TO Admiral E. Rice-Burroughs, MSS 'Odin'
TO Admiral Hogan Stipes, ESS 'NO PLAN SURVIVES'
TO Venerian Admiral, c/o Oith
COPY Admiral of the White Sir George Tryon KCBE, ESS Shaka
DATE 3198.061 < by which time Burwasher should be at Potomax. This is again
in reply to Admiral E. Rice-Burroughs' ( Martian ) message of 3198.051 >
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1. CODE NAMES
< My understanding, subject to JIM9000 correction, is that a Exterminator Super-Battleship ("BSB") is made up of some 6 modules joined together. Each individual module has a hyper-space drive (HSD) and is called a "Viking" (this is what the web site states; but JIM9000 erronously (the Operating system is now being checked for viruses) used Viking for a BSB and Patel for the module in the Dyme 2 e-mails, as did I in Burwasher's first message ). Exterminator pacifiers, capable of about 10 g acceleration, are code named "Shadow". I shall use BSB for the battleship, and Viking for the module below. >
2. MODUS OPERANDI ASSESSMENT
The evidence we have indicates that the Exterminator aim is to destroy all life, not just human life, on developed colonies. Presumably the enemy select a target system by searching for unnatural EMF emissions. It seems most likely that Vikings search individually, since a BSB would take 6 times as long to find a target, as its separated modules. Once a Viking has selected a target it would summon the others to form the BSB. Before the BSB is formed, the Vikings try to find and destroy any HSTS. This happened at both 116AL and Dyme. Once the BSB is formed, it proceeds to bombard the whole surface of the colonised planet, as reported at Baldar. Points to note are:
2.1 That locating colonies is time consuming; it must take days.
2.2 That assembling the BSB at a target's M25 and then moving to bombard at 1 g deceleration must take many days: from say 10 to 30.
2.3 That the bombardment of the planet's surface and then the BSB leaving the system must also take days, say 10 plus.
2.4 That the time between attacks on colonies, where we can reasonably assume the same BSB is involved, is some 50 to 70 days.
2.5 That the loss of HSTS is characteristic of Exterminator attacks.
2.6 Because we have only noted loss of contact with 3 non-aligned colonies this does NOT mean that only 3 have been destoyed.
2.7 That examination of the captured Viking does not conclude that they are self-perpetuating. That it is reasonable to assume that Vikings need repair yards, and a source for replacement parts and consumables.
2.8 That plotting the location and date of attacks indicates that BSBs move from a victim to one close by.
3. CONCLUSIONS
3.1 Attacks on HSTS should be monitored; sentry ships are effective. The Earther colonies have mobilised their Star Guard ships as auxiliary naval vessels. It is recommended that other governments follow suit.
3.2 Because of the warning time provided by vigilant sentry ships, fleets may be concentrated and spaced say 20 days apart, and still be able to meet a BSB attack in time.
3.3 That searching in the neighbourhood of reported victims is likely to find a BSB.
3.4 That searching at the hub of Exterminator attacks, plotted in time and space, may locate enemy bases, if such exist. At present, the Dark Nebula may be such a hub.
4. JAC STRATEGY
As partly explained in my previous 2 messages, my aim is (a) to position 5 fleets so as to cover the front line against new Exterminator attacks, and (b) to actively search for Exterminator units, and then destroy them.
Admiral Rice-Burroughs is reminded that he is to deploy light forces (pairs of DDI or CLI are suggested ) to reconnoitre systems Gander, Kragg, The Flats etc.
Admiral Stipes is reminded that he is also to deploy light forces to reconnoitre systems Y17, Y18, and the Dark Nebula with horizontal grid lines less than 085.
5. This fully explains my analysis of the situation and my plans to fight the Exterminators. Please let me have your comments and suggestions if you can improve on this. Afterall we have no precedents for this war.
Message ends.
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