The friendly IFF is broadcasting a signal both in the familiar code youve come to associate with encrypted comms from High command and also a second code which you assume is the new code they use as there's a chance the older code your command uses may become compromised. You triangulate the system the signal comes from and make your way there as fast as possible. It takes two days but you soon find yourself in a relatively empty system home only to a few rocky planets and to your great relief a friendly patrol! It's made up of what you recognize as four Luzon Class Heavy cruisers and 12 Verde Class destroyers. They quickly send you a challenge code once again in that old code and the new code and you respond with the counter code. The leader of the patrol, Commodore Jenkins explains that he had been chased this far into your sector by a large enemy fleet and desperately needed to return to their home port for resupply and repair. You do note while he speaks to you he seems shocked that your actually real and alive as apparently the holdout of Cartha had been spread around the fleet as propaganda and many didn't believe you were real. He does end up asking for your assistance as an escort back to friendly lines or you could try and convince him to transfer to your command which is something you can do as a Sector admiral.

>escort
>convince