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Revelations: A Freespace 2 Campaign
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Fiction
Excerpt from Professor Robert Saratov’s Basic Shivan Studies class, Ikeya Institute, Hawking Station, Ikeya.
Student Khon-keth *translated*:
But Professor, why do you think that the Shivans would destroy Capella?Professor Saratov:
Well, scientists have come up with a number of possible explanations. One is that they wanted to wipe us out of nearby systems with the intense radiation from the supernova. Another theory is that they used it as a bridge to their home, and the reasons for their doing that vary greatly. We’re going to cover all of these theories as this course goes on.Student Khon-keth *translated*:
Yes, but why do you think the Shivans did it?Professor Saratov:
Why do I think they destroyed Capella? Well, and this is purely my own opinion, I believe they did it to gain an advantage over an enemy much greater than the GTVA.Student Gould:
How do you mean?Professor Saratov:
Well, take the example of what happened in our own neighboring systems. Before Capella was destroyed, Betelgeuse was connected to Beta Cygni, and Ikeya to Ribos.
*Brings up image on display:*
Now, let us imagine that both Betelgeuse and Ikeya are centers of industry for two powerful species. The Shivans in Ikeya and their enemy in Betelgeuse. Imagine also that these two species are in a great war and that Antares is the front-line of that war. With Betelgeuse and Ikeya as the centers of industry, producing new ships and destroyers, Beta Cygni and Ribos would be their most heavily defended systems. Betelgeuse or Ikeya would be safe as long as no one could come through Beta Cygni or Ribos.
Let us also imagine that the Shivans and their enemy are equally powerful. The Shivans can’t get through Antares, and they definitely can’t get through the defenses at Beta Cygni, to wipe out their enemy in Betelgeuse. And their enemy can’t penetrate the Shivan forces at Antares nor Ribos to destroy them in Ikeya. So you’ve got a stalemate. A continuing war that neither side can win.
Now, imagine that by destroying one star, maybe even a star far away from these battles, you can change the jump nodes amongst these systems.
*Brings up image on display:*
Now, by destroying that star, you’ve closed the node between Betelgeuse and Beta Cygni, and opened one between Ikeya and Betelgeuse. Let us say the Shivans did this, opening a back door straight to the heart of their enemy. The Shivans position a strike force in Ikeya, destroy a star like Capella, and then move their force through the new node into Betelgeuse. Their enemy does not expect this, and the bulk of their forces are now stuck in Beta Cygni.
With Betelgeuse lightly defended, they never needed much defense before as Beta Cygni was a wall protecting Betelgeuse, the Shivans storm in and wipe out their enemy’s base of operations. The rest of their enemy’s forces in Beta Cygni and Antares would be lost without any further support, and the Shivans would go on to win the war.
And that’s my theory. It may not be the right one, but it’s the one I believe. Now if there are no further questions, load up Chapter 12 in your datapads.