Adineas the Red wrote:[President Cromler]
Our nation maintains only a rudimentary naval fleet, as most naval forces remained loyal to the Congregation. However, we do have a handful of smaller ships, and a platoon of 30 National Guardsmen under lieutenant Calstone is willing to take one of the ships. They shall depart from south of New Dravin, and travel down the Chiidian Gulf, through the Horizon Sea and past Castletown Bay.
The men are able to depart immediately, and weather permitting, the ship should reach the island in four or five days [About 1.5 days real time].
++COMMUNIQUE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REGARDING THE ELDAR WAYGATE OPERATION++
Brothers, compatriots, fellow defenders of the Realm,
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the failure of the mission to destroy the Eldar waygate.
Just after dawn this morning, the ship that carried thirty brave men on their heroic mission arrived back at New Dravin, carrying Lieutenant Ridbeck.
The other National Guardsmen were also aboard the ship. Their bodies were found impaled on various pieces of the ship. Many had been hanged off the mast.
Ridbeck was found in the main hold, among several bodies of his shipmates. When he was recovered, it was found that his mental state had deteriorated severely. When approached, the once-proud lieutenant rambled about "terrors beyond the void", a horrific ambush, and an "endless armada". Doctors quickly concluded that he would never recover.
At sundown this evening, Lieutenant Amthor Ridbeck, MV, was put out of his misery in a military execution. He was awarded the Medal of Valour for his courage, determination, and sense of duty toward the nation in setting out to destroy the waygate. Lieutenant Ridbeck departed as a hero, and he shall forever be remembered that way in the eyes of the Confederacy.
This nation shall continue its campaign against the invaders, and will continue to support those who stand against the Eldar menace.
President Aldo Cromler, Palurin Confederacy