=== Excerpt from the Fleet Manual ===

Code Zed:

Situation:

Attack from a space-faring species, either after negotiations fail or without warning.

Standing orders:

No specific orders possible. The following recommendations should be followed as seems best by the independent commander.

·                 Every effort should be made to obtain all available information about the enemy and send it back to the Mastery so that we can prepare ourselves for future attacks.

·                 To prevent the enemy from learning more about us, all communications will be encrypted using the best available cipher the moment Code Zed is declared.

·                 Under no circumstances should the enemy be permitted to obtain intact examples of our weapons, of our technology. Most importantly, the FTL coordinates of our homeworlds should be protected at all costs. When Code Zed is declared by a ship captain, the ship’s self-destruct option is engaged. Under the direct orders of the Captain or acting Captain, at the discretion of the AI should the command staff be slain or incapacitated, or if the AI should be destroyed, all classified data bases will be wiped, overwritten with random numbers and wiped again before the anti-matter containment units are ruptured, destroying the ship. If an Admiral declares Code Zed, every ship in the fleet activates its self-destruct option, but final control of the self-destruct remains under the control of each individual ship’s captain and AI.

·                 It is possible that some officers, crew and civilians will be captured. In such a case, attempt to survive until rescued. Do not cooperate with the enemy more than absolutely necessary.

·                 Once Code Zed is declared, the crew and ship should be considered expendable, if necessary, in order to protect the Mastery as a whole.

* * *

Baryton and Mezza were enjoying a quiet supper in their quarters when Monotone broke in on their conversation.

“Admiral. Captain Spinta has declared Code Zed.”

“WHAT?” bellowed Baryton. “On what grounds?”

“The asteroid has destroyed the net bundle. It is now using an anti-matter drive to head towards the Colony. It appears the intent is to collide with the planet, causing massive destruction.”

“Gods in Hell! What is the ETA?”

“Indeterminate. The asteroid is still accelerating.”

“Worst case?”

“A third of a day. Maybe a bit longer.”

“SHIT! Monotone! Activate Plan Refuge!”

“Activating.”

Mezza interjected “Plan Refuge? Shouldn’t I, as Fleet Archivist, know what the HELL Plan Refuge is?”

Baryton grunted. “You’re learning about it now. Shut up. I’m busy.”

Mezza blinked and stared at her mate. She had only seen him in this state of mind a few times before, always in a crisis. Anything – or anyone – in his way risked being trampled. He might be sorry later, but that was later.

Baryton barked “Monotone! Transmit to all ships! Code Zed! I say again Code Zed! All Guns! Deploy chaff cloud between us and the asteroid! Yesterday! All ships! Arm anti-matter warheads, three, no four per launcher! Set for penetration before detonation! Select Sleeper option!”

Baryton glared at the AI’s camera. “Monotone! Is there an intercept path that will allow us to reach the asteroid far enough away from the Colony to safely destroy it?”

“No, Admiral.”

“Any path that will allow us to minimize damage to the Colony when we destroy the asteroid?”

“None that will significantly reduce damage to the Colony. Best to wait for it here.”

“Very well. Monotone. What do you expect to happen?”

The AI paused. “Admiral, if I had planned this, I would have had the asteroid cease acceleration in approximately thirty minutes. At that time, the asteroid’s velocity would be sufficient for it to penetrate the colony world’s crust deeply enough to reach the mantle.  This impact would cause the planet’s surface to fragment in many places, killing at least 99% of the living things on the planet. It would certainly kill all the multi-cellular creatures. The planet would be incapable of supporting advanced life for several thousand years at the least.”

Baryton grunted. “And if we manage to fragment the asteroid before impact?”

“Still massive damage, but not planet-killing. Best case: widespread destruction, catastrophic damage to the ecosystem and one to three years without a summer due to dust clouds blocking the sunlight. Possible triggering of an ice age.”

“When will it reach us if the asteroid ceases acceleration according to your projection?”

“Indeterminate. It depends on how closely the asteroid hews to my projection. Probably would give us at least a day or two. Possibly more.”

“Well, all we can do is all we can do. Keep me updated as to the ETA. If any significant change in the situation occurs, notify me.”

“Of course, Admiral.”

“How are the chaff clouds doing?”

“The first load has launched. I estimate that in fifteen minutes, the clouds will be sufficient to mask the planet – and the Fleet, of course – from any known scanning system.”

“Good. Good. Now, set up communications with us, the Colony’s AI and the Governor under Plan Refuge protocols. Patch in the Refuge AI.”

The small holoscreen in the Admiral’s quarters flickered into life.