First scene

In the dark crevices of a hollowed-out yet inconspicuous asteroid the battle cruiser Thessalonica remains alert for imperial signs of activity. It’s commander, Cao Mengde waits anxiously in anticipation for any sign of activity.

No news is good news for me. Any signal that points to this asteroid makes us a sitting duck, Cao thought to himself. For the young twenty-nine year old Cao holding the rank captain, it would be no understatement of the responsibility he yields. In an attempt to steel his nerves the man has resorted to an impromptu game of golf within the confines of his makeshift office. Even as Cao readies his club and pushes the thoughts of the war away for a moment, he yearned for any sort of company than his thoughts.

If only Brutus were here, Cao thought. Cao glances up from his sorry excuse for a golf course at the tactical map projector keeping the room illuminated in a sleepy pale blue. The words fizzle slightly as Cao focuses on it: the Cannae canton. His ship, the Thessalonica, and its crew of ninety lives are but a small speck in the grand schemes of this conflict.

It all comes back to the inconvenience of war, Cao mused as he missed yet another shot in the makeshift hole; a cherry red plastic cup. As Cao readies another scrap of paper his eyes are trained on the tactical map. Allotted sparingly throughout his sector were singular dots denoting last-known coordinates of allied ships.

Cao heaved a sigh through his nose and snatches another piece paper from his table. It’s one of the slips detailing the recommendation of advice to his direct superior commodore Albert Huey. Cao held this scrap of paper steady in his hands to read the contents.

[8.7.982: Thus, to counter the imperial strategy of chevauchée---as the Empire calls it natively the act of raiding enemy territory---requires a immediate but careful withdrawal to a determined vantage point which I have illustrated in the appendage I sent with this latter. I recommend this course of action in a immediate manner rather than sooner-than-later.

At the second stage, I strongly urge for the deployment of the ‘Second Coalition to Pacify Cannae’ to be reorganized with stronger emphasis on a mobile battle group as this subject of keeping isolated detachments a absurd and ridiculous manner. I believe there is a strong misunderstanding of the empire’s tactic of chevauchée and what it is to begin with. Their main objective is not raiding and demoralizing the civilian orbital colonies that litter Cannae but rather it is tertiary.

Their true motive has been militarily---our mistakes from the First Coalition to Pacify Cannae were not learned let alone grasped. At the eve of our deployment here, imperial activity has stopped and it is my staff’s belief this is because they are without a doubt preparing for a set-piece battle: that is the true intentions of the stratagem the empire has deployed.

In conclusion, for current speculation I believe the enemy will perhaps amass their force at point Zeta, their launch pad from the Ishtar corridor. A better implementation of reconnaissance can benefit the location of point Zeta and perhaps pacify the Cannae canton for good.]

Was I too optimistic? Cao thought as he dropped the crumbled piece of advice to his feet. Cao steadies his makeshift golf cub and smacks the paper ball with all his strength which only bounces off the cup’s rim in unparalleled rejection. Cao tosses aside the makeshift golf cub, resigning the idea not even golf can ease the grappling anxiety. I may have expressed too much above my pay grade. Now I, and my crew pay the price without any escorts, Cao mused, a thinker sent to die with his men because of byzantine politics.

Cao leans on the office table and crosses his arms. Once more he examines the three dimensional map. Cao can’t help but heave another heavy sigh. This crew has the misfortune of being in a desolate sector assigned to him by envious allies. It was the wording, Cao thought, I was too critical in my tone. Cao finds himself steeled back to reality when a crimson dot appears too close to comfort on the projector field.

Right outside the asteroid? Cao’s thoughts race. He jumped to his feet as soon as the office big screen flicks nearby flicks on. It’s the Thessalonica executive officer, lieutenant commander Victoria Happ.

He doesn’t even give her the chance when he’s already slipping on his blue overcoat and black beret. “I’ll be on the bridge soon enough,” Cao said. “Don’t sound the battlestations yet---keep power output at minimal still. Have the turrets ready just in case and the chasseur pilots on stand-by.” Out of breath and nearly out the door Cao grips the door frame with one hand and jabs a finger at the surprised Victoria with the other. “Especially don’t let those pilots loose just yet.”

The first movements in months, Cao’s thoughts race with a million possibilities as he speeds down the corridor handrail. Was I too haste in not declaring battle stations? Cao thought. It was good on her for not raising the alarm so prematurely, the thought comforted Cao in this precarious moment.