Prose

TOP SECRET DIRECTIVE

FROM:
2ND FLEET COMMANDING DIRECTORATE

TO:
COMMAND, CCN SCIENCE VSL 'ANAXAGORAS'

OBJECTIVE:
IMMEDIATE RECONNAISSANCE PLANET, NYX PRIME

DEPLOYMENT:
CCN ‘ANAXAGORAS', CCN 'AVICENNA'

ORDERS:

CCN ANAXAGORAS AND AVICENNA PROCEED WITH ALL SPEED TO PLANET
DESIGNATED NYX PRIME. UNINHABITATED POSSIBLY HABITABLE
PLANET. CYGNUS SPUR, PTOLEMY CLUSTER. RADIO TELESCOPES
LOCATED ON CYGNUS PRIME HAVE IDENTIFIED NYX AS POSSIBLY
COLONIAL CANDIDATES FOR SETTLEMENT. ESTABLISH VIABILITY OF
HUMAN COLONIZATION. AIR, WATER, GRRUND SCANS TO COMMENCE
UPON ARRIVAL. ESTABLISH SCIENTIFIC OUTPOSTS ON GROUND FOR
RECONOITER OF INDIGENOUS FLORA AND FAUNA. DETERMINE THREAT
LEVEL POSED BY ANY ANDALL INDIGENOUS FLORA AND FAUNA.
AVICENNA TO DETACH AFTER DETERMINATION OF HABITABILITY
CONFIRMED OR DENIED.

EMCON:

NO TRANSMISSIONS TO BE BROADCAST EN ROUTE TO NYX PRIME.
ESTABLISH IMMEDIATE CONTACT ANY STATION ASAP UPON MISSION
COMPLETION.

ROE:

UPON DETEMINATION OF PRESENCE OF HAZARDOUS LIFE ON PLANET
SURFACE ROE IS WEAPONS FREE. DETERMINE EFFECTIVE EXTIRPATION
STRATEGY IMMEDIATELY.

__SPEED OF ESSENCE__

Captain Tomlinson, commanding officer of the Combined Colonial Navy’s premier scientific research vessel, ‘Anaxagoras’, keyed the intercom on his desk. “Danny” was all he said before keying the intercom back off and laying down the orders onto the desk blotter. The intercom crackled and Danny answered, “Yessir.”