Solar Warden

Decisions Part 15

Two shifts later Ryan and all other SW team leaders were in the briefing room with the Captain.

"You all seen the analysis done till now. We encountered an alien race. Probably from the ship design the one we got the hyperspace technology from. There are two satellites sighted in the orbit and we assume that it will be three orbiting the planet in the pattern we calculated. To gain more intel our options are quite limited if we don't want to expose the Icarus. The plan which I think makes most sense is to send another stealth probe escorted by two combat drones. Those drones also can be used to scan the planet and if they succeed to protect our probe they are able to destroy the satellites which opens up the possibility to move the Icarus near the planet unseen. Suggestions?" the Captain looked around.

"Well, they started shooting. But when we continue with that, things might escalate faster as we want. It also would be more difficult if we decide to land or plan to make a peaceful contact. So I suggest we send two shuttles to the orbit of the moon to make contact with them. This gives us an option to talk. Also to send commands to the probes and drones while the Icarus and the stealth probes on the moon stay hidden. The shuttle can be unmanned. They are just a decoy to suggest the probes and drones came from them. This means we have still the option to withdraw with the Icarus unseen while we have full control of our forces. But also we should be aware that they can analyze our drone command communication then." Ryan worked out the plan with his team earlier.

"This sounds good. But from the behavior of this race in the Sole system I assume they are hostile. It is a nice attempt. But even if they respond we should be cautious. Such situations are very information dependent. This means the one with the better reconnaissance has a clear advantage. The question here is, if we start to talk they might identify us coming from Earth for sure. Then if we have to retreat they know where to go," Commander Knight worried.

"That's a good point, Commander Knight. Can we send a message without exposing us coming from Earth? I mean till now shooting down a sensor probe is the same thing we do in our Solar system. That might be just a common behavior. Those probes could be on their travel for hundreds of years. When we do act further they know at least someone is still in their system," Captain Fisher argued.

"I see the problem, too. As soon we act again they might call for reinforcements or start a search after they cleared our next attempt. Then we have for sure limited time to do something. But the point is for sure how much we want to give away from us and what risks we want to take to gain more intel that we need for sure. I mean if we send a very simple binary message they might not understand it. If we send a more complex one, they can determine for sure who we are. But at least understand it," Ryan added.

"The point is I need to know what they have on the planet. Flying back without that information gives us nearly nothing to prepare for and we sure have to come back. Also they already know of our existence and of our capabilities except the hyperspace ability. So they are sure in advantage. It does not matter which plan we use, the risk of exposing us coming from Earth is there. We can limit that by reducing the content of the message. That will do it I think. The behavior from them then could also give us useful information. But we know they already probed us. It's time to get even. Our mission is to get as much intel for a risk we can handle. So we stick with Ryan's plan. Is there any objection?" Fisher asked. There was none.

"Good. Then things will be go faster from now on. Prepare your teams for landing on the planet. One way or the other. Dismissed," the Captain made a decision.

One hour later everything was prepared. They started the stealth probe, drones and shuttles. It took a while to get to the visual position to the planet. The shuttles stopped and the other vessels continued their journey. After waiting a quarter of an Earth day, they started to send the message on different frequencies and repeated it for an hour. It was a simple message trying to say we come in peace but protect our vessels. The probe and the drones continued their travel and finally closed in for the orbit. Still there was no answer. But additionally to the satellites a vessel appeared again coming from the backside of the planet. It headed straight for the probe's position. The escorting combat drones went for an interception course. One of them further ahead than the other. With the programed behavior they did not need to send any command to the drones. Still there was no answer or anything that could be one. So no abort command was sent.