The TTR symbol began flashing on the screen. It was being transmitted from an undisclosed location to the HDE planet of Commenor.

The symbol was replaced by the figure of a tall man in a flowing white suit. The man was Kamon Vondiranach, Prince of Tholatin and Head of State for the Republic.

"People of Commenor. I have set up a blockade of your system because of intelligence suggesting that possible terrorist attacks might originate from your planet.

"To stop this attack from happening, I have set up to blockade groups around your main entry vectors to the planet. You will be pulled out of hyperspace and checked before allowed through the blockade.

"We do not wish to fight HDE, we are just taking attempts to protect us and the Juutralian Empire. Please do not see this as an act of war because it is not. Thank you for your time."

The screen went back to its original programming.

There was a delay before the insignia of the LFX Industrial Corporation flashed onto the screen, before fading into view on a desk. Sitting behind it was a man of some importance, Seti Ashar, CEO of LFX Industrial. He looked rather troubled as he cleared his throat, his eyes showing some sadness. He read from some handwritten notes that lay on his desk.

"The Tholatin blockade on Commenor is troubling," he said slowly, "You all know that this world serves as the hub in this quandrant for all trade and moving of goods, and the majority of these vessels use the hyperlanes the Prince has blockaded. Dozens of merchants have already contacted me, asking for clarification on why their fleets are being yanked from hyperspace in this way.

"For this reason, I ask that the Prince withdraw his vessels from my space immediatly. This is a violation of our Soveriegn space.

"I respect the Prince's fear of terrorist attacks, but his defences should be centred on his own planets, not in assaulting ours."

He paused, his eyes growing more troubled.

"I must also make mention of the Holy Demosthesian Empire, which the Prince referred to in his messages. I make it clear here and now that the Holy Demosthesian Empire has no place on Commenor. I invite the Prince here to see this for himself, if he so desires. The word of one madman who would claim that LFX Industrial and the Demosthesian Empire are the same should not hold sway among the Tholatin government... if I had given credit to such claims, then the galaxy would surely be a vastly different place.

"Please, Prince, withdraw your ships. I guarantee that no attacks will come from my space."

Kamon's response was immediate.

"We are vilotaing no sovereign space. As Commenor is being run by a corporation similar to the Trade Federation, you do not legally have sovereign space.

"One intelligence says that the threat level of a terrorist attack is diminished, we will withdraw. Until then our fleet remains.

"Traders will be allwed through once their ships have been checked. They should expect minor delays in their shipping. That is all I have to say at this moment."

The logo once again goes through its phases, this time showing a more agitated CEO.

"The Union of Free Worlds controls this system, Prince, and hearby orders you to remove your forces. Under galactic law, you are treaspassing in our space and interferring with our vessels. I order that you remove your ships."

The spining IDTech insignia interupted the end of the prince's sentance as the hologrid was over ridden.

Raktus stood full in front of the camera, a waving flag filling the background behind him, the snake of IDTech laying across it.

"IDtech mourns today. We mourn the loss of crews. We mourn the loss of family members. We mourn the loss of our own.

"Today, at galactic hour 2300, four IDTech cargo transports were forced out of Hyperspace by TDY Interdictors. Due to the action of TDY of putting up their blockade before warning the galactic community we, back at the home base of IDTech, had no way of informing our dilligent crews of their coming danger. As a result, when our transports were forced from hyperspace, their engines were forcably overloaded, a glitch in each design we are looking into at this moment. This glitch ripped the aft hull of each transport from its main hull, destroying each transport as they re-emerged from hyperspace.

"While we mourn the deaths of these fine crews, we also seek retribution against TDY's hostile actions. I myself had already broadcast our support of LFX and its crusade, had already tranmitted the coordinates of our cargo ships and directories. TDY mercilessly killed these men and women, and if I may voice my own personal feelings for just a moment, wouldnt mind seeing them blown out of blockade for their actions.

"My heart goes out to the friends and families of those crews involved, a list of names will be transmitted just after this broadcast. Tommorow will be a day of mourning and prayer, may my power be upon you..."

The broadcast cut soon after

Kamon appeared yet again.

"We also mourn the loss of innocent lives in a bttle to stop terrorists. It is not, however, our fault that the ships were destroyed upon reversion.

"TTR was once a corporation. If you had been smart you would have suspended all flights made by the ships with the problems. However, that is a lost cause."

"Prince Kamon... I begin to see why the Holy Demosthesian Empire that you wish we were calls you a fool. IDTech's ships were in hyperspace when you set up your illegal blockade. Communication in hyperspace is impossible, I'm afraid. You have also failed to produce any proof of terrorist activities taking place on Commenor.

"You attempt to blame IDT for the destruction of their ships by your forces. Civilian craft on a commercial mission to Commenor, as hundreds of others do every day. IDTech, or anyone else, does not except to have to deal with illegal blockades when they enter LFX Industrial space.

"You are nothing short of a murderer, Prince. Withdraw your ships at once."

Statement Published the next Day

"TTR once again shows its true colors, it shows no care for those that have died due to their illegal activites, yet try to place blame on the ships themselves. It seems to me that TTR is the only terrorist situation around Commenor Ive yet to have seen or heard off. Youve killed innocent men and women this day 'Prince' Kamon, I hope that weighs heavily on your soul, and inspires new thoughts amongst your people. For today, you are branded a murderer. That is a stain you shall never cleanse yourself of"

-
Heir Raktus
CEO of IDTech
Commenting on the Commenor Blockade
-

Kamon laughed at this.

"They should have checked over all ships during the R&D stages to find all bugs in the system. Do note that we did not destroy them was we did not fire a shot at them. The ships would have been destroyed on reentry anyways.

"The blockade aorund your planet will not be lifted until TTR and TJE troops are allowed to land and inspect your planet. You also have no reason to complain about us violating your space as we are not technically in it. We are just outside of it.

"You should not be using the deaths of these people as propaganda. You should be sending ships to rescue survivors on the hulks that are drifting towards you. Instead of saving lives, you are killing them by not acting. I implore you to save these people's lives. If you do not then you truly are a monster."

Technical Notice Submitted by the Deparment of Research and Development: Space Navy Division

The Prince of Tholatin puts forth an interesting point: the ships used by IDTech should have been checked over for bugs in the systems.

However, such action should not have been neccessary. The Prince, while commanding vast navies of the Tholatin Republic, is not aware of the difference between artificial, forced reversion and true reversion.

When a starship reverts to realspace, it is a process of deaccelerating and finally reaching subspace speeds. This eliminates strain on the ship's hull and engines.

A forced revision, on the other hand, brings a ship from travelling tens of billions of kilometres per hour to zero in a split second.

In the early days of Interdictor type vessels, scores of starships exploded when faced with these artificial gravity fields. This was due to being brought from such speed to a standstill in the blink of an eye; while the engines still attempt to put out hyperspace-level thrust.

[i]The following is a personal note from Trayden Locke, who compiled this report.

I am astounded by the Tholatin Republic's continued attempts to blame anyone but themselves for this tragic loss. Not only do they refuse to even acknowledge that yes, their ships caused this, they attempt to scewer facts and blame the loss on anyone but themselves.

While preflight checks should have been done on the transports, the fact remains that there would have been no problem in their flights if they had not been blocked by the Tholatin gravity wells.

And all the while, the Prince "implores" us to save the lives of people that are already dead, calling us monsters for not mounting a rescue attempt.

Prince Kamon caused these deaths, and has ships in the direct area of the disaster. Yet he does nothing, while implroing is to help?

I am appalled.