Deep Space
The Dead Zone
Aboard ISS Belfast Windfall

Biggs Hilsfar keyed his message pad, then composed the message traffic.

From: Commander Biggs Hilsfar
To: Interstel Liaison, New Empire Council

We've been here in the Dead Zone conducting surveys for the Elowan project Coreward Plowshares for six months. Needless to say, there's not much activity out here. All the same, we ran into a bit of excitement about two hours ago. Commander Alowala received a burst transmission that seems to be a distress call coming from outward. The message is as follows:

***/Incoming FLASH traffic/***
---Nomad Comm Band---
H57 Long Range Protocols Apply

Receiving: "[static]...we're under attack [inaudible]...repeat, we're under attack from at least [inaudible] ships, maybe mo...request immediate aid from any [inaudible] or allied vessels in ran...our shields we...[shaking, muffled explosions] for routine maintenan...not sure if they kn...what were they doing this far coreward? Repent, my [inaudible]…bastard squids!...repeat [static] damn it! Reroute auxiliary...[static]
[---/ END TRANSMISSION /--]

Grx'bzzgah, my navigator, hasn't got a great deal of equipment on this particular mission, but as near as he can tell, that transmission came from the vicinity of the Staff Constellation. Chances are, Vell Bralis Nova City is in a world of hurt. I'm an old hack about six months from retirement, but I'll bet a fungus chew that the orbital shipyards have been set back a year or three. I'd recommend that a task force be dispatched to the New Scotland sector with all possible speed. Leave the stun guns home.

We'll be sending out our next Coreward Plowshares estimate two weeks later than scheduled this cycle. The nebula storms are not cooperating. Please forward our regrets to Teshbulr City on Elan. (Comm Delta89-3.)

--Hilsfar Out

Biggs sat at his desk, pondering this development. Somehow, he knew there was money to be made.

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Next: "Computations"