To: Lt Col Killgore
Copy: All Officers 130 EMR, Dr Matik, Agent Green, Agent Orange, Agent Scarlet, JIM-0000,
From: Major Peter "Where the F... are we now?" Howland
This concludes the A.A.R. for Op Strawberry. (Codewords are at Appendix A.)
C Group cleared INFLEXIBLE A. B Group passed through INFLEXIBLE A to clear INFLEXIBLE B. The Detachment maintained security and assisted the GEEKS to reconnect their equipment between INFLEXIBLE A, INFLEXIBLE B and MARATHON. The operation of the equipment by the GEEKS resulted in the expansion of the "void" centred at MARATHON to engulf MESA and the ships in orbit, and deposit same in our present situation. We are now invited to refer to our present location as "Universe B".
2.1 Squad C9 was released from Regimental Reserve to join C Group in INFLEXIBLE A. C Group cleared the Laboratory, Control Rooms and Plant Rooms of INFLEXIBLE A. Space Foam was deployed in the main tunnel in front of the airlock where SPOOKS were manifesting. This unfortunately caused a considerable delay in Op Strawberry while passageways wereburnt through the foam with SCAs.
2.2 B Group moved from INFLEXIBLE A through GLORY to INFLEXIBLE B. B Group (minus Squad B4) cleared the Laboratory, Control Rooms and Plant Rooms of INFLEXIBLE B. Squad B4 inspected MARATHON and then moved cable to assist the GEEKS in reconnecting power to their equipment in MARATHON from INFLEXIBLE A and INFLEXIBLE B. Squad B4 and Lt Rockford in particular are commended for their professionalism and devotion to duty in completing this task in the face of a dangerous radiation hazard without casualty.
2.3 When the GEEKS operated their equipment it resulted in the expansion of the "void" centred at MARATHON. The "void" then appeared to engulf MESA and the ships in orbit, and deposit same in our present situation.
4 Marines in C Group became casualties in INFLEXIBLE A. This is additional to the casualties in KINGDOM and JUSTICE viz:-
Satisfactory; 1 Supercharge, 3 Spacefoam, 6 Grenades and 37 Democharges expended.
130 EMR is to stand still when SPOOKS are in sight, only firing SCAs as they bear. SpaceFoam was deployed in 3 locations where SPOOKS were manifesting, and no more appeared.
SPOOKS seemed to appear at random intervals from fixed nodes. They attacked anything that moved.
This is a preliminary report on the SPOOKS encountered.
7.1 Dr Matik has assessed the SPOOKS to be Transdimentional Aliens. Each SPOOK apparently manifests from a "ball of energy" (BOE) which randomly appears in time. These manifestations seem to use specific locations, or nodes, rather at random.
7.2 The BOE give off hazardous radiation before the SPOOK appears. BOE can be destroyed by SCA fire, but this increases the burst of radiation.
7.2 At least 4 different types of SPOOKS were identified. 2 different weapon types were encountered: Type 1 fires a ball of radiation, Type 2 fires plasma. All SPOOKS are susceptible to SCA fire, but appear to be unaffected by Grenades.
SPOOKS require a varying number of SCA hits to destroy, from 1 to 3 apparently according to size.
Op Strawberry was successfully completed. Unfortunately the GEEKS have failed to restore the status quo ante. The current Threat is unknown.
9.1 B and C Groups should be re-supplied immediately.
9.2 Patrols should be established to detect any Threat.
9.3 Weapons should be tested to determine their effectiveness in the new situation.
9.4 The rescued GEEKS should be moved to the hospital ship immediately.
Target Codewords:
TOWEL Non-Combatants
SPOOK Moving Hazards
SPIKE Non-Moving Hazards
JOKER Unidentified
FRIENDLY Identified as Friendly
GEEKS Scientific Support Personnel
Objective Codewords (Amdt 1):
ARROGANT HQ and Admin Block
BRILLIANT Main Power Plant
CHAMPION Surface Resonance Chamber
DREADNOUGHT A & B Habdomes near the Surface Resonance Chamber
EXCELLENT Landing Site as defined by Group Alpha
FEARLESS Mesa Moon Shuttle Landing Zone
GLORY Main Access Tunnel
HOLDFAST Emergency Access Tunnel
INFLEXIBLE A & B Labs A & B
JUSTICE Main Bunker and Emergency Refuge
KINGDOM Emergency Refuge on Emergency Access Tunnel
LIGHTNING Surface Weapons
MARATHON Main Experimental C
The asteroid (or what is left of it) is sitting wedged in a valley on a small planet. There is a thin methane atmosphere, and as far as you can tell, G is about 0.2. The planet is otherwise barren, and pock-marked with craters. Orbital observation indicates that there is apparently nothing on this world except you.
There is a nearby star, approximately 3-4 AU away. You are looking for other planets, but that will take a while (after all the Precision Creek is hardly a Survey Ship)
The ESS Precision Creek (EPC) and a number of supporting craft were able to boost into orbit on 'arrival' (they were attempting to accelerate away when the blackness engulfed them, and this helped. Two small shuttles were unlucky and crashed on arrival, killing the crews and destroying them.
The Navigation Officer on the EPC says he doesn't know where we are. He has run a number of simulations on the navcomp, and so far the star orientations are nothing like any that can be identified within 10,000 parsecs of human space. The navcomp is still working out more distant combinations, and you will be informed is something comes up.
Prof. Matik is of the opinion that we have transited to another universe, which he has provisionally called 'Universe B'. The physical laws are broadly the same (else we would all be dead), but there may be some unexpected differences, so be cautious. His more serious concern is over the HSD. Since the HSD uses some transdimensional field techniques, it is highly likely that it will malfunction in a different dimension. He cautions against trying to switch on the HSD in the EPC until we can study the situation more carefully.
The base is still broadly functional. The energy pulses have ceased, as has the manifestation of bizarre aliens. The habdomes can be repaired, there is power (though not much), and the labs seem to be capable of some work.
To summarise, you have:
On the damaged base, there are food and water supplies and air plants - sufficient to last perhaps 60 days.
There are also a number of surviving scientists and technicians.
What you need to do now:
1. Work out what military stores you have (since there may not be a replenishment for a while!) and let me have it for approval.
2. Decide how you plan to organise yourselves.
3. So far there is no identified threat - how paranoid are you feeling?
4. OP STRAWBERRY has finished. Think about 'what next?'. You might have a few questions.
JIM0000
PS: Oh look! There's a planet over there (about 1.2 au from the star). It is emanating EMR consistent with a technological civilisation. Though none of the transmissions are decipherable.