Commander Qismat's LALog

Upon the Arcnova

13th Decavember 2302, Gregorian Calendar

Phase lane stability null, two jumps left. Ship relatively stationary.

Brief mass and energy record following; following Simple Hierarchy 9:

individual volume-mass-/-proximity:

29 gargantuan powered objects, unknown configuration, relatively stationary

488 massive, apparently structural configuration, relatively stationary

3 massive powered objects, unknown configuration, relatively stationary

6 massive powered objects, unknown configuration, relatively stationary

9 penultimassive unknown ships, closest match: Titan, Vasari, hypothesized, relatively stationary

7 unknown extremely large capital ships, closest match: Carrier, Vasari, relatively stationary

7 unknown extremely large capital ships, closest match: Battleship, Vasari, relatively stationary

7 unknown extremely large capital ships, closest match: Battlecruiser, Vasari, relatively stationary

7 unknown extremely large capital ships, closest match: Migrator, Vasari, relatively stationary

230 unknown heavy-combat size ships, possibly upgraded Vasari

[-39 further object groups, truncated to proximity-]

288 unknown fighters, avg. 2982 km approx. nearest 2842 km, closing

288 unknown bombers, avg. 2928 km approx. nearest 2910 km, closing

Oh shit. I believe we have a problem. I see fighters. Requesting permission to disengage and return. Two thousand eight hundred kilometres now. Requesting nonexercise of Executive Order 83-53 powers and immediate retreat. Two thousand seven hundred kilometres. Readying phase capacitors and requesting immediate authorization.

Calm down, ReconCOM. Your scanners are still analyzing the enemy.

Two thousand six hundred kilometres. Respectfully, sir, this is bullshit. Requesting nonexercise of Executive Order 83-53. Two thousand five hundred kilometres. I am going to die if I don't leave. Requesting nonexercise of- oh my God!


Modern Spaceflight: A Practical Introduction, Third Edition

Chapter 7: Plasmaic, magnetic, photonic and other methods of shielding

page 494a

In most modern shielding systems, concussive force is inperceptible; most leaks through shields that are not overwhelmingly concussive will usually be absorbed by a ship's armour entirely. All damage that exceeds the rated shield capacity will usually be absorbed immediately. The crew will usually be unaware of shield damage unless they are immediately alerted by the ship, and thus modern spacefaring law prohibits deactivation of shield alert mechanisms.


Shield to 0 units! Wingman 3 and 7 four and six destroyed. Two escape pods, origin Wingman 3. No other survivors pods destroyed.

I'm out, I'm out, I'm out. Calculate phase stability now.

Denied.

What?

Executive Order 83-53, par.3: provisions preventing defection invoked.

I'm going to die, aren't I?


Scan complete.

Marshal Arkas watched as the external designs of the Vasari ships came up on the screen. He'd have to send those to the engineers. He hadn't managed to lure anyone out, and he realized now he really shouldn't- they didn't even get to their destination- but every great man snatches victory from defeat's open jaws.

And ten Arcovae weren't a very big deal. He'd arrange for the Press Secretary to get his secretary ghostwrite some condolences in place of Commodore Aranas. And, of course, the man himself would give a damn good speech for the comscreens. Maybe it'd even raise morale.

He couldn't help worrying, of course: what if the Vasari were sending a little strike force their way?

Postscript: You're probably imagining a cool female voice reading out those words, and wondering why he hadn't been destroyed in the time it took to speak. The actual "shield to zero units dialouge" would sound like this, shouted by a man with a Russian accent extremely fast:

Shzyet! Mantei mansept nicht. Mansei mansex nicht. Erpaspahdin, benmantei. Nlinenyn syvh nahn. Paspah nicht.

Which would be admirably foreign but not very comprehensible.