FCN/FET

The Falconians this week announced their intent to pursue FET positions following the FETs recent unprovoked attack against the FCN in their home system of Acropolis. However, immediately upon making this announcement, the Baron LiQuan suddenly entered into the issue, surprising many with his statement that he would instantly enter into the conflict alongside the FET, even announcing that he would ally with them, and implied that he would attempt to bring in the entire Commonwealth to crush the Falconian Republic:

"House LiQuan will take a very dim view of the FCNs removing any FET assetts from the old human Empire system of Curly. If the FCN's wish to reconsider their presence in system HLQ will help with the transfer of power. Curly for a very long time was part of the human Empire and it would be good to see it returned, one way or another. I did warn others about alien expansion and heavy handed dealings at the hands of the aliens.

I will put aside HLQ side issues with the FET to one side for the greater human good. I will be putting orders in for HLQ to ally with the FET so real support can be given in their defence.

The FCN's must be growing bold and secure that they can attack a chartered affiliation, which was given its charter by the Emperor and expect no reaction. In systems not long ago claimed for the Emperor. If the claim is the only problem that is easy to sort out."

Following this surprise intervention by the HLQ, Consul Armand was heard to observe the following:

"The posting by Demetrius Liquan suddenly makes matters much clearer. I have focussed too much of my outrage on the FET and ignored the motivations of their mysterious sponsor.

What did they want to achieve by this act? To just destroy a few easily replaced FCN assets? Their real motivations were to get the FCN to attack the FET! In doing so I have been too predictable. The loss of our previously good diplomatic relations with the FET is a bigger blow to us than the defensive losses. There could be several reasons why they want this to happen:

To weaken both affiliations.
To create fear of aliens in susceptable minds
To create a rift between the IMP bloc and the FCN
To create a rift between the FET and the IMP bloc
I do not want to oblige whoever wanted this.

As Consul I am declaring that the debt is now repaid. I will withdraw troops if possible from the contested outpost and cease aggressive military action against the FET. The FET outposts on Curly will be considered legal again. I will work towards removing FET from platforms and squadrons. Until this happens I suggest FET shipping stay clear of FCN space. Don't make me regret this clemency FET."

And indeed the Consul makes an interesting point, as speculation mounts as to exactly who paid the FET to make the hit on the FCN, and why.

Our reporters have heard several rumours that it was indeed the House LiQuan who were behind it, and that they have been actively attempting to ignite a greater war, for purposes unknown, but possibly not unrelated to the recent scandal when it was revealed the Baron LiQuan had been Meklanised�

Certainly the speed with which the HLQ were prepared to jump in and ally with the FET points the finger of suspicion�


Skaven Escapes?

A transmission has been received that suggests that Skaven, known by some as 'That Mad Little Lunatic' may have successfully escaped from the surface of Inversion to places unknown:

Link reestablished with Carthage.......

Commander of Carthage: "Boss is that you......."

Skaven: "Yes, my child, I got out...."

Commander: "Ah, the great trickster was with you after all.... well done Sire."

Skaven: "Yes, the war can continue no matter what happens on Inversion now..."

Commander: "Sire, the Humans are dropping high yield torpedoes and other high tech carpet bombing payloads on us now.... We are out of ammo for our phalanx point defence. Tens of thousands of civilians are being slaughtered now that we lost our Point defence capability".

Skaven: "The murderers of the IMP, FET and GTT have so many ships in all the quads that we have lost the last 4 shipments of medical and defence supplies. We cannot even cloak ships in any more, there are just too many."

Commander: "Sire, we can't protect the women and children from the human monsters, they are bombing the cities now. Our bases are all rubble and they know we can't stop the rain of bombs but still they try to kill us all from the orbit".

Skaven: "Did they ask you to surrender?"

Commander: "Yes..."

Skaven "What was your answer?"

Commander: "Bl*w me....."

Skaven laughs........

The Krell have repeated their calls for the IMP-Bloc to leave their home system of Storm, and to return the system to Krell rule, something that seems unlikely to happen whilst the Krell continue to sit on top of billions of stellars worth of Thorlium and Jacium.


FET Dog Pile

SSS/IGN reporters have learnt that FET armed forces have joined in with the general dog-pile of hurt that is being inflicted on the Krell by attacking a number of unarmed Krell freighters, prompting Skaven to add to the FET to his hitlist of half the known universe.


From The Blog Of A Furry Little Psychopath

"Incredible!!! how many missles, torpedos and rail ordanance do these Humans have piled up?" Skaven paced around his bunker and brow beat any servant that happened to be nearby....

Both GTT and IMP warships enter their 3rd or 4th week of daily bombing with absolutely no concern with the tens of thousands of Krell civilians they are murdering every day. For such self-righteous creatures, these humans have no honor or decency what-so-ever. The humans who meekly look on and either pretend it isn't happening or jump on any excuse to justify what is going on are almost as bad as the humans who are perpetrating the crime.

The heros of Carthage have thrown the scum humans into mass graves when they actually tried to fight a somewhat honorable battle. Their fear of a honorable battle runs so deep that they cravenly carpet bomb our people to avoid a real battle (even though they totally control all the space and access to our home world). They will happily kill thousands of civilians with indescriminent carpet bombing of urban centers just to kill a few soldiers in bunkers.

All humans have innocent blood on their hands. They have shown what they will do without the slightest self-evaluation. What would humans think of a non-human race that did such things?

Human history is stained with the innocent blood of their own race and now it is stained with the blood of any race weaker than they are. Every human should look in the mirror and see what is really looking back: mass murdering monsters.


Press Release

DTR Press Release.

Please note that while the DTR has open borders with all of our Commonwealth
partners, and the GTT are very welcome within our borders, their named
pirate positions are not. And while the DTR is happy to discuss the presence
of GTT pirate positions within DTR space, they are, for the time being, not
permitted.

We do however applaud the GTT for always trying out innovative new business
models, and wish them luck in this new venture.


Pirate London

The Pirate Starbase of London has apparently been reflagged as GTT, bringing to an end what must be one of the more embaressing periods of recent GTT history. We also understand that a large number of new security complexes have been erected in and around the rubble of London, presumably in an effort to stop the base from turning PIR again.


All Change

The Imperial Services announce today the resignation of Ike Krieger as Viceroy and the appointment by His Imperial Majesty Lysander, of Patrol Commissioner Kyle Blackthorne to the position of Viceroy. The Viceregal Scepter was handed over in a morning ceremony held at Jax. Ike Krieger was escorted away by the Krieger Guards. Kyle Blackthorne was escorted to the position of honor a company of veteran marines of the Imperial Stellar Patrol.


OPS

The Obsidian Predator Swarm have abandoned the use of slaves at their hives, following their recent interactions with the FCN, QNG and DTR, who have helped the OPS Queens to realise perhaps not that slavery is wrong (for hive mentality has trouble recognising individual free will) but that slavery is a direct threat to the welfare of the hive, and must be abandoned.

However they reached this conclusion, the OPS are to be applauded for abandoning the practice of slavery.

Following their announcements, a ceasefire was signed between the FCN, COH and OPS. It is understood the DTR will be monitoring OPS facilities to ensure that all slaves have indeed been freed.

A DTR Foreign Ministry spokesman stated to the press that they were very pleased with the efforts made by the OPS and indeed the FLZ to address the problem of slavery inside the Twilight Periphery, and that they are proud of the peaceful efforts for positive change that are being made there.


Slavery

Mona Luvsitt, representative of the ex-RIP IND faction that recently uncovered evidence of the RIPs slavery activities, has this week broadcast footage of the slave pens and equipment being destroyed on the planet Cheetah.

With the RIP having been implicated so heavily in slavery right under the noses of the entire galactic community, ripples of cause and effect continue, and we understand that representatives of the DTR Foreign Ministry have been visiting the offices of the DTRs Advanced Wormhole Engineering Centre. Minutes of these meetings were accidentally released to the press, and appear to show the DTR Foreign Minister Cassius Jerusalem angrily demanding of the scientists that they had better damn well find a way to force the wormhole to Sargasso wide enough open for the entire DTR Stellar Armada to punch through and cleanse the place of those slaving scum.

Meanwhile, we understand that skirmishes have broken out between the RIP and the ex-RIP positions that reflagged as IND, with the IND ship Cloud Of Dust being the first victim.


St. Dismas

The Cult Of Kanji have issued the following COK Press Release:

"All sentients are warned that the system of St Dismas is now prime hunting ground for the Cult Of Kanji.

I have scouts in system and raiders within striking distance.

All affiliations are considered fair game, though some more fair than others...

Anyone wishing to participate should contact me.

Have a nice day."

Sentients everywhere are disappointed at the extreme shortness of the COK, statement.


GGG Spurts Onto News-stands

The latest issue of the IMP-Bloc news organ, the GGG, has been published:

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=37588&lr=on#post_tag

Readers are advised to wear a raincoat.



Press Release

DTR Press Release.

The Detinus Republic is committed to the freedom of the press, and
encourages all voices to be heard.

We would like to state that the GTT organ the GGG has not, as reported, been
banned inside DTR space, it is simply not yet widely available while it
undergoes review by our adult material classification board.


STOP PRESS

GTT fire on and destroy MOH ship trading with the AFT in the Inner Capellan systems

Is the war back on????


From The Nexus

Update from Darak's blog on the mission editor:

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=17&lr=on#post_tag



******

Contacts:
Editor: sss [dot] editor [at] googlemail [replacetoavoidspamdot] com

WoMD

The Cult Of Kanji have this week upped the stakes in their game of psychotic insanity, by deploying not only Anti-matter missiles, but also nuclear devices against unarmed Imperial freighters carrying colonists from Earth.

The attack happened in the Sol system, prompting many to ask why the IMP have allowed security to fall so low in Sol that mad cultists are able to make terrorist attacks with nuclear weapons.

Questions have also been asked as to where the Cult Of Kanji obtained these weapons, with the FET refusing to admit if the COK stole them from FET supply bases when Kanji went rogue.

Further, we understand that the COK have also launched nuclear weapons against GTT outposts within the Sol system. Is it only a matter of time until he unleashes a large-scale terrorist attack against civilian population centres?



Krell Killed In Action - Nobody Surprised

Warlord Skaven was killed today during a dangerous mission.....

Rumours of gang-pack skirmishes across the rubble-choked outposts of Inversion are confirmed. Military units and civilian warbands alike are jockeying for supremacy.

Veteran mercenaries are clashing with highly trained startroopers and cyborg warriors.

The Krell voting system for a new leader is under way.


Robots (allegedly) Need Holidays Too

Demetrius and Jessica LiQuan arrive at their ancestral home on Frolic in the Dolphinus system to see how the reconstruction of the planet is going back into its original garden world.
The media carries to all corners of the world a speech made by Demetrius
regarding the efforts made by House LiQuan in remaking the world into the
garden it once was prior to the Rebellion The highlight are contained below.

First, A trip to pay their respects to the brave fighters who lost their lives.
Defending their homes against Imperial ground troops with murder in their hearts, something's never change. How do we know about this in those uncertain times. We thought the matter was so important we sponsored an Archaeological Dig. The results were as follows.
Mass graves are excavated during the operation and the contents treated
with considerable care. These reveal hundreds of bodies in many locations
It is estimated that there may be as many as two hundred thousand, though
this is just a guess.
The first graves to be opened lie along what would have been the outer
defences, these being roads and valleys that would have channelled an
invasion into the urban sectors.
The bodies range from fairly well preserved through to little more than
broken bones and body fragments.
From the better preserved ones the team find a mix of official 'Rebel'
troops, sporting planetary uniforms through to militia - farmers and urban
civilians - some sporting 'Rebel' armbands as indications of their
allegiance.
They have been killed in a variety of ways including bio-chemicals (only
useful on enemies without environmental-suits/armour) and shockwaves,
though mostly by being shot.
Graves just outside the settlements however are largely filled with women
and children, in no particularly arrangement. These have invariably been
killed through bio-chemicals and blunt trauma such as from collapsing
buildings.

Shocked and disgusted by this he declares the broken sectors will be a memorial to those fallen.
They will not be harvested or exploited, lest we forget.
The bodies will be buried properly with the respect they deserve.

Now on to a brighter part of the tour sector {16,13} is visited.

Investigation found the following.
The crust is generally twenty to seventy kilometres thick and rests on a few hundred kilometres of semi-molten dense lithosphere.
There are some interesting features around the devastated regions. In these locations the crust has been severely stressed and this is detectable right down to the lithosphere. There are magnetic anomalies around these locations that are associated with deep magma chambers.
While the regions are unlikely to be immediate danger, maybe not even in the next century, the bombing has almost certainly started a chain reaction which will lead to widespread volcanic eruptions across much of the main continent.

The follow up.

The deep penetrating impacts have initiated tectonic instabilities. While some of these are expected to fade with only a few rumbles, others have initiated pressure zones that will one day suffer cascade failure.
Only after building a picture of the tectonic system will a better understanding of the situation be known.
The research discovers that the main continental plate is currently under
extreme pressure though its thickness has acted to the cap the eruption.
This has one drawback, the cap will not hold and sometime over the next
century there will be a huge eruption on or near {16,13}.
The scientists examine the data produced by the lithosphere analysis can
consider a means of triggering a controlled eruption to free the increasing
pressure deep under the crust.
Nothing short of 5 nuclear devices placed deep into the semi-molten dense lithosphere. This nearly impossible task was successful and after a few minor tremors things started to settle down.
Minor quakes happened has the plates realigned but after a few months the all clear has been given.

Now on to the more mundane, but huge task of repairing the damage.

36 urban sectors were rebuilt.

The radioactive waste land was first decontaminated and all traces removed.

The desert was seeded into grassland, huge Irrigation projection brought water and life to this barren land. Now this grassland has been cultivated to provide food for the planet and excess will be shipped to earth to aid the starving millions.

The Dust sectors to the north have been made lush grassland changing the look of the planet back to how it was.

Over 260,000 refugees from earth have been transport here, given homes and jobs so they can at last make something of their lives, and House LiQuan pledges here before all to carry on with this work. Helping the millions of starving people, our people on earth. The Mega cooperation's may have finished shipping in food which was started years ago but House LiQuan pledges it will do all it can to help.

The population seem to feed of Demetrius with their fervour raising alarmingly, security closes in worried for heirs safety. As the crowd closes in, but Demetrius waves the security away, seeming to bask in this his moment..Totally unconcerned for his safety. House LiQuan coat of arms on flags appear as if by magic. In the hands of the local population and in prominent places around the planet. They truly love the baron here.


Rebellion

The Dolphinus system appears to have abandoned its system claim for the Commonwealth, and is now declaring loyalty to the Baron LiQuan in person.

The Triumverate Commonwealth council has been informed of this development by the Baron LiQuan, but there has as yet been no official response.


Pirate

A CIA ship has been attacked by pirates in the Curly system.


Zerk?

Would anybody with any information regarding the Zerk, kindly contact the news room.


Correction

The SSS/IGN has been asked to correct information we printed last week stating that the GGG news outlet was a propaganda organ of the GTT.

We have been asked to print the clarification that the GGG, the galaxy's gooiest news appendage, is in fact a propaganda organ of the entire Imperial-Bloc, and not just the GTT.

We here at the SSS/IGN are happy to clear this misunderstanding up for our readers.


Piracy

A number of pirate ships have been spotted that until recently were flying FET flags.

The FET have been accused of sponsoring piracy, in the wake of their recent mercenary attacks against the Falconians. However, given the recent actions of the Renegade kanji, these vessels could well have wound up in pirate hands via his activities.


Solo

The Solo system claim is being taken over by the Kastorian Military Junta We do not expect this to make any real difference to anybodies lives. IND's can still expect to get shot at by the IMP.


HLQ Announcement

Press Release:

Imperial shipping is warned until the present crisis has been satisfactory concluded they are banned from entering orbits of HLQ bases and outposts without prior warning.
This will take effect from wednesday unless a proper explanation is given

HLQ will not be taken unaware again and have its population subjected to the devastating nuclear holocaust it is just getting over which was delivered by the Imperials.

Failure to notify HLQ of Imperial ship movements made lead to there destruction.
No compensation will be paid.
You have been warned.

Baron LiQuan.


Periphery Classifieds


Make Like Noah

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=37762&lr=on#post_tag

Greeting

I would like to arrange for 500,000 Alien Animal (30043) to be moved from masda in fortress in the Inner confederacy to frolic in the Dolphinus systems in the Inner empire.

Could all interested parties please contact me.


Fresh Bodies Wanted

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=37692&lr=on#post_tag

Hi,

I want to buy 3000 employees. Does anyone have any to buy in Yank???

Ta, Alvaro.


Gimme Stuff

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=37660&lr=on#post_tag

I have an extra copy of Spatial Manipulation and I am looking to trade this for a different principle. Contact me if you have something to offer.


True Love

Dear Githy, please join the COK.

You'll love the COK, and the COK will love you.



From The Nexus

New features:

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=37626&page=0


Special Report - Sids Newbies Guide To Phoenix Politics

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=37617&page=0

Confused by the forum posts? Wondering who all these funny people posting are? Wondering where you can go and who you have to watch out for? Then wonder no more! I hereby present the Newbies Guide to Phoenix Politics.

Imperial Bloc
Territory: Most of Inner and Outer Capellan Peripheries, some of the Cluster and Transpiral Peripheries. Systems are generally claimed by or for the Imperial Services (IMP).

Affiliation: Imperial Services (IMP)
Profile: The Naval and Land Force of the Human Empire; the Viceroy (PD) answers to the constitutional monarch (Emperor Lysander) and the chartered affiliations (GTT, FET, SMS).
Declared Enemies: COH, OPS, RCF, KRL
Allies: GTT, FET, SMS, DEN, CNF, CIA, BHD, MOH
Likes: Pomp and ceremony; law and order; corporatism.
Dislikes: Slavery, piracy, democracy.

Affiliation: Galactic Trade and Transport (GTT)
Profile: The industrial powerhouse of the Imperial bloc and the IMP's most loyal allies; they are a typical megacorp who profit from strong laws and a powerful military force.
Declared Enemies: AFT
Allies: IMP, FET, SMS, DEN, CNF, CIA, BHD, HVB
Likes: Money; power; monopolies.
Dislikes: Competition, slavery.

Affiliation: Frontier Exploration and Trade (FET)
Profile: The dodgy opportunists of the Imperial bloc and often considered the ugly stepsister of the GTT; they are a loose confederation of subsidiaries who are undergoing a rapid change of direction.
Declared Enemies: None
Allies: IMP, FET, SMS, CNF, CIA, BHD, HVB
Likes: Drugs; money; trash talk.
Dislikes: Laws, lack of respect, everyone.

Affiliation: Stellar Mining and Smelting (SMS)
Profile: The noble, honourable miners and scientists of the Imperial bloc and prodigal sons of the Empire; they are a small affiliation that has struggled to find their place with the other chartered affiliations and oddly considers themselves part of the Consortium as well. Recently was turned on by long-time allies the RIP.
Declared Enemies: FLZ, RIP.
Allies: FEL, FCN, IMP, FET, GTT.
Likes: Ores; knowledge; most aliens.
Dislikes: Slavery, piracy, xenophobia.

The Confederacy
Territory: Darkfold Periphey, some of the Cluster. Systems are generally claimed by or for the Confederate Forces (CNF).

Affiliation: Confederate Forces (CNF)
Profile: The Naval and Land Force of the Confederacy; the Supreme Commander (PD) answers to the constitutional monarch (Emperor Lysander) and the noble houses (HLQ, HVB ).
Declared Enemies: GCS
Allies: CIA, BHD, HLQ, DTR, IMP, FET, GTT, FET, HVB, MOH.
Likes: Nice uniforms; law and order; aristocracy.
Dislikes: (Most) Aliens, outsiders, heathens.

Affiliation: Confederate Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Profile: The Intelligence services of Confederate Forces; their organisation is opaque and they are nominally answerable to the constitutional monarch (Emperor Lysander) and the CNF Supreme Commander.
Declared Enemies: GCS
Allies: CNF, BHD, HLQ, DTR, IMP, FET, GTT, FET, HVB.
Likes: Secrecy; spreading paranoia; espionage.
Dislikes: Almost everyone (probably).

Affiliation: The Brotherhood (BHD)
Profile: The dominant religious order of the Human Empire / Confederacy; the Pope considers himself answerable only to the True One.
Declared Enemies: DOM
Allies: CNF, BHD, HLQ, DTR, IMP, FET, GTT, FET, HVB.
Likes: Religion; technology; evil plots.
Dislikes: Heathens.

Affiliation: House LiQuan (HLQ)
Profile: The most powerful of the Confederate Noble Houses and the Confederacy's industrial powerhouse; technically answerable to the Emperor but no actual title afforded to current Baron.
Declared Enemies: None.
Allies: CNF, BHD, CIA.
Likes: Slaves; money; aristocracy.
Dislikes: Aliens, corporations, a honest days work.

Affiliation: House Vehrenburg (HVB )
Profile: Little is known about this Confederate Noble house.

The Detinus Republic
Territory: Detinus Republic Periphery, some of the Cluster and Transpiral Periphery plus the Arachnid system in Darkfold periphery. Systems are generally claimed by or for the Detinus Republic (DTR).

Affiliation: The Detinus Republic (DTR)
Profile: The only human democracy in the galaxy and possibly the most advanced military in the galaxy; their Lord Speaker is the head of the government.
Declared Enemies: GCS, VSQ
Allies: CIA, BHD, CNF
Likes: Committees; law and order; democracy.
Dislikes: Slavery (as long as they don't have to fight about it), piracy, tyranny (as long as they don't have to fight about it).

Affiliation: The Queens Guardians (QNG)
Profile: This Hive affiliation is known for being the reasonable face of the Hive. Note: They fly under the DTR flag at this time.

The Commonwealth
Territory: The Inner Empire and Inner Confederacy. Systems are generally claimed for the Commonwealth (CW) except for Eden which is claimed for the BHD.

This is not a power bloc but an artificial construct created by humanity with dual figureheads (Emperor and Lord Speaker) designed to end years of war between the competing human factions. It is ruled by the Triumvirate Council of the IMP, CNF and DTR but it is unknown if they have agreed on anything except that the MOH are nice.

The Dewiek Elder Nation
Territory: The Dewiek Home and Dewiek Pocket Peripheries. Systems are claimed by or for the Dewiek Elder Nation (DEN).

Affiliation: The Dewiek Elder Nation (DEN)
Profile: Telepathic canines who once controlled much of the known galaxy but were nearly destroyed in the great war with the ARC.
Declared Enemies: TCA, MEK
Allies: IMP, GTT, FCN.
Likes: Technology; hunting; being mysterious / scary.
Dislikes: Slavery, meklans.

The Consortium

Affiliation: The Felini Tyranny (FEL)
Territory: The Felini Empire Periphery, some of the Cluster Periphery.
Profile: Honourable felines made up of a number of different prides, often distracted during critical moments (particular during wars for their own survival).
Declared Enemies: FLZ, COH, OPS.
Allies: SMS, FCN.
Likes: Honour and order, planetary restoration.
Dislikes: Flagritz.

Affiliation: The Falconian Republic (FCN)
Territory: Acropolis, Fury and Curly systems in the Outer Capellan Periphery.
Profile: Mercantile avians and anti-slavery crusaders.
Declared Enemies: FLZ, FGZ, USN.
Allies: DEN, FEL, SMS.
Likes: Trade, hunting, diplomacy.
Dislikes: Slavery, piracy.

The Flagritz Empire
Territory: The Flagritz Home Periphery, the Twilight Periphery. Systems are usually claimed by or for the Flagritz Empire (FLZ).

Affiliation: The Flagritz Empire (FLZ)
Profile: The classic xenophobic big brain / squid shaped alien with the big spaceships.
Declared Enemies: FEL, FCN, SMS
Allies: OPS, COH.
Likes: Slaves, hive, big ships.
Dislikes: Lesser species (ie. everyone else)

Affiliation: Obsidian Predator Swarm (OPS)
Profile: A splinter faction of the Hive that specialised in really big ships and covert operations.
Declared Enemies: None.
Allies: FLZ, COH.
Likes: Being unpredictable.
Dislikes: Non-hive?

Affiliation: Children of Hexos (COH)
Profile: A splinter faction of the Hexamon that tried to make it in a cruel, cruel world and eventually found their home with the FLZ.
Declared Enemies: USN.
Allies: FLZ, OPS, RCF.
Likes: Being unpredictable.
Dislikes: Non-hexamon?

Neutral Affiliations

Affiliation: The Mohache Nation (MOH)
Territory: Tranquility in the Outer Capellan Periphery.
Profile: Pacifist farmers who love social interactions with other species and thus are by far the most successful merchant affiliation in the galaxy.
Declared Enemies: None.
Allies: IMP, CNF.
Likes: Farming, cake, trading.
Dislikes: Noone (not even Krazy Kastorian Kanji)

Affiliation: The Wimble Nation (WMB )
Territory: None.
Profile: Cute harmless creatures who are well liked by everyone but the FLZ who chased them out of their space.
Declared Enemies: None.
Allies: None.
Likes: Cake.
Dislikes: Slavery, piracy.

Affiliation: Association of Free Traders (AFT)
Territory: Solo in the Outer Capellan Periphery.
Profile: A loose association of independent minded traders and favourite prey of the GTT.
Declared Enemies: None.
Allies: None.
Likes: Trading, begging, being left alone.
Dislikes: FET and GTT.

Affiliation: Regular Independent Privateers (RIP)
Territory: The Sargasso
Profile: Once reformed pirates back to their bad old ways.
Declared Enemies: Everyone probably.
Allies: None.
Likes: Piracy, slavery, prostitution, racketeering.
Dislikes: Governments, law and order.

Affiliation: The Real Confederate Forces (RCF)
Territory: None
Profile: Break away faction of the Confederate Forces who couldn't accept peace with the Imperial bloc.
Declared Enemies: IMP, FET, GTT
Allies: COH.
Likes: Slavery, killing imperials.
Dislikes: Imperials and megacorps.

Affiliation: Krell (KRL)
Territory: None (Storm?)
Profile: Suicidal rat like creatures who love killing (mostly each other by provoking orbital bombardments of their home world)
Declared Enemies: FET.
Allies: None.
Likes: Suicide, war, bunkers.
Dislikes: Humans.

Affiliation: Garcia Enterprise (GCE)
Territory: None
Profile: Nice family business, well liked by everyone except the FET.
Declared Enemies: None.
Allies: None.
Likes: Trade, colonization, multiculturism.
Dislikes: Bullies.



Special Report - Githyanki

OOC: This blends the margins of IC/OOC, but it was posted on the Nexus, and I thought it was cool and interesting enough to share with everybody who might have missed it. So treat it as OOC info because it came from an OOC board.

So enjoy, the story of how Githyanki almost broke away a splinter affiliation from the IMP�

The Editor.



Result:
Special Action/Emperor Lysander/Autonomous Imperial Duchy
In a private audience with the Emperor, former Imperial Patrol Commissioner Githyanki exclaims his displeasure at the recent actions of the Imperial Services and those of their allies, namely the actions of the FET in Falconian space.
Before continuing he allows the Emperor to air his views. Surprisingly this appears to be somewhat at odds with Githyanki if only in terms of his opinion of the FET. To him, their actions are beyond Imperial space and therefore beyond imperial sanctions. In some respects it is good to allow the FET of the leash. This sets the precedence that they are autonomous - a necessary position should a task need resolving that is considered too dirty for the likes of the IMP of his own company the GTT.
He does agree though that the IMP has become somewhat hidebound in it dogma and pursuit of easy prey while shying clear of the harder road to glory for the Empire and Emperor.
Githyanki rises to the challenge, putting himself forward as just such a man.
The Emperor smiles benevolently on Githyanki and offers him the role of Imperial Praetor - granting him as adjunct to the Imperial Services a degree of autonomy to 'carry the Imperial Torch into the Dark Places of the Peripheries within and beyond the realm'.
While he cannot grant Githyanki Imperial Assets, he can give sanction populaces and personnel that are personally loyal to the Emperor to follow Githyanki into this new role should he accept it.

GM Note - the most important aspect of this is that the Praetor is appointed by the Emperor and that assets are loyal primarily to the Emperor above and beyond say the IMP/CNF etc. The role is to root out traitors and enemies to the Emperor and negate external threats as well as carry the Imperial banner to new shores. Finally, they have a duty to ensure the safety of the Emperor (and slap anyone that would insult him). They could be considered somewhere between Templar and Inquisition.

Result:
Special Action/Imperial Praetor/Message to Populations and Starbases under the control Githyanki
An address is broadcast to the civilian populaces and personnel of the following locations:
Mos Eisley - Haven in Solo
Cape Horn & Cape Canaveral - MacDud in Kasmer
Cape Riva - Booker in Audrey
Mos Espa - Tatas in Misre
Mos Sparta - Ladder in Starling
Cape Freedom - Manger in Madonna
The broadcast is a personal speech by Former Patrol Commissioner Githyanki in which he derides the recent actions and direction of the Imperial Services and their allies. He states publicly that having presented his case directly to the Emperor Lysander he has been granted the role of Imperial Praetor in order to "carry the Imperial Torch into the Dark Places of the Peripheries within and beyond the realm". As such he has been sanctioned to command assets that are currently under his command and that are wholly loyal to the Emperor.
As all the bases are primarily human there is overwhelming support though there are likely to be less enthusiasm on the worlds of Haven and MacDud due largely to the lack of humans amongst the civilians.
A free special action can be used to create the Imperial Praetorian Order (IPO) and move all assets into it.



******

Contacts:
Editor: sss [dot] editor [at] googlemail [replacetoavoidspamdot] com

Planet Destroyed

Disturbing reports are reaching our news-room that the planet Ruby in the Mizam system has been destroyed.

A Dewiek system patrol vessel first indicated there might be a problem when it encountered an asteroid belt where Ruby once was located. Further scans failed to locate the planetary body, leading to the conclusion that Ruby had been totally destroyed.

It is believed there was a small Imperial outpost on the planet, though we do not know if there was an indigenous population, so the numbers of dead are unknown. Either way, it seems as if anything and anybody located in or on Ruby, have perished.

There are no firm leads on what might have caused this disaster, though our reporters have heard rumours that it may have been no accident, and that strange unknown alien communications were picked up by a Dewiek listening post in the system. There may also be sensor logs that indicate high energy discharges in-system, though we have yet to see any concrete data on this.

The IMP and DEN have vowed to uncover the truth of what happened to Ruby.

Meanwhile the other residents of Mizam are nervously checking the results of stellar-cartography, to see what the long-term results might be on the gravitational stability of the entire system.

As to why the planet might have been destroyed, we can only speculate. Did it offend the Cult of Kanji? Have the Architects been in motion? Was it the Meklan? Only time will tell.


Spies On The Loose

News agencies throughout the Detinus republic are reporting on a spying scandal that has seen a senior aide at the DTR Senate building at New Tate unmasked as having been an operative in the pay of the retired Imperial Viceroy Ike Krieger.

It is understood this revelation is connected to the recent announcement by Ike Krieger that he had been sacking all of his operatives, but eyebrows have been raised by DTR security forces that their capitol had been infiltrated by IMP spies.

When asked for their reaction, a senior spokesman at the DTR Foreign Ministry responded with a terse 'no comment'.


Piracy

DTR Security forces have spotted a pirate scout in the Wolf 359 system.


The Meklan Baron

The DTR Foreign Dignitaries Office is reportedly preparing for a visit from a senior political figure. Rumours surrounding this trip suggest that the DTR may be setting up to pay host to the controversial Meklan Baron LiQuan, as the Baron appears to have agreed to a few more tests to be applied by the DTR experts on the Meklanisation process.


Correction

We have been asked to point out that Githyanki does not in fact love the COK. And that whatever rumours you might have heard about Githyanki and COK are just that, scurrilous rumours.

We here at the SSS/IGN are happy to clear up any misreporting about Githyanki being in bed with the COK, as we understand that Githyanki firmly believes that the COK is too small for him to be bothered with.

Perhaps when it is larger�


Cult Of Kanji

The insane renegade Kanji has struck again at unarmed Imperial freighters in the Sol system, deploying yet more Anti-Matter missiles.

The success of these daring operations is reportedly beginning to spread the influence of the Cult, with our reporters hearing stories of gatherings of upwards of 10,000 cultists to celebrate the word of their self-proclaimed God-King.


Boner Rises

A new leader has risen amongst the feral Krell on Inversion. Calling himself Bone Smash, we can only imagine that this new leadership probably won't be all that different to the old leadership. In fact, the Krell might become even more brutal and insane. If such a thing were possible.

We'd request an interview, but frankly we're too scared.


Garcia Enterprises

The GCE are celebrating their 5 year anniversary of operations:

"My Fellow members of the peripheries, it is with great pleasure that I can announce my companies 5th anniversary of operation.

This day 5 years ago I contacted the EEM and asked them to register Garcia Enterprises as an official organisation within the peripheries. It was a great day for me. After a years hard work and avoiding (and sometimes not) the problems of working as an Independent merchant I was in a position to operate fully licensed.

Its not all been plain sailing since then. There have been ups and downs but all in all it has been a great 5 years of operations.

As such I would like to celebrate this anniversary with you my friends of the peripheries. In honour of this occasion I have constructed 10 small vessels. The first 10 people to contact my office (via Jenny Goldsmith Please) will be in receipt of a brand new ship.

To all those staff members and managers who helped to get us to this position, a separate staff function at your respective base of operations has been organised. Enjoy the Party.

Regards

Fernando Garcia
CEO Garcia Enterprise."


Pirate

A pirate in storm has successfully captured a Falconian vessel.


Confederacy

Rumours are reaching our news-room that the offices of General Carter have something interesting to announce soon, though what it might be, we do not yet know.


Dyslexic Pirate Report

Our reporter stationed with the anonymous pirate group has provided the following news on their recent activities courtesy of the logbook of the pirates leader:


210.38.7
Wells mes broadsides as pays offs. Is as as an offers o mercanry work, n nows mes boys aboards mes ships-o-war cans as as theyselfs some playin. Tymes tos sends mes scouts furthers afield n polish they cannons.


210.39.1
As as beins as days o misses, misses n moer misses, Is going backs tos bed.


210.39.4
Fuor misses, fuor ships bes as gones wens mes boys arryves.


210.39.5
Thes boys o thes Ravager as dos jumps theyselfs intos Ross n tooks as being a GTT barge these Freighter 24-79. Is as as gots plans comin togethers fer mes mercanry works, as ponders mes employersll bes happys soons.


210.40.1
Mes scounts innen Tycoon as as dids aspys a fews FET 50XL shipsm as loytrin bys thes stargates, n mes boys o thes Anthracite dids as jumps on ins to ses wats theys FET boys was up tos. Wells theys as as ad a lil partys n Is as as gots meselfs anothers ship fers thes sellin. Anuthers FET ships bes gones as as mes boys arryves.

Innen Agripeta a couple o mes boys tooks a GTT OP n thes CNF, beins genrus, dids levells it fer mes.


210.40.2
Keepin theyselfs busys mes Rogue Troopers tooks a GTT outpost on ans asteroid. Leaves sayins wheres as beins theys as as don seems to ave notyced yets.

Thos, Is ponders theys sent theys ships wiout much ponderins, n Is as ponderin sum o theys mays be sats in thats asteroid belt wi a mess o damayge Yes cans onlys opes.


210.40.3
Thes Vasco de Gama boys trys fer n IMP Carrack, buts theys crew aboards fyghts ard oer four rounds n tis as bein no rums fer mes boys this nyghts.

Aymin fers a lil o theys KRL rewardins, mes Blackhawk as gifteds tos mes bys thes SMS, dids runs ons intos Wastelands n gyves a broadsides tos as as beins a FET Deep Explorer Class Fast Freighter, thes Pandoras Box. Fatal broadsides its bes. FET n IMP outposts gyves mes boys a broadside wi missyles, buts nothins a weeks innens the yards caynts fix.

Innen Blagards thes boys o thes Savage dos ave theyself a trys fer n IMP Caravel. Onlys Is as as fergettin theys IMPs avin a platforms theres, dos gives mes Savage a myghty broadside, oer 100 mkIII cloaked kynetic missiles dids rattles alongs thes hulls, n mes boys dids pause fers a seconds watchin fer fatals cracks innen thes hulls, buts theys gets on wi thes task o boardin n thos dids gets tos 56%, twas as beins a fayles.
Thes Savage tooks a bits o damayge froms the broadside, er armours as beins dented, buts ulls damayge bes lyghts, n shes innen thes yards anows fer repayrs.

Nows mes mercanry works as as starteds, mes employer as as asks mes tos jus plays wi thes IMPy boys, keeps em busys. Wells, gots tos starts thats kind o things wi a myghty showin. Innen Rebellion mes ground party Rogue as dos trys fers the GTT OP onnen Borks Dilemma, as didn works buts dos keeps theys busy fers the reals fyrerworks. Three o mes ships o war dos turns ups in orbits n levels the IMP Outpost Eureka, an thes University o Rebellion bes broadsideds n gons. Mes ships as cloaks on outs an as as beins gets theyselfs gons. Buts, yuos jus gots to ponders, as whys thes GTT platform don bes protectin theys IMPy allyes, nots a single shot o cannon dos shes fyre. Tis as beins a simple answers tho, yuos as as needs tos put cannons on theys platforms fer em tos fyres. Bets theys IMPy boys bes splainin thats tos the GTTs anows.


Our reporter also witnessed a number of pirate Ship Of The Line class battleships, serving amongst the pirates fleet.


Special Report - Adoquhina's Blog


Adoqhina stood over the holographic display of the planet and her heart raced in a way she had not experienced since being a cub. Even though she had foreseen the result in a premonition beforehand, she was moved to tears as the image was dotted and turned blue with the incoming population scan data. She had never seen a world with so many Dewiek in her lifetime. In fact, no Elder of the Nation had in hundreds of years. There were more of her brothers and sisters here on this single world than in all the star systems that comprised the domain of the Nation. She was filled with reverence and joy and for the first time in decades a nervousness at the uncertain path before her.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the comms signal on her deck lit up with a communication report from the Elder Council. There was no denying the report pleased her and she considered each of her children's progress with growing admiration:

Her youngest cub, Osho, had quickly asserted herself as the star of the Council and her new role as Voice of the Nation had proven a wise choice. Her zeal for organisation and diplomacy had given the Elders a much needed boost of determination and energy.

Her prodigal son, Filtiarn, had matured into a fine Elder and took his seat on the Council with a gravitas that reminded her of the great Elder of lore. He had more or less assumed control of most of the Home periphery and Adoqhina could see he was well suited to work with Osho.

Her favoured son, Darkmane, had diligently pursued the task entrusted to him in monitoring the strategic concerns of the Nation. Progress on a new front had been slow and his report signalled his growing concern. He remained disciplined and mindful of her advice whilst ever alert to potential betrayal.

Her eldest son, MaiChiKwai, seemed to be enjoying working with Osho who had risen quickly above him. He always had a great deal of affection for her even when she was a cub and he admired her passion for efficiency.

Her crafty son, Soranus Lupin, was ever busy in often hostile realms. He boasted of the new devices and information sources he had added to his personal domain and Adoqhina could not help but smile at his request for additional funding.

Her noble son, Lucian, had as instructed made successful contact with the large pack of regressed Dewiek in an unclaimed system. Having met them on their own terms he was now their reluctant alpha and had melted into their culture. Adoqhina could not help worry for his safety and sanity in such an environment but she trusted him implicitly and his work was of the utmost importance to the future of the Nation.

Her dutiful son, Greywolf, provided no report for he was within grasp of her mind, his vessel orbiting close to her own having shared the long journey with her.

The other Elder of the Council told their tales and she listened with warm affection to see the Nation so focused, united and determined. She made a mental note of a couple of Elder who had risen amongst the packs and made sure to monitor their progress. Chief among them was Osho's favourite Howler of the Iron Klaw pack who had been appointed as the Trade Elder at her bequest. Then there was Filtiarn's student Drutoo who in time could be a great asset to the Nation.

Her motherly duties complete, she turned her attention back to the view screen of the planet that had melted her heart. She began the various simulations and scenario analysis programmes to determine the wisest course of action before she was interrupted again.

Her scouts eyes flashed before her as the cybernetic implant connected via subspace and she saw confirmation of what she had hoped and many of the Elder had dreaded for hundreds of years. The sight of a Maker in orbit and the rapid fire of contact protocols as the scout came under intense scrutiny and its AI network probed intensely. She held her breath and waited to see whether the scout would survive and deliver its message.



******

Contacts:
Editor: sss [dot] editor [at] googlemail [replacetoavoidspamdot] com

Terror

The Cult Of Kanji has struck once again within the Inner Empire system of Barnard., attacking the Confederate system-claiming outpost with nuclear weapons.

The outpost, CNF Ascalon, located on a small asteroid in the outer reaches of the system, was without ISR field protection, rendering it utterly defenceless against the 16 nuclear missiles that were launched by two small Cultist vessels.

With virtually no warning, the Confederate crew and soldiers stationed there had nowhere to run or shelter, before the nuclear weapons shattered the domes and blew apart the facility.

There were more than 10,000 soldiers stationed at the base, with an unspecified number of support crew and employees. They are all understood to have perished in the nuclear fire unleashed by the Cult Of Kanji.

Condemnation has been swift from all quarters, with the Confederacy vowing vengeance.

Kanji, for his part, transmitted the following message from a secure location: "How arrogant is the Empire that it believes it can claim systems in such a way? Today in a daring raid Cultist forces nuked this outpost causing some 3,000,000 mu of damage. We doubt there is much left of the garrison or OP and we expect the claim to drop... The Emperor is arrogant, lax and foolish if he believes territory can be claimed in such a way, his Empire relies on fear to stake claims in such a way... The Cult is unafraid... We rejoice in what we believe is the departure of 10,000 souls into the void and the expected contraction of your flaccid Empire..."

Our news-room has been unable to reach Emperor Lysander for comment, as he appears to be on a ski holiday somewhere in the Inner Confederacy.


Assassination

In a terse statement this week, the IMPerial Services have announced the shock assassination of their new Viceroy:

"It is with great sadness that I must report the untimely death of the Viceroy, Kyle Blackthorne. Details are sketchy at the moment but his death has been confirmed.

Our condolences go out to the Blackthorne family.

Ms. Lee Holloway
Secretary to the late Viceroy"

As one of the three most powerful and important people in the Peripheries, the assassination surely ranks as a very significant event, indicating either an abysmal lack of security at IMP bases, or it being an inside job.

Nobody has yet claimed responsibility, and given the usual suspects for this sort of activity usually can't shut up about their exploits, again, points towards it being an inside job.

There are unconfirmed rumours that Viceroy Blackthorne was killed by an anti-matter bomb that detonated in his office.

Duke Gregor Constantine has taken over the reigns while a new Viceroy is sought, but will the new viceroy suffer the same fate as the old? Or indeed, will the new Viceroy be the person responsible for the untimely fate of his predecessor, and was this assassination essentially a palace coup�

Only time will tell.


Changing Hands

The RCF appear to have sold the Starbase 'New' to the RIP, who have renamed it Freedom Town.

Or the RIP have captured the base from the RCF.

Who knows?

Certainly not the SSS/IGN, that's for sure. We're still too busy deciding which reporter has to go and interview Kanji.


Rampaging COK

The Cult Of Kanji have demanded that the Imperial-Bloc cease protection of the Wimble facilities in the St. Dismas system, otherwise they will commence unrestricted terrorist warfare against all targets within the system.

The IMP-Bloc have refused to co-operate with the COK, underlining once again that despite rumours to the contrary, there is no space in the IMP for the COK.


Pirate

Confederate forces have destroyed a pirate scout in the Darkfold system, marking what is we suspect the first ever pirate detected and destroyed in Darkfold.


Yank

Another IND vessel has been destroyed in the Yank system, this time by the FET, right under the noses of the Kastorian Military Junta.

The IMP-Bloc will be unable to claim accidental weapons fire this time, as the FET position that opened up was the Starbase Free Coalition, which on balance, probably hadn't just flown into Yank having been on patrol elsewhere.


Pirate

The DTR platforms Earth Defence 1, 2 and 3, have destroyed a pirate scout in the Sol system while it was attempting to enter Earth orbit.

The pirate is understood to have been an unarmed scout, but with tensions already high following recent terrorist nuclear attacks in the Sol system, panic and rioting has broken out at several earth-based population centres.


HLQ

Anonymous sources have been reporting to the news-room that they have detected strange HLQ warship movements of late.


ARC

One of our reporters, whilst conducting 'research' at a dive bar in Yank, has picked up a story relating to a massive Architect vessel being spotted moving through the outer reaches of a number of systems in and around Yank.


Trouble For the FCN?

Traders are reporting difficulty when conducting transactions with a number of Falconian bases, where apparently the governors lacked the stellars to pay for goods. Does the FCN Republic stand on the brink of bankruptcy?

Zerk

Our newsroom has received information clearing up the identity of the Zerk affiliation.

"Zerk were just another name for HVE. They had been travelling over centuries at subspace warp-speed on a gigantic asteroid. They arrived at an unknown system where they started to colonize. Playing them was all about exploring and moving stuff from the asteroid to different settlements once they were built. They were quite fun to play except for the fact they had no connection to the rest of the peripheries. So no trade etc. . However, when I left the setting they were well on the way on doing research into finding links to the peripheries. IC they did establish contact with QNG.

Whether they are still alive I don't know."


Alliance

The Falconians and Dewiek have formed an alliance, making the DEN now almost certainly the Peripheries most friendly furry alien friends who are fun to be with. Or FFAFWAFTBW's for short.

What next? Cats and dogs living together in perfect harmony?


Cats And Tentacles Not Living Together In Perfect Harmony

Reports of action in the Battlefield system are floating around, with the following news post from a Flagritz source:

'All ships are accounted for Dalin, some light damage but their Captains have confirmed they are at fighting strength.' Tavar Raal split his attention to scan a summary of current Squadron deployments. Light damage indeed, Felini weapon systems in Battlefield seemed as poor as their Cluster counterparts.

The image was dismissed, replaced by a detailed breakdown of each ships performance during the three day raid into the Battlefield system. It was not everything Raal would have hoped for, two Jaguar Growl Freighters, two Lynx Facilitator freighters and a Sabre Tooth Snarl destroyed along with a number of Felini warships heavily damaged. Still there was hope, the first raid into new territory could not be expected to go without errors and his crew were alive to learn. Unlike the Felini.

'The Palatini N1.' There was the slightest of pauses as the Aide called up the image being viewed by his commander.
'Yes sir, confirmed kill of one freighter and�'
'That is of no concern. They broke formation to pursue the fleeing 150 HH ship MS Shield of Merv.'
'Yes sir before�' A flicker of movement and the Aide fell silent.
'And then rather that attack this fleeing vessel the Captain decided to stop and collect the contents of the Felini ships magazines, ejected in their panic.'
'The Captain felt that the information gained on current Felini ordinance�'
'I do not care what the Captain felt or your excuses for his behaviour. As soon as the Palatini N1 docks have the Captain brought to the Command room.'
'Yes Sir.' Tavar Raal called up the image of a security camera, watching his Aide's reaction rather that look direct.

Whatever the Aide was thinking was well hidden Raal noticed with approval, the time away from Command had done wonders for the Aide's attitude. Making a mental note to rotate more of his staff the Dalin started to work his way through the prisoner reports of the recent battle.'

Combined with this an SSS/IGN reporter stationed with an anonymous vessel was able to traverse areas of Battlefield and witness various build-ups of FLZ and FEL ships, apparently engaged in skirmishes throughout the system.


Fresh GGG News-Goo

A new edition of everybody's favourite Imperial-Bloc news organ has splattered onto news-stands near you now:

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=38142&lr=on#post_tag


Special Report - Githyankis Blog


The claxons continued to sound, unrelenting, as did the screams as the orbital bombardment continued unabated. Even here in the slave quarters in the mines the fear in the air was thick and interlaced with the normal stench of human discomfort. Not that his RIP masters limited their slaves to just humans, there was all manner of alien also held in captivity to work the mines and the resource farms, and despite the occasional bravado all shared a common fear of both their masters and those who came a calling.

A1785, the slave number he has been assigned, had been born too slavery, taken from his mother before having any memory of her, he had been so branded at an age too young to remember, in fact the number on his forearm remained his only form of identification, the only thing that gave substance to his existence, and so many others who had worn similar numbers had come and gone in this world without ever being noticed, he did not even know if he was human, though he was certainly humanoid.

'85' as we shall call him for now, also had no idea of his age, he was certainly in the stages of early manhood, but then you aged quickly in this life, both a consequence of the conditions and the need to gain the strength to survive. He did know that he was not born on this particular world, which was known to him as being Tatas in the system Misre, though he could not be certain as the small fragments of information they received down here also suggested at least four or five other locations, he had been told during his time on a slave transportation ship that he had been born at a place called RIP Cape Horne, in a system called solo, though he knew little more than that other than it was supposed to be the headquarters of the legendary pirate king Nic B'stard, he often wondered about the women who birthed him, pondering if he would ever see her again, or if she was even alive, but such thoughts were little use to a slave, and they came and went quickly enough.

A large explosion sounded, far too close for comfort; the combined might of the FET, IMP and GTT had been pounding the base RIP Barbary Coast from orbit for some considerable time now, days that felt like weeks when you're in amongst the bombarded, even within the relative safety of the mines. The fate of those on the surface was almost certain. The expressions, and indeed reducing number of guards assigned here suggested clearly the way in which the battle was going, it was largely considered that it would only be a matter of time before the base suffered total annihilation at the hands of the armies already being assembled. You might think this would be welcome news to a slave, but then a falling torpedo or round from a blaster riffle were both un-selective and un-forgiving. The pirate governor had already delivered his ace, a re-armament of a few thousand photon guns and other assorted space weapons from a hidden ground party, but the attacking force continued with unrelenting commitment, despite their losses and rumours of the governor's departure on a specially designed runner class freight ship had been in circulation for the last two days.

The bombardment stopped, as quickly as it had started those many days ago, a muted cheers sounded, before the consequence of that action became clear, the drop pods and landing craft had started to descend, the final battle was about to be played out. '85' never determined the actual cause, not even to this day, one moment he was hiding between some mining equipment and the rockface, listening to the tank tracks somewhere on the surface above him, the next he was pinned to the ground, a huge compression force squeezing the air and life from his lungs, lungs which were already choked with metal and element dust, he looked around him and caught glimpses of a scene of total carnage, the mine had largely collapsed, the slaves were either dead or along with the guards had long since attempted there escape, there was the sound of men cheering somewhere on the surface, and pinpricks of light created webs from the broken and collapsed mine shafts above.

A voice called out, gruff and unforgiving. "are there any survivors in here?" '85' tried to speak, to move, to respond, but he could not, his lungs were nearly empty, he was mute, weak and fast approaching the jaws of death. The voice called again, but he could offer nothing by way of a response. So this was it, it would be, that he too would pass from this world without notice. He focussed and drifted in equal measure, halfway between the living world and the dead, in his mind he was shouting, screaming at the men only metres away from where he was buried, but no sound came, he continued, his mind screaming for the men to turn to find him and pull him to safety.

They did not; they called once more and turned to search further into the collapsed mine. Then a pause, one of the men stopped, stopped dead as if he had just been struck, "did you hear that?" "hear what, there is nothing here, this place is a tomb" "there again" the man said. Turning with no sound in the air, the soldier a grizzled imperial sergeant walked directly to '85's location, and with apparent ease pulled away the fallen rock from the body of a human male. '85' looked up, for the briefest of moments and searching the man's eyes, gasping what felt like his first lungful of air, before the blackness descended once again.

The Imperial Soldier looked down, bemused at the figure before him, how had he known, his instincts told him he had heard nothing, but it had been as clear as day in his head, a scream for help an image in his head, he almost felt that he had been looking at himself. He checked for a pulse, it was faint, but it registered none the less, his search partner called for a medivac team.
"you ok serge?"
"pack this one up for transfer to IMP Jax, there is something not quite right about this boy, I swear by the true one, this little bastard just got inside my head"
"bit early in the day for ale serge?" his companion smiled and winked.


Special Report - Mona Luvsitt


Dear Diary,

Running a starbase as big as Quick Snack has all sorts of complications..

I've just seen a report on the security status... while it's decent enough... there is one worrying aspect.

I've got 20 "detainees" in the brig.... and they have all been there for some time.

They were probably destined for whatever darstardly scheme Spugman had lined up for those "repatriation" scams he was running...

However, six of them claim to be 'Officers' and of those six... five claim to be RIP officers!

Why on earth was a RIP starbase governor detaining RIP officers in his brig ?

It makes no sense at all...

Anyways... one is claiming to be CIA... so I'd better contact them and see if they want him back.

Mona.


******

Contacts:
Editor: sss [dot] editor [at] googlemail [replacetoavoidspamdot] com

***** Inter Galactic News *****


*** Ultimatum ***

The Peripheries stand on the brink of war tonight, as the Imperial Services under their new leader Githyanki, have delivered the following ultimatum to the House LiQuan:

�It has not escaped my attention that your affiliation has destroyed a planet in a system that the IMP claim for our allies the DEN, killing a large number of innocent IMP citizens and employee's in the process, and that furthermore in what is arguably an action that is in contradiction of the peace accords you are presently claiming the system known as Dolphinus for the HLQ, having created, quite deliberately, sufficient civil unrest in the local population. It is a dark day indeed that you have forced me into this position, but neither of these actions can be ignored any longer.

I demand with immediate effect that Demetrius Liquan be handed over to an IMP facility of my choosing to face trial for murder, I further demand that the contested status of Dolphinus be removed and the civil unrest quelled restoring the claim for the commonwealth. I expect immediate action on both points, I will consider the failure to do so an act of war and will have no hesitation in issuing a declaration to that effect. You have until tomorrow to accept these demands or face the full wrath of the Imperial army and navy.�

It is understood that at time of press Imperial warships are already moving into positions to assault the Dolphinus system, which recently declared for the HLQ instead of the Commonwealth.

The Baron Demetrius LiQuan seems to be in no mood to hand himself over to the tender mercies of the Imperial legislative process however, and as the tense stand-off continues, there is marked silence from many of the other supporting players in this drama, the Confederacy, the Imperial-bloc allies, and the Detinus Republic.


*** Weird Rumour ***

The HLQ have accused the IMP Viceroy of following the dictates of his �Alien Masters�, sparking speculation as to what exactly the House LiQuan meant by this. Rumours have started to spread that Githyanki might be an agent of the ancient and mysterious aliens, the Architects, prompted into action by the recent revelations of the HLQ deploying Meklan technology.


*** Piracy ***

Our reporter stationed with an un-named pirate organisation has sent a report regarding the recent capture of a 100 heavy hulled Confederate battleship. The battleship and its escorts apparently inflicted heavy damage on the pirate boarder, but the pirates pressed on bravely and launched their attack, successfully cutting through the CNF defenders to the bridge of the battleship, whereupon they were able to take control of the vessel and jump away.

It is not often that main ships of the line are captured, and there was much celebration amidst the pirates, and no doubt a number of red faces at the Confederate Admiralty.

This marks the 89th ship successfully taken by this group of pirates, as our reporter can attest having been given a tour of the dark shipyard where the desolate captured ships are stored, somewhere in the Peripheries.


*** Peace ***

The IMP have declared a ceasefire and limited peace agreement with both the Children Of Hexos and Obsidian Predator Swarm.

Insectile aliens everywhere rejoice.


*** RIP Newsflash ***

With the Rip News Network still off the air, we have however received the following notes from RNN reporters who are still working somewhere in the Peripheries:

�The civil war that has raged within the RIP is over and one person stands alone at the head of what remains. Most of the others that did seek the post are dead, the fleets they commanded destroyed, bases turned to dust.

The first act was to look about for a base to link the RIP to the Periphery, news had reached him that the Imperial victory in the new Hittite system has put pressure on this RCF who still has a base in that system. After some talks a deal was done for the base, platforms and outpost, for a good price something to thank the IMPs for.�


*** Pirate ***

The SMS ship EI-T Amboise has fallen to pirates in the Tycoon system while it was en-route to the Stargate. The pirate ship Anthracite latched on and disgorged 380 well trained pirate marines, who were very fortunate to capture the ship in the face of heavy resistance from SMS marine defenders.


*** More Peace ***

With the peace agreement between the IMP-Bloc and the Krell now reaching an unprecedented second week, relief supplies, first aid, and building material is starting to reach the surface of Inversion, donated by several Periphery powers to help the Krell rebuild much of what has been shattered by long months of orbital bombardment.

The Krell have launched an appeal for modules of all sorts, particularly Industrial and Structural modules, and they have posted notice that their Starbase Carthage has a blanket authorization for anybody to deliver any module type.


*** Yank ***

There has been action in the Yank system this week, when 5 CIA warships returned from patrol for R&R. One of the warships spotted an RCF freighter in orbit, and moved to attack alongside two of its squadron mates.

We understand 2 RCF freighters were inadvertently destroyed by 3 CIA heavy cruisers in the action that followed.

Kastorian Military Junta authorities then authorised deployment of the KAS System Weapon, which destroyed all 3 CIA cruisers. Suggesting that perhaps the KAS have just about had enough of people accidentally violating the Yank No-Fire Zone.

At the same time as all of this was happening, 2 other CIA warships along with an HLQ warship that decided to join in, opened fire on the RCF Starbase Restoration, causing approximately 3Kmu of damage.

The FET Starbase on the planet also decided to open up, which resulted in it drawing fire from the resident KAS platform in orbit. (A terse statement from the KAS has suggested that the FET were jolly fortunate the System Weapon had already fired at the CIA, as it may have been deployed against the FET Starbase.)

And as if this wasn�t complicated enough, there are reports that the GTT were also involved in shooting up somebody, probably the RCF, as it seems to be open season on them, although there are rumours that IND positions were also fired upon by� somebody, somewhere, in this general melee.

The CIA have stated that the captain of the ship who initially opened fire has been duly arrested and punished for his actions. And somebody will probably have to pay reparations to� somebody.




*** Xeno Science Monitor Issue 1 hits news-stands ***

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***** Recruitment � The Confederate Forces Need You! *****

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=20765&lr=on#post_tag

*** Your Emperor needs you ***

Emperor Lysander commands and we obey - protect and expand the boarders, serve the true one and honour the name of the confederacy.
The Confederate Naval Forces is recruiting for soldiers of all ranks and experience to serve in the mighty army of the Confederacy.
Positions include but are not limited to:

Starbase Governor - Take command of one of our production centres and build mighty ships, produce ordinance for the ground troops or supplies for the Confederacy.

Fleet Commander - Organise our warships and direct them against our foes

Logistics Commander - Every army is dependant on supplies, moving ordinance and generating and supplying funds for the troops

Resource Acquisition - Look for new sources of materials in one of our many systems, be the first to discover new places and advance the frontiers.

Join today and serve the Emperor.

Thomas S. Jackson
CNF Supreme Commander


***** Message From The Editor *****

I just noticed this edition didn't get sent out over a week ago, having no doubt gotten caught up in the great AOL Spam Disaster of 2010. So I'm posting it in the news section now... hopefully... assuming I am doing this right.

The Editor.