[Convoy] Route Reports

[Rubber_Duck]

*starting logbook recorder*
*logbook of Convoy ONS-92*
*video transmission enabled*

*A tall man can be seen, standing in front of a screen, showing a brown planet with orange-brown dust clouds in background. Alert lights flashing, the air sems to be smoky a little bit*

Lieutenant, docking automatics working?
"Yes Sir. We have some damages, cruise enginges offline. But the docking automatics seems to be functional"

Good. Alright... We just have arrived at Leeds. But truly. I dont need these sort of days often, lets you get older. We, and this means: Edison_Blazer, Wild_Horse, Me, Escort_Gleaves, Escort_Ingham and Escort_Handel have just taken off from Leeds. Universe looked bright and peaceful today...

We had an additional Liberty Navy escort, a carrier has awaited our arrival behind Freeport 4, Magellan. But then we reached California... and everything went... strange.

*a loud beep can be heard*

"Sir, we have the cruise enginges working again!"
Roger, lieutenant. Got it.

So... after having passed mojave, it could be ssen... a rogue barghest has cut the lane. The carrier escorting us went to battle position, 2 other rogue barghests appeared. But it seemed they weren't almost that sure than they are usual, as they only demanded about 2 million credits for all of us. Thinking about the poor refugees in our holds, i decided to accept. The navy carrier held the position, and several navy reinforcements appeared more quick than I can blink. So we had left the battleground untouched.

Proceeding to Pittsburgh. By arriving at the planet, Blazer and Wild Horse had several engine problems, they weren't able to stop in time and rushed into the atmosphere. For gods sake, me and Gleaves were able to tractor in their escape pods... And all the refugees, flying thorugh space in their transport containers. We picked them up, and brought them to a medical station as soon as possible.

"Sir? I'm sorry, but we have two wounded midshipmen in the engine section, sir"
Severely wounded?
"One of them, yes sir. Engine parts were flying around, perforated his lung"
Oh my god. Lieutenant, take the shuttle. Bring him to the planet, as soon as possible. I think he isn't in the condition to survive the docking procedure. And take the other wounded man with you, too!
"Roger, sir. On the way."

So, as I was the last transport remaining, we went on route again. Additional escort came with a Liberty Gunboat. The battleground from some time ago could be passed, all rogues were gone or had been destroyed by the navy. but only a few lanes more...
Xenos. A sizable force of them. After we were running out of patience, and the liberty gunboat already begun the battle, I told my escorts to open fire. The Xenos were losing interest in myself, so I was able to leave undamaged, while my brave escorts kept fighting the three Xeno bombers.

I reached Planet Los Angeles then, getting additonal escort by a Freelancer Kusari Explorer which is well known to all of us. I got escort until Leeds. We went in the Lane to LD-14 then, my escorts were still fighting the Xenos, nothing unusual happened. On the way, just coming out of the lane from LD-14 to Stokes, a Kusari Battleship with all its escort appeared right 300m along my side. I dont know why I havent seen it... but I was immediately taking fire. The Freelancer escort couldnt help me, so I told him to scout the next lane, trying to reach it myself. I made it out that hell, but... with wounded men, damaged ship... and scratched honor.

Now, I'm right in the Orbit of Leeds, my escorts have cancelled the battle and are heading home, Gleaves is burning, I have heard. Brave men. I hope his losses weren't too hard, its a great crew. The other escorts remained undamaged, seems the Xenos concentrated fire only upon the escort leader. Ah I see them coming... my god. Gleaves really is burning. We need immediate repairs.
Lieutenant? Damn, on the way. Ensign! Ensign Fuller?
"Sir?"
go to the machine room, call Commander Travis! He should immediately go aboard the Gleaves, and see if he can do something for them!
"Roger that, sir."

Alright. As they are coming now, I'm gonna activate the docking clamps.

*a beep can be heard*

*Computer Voice: Planet Leeds docking clamps fixed*

Ahm... Hope such days wont happen too often.... Rubber_Duck out.

*stopping logbook recorder*

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[Rubber_Duck]

*starting logbook recorder*
*logbook of Convoy ONS-92*
*video transmission enabled*

*A tall man can be seen, with a black coloured beard all over his face. He seems to be a bit stressed, even if his voice sounds very calm*

Lieutenant, take a stationary orbit above planet Leeds, until I finished the Logbook recording!

*Yes sir. Orbit taken.*

Alright. We are back at Leeds again... but indeed, this day made me older. About 5 years, nearly.

*laughter can be heard, the man talking laughes, too*

Our route had just begun, who were: Myself, Flying_Mustang, Super_Cabbage and Paul_Chapman, with HMS-Gleaves, HMS-Fletcher, Benson, Radford and Sunrail as escorting vessels.

When we passed the Magellan Jumphole, which is our usual route when bringing Refugees or Ore to New York, we were just surrounded by several Craft, showing hostile behaviour. As it seemed, they intended to tax us, because 2 of my transports, Cabbage and Chapman, were carrying a part load of Gold Ore from Dublin, which is one of the best ways to serve her majesties War Effort.

As I was told, that they demanded the sum of 15 Million Sirius Credits, I... lets say, became angry a bit, and started to scan the hostile ships.

*Another loud laughter can be heard, this time out of the direction Weapons Control*

Hey, Commander! Would you please keep it quiet while I am recording the logs?

*Sorry, sir. I just rememberd what happened. And... true, it isn't that funny at all. My apologies, sir.*

Okay... where have I been.... right. the scanning. So, the Scan said, there was a single Tridente Gunboat, 2 Lane Hacker Bombers, a Roc Bomber, a Barghest, and a single Sabre. Okay. hard stuff. But i wasnt willing at all to pay 15 Millions, so the fight... started. We bacame some help of an IMG officer, helping us to fight against outcast signatured craft. While Mr. Chapman was in his captains cabin, his ship was severly hit, so he needed to abandon it, and for gods sake, i got his eject pod.

But, against all earlier expectations, one enemy after another was falling. So, the Tridente went down first, Gleaves and Benson were on him, when he passed my Shire....
Oh, Commander! Was that why you were laughing?

*Points on the weapons control*

*Yes sir, indeed*

Okay. Well, we have hit him badly, so that Gleaves was able to finish him off quickly, while Radford, Sunrail and Fletcher were caring for the other bombers. I dont know what happened to the Sabre, it all went really quick. But the bombers didnt survive too long, and Sunrail was after the fleeing ones. So, with a single loss, we could regroup to our standard two columns and leave the area.

Meanwhile, I ordered a new Shire from our Docking Bay at Leeds, which arrived soon, so that Paul_Chapman could take over that craft, and we were able to continue our route.
And since most crafts didnt waste any supplies in combat, only a few of us needed emergency repairs on Freeport 4, which we were gladly granted to use by the IMG officer who was helping us.

All went without further problems, until we entered New York space.

We heard some well known voices, I wont mention the names in this case, over system wide comms. Those ones made me shiver. Sunrail proposed to scout ahead, and to keep them involved in action, if he should find them.
So, we tried to make our way to Pittsburgh, my column arrived there without problems, the second column was disrupted, and Super_Cabbage was hit, so that he needed to abandon his ship. Paul_Chapman got his eject pod in that time, and tried to reach Pittsburgh, while Fletcher was providing support fire, and Sunrail engaged the enemy.
We reached Pittsburgh then safely, and commenced our route to Detroit, then to Ontario and to Leeds. No further incidents.

In fact, we lost 2 Shire class transports on that way, including both Gold Ore shipments. But all the 6000 refugees reached their destination safely, same as the whole load of military vehicles. 1 Gunboat slightly damaged, 1 Shire slightly damaged. My craft hadn't been hit at all, seemed to be a lucky day for me. And both of the Snubs that escorted us finally werent damaged, Sunrail was destroyed, after habing bravely killed one of the offenders, his eject pod was tractored in by an LNS craft after Sunrail delivered a hell of a fight. After some time in hospital, he will be in service again, I'm sure.

That's it for today. I'm gonna sign off, I will visit Chamberlains tea room. For a glass... no, a bottle of scotch.

*Looks at his Commo*

Lieutenant, send a short transmission to all craft that were in our last Convoy. We meet in Chamberlains tea room soon, all on my expenses.

*Roger that, sir.*

Let's dock.

*a beep can be heard*

*Computer Voice: Planet Leeds docking clamps fixed*

*stopping logbook recorder*

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