!html <div class='white'>CENTAUR INTERNAL</div><div class='white'>SOURCE: EngmanA</div><div class='white'>TAGGED: Personal</div><div class='white'>RE: Deployment schedule - 508th</div>

Commander,

I thought you should know I fought against this. I even threatened to resign in protest, for all the good it did. The GTA I signed up with didn't go around scapegoating promising officers for political convenience, but here we are.

Make no mistake, Commander - that's what's happening. Of course, you don't need me to tell you that. I gave you your squad roster when you came aboard, and I saw your eyes when you read who you'd be working with. A former smuggler, a washed-up old spook, two sisters who by regs shouldn't even be in the same unit, an admiral's brat with delusions of competence - and yourself, a rising star up until Amasis' mistake at Altair. You don't need me to tell you this, but as far as the official record's concerned, Ensign Kumagai is the only "respectable" pilot in your whole OrBat. And now this. That's not an accident.

But I've also seen what you've done with them. I've seen their simulator scores, I've seen Ensign Ramil clean up his act, and I've seen the way they look at you. They're a long way from a frontline combat unit, but they're a hell of a lot closer than before you came aboard. If your rookies end up seeing combat on this expedition, I feel confident you'll bring them home. You've got a rare gift, Commander, and it pains me to see the Alliance squandering it. Squandering you.

But life's what you make of it. So. Luyten. Between the Hammer and the pirates, this isn't going to be easy - or maybe this Luyten New Alliance just doesn't know how to run a system. Either way, Commander, here's my challenge to you. Make something of it. Your unit's there to satisfy a diplomatic obligation, so put your best foot forwards. Your pilots will look to your example, so work with them. Make the best damn showing of yourselves you can, and the GTA won't have a choice but to acknowledge it.

You won't be alone in this, not entirely. I know you met Captain Varner on the Nereid after <span class='red'>Sahr</span>. He can be a bit of a micromanager, but he's a cunning officer with a keen strategic mind. And Commander Jers has more of a history than she lets on. She didn't get that <span class='white'>Conspicuous Gallantry</span> filing paperwork. When it comes to the Vasudan half of the expedition, Subcommander Petoph has a better reputation with them than our own higher-ups could ever have - ask him about that at your own discretion. And, of course, you can always send a letter my way.

You're being thrust into an unfamiliar situation for what we can both agree are misguided reasons, but you're still an officer of the GTA and I personally expect you to discharge your duties to the letter. If this screwed-up government of ours is going to get back on its feet, it's going to need people like you. You do this right - keep us on good terms with Luyten, sort out this mess with the Hammer - and you'll be back in their good graces. It's all about optics, Commander, and it's terrible that it is, but that's the reality we're in right now.

Good luck, and send me a communique once you're settled in.

<div class='white'>Captain Akira Engman,</div><div class='white'>Commander, Air Group,</div><div class='white'>Centaur Station</div>
