Nantuket Bay  Dome. 20:00, 032-1080 I.C.

       A great cheer began in Nantuk Plaza as the broadcast from Winston was played over the public tannoy, increasing in power and volume as the crowd's passion grew.  As it spread, Deline was reminded of the sound of an Entropian Geyser.  When tectonic or meteoric activity caused a break in the surface ice of Entrope's oceans, some five kilometres thick, liquid water errupted in massive and spectacular geysers that were often visible from space.  When the water hit the near-total vaccuum above, it began to boil and refreeze simultaneously.  Viewed from the surface the entire spectacle was eerily silent but, beneath the surface, the vibrations of the chaotically churning mass of water could grow into a deep and terrifying roar, both heard and felt by those living and working in the flimsy sub-sea stations below.
      In the control tower, Radiz turned up the volume, drowning out the crowd as the broadcast repeated itself.
"We, the colonists of Winston have come to a near uni-lateral decision of self-governance, not to pander to the greed of the Guilds, SoCont or other governments of Entrope.  We will continue to deliver supplies to Erisian representatives and we urge you, people of Entrope, join us, cast aside your corrupt leaders and your prejudices so we may forge a new society of equality and enlightenment'."  
       Smiling, Deline grasped Radiz' smooth hand with her own calloused fingers, stroking her swollen belly with the other as she watched the revellers in the square below.   It seemed that her daughter would have a future worth looking forward to after all...

      Deline Madre-Dashelle Verdun Ap-Entrope was from a proud and well-established family in the Entropic Worlds and worked as the primary plant controller at the desalination and hydrogen extraction facility in Nantuket Bay.  She had grown up under the yoke of the Trade Guild and the Bay Council, themselves a subsidiary of the Southern Continental Committee - arguably the most powerful governing body on Entrope prior to the Fourth Frontier War.  They enjoyed close links with both the Daryen Confederation and the various Mercantile organisations and Corporations in the Sector as the primary starport in the region.   Though she was smart enough to have some criticisms about her society, she worked hard at her job and did not complain, for she knew she had a more privileged existence than many of her people.  However when Radiz Valence entered her life, everything changed. 
      Radiz had been raised by his Aunt amongst the Children of Eris, a dispersed Anarcho-communist movement, aboard the Armed Merchantman 'Full Cargo, Empty Dreams.'   Tired of travelling the gulf of space, he had settled on Entrope, where he worked in the Nantuket Bay Port Authority.  He quickly gained popularity with the port workers, catalysing the already strong Erisian movement in the city.  They met by chance at a workers meeting where his conviction and care for others quickly won her heart.  He was soon elected as speaker for the workers council and Deline's position later got him the position of Chief Port Officer.  These two vital positions in the infrastructure of Nantuket Bay were instrumental in the fall of the Council.

      Nantuket Bay was the primary processing centre for fuel on Entrope, when the people replaced their bureaucratic authority to become an Erisian Community, the Southern Continental Government sought action, not realising the full extent of the movement, not just to the vast majority of the freight ships now within the Entrope cluster but with many military-grade vessels as well.  The government leaders quickly fell to the fervour of the Erisian Movement, fuelled by the example of Uniqua in the Darrian sub-sector, the other world that had famously achieved an Erisian vision of independence.  No false cry of 'Anarchy' or 'Chaos' swayed the Southern Entropians, for they were more than used to both on their balkanised and harsh little world.  Of course, there were casualties, battles lost and won but, when the agricultural world of Winston formed an Erisian Community, the people of Nantuket bay knew the tide had turned. 

      They did not know greater forces were at work, powers who cared nothing for what was, to them, no more than a petty local squabble.  A piece to be played in a greater game.
      Though the Sword-Worlds were, both genetically and culturally, as different from the Daryen as was possible for humans to be, their Military Command knew that their rival peers thought much the same way in terms of power.  The Erisian success would be seen as a enough of a potential threat to their personal power that, when the time was right, they would make little effort to prevent the destruction of the movement in the Entropic Worlds.  Taking advantage of the confusion resulting around the Fourth Frontier War, with the support of the Zhodani and non-Erisian factions on Entrope, the Sword-worlds Confederacy attacked.

Nantuket Bay Dome, 29:00, 091-1083 I.C.

       "Trennic 'berg Dome just exploded!"  cried the comms operator as Radiz watched the monitors with dismay, sinking his head into his hands.  He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at his partner, their daughter clinging quietly to her legs.  There was exhaustion and fear in Deline's eyes, but behind it, the steely glint of determination.   
      "Why aren't you off world yet?"  he demanded.  "You should have left with Orrie!"  She shook her head.
      "We're not leaving you.   This is our home."    Radiz was about to argue, but the operator piped up with another barrage of reports to match the continued rain of fire about them, the vibrations of which shook the facility straight through the layers of rock and pack-ice that enclosed it.
" We've lost contact with sub-sea stations 1 through 6, the Starport is a mess... There are still several of our ships in communication with us...  Three still taking Refugees and requesting cover, 'Rift Spanner', 'Free Spirit' & 'Diminished Responsibility.'   The SDB 'Last Stand' is responding and...Rad, theres a personal call request coming for you...AMM 'Full Cargo, Empty Dreams""  Radiz jolted, suddenly alert.
      "Put it through.."  he said, quietly.  There was a crackle, a burst of static, followed by the sound of a sharp, admonishing voice.
       "Izzy, what are you still doing on this frozen rock when you should be evacuating with everyone else?!"
       "Aunt Besh?   What are you doing here?!"  he exclaimed, exasperated.
       "Looking after my Nephew, since he's too stubborn to do it himself!"  came the curt reply.  "its not just about what you want any more... you have a daughter... my niece... who needs to be taken somewhere safe!"
      "I already tried to get Deline to..."   he began, but was abruptly cut off.
       "I'm sure.  and where is she? Deline, I want to have a word with you!"   Deline leaned forward to Radiz' terminal with a sigh.
       "I'm right here, Besh-ba, and its where I'm staying.  You cant make me leave."  she said, firmly.
       "You might have decided that, but have you thought about your daughter?  Does she really have to die because of this?   This isn't what the Children of Eris are about!"
       "Dont tell me what we should and shouldn't do, we've worked so hard for this!"  Deline cried, anger creeping into her voice.  " We're making a Utopia on Entrope.... somewhere Orrie can grow up and be proud of!"
       "Deline, listen.   There is no Utopia in this universe, this idea of Power in Planets, Strength in Systems.... its an illusion.  Its not the Erisian way... freedom is a matter of thought and will.  Entrenching yourself like this is the route to stasis and death.  There's still time to come away with us..."
       "Not while there's a chance..."
       "Your last chance went with that x-boat!   The Daryen heard all right, and they're not coming!"  Besh-ba yelled over the intercom, then her tone softened, "if you can't leave your home, at least give your daughter the chance of making her own way... I'll be waiting at gate 27/G as long as I can...Izzy... don't let an old woman down.  Over and Out."
        Deline looked at her partner, her eyes hot with tears.   Radiz was silent for a moment, aware the room was watching.  He avoided their looks, but he couldn't avoid Deline's.  He held her gaze steadily.
        "I'm not abandoning our home...  but you should go.  Take Orrie."    She shook her head.
        "I wont leave you, or Entrope, there's plenty I can still do... but your aunt is right.  Orrie deserves a better chance...  I'll take her to the port, then I'll see if I can re-jig the primary reactor.  If we scatter enough rads.... maybe the ships can get clear without being targeted planet-side..."   She lifted the small, wide-eyed child from the floor, sitting her on her father''s lap.  "Say bye to your dad, Orrie."
       "Where we goin?" stammered the child.
       "Your Nana's taking you to the stars, sweetie, but you'll see mummy and daddy  soon...I promise."

X-line 0001001000000111 - Probe 22/4-K. Forward Observers Report.

Target Area: 
Nantuket Bay Dome. Vapourised 31:00 hours (system time) 091-1083 I.C.  

Suspected cause:
Direct hit on city's Hydrogen Extraction Plant most probably leading to a chain reaction in the linked Primary Fusion Reactor.  Satellite imaging shows both space port and settlement have been entirely destroyed.

Total Casualties:
850,000 (Estimate. Error Margin: 10-15%)

Collateral Damage:
Further reaction in microwave power transmission leading to total destruction of Port Orbital Facility, two Confederation Cruisers and twelve Auxiliary & Civilian vessels.
12,000 Potential Casualties.

Survivors:
None reported.  Estimated 0.025% chance of survivors within 15K of Ground Zero.

Report ends.