Natio Octavarium Internal Affairs

[Kazinsal]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Commander Rodney Miller
Affiliation: Octavarium Fleet, Away Division

To: Octavarium Fleet Officers

Subject: Ow.
Encryption: Thorough
Location: Fleet Infirmary, Canberra Star City, Tau-44

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Well, that could have gone better.

A spontaneous defence fleet mixed between the Crayterian forces that were sober enough to engage their ships' ignition interlocks (but maybe not sober enough to actually fight in them) supported by myself, Commander Kim and... whoever the hell was in the CIC of OCS Unforgiven, posed against a numerically and wakefully superior task force of Gallic Royalists.

Considering I am writing this from an infirmary, it is safe to say that we did not come out on top. In fact, I think it was a pretty crushing defeat. I will not lie to you, comrades: we were not outnumbered, nor outgunned, but simply outplayed. Only Commander Kim managed to escape the battlefield with an intact ship; the rest of us suffered critical damage to our vessels or returned home in escape pods.

Our allies, once proud of their ability to hold the line in capital ships, were absolutely eviscerated in a head-to-head conflict against a fleet of Gallic warships. I was the last confirmed casualty of the engagement -- but I fear that the Enclave will take this opportunity to strike at Minato.

My fellow officers: We should consider disengaging from this conflict. Maintain relative neutrality in the northern Taus and focus on intelligence-based warfare in the south.

If we fight head-on, we will die. And our nation will follow post-haste.

Commander Rodney Miller
Fourth Octavarium Fleet, Away Division

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