With the Jump Hole to Drake collapsed, consolidation of power for infected forces in the region was brought to an abrupt halt, leaving any stragglers stranded. Chief among such stragglers was the RNS-Vitrolles and its limited battlegroup, now called to make way towards Lausanne Complex to be deconstructed and repurposed. This, however, is not what their overlords intend for them. The Vitrolles and its escorts are a distraction, a forced repositioning of their enemies forces. Lives spent as tactical currency.

Excessive activity in the Taus have forced the Vitrolles out of hiding with its stealth suite being overworked, and now it is left to make a mad dash across Gallia's network of stable Jump Holes to reach a safe port. The Gallic Naval Intelligence had been aware of the battlegroups presence in the Taus, however, has not been able to pinpoint its position in Orkney until now. This crucial information is also known to the Gallic Navy, allowing them to position a blockade in The Giant's Causeway to stop the rogue battlegroup's advance.

Well aware of the battlegroups existence, and, more importantly to them, the battlegroup's notorious unwavering allegiance to the Gallic royal family and king, Maquis forces from Sournia Repair Yards also mobilize to impede the battlegroup's advances.

Despite being on a separate mission, the nearby Battleship Amenta also receives a call from high command, alerting them to the presence of several infected warships confirmed to be moving through Orkney deeper into Gallia. Sparing forces to intercept the battlegroup was a tall order, no pun intended, for the Battleship's crew, still tasked with recon and disruption in the Tau 61 system.

Ironically, beside them in hunting out the Vitrolles are the Vagrants from Tau 61 as well. Allowing the Vitrolles to reach its end goal would unreasonably strengthen the infected forces controlled by the Omicron Mind in the area, which would in turn hamper their own growth in the region.

Finally, aboard the Battleship Resurgent, a few of the most senior officers, from a time when they knew the name "Battleship Castillon" well, recognized the signature scale-mail plating of the Battleship Vitrolles. What they did not recognize, however, were the weaponry and the stealth device it employed. Having a show of Royal strength to display to the population whose growing resentment of the Gallic Union's military autocracy would surge their movement into the eyes of such dissenters, and perhaps shake some of the Maquisard propaganda among those dissidents, showing them another path. Wings of hopeful interceptors are sent out to investigate.