Just after the battle of earth, earth's fleet consisted of the frigates Aegis Fate and Adriatic and a handful of badly damaged larger ships. Earth needed ships, and fast. The Shadow of Intent was able to repair a destroyer before it left for home. This raised earth's total of fully operable ships to three. But three ships are not enough to defend a planet. One of the few surviving orbital industries were orbital tether foundries one and three and orbital tether assembly frame seven.