Phoenix
Phoenix Nexus News Subspace Static - Star Date 214.11.5
Subspace Static - Star Date 214.11.5



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


*** Imperial Joy ***

His Royal Highness Lysander, the Emperor Of All Known Humanity and Defender Of The Faith, has been on a charm offensive this week. Throwing open the doors of one of his several glorious palaces to a special network of invited nobles and businessmen.

The Imperial Princess was on hand, as charming as ever, leaving the guests feeling blessed to have been entertained by not only the finest and most noble people in the realm, but also spiritually cleansed thanks to a stirring range of services provided by the Brotherhood.

Emperor Lysander bestows his blessings upon us all.


*** Rebels Pounded ***

Victorious Empire forces have handed several heavy defeats to the Detinus rebels this week, with a series of massed offences staged across several systems in the Trans-Spiral periphery – a region of space where the filthy rebels might have felt they were safe from the long arm of Imperial law.

The DTR claiming outpost Farseed has been captured, along with the Farseed system. As well as the claiming outpost of Torden Skjold in Ulyona, expanding the vast Empire of Humanity by two more systems.

The Emperor Lysander has expressed his pleasure that his Empire now expands across more than 75% of known space.


*** Kastor ***

Empire forces in the Kastor system have withdrawn from orbit of Mktkl this week ceding the planet to the rebel DTR. The system was of little strategic value anyway, and had recently been mothballed as part of the EMP consolidation process, so the rebels are welcome to hold this worthless pile of alien-infested rocks.


*** Reminder ***

Emperor Lysander loves us all! Even aliens! The Emperor cannot get enough aliens!



*** The Golden Kang Awards ***

The shameful exploitative alien sideshow known as the Golden Kang Awards has fallen into infamy this week with the continued disappearance of so-called ‘Editor’ Overlord Kang, with many rumours suggesting that the accounts of the SSS News Organisation have been mysteriously emptied, and Kang was last spotted en-route to an island paradise somewhere in Flagritz space.


*** DTR Press Release ***

FRE OUTPOST BIG VALLEY (6694)
FRE OUTPOST PONDEROSA (8224)


Hail,

The owner(s) of these facilities should make themselves known to my office immediately.

I will have your full cooperation - or I will have your assets.

If this rankles, blame FREeman.

Regards,
Sylvansight



~~~~~ initiate subliminal mind-burst A/738##c ~~~~~~~


*** News From The Palace ***

Children were thrilled this week when the Imperial Princess herself turned out to open a newly built school at a +++ highly classified location.

The bright and cheerful children were /// absolutely /// not (child actors) /// shipped in to make the Princess look good. /// celebrating.

[end hash/reset transmission]


*** Agripeta Wormhole ***

The Ulian Stellar Nation admits a mistake was made today, when a pair of Ulian warships opened fire on a group of Flagritz merchant vessels presumed to be transiting the phenomenon, damaging two. This was due to non-engagement of 'safety' protocols when leaving the assigned combat area, compounded by the excitement of the captains of these vessels, assigned to a 'commerce raider' role, actually being able to locate an assigned target in open space, an event we assign to a less than one-in-a hundred possibility.

We consider our error to be of the same magnitude as that which caused an 'excess' of Flagritz warships, in contravention of HBO directives, at recent engagements in Persian. We this do not expect to take the matter to be taken further. In spirit of magnanimity, we offer use of our facility located at the wormhole for any necessary repairs to the two vessels, which we believe survived the encounter, the costs of which would be refunded.

Mok, USN


*** Scavenger Hunt Tie-Breaker ***

The tie-breaker event for the 213 Scavenger Hunt is now in its final preparations, with the race starting on 214.12.1 unless circumstances otherwise intervene.

The race will see two participants sponsored by Oyabun Pahl Kantner of the FET and one participant sponsored by Magistrate Lorna Archer of the DTR. So no chance of a grudge match there eh!

Participants will each be issued one small, stealthy ship which must be used for the checkpoint activities stipulated. The ships come only partially configured but with a rich set of pickup authorizations at the starting base, leaving participants free to choose their strategy and accessorize accordingly.

The race will start in neutral Solo system, quickly taking participants into stormy Halo where they will buzz the Peripheries' premier trade port before delving deeper into that lawless periphery. With all Halo checkpoints completed they will proceed into the promised lands of the Coreward Arm, paying a visit to the core before venturing out to complete checkpoints in its more lawless and uncharted regions. The race then comes full circle, finishing in Solo system for the award ceremony and the 1 Million Stellar grand prize!

The complete details are still being worked on but contractors promise all arenas will be finished by the end of this week and if you can't trust a contractor then who can you trust! The complete itinerary and rules of the race, as well as the ships to be used, will be delivered to the sponsors on 214.11.5. The rules in detail will also be released to the public at this time. For now all I will say is, the best seats for watching the event live will be at the Solo Gate Rest Stop, at Tentative Steps, in Persian system, and at the General Store. There will also be frequent reporting at the checkpoints so if you can't be there in person, tune in to our subspace feed!

And never forget the age old motto of Scavenger Hunts everywhere: What happens in Darkspace, stays in Darkspace.


*** Coptuv ***

Pirates have struck in the Coptuv system, where a lone Ulian freighter has been seized by the pirate ship ‘The King’s Palace’.

Despite a response from AFT patrol ships, no sight of the pirate or victim was made, and both are suspected to have made a clean getaway.


*** Ships For Sale ***

Five Pekan class starships are now for sale right alongside Tentative Steps at the Agripeta Wormhole. These are exact replicas of the Pekans that have been issued to the Tie-breaker participants and so if you ever wanted a taste of what it feels like, or even try to shadow the race in person, then this is your chance!

Each ship is a 10HH with mk2 organic hulls and mk2 stealth plates. It has a basic propulsion package and 120mu of free install space. With a sensor profile of -87% these ships are perfect for a great variety of clandestine operations: Scouts, surveyors, blueprint or ammo carriers, or anything else that benefits from getting around undetected.

Typical embarking size is around 1800mu depending on how you configure it so if you are the lucky new owner of a Patrino class stealth tender, well, one or two pekans will fit right in there!

Asking price for each is $10k.


*** Falconian Newsreel ***

Newsreel Extra
A short battle ensued in the D5 quad of Fury as privateers attempted to flee the grasp of local law enforcement agencies.
A hitherto undetected scout ship took substantial damage leaving combat

PRV Repo Tracker 001 (79669) is leaving combat, opening fire at maximum range.
Round 1: 18 Missile Launcher mkIIs (Kinetic Missile mkIII)
- 16 hits - 1109 [1120] damage - 95%
2 Torpedo Launchers (Plasma Torpedo)
- 2 hits - 577 [600] damage - 84%

The second yacht, having foolishly remained in the same quad, was apprehended by local Naplian marines. The boarding vessel even had time to install extra sensors after yesterdays boarding attempt failed when sensors could not detect the target.
PRV Repo Tracker 002 (37999) has fallen to the attackers.

PRV Ram Raider (97897) was sent fleeing dodging termal lance torpedoes. But not before we gained valuable information...

PRV SHIP RAM RAIDER (97897) - {200 Heavy Hulls}
Super Scimitar Class Capital Ship {Heavy Ablative Armour}
Aff: PRV
LifeForms: 545
Class: Super Scimitar
Hulls: 200 Heavy Hull mkIIs (81)
Armour: 317 Ablative Armour Plate mkIIIs (462)
Hull Damage: None
Max Boarders: 1582

INSTALLED ITEMS
7 AI Combat Navigator mkII (921)
1 Battle Bridge (101)
10 Battle Sensor (200)
25 Bunks (98)
50 Combat Engine mkIV (167)
28 Cryo Pods (129)
48 Gatling Laser mkIII (217)
1 Inertial Damper mkIV (198)
20 ISR Type 2 Engines (145)
1 Jump Drive (175)
1 Jump Drive - Backup (176)
2 Raiding Craft (2320)
50 Shield Generators (119)
65 Shields (115)
5 Targeting Computer mkIV (110)
10 Thrust Engine mkIII (162)
5 Tractor Beam mkII (341)

CARGO
124 Human Crew (505)
20 Kastorian Marine (634)
400 Naplian Marine (554)

Extra patrols will be instituted to protect merchant shipping. Ships are reminded not to loiter in open space.


***** The Great Race Begins *****


On day one of the race, both of Mr. Kantner's contestants have registered with the first checkpoint, at Tentative Steps, well in the lead with Ms. Archer's contestant nowhere yet to be seen.

Has she been a victim of foul clever play? Or is she just waiting to spring a Republican surprise and zoom into the lead, leaving Kantner's boys behind in the dust?

If Kantner spent little time in prep work at Solo Gate Rest Stop this could give him an early advantage, but, the circumspect Magistrate may have discovered a clever one or two day pitstop trick that will win the race in the long run.

Pundits fear to speculate more than this because, errr, we're running out of random ideas to just gulp out into the media stream, but surely tomorrow will lend a vital clue!

Kantner's teams are now headed through the lawless Halo into Persian system to check in at the bases there, after which it's time for some Coreward action!

Stay tuned and watch our commercials! Damn we need commercials. … where's all the money coming from again?



~~~~~ End Transmission ~~~~~