Has he returned?

The irony has not gone unnoticed. Captain Thomas Kirk’s reinstatement is certainly a boon for morale within the Republic. And this was needed, given the new threat of stealth capable capital ships in the field. Kirk has grown famous among the Republic. Not only due to his victory over the most accomplished captain known in the modern battlefield, but also because of his exoneration from politically motivated charges associated with that battle. And none too soon. Military telescopes recorded a recent engagement. The MO of the victor was quite familiar, and rumors can damage the effectiveness of any crew.

A relief crew was on its way to Titan. The Republic has several Brutus Magnus ships, and these are typically used in defense of outposts throughout the system. The U.S.S. Liberty was en route and had just passed beyond the main asteroid belt. The enemy Intrepid evaded scanners until in Range to attack. The telescopes didn’t locate the enemy until the Magnus reported in.

The Magnus launched Missiles as soon as possible. Something was clearly different about this Intrepid. The weapon impacted its target, as the data confirm. Its negligible damage was far less than expected, yet the tactics were well known. A well trained crew can withstand a great deal in combat, as long as they trust their captain. These sailors had seen their share of scrapes. But this situation was new. Everything the Magnus sent toward the enemy could accomplish only a minor impact, if anything. So she moved into close range.

The first hit suffered by the Magnus registered tremendous power, as the data record shows. There was no radiological weaponry used in this battle. The sheer power of the Intrepid was much like the infamous Colossus Cannon, but that weapon wasn’t used in the battle. Clearly, improvements have been made with weapon power, which is usually the distinct advantage of the Brutus Magnus.

Several strikes were exchanged, but the Magnus’s usually overwhelming firepower was no more effective than launching the ship’s refuse. After carefully maneuvering to evade numerous hits, she inevitably sustained heavy damage, and served her own share of fury as well. If the Magnus could hold out a while longer, reinforcements had already been dispatched and would change the course of the battle. As she began returning to Mars, bringing the battle closer to the allied ships, another surprise caught her off guard.

Normally, 50% Hull integrity is more than enough to withstand even heavy assault, at least for a short time. Under normal circumstances the Magnus would have been able to reach the allied ships. Yet, with a single strike all defenses were penetrated, and the Magnus was destroyed in retreat.

The new power demonstrated by this enhanced Intrepid does not inspire confidence among the United System forces. And with what appears to be a return of Sebastian, our latest combat improvements should be issued as soon as possible. We will continue with upgrades to U.S. ships, and redouble efforts to return to schedule. However, it is recommended the Valiant be immediately installed with what ever new tech it can carry, and then be assigned patrol duty on the Jovian Run. If this really is the return of Sebastian, Kirk will need everything we can give him. We don't want to see our battles lost before they even begin. If anyone can ensure the Titan Colony gets the resources they need to rebuild, it's Kirk.