Iason was a Terran Confederation Odysseus-class explorer vessel, one of those that penetrated into Vega Sector. It was commanded by Jedora Andropolos.[1]
In 2629.105 Iason encountered an unknown spacecraft. Commander Andropolos beamed the standard wideband non-verbal greeting designed by the Committee for Interaction with Alien Intelligences. After 22 minutes the alien vessel opened fire with all guns destroying Iason. The alien vessel was the first contact with the Kilrathi.[1]
After the incident, Confed stopped any non-military activity beyond the border of the Vega Sector and began a scouting operation to determine the Kilrathi presence. This fateful first contact was the beginning of a state of hostility between the Confederation and the Empire of Kilrah which was not ceased until the end of the Terran-Kilrathi War.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
The Terran Confederation Handbook which expands the movie universe, sets the date of the first contact and war with the Kilrathi much later. The ship is called CS Iason and met the Kilrathi in 2638.229, in the form of 3 armed Kilrathi merchantmen.