Click here for the latest UPDATE (8/18/96)

At 03:21 Monday morning, our long-range scanners detected a faint signal from what seemed to be a low-density moving body or cluster of bodies headed towards the Station. High Command immediately ordered a probe launched to investigate the object(s).

At 17:54, the probe passed through post-stellar gas belt C659-g and began transmitting a stream of particle scans to our intelligence department. Analysis of the blurred images led us to believe that we were viewing a dense micro-meteor shower. That the view changed very little from frame to frame indicated that the cluster was headed directly towards Station One.

Mission Control immediately began installing reinforcements around the Station to protect the more easily-damaged areas, in preparation for a direct hit. The construction of the Station is quite sufficient, however, to withstand a micro-meteor shower hit without any casualties; we were merely being extra safe.

At 01:09 this morning (Tuesday), the probe entered visual range of the incoming objects and transmitted 12 ominous medium-quality images. Included were these views (digitally enhanced):

Image 03	Image 07	Image 08	Image 11

Needless to say, these are not micro-meteors. They are asteroids. High Command has ordered the deployment of our Meson Anti-Matter Accelerator (MAMA) to destroy the looming threats once they are within range.

One complication is that there appears to be some sort of positron field surrounding these small asteroids, perhaps due to low-level radioactive decay. This explains why our particle scans detected a low-density cluster as opposed to the individual bodies. That the asteroids have not obliterated themselves with their positron fields indicates that their composition includes one or more ultra-high stability nucleide (element with 167 neutrons in its nucleus). Unfortunately, never before has the efficacy of an anti-meson beam been tested against these nucleides. If our MAMA works, it will be a first. If it does not, pray (if you are not religious, become so).

For now, our probe continues to close on the asteroid cluster, seeking a higher-qualitiy visual, and our MAMA is being readied. We will post further developments as they arise.

UPDATE 01

After extended downtime, our probe came back online early this Friday morning and resumed its data transmissions. We were focusing on the largest asteroid in the cluster, and received these new images:

Image 13	Image 14	Image 15

A short hour later, our probe began to spontaneously accelerate as it encountered the gravitational forces of the large masses, bringing it within range to take a full-color picture, which we present here completely unedited and non-enhanced:

Image 17b

To give an idea of the magnitude of the threat we face, the "dot" seen to the right of the main asteroid is actually a moon of the asteroid, a solid mass of estimated diameter 100 feet.

The most bizarre feature of this asteroid/moon pair is its striking resemblance to the Ida/Dactyl pair observed by Earth-launched probes many years ago. It is possible that the masses we are currently observing are antimatter mirror-images of normal matter asteroids from different areas of the galaxy. This would explain the failure of the dense positron field to obliterate the masses; antimatter is comfortable with itself. We checked our array of images against the archives of the Earth-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and found several strong matches.

These objects being comprised of antimatter, our antimatter generator will have absolutely no effect. Hence, we have called upon emergency assistance from warships throughout Wieca Sector. After all of our frantic efforts to ready our MAMA, we find ourselves in need of conventional, positive-matter, high-energy defensive deployment.

Our probe eventually succumbed to the positron field around the asteroids and was destroyed. As always, updates will be posted as they are compiled.

UPDATE 02

Today we have good news to report. A pair of Nova-class Federation starships have picked up our distress call and have agreed to assist us. They were conducting final secret weapons systems tests in an undesignated quadrant of our own Wieca Sector in preparation for their upcoming commissioning ceremonies. The first of these two ships is the long-awaited NCC1701E! Station One will be quite honored to have their help, indeed!

The two ships are coming in merely at impulse speed, as a great deal of planning is going on, and we still have over 11 days before the asteroid cluster comes within critical range.

The next update to this bulletin will come when the ships rendezvous with the Station.

UPDATE 03 - 8/9/96

The Federation starships have come, and just in time! They exchanged crucial data with High Command regarding their mission across an ultra-secure close-range bandwidth and immediately headed off to intercept the asteroid cluster. We caught these pictures during their extremely brief fly-by:

Image 20

Image 23 (zoomed)

It is now only a matter of time. Indications from High Command are that there is still extreme uncertainty over whether the antimatter masses we face can be stopped. Commander Jang has ordered all escape modules readied; if the warships' strike fails, evacuation orders will be given instantly.

Further details will be posted, etc., etc...

UPDATE 03 - 8/18/96

At 07:08 this morning, we were hailed by the twin Nova starships, whose captains indicated that they were prepared to fire upon the asteroid cluster. Our long-range cameras and scanners still pointed towards the incoming danger, we captured this image as the starships fired their ordnances.

Image 35a (non-enhanced)

The asteroids were completely destroyed. The energy patterns emitted by this horrific blast are unlike any previously recorded. Frighteningly, though, our communication links with the Federation starships immediately failed! We are unable to detect any masses or any non-decaying energy profiles in our entire Ectar Quadrant.

It seems that the courageous crews of the only two magnificent Nova-class starships in existance have given their lives to save ours. We cannot confirm this as yet, but we have sent out probes to search for disintegrated remains of the ships.

As always, we will post further developments as they arise.

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