Slow Zone Catastrophe

Story so far

The catastrophe strikes every human ship simultaneously, reducing each from its prior velocity to a barely perceptible drift toward Ring Station in just under five seconds. The Behemoth, moving below ten percent of the former cap, fares better than many and still counts roughly two hundred dead and four hundred wounded. Three faster Martian ships do not respond at all. Large Earth vessels report heavy casualties, power and environmental failures, and at least one near loss of reactor containment.

The station's control is absolute. Engine burns cannot accelerate, brake, or alter the captured paths into a rough debris-ring orbit. Communication through the gateway is too bent for help, and travel to the exit under the new limit would take months. Zero gravity compounds every wound by preventing drainage, increasing pulmonary fluid, and encouraging clots, strokes, and embolisms.

Bull interprets the event not as attack but as progressive or coercive restraint: the station allows freedom until human behavior proves dangerous, then tightens control. That interpretation makes prevention of further provocation as essential as medical rescue. It also inspires the proposal to spin the Behemoth's drum and gather the stranded factions under shared gravity.

Appearance

The event leaves dark ships drifting helplessly toward the blue central sphere, their interiors filled with shattered gear, overloaded medical bays, floating blood, emergency light, splints, and bodies from high-g trauma.

Role

The catastrophe is a fleetwide defeat without an attacker, isolating the survivors and making gravity, cooperation, and restraint their only immediate tools.

Relationships