[b]colony 741[/b]

The colony had potential. Though it was new-with colonies 551-1790 being new- it still held several hundred thousands people. Most of them, however, we're just mechanics, farmers, and farmers. New automated mining/farming machines had jumped into the fray about a year back, allowing mass colonization of planets for the sole purpose of farming or mining. More food meant happier colonies; no rebellions. The minerals near the hillier regions weren't as abundant as most other planets, this one particularly useful for its farming, but who knows. For all they know, they could have found another holy item, maybe even a new ore. 

This meaning that the planet was destroyed by its own moon. Several patrol fleets nearby were unable to notice the destruction at the time, and when it finally did happen, they had already left their line of duty. No one had even noticed the colony was destroyed until several weeks later, when more patrol fleets came to, well, patrol. 

Knowing that this could not have been done by nature alone, external communications was still sent out in the radius of the planet's territorial space. The message read:

[i]Unknown Lifeforms: You have destroyed a planet belonging to the Zonanese Empire and we would most surely enjoy and explanation; acknowledge[/i]