The Eridanus Campaign

Comfile //MAIN/xpd.starcom.sol/21190112/log

Pri.OPEN
SUBJ: Arrival
Chandrasekhar arrival in HD 10647, status ALL GREEN. Preliminary observation reports artificial structures. Not of posthuman design. Probes deployed to investigate. Science team wants immediate deployment.

Stargazer Operations, O'Neil Station, GEO

PLAYBACK A// 57493/ops.div/expanse

January 22, 2119, 14:08:21

"Could it be a hyperwave malfunction? If they had to do a repair job it could take well over ten days to strip the main transmitter and do the necessary work."
"HD 10647 is within range of the backup transmitter. If they were going to be out of touch for any length of time, they could have still relayed a message via Erebus or Jefferson."
"What about the structures the Chandrasekhar reported?"
"They weren't reported as posthuman design and Precursor structures never have live equipment. It's not likely that's the cause."
"We can't dismiss it though. Active posthuman machinery could easily have damaged or disabled the Chandrasekhar."
"Gentlemen, no matter the cause, the Chandrasekhar is overdue. If she don't restablish communication in the next ten days we'll have to officially move her status to lost without cause."

UN building, New York City, USA

PLAYBACK B// Secretariat Log System

February 17th, 2119, 11:27:09

"In the past four months three ships have gone missing in the Eridanus-Cetus region. This is as many ships as have gone missing in the past decade! We've got good crews out there, lost. You don't just lose three ships with experienced captains."
"William, please. This is a tragedy, but -"
"But nothing! The Chandrasekhar's status hit the net overnight and I already had a half-dozen reporters trying to get an interview. We need answers."
"The Americans are supposed to do search and rescue down the arm, assuming there's anyone left to rescue."
"That's in rather bad taste, don't you think?"
"If the Chandrasekhar suffered catastrophic damage, anyone left alive by the time the Americans get there will be the luckiest sons of bitches ever."

STARCOM, Columbia Station, GEO

PLAYBACK C// MAIN/orb.mil.gov/21190219/log

February 19th, 2119, 15:58:18

"How many ships can we get to HD 10647 in twenty-eight days?"
"Sir. The Wisconsin is scheduled to depart Jefferson tomorrow and cycle back to Earth. She's got two escorts. The Canadians have a frigate showing the flag down arm at Erebus, she's fast enough to make a rendezvous two jumps out. There's a pair of Japanese cruisers in the arm as well, if we put in a request with Tokyo they should be able to make it to HD 10647 in the timeframe. The whole redeployment cycle caught us at a bad time -"
"I'm aware of that, thank you Captain. Contact the Wisconsin immediately and order her to proceed at best speed to HD 10647, priority FLASH. I'll contact Admiral Tanaka personally and appraise him of the situation, the state department has given us the go-ahead to coordinate directly."

PLAYBACK D// MAIN/orb.mil.gov/21190219/log

February 19th, 2119, 19:16:09

"I'm afraid only the Kongo can join the effort, General. The Hyuga suffered a crack in one of her fusion drive housings and needs repairs here in Sol before she can be redeployed."
"One extra ship's better than none. Please give my personal thanks to the Minister of Defense."
"Certainly. I'll keep you informed as to the Kongo's ETA in HD 10647."

Comfile //MAIN/xpd.starcom.sol/21190307/log

Pri.FLASH
SUBJ: Contact
WISCONSIN, ELLIOT, CONOLLY and MONTREAL emerged in-system at 02:11:54 zulu. Artificial structures confirmed immediately. CHANDRASEKHAR not spotted, but multiple anomolous emission sources detected. Powered vehicles is unanimous prognosis, of unknown origin. Situation ROSWELL, repeat. Situation ROSWELL.

STARCOM, Columbia Station, GEO

PLAYBACK E// MAIN/dep.mil.gov/21190307/log

March 7th, 2119, 6:53:38

"General, the Wisconsin has just gone redball. She went down with all hands, ma'am. No response from the Elliot or Conolly and they've been assigned redball as well."
"Dammit, talk to me. What's going on?"
"It was a code Roswell, ma'am."
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
"What was that Erin? It's two in the morning."
"It's bad news dear. I don't know when I'll be back home."
" . . . "
"We just lost a battleship."
"Son of a bitch."