[Suicide Junkie]

2418.3:
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Albireo I declared a global state of emergency this week, and over half of the orbiting civilian craft were eventually commandeered by the port authority.

The Warships from Tyrik had been failing throughout the trip insystem, but all 22 of the Wasp class escorts failed to make the final orbital insertion burn.
A rapid response to the crisis means that the entire escort fleet will be delivered to a safe planetary orbit by the end of the month.

The capture frigate and the Hummers are working slowly insystem on a lower energy transfer orbit, and have made a rendezvous with a supply scout. While not sufficient to speed them on their journey, the scout will at least be able to power lifesupport and other basic functions for the next three months of the trip.

Reports from Tyrik indicate that the Vaxin have in fact ignored the lone factory, and their major battlefleet is returning home. In their place, a scattering of light cruisers have entered the system.


2418.4
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An explosion at the Albireo Spaceyards was headline news today; engineers suspect unexploded ordinance from the recent battles to be at fault. All of the escorts should be refueled and reimaged in a few weeks. Quite a few of the mind images were corrupted by the conflict, and unfotunately cannot be fully reintegrated into their donors.

The very first Blazing Fury prototype, the Phoenix, has been completed at Albireo, only days before the next three were deployed from Homeworld's yards.
As the only mobile ship within range, the Phoenix will be going into Tyrik solo, with orders to defend the retreating crippled ships, and if possible, to defend the factory at Tyrik V until reinforcements arrive.

Reports from Tyrik indicate one light cruiser heading directly for our ships, and another moving in the general direction of the Tyrik V factory. ETAs are two and three months.