Tuscaloosa Mission Update: red line triggered

[Ava D. Foster]

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From: Commander Ava D. Foster, Liberty Security Force.

To: Liberty government.

Topic: Critical update -- Planet Sudbury.

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Madam President I am writing to provide a final report on the mission of the Battlecruiser Tuscaloosa in the Ontario system. My taskforce was assigned to Planet Sudbury with the explicit mandate of containing the Non-Human Intelligence (NHI) artifact-site located beneath the planet's surface -- Site Alpha. We have now reached the red line where an immediate withdrawal from Ontario must take place. Remaining longer will jeopardise the Tuscaloosa's capability to conduct the interstellar cruise out of the system, risking the loss of the vessel. We currently project a two month voyage to reach Colorado. The LSF became aware of Site Alpha in 834 AS, following the "pulse" event associated with its initial activation. The energy signature recorded during this event bore remarkable similarities to those detected during the Blackout in 831 AS, immediately raising national security concerns. Soon after activation, artificial spires pushed through the regolith, protected by an extremely resilient energy field. The site later transitioned from a "dormant" state, to an "active" state. During this phase, Site Alpha fired a beam of energy into interstellar space, later striking and activating Site Bravo. Due to this event, there was a severe information containment breach, resulting in the wider public becoming aware of the existence and status of NHI artifact sites across the near-Independent Worlds. The Tuscaloosa was dispatched to Sudbury with a complement of mission specialists and orders to breach the energy field, and study Site Alpha. We were to either secure the facility for Liberty's benefit, or ensure it could never be used against our interests. My crew have been blasting boreholes around Site Alpha, in an attempt to undermine the energy shield and gain access to the interior. I can now confirm that these attempts have been unsuccessful. Our excavations and deep penetration ground scans have ascertained that the shield is a perfect sphere, extending around the subterranean facility. This has also quashed earlier theories that the facility was utilizing a form of core-tapping technology to harness power, as there is no evidence of structures protruding beyond the shield for this purpose. Instead, it is now surmised that there is an interior power source, or power is being drawn directly from hyperspace. It is evident that Site Alpha contains remarkably powerful technologies, and that the misuse of these technologies could pose a dire threat to Liberty and her interests. The Tuscaloosa's combat wing has repeatedly sortied to repel incursions by Technocracy fighters, in addition to alien warforms, and the unmarked vessels collectively code-named "Wendigos". Any of these parties gaining access to Site Alpha could unleash a calamity. Additionally, the Xenos maintain a significant presence in Ontario, although they have thus far been reluctant to challenge my crew directly. This is likely the result of casualties suffered during the Peary Incident. Regardless, this status quo will not hold indefinitely, and Site Alpha falling into Xeno hands promises to be just as disastrous. My mandate is the protection of Liberty. While I have not been able to open the facility for study and exploitation, I have authorized my crew to begin emptying the Tuscaloosa's magazines. We intend to place a networked array of gravimetric mines and antimatter torpedoes directly below Site Alpha, as a form of shaped charge. Based on available evidence, it is my belief that this detonation should be sufficient to destroy the site, through either direct damage or the subsequent collapse of the surrounding landmass. There is the slim risk that the blast is insufficient to destroy the shield. There is the risk that the blast drops the shield, but fails to annihilate Site Alpha itself. This would potentially expose the mechanisms within to our enemies. Taking no action risks that our enemies discern the means by which the shield can be deactivated, or the site enters another deadly "active" state with far-reaching consequences. I do not have any answers regarding the potential ramifications flowing from Site Alpha's destruction, particularly given the violence of both it and Site Bravo's awakening. Despite this, I must caution that leaving the site unguarded, as a gift to our enemies, is unacceptable. It is my recommendation -- and that of my officers -- that decisive action is taken. Due to the gravity of this decision, I am providing this report in deference to our elected leaders. Madam president, do we pull the trigger? God save the Republic of Liberty. Commander Foster Attached files (0) N/A