New Avalon Defenders Hold Line, Cripple Blake Flagship
NANS {19 Dec 3067} - Confirmation was received late last night regarding the status of the Admiral Corrine Donnings, and the Bryceland, which were stationed at standard jump points at the time of the Word of Blake assault on New Avalon on December 6th. According to a high-level source in the Fox’s Den, the Donnings and the Bryceland were lost in the attack on the Word of Blake force currently in orbit.
The crews of all the vessels performed valiantly, possibly accounting for the loss of one Blakist WarShip - an Aegis-class WarShip (some unconfirmed reports claim it is the Immortal Spirit) - or at least severely crippling it. The valiant naval crews also destroyed several assault DropShips. Additionally, the noble sacrifice of these brave Suns warriors managed to draw half of the Word of Blake fleet from New Avalon’s orbit, ceasing the deadly orbital bombardment that started almost two weeks ago.
A statement issued from the Princess Regent, currently inbound to the Federated Suns via a top secret route from Tharkad, praised the crews of the Suns' navy. “From the birth of our nation, our citizenry has always been able to rely on the courage and bravery of our soldiers. For their actions in stemming the Word of Blake’s wonton destruction of New Avalon, I am awarding every crew member of these noble vessels the Diamond Sunburst Medal. We can take strength from these brave men and women’s actions as we stand fast against the cowardly attacks of a fanatical order.”
Reports from New Rennes show the Word of Blake forces withdrawing from the city. Speculation among the AFFS is that those troops will be arriving at Avalon City to assist in the Word’s failed push to establish a foothold in the capital proper. Citizens are advised to stock up on rations and basic items and to not leave their homes unless absolutely necessary. All able-bodied men and women with military, survival, technical, and medical skills are requested to report to their nearest Avalon Home Guard station. For more information, call the dedicated Emergency Services Hotline at 65-NAE-32215.
Editor's note: We apologize for the inconsistent reporting during the last twenty-four hours. Our earlier sources erronously placed the Simon Davion in the system, when in fact that ship is still undergoing repairs at Kathil. Additionally, sketchy reports of the brutal naval battle in orbit may have slightly overinflated our original estimates of the damage done to the Word of Blake fleet. We apologize for the error and pledge to double check our sources before releasing more news of the War on New Avalon to stem possible public panic.
-updated
-from New Avalon Today 19Dec67 and other NANS wire reports