A dozen Mako-class Battleships assembled in a neat phalanx formation a short distance from Alabama shipyard. The news had spread quickly throughout the system and beyond: APM had developed something special. During the two major conflicts with the Zoners, one of the greatest weaknesses of the Core fleet was snubcraft. Bombers and fighters deployed in wave tactics overwhelmed the admittedly-meager point defense systems of the Mako, inflicting heavy losses. Now, though, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Something with a bit more bite than a Lastlight Mark Two, while still retaining its high hit-rate against small craft. Rumors abounded as to the source of the technology, the suspicion that it was a reverse-engineered Hessian weapon partially salvaged from an Omega battlezone was the most common. Regardless of the source, however, more than a few captains were keen on getting their hands on them.
"Right, then, we have an agreement. All of our ships and all of our crews match the performance requirements for distribution. We'll draw straws, it's only fair." Spoke James Moore, commander of the WV Vesta. He was a long-standing veteran of the fleet, having served with distinction in countless battles against the Corsairs, Nomads and Order. The other assembled captains murmured their agreement with the sentiment, watching quietly as Moore began to snap pencils into odd-sized lengths, before handing the arrangement to his first officer.
While the group were working over their ever-so-fair method of distribution, another Mako slipped quietly past the group, towards the free berth at Alabama. A trio of blood-red stripes adorned the nose, identifying it as the Terminus Est. Hidden from view by the odd approach angle and the lack of ambient lighting, the motion was entirely unnoticed by the group aboard the Vesta until just before the docking clamps extended.
"Fillian! Don't you dare!" Ruth Starr, captain of the WV Diana, was the first among the other assembled captains to notice what was transpiring. Seconds later, the comms channel erupted with similar protests. "We're drawing straws!"
"Mine's biggest." The video feed from the bridge of the Terminus fizzled to black as the automated arms of Alabama began the process of mounting Jess' new weaponry.