Intergalactic Summit

::: LIVE FROM THE DRY DOCKS OF LUMINAIRE VII (HOME) - FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION CENTER :::

Simon appears on screen, behind him dozens of mangled ships limp into the station harbor while others appear to be refitted and undock towards evident doom and the steady beat of the drums of war. Looking up the light illuminates a tired and worn face of a man burdened with a heavy heart. Blood and pod fluid matts his hair and his eyes, solemn and weary peers into the camera drone.

Friends..enemies...countrymen...

Today we witnessed an event decades in the making. A torrent of passion and steel that has stolen from us not only the lives of loved ones, friends and co-workers, but the security of a peaceful future for our children. The interstellar wound that once festered now bleeds anew, and the crushing weight of our decisions today will echo through time forever after. I come here to address you so that the lives lost today are not forgotten, and that their valor and honor will always remain on our lips, in our hearts and in winds.

Today I honor those brave men and women whom fought with me in defense of our Home, and did not live to offer this prayer. I honor the following men and women, and regret that I cannot replace their many lives with mine.

The Crews of ;

* CN Shiigeru, Leviathan Class Titan
* SKKM Basan, Caracal Class Cruiser
* SKKM Nurarihyon, Corax Class Destroyer
* SKKM Amarai, Coromant Class Destroyer
* SKKM Yonakinoishi, Ferox Class Battlecrusier

The casualty toll is unknown, but will be updated as soon as I can comb the field for escape pods. I encourage those of both sides who suffered loss today to leave their sentiments, and we will honor the valiant dead together.

Simon turns from the camera and fades into the distance.

Grist for the mill.

Why did they let those vessels hit the planet?

I cried out, "Cease fore. Tow the Titan away from the planet" but nobody listened. I kept comms open and called many times.
I hear evacuations were carried out planetside, but I don't doubt hundreds of thousands at the very least still lost their lives to the falling debris. Before that, though, Imagine how many die each time a moros misses. Have you ever seen the devastation wrought by capital ship fire? I only hope the Federation navy was packing blasters rather than railguns, as most of the damage would have dissipated before the strikes fell.

Beyond that. I have three data files of crew escape pod reports from the battle in orbit. Many of the line items are the pods being removed from the search and rescue reports as they are deemed untenable from damage.

The only songs I hear of this day are songs of death.
A toast to the fallen.