Opposing 'followers' clash hourly and inevitably when within the immediate vicinity of the other, forcing Marshals to occasionally deploy tear-gas and return the disorderly service-men to their rooms.
The crew are the least bit pleased by all the restraint and conflict they have to face.
Morrell attempts to make amends with Hayden, citing that their cooperation is needed in order to ensure stability of the ship, she remains adamant and declines his method of operation, stating that Liberty will always be weak so long as the ship doesn't enact lesser evils to keep back the true enemies.
In direct defiance to his proposal, Hayden inspires her 'followers' to keep resisting his orders and going against the service-men that are weak-willed enough to listen to heed his words.
Marshals aboard the ship begin to become divided as a result, unsure of which set of orders to follow. A brief gun-fight ensues between a confused group of Marshals, no injuries or damage to the ship, but a severe reprimand by their C.O follows. Hayden opposes the reprimand, stating that the conflict was Morrell's doing to begin with and that his inability to do as required is what divides the ship.
Group - Ninety closely monitors the deteriorating conditions of the chain of command currently prevalent on the ship. Relaying the necessary observations to their original C.O. Reluctantly following the orders of Reeves to remain out of the conflict for the moment, while Hayden gathers her supporters in a desperate attempt to forcefully retake Command.
Recording 3: Conflict becomes inevitable, with Hayden's supporters beginning a march from the engine room, after having disabled the ship in its entirety, switching off all core systems except for the shields and weaponry. Despite the internal siege, Salem is unable to call for help and remains in a dead-silent state of chaos.
Hayden's Marshals forcefully arrest all the opposing members of the crew, those loyal to Morrell barricade themselves within the bridge, they're outnumbered at this point and without any means of escape, resisting would cause losses for both sides, but not resisting would be a detriment in of itself.
Reeves not wanting to risk the ship or its crew to the inevitable fire-fight, orders Group - Ninety to reacquaint themselves with their home, the small team of ten are quick to use their access codes and re-enter the belly of the ship from whence they came.
Their return is obviously not well received by Hayden, ordering her supporters back to the hangars in an attempt to detain the insubordinate Marshals. In the face of reckless aggression, Group - Ninety honorably holds its ground, using non-lethal weaponry to put down the force of attackers, they however have no way of handling them all.
Seeing an opportunity, Morrell's loyalists charge out from the bridge, effectively flanking the superior force backing Hayden, despite their dominance in quantity, fighting a two pronged skirmish proved too overwhelming, the struggle for control lasts an agonizing hour. Before Hayden and all her supporters are put down and restrained, some wounded but not killed.
Following her actions, Morrell orders for Hayden to be locked away in the ships brig, Group - Ninety wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms by Morrell either, but upon hearing whose orders they were following, most of the crew share their opinion and begin to align themselves with Reeves rather than their C.O and X.O.
Most of Hayden's supporters abandon their shared opinions, choosing to side with Group - Ninety instead, once again providing the ship with a sense of unity and order.
Following the securing of the vessel, Reeves joins Group - Ninety, to ensure no under-hand games are played in what would be Hayden's trial. The crew are shaken, tired and desperate for stability. Their desire for their old C.O to return to his post is clear and they express it numerous times, despite Reeves denying his willingness to return to the Navy.
As they had before, Group - Ninety raises a third option, that instead of leaving Morrell in command, or pleading with Reeves to re-enter service. The ship could instead, follow in Reeves' foot-steps, just as they had. Thereby re-appointing their old C.O as well as staying loyal to the Republic, though the implications of such a transfer remain a concern.
His first order after his return was to moor Salem back with Juneau and await a necessary correspondence with members of the Navy and Agency : 404, regarding the transfer of a Dreadnought into their ranks.
Hayden and a few of her more staunch supporters are discharged from service soon after, luck on their side, for the usual punishment would be far, far worse.
All strike-teams had been recalled and over-watch duties had ceased. The recently re-secured ship had several important decisions laid down ahead of it, all of which would decide how it would now operate and under whose Command, though the universal opinion of the ship was now clear.
Growing tired of being met by zealous persuasion, Reeves orders all the crew off the ship for the rest of the day, demanding they rest before the ship launches for patrols or duties, arranging for a potential restoration of the systems that had grown faulty, over the many years this ship had spent as a guinea pig to create the Overlord chassis.
As its main engine grinds to a halt, with it dies the previous tensions and internal conflict, restoring normalcy yet again, at least for now.
Recording 4: Weeks pass, with Salem eventually leaving the system of Alaska entirely. Although no light decision on any of the parties involved, a transfer request was submitted and eventually approved. No longer a warship of the naval fleet but rather an example of something doomed to a definite end finding a means to survive.
A rather rusted amalgamation of Liberty's finest ideas that at one point pushed one too many zeros in the annual budget report, sentenced to be scuttled, now being declared the Flagship and mobile headquarters of an agency more or less as mysterious as the ship.
Having been ordered to dry-dock after a sentimental patrol run with its old christening and naval heritage, an engineer turns their attention to one man brooding over a set of consoles. "That ends her last run as a naval ship, think we should change the name too? I mean everything else is bound to be modified now." Their question would be met by silence for what felt like an eternity, before eventually Avery gave them an answer "An under-dog, one that died only to come back strengthened by what it was broken by, a Revenant." The person he responded to pondered his last statement a few times over in his head, rubbing his chin with his thumb and index before remarking "Revenant eh? Doesn't actually sound half bad.."
Once the clamps were set and the engines had died down, Salem would begin to shed its rust and establish a new reputation. No longer an abused test bed or toy for experimentation. The rust would however not be the only thing it would shed, and in time a new testimony would be associated to its name. To its imposing silhouette, withering onslaught of weaponry and impenetrably clandestine ways. To terrorize those with hidden skeletons, with ill intent to the Republic. To be a phantom of the night, a far-cry of its former self, under-dog no longer. Its howl would now become a warning for all those that would ever dare earn the scorn of those who operate outside the populace's gaze.