"What is the defensive status of Meinhoff itself?" Raynor asked.
Matt pulled up another set of data.
"This is the portion of information they were willing to share: four of their orbital defense platforms are at full combat readiness, while the other two are undergoing maintenance and upgrades. There is a local defense fleet consisting of two old-model battlecruisers, four destroyers, and several frigates. On the ground, there is a massive network of missile silos and automated turret grids. Overall, their defense forces are stronger than the vast majority of fringe colonies, but—" he paused, "it is insufficient to counter a large-scale Swarm fleet. Furthermore, their fleet needs to scatter its forces to protect shipping lanes, enforce quarantines, and potentially conduct civilian evacuations."
"What about the movements of the Swarm fleet?" Valerie asked.
"Meinhoff's scouting network reports that anomalous Swarm bio-signals have been detected in a star sector roughly three warp-distances away. The exact scale is unknown, but it is definitely not scattered units." Matt highlighted a region in red. "Their heading... isn't explicitly pointing toward Meinhoff for the moment, but they aren't moving away either."
A heavy silence filled the briefing room. Everyone understood that Meinhoff was sitting on a powder keg.
"We still have to go over," Raynor finally spoke. "At the very least, we can unload the refugees, giving them a chance to survive. Besides, if the Swarm truly attacks, having one more warship and more hands on deck might mean we can save a few more lives."
Tychus grunted, but he did not object. He might complain, but on critical actions, he never truly went against Raynor's decisions.
After the meeting concluded, Valerie returned to her quarters to prepare an updated report for Osiris.
She organized all the information: the overcrowding on Meinhoff, the quarantine delays, the assessment of their defense forces, and the signs of Swarm activity nearby. She specially emphasized Dr. Hanson's viewpoint regarding the Swarm potentially possessing strategic awareness.
At the end of the report, she added her own observations: "The primary core focus of the Raynor team is currently entirely consumed by the refugee crisis. Tychus occasionally discusses 'that matter' (referring to the artifact fragment deal) with Raynor in private, but specific details remain unknown. Due to the current situation, actions to locate the next fragment appear to be temporarily shelved. Recommend continuing observation, waiting for the crisis to ease or for a breakthrough to appear."
She sent the encrypted report. Not long after, she received a brief reply from Osiris: "Received. Continue observing the Meinhoff situation. If the Swarm attacks, record local defensive efficacy and tactical changes of the Swarm. Dr. Hanson's value is confirmed; maintain technological exchange. Artifact fragment intelligence priority remains unchanged; search for an opportunity."
The instructions were clear. Valerie shut down the communications and began contemplating how to simultaneously accomplish multiple objectives within Meinhoff's complex environment.
At the twenty-fourth standard hour of the voyage, the Hyperion picked up a broadcast signal from Meinhoff's public news channel. The bridge patched it into the internal communications system, making it audible across many sectors of the ship.
The contents of the broadcast were far from optimistic.
"—The Meinhoff Governor's Mansion once again appeals to the inter-stellar community for aid. As the refugee population surges past three hundred thousand, our reserves of medical supplies, food, and shelter are bottoming out. We urgently require more medical provisions, water purification equipment, and rapidly deployable temporary housing—"
"—The health department confirms that the dysentery outbreak in Refugee Camp Three has been brought under preliminary control, though seventeen patients remain in critical condition, all of whom are children and the elderly. The epidemiological investigation suspects contamination of the water source—"
"—The Inter-stellar Freight Association warns that shipping lane insurance rates for Meinhoff have been adjusted upward by 300% due to the elevated Swarm threat level. Multiple freight companies have suspended non-essential flights to this sector—"
"—We break in now with a piece of emergency news: according to unconfirmed sources, a refugee fleet composed of civilian vessels was attacked by unidentified craft while en route to Meinhoff. Several vessels sustained damage, and casualties are currently unknown. The Meinhoff Defense Command has raised its alert level and calls upon all vessels traveling to this sector to remain vigilant and report anomalies in a timely manner—"
The voice in the broadcast was calm, but the information delivered grew heavier by the line.
In the corridors and compartments of the Hyperion, the refugees who heard the broadcast had faces written with anxiety and dread. They had fled their homes only to find their destination equally fraught with peril.
Hearing the broadcast on the medical deck, Dr. Hanson's expression grew even more solemn. She found Valerie and said in a low voice, "Attacking a refugee fleet... this doesn't resemble the Swarm's style. The Swarm would consume them directly; they wouldn't just 'attack.' It might be pirates, taking advantage of the chaos to plunder. Or it could be... something else."
Valerie's mind stirred. Something else? In the Koprulu Sector, besides the Swarm and humans, there were also the Protoss. But would the Protoss attack human refugee ships? According to the information she had previously acquired, though the Protoss were proud and had a complex attitude toward humanity, they did not seem to be a race given to slaughtering the innocent. Or was it certain factions within the Dominion wanting to prevent refugees from flooding into the Core Worlds?
Information was insufficient, making it difficult to judge. Yet what bred within chaos was not just suffering, but all kinds of opportunities and dangers.
At the twenty-seventh standard hour of the voyage, the navigator reported: "About to exit warp state. Entering the outer rims of the Meinhoff system."
The Hyperion vibrated slightly as it dropped out of warp space. On the main screen, a gray-blue industrial planet appeared in their field of vision.
In planetary orbit, the silhouettes of several massive space stations and shipbuilding platforms could be seen, alongside a dense, swarm-like collection of small vessels—mostly refugee transports, waiting in line to enter the quarantine protocols. Farther out, Meinhoff's defense fleet was conducting routine patrols. Those two old-model battlecruisers appeared massive but unwieldy, their mottled paint speaking of the passage of time.
However, everyone's attention was quickly drawn by something else.
On the fringes of the Meinhoff system, in an area close to the asteroid belt, drifted a collection of wreckage. From the silhouettes, one could faintly discern the fragments of civilian transport ships. A scattering of escape pods sat sporadically, some still transmitting distress signals.
"It's the fleet that was attacked mentioned in the broadcast," Matt said in a low voice. "The wreckage is still fresh; the attack occurred no more than ten hours ago."
Raynor stared at the debris, his face grim.
"Contact the Meinhoff Defense Command. Inform them we've located the attack site, and ask if they need assistance in searching for and rescuing survivors. At the same time, the entire ship is at Alert Level Three. Tychus, have your boys ready."
"Been ready," Tychus's voice came through the communication channel.
The Hyperion began to decelerate, sailing toward the Meinhoff orbital stations. Ahead lay a lengthy quarantine queue and a future filled with uncertainty, while in the shadows, the identity of the attackers and the threat of the Swarm hung over everyone like a sword of Damocles.