317-1121
Karin / Five Sisters / Spinward Marches
Disaster Strikes Research Station
A Scout Service official today confirmed rumors that a classified Imperial
Research Station has been destroyed in a natural disaster of unprecedented
scale. Reading from a prepared statement, he stated that the location
of the station and the nature of its research would not be disclosed for
security reasons, but that in order to forestall rumors some details could
be revealed.
The planet in question "experienced a major impact event" which caused
"substantial damage to the biosphere" in addition to eliminating the research
station. Initial surveys indicate that the world was struck by a hail
of large planetoid fragments, some of which penetrated the crust. The
area where the station was located is now occupied by a vast lava plain.
It was emphasized that the disaster was completely natural and in no way
related to the research in progress. Devastation on this scale cannot
be produced by any man-made event. In addition, the two ships in orbit
would not have been affected by an accident at the station no matter how
large, and there is by now no question that both ships were also lost in the
event. There could be no survivors in a disaster of this scope.
The research station was located on a minor planet and was the only settlement
on the world. No other occupants of the system were affected; in fact,
the event went unnoticed on the mainworld. The disaster was only discovered
when a routine supply ship arrived on 250-1121 to find the station missing;
the event must have occured within the preceding month.
No further information was given in the statement, and the official refused
to answer any questions.