00:45 HOURS, JANURARY 21, 2298 (Military Calendar)

OUTER EXPANSE, LOCATION UNKNOWN, CLASS 3 NEBULA

UEC HEAVY BATTLE CARIER – 798 "SPIRIT OF ENDURANCE"

"Commanding Officers log, January 3, 2298. We have been inside of a class 3 nebula making repairs to the Endurance. The last attack depolarized our main deflector dish. In the past 3 months, we have lost nearly 49 crewmen, mostly due to injuries. The insurrectionists are refusing to allow us to leave the expanse. Since the destruction of Drekicon Nine we have been alone in the expanse of deep space, with no chance of regroup. We're alone. – End log." Barnes sat back in the chair and looked at the damage report, and crew injuries. The insurrectionist has driven them into the nebulae and are circling them like vultures. Any chances of getting out alive would mean them having to fight their way out, and calculating a safe jump vector, only to probably encounter more of them.

"Sir. We have received a encoded message its level 9."

"Patch it through." Barnes swung the computer screen over, and input his command codes. "Admiral."

"Commander Barnes. When the insurrection destroyed Drekicon, it took out most of our new ships we were building. At the –' There was a brief lapse in condition of the message.

"I'm sorry about the condition. The last attack damaged our subwave array."

"That's understandable. I have encoded a map that has a path for your ship to follow. It will help your ship avoid insurrectionist staging areas and occupied colonies."

"Thank you, sir. But we have at least another week inside the nebula before our FTL is back online. We lost 49 crewmen since the attack, most of them were good people. Is there anything about possible refueling for the 3rd fleet?" The Admiral shook his head.

"The plan has been scratched from the drawing board. The 3rd fleet, along with several other deep space ships have been destroyed. We received a message from the insurrectionist. They are telling us to retreat from the expanse or they will use the weapon again."

"So, your saying we are on our own sir?"

"I'm afraid so Commander. Hopefully you can find a way out of the expanse will as few casualties as possible."

"Thank you, Admiral. Spirit of Endurance out." Barnes hit the disconnect button. The Spirit was alone, in the darkness of deep space. It was the farthest UEC Space Command out in the expanse, no other ship dared to go out there, part from the insurrectionist occupation, and the fact that it took months to get out there, even with the most advanced FTL capable ships it would take nearly 2 years to get into UEC controlled space. The Spirit of Endurance was launched from one of the last strongholds in the UEC still has, it was smack in the middle of the expanse, meaning they have one shot at getting there, unless that was the insurrectionists next location to attack.

08:45, JANURARY 29 2298 (MILITARY CALENDER)

AXANAR B298A BINARY STAR SYSTEM, TICONDEROGA COLONY

CITY OF NEW ALEXANDRIA, NORTHERN CONTINENT

Admrial Forest walked up to the Barnes family residence. He had the last report from the Spirit of Endurance, they left the nebula and are on their way back to the Alpha Lambata system. It had been a long time since he was in the Axanar system. The last time was when he was stationed on the UEC Omnibus, it had been long since decommissioned, it was not even as old as the Spirit of Endurance but it was built in a hurry, and they cut corners. The Spirit was designed to withstand almost all attacks when it was new, but quickly fell out in terms of technology, and weapon advancements. He was thankful that it was not nearly as advanced, Barnes spoke of how he swore that its why the ship is still intact. Admiral Forest knocked on the door, nearly everyone had heard of the destruction of Drekicon IX, and the 7th fleet, but not what ships were destroyed. His wife opened the door, as soon as he saw him she started to tear up.

"Mr. Barnes, may I come in?"

"Is he?"

"No... I've got good news, and bad news. I thought I should tell you directly." She nodded, and allowed him into the house.

"Tea or coffee?"

"Tea, not a coffee person. I grew up in England, my parents were stationed there."

"Ah. Well, I'm from Ticonderoga, Barnes was from Drexicon Nine, before..."

"I'm aware." Mrs. Barnes disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two cups of tea. They both walked into the living room.

"Please sit, Admiral Forest." Admiral Forest sat down on the plush sofa. "So, if its good news he's alive?"

"Yes. But, the bad news is, it's that the Spirit of Endurance is deep inside of the expanse in Insurrectionist controlled territory. They made a blind jump from Drexicon, and landed inside of a staging area before jumping into a class 3 nebula. The ship was damaged, but its intact. From what we know from star charts, and the condition of their FTL Drive, it will take at least a year to get to space dock at the Alpha Lambata system. But, we think with the age of the ship, their computer viruses, and other attacks. Our latest deep range ships were destroyed at Drexicon, so they're on their own."

"Oh god. He said that he would be out there for about 3 months, not at least a year. The ship he is posted on is over a hundred years old, and was built as a cargo vessel. From what he said it was retrofitted to serve as the flag ship in the early insurrectionist war."

"It's a tough ship. Her weapons and armor are more than enough. The good thing is, is that they're still within known space that we still can communicate." Barnes's kids walked into the living room.

"Is Dad dead like everyone else out there?"

"No, he's just really far away. His missions going to be much longer, go play outside." The kids both turned around and returned to playing. "What's the odds?"

"Odds?"

"Of them getting back?"

"With the number of insurrectionist vessels, controlled planets, known anomalies, and time, as well as resources and the condition of the ship. 20%. But I have faith. My grandfather was the first commanding officer of that ship. Your husband is the third. He is one of the best damn CO's I have ever seen. He can, and will get his crew home. If he needs to, he can use regulation 3 – in the condition of no return or reinforcement, or imminent destruction, the commanding officer is authorized to use any justifiable means, to preserve the lives of his or her crew. He will do it if he has to."