Colonel Diablo sit's in his office, basically a booth in a local pub on Malta, pondering his militia's brigade resources, fleet status, pilot base & staff.
"Seems our smuggling & pirating operations are doing well, Our finances & treasury are growing.
Yet that will deminish with the costs we are currently spending to upgrade our fleet" He says to his 2nd in command Lt. Col. Marisela Montagnia. "What we need sir, is a flag ship" is her response.
The Colonel take a swig of his Rum & ponders that thought, "A flag ship...." Not a bad idea he thinks, after all it would prove useful. Between the constant onslaught of the Colonials , The Corsairs, & those damn bounty hunting scum that seem to be entering Alpha systems space at will, Then there is the home front problems.
Lately he has noticed a serious rise in the hijacking & general theft of Outcast capitol ships. "what sense would it make for me to send a RM1 Destroyer to apprehend and possibly recover a stolen destroyer when the 101st asks for our assistance in such?" he thinks out loud, "It's a 50/50 chance I'll lose a ship with those that steal one from the ship yards & outfit them with foreign weapons we may not be prepared for" He thinks how this really could affect his small fleet. Knowing that the loss of a destroyer when he currently only has two in the fleet to begin with would be devestating. Even if it survived, He knows it will take damage, costly repairs will be needed & the fact it will be laid up in a dock for months, leaving him 1 less ship in his operation that is already stretched thin.
"You Know Sage, You may have a valid point there" He states to Marisela. "Our Destroyers are effective, But going toe to toe with a ship the same type would costs us regardless. Then there is the threats of our enemies, With the increase of attacks as of late, it's only a matter of time before they send in the big ships for an all out onslaught against Malta." Then it hits him, a Battleship. One of the Outcasts finest ships. Built to last & to dish out damage on a grand scale. A true force of power & might that would help in our over all goals. "Sage, Contact the 101st training department, Schedule some of our forces to be trained in Battleship tactics & operation and get them in ASAP. I want them ready soon."
"Battleship training sir? But we don't have a battleship" she answers. "I'll try to take care of that, just get it done, & send Lt. Col. Martinez to me, I have a job for him as well"
A short time later, Col. Martinez walks into the pub & sits down at the table occupied by his commander.
"You asked to see me sir?" "Aye, I did at that, I have a job for you Grimtooth" Diablo responds.
"I want our smuggling & pirating efforts doubled. We are going to attempt to make a rather large but needed purchase if all goes well & we'll need those funds fast." Grimtooth nods in agreement," Is that all sir?" Col. Diablo thinks a minute, "No, In addition, have my son Picaro organize a squad of our best assassins, the contracts they receive shall help in that effort as well"
"Aye sir, I will see to it & it shall be done" Grimtooths states as he gets up to leave & carry out his orders.
Colonel Diablo now starts writing out a transmission he will send to Commander Bonello of the 101st Maltese Guard.
"Captain Cantina" He calls out to his intelligence officer, "Send this transmission directly to Commander Bonello of the 101st via a secure transponder. & Mark it Urgent"
"Aye sir, right away" he snaps to & heads towards a comm link device.
Capt. Cantina's eyes grow larger as he reads what he is typing out.
**Incoming Transmission**
*Comm ID - Colonel Picaroon Diablo, Commander, Shadow Outcast Brigade*
#Secured transmission to - Commander Bonello, 101st Maltese Guard, Corsica#
Transmission Begins
Honorable Commander.
I would like to request the building, & commission of a Outcast Battleship named the {SOB}Skull-N-Bones.
As I am aware we are not a division of any military faction with Malta and basically a peoples militia, We do however assist you, The Reapers of Sirius, & the ESS with Malta & outcast properties. I would like to address the following reasons we feel a Battleship is required.
1. The protection of Malta, Outcast properties, & our base of operations.
With the increasing frequency of attacks from our mutual enemies, It would benefit my small fleet to have a ship with such power as to fend off attackers. I feel it may be a matter of time before the Corsairs mount a major offensive on Malta & said ship would be on hand to assist in defense of our systems.
2. Subduing, recovery or destruction of stolen Outcast ships.
As with our contract with you (A rewritten proposal shall soon be forth coming) to assist in preventing & dealing with Unauthorized use of Outcast Capitol ships, I feel a Battleship would make a noticeable impression to would be thieves & possibly assist in the recovery of numerous stolen RM1 Destroyers.
When we assist with our currently limited RM1 destroyers in the capture or destruction of a stolen vessel, we risk damage to our ships or it's destructions, costing us either way & creating 1 less ship in my fleet while it is repaired or a new one is built. I also feel the so called captains of said stolen vessels would think twice before taking on a Battleship & may see surrendering as a safer solution, thus saving resources & recovering
an intact ship that may be put back into the service of Malta.
3. A command ship for the S.O.B. & it's operations.
As my current base of operations is a a booth at a local pub, I would be honored to have a flag ship to run my operations from. Something for my brigade to look upon with pride & thus boost their moral. It will also show use in our defending a system we are trying to control.
At this time my 2nd in command is contacting your training facilities to have some of my brigade trained for operations of a battleship if approved. To be sure a qualified crew operates it & maintains the ships systems.
As always, my ships & my brigade are at your service to assist in the defense of Malta and all Outcast properties & are ready when ever called upon.
"Transmission Sent sir" Capt. Cantina informs his commander. "Very good Captain, we'll just await a response from Commander Bonello , keep your fingers crossed...."
![[Image: SOBBanner.png]](http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk291/SOB-Squad/SOBBanner.png)