Tod5 op 4  The Empire Counterattacks  (replaces wxprot2)

We hit the Empire very hard at the Annon siege supply station.  Catching a heavy percentage of their reserves there has taken a lot of direct pressure off the Illini sector.  However intelligence reports that we should expect some kind of counterattack today around the communications sats and Fighter Dock 6.  

These sats provide a link with Alliance High Command, the various other fighter docks and the Illinii. If that link is cut, then we will not be able to get reinforcements in case of heavy attack except by scramble from the planet Illini or it's bases in the asteroid belt.  Fighter dock 5 is in direct communication with your dock so they will respond if you are attacked, as you will if they are.  Fighter dock 4 is off line for repairs from an Imperial attack earlier this week.  Neither the Illinii nor fighter dock 5 will able to give you immediate support because of the distance.  Our fighters can arrive in about 3 minutes, the Illinii ships in about 12 minutes.  For that reason it is imperative that all craft patrol your area near the sats with the keenest alertness and respond instantly to any attack on the sats until a message can be sent for help.   The frigate Vigilance is ready to hyper in, but must get the message.  The frigate Lulu and some Illinii frigates are patrolling the planet's other vital areas so they will not be able to assist you if the Empire mounts a two pronged attack. 

This is a distinct possibility because the Empire has made a deal with some pirates who were not so happy with the arrangement we made.  We have noticed that certain groups of these renegade pirates have been raiding our supplies of late, there being no Imperial supplies to speak of to hit in the area.  Thus "deprived" of a living, these renegades made another deal.  It is believed that these people and the Empire will try to divert our frigate forces while the Empire Strike Force goes for the throat with whatever they can muster to overwhelm some isolated group of our ships. 

This will mean the Empire is willing to expose some of it's main ships in order to press the attack.  Just on who the main attack will fall is not known, but your area will certainly be involved in a battle for the satalites.  

