Burlingrad Hoverdrome
Planet Marik
Free Worlds League
1 March 3070
"...and now Mark Simon's customized Zephyr 6000 is pulling into the lead. I'llllllll bet Tracey Dillon is really regretting that ugly fishtail at the end of the last turn, because it looks like---"
The commentator's running recap of the month's first hoversled race, broadcast to dozens of systems throughout the FWL, came to a sudden stop as she gasped in surprise as the intense flash and the roar that followed moments later.
"Oh, oh my, it appears there has been some sort of accident on the skyliner, I can see flames and... merciful Blake, it looks like people are jumping off to escape the fire. Its certain death - its too horrible to watch!"
Then things got worse.
Slowly rolling over into a death spiral, the burning four-hundred-meter rigid-hull airship fell like an extremely slow comet right into the packed stadium. Conceivably, there was ample time to escape the doomed Hoverdrome, but panic quickly bottlenecked the exits, and spectator and racer alike roasted alive as the burning debris settled over the stadium - all while the holocameras dispassionately transmitted their demise to the outside world.
In the days ahead, official investigations would reveal unquestionable evidence of sabotage onboard the airship. Clearly, VINH's secret report stated, this was a carefully orchestrated act of terrorism; there were several obvious suspects, but no evidence linking any of them to the attack. In fact, there was next to no evidence at all, beyond the means by which the attack was accomplish; it was almost like, VINH opined, the terrorists wanted the League to know it was a deliberate atrocity and not just a horrible accident.
Hex 2128 is terrorized for three turns.