Bowex InfoNet (inRP)

[Jim.Solo]

To: James Cromwell
cc: Andrew Peterson
Encryption: High
Topic: Inquiry into the loss of the Honey Badger

Internal Memo:

Sir James, it is with regret that on such an auspicious occasion that I must send you this memo.

Following the near loss of the BES Honey.Badger last evening during a our Anniversary Convoy, I feel that I must tender my resignation pending a formal inquire into how such a disaster could occur.

For my part I offer the following information taken from the Badger’s communication logs following her retrieval to Baltimore Shipyard:

The Convoy had just finished celebrating the 753 Anniversary of Bowex the convoy was in orbit of Planet Pittsburgh and was breaking formation and moving off down the trade lane to Fort Bush / Baltimore Shipyard. As usual I was at the rear, as the Supervisors Mark Sanders and Jan Peters had positioned themselves at the front of the Convoy; I don’t know what the attraction is to be at the front, perhaps it’s because the front ships rarely get attacked and it’s safer up front, this I believe to be the first mistake. Granted, an experienced Captain should be at the lead of the Convoy, but the experienced men should be spread across the length of the convoy and too many times I have been left at the rear of the convoy sorting out the stragglers.

I then realised that our so called escort, the HMS-Invictus and her fighter wing had left Pittsburgh orbit and set off down the trade lane; that was the second mistake, there were 3 ships (not including Tim Jones in his Havoc) still in orbit so why had the escort left? This is for the Admiralty to investigate, but I would like to lodge a formal complaint against the commander of the Invictus for moving off and leaving the rear of the convoy unprotected?

The BES Churhill then had problems docking with the trade lane, why is beyond me, it’s a straight line from the Docking Rings to the Trade Lane so how Mr Silvain, or whoever was at the helm, missed the lane is beyond me! Having said that though, this took us by surprise and we had to take evasive action and were put out of line of the trade lane; the BES Churchill used her cruise engines, we waited until she reached the next TL-Ring, but the ring at Pittsburgh must have been bugged as we could now not dock either and so too had to use cruiser engines to get to the next trade lane; that was the third mistake.

The next thing I know a goddamn Reaver is upon us (Titanium.Reaver) where from is another mystery, he had obviously come down the Trade Lane from Fort Bush, but how did he slip by a 10+ ship convoy? A convoy with a Destroyer as an escort with a fighter wing, which adds yet another mistake.

When I sent out the Mayday only Miss Hidamari responded! Where were the fighters? Kiriko was the Scout for the convoy, the ship furthest away from our position, not the closest! Why did the Invictus stay with the convoy at West Point, the convoy was safe and with 12 guns each, nobody in their right mind would attack 10 ships with 120 guns between them!?!?


I would at this point like to praise young Tim Jones for his valiant efforts to help defend the Honey Badger, considering he is only a trainee and has flown only a handful of convoy escorts he stood his ground and tried his best to keep the Reaver off us.

I do hope he pulls through, he was badly burned when he ejected from his Havoc and is still in a coma at the Medical centre on Planet Manhattan.

Finally the part that really gets to me, is than Jan Peters has the cheek to send me a message asking why it took me 5 minutes to report my position! He’s lucky I’m still in Liberty as I’d punch his bloody lights out for a comment like that, It was in fact 1 minute and 53 seconds between the Mayday and our position being reported; considering we were under heaving fire and trying to evade in a Debris Field I think that was a bloody good response time! I’d like to know how many convoy’s has he flown on where he is the rear ship?

For my part however, I nearly lost the Honey Badger, I was slack, slow and slovenly on getting the rear ships into the lane, I was too joviant about our celebrations and did not consider the dangers that perhaps were awaiting us; to this end I therefore will take a leave of absence as the Trade Director until the report has been completed.

I would like to this opportunity as my last act to recommend commendations for the following people:

Tim Jones - ExSec pilot, he stayed with us till the end.

Kiriko Hidamari - She was the only ship that responded to our Mayday

Respectfully and forever in your debt,

~Barnes


Mr. J Barnes
Director Trade Combine Division
Borderworlds Exports.

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