My name is Matthew Hemlock. A few years ago, the Fifth Fleet and I had contact, details of which I'm sure they can find buried in their archives. If Admiral Sader still serves, he can probably provide answers to potential questions.
I'll get straight to the point of this.
With this 'Insurgency's destruction looming, I've been stressed. I have a score to settle with a good number of them, and while our boys have done well so far, all things considered, like in Bering many will scatter if we leave them an opening. With Bretonia being unreliable and the backline in Magellan looking wide open, I need to know that the Navy has a contingency set in place to catch any stragglers. I caught wind of the Lehigh in position, but considering the LSF's dodgy history with Knight's band of misfits in the first place, dedicated, reliable people would be preferable. I remember the bullshit with Adenauer. We don't need that happening again.
I understand the environment has shifted massively since Sader pulled his move, but if the Navy is willing to outfit a team of old, angry veterans to catch the traitors off guard when their resolve finally breaks, then we can prevent another Bering. If it helps the LSF do what I anticipate they're there to try and do, then that's even better.
Liberty Navy 46th Fleet Security Clearance: < GRANTED >
Sender ID: FADM Martin Kemp-Smith
Recipient ID: CAPT (Ret.) Hemlock
Subject: Service
Captain Hemlock,
I don't believe we have met, so please allow me a moment to introduce myself. I am Martin Kemp-Smith, Fleet Admiral of the Liberty Navy's Forty-Sixth Fleet. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Captain.
While I both cannot and will not comment on the Security Force's stance on Knight's "misfits", as you call them, I can address your latter point. The Navy would welcome former, established officers, such as yourself. Might I enquire as to any equipment or vessels you'd be wanting to requisition for the final push? We currently don't have a great deal of assets unassigned, but what we can spare, we would gladly provide.
I look forward to hearing from you soon, Captain. I believe our colleagues from the Fifth Fleet will get in touch soon.
In service to the Republic,
-
Martin Kemp-Smith
Fleet Admiral Liberty Navy 46th Fleet
I'm not familiar with the Forty-Sixth, though I've read about many of your peoples' actions; They tend to pop up occasionally in the news. Regardless, I'm glad to see that our offer isn't simply being set aside.
I have over two dozen men and women standing by for news on this, and who have been watching the action unfold in Vespucci. While many of them, including myself, served previously aboard active warships, we still retain some measure of our strikecraft training. More than likely, surplus bombers and fighters will be more than suitable, as well as clearance to organize alongside official Naval organizational protocols. Any 'Neutralizer', 'Incapacitator', or 'Paralyzer' armaments the Navy would be willing to provide would also be highly useful; Many of us want to ensure these pests see justice past what their comrades are earning right now, and I'm sure the LSF would love to get their hands on any of their command staff that survive the onslaught. Securing their equipment would probably be a boon as well.
I'm curious to see what the Fifth has to say here. Needless to say, any serviceable equipment that survives the encounter with any retreating traitors will be given back to the Navy. If that wasn't apparent before, then it is now.
I hope you had a pleasant new year. I'm somewhat late in submitting this, but there were some loose ends to tie up.
As I'm sure you're aware, given that I am since I still receive alerts through the Naval Information Board, our projected hit on an outbound Insurgency force went off with considerable success. I'm not sure if your fleet authorized any surplus equipment for me and my men to utilize, and if you did we certainly didn't get any of it, but in the end it didn't seem to minimize our casualties using civilian-grade equipment. While I'm not sure how many got away in the confusion, many of the ships that were disabled in the fighting appear to have been cleared up by the LSF on scene, and I'm guessing by now are well on their way to Norfolk or Juneau.
One of the ships we disabled, if my eyes were still good, was the Shamrock Bay, which was assigned to the Third Fleet before her late captain turned traitor and fled with it. In fact, several of the ships taken out in the fighting looked to be from Knight's band of traitors; Seemed to adhere to standard tactics as well. I'd like to know what the DoD has planned for the ships reclaimed, if possible.
I'll also see if I can't keep the vets organized in case the Insurgents try to run the gauntlet again, though many of them may need some time to recuperate before we take to space again.
Liberty Navy 46th Fleet Security Clearance: < GRANTED >
Sender ID: FADM Kemp-Smith
Recipient ID: CAPT Hemlock
Subject: Surplus
Captain Hemlock,
It is good to hear from you. Seems having you and your fellow former veterans enter the fight is paying dividends.
Any reclaimed ships can be returned for evaluation and repairs at Norfolk. If there's anything you wish to take your pick of, I can see what I can do about requesting returned assets to be temporarily reassigned, if you think you can put them to use.
You and your guys have done some great work, Captain. You should all be proud.
In service to the Republic,
-
Martin Kemp-Smith
Fleet Admiral Liberty Navy 46th Fleet
This is high praise indeed, though many of the guys are just happy to be making a difference, even in their retirement.
As I said before, many of the vets, including myself, are far more familiar with the specifics of warship functionality. The ship I named in particular was the last vessel I served aboard before I was forced into early retirement, and many of the men and women I have with me served on similar classes of warship. While I anticipate that many of the newer vessels recovered from the engagement will likely be reserved for dedicated front-line use, the Shamrock Bay is over a decade old, and assuming the previous crew haven't changed the ship's calibrations, could very well still be as potent as the day I relinquished command, given the right hands at the controls.
It is a highly ambitious request, I'm aware. We are, for all intents and purposes, freelance operators, but should the Admiralty allow it I'd like to see the ship operating with a freer hand than she would under standard Naval operation. I am more than welcoming to any Navy personnel you would need stationed aboard the ship as insurance, as well as routine inspections at Naval installations to ensure adequate usage, not unlike surplus strikecraft and gunships. Maintenance of the ship shouldn't be much issue, as several of the vets were Naval engineers for a time, and I believe I even have my old medical officer on call; They can be vetted by the Navy if need be, as well.
Please let me know if this is doable. I will gladly sign any paperwork needed, as well as submit credits needed for any non-standard equipment that may be needed. Questions, of course, I will also try my best to answer. I suspect there might be quite a few.
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