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The Draconis Volunteer Group, an organization of foreign civilian pilots operating under the auspices of the Draconis Navy launched a government-sanctioned fighter strike on Dominion ship Purpose, inflicting minor damage and killing 7. The Dominion missile frigate was conducting its shakedown cruise and attempting to aid the international community in containing the endemic pirate activity in the Bradley Expanse, which the Draconis government allowed to get out of control. The Dominion government condemned the provocation.

The Purpose was conducting its cruise with all new personel, including cadets from the Naval Institute at Ophis II, after being launched just earlier this year. The crew of cadets and fresh officers were surprised by the unexpected assault and unable to repell the strike, despite valiant effort. Our reporters found that the damage was inflicted to the ship's armament, and, although light, it left the ship unable to safely continue her anti-piracy patrol. The Purpose withdrew to the Naval station at Ophis II for repairs and restaffing, as well as burial.

Four crew members of the Purpose fell victim to the attack, and additional three pilots of the fighter screen lost their lives trying to prevent the strike. The purpose's missile commander was awarded the Gallantry Cross for her attempts at saving injured crew members, and her captain was given both the Gallantry Vross and the Order of Merit for his attempts at preventing the calamity. The bodies of the deceased crew and pilots will be interned at the Ophis Military cemetary in Piraeus, Ophis II on March 1.

The Herald failed to find out why the Draconis government chose to attack the Dominion frigate, but ananymous sources speculate that the Draconis elites may have ties to the pirate activity in the region or that the Draconis government is using the unstable situation to attain political advantage, even with international shipping routes at cost.

In any event, as the unstable situation in the Bradley Expanse threatens to impact merchant traffic in the neighbouring space ways, the Dominion Navy is forced to get involved in anti-piracy operations actively, despite the Draconis System's general noncompliance. AAmc. Farid Abdul Wahab, the Dominion ambassador to the Arcology notes that even if the Draconis government's continuing failure to enforce laws in the region are a result of incompetence rather than actively orchestrated by them, the Dominion may need to re-evaluate the matter of the Draconis System Navy's ongoing presence in the region. If the situation deteriorates further, it may become necessary for the Dominion Navy to step in and provide the Draconis system government with aid in restoring order. The ambassador added that if the Draconis government continues to prevent military aid from being admitted to the region, the Dominion may be forced to take steps to conduct anti-piracy operations in spite of the smaller state's beligerence.

— Reginald Barkley, Arcosolari Kalamos

✠ Order of Merit ✠

Cmdr. 1C AAmc. Lior Damrosch, Purpose (commanding)

✠ Cross of Gallantry ✠

Cmdr. 1C AAmc. Lior Damrosch, Purpose (commanding)
Lt. 2C AAmc. Anastasia Dimitrakopoulos, Purpose

✠ Naval Cross of Unity ✠

Lt. 1C AAmc. Sumayyah Lamb, Purpose
Cdt. 1C AAmc. Sebastian Yorke, Purpose
Cdt. 2C AAmc. Maria Carolina Campos, Purpose
Cdt. 2C AAmc. Adao Leonor Gonçalves, Purpose

✠ Aerospace Cross of Unity ✠

Plt. 1C AAmc. Jean-Pierre Sitoe, 101st Aerospace Brigade Plt. 2C AAmc. Steven Taylor, 376th Aerospace Brigade
Plt. 2C AAmc. Diego de la Vega, 376th Aerospace Brigade

Aerospace Valuable Service Medal

Plt. 2C AAmc. Farshid Davani, 376th Aerospace Brigade

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All crew members and pilots participating participating in the operation were awarded the Bradley Expanse Anti-piracy Operation Ribbon.

The Dominion issued an after-action report from the recent provocation at the Bradley Expanse. The report shows that the two DVG fighters conducting the assault took heavy damage in the attempt, even as they fired several missile salvos and conducted multiple strafing runs on the Purpose. All to little effect on their target.

The report only confirms what we already knew—the DVG's insistence on purchasing ancient fighter craft from abroad and staffing them with foreign amateurs invariably results in a fighting force that is as incapable of dealing with any remotely credible threat as it is draining on the public purse. Even the ordnance fired by the government's new mercenary forces fails miserably when stacked against the might of a Dominion vessel. It is yet another example of the elites of Draconis Station pouring our tax credits down the drain.

And soon, even more! Since the DVG is rumored to be in the middle of talks to purchase even more of those overpriced Republican crates. Meanwhile, our taxes are the highest they have been since the end of Great War.

And then, even more! Since the Navy is trying to bait the Dominion into a scuffle over some outlying region nobody cares about—a scuffle that will keep siphoning money out of our homes and businesses and straight into the pockets of arms manufacturers and international conglomerates.

Why do we fill the coffers of the Stellar Republic by buying their exorbitantly-priced junk, instead of cutting our taxes?

Why do we let the Navy pay the ludicrous sallaries of foreign nationals to pilot our fighters, instead of hiring good patriots?

Why do we let our government to engage in expensive adventures in deep space, pouring good money after bad trying to secure another piece of vacuum?

— Bill Travis, Arcosolari Kalamos