Bowex InfoNet (inRP)

[Scott MacFarlane]

Incoming Transmission NL305 653059004
Encryption Level: SECURED ExSec 14a
CommID: MacFarlane: NL:DH 8764501
Message Target: Bowex Security Offices
Message Source: Private Terminal 8033956, Devon Highlands, New London
Subject: Engagement Report 818-6-17-1

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Sahs!

My apologies for the delay in filing this report, but as you are aware we have been busier than a three-"pickled" Irish goat here on the Bonny Lass. I realize that be no excuse an so I will voluntarily dock myself a half of my scotch ration for the day!

To begin, after shuttling in from New London into the company yards in Newcastle, we boarded the Bonny Lass and got underway on time at 09:30 standard trade time. We took course out of Newcastle bound for Thames to pick up our assigned load of Mining Equipment bound for Elbich.

However, upon coming out of the trade lane, we found a full flotilla of Kusari Battleships facing off with our lads in a full flotilla of their own battlewagons and cruisers. The bloody Kusari, outnumbered as they were, withdrew to Stokes with their kimonos between their legs, as they rightly should! Our boys gave chase and since we were uhhh.... between them and the trade lane... we uhhh...got caught up between them and shoved into the lane aye.. that's it. Well we arrived to find ourselves stuck in a group of "friendly" battleships and facing the same quite obviously hostile group of battlewagons. Well, needless to say that we felt very threatened sahs, and not knowing what else to do, we engaged in self defense. It was either that or get blown up by one side or the other. I decided I would rather get blown to wee bits by the boys in dresses than our own boys, so I ordered full thottle ahead and guns at the ready. Unfortunantly, our BAF boys didn't realize it was a trap and as we advanced the bloody girly cowards flanked us with a group of bombers and another battlewagon. Very unsportsman-like I must say!

camera footage 01

Despite the bloody obvious danger, I ordered the ship ahead anyway, seeking to pull ahead of the flanking force to our starboard in an effort to gain upon the main force's flank. My first mate screaming obscenities the whole way and demanding to be let off at the next bus stop, we braved the enemy fire with no hits to our quarter while me stalwart crew (minus the first mate of course) went about their battle drill like a well oiled claymore ran through Kusari entrails. All guns were charged and trained on our first target as we approached with best speed, and as the first mate gave prayers to Mary and St Jude. The Engineer then called up that he'd opened the safeties on all three mains. Our first target, the Zen'nin, was already heavily damaged and I was determined to finish her off or kill me first mate trying!

camera footage 02

The bloody squirrily bastad managed to make nano-repairs however, but we still lay into her regardless. Slamming a disc of highland pipes into the bridge PA player and pumping the sound of a 3/4 Regimental March with pipes all through the ship, I gave the order to commence firing, my systems officer responding by breaking into song and using our plasma cannons to stitch hymnal praises to Queen and Country into the side of our target (and doing little else).

camera footage 03

We werre quickly past our target and narrowly avoiding direct confrontation with two other battlewagons on our flank when we slipped out of ranger of the Zen'nin. Changing targets and recycling the guns, I ordered a hard left rudder as I attempted to gain the enemys' stern. It was then that we lost the Prince of Wales, and no surprise either. Our boys went in with no plan or discipline and simply charged the slant-eyes blindly. Caught in a mass crossfire, the Prince had little chance.

camera footage 3a

Unfortunantly for us, we drastically overshot our target and I had to order cruise drive to get back into position. It was then that both the Endeavour and the Conquerer went down in blazes of failed glory and the BAF begun a general retreat. I say! The dissappointment reeks of bad Kimchee! Throwing caution to the wind, and my mate blubbering that we were all going to die, I order Helm to take us in a course between the Daichi and the Kitakami to make our own escape. At this point I ceased to take camera photos as we were far to busy trying not to be turned into scrape for the Junkers. Ordering a drop from cruise drive right next to the Kitakami we opened fire with all guns while both she and her sister, the Daichi tried in vain to pummel us, as my Engineer screamed up that we were asking too much of her and both the guns emitter coils and the mains were threatening a cowardly overload. I knew it! I shoulda have bought Bretonian! BUT, finally something went right and we were in our enemys' blind spot! Both of their broadside were missing us and hitting each other! The captain of the Kitakami, apparantly out of nanos and his armor now rice-paper thin, ceased fire and screamed for his brothers to do the ssame. It was then we took a solid hit from the Dachi that took down our shields. We got them back up and I decided that nothing would be gained by further action, not with my Engineer screaming in my ear and my First Mate on the deck crying, afterall. I ordered the Helm to hit the cruise drive and we got out of there, with no further hits on us I might add.

camera footage 04

Not ALL of the BAF retreated, however. Ensign Cooper proved to be far braver (or crazier) than all of us, and despite only manning a snub fighter, continued to engage. No doubt he had designs on taking advantage of the damage my little stunt had caused to take down the Kitakami on his own. What an impressive addition that would have been to his resume. However, it was.......not to be as the Kitakami was ummm... "kill stolen" from him. He went down a moment later, but not to worry! We picked up his tube later.

camera footage 05

The battle was not over and still had a wee bit of an aftermath coming. As we regrouped, those of us that were left that is, the Kadaji-Maru advanced on her own, apparantly believing that she could handle what was left, and not knowing that two more of our ships had arrived to hold Leeds in the event of counter-attack. The other Kusari vessels, each heavily damaged, fled the system and did not return. As the Kadaji-Maru advanced we engaged in mass as she came out of the trade-lane. Disabling the lane, we prevented her escape and I order my crew to lay fire into her engines aas the rest of the ships of the flotilla also opened fire.

camera footage 06

Perhaps sensing his immediate destruction, the captain of the Kadaji-Maru came about and tried to engage and we, being more than in point blank range by battleship standards, had to swerve quickly to avoid collision. We lay more fire into and she became a nice roman candle a moment later, the kill credit going to a patrol cruiser. I called shenanigans on that announcement but to little avail.

camera footage 07

In closing sahs, the engagement ended with heavy losses on both sides, and a stalemate. Been that kinda war eh? We're waaayy behind our shipping schedule and for that I shall dock us all a day's ration sahs!

Eh? what now? OH! My First Mate wants me to ask if we get combat hazard pay for thi........WHAT?! I'm not gonna ask em that! **SMACK**

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