TO ALL SENIOR OFFICERS
FROM ISA HIGH COMMAND
With regret I have to confirm that ISA Cruiser the New Sun, flagship of Battle Group Mandrake, has crashed into an area of wasteland outside Pyrrhus known as the Maelstra Barrens. This follows a surprise counter-attack by the last remnants of the Helghast fleet, led by Colonel Mael Radec.
Though some crew managed to abandon ship before the cruiser crashed, many others died, including the ship's commander and leader of the invasion force Colonel Jan Templar.
Details are still emerging, but it appears Colonel Templar remained on board the stricken vessel in order to steer it into the Petrusite distribution grid fuelling the city's Arc Cannons. The grid was destroyed by the impact.
Colonel Templar distinguished himself in the liberation of Vekta. He was personally responsible for uncovering the treachery of ISA Generals Adams and Stratson, and for the death of the commander of Helghast forces on Vekta, General Armin Metrac. He was also instrumental in planning the invasion of Helghan. He will be sorely missed.
Senior weapons researcher Professor Evelyn Batton is also unaccounted for, presumed dead. The whereabouts of the strike codes for the nuclear weapons stolen from Rayhoven (project 'Red Dust') is presently unknown.
These losses only reinforce the need to bring the conflict on Helghan to an expeditious conclusion.
The destruction of the distribution grid, together with that of the Pyrrhus refinery, has starved the city of Petrusite and disabled its Arc defenses. Forces under Captain Narville are now preparing for a final push against the city and an advance on Visari Palace itself.
We count on every man and woman to do their duty at this historic hour.
—Chief of Staff, High Command