- Vestige Herald - "Wrath" Part 1: Terraforming Station Devastated; Vestige under Threat - November 18th 3304
18 Nov 2018Eardley
| Terraforming Station Devastated; Vestige under Threat |
| November 18th - 3304 |
| Manktas 4 "Dastaena", Duront's Legacy |
Hours ago a state of emergency was declared in the Vestige. A terrorist assault against a major planetside scientific installation successfully through the facility's defences, crippling the pressure bulkheads in the eastern wing. 57 civilians are known to have been killed in the attack, along with a further 12 security personnel. Countless others have been injured in the incidence. Rescue crews are working tirelessly to extract those trapped beneath rubble and behind airlocks.
The station, Duront's Legacy, is one of several terraforming facilities floating on the oceans of Manktas 4, a Water World within the Manktas system. Known to the people of Manktas as Dastaena, it has long been the dream of many to walk the planet's surface. While its scorching, dense carbon dioxide atmosphere is inhospitable to human life, land can be found barely covered by the planetwide ocean in some areas, and the mass of the planet is sufficient to provide a comfortable 1.05G. It is the dedication of Manktas Independents, a scientific organisation which now operates within the political system of Spearhead Charter, which enabled the construction of research vessels to pursue the goal of turning Dastaena into a haven.
It is unknown at this time why Duront's Legacy was attacked, however Spearhead Charter Intelligence are leading an investigation to uncover the truth behind this crime. Spearhead Charter security vessels have formed a blockade around the planet, denying entry to all but verified rescue vessels. Many citizens of the Vestige have offered assistance, however these have been rebuked in order to prevent the possibility of further attacks.
It is clear that the intention of the attack was to cripple Duront's Legacy and initiate a bombing campaign across the remaining installations.
An account of the assault can be found below.
| 19:13 | Two wings of combat vessels enter the system
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| 19:14 | Soon after arrival, all contacts vanished.
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| 19:26 | The wings reappeared above Manktas 4 and headed for the surface.
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| 19:30 | Both wings reached Duront's Legacy.
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| 19:39 | The eastern wing of the facility was crippled.
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| 19:45 | Spearhead Charter security forces reached the surface.
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| 19:53 | The attackers at Duront's Legacy were destroyed. The remaining security vessels joined the pursuit. |
| 19:56 | Violent weather conditions forced the second assault wing to turn back and fight their pursuers.
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Attempts are being made to recover the downed terrorist vessels, however the worsening weather conditions are making sub-surface extraction problematic. SC Intelligence suspect this was anticipated, as it appears precautions may not have been taken to scrub information completely from the attack vessels; footage clearly shows the attackers directing their ships intentionally into the deep ocean rather than towards shallower areas. The attackers were also clearly seen to use active masking techniques to remove their identifiers. Destruction of the ships may have revealed evidence, provided the vessels can be retrieved. The attempt to hide evidence through temporary means suggests that further attacks may be yet to come; Manktas and San Yulpa security ships are on high alert.
Spearhead Charter security ships have been deployed to Svantiochna, as hyperspace trajectories pin the attackers entering Manktas from this direction.
So far nobody has been available for comment. The above information was released in brief by the Spearhead Charter Royal Guard.
The Vestige Herald will continue to report as this situation develops.
Read "Wrath" Parts 2 and 3, Vestige in Chaos and High Lord Murdered; Conspirators Revealed