To: Sir Humphrey Fulbright CMG, Deputy Governor General, Earther Q7, Dolha
Supreme Councillor R. Bradbury, Martian Q7, Xynam
Venerian High Command, Oith
Sirian High Command, Gryt
Centauri High Command, Mald 2
Wolfer High Command, Prtoprnss
Zionist High Command, Tiel
The Esteeler Quadrant Seven Assembly has approved my sending this message and has granted me full emergency powers for the duration of this emergency.
Fellow Humans!
Together we face the greatest threat to Humanity since our people left our Home Worlds. I believe we must fight together to defeat the Exterminator menace. Divided we will fail. What unites us - our common humanity - is vastly more important than what divides us. I agree with the statesmanlike words of Martian Supreme Councillor Bradbury.
We must see that the differing colour of our uniforms and flags is less important than the identical colour of our blood. It is the very existence of our species which is now at stake. The battle will be hard and many more will perish. Millions have died already. If we fail here in Quadrant Seven, the evidence is strong that the Exterminators will continue until all humans are dead. We must understand these horrible facts and act accordingly. My key message is that we must co-operate or we are doomed.
I wish to demonstrate to all of you that this is more than mere rhetoric.
I am issuing, therefore, the following General Orders, and I urge you to issue similar orders to your own forces.
1. An Emergency is declared. The destruction of Exterminators is the only priority. All other military activities which distract from this are to be suspended until further notice and maximum effort is to be put into the defeat of the Exterminators. To this end, I am recommending that Esteeler fleet, currently mustering at Potomax, prepare to go to Evian (Sirian system) as this is, according to our strategic assessment, the most likely attack point; and I officially request permission from the Sirian Government o enter Sirian space.
2. The armed forces of all Human Powers in Quadrant 7 are to be treated as allies and all possible support and aid is to be offered. This is to include the sharing of all information about Exterminator whereabouts, intentions and capabilities.
3. As a matter of urgency a Joint Command is to be set up for all Powers in Quadrant Seven. The Supreme Commander is to be the senior officer with the most experience of combat against the Exterminators. My personal recommendation is that the Supreme Commander be Earther Admiral Burwasher.
Once this is agreed, Esteeler forces will be subject to this Supreme Commander for the duration of the Emergency. I wish to offer the excellent facilities and central location of the Potomax system as a Supreme Command Headquarters and invite allied powers to muster there. I myself will be there in a few days.
4. Initial key military objectives are to include:
a) The bringing to battle and destruction of all Exterminators; (Operation Mjolnir)
b) the capture of Exterminator technology to aid in our ability to understand and combat them; (Operation Loki)
c) the discovery of a means of taking the battle to the enemy by finding and attacking their bases or homeworld (Operation Utgard)
As part of Esteeler commitment to openness and co-operation, I attach a recent Esteeler intelligence report which may be of interest to other Powers. The failure to report promptly to other Powers on our battle at Asstek was a mistake which will not be repeated. I will further state that Esteeler forces have suffered heavy losses which have caused some temporary loss of cohesion, and some communication problems, but this is now being dealt with and our forces are fully operational. I do call upon those Powers so far unengaged to rally to this noble cause; this is your fight too. Together we will prevail.
Governor Rhett Elgon
Esteeler Q7
PREVIOUSLY QUITE SECRET
To CinCSeven, Federation Of Asteel Navy
From Lt-Cdr Ann O'Rack, Strategy Working Party 3197.001
Note to all Esteeler strategic AIs: please evaluate and assess congruency with existing intelligence.
[005; Artificial Intelligence reports 82% probability that this report is mostly correct in key assumptions]
What Are the Exterminators Up To in Q7 And How May their Next Action Be Predicted?
One possible theory is that we are facing two or three Exterminator Forces.
This means we need to identify their future intentions to intercept the Exterminators at their weakest point, that is, while operating as one
Exterminator rather than the 'Unit of Two'. Hmm, Binary.
I analyse the Exterminator attacks in the following manner. Chronologically, Q7 attacks are as follows. Look at my map below in conjunction.
1 Asstek 3197.100
2 Etowam .162
3 116AL .170
4 S5 .222
5 Ultra. 223
6 Y24.275
7 Sumter.279
8 Dyme.332
9 Brburi.340
10 Nebok (alleged).305
11 Thor (alleged).318
12 The Joint (alleged).362
Here is a possible explanation for this pattern.
1. Two Exterminators (code B1) have attacked the above 1,2,4,7,11. Intervals between attacks are 62, 60, 57, 39 days, possibly indicating periods spend searching intermediate star systems for targets.
2. Two Exterminators (code B2) were at 3; when one was damaged the intact Exterminator (code B2.1) proceeded to 5, 6 and 9. Intervals between attacks are of similar length to those for the putative B1 above. The other Exterminator (code B 2.2) went to 8 where it was destroyed.
3. A third Exterminator force (code B3) has attacked at 10 and 12.
If this analysis is correct it has a very important consequence. Exterminator 2.1 last reported at 9 may show up next at neighbouring star systems which include the Esteeler capital Potomax. To lose this system with its high population and economic value would be unfortunate. Other possibilities are L'Fayet, Pawnee, Big Red, or the closest in space to 9 which is the Sirian system Evian. This lone Exterminator could be intercepted and destroyed. Other Exterminators operating in pairs are a much tougher proposition. Furthermore, it is possible both B1 and B3 are orientated to leave Q7.
The unmapped area of the Dark Nebula could be the origin of the Exterminator attacks, or it could at least be being used as a refuelling or marshalling area and this should be investigated by a scout force.
It is of interest that Earth forces have had all known success against the Exterminators. We must gain access to their intelligence as a matter of urgency.
I recommend urgent action be taken as follows:
1. My analysis be checked against existing intelligence to test its likelihood;
2. If it checks out, urgent action be taken to intercept and destroy Exterminator 2.1; and at least organise a fleet concentration to protect
Potomax.
3. Earth forces be asked to share their intelligence on how to attack the Exterminators, both by Marine and Naval action.
Lt-Cdr Ann O'Rack, FOANQ7SWG
Message ends