The scrapman cometh
Translation of incident report that took place in <AREA01>
on <DELETED>. While the transcript has been altered to
remove incriminating names, we believe the incident took place as
stated.
Following
successful railroading through of Resolution <DELETED>, our
ships of <FLEET04> surrounded <AREA01>, in
anticipation of an immediate surrender, as ordered.
Unfortunately, the response was not anticipated- large numbers of
tanks and other weapons materialised around <AREA01>,
presumably from underground storage. The numbers were
considerably in excess of previous intelligence estimates.
We were ordered to hold our position pending further orders.
At approximately 1515 hours, we noticed a morse signal being
flashed from one of the peaks of <AREA01>. The signal was
erratic, and we suspected it might be one of our agents in
trouble.
We were quite surprised when this signal turned out to be plain
language, and not in code, as expected. This caused some delays
in decoding, as well as the erratic nature on the signal. Text of
signal follows:
I OFFER 500000 <DELETED> TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE LOT OF
SHIPS FOR SCRAP.
We wondered whether this was a code we had not yet heard of, or a
cryptic message. It was a source of much consternation,
especially as what appeared to be a mob of locals converged on
the point of origin of the signal, having also seen it, and then
withdrew, after which the signals ceased. However, it was
apparent no violence had taken place, partly due to the
intervention of a sailor from <AREA01>.
It was only when we were later ordered to withdraw, and
<SUBJECT23> was ordered to continue repainting the fleet,
that some of the officers came to the conclusion that the message
was genuine. The state of the fleet was quite abysmal, and one
can't help wondering why only one man was assigned the whole
task. If he had been any good, perhaps that offer would not have
been made...
COMMENT FROM INTELLIGENCE DIVISION:
It appears that the conclusion was correct- the person sending
the signal was identified as a local scrap merchant, who was
intoxicated at the time. The mob saw the signal and apparently
were about to lynch him, when the sailor mentioned arrived and
translated the signal.
COMMENT FROM COMMERCIAL DIVISION:
Why didn't we accept the offer?
The transcript
above will be denied by the government involved. Attempting to
verify this information through normal channels is not advisable.
Any resemblance between the characters and any person, living or
dead, is probably purely coincidental.