Oscar: Turan Province Crash Site Result of Space Battle over Towne 02/24/3133
INN - Interstellar News Network
PORT HOWARD--In a press conference today, Planetary Legate Jonathan Jurik
confirmed reports that space debris slammed into a cattle ranch in the Turna
Province, just outside the small town of Camanche. He also confirmed that this debris
was indeed the remains of a rare Excalibur-class DropShip that was mortally
wounded by weapons fire from an apparent battle high above Towne. The vessel’s
affiliation and the reason for it coming under fire are currently unknown.
“At this time, we can confirm only that the wreckage was indeed a space vessel of
the Excalibur-class, which crashed after failing to make an uncontrolled entry in
Towne’s atmosphere due to battle damage,” said Jurik. “Who was firing on the
vessel, or if this one was part of a larger fleet, remains unknown, but our techs are
already working to locate the log box and flight recorders.”
According to witnesses in Camanche, which is a small rural community 90 kilometers
southeast of Shalizar, the provincial capital of Turna, the crash occurred five days
ago. First appearing as a bright star, the superheated surface of the plummeting
DropShip apparently lost control in the lower atmosphere, tumbling end-over-end as it
fell. Several smaller fragments, seen breaking off from the ship during its descent, left
smaller streaks in the sky that apparently burned up before hitting the ground. The
impact was felt as far away as Jakobsburg, a rural community 30 kilometers west of
Camanche.
“It looked like a shooting star, but far brighter than any other I ever saw,” said Ronald
Patten, of Jakobsburg. “When it hit, I saw a bright flash to the east--just for an
instant--and then I felt a terrible rumble and heard a muffled thump.”
“A bunch of us had gotten it in our heads to go and investigate whatever it was, since
meteors don’t usually survive the trip through the atmosphere,” said Charles Bonner,
of Camanche. “But by the time we drove up to where we figured the site was, the
police and militia already had the highways blocked off. I think from where we got
we could just make out a faint glow in the distance, like something there was on fire.
But in the darkness, it was hard to make out any smoke or anything.”
The crash of the unidentified DropShip scattered debris in a 30-kilometer stretch that
was roughly three kilometers across at its widest. A large section barely identifiable as
the nose cone, the mangled bridge, and half the forward port sections survived the
fall, but were so blackened by the heat of reentry and impact fires that any markings
were obliterated, according to INN helicopter footage.
Sources close to Legate Jurik told INN earlier today that the militia search team is still
picking through the craft’s remains, searching for bodies or equipment that might
indicate its mission prior to being shot down over Towne. Data is also being scoured
from orbiting news, weather, and communications satellites believed to have been
within visual/sensor range of the plummeting vessel. An aerospace fighter pass near
where the vessel was believed to have entered Towne’s atmosphere discovered no
further evidence of battle in orbit, though some ground-based sensors allegedly picked
up several scrambled and burst-coded transmissions hours before the crash.
“We are investigating all the evidence we have,” Jurik told reporters. “But at this time,
our analysis remains inconclusive. At present, it is best that no one jumps to
conclusions, and we’re asking everyone to remain calm, as there seems to be no
immediate danger to planetary security either on the ground or in orbit.”
Despite such reassurances, however, this latest incident has many Towne residents
worried.
“It’s rather frightening when you think about it,” said Patten. “I mean, we hear about
fighting on other worlds, and there was even that scare at the Vanarium Reserve back
in December, but to think there’s still fighting going on over Towne is just plain
scary.”
Towne Log
+ There goes the neighborhood! :- Gecko386
+ I heard that! So, anybody want to guess who’s fighting over our quaint little planet
now? My bet is Highlanders and Swordsworn. That would explain the presence of
their ‘delegates’ here, if you ask me. :- FMLurder
+ T Ah. Hmmm. You know, I’d love to argue that one with you, Lurder, but you may
have a point this time. Then again, it could also be Spirit Cats versus Steel Wolves, or
even Dragon’s Fury. I mean, Tara Campbell seems to be on the level when she says
she wants to preserve The Republic, and the Feddies usually have been friendly to us,
so they could have formed a coalition to defend us. Of course, Oscar and Jurik seem
to think keeping us in the dark is more reassuring than revealing a possible nugget of
truth. :- Jamjam
+ Quick question here, guys. What kind of DropShip is an Excalibur? :- Kurious
+ T ’Mech transport, K. That’s why this is such a scare. For all anybody knows, that
thing was transporting troops to hit us. IIRC, an Excalibur can actually haul a
combined-arms battalion or some such--’Mechs, vehicles, and maybe even a few
fighters. :- Chungabunga
+ For all anybody knows”?! Would you listen to him? Chungabunga, you know as
well as anybody here that Jurik and those militia analysts know way more than they’re
letting on about what’s happening up there. The only reason to withhold info is to
either avoid a panic or to find a way to put a positive spin on it. :- FMLurder
+ T It’s a sign of the apocalypse, I tell you! The Republic is falling apart, the HPGs
are dark, and the sky is literally falling! Any fool can see it: The Word of Blake is
coming back! :- Rumormonger
+ See what I mean, Chungabunga? Case in point. :- FMLurder
INN - Interstellar News Network
PORT HOWARD--In a press conference today, Planetary Legate Jonathan Jurik
confirmed reports that space debris slammed into a cattle ranch in the Turna
Province, just outside the small town of Camanche. He also confirmed that this debris
was indeed the remains of a rare Excalibur-class DropShip that was mortally
wounded by weapons fire from an apparent battle high above Towne. The vessel’s
affiliation and the reason for it coming under fire are currently unknown.
“At this time, we can confirm only that the wreckage was indeed a space vessel of
the Excalibur-class, which crashed after failing to make an uncontrolled entry in
Towne’s atmosphere due to battle damage,” said Jurik. “Who was firing on the
vessel, or if this one was part of a larger fleet, remains unknown, but our techs are
already working to locate the log box and flight recorders.”
According to witnesses in Camanche, which is a small rural community 90 kilometers
southeast of Shalizar, the provincial capital of Turna, the crash occurred five days
ago. First appearing as a bright star, the superheated surface of the plummeting
DropShip apparently lost control in the lower atmosphere, tumbling end-over-end as it
fell. Several smaller fragments, seen breaking off from the ship during its descent, left
smaller streaks in the sky that apparently burned up before hitting the ground. The
impact was felt as far away as Jakobsburg, a rural community 30 kilometers west of
Camanche.
“It looked like a shooting star, but far brighter than any other I ever saw,” said Ronald
Patten, of Jakobsburg. “When it hit, I saw a bright flash to the east--just for an
instant--and then I felt a terrible rumble and heard a muffled thump.”
“A bunch of us had gotten it in our heads to go and investigate whatever it was, since
meteors don’t usually survive the trip through the atmosphere,” said Charles Bonner,
of Camanche. “But by the time we drove up to where we figured the site was, the
police and militia already had the highways blocked off. I think from where we got
we could just make out a faint glow in the distance, like something there was on fire.
But in the darkness, it was hard to make out any smoke or anything.”
The crash of the unidentified DropShip scattered debris in a 30-kilometer stretch that
was roughly three kilometers across at its widest. A large section barely identifiable as
the nose cone, the mangled bridge, and half the forward port sections survived the
fall, but were so blackened by the heat of reentry and impact fires that any markings
were obliterated, according to INN helicopter footage.
Sources close to Legate Jurik told INN earlier today that the militia search team is still
picking through the craft’s remains, searching for bodies or equipment that might
indicate its mission prior to being shot down over Towne. Data is also being scoured
from orbiting news, weather, and communications satellites believed to have been
within visual/sensor range of the plummeting vessel. An aerospace fighter pass near
where the vessel was believed to have entered Towne’s atmosphere discovered no
further evidence of battle in orbit, though some ground-based sensors allegedly picked
up several scrambled and burst-coded transmissions hours before the crash.
“We are investigating all the evidence we have,” Jurik told reporters. “But at this time,
our analysis remains inconclusive. At present, it is best that no one jumps to
conclusions, and we’re asking everyone to remain calm, as there seems to be no
immediate danger to planetary security either on the ground or in orbit.”
Despite such reassurances, however, this latest incident has many Towne residents
worried.
“It’s rather frightening when you think about it,” said Patten. “I mean, we hear about
fighting on other worlds, and there was even that scare at the Vanarium Reserve back
in December, but to think there’s still fighting going on over Towne is just plain
scary.”
Towne Log
+ There goes the neighborhood! :- Gecko386
+ I heard that! So, anybody want to guess who’s fighting over our quaint little planet
now? My bet is Highlanders and Swordsworn. That would explain the presence of
their ‘delegates’ here, if you ask me. :- FMLurder
+ T Ah. Hmmm. You know, I’d love to argue that one with you, Lurder, but you may
have a point this time. Then again, it could also be Spirit Cats versus Steel Wolves, or
even Dragon’s Fury. I mean, Tara Campbell seems to be on the level when she says
she wants to preserve The Republic, and the Feddies usually have been friendly to us,
so they could have formed a coalition to defend us. Of course, Oscar and Jurik seem
to think keeping us in the dark is more reassuring than revealing a possible nugget of
truth. :- Jamjam
+ Quick question here, guys. What kind of DropShip is an Excalibur? :- Kurious
+ T ’Mech transport, K. That’s why this is such a scare. For all anybody knows, that
thing was transporting troops to hit us. IIRC, an Excalibur can actually haul a
combined-arms battalion or some such--’Mechs, vehicles, and maybe even a few
fighters. :- Chungabunga
+ For all anybody knows”?! Would you listen to him? Chungabunga, you know as
well as anybody here that Jurik and those militia analysts know way more than they’re
letting on about what’s happening up there. The only reason to withhold info is to
either avoid a panic or to find a way to put a positive spin on it. :- FMLurder
+ T It’s a sign of the apocalypse, I tell you! The Republic is falling apart, the HPGs
are dark, and the sky is literally falling! Any fool can see it: The Word of Blake is
coming back! :- Rumormonger
+ See what I mean, Chungabunga? Case in point. :- FMLurder
| February 24, 3133 |