[geoschmo]

Year 2403.4

From the personal Journal of Admiral Grandow.

We have met six other races now, and have achieved peaceful relations with all but the Xi'Chung. Perhaps it is the proximity of our homeworlds that has caused them to distrust us so? Or perhaps it is that there are two methane worlds in the Narsiccton system. I have to admit to fighting back a longing for the oxygen planets in the system controlled by the Zynarra Holdings. What we could do with four new worlds the size of our home! The bugs would have to cease their attacks if they wished to survive.

But we can't afford to anger the Zynarra. Can't risk drawing them into the conflict on the worng side. The situation is too precarious. Most likely the bugs are just mindless drones doing the bidding of an insane despot. There is no sense trying to understand them.

The Zynarra have agreed to a non-aggression pact, and have tentativly given permission for a joint research project on the Cephredi VIII to discover the nature of the ancient remains there. Perhaps this cooperation will convice them we are trustworthy and they will allow us to colonize the other worlds there.

The newest race, the Fazrah caused something of a stir. The first ship of theirs we encountered was twice as large as the Aleppo class frigate. We were quite relieved when they agreed to a non-aggresion pact. I need to speak with the research minister about how our ship technology is coming. If the bugs develop this before we do, it could be very bad for us indeed.

Already they have developed some type of mysterious technolgy we have been unable to even classify. They have a type of weapon that behaves like our capital ship missles, yet appears to be a living creature of some kind. Our scientists are baffled. We are putting all our research into methods of destroying these creatures before they impact on our ships and planets, because they do considerable damage.

Our combination of sattelites, ships and ground based defenses have so far managed to fight off every attack, but not without loses. No more ships have been destroyed, but several bug ships have managed to get close enough to fire on the colonies before being destroyed. This is a morale problem, as well as a legitimate difficulty. Twice now we have had to spend valuable resources rebuiilding destroyed research facilites. And the people don't work as well when they fear for their lives and their families all the time.

I have made the decision to move the entire fleet to the warp point to stop the attackers before they can get within range. This is a risky proposition, as if they do manage to break through, there will be little to stop them. The space yard on Narcisston VIII is working hard to produce more Aleppo class ships to assist. We have also constucted a ship capable of launching sattelites at the mouth of the wormhole. Hopefully, in conjunction with the fleet, they can deal a devastating blow to any hostile force coming through.