XXIII: Iacta Alea Est (The Die is Cast)

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Ambience Tactical Mainframe: Strategic Command Operation 1307 NOVAN RECONQUEST

08/05/2175

Tactical projections completed. Novan fleet poses insignificant threat. Projections indicate Admiral Hadrian will withdraw upon Terran fleet arrival. Grushan forces will retaliate in full force. Current technological intelligence indicate that Grushan warships will be inferior to Zaha-Katchem technological capabilities. Tactical scenarios indicate Terran and Zaha-Katchem advantage in space battle over Nova. Full details in report to follow.



08/05/2175 1800 EST: Transmission Sent Terran Interstellar Authority: O Earth: 08/05/2175 1800 EST: Transmission Received TSS Alexander Nevsky BCM-1102, TSS Graf Spee BBM-0201, TSS Belisarius BBM-0202, TSS Sitting Bull BCM-1203, TSS Yamato BCM-1105

Begin Transmission

All Admirals. You are to move your ships in range of the Sol warp gate and prepare for a retaliatory strike into Proxima Centauri system and intercept the Novan fleet. ETA six hours.

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Novan Intelligence Dispatch: 08/05/2175 2200 NST

Border Security-Novan Intelligence Command: Large spatial distortions detected. Signature matches Sol warp gate. 64 Terran warships ships identified en route to Nova. End Dispatch.



08/06/2175 0017 EST: Transmission Sent TSS Graf Spee BBM-0201: O Nova: 08/06/2175 0018 EST: Transmission Received Terran Interstellar Authority

Begin Transmission

Terran Fleet has entered Nova system. Distance to Proxima B colony approximately 2 light-minutes. Novan Stellar Navy in orbit on far side. Beginning approach to intercept.

End Transmission.



08/06/2175 0800 Grusheran Standard Time: Transmission Sent FGSF "Claw" A-21 MK7A: O Yveran: 08/06/2175 0025 NST: Transmission Received Novan Stellar Navy High Command

Begin Transmission

Terran military attack on Nova has been reported. AY02 Attack Wing has been ordered to reinforce NSN forces in Nova system. Warp gate jump has been initiated. ETA seven hours fifteen minutes. AH01 and AG03 Attack Wings report in from Hezheran and Gleveran. ETA is ten hours. Hang in there, NSN.

End Transmission



Official Transcript: Bridge recording, NSN Enterprise AH01-001: 08/06/2175 0030 NST

Admiral Rafael Hadrian

Captain Ibrahim Mubarak

Helm Officer Tamara Noah

Communications Officer Eglantine Kayode

Sensor Officer Michael Okama

Tactical Officer Hokolesqua Bachchan

Executive Officer Inti Patil

Navigator Linh Tran

[Begin Playback]

HADRIAN: What's the status of the enemy fleet?

OKAMA: I'm seeing 64 Terran warships. Most are light support ships and missile destroyers, but there are a handful of larger ships. I see two battleships, the Graf Spee and the Belisarius. A handful of missile-based battle cruisers as well; I don't know how, but it looks like they repaired the Alexander Nevsky and brought her with them. I also see three carriers, the Shiva, the Caracara, and the Calais. They're making their way to our position.

HADRIAN: How long before they'll be in range for a firing solution?

OKAMA: Unknown sir. If their tracking systems are comparable to ours, maybe a minute.

HADRIAN: Mr. Bachchan, will our point defense be able to take out the volley?

BACHCHAN: I doubt it sir. They have over twice our fleet power. We may be able to stop one volley but not more than that.

HADRIAN: What about our automatic orbital defenses? Will they be able to take some of the heat off of us?

BACHCHAN: The trouble is that they're scattered around orbit in the event of a surprise attack. Only about half of them are in position to provide tactical support.

HADRIAN: Mr. Patil, how soon till we can jump out?

PATIL: Three minutes.

HADRIAN: Miss Kayode, send transmission to NSNHC. Inform them of our situation and tell them that I intend to retreat at the soonest opportunity.

KAYODE: Yes Admiral.

OKAMA: I'm picking up multiple new signatures on all bandwidths. It looks like their initial volley. Over three hundred warheads inbound.

MUBARAK: Admiral, I may have a suggestion. If we deploy a tactical warhead and detonate it in the middle of that barrage, we may be able to take a lot of those missiles down.

HADRIAN: Whatever it takes. You are authorized to fire one tactical warhead.

KAYODE: Admiral, the fleet is requesting permission to return fire.

HADRIAN: Negative Lieutenant. We don't have enough firepower to get past their point defense. Let's not waste too many missiles; we'll need them later.

MUBARAK: Mr. Patil, turn your key in three, two, one, now.

BACHCHAN: Tactical warhead launched. Time to intercept one minute and 14 seconds.

OKAMA: They just launched a second volley.

KAYODE: Fleet reports point defense systems engaged. Sir, the Juan Cortez and the Montague are requesting permission to move out of fleet position.

HADRIAN: Negative. We need to be ready to warp out as soon as possible.

BACHCHAN: Primary point defense modules engaged.

KAYODE: Fleet confirms. PDF engaged.

MUBARAK: Launch additional countermeasures.

BACHCHAN: Countermeasures responding. Metallic chaff fields active.

MUBARAK: Launch all of our remote sensor buoys as well. Set them to high frequency pings. I want to lash those inbound missiles with everything we have. See if it confuses their passive sensors.

PATIL: Suggest the fleet does the same, sir?

HADRIAN: Agreed. Ms. Kayode, please relay the instructions to the fleet.

KAYODE: Yes, Admiral.

PATIL: Mr. Okama, estimate time to intercept on those missiles.

OKAMA: Fifty-seven seconds.

PATIL: How much is going to make it past your point defense and countermeasures?

BACHCHAN: We won't know for sure until they clear the tactical warhead. Then we might have an estimate.

MUBARAK: Current time to intercept?

BACHCHAN: Thirty-three seconds.

HADRIAN: That's cutting it a bit close.

KAYODE: I'm receiving a hail from the Terran fleet. It's from Admiral Hans Gottred's flagship, the Graf Spee. Shall I put him through?

HADRIAN: Why not? Let's hear what he has to say.

KAYODE: Channel is open.

HADRIAN: This is Admiral Rafael Hadrian aboard the NSN Enterprise. Are you in need of assistance Graf Spee?

GOTTRED: Humor does not become the situation. I am Admiral Hans Gottred of the Terran Star Fleet. I speak with the authority of the Terran Hegemony. The planet you are defending is a Terran colony. Some of its population have been responsible for acts of terrorism on Earth, including the attempted assassination of Vice President Yong An-Hong. I have been sent to restore order to this colonial uprising. Stand and prepare to surrender your fleet or you will be destroyed.

HADRIAN: Admiral Gottred. Neither the Novan Alliance nor the Grushan Federation recognize your authority or that of the Terran Hegemony. Withdraw from Novan space or prepare to die in it.

MUBARAK: Detonate warhead.

BACHCHAN: Warhead detonated.

OKAMA: A six-hundred-kilometer area just lit up. Looks like some of the inbounds must have carried warheads as well. First Terran volley destroyed.

HADRIAN: Well, what about it, Admiral?

GOTTRED: Enterprise, this is your last chance to surrender.

HADRIAN: Then you won't have to call us back. Ms. Kayode, close channel.

PATIL: Planetary defenses are engaged. They've fired tactical warheads at the Terran fleet.

OKAMA: Looks like some of them are intercepting the second volley.

BACHCHAN: Terran countermeasures are active.

OKAMA: I'm picking up highly concentrated fire from the Terran fleet. Tracking five hundred inbounds. They're firing at will now, sir.

HADRIAN: Time till we can jump?

PATIL: Fifty-four seconds.

MUBARAK: How about those missiles? What's their ETA?

OKAMA: Twenty seconds.

BACHCHAN: Secondary PDF systems are engaged.

OKAMA: Nuclear detonation detected. It's from the orbital defenses. It was too far back to do much damage against the Terran volley. Also reading multiple detonations around the Terran fleet. Looks like their point defense took care of the planetary missile barrage sir.

BACHCHAN: Enemy inbound missiles engaged.

MUBARAK: Helm, put us into a slow roll. Maybe it will spoof their tracking systems.

NOAH: Aye sir.

[Hull Rattles]

PATIL: Collateral debris, sir. No damage to outer hull integrity and armor.

[Hull Rattles]

PATIL: Small hit, but our armor is holding. Minor damage to armor.

NOAH: We're out of alignment for the jump.

MUBARAK: Bring us back in, Lieutenant.

NOAH: Already on it sir.

HADRIAN: Time to jump?

PATIL: Seven seconds.

NOAH: Realignment complete.

PATIL: Ready to jump in four, three, two, one, ready.

HADRIAN: Signal the fleet to jump on my mark.

KAYODE: Aye sir.

HADRIAN: Jump now!

NOAH: Jump sequence initiated. Warp frequency matched.

[Metallic Groaning]

TRAN: Warp jump initiated. Time to arrive in Yveran is T minus 7 hours five minutes.

KAYODE: Fleet confirms. Jump successful. Minor damage sustained by fifteen ships. One ship is unaccounted for. It looks like the Shaka didn't make it sir.

[Pause]

HADRIAN: Then they are the first casualties of war. Let's hope there aren't many more.

[End Playback]



Speech Delivered by Yan An-Sing: 08/06/2175: Tiananmen Square, Beijing: Translated by Zhou Hanshen-Yao

People of Earth,

Over last night, Hegemony intelligence learned of a Novan plot. We have already seen its intention. It was the assassination of Vice President Yong An-Hong. Novan operatives were sighted planting the devices on Interlink records and surveillance footage. These operatives were brought in for question by TIIC agents. Under questioning, these spies have admitted that they were operating under the direct orders of Novan intelligence annals. The attack was designed to throw suspicion on Shen Wai-Fun, CEO of Ambience Corporation, and destabilize the trust between the government and the corporations of Earth. However, this attempt has failed. Yong An-Hong lives, and he stands with us here today.

People of Earth, we may have come out on top today, for this Novan act of terrorism was halted by the diligence of Terran intelligence and Zaha-Katchem technology used to intercept the transmissions. Oh yes, we have direct transmissions from Nova to the men responsible for the attempt on the life of Yong An-Hong. We are fortunate today. But how long will it be before our fortune fails us? How long before the Vice President, or Shen Wai-Fun, or the admirals fall victim to these assassins? And if this fails, will they begin to attack civilians? The Novans have proven their ruthlessness time and again. How long before they turn their backs on the people of Earth, their brothers and sisters, their own flesh and blood? And the Grushan, how will they react if Novans kill Terrans without consideration for their humanity? I very much doubt they will care if their competitors are eliminated in cold blood, terrorized and harassed by Novan aggression.

People of Earth, the attack upon the Vice President was a step too far. It is time to end the threat of Novan terrorism once and for all. Last night at 6:00, I myself gave direct authorization to the Terran Interstellar Authority to intervene in the Proxima system and launch retaliatory strikes against the Novan Stellar Navy. Troop ships are boarding as we speak around the world and on colonies in Sol, Alpha Ceti, and throughout the Hegemony. And this I promise; by the end of August, to subjugate the rebel government and insurgency on Proxima B; to annihilate the Novan Stellar Navy and all of its shipyards and assets; to restore Terran influence in Proxima and establish a military buffer in it between the Grushan and Earth; to humiliate the Federal Grushan Star Fleet and establish a tribute of money and resources for our allies the Zaha-Katchem; to strengthen the alliance that has begun to form between the Terran Hegemony and the Zaha-Katchem; to establish Terran and Zaha-Katchem supremacy in this part of the galaxy. On this day, the thirtieth of July, 2175 of the common era, the Terran Hegemony declares absolute war against the so-called Novan Alliance and the Grushan Federation that upholds their illegitimate regime.

Today is the day when the people of Earth stood up and took their place in the galaxy alongside the Zaha-Katchem! Let history look back upon those who joined us this day and be amazed; for it was not by charity, or trade, divinity that humans have achieved this height, but by their own merit, by their right as humans, by equality and love for all mankind, by ingenuity, by unity, by the Interlink and by the love of the Zaha-Katchem that it was achieved. Look back upon this day and remember the day when humans emerged from the shadows of a military dictatorship and stepped forth into the light of the universe!



The Thoughts of Yong An-Hong: Translated by Alexandra Yuan: Copyright 2205, Centauri University Press: Hanson Harbor, Nova

08/06/2175

It has always been strange for me to see myself present in official state functions; ever since I was a low-ranking party official in Chengdu, I have felt this way. To see oneself pronounce the rule of law is a jarring experience at the best of times. But today, I saw myself standing with President Yan, and it was much stranger, because I knew that it was not really me standing there, but an illusion. I saw it and I saw the President on that stage together, even without an Interlink to fool me; the spy, Alexandra Troy, saw them both as well, and I have had my Interlink removed as a precaution and a condition of the spies who helped me. It is a harsh judgement upon me, an architect of the system that now fabricates an image on a whim. I believed in an Interlink that could bring about change on Earth; I see now an Interlink being used to bring about changes for the worst. If there is any consolation, it is that I can now say with absolute assuredness that the President, my friend, is truly dead, and I have made the right choice in abandoning my post.

I have become as a fugitive in my own country. The spy, Troy, was as good as her word to me. Shortly after the Novans confirmed my information, I was contacted and told to prepare for extraction. They asked me not to disclose how this was achieved, a precaution I understand; they must keep their methods secret, after all, if they are to be effective. I shall, I think, have a few words to say to the TIIC if I ever return to a position of power or at the very least respect, however. Since escaping my chambers in Peking, I have been shuttled through various places in underground channels, but have been kept mostly unaware of my location. For an hour I was placed in the back of a van with painted windows; when I disembarked it was night, and I was in a gas station somewhere in rural China; at the very least, the writing was in Chinese. Then I was disguised and traveled by train for half an hour. We reached a coast and I was taken below decks where I could not see our progress. I was in the hull of the boat for several hours; I lost track of the time quickly. We disembarked in a city; I believe it was Hong Kong, but I am not sure. It was there that my Interlink was removed by a street doctor. I was heavily sedated for the process; I must have remained unconscious for several hours.

I awoke with a migraine on board a small aircraft; Troy herself had joined us then and she explained the situation as dryly as she did when I met her in prison. I asked how she had escaped, of course, but she refused to satisfy my curiosity. It must have been accomplished very shortly, since she had not changed out of the prison jumpsuit that she had worn in Inchon. There, she told me something of the plan moving forward. We were on a flight, she told me, to Kinshasa in Congo. The plane would land in the dead of night and it would be there that I met with dissident leadership, as well as her own "associates" to decide what should be done with me. While we were on the plane, President Yan gave his speech to the Hegemony, or rather the digital specter of President Yan spoke, and my own specter joined him.

It is strange that they have used my disappearance and the attempt upon my life to justify the very thing that I spoke out against. I have no doubt in my mind that the Novans have no part in the attempt on my life, of course; I still very much suspect Shen Wai-Fun, though I can still make no sense of his insistence on war with Nova and the Grushan. Perhaps I saw more of his thought when speaking to the illusion of Yan An-Sing than I have realized; is it possible that the past few years have radicalized him so thoroughly without anybody taking notice? Is it possible that he has no ulterior plot and that he truly believes that he is to be the savior of humans and Grushan alike? Perhaps this is too much for me to know, but I have known Wai-Fun for many years, and it is anathema to my mind to register such a shift. Yet I still do not say what other forces may be at work to bring about the death of the President and my own attempted assassination.

We arrived in Kinshasa shortly before dawn. I was transferred to a darkened vehicle and taken to a building twenty minutes from the airport at which I landed. I disembarked the car, which must have been ancient and gasoline powered for the smell and the noise it made; I suspect that they used it to avoid GPS tracking that most modern vehicles have equipped by default. At my current location, wherever it is, I have been given a small room with no windows and a desk and a bed, and I am writing here as I wait for their leaders to meet with me. From the conversation I overheard in the car, it seems that I am not the first high priority arrival of the day; Kinshasa, it seems has become a haven for powerful men and women fleeing Shen Wai-Fun. I wonder if perhaps this second guest may be the President himself, if perhaps his presence and his corpse were equal parts illusion? But no; if this were so, the President must have arrived here weeks ago, and not just today. I will ask when I have been summoned to meet with their leadership.



08/06/2175 0713 NST: Transmission Sent TSS Graf Spee BBM-0201: O Nova: 08/06/2175 0814 EST: Transmission Received Terran Interstellar Authority

Begin Transmission

Grushan attack wing detected leaving warp zone on far end of Proxima system. 45 ships have been identified. They are not making hostile maneuvers yet, but have broadcasted warnings on all frequencies. We are continuing with bombardment on Novan planetary missile launch platforms. Kinetic artillery is having sub-optimal effects due to atmospheric elements and subaquatic building locations. Recommend reallocation of further fleet strength to Proxima B.

End Transmission

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