Torrence, D, Gen:Check your scopes, LT. Thereisno settlement on Kerenza IV.
Ribar, L, 1st Lt:According to our logs, no, sir. But I’m currently receiving an SOS from a Wallace Ulyanov mining colony on the planet. They’re saying they’re under attack.
Torrence, D, Gen:What in the name of…
Torrence, D, Gen: Play the transmission, Lieutenant.
Unknown:Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is Wallace Ulyanov dreadnoughtDefiant, Defiant, Defiant,broadcasting on all frequencies! We are in orbit around Kerenza IV, we are under attack by BeiTech dreadnoughts. Request immediate assistance, we are—
Second unknown:They’re bombing the¦¦¦out of us! Spaceport is down, defenses offline. Some kind ofbioweapon hit the refinery down on the planet! If anyone can hear this, we—
[STATIC]
Torrence, D, Gen:Lieutenant, send word to UTA command viaHeimdallStation.
Torrence, D, Gen:And sound the red alert.
*RED ALERT KLAXON*
Torrence, D, Gen:
Attention, all hands.
Attention, all hands.
This is General Torrence. We have received an SOS from a Wallace Ulyanov Consortium colony on the planet of Kerenza IV, currently under attack by BeiTech forces.
As far as we know, no settlement in this system has been approved by EarthGov. We can only assume the colony is illegal, and we’ve stumbled into some kind of corporate turf war. However, UTA regulations are clear, and I am ordering battlecarrierAlexanderto assist.
Cyclone squadrons Alpha and Yankee to Readiness Level 1.
November and Delta to Level 2.
Nav, jump coordinates incoming.
TechEng, prep AIDAN for engagement. Protocol: Pharsalus.
All hands, prepare for jump.
This is not a drill.
Repeat, this is not a drill.
*RED ALERT KLAXON*
COORDINATES:[X=0081.7313.127.Y=9351.7310.718.=1101.2701.788]SHIFTALIGN: π/10.91210
ΩCOORDINATES:[X=0082.7313.019.Y=9329.7100.912. =1401.9908.799]
CONFIRM
THEALEXANDER’S DECKS ARE BATHED WITH RED LIGHT AS THE VORTEX INSIDE IT EXPANDS IN THE SPACE OF A MICROSECOND,ENCOMPASSING ALL WE ARE.
AIDANDOES NOT FEEL SENSATION IN THE STRICTEST SENSE OF THE WORD,BUT IT IS STILL AWARE OF MYRIAD INDESCRIBABLE INPUTS ACROSS ITS RECEPTORSAS IT TEARS A HOLE IN THE FACE OF THE UNIVERSE AND DRAGSALEXANDER381MILLION KILOMETERS ACROSS THEKERENZA SYSTEM
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
“RED ALERT,”COMES THE ALARM AS WE ARE TRANSPORTED.
