From: Matthew Hemlock ; To: Order High Command - Subject: [Enclosed Within]

[Spectre]

[Communications Activated]

[Sender ID]
Matthew Hemlock, Shamrock Bay
[Recipient ID]
Order High Command, Akabat

[Subject]
Return, Reintegration, and Reassignment
[Encryption]
Very Strong
[Priority]
Urgent


[Transmission Begins]

---

*The transmission opens to show a middle aged man, dressed in Liberty Navy fatigues and wearing a beret bearing the emblem of the Order inside of a golden shield. His mood looks rather dazed, and he appears to be leaning against his desk behind him*

I hadn't expected to do this for a few more years. I knew I had to do it eventually, but doing it right now? It just doesn't seem right.

Apologies... *He stands up normally, and nods his head briefly* ... My name is Commander Matthew Hemlock, Order Indentification: CH-22-980. I have been on assignment to the Liberty theatre of operations for almost twelve years now, and... *He pauses, breathing in between* ... and I've returned to continue my duties against the alien threat and the Core.

*He looks away from the screen, clearly trying to hold back tears* I'm sorry... It's not that I'm not glad to be back. *He looks back towards the screen* I am, of course, very excited to be back. To return to the Omicrons once more to continue the fight. I... just hadn't received word about Toledo. To pass by it and see everything turned to dust and ruin. I was relieved my crew wasn't forced to see it. It was... mortifying to say the least.

Though... It'd be best to get back on topic. *He wipes his sleeve across his eye* As I said before, I have returned from my twelve years undercover to continue the fight that I left behind. I have returned with not only myself, but my entire crew, aboard the vessel Shamrock Bay, a "Victory"-class Liberty Siege Cruiser. I had planned earlier to relay a message to High Command earlier, but the communications system aboard the Bay is... er, well was set to be traceable by the Navy. Since we have disabled this 'feature', I am now transmitting this message to you in full.

As of this moment, I am currently transmitting to you from my quarters aboard the Shamrock Bay. The local populace, the Core, have recently taken pot shots at the ship, and we've had to bring her into dock at Freeport 11. I would bring her in to Akabat, but her identification papers have made that nearly impossible, and the damage she's sustained has made her unfit to travel large distances. If need be, I can proceed to Akabat in person to conduct further debrief if needed, but I would much rather support my crew and ship for as long as I am able.

I hope this transmission reaches you in good time. I'd hate for all of this work to be for nothing, and for my crew to have risked their lives just so that we could have a possible new life among the Order. If you do receive this transmission, then I would very much like to hear anything you might have to say on the issue.

Until then, this is Commander Hemlock signing off.

*He reaches behind him, flicking a switch, and cutting off the feed*

---

-{Transmission Terminated}-

[Order Overwatch]

Matthew Hemlock.

Ever since the fall of Toledo and the devastation of the Toledo Archives, the Order has slowly been trying to rebuild this information. Unfortunately, all records of the Shamrock Bay were destroyed. While your identification code does check out, we cannot confirm anything more than that. The loss of the Archives was a blow, and as such we will have to verify everything.

Present yourself at Taba Starbase at once. Escort Wing Epsilon will be waiting for you. And do behave - the Thebes has been itching for target practice.

[Spectre]

[Communications Activated]

[Sender ID]
Matthew Hemlock, Shamrock Bay
[Recipient ID]
Order High Command, Akabat

[Subject]
RE: RE: Return, Reintegration, and Reassignment
[Encryption]
Strong
[Priority]
High

[Message Type]
Textual


[Transmission Begins]

---

Hello again. Hemlock here.

I am saddened at the loss of the archives. I suppose it should have been expected, but I hadn't planned on the entire archive being lost. With this, I will try to provide as much information as I can to help restore the archives, and I hope that this will bring my crew one step closer to their integration into the Order fleet, as well as my reintegration.

I will depart the Freeport within the hour, and will also leave my XO in command of the Shamrock Bay until my return. I apologize if this is not hasteful enough, but my crew's needs come before all else, even the Order. I will rendezvous with Epsilon Wing as planned, and will follow procedure from there.

I look forward to this debrief. It's been too long awaited.

Until then, this is Commander Hemlock signing off.

---

-{Transmission Terminated}-

[Order Overwatch]

Matthew Hemlock.

Thebes has not detected your shuttle in the past six days. Forward the correct transponder to Taba Starbase at once. Agent Shieldbreaker is awaiting you there, on behalf of Colonel Hunter, who is indisposed at the current time. The status of Shamrock Bay and her crew will deteriorate if we cannot sort out this mess with the missing Archives, as well as the situation in Delta, which, while wound down, is not looking good.

We will inform you if your contact has changed at any time.

Overwatch, Out.

[Spectre]

[Communications Activated]

[Sender ID]
Matthew Hemlock, Shamrock Bay
[Recipient ID]
Order High Command, Akabat

[Subject]
RE: RE: RE: RE: Return, Reintegration, and Reassignment
[Encryption]
Strong
[Priority]
High

[Message Type]
Textual


[Transmission Begins]

---

Understood. I will approach Taba in a Freelance Guardian-class VHF callsign 'Matthew.Hemlock'. As before, I look forward to this debrief.

Until then, this is Commander Hemlock signing off.

---

-{Transmission Terminated}-