COMM IDCommander Thomas Logan (Acting Captain) :Secondary Fleet TARGET ID:Secondary Fleet Command, All Liberty Navy Mobile Assets SUBJECT:Contact Report ENCRYPTION:High PRIORTY:Medium
Sirs,
Today we completed fitting of the LNS Black River, and commenced our maiden patrol. At 1830 SMT we launched from San Jacinto Station, and made way for our primary area of operations, the Texas system.
At 1840 SMT, we arrived in Texas, and commenced an initial patrol sweep.
At 1855, we opened communications with LSF vessel LSFC-Heroic. Heroic reported a Rogue Destroyer in New York system, and requested assistance. Due to the severe nature of the threat, I gave orders to set course for New York.
By 1900, the Heroic had advised of a second Rogue Destroyer near West Point. My comm station detected, and sent a tactical update to LNS Voidrunner, whose captain indicated his vessel would respond.
At 1902, Black River arrived at Norfolk and held position. Additional assets were brought to tactical alert, including-
Vessels moved into search pattens. I held Black River at Norfolk, pending further clarification of ememy force.Several minutes were spent in attempting to locate the hostile vessels.
At approximately 1918, our vessel picked up a faint IFF signal of a large vessel, along the Norfolk to Fort Bush tradelane.
At 1922, LNS-Voidrunner reported sensor contact with one of the vessels, and confirmed vessel class as a Rogue Destroyer, interpeted as a variant of the Scylla Class. Voidrunner reported vessels apparent course as bound for Rochester base, in the Jersey debris field.
At 1925, Bounty Hunter gunship Yojimbo reported the Target had docked at Rochester Base.
At 1927, LNS-Vortex arrived on scene, and was added to fleet comms. Reported they were near West Point. I gave orders to my crew to rendezvous with the Vortex at West Point. We arrived at West Point, and tailed the Vortex towards Manhattan, then into the Jersey Debris field.
By 1937, the Black River had searched and secured the lower end of the field nearest the lanes. LSFC-Heroic confirmed the target had docked at Rochester base.
At 1938, our comm center intercepted parital transmissions between a Junker vessel, and LNS-Vortex.
TRANSCRIPT
.:j:.Special.Ops: I appreciate the base here and all
.:j:.Special.Ops: But your presence here is bad for our business
LNS-Vortex: Jason: Ahh, well then junker, kick that rogue dessie out so we can deal with it.
.:j:.Special.Ops: I have no information what so ever about a Rogue Dessie here only these guys say there is.
LNS-Vortex: Jason: Well then how about you go and check your base for a destroyer.
END TRANSCRIPT
At 1945, LNS-Vortex reported receiving a call for assistance in the ****** system. Black Rivers' comm station established brief contact with LNS-Sacramento, who reported two unknown contacts in ****** system.
LNS-Voidrunner and LNS-Vortex, with gunboat LNS-USS-Pandora, set course to assist LNS-Sacramento.
With enough forces near Rochester, and LNS-Sacramento provided with adequate support, I directed my crew to attempting to locate the second reported Destroyer.Though clearly only to locate and report, being a gunboat class. I ordered the Black River to the Manhattan to West Point Lane, when at approxomately 1955, we encountered LSF officer Reno.Ashford, who had stopped what was clearly a Rhineland fightercraft. (Call sign -Dilan_Hunt) I shadowed the vessel alongside the LSF pilot, until I determined the matter was firmly under his control.
At 1957, We were contacted by a light bomber , call sign RF|Vito.Tagliano[S]:, who began to make what I initially interpeted to be a series of idle threats. I approached this bomber to give it closer attention. He seemed only interested in spouting nonsense.
However, at 1959, a Rogue Destroyer, transponder ID "Dispair.And.Disarray" quickly closed with my vessel. As of this afteraction report, I believe it is fair to surmise, based on the vessels behavior, that the bomber RF|Vito.Tagliano[S]: probably reported my isolated condition to the Rogue vessel, as he did seem to make a point of attempting to delay us. I immediately launched a distress call, and gave orders to withdraw the Black River. The Destroyer closed incredably fast, and was in firing range in seconds.
The bomber contact "ordered" me to hold, as did the destroyer. As I was clearly outclassed, I concluded that no good would come of surrendering to their demand, and continued towards West Point.
At 2000, both the Destroyer and the Bomber opened fire. Only the sharp maneuverability of the Black River prevented its loss to hostile fire. The enemy vessels put down an enormous amount of fire, requiring our constant movement and taking out succeeding sets of trade lanes before we could reach them. At one point, I turned the Black River into the Destroyer, with enough time for one pass with the guns. I believe I inflicted little, if any, damage, but I might have surprised him, and they seemed to hold back a moment, long enough to get the Black River under the protective fire of West Points defence batteries. With total failure of all shields, I was forced to moor at West Point under cover fire.
At 2002, I broadcast Black Rivers status as out of action, and gave last known coordinates of the Destroyer.
As a final task before tending to repairs, I contacted Naval Gunboat LNS-Absolution-Assault7. and apprised them of the situation. Absolution-Assault7 reported contact with another Destroyer, transponder tag "Praeclarus". Having been seen in the California system earlier.
Absolution-Assault7 reported contact in the West Point to Norfolk lane at 2013.
2014 contact lost due to residual damage to comm system.
By 0110 we were able to restore full mobility, and returned to San Jacinto station for full repairs.
[color=#FF0000]Damage report
Casualties:2. Minor injuries to crewmen J.Davis and M.Swaim. Both have been treated, and are expected to return to active duty at 0700 hours.
-Aft dorsal exterior hull plate, sections twenty six thru thirty, were damaged, awaiting shipment of hull components.
-Shield generator sustained heavy damage, replacement has been installed.
-Missle Turret, slot #7, destroyed by enemy fire. Slated to be replaced with new unit 28Sep.
-8 EPS relays shorted due to shield matrix overload. Replaced.
Additional minor repairs are underway, and I expect a return to active duty by 29Sep. Will resume patrols of assigned sector once repairs complete.
Personal notes;
It could have gone alot better for the Black River, but it also could have been alot worse. We survived close contact and sustained fire from with a vessel over twice our size, with bomber support, and managed to withdraw without overly significant damage to the ship or loss of life. I've ordered extensive after action debriefings with the crew, to see what we can learn from this contact, and how to do better next time. I don't believe I was in error to withdraw, as I can't see how I could have sustained a contact with that class of vessel. It sure was a hard shakedown for our new boat. But my boys and girls have seen we can work together, and I think we're all more ready for the next time.
![[Image: Completedsig.png]](http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss219/RnNhyde/Completedsig.png)