Fear of Esperanzan expansionism fuelled, as fleet stationed at Besançon.

The Esperanzan task force ‘Besançon’ arrives in system. They dispatch a message, placing themselves at the disposal of the Besançon government. They claim that their mission orders are to, “Assist the government of Besançon in policing its system, and to protect the fuel source from capture by ‘foreign powers’”.

An emergency session of the Besançon Council has been held, and a motion passed which thanks the Thatcher for his concern, but rejects the offer of assistance. The Esperanzan task force is requested to refuel at once and then to depart “without delay”. It goes on to state that the people of Besançon mean no snub to Esperanza, and that the moves of other nations in this respect had met the same response in the past.

The task force commander moved his fleet to the gas giant and began to refuel. The Esperanzan ambassador stated that further orders were needed from the home world and that the task force would remain in system until these orders were received.

The Esperanzan task force consists of 1 Currie class battleship; 2 Major class battleships; 2 Briton and 2 Nott class cruisers; 10 Tebbit class destroyers and 5 Hessletine class escorts, plus auxiliaries.