At the Precipice

War Room, Star Fortress Victory:

Lord Maximo Drusella paced back and forth, ignoring the bustling adjutants and planning staff. He was lost in thought... or was it worry? "I have become old" he thought to himself "and I no longer enjoy the confidence of youth. I've seen too many good enterprises go awry."

At length he stopped his pace and exclaimed loudly "Has there been any word from Krish V?!" A junior adjutant sighed with relief, for word had just arrived. "My lord..." he began "we have received word from the warship Slicer." She was a Vorchan, trim and swift... all engine and guns, it was commonly said. He continued: "Slicer has reconned the enemy's main body and run the blockade!" There was a patriotic hurrah from the staff.

Maximo was pleased, but still concerned. "And?" The young adjutant, a man of a minor house, had gone from apprehension to visible elation, happy to be the bearer of good news. "My lord, the Earthers did not fire on her."

"Very good...." thought Maximo. "They are not ready to fire on us... they value good relations with the Centauri Republic and, though we are here only unofficially, are loathe to cause an incident." He addressed the War Room: "Proud warriors of the Republic, we have not yet come to blows with the Earthers. This is a good thing, because we may now focus our attention on the movements of the Dilgar. Nevertheless, we must strike all the non-Centauri vessels in the trading lanes. Krish is a Centauri system now, and all piracy must be interdicted!" Many clipped affirmatives answered him back.

The situation was looking stable, now. The Earthers would hold their peace and continue to exploit their mining interests, and of course make war on the Dilgar. The Dilgar held the gate, but little else of importance. Soon it would be evident that this system belonged to the Centauri Republic, and matters would be quickly negotiated. All in all, this was shaping up to be a very profitable enterprise.

Sadly, these strategic reveries were interrupted almost as soon as they began. "Lord Drusella! The Dilgar have blockaded Demeter!" Maximo's face betrayed grave concern. So, it was Blockade the Centauri Day, was it? As the situation began to be revealed via Demeter's long range sensor emplacements, the Dilgar appeared to have brought almost half of their fleet. Clearly they were seeking a permanent planetary base, and were hoping to strangle the life out of the fledgling governorship of Demeter.

The Dilgar did not yet seem prepared for a planetary assault. Maximo gave the order to send a strike force through the blockade, reasoning that if they could reach Demeter's defensive line, they could shore it up enough to forestall a Dilgar invasion... at least for now. If they could get through....