Hypothesised Exterminator Builders (HEBs)

From an examination of destroyed Exterminator brains it was deduced that these implacable machine destroyers originated from approximately 5.5 hyperyears distance. The larger Human polities in conference agreed that the war must be taken to where it was believed these machines had been constructed and the enemy defeated.

Force Compositions compiled from current known commitments.

As agreed at Summit, the mission plan was purposely set at a high level, being overall guidance rather than detail. It was noted that it would be impossible to micro-manage at such a distance. Therefore, the structure of the command organisation was specified, but it is up to that structure to decide how to use the resources sent. (And up to them whether they want to follow our suggested command structure.)

Coordination: by Solar Republic and Empire Mission Statement: To provide further details of the putative HEB worlds, including assessments of economic and military capabilities for long range planning purposes. Outline plan: establish a science colony with supporting scouts and survey vessels as a forward operating base (FOB) located 0.5HY (200 days transit) from HEB Central.

First arrival

Initial order to scout for a viable system for Science Colony / LRDG Forward Operating Base (FOB), then survey for potential S&B worlds

• SSXI Strangeness (RNV) Arrived round 3210.106 and messages received successfully from 3212.304

Second arrival

Recce HEB worlds - all arived 3211.001 and commenced recce of HEB space

• SSXI Uranus (SRE)
• SSXI Orcus (SRE)
• SCI Gefjon (MSN)
• SCI Bishojo (RNV)

• LSSI Ejura (RNV) - providing logistic support to scouts

Reports received are summarised as “The Hostile Exterminator Builder (HEB) civilisation covers an extant of around 100 occupied systems. Of these only 20 have any significant technological artifacts and could be regarded as 'developed' systems, and they are spread across an 80 parsec diameter disc - more widely spread than an equivalent human civilisation would be. There are two large settlements near the centre of the spread which appear to be major/home worlds. Fastball reconaissance passes showed ship types whose external appearance and drive signatures seem to correlate closely with known Roach ship signatures, and the hypothesis that the HEBs and the Roaches are one and the same seems to be confirmed to about 90% probability.”

Third arrival

Provide additional survey resources as required

• SCI xxxxxxx (RNV) Arrived around 3212.101
• SCI xxxxxxx (RNV) Arrived around 3212.101

Putative modus-operandum, subject to change in the light of local conditions:

Phase One - First SSXI identified site for FOB.

Phase Two - Two SSXI conducted maximum stealth M25 surveillance of the two Key HEB Systems, monitoring any broadcasts and in-system burns. Initial surveillance for 100 days. These will be reported back to the FOB. Phase one reporting should therefore be back with the FOB at 3212.001.

Phase Three -

• 3212.001 Two SCI were detached to replace the SSXI at the KHEB Systems (eta 3212.200). These two SCI remain on station on a rolling schedule by further vessels as they become available.

• 3212.001 Two further SCI started conducting crawling recce inwards from the FOB spending 200 days on the M25 of each system to build up a data picture.

Phase Four - 3212.200 The two SSXI will be utilised for ad-hoc recce and surveillance.

Phase Five Beyond this initial start up tasking the local on scene commander will conduct the operation as he deems most productive (and always ensuring the security of the colony). Priority One FOB Security Priority Two Data on HEBs Broadcast Signals Traffic Analysis – based on burns Economic Estimates System Astrographical Structure

• CSSI Brue (SRE) Due to have arrived around 3211.001
• CSSI Clare (SRE) Due to have arrived around 3211.001
• SCICOL (SRE) Due to have arrived around 3211.001

Full establishment of base expected around 3211.400 (depending on location of suitable system). 5SV long term costs paid by SRE. Role is to evaluate local conditions and coordinate and aggregate intelligence.

10 LSSI are required in a continuing resupply chain to support a Scientific colony at a rate of 1 LSSI per year at 5 HY. Currently only 6 have been ordered:

• LSSI Yakutia (MSN) Due to have arrived on first supply run ca. 3211.001
• LSSI Telios (MSN) Due to have arrived on first supply run ca. 3211.001
• LSSI Helm (MSN) Due to have arrived on first supply run ca. 3211.001

• LSSI Xingu (SRE) Due to have arrived on first supply run ca. 3212.001

• LSSI Yamana (SRE) Due to have arrived on first supply run ca. 3213.001

• LSSI Hanukkah (UoXN) Due to arrive on first supply run ca. 3214.001

Coordination: by Republic of New Venus Mission Statement: To establish colonies near to the HEB homeworlds from which to develop a military capability. Outline plan: establish two colonies and semi-automated ship-yards.

Venerian Navy

• AMI XXXXXXX (RNV)
• AMI XXXXXXX (RNV)
• SC(S)I XXXXXXX (RNV)
• CSSI C1 (RNV)
• CSSI C2 (RNV)
• CSSI C3 (RNV)
• CSSI C4 (RNV)
• CSSI C5 (RNV)
• CSSI C6 (RNV)
• CSSI C7 (RNV)
• CSSI C8 (RNV)
• ARFIKS A1 (RNV)
• ARFIKS A2 (RNV)
• ARFIKS A3 (RNV)
• ARFIKS A4 (RNV)
• ARFIKS A5 (RNV)
• ARFIKS A6 (RNV)

Royal Wolfer Navy

• CSSI CS01 (RWN)
• CSSI CS02 (RWN)
• CSSI CS03 (RWN)
• CSSI CS04 (RWN)
• CSSI CS05 (RWN)
• CSSI CS06 (RWN)
• CSSI CS07 (RWN)
• CSSI CS08 (RWN)
• ARFIKS Constructor 1 (RWN)
• ARFIKS Constructor 2 (RWN)
• ARFIKS Constructor 3 (RWN)
• ARFIKS Constructor 4 (RWN)

• 1 CSSI (RNV)

• 1 CSSI (RNV)