HMS-Ocean

[Asbestos]

Captain's log, 040618

A sad day for the people of Bretonia...

Those rebels of the Sirius Revolutionary Front never ceases to surprise me. Today, they've made reality of their threats. This attachment is a log that comm operator Webster printed as a hard copy for me, it read as follows:

Riposting Shadow: Well, well, well. Are you there, captain?
Captain Carstairs: Let me open a second channel.. there.. We hear you loud and clear. Identify yourself.
Riposting Shadow: Talbot?
Riposting Shadow: Or Barker?
Riposting Shadow: I'm Andrew Light. Leader of the Sirius Revolutionary Front.
Captain Carstairs: Ah, you know my name Talbot.. you must be one of those rebels, arn't you..
Captain Carstairs: I thought I recognized your voice..
Mr Light: How's it going?
Captain Carstairs: Outstandingly, as always.
Mr Light: We'd like to give you a little gift. Just because we like you.
Mr Light chuckles
Mr Light: We won't attack you this time.
Captain Carstairs: The Armed Forces don't accept gifts from terrorists, mr Light.
Mr Light: Oh, you think
Mr Light: Then these guys should float in space forever..Right?
Captain Carstairs: I can see where this is leading..
Mr Light: We are not going to attack you.
Mr Light: We just want to give back your guys.
Captain Carstairs: I doubt you'd dare another raid on Her Majesty's Ship Ocean.
Captain Carstairs: You know where to find us.
Mr Light laughs
Mr Light: We will, but not today.
Captain Carstairs: Hopefully, that won't be a problem.
Mr Light: So what do you say?
Mr Light: We have hostages.
Captain Carstairs: If those men come to harm, you can expect us to hunt you mercilessly.
Mr Light: Oh, really?
Captain Carstairs: But what I don't understand, is what do you want in return?
Captain Carstairs: You know we do not negotiate with terrorists.
Mr Light: Hmm.. I'm sure we can find a diplomatic way to solve this.
Mr Light: These guys fear death.
Captain Carstairs: As any sane man do.
Mr Light: So you don't care about their death?
Captain Carstairs: Of course I do. I'm counting on your not stupid enough to get them killed.
Mr Light: Maybe not..
Mr Light: They are Police guys.
Mr Light: Most of them
Captain Carstairs: Bretonians, none the less.
Mr Light: Rats... heh..
Mr Light: Guys who work for the filthy Queen. Right?
Mr Light: Doing the dirty job instead of her.
Captain Carstairs: Your slanderous comments of Her Majesty will not aid you, mr Light.
Mr Light: I'm sure about it.
LOCAL Captain Carstairs: Unknown vessel detected! All hands to battlestations!
Mr Light: 2 of my men is currently there.
LOCAL Ruthless Revolt: Attention Escort 1, we got company!
Mr Light: I think you've already noticed them.
Captain Carstairs: We have.
Mr Light: They are waiting for my order. We can make a deal, if you want to.
Captain Carstairs: What are your demands, mr Light?
Mr Light: We'd like to give us a hand.
Mr Light: Whole Bretonia on the side of the SRF would be outstanding. Don't you think?
Captain Carstairs: What are you trying to say, mr Light?
Mr Light: Join us. And help the revolution!
Captain Carstairs: I thought we put that behind us, mr Light. I know where my loyalties lie.
Mr Light: Then your employees shall die.
Captain Carstairs: You're only burning bridges, mr Light. Point of no return.
Mr Light: "...Burning bridges lost for anymore..." Ah.. good ol' times.
Mr Light: Or evermore is it?
Mr Light: Can't remember well..
Captain Carstairs: I urge you to think carefully what your next actions will be. They might cost you more than you'd think.
Mr Light: Anyway, my dear captain. If you're not going to join us, the comrades of yours will die before you.
Mr Light: Fortunately you don't know about our following action. Do you?
Captain Carstairs: I know you'll regret what you're about to do. I'll make sure of it.
Mr Light: Where is the Ocean now?
Captain Carstairs: That information is classified.

END OF TRANSMISSION

That was only the beginning. By now we had been contacted by a Liberty Navy Ship christened the Pacific, commanded by Captain Georgi Dimitrov. He requested a meeting of our two ships, in the independent system of Cortez. I accepted his request, and we left the system of Manchester. I enjoyed the conversation with Captain Dimitrov. It's not everyday I get to speak with our friends across the border Bit ironic I must say, as close that we are...

Captain Dimitrov wished us farewell, as he had to depart. I was just about to order helmsman Henderson to bring the Ocean back to Manchester, when those cursed revolutionaries jumped into Cortez. Log read as follows:

Mr Light: I like this system...
Mr Light: It's so....friendly.
Captain Carstairs: Mr Light.. how delightful to hear your voice crackling over the comms yet again.
Mr Light: Oh! Greetings, Talbot. How are you?
Captain Carstairs: My friends call me Talbot. You may refer to me as Captain Carstairs.
Mr Light: As you wish, Talbot.
Mr Light: Err.. Captain.
Mr Light: Sorry.
Mr Light: Would you come above the sun of Cortez?
Captain Carstairs: I'm trying to make it a habit of not running into traps, mr Light.
Mr Light: I can assure you, now we mean no harm.
Mr Light: Then come to the Jumphole of Coronado
Mr Light: Guys, discharge the weapons. No need for fight, now.
Captain Carstairs: You have only given me reason to distrust you so far, mr Light.
Mr Light: See these guys floating here?
Captain Carstairs: We're reading their life signs, yes.
Mr Light: Fire at will, comrades.
Captain Carstairs: Stop this killing immediately!
Captain Carstairs: Lieutenant! Sheilds up, weapons online!
Mr Light: Weapons online, guys!
Mr Light: Fire at will!
Captain Carstairs: Blasted murderers!

END OF TRANSMISSION

Those murderous bastards had captured more than a dozen of BPA constables and several civilians, just to eject their escape pods and blast them to smithereens! I commanded the Ocean to engage the killer rebels, and a fierce battle ensued!

Massacre

This time they had brought considerable firepower. Three bombers mounted with Antimatter Cannons and Nova Torpedoes, and a fighter acting escort. In the end, casualties were heavy on both sides. The arrival of a fourth bomber, a Lane Hacker smelling blood, made things only worse. Oddly enough the SRF didn't seem to want the Hacker to engage, but the crazed Cardamine addict saw only blood.

Captain Dimitrov of the LNS Pacific had returned, and together we managed to chase off the revolutionary forces. I'm proud to say that the Ocean is credited two confirmed kills, the first of many to come.

Boogie down

The SRF will no longer find any safety in the system of Manchester, as we will relentlessly hunt them down like the animals they are. With the transfer of three Crusader wings of the 563th 'Yellows', they'll have no chance to escape.

Captain Talbot Carstairs, signing off.

--------------------