25-12-YC121
Miara Blackfire as agreed to act as an escort for Oona Aldeland's evacuation of the East Hav civilians. Praise be to God that at least these two have some care for the innocent. I do not know if many people are aware of the situation here, but anyone following developments must surely see that not every Amarrian is the enslaving warmonger the Tribals say we are, and nor is every so-called warrior that the Minmatar throw into battle particularly concerned with the fate or welfare of those they so loudly proclaim to be "their people"! It was not my intention to gain any sort of moral propaganda victory here, I have merely followed the teachings of my Father and the lessons of Father Mikhail. I wonder if they are aware of what is happening here.
God Willing, Ms Aldeland will accept and confirm the terms of the cease-fire soon. At that point, we will begin to move the locals to the transportation hub. Those who have chosen to defend their home have already gone to the administration building and begun to barricade it.
So strange that in the midst of all this death springs new life. One of the local women gave birth to a daughter this afternoon. Medic Golikov helped deliver her, and despite everything she seems strong and healthy and took to her mother's breast with no trouble at all. What a dear, sweet thing she is. I asked her mother, Asal, what she intended to call her, but she did not know. I think she was simply relieved that everything was alright. I shall make sure that mother and child are at the very front, so that they can be amongst the first to leave for safety. Similarly I would like the local children who have helped us to be evacuated before anyone else. They deserve to find lives away from all of this.
25-12-YC121
It is not clear if there is to be an agreement on the evacuation of the civilians of East Hav. Nauplius, the idiot, has made a suggestion on the IGS of using them as human shields. Apart from the fact that I would never stain the honour of my family being committing such an atrocity, he seems to have failed to note that at least two of the Tribal war-leaders, or whatever they may call themselves, have made comments that clearly indicate they would not hesitate to indiscriminately murder every living thing in this town.
However, we have not sat idle whilst we wait for a sensible reply. The Officers have taken recordings from the surviving troops of the Company - Yoiul messages for their families and loved ones. In the next hour or so, these messages will be sent out as a Short High Energy Burst Algorithm to Sarum fleets in Floseswin, to then be passed immediately to my family, and it is only my family that have the corresponding algorithm to decrypt the deeper message.
We may very well be about to die, if such is God's Will, but at least Imperial Forces shall also have details of enemy strength and composition in this area, along with other information we have been able to obtain.
The civilians also need to be organised, so that they can be ready to move to the transport hub as soon as possible. That will take time, but the activity should mask the preparations being made by some of the platoons.
I hope the Tribals enjoy their Yoiul gifts when they come.
It is not clear if there is to be an agreement on the evacuation of the civilians of East Hav. Nauplius, the idiot, has made a suggestion on the IGS of using them as human shields. Apart from the fact that I would never stain the honour of my family being committing such an atrocity, he seems to have failed to note that at least two of the Tribal war-leaders, or whatever they may call themselves, have made comments that clearly indicate they would not hesitate to indiscriminately murder every living thing in this town.
However, we have not sat idle whilst we wait for a sensible reply. The Officers have taken recordings from the surviving troops of the Company - Yoiul messages for their families and loved ones. In the next hour or so, these messages will be sent out as a Short High Energy Burst Algorithm to Sarum fleets in Floseswin, to then be passed immediately to my family, and it is only my family that have the corresponding algorithm to decrypt the deeper message.
We may very well be about to die, if such is God's Will, but at least Imperial Forces shall also have details of enemy strength and composition in this area, along with other information we have been able to obtain.
The civilians also need to be organised, so that they can be ready to move to the transport hub as soon as possible. That will take time, but the activity should mask the preparations being made by some of the platoons.
I hope the Tribals enjoy their Yoiul gifts when they come.
25-12-YC121
The Tribal response has been one of polar extremes. Oona Aldeland has offered to provide transports to remove the civilians from East Nav. Maira Blackfire appears willing to provide armed cover, and has, at least, agreed to observe any ceasefire agreement. If we can finalise details, then all may be well, at least for the innocents here.
Conversely, the usual rabid suspects are vowing to murder everyone in the settlement, innocent or not. Elsebeth Rhiannon has all but washed her hands of the situation, but I must admit I expected very little else. A couple of other Tribal fools are, as one might expect, simply baying for blood. At least they have revealed their intention to use NBC weapons. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, though our equipment against such attacks is only basic. Furthermore, knowing that this is a possibility, I am less inclined to allow the civilians that have offered to assist us in the final stages to do so. I shall try to persuade them to leave for safety. I believe, however, that they fear reprisals for being considered collaborators, so perhaps remaining with us is a more palatable fate.
Another group of civilians, around 30, appear to have decided that they have had enough of invaders. They wish only to defend their home, and are not a part of my forces. I admire their resolve, and I cannot blame them for wanting to keep another set of troops away from what is left of their property. I have tried to speak with them to get them to leave, but they refuse. Therefore I have agreed that they can arm themselves with basic weapons from the civilian stock we secured in the settlement, and have negotiated that rather than spread themselves out to their individual properties - not that there is anything left of any of them - they should, for safety's sake, group together in the administrative building on the East side of the settlement. If an evacuation is arranged, I will inform the enemy of the presence of these civilians, who are merely defending themselves. God Willing, they will avoid these brave souls.
The evacuation itself I shall try to arrange to take place at the transport station on the North side of the settlement. It seems to be the most logical place, and the wide plaza is not entirely covered in rubble, allowing any transports relatively easy access. This will also place the majority of activity on the opposite side of the town to my troops. There is a minehead on the South side, with access to the workings. Normally this would make very little sense, as it would only serve to trap us, but it may, firstly, provide some additional protection against any unconventional weapons, and secondly, one of the civilians who has joined us is a Mine Foreman, Sher Zamora his name, and he speaks of the workings coming up to the surface again some distance from East Nav. These exit points are only small, however, barely more than ventilation shafts, and it is just as likely they have collapsed or been covered over, or are otherwise unusuable. We shall see. Perhaps God shall smile upon us, though if it is our Fate to die here, in this small mining town, then we shall go to it bravely, with hymns on our lips, Faith in our hearts, and the mounds of the enemy dead before us.
It is Yoiul. I miss Mama, Papa, Kostya, and Felix, and Dzerzhinsky, of course. I miss Okhrana and Cheka too. Silly Hounds, I do so hope Felix is looking after them properly.
I wonder if Ishta has found Sasha yet. Poor Mama, having two of her children away this year, and after Kostya had arranged some shore-leave! At least, God Willing, she will get Sasha back.
The Tribal response has been one of polar extremes. Oona Aldeland has offered to provide transports to remove the civilians from East Nav. Maira Blackfire appears willing to provide armed cover, and has, at least, agreed to observe any ceasefire agreement. If we can finalise details, then all may be well, at least for the innocents here.
Conversely, the usual rabid suspects are vowing to murder everyone in the settlement, innocent or not. Elsebeth Rhiannon has all but washed her hands of the situation, but I must admit I expected very little else. A couple of other Tribal fools are, as one might expect, simply baying for blood. At least they have revealed their intention to use NBC weapons. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, though our equipment against such attacks is only basic. Furthermore, knowing that this is a possibility, I am less inclined to allow the civilians that have offered to assist us in the final stages to do so. I shall try to persuade them to leave for safety. I believe, however, that they fear reprisals for being considered collaborators, so perhaps remaining with us is a more palatable fate.
Another group of civilians, around 30, appear to have decided that they have had enough of invaders. They wish only to defend their home, and are not a part of my forces. I admire their resolve, and I cannot blame them for wanting to keep another set of troops away from what is left of their property. I have tried to speak with them to get them to leave, but they refuse. Therefore I have agreed that they can arm themselves with basic weapons from the civilian stock we secured in the settlement, and have negotiated that rather than spread themselves out to their individual properties - not that there is anything left of any of them - they should, for safety's sake, group together in the administrative building on the East side of the settlement. If an evacuation is arranged, I will inform the enemy of the presence of these civilians, who are merely defending themselves. God Willing, they will avoid these brave souls.
The evacuation itself I shall try to arrange to take place at the transport station on the North side of the settlement. It seems to be the most logical place, and the wide plaza is not entirely covered in rubble, allowing any transports relatively easy access. This will also place the majority of activity on the opposite side of the town to my troops. There is a minehead on the South side, with access to the workings. Normally this would make very little sense, as it would only serve to trap us, but it may, firstly, provide some additional protection against any unconventional weapons, and secondly, one of the civilians who has joined us is a Mine Foreman, Sher Zamora his name, and he speaks of the workings coming up to the surface again some distance from East Nav. These exit points are only small, however, barely more than ventilation shafts, and it is just as likely they have collapsed or been covered over, or are otherwise unusuable. We shall see. Perhaps God shall smile upon us, though if it is our Fate to die here, in this small mining town, then we shall go to it bravely, with hymns on our lips, Faith in our hearts, and the mounds of the enemy dead before us.
It is Yoiul. I miss Mama, Papa, Kostya, and Felix, and Dzerzhinsky, of course. I miss Okhrana and Cheka too. Silly Hounds, I do so hope Felix is looking after them properly.
I wonder if Ishta has found Sasha yet. Poor Mama, having two of her children away this year, and after Kostya had arranged some shore-leave! At least, God Willing, she will get Sasha back.
24-12-YC121
The scouts suggest that the enemy are preparing for another assault. The Company now down to just over 100 strong, from 150, if it is of any significant force, we may not be able to repulse it, though we have prepared plenty of unpleasant surprises for them, and have fortified as well as we are able. Enough of the locals have armed themselves to bring our total strength back to around 140, but I would rather that all those unwilling or unable to fight were evacuated. The only way to that, of course, is by the graces of the enemy.
Contact is intermittent and sparse. I suspect the enemy may be jamming our communications. I will attempt to make contact with some of the more influential Tribal commanders, perhaps through the IGS, to see if a truce can be arranged to allow the evacuation of civilians. Perhaps in the spirit of Yoiul they will be willing. Perhaps not. I can only try, and put my pray to God that they are moved to kindness and charity.
Yuill. I did not think this is how I would spend it. I miss my family, and Lilya. I hope she is not fretting too much. I pray that Ishta has managed to locate Sasha. Yet, I look around me at the tired, but determined faces of this Company, and I see that we are united in Faith, resolved before God. Even those who are wounded have said they do not wish to leave, even if I am able to get an agreement.
This is another kind of family, and at this moment, I would not give them up for all the Treasures of Heaven.
The scouts suggest that the enemy are preparing for another assault. The Company now down to just over 100 strong, from 150, if it is of any significant force, we may not be able to repulse it, though we have prepared plenty of unpleasant surprises for them, and have fortified as well as we are able. Enough of the locals have armed themselves to bring our total strength back to around 140, but I would rather that all those unwilling or unable to fight were evacuated. The only way to that, of course, is by the graces of the enemy.
Contact is intermittent and sparse. I suspect the enemy may be jamming our communications. I will attempt to make contact with some of the more influential Tribal commanders, perhaps through the IGS, to see if a truce can be arranged to allow the evacuation of civilians. Perhaps in the spirit of Yoiul they will be willing. Perhaps not. I can only try, and put my pray to God that they are moved to kindness and charity.
Yuill. I did not think this is how I would spend it. I miss my family, and Lilya. I hope she is not fretting too much. I pray that Ishta has managed to locate Sasha. Yet, I look around me at the tired, but determined faces of this Company, and I see that we are united in Faith, resolved before God. Even those who are wounded have said they do not wish to leave, even if I am able to get an agreement.
This is another kind of family, and at this moment, I would not give them up for all the Treasures of Heaven.
22-12-YC121
We saw our first real casualties these last two days. Twenty-seven troops, almost an entire platoon, Leytenant Antonov amongst them. An assault by the enemy that suggests they may very well be considering saving their artillery and facing us in hand-to-hand combat instead. Twenty-seven of ours, but we have accounted for over eighty of theirs in return, so I think that our small numbers hides the skill that deSilvestris Household Naval Infantry have in this sort of environment. Perhaps that shall give the Tribals pause, but I suspect it shall just make them fight all the harder, attempting to outdo one another in their primitive personal quests for glory.
Unfortunately, at least thirty civilians we also killed. The Tribals seemed to make no distinction between us and the innocent locals. True, those locals had taken up arms, and I imagine that is all the barbarians saw - there was no discernable attempt at any target identification. They seem to be an undisciplined, though undoubtedly brave, rabble. I think the inhabitants of this town are the bravest of all of us. That is how most of our casualties were sustained - protecting the civilians who were not fighting, mostly elderly and children, as they sought shelter.
East Hav is the name of the town, though most of the Company seem to have an odd affection for Mining Settlement 45. Indeed, they are already calling themselves The Forty-Fivers.
We saw our first real casualties these last two days. Twenty-seven troops, almost an entire platoon, Leytenant Antonov amongst them. An assault by the enemy that suggests they may very well be considering saving their artillery and facing us in hand-to-hand combat instead. Twenty-seven of ours, but we have accounted for over eighty of theirs in return, so I think that our small numbers hides the skill that deSilvestris Household Naval Infantry have in this sort of environment. Perhaps that shall give the Tribals pause, but I suspect it shall just make them fight all the harder, attempting to outdo one another in their primitive personal quests for glory.
Unfortunately, at least thirty civilians we also killed. The Tribals seemed to make no distinction between us and the innocent locals. True, those locals had taken up arms, and I imagine that is all the barbarians saw - there was no discernable attempt at any target identification. They seem to be an undisciplined, though undoubtedly brave, rabble. I think the inhabitants of this town are the bravest of all of us. That is how most of our casualties were sustained - protecting the civilians who were not fighting, mostly elderly and children, as they sought shelter.
East Hav is the name of the town, though most of the Company seem to have an odd affection for Mining Settlement 45. Indeed, they are already calling themselves The Forty-Fivers.
20-12-YC121
I should hardly be surprised that a small town such as this, marked on our maps only as Mining Settlement 45, though I suspect it does have a proper name, is being largely ignored by the enemy. Only the occassional, sporadic probe seems to come to test us, and thus far we have seen them off with only a few minor casualties. Not one of my Company is, as yet, incapable of fighting, and even some of the locals are beginning to aid us. That is something I do find rather surprising, but perhaps it because we have not maltreated them and they do not wish to see any more damage done to their home, though what more damage could be done, I am not sure.
The enemy will come eventually, of course. We shall be ready for them, and shall make them pay dearly. They are too numerous and mobile for us to consider attempting a breakout. We would simply be swamped and massacred. It is better, therefore, that we dig in for a defence, and hold our ground for as long as possible. I would rather, however, that civilians were not here. If I understand enemy tactics at all, they have no need to risk lives needlessly on such a numerically minor force as this Company. They would be better to simply shell us with artillery. However, one thing that must be said of the Tribals is that they rarely shirk from close-quarters battle. I believe they see much honour in it. Whichever they choose, I shall have the scouts keep a keen eye on their movements and preparations, and when the time grows near, I shall have to consider what to do about the locals.
I should hardly be surprised that a small town such as this, marked on our maps only as Mining Settlement 45, though I suspect it does have a proper name, is being largely ignored by the enemy. Only the occassional, sporadic probe seems to come to test us, and thus far we have seen them off with only a few minor casualties. Not one of my Company is, as yet, incapable of fighting, and even some of the locals are beginning to aid us. That is something I do find rather surprising, but perhaps it because we have not maltreated them and they do not wish to see any more damage done to their home, though what more damage could be done, I am not sure.
The enemy will come eventually, of course. We shall be ready for them, and shall make them pay dearly. They are too numerous and mobile for us to consider attempting a breakout. We would simply be swamped and massacred. It is better, therefore, that we dig in for a defence, and hold our ground for as long as possible. I would rather, however, that civilians were not here. If I understand enemy tactics at all, they have no need to risk lives needlessly on such a numerically minor force as this Company. They would be better to simply shell us with artillery. However, one thing that must be said of the Tribals is that they rarely shirk from close-quarters battle. I believe they see much honour in it. Whichever they choose, I shall have the scouts keep a keen eye on their movements and preparations, and when the time grows near, I shall have to consider what to do about the locals.
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