Chapter Forty-Eight
Message Logs
Encrypted Transmission
Source: Admiral Cyrus - Ravenwing.
Destination: Captain Hellena - Birdsong.
Hellena, change of plans.
If Operation Fledgling succeeds, kill the Imperium Crew and seize their vessel.
Vital that they do not escape once engaged.
I know you can do this!
Dad
Encrypted Transmission
Source: Captain Hellena - Birdsong.
Destination: Admiral Cyrus - Ravenwing.
Dad,
What has changed?
I can not advise turning against the Imperium, but why would we? The Imperial Line took our people, and they have to pay.
Have you not heard about their new ship?
I think they are going to win this war with the Line.
Send proof of ID for the next transmission!
Hellena
Encrypted Transmission
Source: Admiral Cyrus - Ravenwing.
Destination: Captain Hellena - Birdsong.
Hellena,
This is not up for discussion. The decision has been made by the Seven Families, and you are not to deviate from the plan.
The Imperial Line is too big for us to make an enemy of over a matter of honor.
Practical choices have to be made.
We will be increasing our ties to the Line,
Do as you are told, or hand over the Songbird to one of your brothers if they are returned to us.
Admiral Cyrus.
Personal ID code - Zv354nx23xh5
Encrypted Transmission
Source: Captain Hellena - Birdsong.
Destination: Admiral Cyrus - Ravenwing.
Understood.
===<<<>>>===
News Report - Recorded from Message relay terminal - Urgent Bulletin 1
Imperial Line Breaks!
Shocking scenes today on the far edge of Sagacity Space.
The much-talked-about vengeance of the Imperial Line against a small system on the edge of civilized space took an unexpected turn today when the plucky system sallied forth to attempt to break the blockade!
Not only that, but the local reports and the testimony of passing traders both confirm that the famous Ninth Wing of the Line, led by the redoubtable and much-celebrated Major Shareholder Ve’t’Chal, broke under the pressure of a single ship.
Until recently, the rumors of this supership had been dismissed as the fanciful stories of Captains too long in space. All that changed when pictures and sensor readings confirmed not only its immense size but also its deadly nature.
Stills from the event show Capital ships cut in two while entire wing salvos are endured by its shields.
A true juggernaut flies again!
Also included in those same stills is the unfamiliar sight of ships of the Line running for the jump points as fast as their engines could carry them.
Contacted for comment, Managing Shareholder Monsoon had this to say:
Decisions were made in the heat of battle to preserve ships. This was done solely to preserve the bottom line and was in no way a break, as some news agencies have reported.
One fancy ship will not spare them from the wrath of the Imperial Line.
You can quote me on that!
Stay tuned right here for more as we investigate this fascinating series of events!
News Report - Recorded from Message relay terminal - Urgent Bulletin 2
Imperial Line Blockade hiding losses?
Following the shocking events of the day, more hidden disasters have come to light, raising questions about whether this blockade was ever going to work.
Confidential reports obtained by this news agency show that the blockade had already been breached within mere days of its establishment. A contact in the Maiusarian system alerted the Imperial Line office in the neighboring jump point of the presence of three small ships from the Nanite Imperium.
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The task force sent out to coral these ships—an aged and worn light frigate and two sub-par destroyers—did not return after the maverick Imperium Captain turned the tables on a boarding party and then on the whole force.
In what would prove to be an early sign of Imperium tactics, he then left the system with the captured ships.
The blockade, under the command of Grand Shareholder Hardwicke, responded by detailing a flight of the Ten Suns Mercenary fleet to investigate and reported the matter to Headquarters.
All very unseemly and not a great start to military action.
Worse was yet to come, however, as the retaliatory action led to the loss of DOZENS of ships of the Line, over half of which were not reported as lost at all!
Brave whistleblowers inside the Imperial Line fleet have confirmed this, but there is even more to come.
The ingenious Imperium struck back, lobbing asteroids of all things through jump points and directly into the center of the guarding fleets. Not insignificant amounts of loss and damage to ships would yet again go unreported at the command of the Fleet Command.
At this point, it is only fair to ask… is the Line’s blockade even fit for purpose? Is its commander?
Recent events would suggest not.
But even more alarming, with the infamous Ve’t’Chal dead or fleeing and Hardwicke seemingly inept, just who can we expect to come out on top in this blockade?
It is too soon to tell, but I will certainly be selling my stock in the Line.
How about you?
Stay tuned for more!
News Report - Recorded from Message relay terminal - Urgent Bulletin 3
Reading between the Lines?
The very public losses suffered by the Imperial Line blockade, not to mention the scrappy Imperium seizing their ships, turned out to only be the start of yesterday’s dramatic events!
With the perceived weakness of the Line, more and more news stories spread. Following the exposing of the disastrous handling of the blockading Fleet by one Fleet Captain, Hardwicke, by our own agency…the floodgates opened!
It seemed that the Line’s grip had finally faltered, and the many disgruntled customers and business partners it had accumulated over the years acted.
In no less than three systems, the governing bodies seized property and evicted the Captains of the Line from their space. At the moment, this has only been happening in the largest and strongest systems, but this reporter is wondering if this is just the start!
Contacted for comment on the events of the last three shifts, we were sent the following reply by the Board of the Imperial Line:
Dear Shareholders!
Recent irresponsible reports have falsely portrayed events in the very successful blockade of the Nanite Imperium, and it has led to some unfortunate actions by the more easily startled systems.
Rest assured that not only are the reports in error but that the blockade will shortly be over as we conclude the acquisition and recovery action before thirty shifts have passed!
At this point, expect to hear of more direct action being taken in those systems that have acted so irresponsibly in the last few hours.
Sincerely,
Board of the Line.
Quite the statement!
Reading between the lines, if you will, it seems the Imperial Line plans to attempt to cover their recent failings by invading the Nanite Imperium within the next ten days.
One has to wonder if it was wise to say so in such an open manner… One has to expect that the citizens of the Nanite Imperium can read, after all.
===<<<>>>===
Message Traffic Log: Imperial Line Blockade
Message Sent to Ten Suns Ship - Ravenwing
Sender: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
To: Admiral Cyrus - Ravenwing
Admiral Cyrus
I am pleased to confirm that the deal we made has been given the seal of approval from Headquarters.
In return for your support during this invasion and the inclusion of your own family ships, we will be able to cede control of the system to the Falling Waters Clan. As requested, these deeds of ownership will be filed in the name of your family and not the Confederacy itself, rendering it private property.
Remember, this deal is contingent on the inclusion of your family ships, not just the ones in the Ten Suns fleet taking part.
Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
Message Received from the Ten Suns Ship - Ravenwing
Sender: Admiral Cyrus - Ravenwing
To: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
Hardwicke,
Understood. I can confirm my family ships; some thirty in total will be on-site in four days.
Cyrus
Message Sent to all Captains of the Line - Blockade Fleet
Sender: First Assistant Stibbert.
To: All Captains Shareholders, and above.
Captains.
It is vital that we locate the Ten Suns hostages immediately!
I have confirmed from the surviving captain’s logs that the hostages were not on board Ve’t’Chal’s ship when it was destroyed. They were apparently being transferred, which means they must be on one of the transport ships.
FIND THEM!
I don’t have to tell you lot that we don’t need another enemy to fight right now!
Stibbert.
Message Sent to Command Lead - Blockade Fleet
Sender: Captain Cross - I.L.S. Liberteen
To: First Assistant Stibbert.
First Assistant,
I am pleased to say I have confirmed the location of the Ten Suns hostages. A ship of the Ninth Wing apparently fled the system with them on board to ensure they did not fall into enemy hands. They have requested their ID be kept private until they dock at their destination, which is your ship.
Expect them in five shifts.
Captain Cross.
Message Sent to All Ships - Blockade Fleet
Sender: First Assistant Stibbert
To: All Captains, Shareholders, and above.
Stand down, gentlemen,
The hostages have been located by Shareholder Cross.
Continue preparations for the attack.
Stibbert.
Message Sent to All Ships - Blockade Fleet
Sender: First Assistant Stibbert
To: All Captains, Shareholders, and above.
All Captains!
Urgent we locate ship I.L.S. Liberteen! I repeat, I.L.S. Liberteen must be found immediately.
Anyone with information on the Liberteen or Shareholder Cross, contact us as soon as you see this message.
Stibbert.
Message sent to Blockade Fleet
Sender: Fleet Headquarters, records department
To: First Assistant Stibbert
First Assistant,
We have examined the listings and can not find a ship named the I.L.S. Liberteen. Are you sure you have the spelling on that correct? The closest listing we have is the I.L.S. Library Thirteen, but that is a station, not a ship.
Please confirm the name and repeat the request if needed.
On the second matter,
The public listing of shareholders lists seven Captain Cross's, but none of them are reported on site. Three are elderly and retired, two are at the station here, and the others are confirmed in locations around Imperial Line holdings.
Please advise which one you want information on.
===<<<>>>===
Interfleet Communication log
From: Ensign Bales
To: Ensign Bringham
Betty, you won’t believe what it is like to be on the command ship. I honestly never believed any of your stories, but I finally have one of my own!
It’s only fair I share, right?
Well, I was in Grand Shareholder Hardwicke’s office, cleaning of all things, when First Assistant Stibbert stormed in like the Grand Assessor was after him!
I’ll be honest, I hid. You all know the stories about him, right?
Anyway, so he was, like, waving a communication around and talking about the hostages and stuff, but then…oh, wow, it is so fun to be able to tell someone!
Someone got one over on the Line! Like, big time!
Apparently, that big search they called off? It never should have been.
The hostages are missing, right, and Stibbert gets this message saying everything’s fine from someone calling themselves Cross.
So Stibbert goes, ‘Oh, okay,’ and calls off the search and, like, twiddles his thumbs or whatever while he waits. But they never turn up… and then he tries to contact Cross.
Well, Guess what?
There is no Cross, and the ship doesn’t even exist. Someone just ghosted a message onto the network!
Isn’t that wild?
So Hardwicke loses his fucking rag! Like, I was totally shaking, and he wasn’t even shouting at me.
So, yeah, I just hid there for like an hour, and it was so… I dunno.
I mean, you know how Hardwicke is. So controlled and so cool and collected. But seeing him lose his shit like that… wow!
I mean, like, scary and everything, but also kinda ‘Take me, Fleet Daddy!’ you know?
Ellie.