To His Excellency Gem-Al Fex-It, Governor of the Sirian Socialist Systems Quadrant 7, at Gryt.
COPY Sir Mario Benjamin Menendez GCMG, Imperial Governor General of Quadrant 7
COPY Sir Humphrey Fullbright, Deputy Imperial Governor General of Quadrant 7
COPY Admiral of the White Sir George Tryon KCBE, CinC 1st Allied Fleet
COPY Senior Admiral A Gorickal, SSS Obraztsovy,
FROM Admiral of the Black (Brevet) AB Burwasher, Supreme Commander Joint Allied Command, Quadrant 7, ESS Alligator
DATE YOUR MESSAGE SENT 3198.123
RECEIVED & THIS REPLY SENT 3198.143
THIS REPLY RECEIVED AT GRYT 3198.165
I received your communication with the usual degree of pleasure that I derive from the like. I have given the information therein and your requests the consideration they deserve and would make the following reply:
1. THREAT OF BERSERKER ATTACK
The assessment you refer to, originally contained within clause 3 of the Earther-Sirian Alliance, was made on 3198.360. It was valid at that time given the intelligence available, but much has changed since. In particular the following points are significant:
1.1 Up to 3198.360 twelve aligned colonies had been attacked by the Berserkers, over a period of 261 days. That is one attack every 22 days.
1.2 Since 3198.360 only two aligned colonies have been attacked by the Berserkers; Baldar and Dyme. That is one attack every 91 days. At Baldar, Martian Fleet Fenris engaged the two BSBs and destroyed one. At Dyme, TG7 engaged one BSB outside the M25. Although the BSB escaped it was severely damaged.
1.3 Three Fleets of JACQ7 destroyed three BSBs at Flypaper. Now without knowing the number of BSBs that have been operating in Q7, nor the Berserker modus operandi we cannot know the reason for this. However the probable explanation is that we have inflicted sufficient losses to prevent more. The consequence is that the probability of Evian or F-Luent being the next BSB target is now 4.3%. This is not significantly more than for any other colony on the 'eastern' edge of Q7, which we may term the 'front line' with the Berserker Menace. This means that all colonies are still in danger, but not the 'grave' danger that you describe.
2. THE THREAT TO SIRIAN SYSTEMS
It is not for me in my position as Supreme Commander Joint Allied Command, Quadrant 7, to comment on the internal arrangements of any political grouping's with regard to the Berserker Menace, and I shall not do so. However it is my duty to provide such intelligence as we have on the Berserker modus operandi and JACHQ analysis of the Threat, so that the disparate administrations of the quadrant may make as informed a judgement as is possible. I shall therefore provide comments relevant to the points that you raised.
2.1 As alluded to above, JACHQ do not consider that the threat to the four remaining Sirian systems is significantly different. Thus in terms of surviving a Berserker attack, there is no calculable benefit in evacuating personnel to Gryt. Gryt is as likely to be attacked as the other three systems.
2.2 The 1AF mission is to guard the 'front line' from Potomax to Floryn. The 1AF location outside the Gryme M25 is equidistant from these two systems. This is the optimum start point for 1AF to achieve its mission, and therefore it will not be changed.
2.3 Your concern about the ability of 1AF to protect the Sirian systems in the event of a BSB attack is clearly legitimate, and doubtless shared by all quadrant and system governments. So I shall explain the JAC strategy for countering Berserkers. The naval forces available to the JACQ7 have been organized into fleets each of which is intended to be capable of defeating one BSB. Any weaker fleets would be ineffective. This has given us five such fleets to be deployed as JACHQ determines to achieve the JAC Mission, which is:
1st Maintain a fleet in being; 2nd Defence of Human Colonies; 3rd Destruction of Berserker units.
Because there is no means of detecting starships in hyperspace, and because we do not know where the Berserkers are based, we cannot hunt the enemy. We are obliged to await attack, and then to respond as swiftly and decisively as possible. Thus the five JAC fleets are evenly spaced across the quadrant so as to minimize the time required to reach a system under attack. When a BSB is detected, JAC SOP is to intercept it ASAP with sufficient force to destroy it.
The BSBs are known to attack system HSTS before entering the M25. In response we have provided all systems with starships to act as
additional HSTS to ensure that an alarm can be sent. BSBs use 1g acceleration to reach habitable planets and then bombard them for between 20 and 40 days to achieve their destruction. All habitable planets within Q7 are at least 7 days from the M25 (using 1g). Thus to ensure that we can prevent a BSB from completing its bombardment, we have a target response time of less than 27 days after it enters a system. To achieve this, a fleet must be within 13 parsecs of the system (allowing for the delay in receipt of the signal). Evian, for example, is 8 parsecs from Gryme. Thus 1AF would arrive at the colony no more than 12 days after bombardment could have started. Whilst the planet could have sustained serious damage in that time, it would not be destroyed.
Until such time as we have one fleet available to guard each system, this is the best that can be accomplished.
3. POSITION AND STATUS OF SIRIAN SHIPS
| SHIP | LOCATION | UNIT | MISSION |
| SSS Obraztsovy | Gryme | 1AF | Admiral Gorickal's flagship |
| SSS Fushima | Gryme | 1AF | |
| SSS Skory | Possibly Y25 | TFS1 | Investigating non-aligned systems |
| SSS Storey | Possibly Y25 | TFS1 | Investigating non-aligned systems |
| SSS Vesky | To Dark Nebula | TF74 | with ESS Mario |
| SSS Kotlin | Evian | n.a. | Sentry ship |
| SSS Ardito | F-Luent | n.a. | Sentry ship |
| SSS Audace | Dyme | n.a. | Sentry ship |
| SSS Chihaya | Gryt | n.a. | Converting to spacedock |
Notes:
3.1 TFS1 and TF74 are part of ATG7. This is carrying out Operation Wild Goose: to investigate which non-aligned colonies have been destroyed by BSBs, and to search for Berserker bases.
3.2 LSSIs SSS Chihaya and ESS Dubna are being converted into a 'spacedock'. This will require the two ships to operate together, and will be capable of repairing starships in deep space. Completion date 3198.202. (Before you ask, one of these ships is Earther because you only have 2 LSSI and otherwise you would have none to support the fleet. If you have a problem with this, let me know. I suppose it would be possible to substitute a Sirian merchant starship, if you prefer it.
4. SIRIAN COMMISSARS
Commissars will receive every assistance in being transported to Sirian ships. They may be shipped aboard any JAC vessel to reach their destination. However I am not prepared to compromise JAC operations by diverting ships from their course.
5. SIRIAN GROUND FORCE DIVISIONS
Operation FENRIR, the capture of the Berserker Flypaper Base, has shown the need for GF forces to be attached to the JAC fleets. I have ordered the assembly of Earther Ground Forces and for them to be shipped aboard ALSI.
Your offer of 6 Sirian Ground Force divisions for use in further operations is greatly appreciated, and most welcome. It would improve their availability if the Sirian authorities could provide the necessary starships to accommodate them. I would be much obliged if you could arrange that, and inform me accordingly. Training will be provided as soon as practicable.
6. JAC TECHNOLOGICAL COMMITTEE
I agree that such a committee should be established. However this is a matter for the quadrant governments to deal with and not the military. It will doubtless be under consideration by the Q7 Summit meeting at Potomax, and I believe that you should promote this excellent suggestion there.
Message Ends