Whatever those things are, they've pretty much taken over the Gagarin Cluster, and they're spreading fast. Just about the only place left clear is the area immediately around the Remek Jump Accelerator and your base.
We're ferrying refugees through the Accelerator as fast as we can. Your companions Trieste and Takagi volunteered to escort the last-but-one convoy out of there. Lemuel Smith has also come along to oversee the fitting of antimatter weapons to the League Fleet. They'll all be safe here in the Badlands - at least for the time being.
The last refugee convoy is ready to go, but the creatures are closing in fast, and we don't have enough time to get them out. Fortunately, Smith has come up with an ingenious plan. I'd better let him explain it.
Alright, old son.
I was thinking that these aliens seem attracted to ships - I reckon it's the processed metal and high energy power sources that they like chomping on. Now, our base is the largest object like that in the system, and if we turn on the ram scoop as well, that enormous magnetic field should be like a beacon to them.
If we could booby trap the base with antimatter charges and power up the scoop, we could lure all the nearby aliens to it, and nuke them. It'd be like leading flies to a sugar bowl - a sugar bowl loaded with nitro-glycerine, that is.
Okay, so it's a bit of a dodgy plan, but it's the only way we can buy enough time to get everyone out. You'll not believe it, but Jafs has actually volunteered to pilot the SnRV and lay the charges. I swear the girls never laid a finger on him! In fact, I think Lori was actually impressed...
He's loaded the SnRV with half-a-dozen cargo pods full of antimatter, and I've fitted them with remote detonators. You'll have to be careful though - one sneeze could set the whole lot off early, and take you and Jafs with it.
If everything works right, then detonating the bombs around the base should keep the aliens busy for a while, if not destroy them outright. This ought to buy you enough time to get the last convoy clear.
Anyway, better let you get on with it. See you on the other side. I hope.
Smith.
This sounds like the best chance we have.
The League will be guarding the Santa Romera Jump Accelerator. Our ships have orders to eradicate any contaminated ship that jumps through. Make sure you're clean, Cal. I'd hate to have to lose you, but I'll not hesitate to open fire if there's any chance you're infected.
Good luck, and may the Lord have mercy on our souls,
Franklyn Hoffer.