The video details a tense standoff between human and Xi’An fleets following the catastrophic failure of the TKL 2900 military scanner, which led to a significant explosion in the Hadur system. Despite initial fears of a Xi’An attack, investigations revealed the explosion was due to a system failure, allowing Admiral Hesh to successfully navigate the situation and solidify his reputation in the UEE Navy.
In the context of a tense Cold War between humans and the Xi’An, Imperator Iva Messa invested heavily in the development of a new long-range military scanner known as the TKL 2900. Messa claimed that this technology would significantly outperform existing human scanners and those used by the Xi’An. However, when the scanner was tested, it fell short of expectations. Engineer Martha Agrawal, known for her controversial support of meta, took charge of the project and assured Messa that minor modifications would resolve the issues. Despite concerns from other engineers about the lack of field testing, Messa pushed for the scanner’s deployment to the Hadur system, fearing an impending Xi’An attack.
On November 7, 2550, the TKL 2900 was activated near the jump point to Baker, but it suffered a catastrophic reactor failure, resulting in a massive explosion that lit up the system. Navy patrols arrived at the scene to find several Xi’An ships scanning the debris. Although the initial encounter did not lead to an engagement, Lieutenant Commander Pina Balmont fired warning shots to assert their presence. Admiral Hesh, the leader of the UEE Kenley battle group, was informed of the situation and ordered his fleet to converge on the Baker-Hadur jump point to await further instructions.
As Admiral Hesh’s fleet arrived at the debris field, he learned of the Xi’An activity and recognized the urgency of the situation. He sought irrefutable proof of the cause of the TKL 2900’s failure before making any accusations against the Xi’An. Hesh ordered a grid search of the debris field for surviving data recorders while also requesting additional ships to join the operation. Despite the presence of a new Nautilus-class mine layer ship that had not yet been authorized for field operations, Hesh decided to deploy it to strengthen their defensive perimeter against the potential Xi’An threat.
After laying mines to control the approach angles, the Nautilus crew rushed to complete their task as a significant Xi’An force appeared near the UEE perimeter. Surprisingly, the Xi’An fleet halted their advance and observed the Nautilus from a distance. The tense standoff continued while the grid search was conducted, ultimately resulting in the recovery of two intact data recorders. Once the data was analyzed, it was confirmed that the explosion was due to a critical system failure, dispelling any notions of a Xi’An attack. Hesh ordered a strategic withdrawal from the debris field, and the fleet returned to Baker without further incident.
Upon returning to Baker, Admiral Hesh reported the use of the Nautilus to Naval command and received mixed reactions. Initially criticized for his decision, he ultimately gained favor after the investigation revealed the true cause of the explosion. Meanwhile, Agrawal faced backlash for her failure to deliver on the promises made regarding the TKL 2900. As a result, Admiral Hesh became a trusted figure in the UEE Navy, eventually overseeing all forces along the Perry line. Reflecting on the incident, he emphasized the importance of knowing when to avoid conflict, a lesson that defined his leadership during this precarious standoff.