Interviewer: We can’t speculate yet on what their aim was.
Kady Grant: I guess if they catch up with us, we can ask them before they blow us to pieces.
Interviewer: There’s just one last thing, Mr. Mason.
Ezra Mason: Can this thing please include those pain meds you promised?
Interviewer: We’ve had another update to the casualty lists. I’m afraid I have some news about your father.
OFFICER MEMORANDUM
BATTLECARRIER ALEXANDER—78V
INCEPT: 01/30/75
FROM: GENERAL DAVID TORRENCE
Officers of the Alexander,
In the 24 hours since the assault on the Kerenza colony, the battle with BeiTech forces, and our subsequent withdrawal, our analytics crews have been working around the clock to assess our situation. In summary, here are their findings:
• Our jump gate generator is heavily damaged—wormholes can still be created but will more than likely collapse before a jump can be executed, resulting in the Alexander’s destruction. Acting Chief of Technical Engineering Colonel Eva Sanchez reports the damage is irreparable, given our current resources (most notably, the death of Mallory Yzerman, our former CTE). Essentially, independent jump travel is not an option.
• The closest static jump gate able to return us to a Core system is Jump Station Heimdall. Though the station itself is on the other side of the universe, a waypoint/wormhole leading to Heimdall is 6.5–7 months’ travel away at current speeds. In short, we are looking at over half a year’s journey before we can jump to safety in a populated zone.
• Missile strikes sustained in the battle have damaged our Artificial Intelligence Defense Analytics Network (AIDAN), responsible for many vital shipboard functions, including main drive control and jump gate calculations. The same missiles that damaged AIDAN also eliminated a considerable percentage of our neurogramming staff. Although AIDAN is self-repairing, and still functional, the full extent of the damage is unknown.
• Several other areas of the ship sustained damage, most notably our H2O reservoirs, defense grid and propulsion systems.
• At least one BeiTech dreadnought participating in the Kerenza attack, BT042-TN (aka the Lincoln), survived the battle and is currently in pursuit of our fleet. With existing damage and crew levels, our tactical staff estimates we have a 22.7 percent chance of surviving should the Lincoln engage us.
• The two civilian transports we are currently escorting—science vessel Hypatia and heavy freighter Copernicus—are carrying 3,348 civilians from the Kerenza colony. Alexander is carrying a further 1,097 civilians. Given aforementioned damage to Alexander’s H2O reservoirs, this overpopulation will place increased strain on our supply situation. Neither the Hypatia or the Copernicus will be of assistance should the Lincoln engage us.
• Distress calls have been issued on all United Terran Authority channels via the Heimdall waypoint. No reply has been received. In all likelihood, this means our transmissions have not been heard.
In short, ladies and gentlemen, we are bleeding badly and there are sharks in the water. We are understaffed and outgunned, and over six months from a realistic escape point. As such, I am issuing the following order, effective immediately:
Any Kerenza colonist with a skill set useful in plugging our shortfalls is to be conscripted into the United Terran Authority military. Engineers. Medical personnel. Scientists. Anyone with a history of military service.
Furthermore, every Kerenza colonist seventeen years or older will be immediately tested for aptitude in computer science, mechanics, electronics, spatial awareness, pattern prediction, hand-eye coordination, twitch reflex, and stress management. Anyone showing C-grade ability or better is to be conscripted the day they hit eighteen. We need pilots. We need gunners. We need spanner monkeys and chipheads. And we need them now.
This is an unprecedented situation—to my knowledge, no stellarcorp has ever openly attacked a United Terran Authority ship. I don’t care if BeiTech Industries’ litigation department has enough red tape to gift-wrap a small moon. These corporations need to learn nobody is above the law and nobody attacks a UTA vessel without consequences.
You have worked tirelessly, acquitting yourselves with distinction and valor. We have lost comrades. We have lost brothers and sisters and those we loved dearly. I know the past few days have been hard. The road ahead will be harder still. But knowing each of you as I do, I have no doubt you will rise to the challenge before us and get these civilians to the Heimdall waypoint alive.
Centrum tenenda.
David Torrence
General, United Terran Authority
Commander, Alexander—78V
SIDE VIEW
FRONT VIEW
ALEXANDER-78V
Heavy battlecarrier capable of self-generating ephemeral jump gates for interstellar travel. Carries a complement of Cyclone-class fighter craft. Possesses nuclear strike capabilities.
Commander: General David Torrence
Executive Officer: Colonel Lia Myles
CLASS: Vortex
LENGTH: 3.25 km
HEIGHT: 1.3 km
CREW: 4,000
MAX VELOCITY: 1.7 sst
ACCELERATION: 1.4 sst
MAIN DRIVE: Typhoon Mk VII x 6
SECONDARY DRIVE: Atlas Mk II x 12
INERTIAL DAMPENERS: 1 g
DEFENSE GRID:
DDT-10.9 phalanx
RG-166 samsara x 48
AIDAN-assisted FFG-01i
PAYLOAD:
Goliath 50mt x 40
Capricorn 10.8mt x 100
FIGHTERS: Cyclone Mk IV x 125(s)
SHUTTLES:
Vitus III x 20
Vitus IX x 12
SIDE VIEW
FRONT VIEW
HYPATIA
Long-range scientific exploration vessel, ideally suited for deep-space recon/assessment. Lightly armed and armored. Equipped with state-of-the-art tracking and QASAR arrays.
Captain: Ann Chau
Executive Officer: Syra Boll
CLASS: Oracle
LENGTH: 0.9 km
HEIGHT: 0.21 km
CREW: 500
MAX VELOCITY: 1.5 sst
ACCELERATION: 1.3 sst
MAIN DRIVE: Balor IX [gt4]
SECONDARY DRIVE: Balor IV x 4
INERTIAL DAMPENERS: 0.98 g
DEFENSE GRID:
ZXII-unig
Twilight GH-2 x 2
PAYLOAD: Capstone 7c x 6
FIGHTERS: none
SHUTTLES: Nova III x 12
SIDE VIEW
FRONT VIEW
COPERNICUS
Midtrek freighter, typically used for heavy-mass, system-length hauls [ore/ice/necs]. Slow-moving, with poor maneuverability, but durable. Interchangeable modular freight arrays provide excellent load flexibility.
Captain: Harry Ryker
Executive Officer: Heather Kelly
CLASS: Taurus
LENGTH: 1.2 km
HEIGHT: 0.96 km
CREW: 450
MAX VELOCITY: 0.9 sst