Location: Inside a nameless nebula
Date: 197.05.16

The TTS Ephemeral is returning from the blockade in the Itos system to meet the rest of the force at a secret rendezvous point in a nearby system. By pure chance, it is detected by a Hegemony patrol just before the Ephemeral enters a nebula.

The patrol's commander makes a gamble and plots an intercept course using the Ephemeral's last known trajectory as a guide.

The Ephemeral picks up the pursuing forces on long-range scanners and its captain orders the Tri-Tachyon forces to turn around and engage, thinking the Hegemony patrol easy prey.