SPIKE BALL is a Star Army of Yamatai code name for an operational plan for war against the Independent Worlds League and its supporters.
SPIKE refers to Yamatai taking a posture where anything that attacks the Empire does so at its own peril, and BALL refers to controlling the situation in the sense of controlling the ball in a game of sport.
SPIKE BALL is known to Star Army of Yamatai personnel who have received it on a need-to-know basis.
In YE 33, three years after Freespacer encroachment at Halna and Freespacer Negotiations with the Mishhuvurthyar resulted in the Freespacer Massacre and Related Battles in YE 30, Prince Hassan used the Great Lighthouse to issue The Proclamation of Independent Worlds and started the IWL.
In response, the Yamatai Star Empire formally declared war on the IWL and has ordered the Star Army of Yamatai to find and kill its members. Since then the Ninth Fleet has been assigned to conduct operations but the pace has been slow, mainly because the Star Army was busy dealing with the Second Mishhuvurthyar War and the threats of Nepleslia and Lor.
In YE 36, with the war won and Nepleslia and Lor becaming allies under the Defense Arrangement Treaty (of the) Alliance of Signatory States, the Star Army was more free to operate and the SPIKE BALL plan was created to coordinate the Star Army becoming much more aggressive in hunting the IWL.
To: Everyone From: Yamatai Star Empire
Be it declared by her Imperial Majesty Empress Himiko I of Yamatai, that a state of war is hereby declared between the Yamatai Star Empire (including all of its possessions) and the Independent Worlds League and all those that deliberately provide material support to the Independent Worlds League and that the Star Army of Yamatai is hereby authorized to use full and deadly force against any IWL member ships, facilities, goods, or persons and against any persons or supporters with respect given to existing treaties.
Signed,
Empress Himiko
Signed,
Taisho Ketsurui Yui
