Liberty Forces Message dump

[Commissar]

Subject: Rheinland Recon

Ripper here.

I'd recommend you sit down; Sir. It's gonna be a big one.

Mission Report

Extended Reconnaissance - Rheinland
Objectives:

Primary:
- Determination of Rheinland Military Force SUCCESS
- Gather information on Enemy infrastructureSUCCESS

Secondary:
- Detection of weak areas in defence and economy SUCCESS
- Sabotage Enemy production/supply facilities FAILURE

Additional Details:
Departed Manhattan in my Avenger, having collected necessary supplies. Chose that moment to pick up our favourite bandit of the airwaves. Seeing as the Raven was headed into Manhattan, I hung around a little longer then I'd planned. A nearby Freelancer (Hikaru Yinagi) offered assistance; and we attempted to prevent his landing.

Bloody dock officer was taking a nap. Let him sail clear on in. No nearby officer had access to cruise disruptors, so we had no other option but to pursue on his departure. We tracked the smuggler to Rochester, where he bunkered down.

The Raven fleeing

I left the Freelancer at that point; detecting another signal. Turned out to be a Bayonet Heavy Fighter with Outcast papers. Name of Clayton Rollison. I've met some strange folk flying 'round Liberty, but this guy takes the cake. Only Outcast I've seen to comply with all demands. Halted. Handed over six of our pilots (From his attitude I find it difficult to believe that he was the one who shot them.). *The Ensign grins* Even left when I asked.

Log of the Encounter

Following that I headed out to Rheinland, via the Minnesota track. Comparatively quiet until I hit Bremen. The Rheinlanders have stationed a battleship at the Jump hole, big brute, RNC - Westphalia. Thankfully her weapons are relatively short ranged. Shame the same can't be said for her fighter compliment. Still; I managed to make it the Hamburg hole, and lost the interceptors in the surrounding asteroids. Even got a scan of one.

The Battleship

Rheinland 'Wraith' Fighter

Made it to scanning range of Hamburg more or less in one piece, and without detection. Judging from outbound transports; the planet remains a major food source. Any blockade here could cripple enemy morale. Hamburg also provides as the sole mapped means of accessing either the Hudson or Bering Jumpgates and through them; Liberty. Even a raid at this point would delay Rheinlands ability to effectively react to events in those systems; essentially cutting forward elements off from support. Easy pickings, Sir.

Planet Hamburg

Following further forays, I've got a section of other valuable targets:

'The Ring'
...ERROR No Image Available...

A monumental structure, locked in New Berlin's orbit. Attack would be difficult, due to geographical proximity and military protection in the core of Rheinland.
However; it is a major enemy production facility, as well as something of an icon to the populace. Even damaging it would be a hammer blow to both morale and economic power.

Mainz Storage Facility

Role has changed little with the war. A large resource dump (Primarily H-Fuel); though it's distance from Liberty makes large scale deployments difficult. Small scale raids via the Hamburg Jumphole (Files attached.) may be enough to garner resources for our forces operating in the sector. Should the station fall, enemy activity is likely to decline with the diminishing fuel.

Emerging from the Sigma-13 jump hole into Frankfurt (I was lucky to find the thing. Took two days observation. A note to command here: Any chance of a bigger cockpit in the Avenger class?), I was intercepted by a 'Bundscuh' patrol. Rather then risk Libertonian weapon fire detectable from military stations; I plotted a course for the gas formation behind Mainz, intending to lose them in the cloud.

Bundscuh Patrol

Well; I found a hell of a lot more then a few pirates. Sensors lit up like spotlights the instant I came in. Largest signature was coming from deeper in; it seemed to be some variety of station. Absolutely surrounded by defence platforms. If Rheinland's willing to go to that much difficulty to keep this thing safe, it can't be good news for us.

Station detected

*Ripper sighs, some of the grin fading.* I got pinged. Whatever scanners they've got on board are pretty nasty, even through radiation. Enemy comm chatter went nuts for a few minutes, then cut out. Presumably someone set off an EMP at that point. Lost my instruments and weapons. I lost my own communications and legged it. Don't know how I ended up where I did, in all honesty. Hit a jumphole in the gas cloud. Flew right into it.

The hole dropped me at Hamburg where I was able to get some signal back home. Figured it didn't matter at that point, seeing as they knew where I was. The Task Force Seven vessel; LNS-Wyoming (Overlord Class) answered the distress signal and set track for Minnesota to beat back pursuers. I hot-footed it for the Bremen jump hole (Exits Sector C3, Hamburg.) when the Westfalen scrambled interceptors. I made it just as they got to the hole; tore my shields down and put a few dents in the old girls wings. Still; she made the jump.

Contact with the Wyoming

The RNC-Westphalia had evidently heard the earlier chatter, and engaged as soon as I entered weapon range. Took out primary engines. *He chuckles drily*. Had the momentum to carry me through the hole thankfully. The Wyoming even had the decency to prevent me coasting into a planet. Decent guy all considered.

The Avenger's currently undergoing repairs on board Moorhead station. Looks like she's gonna pull through.

All in all; not a bad weeks work.

Ripper Out.

...Signal Lost...

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May you live in interesting times.
| Sarah McFarlen | Jane Hartman |