SECTION 2
Vice-Admiral David Ulnar, commanding the Ninth Defense Squadron on the Orion Frontier of the Star League, reads his new orders for the third time with a growing unease. Star’s enclosure has made it clear that the Legion of Space is about to face the most awesome opponent since the attack of the Cometeers nearly a century and a half ago, and Ulnar is the man who must meet them first. Though his grandfather married a granddaughter of the legendary John Star, the Ulnar name is still associated all too strongly with the Purple Throne and with Eric the Pretender, who sold out his own people to the alien Medusae in his mad quest to claim an empire. Loyal men with the Ulnar name have been paying the price ever since, and anything short of total success will call forth all the old suspicions and accusations of David Ulnar’s head.
Even the Legion plays the game of politics. Ulnar has been ordered to fight the aliens, and his decisions can win or lose the campaign. But Merros, long-time enemy and rival, stands ready to step in as Ulnar’s superior. If he fails, David Ulnar is a scapegoat, another failure in a long line of traitors and incompetents; such is the reputation of a once-proud family. But if he succeeds, Merros can claim the credit. For a time Ulnar considers resigning his command, but that, too, would tarnish the family name still further.
He calls up a computer record of the ships at his command and a star chart of the frontier worlds threatened by the aliens. Here at the main Legion base of St. Germaine, Ulnar’s Ninth Defense Squadron stands ready. But there are at least five frontier worlds in easy range of S.C. (Star Catalogue) 170, where the Ka’slaq have already struck. What is his best response to their threat? How should he deploy to meet them?
Examine the map. Each named world is a League colony or a planet explored by humanity. Worlds where ships are initially stationed are noted; only by visiting a planet in person can Ulnar add the ships there to his own force or order them to move in any way. When the story opens, Ulnar commands the squadron at St. Germaine and can order it to move to any of the named systems. He can also order ships under his command to split off and garrison other systems, where they must remain until he personally reattaches them to his main squadron.
Information on the various planets can be obtained by going to the section numbers located in parentheses on Map 1. If Ulnar wishes to move the entire force under his command to a specific world, the entry for that planet gives further instructions for subsequent sections or events which follow.
If Ulnar wishes to strengthen other garrisons by detaching ships from his fleet, record the number and types of ships detached and note these additional garrisons on a sheet of scrap paper for later reference. Garrisons may help worlds to hold out against the aliens if Ulnar’s fleet is not present to defend it. Ulnar must still choose a destination from among the named worlds for himself and whatever forces he keeps under his command.
If Ulnar decides to look up further information on the forces at his disposal, go to section 10. When you are familiar with your command, go to section 3.