"This is Diana Mays with a SolarNet News special report. Over the past two and a half days, SNN has tracked large movements of Terran Navy vessels around Saturn. The Ceti fleet is also moving toward Saturn and will pass the planet in three days. We interviewed Liberty Station's captain, Stephen Borchevsky, to find out more about the Saturn situation."
DM: Captain Borchevsky, what can you tell us about the current situation near Saturn?
SB: There's not a whole lot to tell at this point, Miss Mays. The Ceti armada is headed for Saturn. We are going to stop them, or at least slow them down. We are working hard at the moment to evacuate all non-essential personnel and equipment we can.
DM: Do you know whether three days is enough time to evacuate everything, Captain?
SB: Perhaps, perhaps not. I really do not know. But we are making the Ceti earn every kilometer of distance as they close toward Saturn. And when they get to Saturn, Miss Mays, I promise you, they will wish they hadn't.
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Saturn and three of its moons: Mimas, Dione, and Enceladus.
Photographed in April 2004 by NASA's Cassini Probe.
"The Battle of Saturn, as it's already being called, may be the first encounter between ground-based Terran and Ceti troops since a series of skirmishes with them in 2138. Military analyst Samuel Knight explains:"
'Saturn is the first major landmark that the Ceti armada will pass on its way to Earth, and it is also a base for several military and civilian functions. It's been a conduit for traffic to and from Winter Base since the base's construction. In addition, Titan has the Solar System's largest hydrocarbon refineries, and Mimas holds a crucial military training facility. Given all that the Terran Defense Force has to defend, and considering the hazards that Saturn could pose, making a stand here is just the smart thing to do.
'Now, what this means is that we're going to see some hard and furious fighting between the Terran and Ceti navies -- and let's keep in mind that Earth's finest men and women have spent years training out here for this day. I think the Terran Navy is going to hammer the Ceti here. What's less certain is who will win in a fight between Terran and Ceti ground forces. There's only so much training you can do against an enemy when you don't know how they fight on the ground.'
"Col. Jeanette Duveaux is coordinating the defense of Saturn, but neither she nor Admiral Tenaka could be reached for comment. We'll keep trying to get an official statement and will keep you informed as news breaks. I'm Diana Mays, and you're watching SNN.