T'shima is an Alliance star system that is only two jumps away from the border with the Syndicate Worlds. With a large military base present, T'shima was one of the first targets of a series of surprise attacks by the Syndicate Worlds, resulting in the start of the Alliance-Syndicate War.
However, at the same time as these attacks, Commander John Geary was leading a military convoy through Grendel on its way to T'shima. Thanks to the efforts of him and his ship, Merlon, the convoy was able to get advanced warning to T'shima of the attack, enabling the Alliance to properly counter it.