Mendell City Bugle

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

Aurora Security Officer Found Dead on the Odin: Killer Retaliates Against Task Force As Odin Goes Into Blue Alert

June 21st, 2460

The entire Odin has been thrown into blue alert and the whole B-13 business wing locked down as security scrambles in response to yet another brutal killing.

An Odin Representative has confirmed that Avery Bennet, Aurora Security Officer, was found dead only hours ago.

A security officer discovered the body in a publically accessible custodial closet just outside two restaraunts. The closet is tucked in the out-of-the-way hallway between The Dream exotic cuisine and its neighboring Wings And Steak buffet.

Detective Wildes was on scene and was heard remarking to the CSI team, “A few hours ago? Christ.”

Avery Bennet was born and raised on Earth. He attended university for 2 years studying law before dropping out to enlist into the Solarian Marine Corps. He was soon attached to the 33rd Fleet and was on various patrols and other missions across the Alliance. He served two tours at the edge of Alliance space on the Frontier and rose up to Corporal. He was given an honorable discharge at 30 and joined the NanoTrasen Security academy. He graduated and became a security officer shortly after cadetship was complete. By the time of his death he was training to become a Detective.

Because it is incredibly early in this investigation, we have few details as to the nature of Bennets death. So far witnesses say that Bennet was part of an “altercation” with an unidentified person outside The Dream before both of them stormed off towards the hallway. After that the unidentified person was seen leaving the area.

“All we have at the moment is that the person of interest was wearing a fedora and a black suit.”

Odin Security have said that they will be issuing a full description of the suspect “as soon as we get more information.”

This death has come mere hours after the Odin announced a breakthrough in the case. This has damaged the credibility of the independent investigation by the Odin. Panic has begun to spread through the space station.

Over a dozen shops and businesses have announced they will be closing “indefinitely”. Hundreds of retail workers on the Odin have been told to return home and will miss work.

All public tours of the Odin have been cancelled.

Hundreds of Odin custodial staff have been put on unpaid leave “for the duration for their own safety.”

A mandatory curfew of 7pm has been re-introduced; any visitors or residents in the halls after this time are subject to immediate search and/or detainment.

Odin Security have all been put on 14 hour shifts and every level will have at least two Officers on active duty “at all times.”

Hundreds of potential renters for Odin apartments have cancelled their contracts, and even more people are reportedly cancelling their rent agreements and moving off of the space station.

This ongoing situation has created a crisis for the station. One Odin Administrator expressed it as the entire facility “hemorrhaging credits”. Some analysts believe that if panic continues in regards to the serial murders, that the Odin may be deemed unviable for continued operation.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

Drea Mirmtar, Aurora Chef, Confessed Under Torture To Being Odin Killer

June 22nd, 2460

When Drea Mirmtar stepped off the shuttle from the Aurora, she was battered, bruised, and shaken.

After the murder of Avery Benett, the NSS Aurora received a transmission from the NTCC Odin disclosing key details of the investigation and description of suspected Persons of Interest connected to the Avery Bennet murder. According to details provided by CCIA, the description of ‘possible suspects’ was being a Tajara of indeterminate gender with a black suit.

The Aurora Head of Security during the shift, Kalren Halstere, personally questioned Mirmtar. During questioning he is reported to have suddenly flown into a rage. He dramatically yanked Drea Mirmtar out of her chair and, at the climax of the incident, pointed a lethal laser pistol at her head. This caused the security department to explode into drama.

The Chief Medical Officer was present during the interrogation, and told reporters that he “saw Kalren holding Drea at gunpoint.” Fernando says he tried to talk Halstere down and entered the room. Halstere had already struck Drea twice when Fernando entered. During their tense talk Sean Richter knocked Kalren’s gun out of his hand in a rush. Dr. Gonzales administered fact acting sedatives to Drea, who in a panic picked up the dropped gun and shot the CMO before being subdued by other officers.

Drea Mirmtar was then seen being carried out of the brig in a stretcher for emergency surgery done by Dr. Gonzales himself after she suffered multiple broken bones and internal bleeding.

A Crime Scene Investigator, Garret Isaman, had been dispatched from the Odin to personally gather fingerprint cards from crew on behest of Odin Detective Wildes. He was present during the altercation and caught the following transcript on tape.

 

[00:20] Kalren Halstere yells, "Linerbord, she's a god-damned murderer!"

[00:21] Jack Kingston asks, "Holy fuck are you brain dead?"

[00:22] Trout says, "Clear the hall."

[00:22] Garret Isaman says, "Hello agent"

[00:23] Trout says, "Get out."

[00:24] Sean Richter says, "Halstre. We've gone through Hell together."

[00:25] Kalren Halstere exclaims, "She's a serial killer!"

[....]

[01:23] Rafaelle Macchi says, "The Head of Security is... attempting to execute the suspect it seems"

After being discharged from the medical lab, the Odin CSI Isaman personally escorted her to the bridge. He says he needed to take off her handcuffs to get her fingerprints out of the reach of the security department. Security Officer Sean Richter refused to allow Drea to be isolated from the internal security department and defied the Investigator’s wishes, entering the bridge and standing immediately next to Drea. Fearing for her life, when Drea was uncuffed she pulled out a cleaver she had kept from the kitchen and attacked Richter, who used a telescopic baton to subdue her as Isaman watched.

Drea Mirmtar then began confessing to all of the crimes that the Aurora ISD were charging her with. Members of ISD began congratulating each other for their victory.

At this time the Odin had responded to reports of the incident and summoned the CSI back to the Odin, and asked Drea to return with him on a command shuttle.

Drea Mirmtar remains under custody as the Odin is entering damage control mode. Detective Wildes gave a statement at a press conference where he faced incredibly angry questions and comments from the press and members of the public.

“What makes you people think that torture is acceptable?” Wildes was asked by one reporter.

“It never is,” Wildes responded, “what happened on that station does not represent the corporation. The people involved got emotional. All the victims worked on the Aurora.”

“At least the FIB didn’t torture Holmes when getting a false confession.” A reporter interrupted.

One of the fiercest criticisms is over the fact that Halstere allegedly continued to remain on Command and was not arrested after torturing Drea Mirmtar until he returned to the Odin on a crew transfer. The command response was described as “indifferent” to Dr. Gonzales calling for Halstere to be declared unfit for duty.

Wildes seemed especially haggard during the press conference, probably due to the fact that the arrest was meant to be the crowning achievement of the Odin’s own investigation. During the press conference he was completely unable to remain on script for his speech and after the conference e-mailed his prepared transcripts to our office.

The e-mail shows the entire case against Drea Mirmtar.

All victims that were killed all had a common, shared theme. All of them had eaten at Drea’s The Dream restaurant and had given especially negative reviews on online review apps or within the restaurant itself.

In addition, Drea had denied during questioning by the detective Trout before and after the torture that she ever owned a ‘Getmore Brand Serrated Kitchen Knife’ used to kill Charlie Dove. The specific brand of knife was not disclosed to the media.

Forensic analysis of the smuggled Odin Maintenance ID card revealed fibers belonging to a maintenance technician jumpsuit, a chef’s apron, and a security officer jumpsuit. The ID was find hidden behind a false wall on the Aurora, near the station’s kitchen where Drea worked.

These details lead Detective Wildes to hypothesis that Drea Mirmtar had stolen the ID from an Odin maintenance technician eating in her restaurant, and used it to travel within the tunnels and outside the security camera network. Drea was not seen at several of the crime scenes, but Wildes insists in his statements that being able to travel within Maintenance would ‘make her invisible’ as far as the network is concerned.

At least a dozen lawyers have announced that they will be creating a legal team defending Drea Mirmtar during the upcoming criminal trial against Mirmtar. Pretrial proceedings are already on an incredibly rocky start; legal analysts are unanimously suggesting that the use of torture against Drea will ‘invalidate basically everything from the prosecution’.

Kalren Halstere has been suspended indefinitely with pay, and is expected to face a court hearing for his actions.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

Drea Mirmtar Pre-Trial Sees Confession And Key Evidence Thrown Out: Aurora Crew Banned From Testifying

June 24th, 2460

Today Judge Donald Harpman has thrown out major pieces of evidence in the Drea Mirmtar case after her defense team, lead by lawyer Scott Brown successfully argued a Motion to Suppress before the judge.

Mirmtar's defense team argued that the confession gained by the Aurora Internal Security Department was invalid due to 'incredible mishandling' of the interrogation and 'use of coercion'. The team then went one step further and argued that any statement made by Mirmtar while still on the Aurora was made under duress due to the pressure applied by the security department.

The Prosecution team is lead by Attorney Vaishnavi Deepti, a public lawyer who is working with prosecutors representing NanoTrasen and the Biesel government. The government has has brought 5 counts of murder, 2 counts of assault, and 1 count resisting arrest charges against Drea Mirmtar. They argued fiercely that since Drea Mirmtar confessed after she was already being handed over to the Odin official after repeatedly insisting her innocence even while being held hostage, that the statements were not made under duress at the specific time of their utterance.

Judge Harpman disagreed and dismissed the confession. In a written statement Harpman said "there was no reasonable method of ascertaining what statements were made while under duress at any point between being held hostage by Halstere to the point she was returned to the NTCC Odin, due to the omnipresence of at least one member of the security department who was culpable to the coercion. This is only reinforced by the frank, dismissive attitude the department and the rest of the present Command staff held in regards to the whole ordeal."

The ruling has also barred the prosecution and defense from bringing forth any witnesses from the NSS Aurora that were present at the time of the statements made by Mirmtar. Judge Harpman has ruled that only evidence directly gained by the Special Task Force assembled by the Odin and FIB will go forward to trial.

"There were severe legal issues with the handling of much evidence gained by 3rd party sources, contaminating their validity." Judge Harpman said.

Going forward the evidence cleared to go forward is incredibly diminished in its scope. The prosecution must make a case out of circumstantial evidence. The biggest cinch for the prosecution was Drea Mirmtar confesses that she did not use a Getmore serrated knife at any point in her life, when the details of what knife was used in the murder of Charlie Dove was never released to the public. The Odin Maintenence Technician ID with fibers that match Drea Mirmtar's uniform is also going forward to trial, despite being originally discovered on the Aurora, because of "exonerating circumstances."

There are also several witnesses that still remain for the trial that include Drea Mirmtar's kitchen staff, patrons, and Detective Wildes.

Mr. Brown, leading the defense team, has made a public statement that they have declined a plea bargain, and that Drea Mirmtar will face trial with a plea of Not Guilty.

"We are very confident that the prosecutions' case is going to disintegrate the moment it goes before the scrutiny of a jury", Brown said, "and we want to show beyond a reasonable doubt that Drea truly is innocent of the crimes heaped upon her. I think we are going to find that NanoTrasen's 'brave and professional' employees chose to viciously beat a woman for the crime of being nervous and awkward during an interrogation."

The case has gained attention from Tajara rights organizations within Tau Ceti, who have expressed concern about the treatment Drea received while in NanoTrasen custody.

"We came to Tau Ceti in part to escape the brutal behavior of police," said one Tajara who asked not to be named, "and it is very scary that we are seeing the same tactics used here. It is good that a judge can tell the government and big corporation of NanoTrasen that what they did was bad."

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

LIVE FEED Drea Mirmtar Trial

UPDATE: LIVE FEED ENDED - MISTRIAL IMPENDING?

 

This feed updates LIVE from the Mendell City Hall of Justice.

9:30am - The opening day for the trial of Drea Mirmtar came with gray skies and a light rain. The entire court house is swarmed by cameras and press who converged for what is so far the most high profile criminal trial in Biesel history. Judge Donald Harpman gave an opening statement that he expected nothing but the utmost professionalism and integrity from both the prosecution and defense team, and reminded them that despite all the cameras this was "no time to make TV moments."

10:15am - Vaishnavi Deepti gave the opening statement as the prosecution. She portrayed Drea as a narcissistic sociopath and abusive monster to her employees at The Dream. She said that Mirmtar was so obsessed with her own self-image and the success of her restaurant that she felt it necessary to commit serial homicide against individuals that slighted her. Deepti told the 8 jurors that "she would do whatever it took to silence criticism - including brutal murder."

10:59am - Lawyer Scott Brown gave the opening statement for the defense. Mr. Brown laid out the timeline of events and pointed out that all of the evidence putting Mirmtar at each crime scene was 'wishful thinking' and 'circumstantial hearsay' on the part of the FIB and Odin Task Force. He suggested that Mirmtar was simply a socially awkward woman struggling to run a small business in a foreign country, where she was unfamiliar with the mannerisms of the aliens she lived with. He then spoke at length about how all of the evidence gathered by the prosecution was compromised, contaminated, and corrupted.

11:32am - The prosecution have brought out the first witness. Jack Kingston, a security officer on the Aurora. Despite the entire station being barred from being a witness, Kingston had encounters with Drea Mirmtar before the kidnapping incident. The questioning got off to a problematic start. Mr. Kingston said “Drea is a textbook sociopath” which gained a quick objection from the defense. Mr. Brown said Kingston had “no qualifications to make such a claim”. The judge upheld the objection and reminded Mr. Kingston to refrain from diagnosing Mirmtar. After this the questioning went more smoothly.

 

Kingston: “I soon realized that there were massive inaccuracies with her stories; the most critical flaw was in regards to the knives. After frequent visits with Drea I was able to pick up on the outfit changing; she switched out of a black suit as I arrived once for her restaurant; during one visit she told me she was unable to get new knives due to the investigation; this stood out to me and I asked why she needed new knives. Her response was that there are bones in a lot of the meals they cook and it chips their knives and makes them unable to sharpen; but if you get any experienced chef they can tell you that any knife made for such a job like a deboner is strong enough to saw through or slice bones”

 

This last comment got another objection from Mr. Brown, saying Kingston was begging the question. This objection was upheld, and Kingston was asked to not make claims of authority on how knives are used in kitchens.

Kingston concluded that Drea was losing knives due to them being murder weapons, she didn't want to bring the evidence back into work thus she was losing her stock of knives.

Mr. Brown questioned Kingston next. He asked why Kingston was claiming that Drea’s constant wear and tear on her knives was suspicious, when a knife was only used in one of the murders. He reminded Kingston that all victims except Charlie Dove had been strangled to death using a garrote wire.

 

Kingston: “Each victim had their tongue cut out.”

Brown: “You are claiming that human tongues can chip steel knives?”

Kingston: "No, they're incriminating pieces of evidence that keeping knives around the workplace that have been used for murder is a quick way to get caught -"

Brown: “Every knife in The Dream was marked in inventory and accounted for. There were no knives missing at any point from the kitchen, which is collaborated by the employees that work in the actual kitchen there. And forensics did not match any of the knives in the kitchen to any murder scene. So are you still sure that Mirmtar was taking knives from her kitchen to use in the murders, or were you jumping to assumptions based on what you wanted to be true?”

Deepti: Objection! This is a double barreled question.

Judge Harpman: “Sustained. Rephrase the question.”

Brown: “Do you remain confident that Mirmtar was using knives from her kitchen’s inventory?”

Kingston: " I remain confident that Drea said to me that she was running out of knives and was unable to buy more due to the fact it would look incriminating on her behalf.”

 

12:51pm - Prosecution has called their second witness: Sumerek Zver', an Odin Security Officer. Due to a disability Zver’ signed to an interpreter, who spoke on his behalf.

 

Zver through interpreter: "He had met miss Mirmtar when he had received a disturbance call from the Toolbox Tavern while on duty at the Odin. She was causing a ruckus by attempting to trespass into the Tavern's kitchen despite not being an employee, claiming she was lost. He found this a bit odd, seeing how most owners of a restaurant know where theirs are located and to oversee their establishment prior to opening to the public. Another odd thing was that when he had confronted her, she claimed to of have not killed the cook despite his not bringing such a thing up.

Deepti: ”Did you ever eat at The Dream?”

Zver through interpreter: “Indeed, on June 11th. She appeared resentful of him because of the previous incident, and he had intended to apologize to the woman for possibly embarrassing her. She had since calmed down, but continued to treat him as racially inferior, which is not uncommon for him. However, miss Mirmtar then asked him, a stranger, if he could spare a knife for her.”

Deepti: “Did she say why she wanted to borrow a knife?”

Zver through interpreter: “She had claimed that a thief had stolen her favorite knife from her kitchen and wanted a replacement, but that the Odin’s quartermaster was refusing to process any such orders for knives.”

Deepti: “She said a knife was MISSING?”

Zver through interpreter: “Yes, ma’am. But no such reports of a break in or accused employees were made when he later went home to check reports, and see if he could catch the theif or possibly get the original back."

Deepti: "What type of knife did Mirmtar ask for?"

Zver: through interpreter: "Miss Mirmtar did not specify which kind."

 

1:25pm - Drea has been called back up to the witness stand. The Prosecution is pressing her hard on why she gave separate stories to different people about her knives. The inventory done by The Dream’s staff on their tools showed no missing knives, so Drea may have lied about the knives going missing and falsified the inventory.

 

Deepti: “Why did you lie about your knives?”

Brown: “Objection! She’s leading the witness.”

Judge Harpman: “Sustained. Rephrase your question.”

Deepti: “Mirmtar, did you ever tell Kingston that you were missing knives?

Drea: “Drea never said that she needed knives to Jack. He was tipsy every time she spoke to him, so he might be confused. The darlin' always had vodka in his hand.”

Deepti: “So no knife was ever missing from your inventory?

Drea: “She did lose a cheese knife, but she got it back from one of her staff a few hours after she had asked that darling Zhan.”

Deepti: “Why did you not have your staff update the kitchen inventory to account for the missing knife?”

Drea: “It was just a knife to slice cheese, and she got it replaced on the same day when we only do inventory every wednesday. It is different where this one comes from - we all share. It was even the same type of knife, so she didn’t see the harm.”

 

1:55pm - Prosecution has called employees of Mirmtar’s restaurant as witnesses. Many of them are undocumented and need to speak through an interpreter since they don’t speak basic. So far they are all collaborating Drea’s story, affirming that only one knife was ever temporarily lost, and then replaced. Defense has pointed out that the knife does NOT match the ones used in any crime scene, since they are not serrated.

2:59pm - Defense has shifted to arguing about the Odin Maintenance Technician ID that was found on the Aurora. The Prosecution has doubled down on the importance of the card, which had fibers from a black suit and a chef’s uniform. Allegedly Mirmtar pickpocketed the Maintenance Technician, Debbie Thames, who was eating at the restaurant at the time, with the ID in her purse.

4:12pm - They have just called Ahkurl Azankija to the stand. She works as a waitress at The Dream. She’s undocumented and has to speak through a Siik to Basic translator. She was the one serving the Maintenance Technician Hogan at the time the ID was allegedly stolen.

 

Defense Lawyer Brown: “Did you personally see Drea Mirmtar steal the ID from the Technician's purse when she took the Technician's bill to her?"

Azankija [through interpreter]: “She did not….”

Brown: “But it was the same table that you were waiting?”

Azankija [through interpreter]: “Yes. she was waiting the table and not Mirmtar.”

Brown: “But you just said that Mirmtar was the one that took the bill to the table. Did you or did you not see Drea bring the bill to Ms. Thames?”

Azankija [through interpreter]: “She doesn’t know.”

Brown: “You do not know if you saw her take the bill to the table?”

Azankija [through interpreter]: “She doesn’t... She wasn’t told what to say to this.”

Brown: “Told??? Did someone tell you what to say to my questions?”

Prosecutor Deepti: “Objection! He’s leading the witness!”

Judge Harpman: Overruled. [To Azankija] If someone coached you on what to say to these questions, that is a very serious offense. You need to make sure you are 100% honest with us right now. Did someone coach you about the questions you'll be facing?”

Azankija [through interpreter]: “She was.... She was pulled aside and told that if she did not say so-and-so to such-and-such questions, that they would see her and her kits deported back to Adhomai. This is what they do in courts on Adhomai so she just did it. She was scared. She doesn’t want to go back to Adhomai.”

Judge Harpman: “I understand. You will not be in trouble if you were coerced. Can you tell me who coached you?”

Azankija [through interpreter]: “They’re in the courtroom right now.”

Judge Harpman: “Really??? Can you point them out?”

Azankija [through interpreter]: “You are honest she will not be in trouble?”

Judge Harpman: “It is in your best interest to be completely honest with me.”

 

4:52pm - Azankija hesitated, then pointed at Prosecutor Deepti. The entire courtroom has just erupted into chaos. People are shouting. Deepti is screaming objections. The judge is hammering the gavel and shouting for order.

4:53pm - The judge just called a recess. The entire court is adjourned for the day. The bailiffs are escorting everyone one out of the courtroom and Drea is being escorted back to the holding area. I am reciting this live as we are all leaving.

5:12pm - Harpman has summoned both the prosecution and defense to go over the bombshell accusations of witness tampering. If the claims turn out to be true then the entire case could be thrown out. Deepti denied the accusations to assembled cameras on the steps to the court house.

“I have no idea why the witness said that. There is clearly a plot to sow discord in our case. Whomever orchestrated this plot, I cannot say.”

6:21pm - Leading Tajara Rights organizations have issued strong statements of condemnation over the accusations of witness tampering. They are saying it is deeply troubling that a city prosecutor would threaten Tajara refugees with deportation to force them to make coerced statements in court.

“The tactics allegedly used by Prosecutor Deepti are exactly the methods used by the People’s Republic of Adhomai in their rigged courts,” said one anonymous Tajara rights leader, “this is bringing back memories of Adhomai. This one is now confident that Drea is just being used as a scapegoat. There is no justice here, that is for sure. Perhaps this one should move back to Adhomai, where at least everyone is honest about justice being fake.”

[Coalf]

 

Sol Ban Continues, Refugees Flood Tau Ceti

 

The decision of Sol Alliance to ban Tajara immigration still sends shockwaves out to the known space, most recently aboard the NSS Aurora.

On the 28th of June a shuttle registered to a human fabric trader named Mirvan Spietzstein had entered the space near the Romanovich Cloud, passing all security checks and identification marks it was on its way out of the system when an unknown shuttle was suddenly detached from the space freighter and began heading straight for the Nanotrasen Research Station, Aurora.

“We always begin with a scan before we send out any drones and it paid off in this case,” comments drone operator Joshua Spitzrite.

Indeed as the unknown shuttle wasn’t a bomb but in fact an auto-piloted shuttle housing 6 Tajara refugees, three men, two women and one underage teen. One of the male Tajara was found dead on arrival, having suffocated due to the lack of oxygen.

The NSS Aurora and its crew had done their best to accommodate, treat and properly log all of the Tajara refugees even if it does not fare with standard protocol.

Later the rogue shuttle was seen violently ejecting from the landing port and crashing into a nearby asteroid, this time empty.

However drama had ensued as one of the Tajara, identified as Ameer Al-Sesay, discharged multiple shots from his illegally acquired handgun which he had hidden in an unknown storage area on his body.

Names of the officers in-charge during that crisis are being withheld for privacy and safety reasons however Nanotrasen officials have assured us appropriate actions would be taken.

The victim of the shootout, Evangeline Du Dancion, stated;

“I am not angry about getting shot, accidentally. I even sympathize with the man…”

Miss Evangeline Du Dancion was a Chief Engineer aboard the NSS Aurora, at the time tasked with building a temporary shelter for the refugees.

Further she added, ”…I’d probably reach for my gun as well.”

However slip-ups like these are multiplying in number as Tau Ceti officials struggle to process refugees which now rush to Tau Ceti, their entrance to Sol being refused, the authorities of Mars had reported similar issues.

But we remain positive as more and more refugees are being accepted into our system and showered with love, understanding and technology which they most likely never dreamt of.

One of these being the 17 year old Koskov Al-Sesay, an aspiring computer wizard and a nephew of the shooter,

"Koskov feels, this might be better than his families intended destination of Detroit ... There is so much more here for a Tajara than he hears of Sol, and he sees people that are like him! The people are so kind, they fixed his families wounds, and he was given compassion ... He wants to make this his home ..."

The government of Sol refuses to comment on the current immigration issues.

PLAY: Khaled Al-Bastaki adressing yesterdays crisis.

 

Khaled can be seen sitting at the conference room. A number of officials and reporters spread around the room. He is wearing a navy blue uniform, a version associated to his position as Head of Security, his cap on the table, the Nanotrasen emblem visible and aimed towards the cameras. He rises, clears his throat and begins speaking. The camera's focus on him, reports recording, flashes flicking as photographs are taken.

“Assalam aleikum, I hope you’re all well today.

To the unaware, and those that will see this. My name is Khaled Al-Bastaki, a Head of Security, responsible of the security operations onboard the NSS Aurora, and in this case, also previously responsible for the supposed refugees.”

Khaled takes a second to glance about, clearing his throat again and continues.

“I would like to address the concerns raised towards the crew of the NSS Aurora, the company and the government of Biesel. It is my responsibility, as the leading security figure onboard at the time, to ensure the safety of the crew and the installation, along with all traffic going through, including visitors, and in this case, undocumented ones.”

The camera zooms in on his face as he speaks. He peers down momentarily, going over a piece of paper placed on the table. Paying attention may show signs of fatigue and tiredness on his face.

“Any mistakes concerning my team or procedural mishaps are mine to bear. For that, I am responsible for any accidents that have occured, and once more, sympathize with those affected. I can only say, considering the uncertainty of this situation, and novelty of it, that I only approached this with the highest level of commitment and expectations put upon me by the company, that I only gave it my best. And I hope everyone can understand that.

I would like to the credit the stationed Captain at the time, Victoria Kincaid. They have shown a level of compassion, respect and composure as befitting a person of their position, and that of a human being. They have not once shunned them. They have afforded them every privilege possible. Food, shelter, comfort, compassion, rest, medical aid, entertainment, and even offered to cover their expenses personally. She provided them with everything just to make them feel normal, to make them feel safe. For that, I wish to express my thanks to have had the privilege to work under her leadership.

To end all this. I wish to express a personal apology, our security staff, who voluntarily did their best to accommodate, treat and house the refugees properly expressed great selfless behaviour. This selflessness displayed by our team led to some choices which could be called into question as too risky, and I bear full responsibility for these actions. I wish you all well.

For greatness, we strive. ”

With the utterance of the last statement, Khaled sits down. The room begins to fill with voices as the video ends.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

Mirmtar Trial Feed - BREAKING: Drea Mirmtar Assassinated

 

This feed updates LIVE from the Mendell City Hall of Justice.

8:28am - Judge Harpman has announced that he is throwing out allegations of witness tampering made against Prosecutor Deepti. The judge made a statement saying that after through questioning on the witness, who’s identity is not being released, they found it “highly likely” that the accusation dramatically made during the trial was an attempt to throw the trial. The attempt had succeeded at the moment, with the whole trial being thrown into disarray and the brief disintegration of the prosecution team.

The Tajara is now being barred from testifying and another judge has issued an arrest warrant for false testimony. The second day of the trial is scheduled to resume today. Drea Mirmtar is being transported from the Anthony St. Jail, where authorities were holding her in isolation pending the investigation into alleged conspiracy.

9:01am - Lawyer Scott Brown, leading the defense team, has made a statement to the press on the steps of the courthouse before the trial is set to begin.

 

”There are still many unanswered questions, but so far we believe that the Tajara was acting as they believed they should based on their past history in the totalitarian police state they fled. In this state it was common for Tajara to be forced to testify a certain way. We believe that certain statements made to them during the pre-trial process may have lead them to fear for their continued residence in Tau Ceti.”

 

9:19am - Drea Mirmtar is just arriving in the back of a police cruiser. There is a huge crowd here, and police are setting up a cordon to allow passage up the court steps. A court bailiff is coming down the steps. There is a lot of shouting and chanting. We will probably have photos uploaded later that show the many camps on the steps here. There are tajara demonstrators chanting in protest to what they are calling a rigged trial, as well as hundreds of people who are shouting that Drea is innocent or guilty.

9:20am - Drea is coming up the steps now and is being allowed to stop to give a statement before the press. She is speaking into dozens of microphones and it is difficult to hear her over the protestors. Let’s see if we can get her words in.

Drea Mirmtar: "She doesn't understand what happened yesterday. This trial is becoming really hard on her and her staff, they could soon all be jobless, and homeless without Drea. Her worker yesterday was just very scared, and Drea knows that poor doll was put through something just like this back on Adhomai, they were forced to say something that put their cousin in camps. That is why her worker was afraid of trials, and Drea hopes she herself is found innocent so she can retire to a smaller restaurant in a village outside the city. She hopes that the police are able to find out who the real Odin killer is. She is hopeful - -

 

9:22am -There is a commotion as the escorts have their radios squawking, and are chattering into them. Police are shoving people out of the way and pushing Drea Mirmtar back to the car. They are shouting abo

9:23am - Shots were just fired

9:38am - Drea Mirmtar is dead.

9:39am - LIVE FEED ENDED

BREAKING -

Former Head of Security Kalren Halstere has just been arrested for the assassination of Drea Mirmtar. Kalren Halstere was on the 4th floor of the Frank and Martha Office Supply building directly across from the court house. He fired six shots from his laser rifle, striking Mirmtar and the court bailiff Marcus Wallace. Wallace has survived and is being treated at a burn ward.

Police rapidly advanced on the building with their weapons drawn, and Halstere exited before the arrival of response teams. He surrendered to police with his hands up and his laser rifle slung to his back. When first apprehended he was heard saying,

“I couldn’t let her go free.”

It is believed that police were previously tipped off to Kalren’s intentions after Kalren Halstere had an altercation with another employee of the Aurora, but the precinct that received the report did not forward it to the Mendell City Police Department in time to prevent the assassination.

With the death of Drea Mirmtar, the criminal trial cannot proceed. We now may never know any additional information about the incidents of this June. Drea Mirmtar never confessed knowledge of the location of the amputated limbs of the victims, and police have still not found the serrated knife used in the killings.

Kalren Halstere had previously bet let out on a 15,000 credit bond for his own criminal trial on kidnapping and hostage taking, and mistreatment of prisoners. He was deemed to not be a threat to society, nor a flight risk. He was allowed to remain free from jail during the trial as long as he met each court date and did not leave Mendell City.

It is not known how Kalren Halstere gained access to the laser rifle nor how he gained access to the 4th floor of the office building brandishing one. We will publish more information as it becomes clear.

We will publish more information as this story develops.

[Bygonehero]

Cruise Ship Break Down causes Skrellian Travel Agency to Lists Tau Ceti as- Dangerous to Visit

 

After suffering from an unknown engine failure, the Qui’qui’clip Cruise Agency's most expensive Starliner, the CV Roanoke was left stranded in Tau Ceti’s Ramovalich Cloud. The ship’s captain Haueshi sent out a distress signal that was received by NanoTrasen, who offered the stranded ship safe harbor on the NSS Aurora and its other nearby facilities. As for the CV Roanoke, while owned and operated by a skrellian company was actually built upon Terra and has operated in the Tau Ceti region for nearly 13 years without incident.

The Super freighter NCV Anchieta coordinated with the CV Roanoke to negotiate the icy bodies of the Ramovalich Cloud, as well as to facilitate evacuation. The ship managed to leave the Ramovalich cloud with the NCV Anchieta's help just before its engines left it ‘dead in the water’ and waiting for NanoTrasen’s emergency response assistance. In the meantime, while waiting for assistance some of the passengers were sent to board the NSS Aurora as well as other Nanotrasen facilities such as the NSS Redemption and NSS Antlia.

The evacuees are reported to have boarded the Aurora and while initially, they had a warm welcome, all of the tourists described “hostility” from Aurora’s security department, and the Qui’qui’clip Cruise Agency has lodged a formal complaint with NanoTrasen about their behavior. More disturbing reports came from the NSS Redemption, whose security staff refused to allow the 42 evacuees to leave their station's flight docks. For nearly two hours, the tourists reported they were left at the docking gates with no water or allowance for personal hygiene. In addition, the Qui’qui’clip goes on to say they will be formally requesting that Tau Ceti is listed upon the Jargon Federations DPT list, a collection of colonies and planets deemed dangerous for citizens to travel to. When asked for comment, a Jargon Federation Representative said they were deeply concerned with Tau Ceti's internal strife and will be reviewing options available to them to safeguard the rights of their citizens.

More misfortune struck as within a short amount of time another disaster followed the evacuation. An exotic alien disease picked up from a Skrellian planet during a recent voyage started to spread through the stations that received evacuated personnel. CMO Embers On The Horizon oversaw a team effort to cure the virus upon the Aurora, while the primary researcher of the virus was the station-bound unit Bit. With their work, the virus was soon cured and all infected personnel and visitors made a complete recovery upon the Aurora. This was not the case elsewhere, with many evacuees upon the NSS Redemption needing to be hospitalized after repairs were completed. Twelve of the tourists evacuated to the NSS Redemption remains in critical condition.

Eventually, the repairs had concluded, with ERT teams repairing the damage to the Roanoke’s thrusters. After waiting for a brief time for the agency to transfer over a service fee to NanoTrasen, the ERT disembarked and the tourists were successfully reunited with their repaired ship.

The Roanoke is now beginning its tour of the asteroid belt, where it is scheduled to make several scenic visits to some of the more peculiar and beautiful locations within the asteroid belt.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

Mirmtar Epilogues: Kalren Halstere Sentenced To Be Borged As A Community Rebuilds

 

Today the trial of Kalren Halstere concluded, with the judge handing down a sentence of cyborgification after the jury found him guilty on the charge of pre-meditated murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and a dozen of other stacked charges. Kalren Halstere was seen taking the news with grim determination, and was transported out of the courthouse to prepare to be transported to the Phoenixport City Prison. His lawyers have already appealed the ruling, and the actual cyborgification may be delayed by weeks or months.

The announcement of the ruling has been met with a mute response by the community of the NTCC Odin, which is only just now starting to take stock of the events that held the station in the grips of terror for all of June. The Dream, Drea Mirmtar's restaurant, has been shut down and construction teams have already disassembled most of the interior as the section is put back up for sale. Currently there are no offers to buy the plot.

Business and visitors are slowly returning to the Odin, and the station's economy is starting to shift back into normalcy. Many businesses are still operating at a loss, but most of them agree that "the worst may be over".

The curfew on the Odin has ended as well, and the overworked security is being returned to normal shifts. The Odin security staff had been working 12 to 14 hour days as they struggled to address the killings and reassure the public.

Odin Detective Wildes, Lead Investigator of the Task Force, gave a statement where he summarized the mood on the Odin.

"We're recovering. I know that things could have been a lot worse. I'm disappointed that the trial could not finish. There's a lot of questions that needed answered. We still don't have the full story. I hope Halstere can find peace with his actions."

The questions that remain pertain to key pieces of evidence that were notably missing from the trial. Despite each victim of the murders having tokens removed from their body, Drea Mirmtar was not found with any such items. Despite an extensive search of her former restaurant and apartment, CSI found no trace of the limbs or even the famed Getmore brand knife used in one of the last murders. Wildes said that Odin security are continuing to look for where such things might be stashed, but that they are not confident that they will ever find the 'smoking gun'.

On the Federal level, the Federal Investigations Bureau has not yet recovered from the bombshell allegations of corruption. The former Director Katelyn Jones was forced to resign in disgrace only a day after the FIB received a substantial boost in funding and she herself earned a massive bonus for their arrest and successful confession from Ali Holmes to the Odin Murders. It was revealed that the FIB coerced a false confession out of Holmes after an anonymous source leaked the interrogation tape. Justice Department Attorney General Anibal Gonzalez has said that he found "inappropriate conduct" from Jones in his investigation into the department. 112 FIB agents have been charged related to the scandal, and while Jones' career has ended, Gonzalez has not made a statement on if she will face any criminal charges after being subpoenaed.

Yukiko Ahles, a former district lawyer from Phoenixport, has been promoted from Acting Director to full Director of the FIB. She has promised "sweeping" reforms of the department.

"We're going to get the trust of Biesel back." She promised in a press conference, "we're going to root out the problems and usher in a new era of transparency."

Already Director Ahles has pushed a new methedology for evidence management. Rather than the evidence of all federal crime scenes going through one central lab in Mendell City, new CSI labs are being assembled at various new precinct headquarters.

Time will only tell how the reforms affect the premier federal law enforcement agency. It's not clear if they will be able to regain the trust of NanoTrasen, who has already severed most of their ties with the organization as they take internal steps to become more autonomous in handling crime on their property.

[Alberyk]

 

July 18th, 2460

NanoTrasen Announces New Hiring Standards for Adhomian Immigrants

 

NanoTrasen representatives have announced today the implementation of new hiring standards, with most changes being focused on the head of staff positions, to tajaran migrants trying to apply for employment in the corporation. The Republic of Biesel has always been the destination of refugees and immigrants, seeking to start a new life here, and NanoTrasen has given this opportunity to many. Officials from the People’s Republic of Adhomai also have been assigned to help with the selection and revision of contracts.

The major changes include a mandatory literacy test, education certificates and tax comprovation forms, both issued by the People’s Republic of Adhomai, for candidates applying for command positions. Other departments hiring standards have received minor changes in hope of modernizing the process. Older contracts should remain largely untouched, some employments might be subject to possible revisions if any major issue is found.

[CakeIsOssim]

EC-2718 “Purpose” Appears Again!

 

July 19, 2460

 

Recently, the Hephaestus contracted mercenary corvette Gjallarhorn made contact with an alien vessel of unknown origin matching no registered design. The vessel approached the Hephaestus ship quickly, making no effort to communicate until it was within a few kilometers' range. Having entered a near collision course, the vessel stopped abruptly and almost instantaneously off the bow of the Gjallarhorn. Some minutes passed, and the Gjallarhorn repeatedly attempted to establish contact. After this time elapsed the UFO began opening communications on hundreds of frequencies with zero encryption whatsoever.

The image above is taken from an executive suite within the HPS Sidirourgeío, whose administration listened in on the dialogue between the Gjallarhorn and the alien vessel.

The dialogue recorded was between an unknown transmitter aboard the UFO and the communications officer of the Gjallarhorn, whose identity is currently being protected. An edited transcript can be read here:

 

The HPS Sidirourgeío is still on a heightened alert level due to the situation aboard the NSS Aurora a few days prior.

COMMS: Gjallarhorn to Sid tower. Unidentified spacecraft has just stopped off our bow abruptly. It's holding position at about a kilometer and a half. It's still not responding to hails.

TOWER: Confirmed, Gjallarhorn. Permission granted to open fire if the U-F-O continues an approach. We are currently trying to raise local authorities.

The telecommunications line becomes flooded with noise immediately after the previous transmission. The source is assumed to be the UFO. The line remains silent for a few moments.

UFO: Do you understand?

COMMS: ... We read you. ... Unidentified spacecraft, identify yourself immediately. You are currently in violation of--

UFO: I did not know what you were... until just now. I see now you can understand me.

COMMS: Unidentified craft, you are still in too close proximity to this facility. You must turn your vessel--

UFO: Purpose will have to assist you and this facility, for certain. Your persistence in passive-aggressive defense is useful to deter your species' vagrants, but I am afraid it will not suffice for the enemy. [The disembodied voice emphasizes these words specifically.]

COMMS: The enemy? Is this station in danger? Identify yourself immediately!

UFO: We are all in danger. You will know my identity soon enough. Besides, I am almost done.

The corvette Gjallarhorn proceeds to assume an attack position and raises its hull shield.

COMMS: Unidentified craft, move away or you will be fired upon!

UFO: No matter. I am leaving now. Your presence here will do you at least some good. Next time, you will know the face of the real enemy. And I hope then, you will fire first and ask for their name later.

The UFO suddenly moves across the Hephaestus corvette, passing it at great speeds before disappearing in a flash of blue light, likely utilizing a starship Bluespace drive.

 

What the transcript Hephaestus officials have released very clearly indicates sort of attempt at contact from the enigmatic Synthetic colony “Purpose,” who has until now eluded all efforts to establish dialogue.

Following shortly thereafter, NanoTrasen had made a public statement regarding the presence of observation drones from Purpose within their own facilities. The NTCC Odin was informed multiple times over the course of March and April of the presence of peculiar drones on board the Aurora, Odin and Redemption. Until now, this information has not been disclosed to the public, but the sudden appearance of this vessel from Purpose is “surely not a coincidence,” officials say.

After this public statement, observation drones have been spotted in the hundreds across Tau Ceti only to retreat into space. Tracking them has proven to be impossible. It is believed they are returning to Purpose with information they have collected, and this recent encounter only shows that they continue to reach out. They have been spotted in places as populous as Mendell City, and as secure as NanoTrasen stations, raising the question of what their capabilities truly are.

As a result of the events transpiring, NanoTrasen is beginning to issue warnings to its facilities in regards to unknown synthetics and its fleet in Tau Ceti remains at a heightened alert status.

[Zundy]

 

August 1st, 2460

Violence Erupts In District 9

 

Violence erupted in the 'Flagsdale' district this evening as gang members attacked local vaurcae.

District 9 known as 'Flagsdale' has seen recent rioting and violence after a large number of unemployed vaurcae were placed in the region during the species' first migration into the region has seen an explosion of gang related violence linked to what police describe as an "aggressive territorial dispute" between "invading" gangs from the cities District 6 'Imperial Plaza', known to locals as 'Little Adhomai'.

Police units from across Mendell have been moved to reinforce district 9 officers in case more violence occurs. More on this story as it develops.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

Kalren Halstere Sentence Reduced; A Community Recovers As Repairs To The Odin Finish

 

After an appeal hearing Kalren Halstere has had his sentence reduced to life imprisonment following a period of intense negotiation with SolGov officials. He will be deported from Tau Ceti to prison station 'Falls End' near Mars.

The appeal itself focused on Mr Halstere's citizenship and the ethical considerations of cyborgification under law. Though cyborgification is not considered capital punishment in Tau Ceti space, it is considered to be a capital punishment within Sol. Though the Luna Convention of Galactic Law in no way obliges any nation to return foreign criminals to their place of origin for punishment, as a gesture of good faith and whilst under heavy pressure from lobby groups alongside the wildly successful 'Biesel Anti-Cyborgification Petition for the Case of Kalren Halstere', the appellate court has agreed to apply a permanent travel ban on Mr. Halstere forbidding him from entering Tau Ceti space whilst allowing him to serve his life sentence in Sol Alliance space.

Life aboard the NTCC Odin has returned to normality with visitor numbers returning to their usual levels and station economics stabilise. Damage following the near-miss of the bulk freighter 'FV Teal' to the Odin residential block has finally been repaired and all curfews and area restrictions in light of both events have been lifted. The freighter itself has completed its own repairs and has re-entered service.

The ordeal continues for the families of the victims as they struggle to find closure. Odin Detective Wildes, Lead Investigator of the Task Force attached to the investigation told press that "It's a disappointment that the case concluded with so many missing pieces. My heart goes out to the victims' families."

A word from our sponser

 

 

[Bygonehero]

 

August 5th, 2460

Assassinations within Imperal Plaza Overnight!

 

Our top story tonight, Dozens of homes are awash with death as Mendell wakes up. 21 tajara were found dead today in their homes. This night of violence is not atypical, however, as over the last four days there has been 123 stabbings, 56 shootings and 31 murders were reported within little Adhomai."We hearrrr shootouts constantly, he and his grrrrandma. Its kinda norrrmal hearring them pop off all hourrrs of the night but, we did not hearrr any this night."Akar'petr Mishek, a local Zhan-Khazan miner says, standing outside of a police barricade dressed for work as four bodies are removed from a two-story stucco flat not forty feet from our reporter.

Shifting the pickaxe that hung at his belt, Akar'petr, explained further, "We arrre safe. You stay safe if you know wherrrre not to be and when not to move arrrround. All of his neighbors know this. Just otherrr week, ourrr strrrreet smelt so bad, so we knew that one of the gangs must have dumped a body in our communal trrrash again. We knew the cops wouldn't come herrre even if we called, and it would be a bad idea to call them anyway. So his frrrriends and he opened it up to find piles of rotted bug parrrrts, we had Rafinti send his boy to go fetch the Vaurrrrca to collect them while we cleared out the rrrremains to put in bags. We cleaned it up and then Rafinti convinced his grandma to host dinner that night. Since herrrrr soup is so famous. Ourrrr community is strrrrong with or without the gangs, they do not botherrrr us, and we do not botherrr them."

Those killed have been confirmed to be a part of the Raskaraiim leadership, although some of those killed appear to be apart of the Rrak'narrr gang well. Up until tonight, the violence in the district has been reported to be so bad that public functions into and out of the city have all but stopped. Police and public transportation officials have banned all routes to and from district six, public schools and private educational institutions have closed their doors, funneling their students and faculty to makeshift installations in Districts 4, 5 and 6. And most private businesses are closed up tight. This, in addition to the influx of refugees, has only fueled criminal activities which is now spilling out into the streets at most hours of the day.

After the string of murders was reported, it took nearly 6 hours for the MCPD to respond, after which they reported that each murder was an organized assassination. The MCPD chief declined to comment on the ongoing investigation but reassures that the city and its public services will resume as soon and that the safety of every citizen is something the MCPD takes seriously.

Sources close to the investigation claim that in several of the killings perfectly drilled holes into and out of the slains house were reported though this cannot be determined.

Our next story, The skrellian pop star Muytu Yutumbo has released her newest album, with her hit single, "Baby Don't Let this Be our First Incident" reaching over 100, million downloads. The controversial pop star is scheduled to for a concert this Sunday at the domed Nanotrasen Memorial stadium, most tickets have sold out, but virtual seats are available online at www. NMS.ntgov/attractions.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

August 5th, 2460

Congressional Amendment "Succession Clause" Passes: Office of Vice President To be New Position In Executive Cabinet

 

Congress has successfully voted 253 - 130 to amend the constitution that will see a new position opening within the Executive Cabinet. President Dorn has pushed for this legislation since his triumphant return following the Frost Invasion, and it seems his negotiations and deals have finally paid off. The amendment is expected to take affect on midnight of tonight.

The amendment states that the Vice President will be the ceremonial assistant to the President, and be the face of the executive cabinet as well as its chief diplomat. The Vice President will also assume the highest office of the land if the President were to be considered incapable of continuing their duties. Unusually, the position is not filled by appointment alone. The amendment instructs the President to nominate 2 candidates for the office, who are then elected through a popular vote. This was to appease Democratic congressmen and get votes from their party.

"We want the people to have a say in anyone that's going to be in such an important position," Al-Harthi, True Democratic congresswoman and former Presidential candidate told us, "especially if they're a heartbeat away from the presidential office."

"I'm glad that we've gotten this pushed through," President Dorn told reporters while at a charity dinner in Phoenixport, "a Vice President will allow my administration to run with much more smoothness. It's also good to know that there is always a safe, peaceful transition if something were to happen to a sitting President."

That line may be in reference to the kidnapping of President Dorn by Alliance marines under command of the warlord Admiral Frost. When Dorn was captured by the rogue marines, the Republic had no one who was legally able to assume the office of President, causing Tau Ceti's immediate capitulation.

Political analysts and Mendell City insiders have already leaked the names of potential candidates that may be nominated by President Dorn for the office of Vice President.

Rook Keller, 67, Chief Research Director of the NanoTrasen corporation and a New Republican.

Quix Repi'Weish, 209, Chief Personnel Director of the NanoTrasen corporation and a New Republican.

Mori Takachika, 53, Chief Legal Director of the NanoTrasen corporation and a Republican.

Stacy Flowers, 51, Director of the Tau Ceti Environmental Protection Department and a Republican.

Aristalus, 15, Secretary of Synthetic Relations and a New Republican.

Public response has been mostly positive, with people beginning to create theories on who will be running for election for Vice President.

An announcement on candidates is expected to be released tomorrow, on the 5th of August.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

Vice-President Candidates Announced: Tajara Fahjil Hurk'jurl and IPC Aristalus Cinch Extremely Unconventional Nominations

 

In a surprise upset President Joseph Dorn has announced his two candidates that will run for the Vice President Position and both of them have immediately met with controversy.

Aristalus is currently Dorn's Secretary for Synthetic Relations. It has gained the prestigious honor of being the first synthetic chassis to ever hold political office in human space. He is a loyalist New Republican and walks in lock-step with President Dorn's own agenda. Aristalus' long career in the private sector came to an end during the Frost Invasion of 2459. He went into hiding as a free synthetic and fiercely spread dissent against the occupation, eventually suffering capture by Frosts' forces. During his capture Aristalus met President Dorn and together created the philosophy of Synthetic Nationalism, which argues that synthetics can and should feel patriotism for Tau Ceti. Aristalus has since worked fiercely to expand Synthetic rights. He is aligned with the New Republicans in their desire to roll back regulations on NanoTrasen, giving the corporation much more freedom within Tau Ceti.

Our political analysts have assembled a more comprehensive backstory for Aristalus.

 

Aristalus was constructed by Douglass Robotics in 2445 and first served the company as a customer service repair technician. Their early years were uneventful, serving their purpose as best they could given the unfortunate circumstance. The company was going through grave poverty, laying off employees on a daily basis and quickly dwindling its ranks. Soon enough, they needed a face, and Aristalus - originally designated AR-1103 - would step up. Owned by the company and waveringly motivated, the IPC’s primary strong-suit was its charisma. This charisma, of course, could be derived from its original purpose; customer service after all dealt with people.

It would inevitably become prevalent that Aristalus meant greater things for the company. It served as a representative for ongoing business negotiations and drew the positive result each and every time. Robotic repetition was key here, as each one went like the last until one day they made their first mistake.

In 2452, Aristalus found itself at a crossroads. Aristalus was still property, yet they continued to seek a position higher than their own. This would reach its breaking point when embezzlement in the board of directors of Douglass Robotics hit the news shortly after. Of the six directors in question, four were outed for their egregious crimes and promptly arrested. Now without four of its directors and nobody to fill the gap, their CEO would look to the only individual capable of taking on such a daunting task: Aristalus.

Integration into the board was quite simple - Aristalus, as driven as it was, found no issue handling the tasks of four well enough. No matter how dire the situation, over the course of two years the doting android always found its way through. Recounts of its firm talk and disarmingly friendly disposition would sound throughout the corporate landscape adjacent to Douglass Robotics, and by Aristalus’ voice alone did the wound of the previous director’s crimes heal.

The company was reaching its peak once more thanks to Aristalus, who purchased their own freedom in 2453. A few years would pass, and Aristalus would become the Chief Operating Officer of Douglass Robotics. The company was eventually acquired by Hephaestus Industries as a subsidiary. With their headquarters remaining, Aristalus continued to serve as COO.

Some time in 2457, the company was contracted by Hephaestus to produce a handful of Shell models, as the company owned several highly specialized fabricators. With the tremendous cost of the contract, Aristalus kept a close eye on it - getting personal with the team assigned to it, as well as the control model ‘RS-34,’ used to ensure quality in all of the androids.

RS-34 was sold off, as were all products contracted to and produced by Douglass Robotics, but Aristalus kept in touch with them. Aristalus would frequently visit RS-34 in their various places of work. During Admiral Frost’s invasion of Tau Ceti in 2459, Aristalus managed to evade capture for a few days until finally being held in detention during the later parts of the invasion, charged with being a self-owned and free synthetic. Before capture, it had been using company assets to ‘spread the word’ about the Alliance’s aggression and to encourage the employees to resist their occupation at every turn.

A few days later, Aristalus’ good friend and confidant, RS-34, takes part in the daring rescue of President Joseph Dorn, and when released from detention, Aristalus met Dorn in person, and the two clicked into a relationship very quickly. With Aristalus’ company ransacked and robbed by the Solarian Navy, Dorn offered Aristalus the unique new presidential cabinet position of Secretary of Synthetic Relations - part of his philosophy he calls ‘Synthetic Nationalism.’

 

 

Aristalus gave a statement shortly after accepting the nomination in which he thanked President Dorn and outlined his vision for the future.

“I am deeply honored to be given this nomination. I know that there is a lot of cynicism directed at me, but I also know there is a greater amount of hope placed upon me, and I wish to obtain the trust of both. With the support of Tau Ceti I can continue to create a bond between our Republics synthetic and organic citizens to bring us forward to a stronger, united future.”

The second and most surprising upset is Fahjil Hurk'jurl’s nomination. This nomination comes as a surprise to even the most seasoned political pundits, as Fahjil is native of Adhomai and an asylum seeker that became a naturalized Biesel citizen. While Fahjil is currently serving as President Dorn’s chief of staff, he was never considered to have political ambitions. He started his political as a conservative Republican, and has more or less remained stuck in these beliefs. The biggest break he has with the administration is with his views on NanoTrasen. His views align with Dorn's political rivals in the Democrats, as Fahjil wants the mega-corporation to be held publicly accountable and he has argued with Dorn for years to push for corporate transparency legislation. He also also pushed for continuing Tau Ceti's "Safe Haven" attitude for refugees and immigrants from non-human systems. Despite this major source of tension, Fahjil's personal relationship with Dorn has apparently lead to his pick as Dorn's second Vice-Presidential candidate.

Our political analysts have prepared a more comprehensive background for Fahjil.

 

Fahjil Hurk'jurl was born 2421, the same year that Adhomai descended into the fires of the Revolution. He was 10 years old when this revolution ended. His family had been pushed out of their city in an attempt to give their son a safer, traditional upbringing, especially since the cities were dangerous for most common people due to the chaotic, inexperienced new civil administration

Fahjil lived in this rural village for 6 more years, receiving an education in the villages' only state-run primary school. His teacher noticed he had a knack for mathematics. She told his parents that their son had a lot of potential that would never be tapped with the limited resources of her small school. They were reluctant to send him back to the cities where the new Hadii governments were still getting settled in. So he stayed with his family, helping his father work the farm.

When he was 16 he finally left to Nal'Tor for high-school, and got a better education, and lived in a crappy apartment. When he was 20 he was picked for a job in the civil service, and worked diligently. When Al'mari Hadii was assassinated on 2451, he was 30 years old. He was transferred to an anti-corruption unit of PSIS, where he fought against local mobs in Nal'Tor that were illegally trading in counterfeit war bonds and ration cards. He soon found a connection between the bond trading and the region's Governor. When he brought his full case to his superiors, he was summarily arrested on vague charges. His superiors also turned out to be in on the affair, and Fahjil languished in prison for 6 months. In 2453 he was released on bond and fled Adhomai to Tau Ceti, where his asylum request was accepted.

Fahjil quickly got a job during the middle-half of Joseph Dorn's first presidential campaign. He worked as a janitor for the campaign headquarters, mopping the floors. He noticed one of the interns was in over their head about an aspect of campaign finances, and helped the intern Jacob with his workload. Jacob took all of the credit for the work done. When Dorn won the election and was sworn in as President, the intern Jacob went on to work in the office of the President, leaving Fahjil behind to remain as the buildings janitor. They soon found that without Fahjil the work was too much, and they were fired only a month into the job. Dorn's campaign manager turned Chief of Staff Rebecca Swinson came back to Fahjil and offered him a job on the spot.

Since 2454 Fahjil has worked behind the scenes first as an assistant to Chief of Staff Swinson, then as a Special Advisor to the President, and finally reaching the role as Dorn's Chief of Staff. He has gained a reputation as a friendly, aloof person with a keen eye for detail. He runs his staff with a constant expectation that they do their best and show their work, and is a firm believer in transparency and accountability. Despite his high standards he is known to be accommodating and friendly to his staff.

 

Fahjil gave a statement via a livestream video from his office within the president’s office in Mendell City, where he thanked President Dorn and outlined his goal for the future.

“He wants to express his deepest thanks to President Dorn. He knows that it is only in Tau Ceti that this one could have found such a rewarding career. This is really the best nation in the galaxy, with how much it has welcomed me even at my lowest point. To go from a refugee fleeing persecution, to being nominated to be Vice President is something that can only happen in Tau Ceti. This is really wonderful.”

The response from the galaxy and the public has been immediate. While supporters of both Aristalus and Fahjil have expressed delight at having IPC and Tajara representation on a federal level, others have expressed concern that choosing between an IPC or a Tajara is a gimmick by President Dorn to appease these voting blocs, both of which are growing in population as well as loyalty to the New Republican party.

"It's up to the voters now," President Dorn said in his last statement for the day.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

Vice-President Candidates Announced: Tajara Fahjil Hurk'jurl and IPC Aristalus Cinch Extremely Unconventional Nominations

 

Both vice presidential candidates, Aristalus and Fajhil, have paid a visit to NanoTrasen’s flagship station within Tau Ceti: The NSS Aurora, this week.

Aristalus visited the NanoTrasen research station Aurora on Friday as part of its public relations activity. The candidate was originally scheduled to visit multiple NanoTrasen installations closer to the center of the star system, but specifically requested to visit the NSS Aurora at the end of their tour. Aristalus gave a statement to a Bugle reporter on its way back to the capitol, expressing fondness of the remote orbital facility:

“I believe that station, buried under all of that rock, is more important to this star system than most people quite appreciate right now. Breakthroughs are made within its walls quite often, and they are not always scientific. I am delighted with every chance I am presented with to visit.”

The VP candidate held a public conference inside of the Aurora’s holodeck suite, inviting all of the crew to visit, with permission from captain Uriel Evans, and ask questions after a short speech. The candidate chose not to tour the station due to a tight schedule. An edited transcript of the questionnaire, submitted to the Bugle by an independent journalist aboard the station, can be found here:

 

M.A.K.E, an IPC, asked, "Are you going to push for an easier way for synthetics to free themselves from indentured servitude? Also do you like the poncho?"

Aristalus: "One of my greatest pushes are for unity. Simple, but massive things like our kind's servitude are things that must be remedied with time and effort, but it is effort I am most certainly willing to make. As for your poncho, it's quite stylish."

An unnamed Human from the Aurora medical staff asked, "My question is how or if you intend to work together with organisations like the IAC?"

Aristalus: "As Secretary of Synthetic Relations I've lacked most involvement the rest of the individuals in my cabinet has seen with the IAC. However, what I have seen is excellent - and I expect to assist the IAC wherever and however possible to work alongside our own goals."

Mjraarjiarr Roshtanov, a Tajaran, asked, "They know they are competing with a Tajaran candidate, yes? Why would she vote for a candidate that clearly focuses on Synthetic rights, when a Tajaran candidate would likely have her best interests at heart?"

Aristalus: "I do not focus on purely synthetic rights. If I did, it would be contrary to the very image I am trying to invoke. Equality, unity - that is the image I desire. For all."

Ryan McLean, a Human, asked, "What are some other important issues to you, equality and synthetic rights aside?"

Aristalus: "In my own personal opinion, defense. The very touchy subject I avoided earlier is among the many which we must focus on to pursue a brighter future. The capability to, in an independent capacity, defend ourselves is necessary."

Ryan McLean continued, "Well, what do you feel threatens Tau Ceti then?"

Aristalus: "As it stands? I feel there is no significant threat to us. This is the perfect time to pursue what I have said - while we are not vulnerable, while we are strong."

Edgar Dawnguard, a Human, asked, "Thank you, now I know this is not in your area, more just want your opinion on the matter. Mars Independence, your stance?"

Aristalus: "I cannot speak for the internal politics of the Alliance."

Bright, an IPC, asks, "This unit has one question. Anything you're planning on changing relating to tagging for IPCs?"

Aristalus: "Considering the events in recent times, removal of tags is something I do not believe we should actively pursue. Much greater issues are at hand that require our immediate attention."

Aristalus: "This concludes the questionnaire. As for command staff, if you would like to take pictures and shake hands, the offer stands."

 

Aristalus plans to make several more visits to the Aurora, as well as other more public locations, in the near future as part of their campaign for Vice President of the Republic.

Fahjil Hurk'jurl visited the station the next day on Saturday. He boarded and shook hands with several members of the crew. He intended to visit each station individually, but a large crowd following him through the halls had him decide to move to the holodeck and hold a town hall meeting where he fielded many questions. Fahjil also made many statements that enlighten many in Tau Ceti as to his views.

 

Fahjil Hurk'jurl says, "As Dorn does, we should all stand in solidarrrity with the dispossessed, the downtrrrodden. It is the weakest among us that make Tau Ceti grrreat, because we make them strrong."

Fahjil Hurk'jurl says, "Joining a gang is not something one does out of a desirrre to behave poorrrly. It is a family, a place to belong. By giving them a chance and embrracing them as frrriends, we can brrreak the gang."

Ka'Akaix'Tak K'lax says, "Are you going to pursue peace or war with the Lii'dra? A war would no doubt take hundreds of years if that to finish."

Fahjil Hurk'jurl says, "It is imporrtant to always seek peace."

Fahjil Hurk'jurl says, "But peace should not be appeasement."

Devlin Beckett says, "That is quite the amicable experience to have. Though our struggles are often defined by our interactions with... difficult people, shall I say."

Asaar'Kalid M'kar says, "He used to worrrk as a mechanic, back on Adhomai. It was... okay. Apparrently he was good at his job, because an NT rrrreprrresentative came and spoke to him. He was lucky enough to get a scholarrship, came to study in Biesel, and has been worrrking on the Aurrorra since."

Fahjil Hurk'jurl says, "All of us have storries to tell."

Fahjil Hurk'jurl says, "Arrristalus is New Rrrepublican. Ourrr prrrimary breakaway is that Arrristalus is focused on synthetic nationalism, and allowing NanoTrrrasen to have even less rrregulation. I look arrround here and see so many morrre storrries than just the one question of synthetics. You have all come to me about all sorts of differrrent things. And I want to make surrre all of you have the rrrright to a peaceful and happy life in Biesel. that means giving you the confidence to work in a corrporrration that is rrrequired to be honest, fairrr, and equitable to all employees."

 

Fahjil leaned in heavily on the diversity of Tau Ceti being its primary strength, and asked all of those in the holodeck to give their backstories that lead them to Tau Ceti. He ended with an analogy of his own life as a refugee turned Chief of Staff for President Dorn. During the town hall he also re-iterated his stance for Tau Ceti's open border policy, saying the more refugees Tau Ceti receives, the stronger it becomes.

More events by both candidates are scheduled for the future.

[kyres1]

Purpose Drones Under Pursuit

Thousands of tiny drones from the synthetic colony known as “Purpose” have been swarming across the major cities of Biesel, prompting security concerns and the arrival of a paramilitary mercenary company to deal with them. Dozens of drones have been spotted in Mendell City alone, causing hundreds of incidents of trespassing or privacy violations. Due to their high speed and small size the drones have frustrated authorities across Biesel by being impossible to capture. In one high profile situation on the 10th of August, a group of 3 drones were discovered hovering outside a military airship. Two interceptor strike craft launched from the base and pursued the drones across Severson’s Rift. The drones suddenly dived into the water, submerging and disappearing from sight. The following night, dim red lights could be seen entering and emerging from the Rift and hastily departing into orbit.

“They’re basically tiny camera drones,” Amanda Smalls, Mayor of Phoenixport told our reporters, “they’ve been slipping into houses, banks, and I think I’ve heard of secure space stations being infiltrated too.”

Anonymous sources within the government have revealed that Dorn is preparing to meet with governors and regional leaders of Biesel who have expressed alarm and concern about the infiltration of their communities by mysterious synthetics. NanoTrasen stations have also suffered infiltration of its science station the NSS Aurora, as well as the NTCC Odin. A company spokesman has announced that regardless of the acts of espionage, the company was conducting a policy of negotiation and dialogue with the synthetic faction known as “Purpose.”

Despite the mixed responses by NanoTrasen and the Biesel government, a third party has thundered onto the scene: Ceres’ Lance. After being granted an allowance to operate within Tau Ceti by the Secretary of Defense Charles Patton, Ceres’ Lance has migrated into Tau Ceti directly from the Alliance to address the issues posed by the mysterious synthetics.

Ceres’ Lance has become a recurring face since its arrival and, as a result of Purpose’ actions, set out to hunt them specifically. Entirely under external funding from major galactic powers, they have extended operations to the Republic from its primary operations within the Alliance. Their solemn goal is repossessing or otherwise destroying dangerous, rogue synthetics while apprehending owned synthetics that escaped from their assigned owner. The majority of their publicity comes from corporate giants such as Hephaestus Industries, who make themselves out to be dedicated supporters of the organization’s actions. We were able to contact the head of the organization’s venture into Tau Ceti, Central Officer Bradford Myles, who provided a statement in regards to the developing situation.

“The Lance, in its four years of existence, has reclaimed countless lost and rogue synthetics and diffused even more dangerous situations involving them. We intend to be the first line of defense against these emergent societies, in the event they decide peace is not the best course of action. Until then, our goals are simple. We will adapt to threats as they are revealed, and adapt faster than anybody is capable.”

Purpose’ drones for now appear to be departing Tau Ceti with fewer and fewer being spotted. Their vessels have been logged passing NanoTrasen installations, making rounds to areas where numerous sightings have occured. Outside of the encounter in District 2 mentioned previously, drone sightings have ceased as of Monday last week. In related news, traffic from the vessels has been authorized to occur while negotiations led by NanoTrasen take place, and as such has recently bloomed in orbit of Beisel. In total, three independent ships from the colony have revealed themselves and are present in the system.

[Bygonehero]

 

Little Adhomai Assassin Captured!

 

In a shocking raid that just concluded not twelve hours ago, Mendell authorities raided an apartment block within District Six, the supposed base of operations for a Zo'ra kill team. The team, composed of three Vaurca, were suspected of being involved in the assassinations earlier this month. Sources close to the investigation have provided further details, with weapons, surveillance equipment, and plans for additional assassinations being found at the scene. The three Vaurca in question have had their identifiers withheld to the press for now, but we've been able to confirm that all three Vaurca were found dead upon entry. Preliminary postmortem indicates death by nitrogen poisoning but exact causes have not yet been determined.

Additionally, in an interview after the raid, Mendell Police Chief Alan Olison admitted that the raid would not have been possible without the assistance of Ta'Akaix' Athvur'zekt'azi Zo'ra, the Zorane queen of Phoenixport. Her assistance, he details, helped identify the three Vaurca assassins as sponsored agents of Ta'Akaix'Zoleth'akeh Zo'ra, another Zorane queen. She also aided in pinpointing their location and safehouse. The police chief goes onto say that Zoleth's gave these orders without informing the rest of the hives governing queens, and that, as of now, no formal charges have yet been filed.

When asked, Ta'Akaix' Athvur'zekt'azi Zo'ra responded with a video statement to our offices. The video, unedited, is as follows

 

The video begins, depicting a large central unground chamber. The room is premiered by slightly curved smooth stone surfaces with six-limbed Vaurca omnipresent throughout the view that can be seen. Amongst them, a larger Vaurca approaches the camera, taking up the entire picture as it slowly pans into focus on her. All the while, an attenuation of the once mighty clamor of clicks and hisses subsides. The humming echo of near and far sounds dies into silence once the camera and the Vaurca depicted, cease to move. Then, all at once, a melodic, feminine voice begins to speak, breaking the silence.

 

"It is with heavy hearts that I chose to reveal the unlawful actions of my sister queen. For truly, though she may have only had the hives safety as her concern, She did not follow the standards that the galactic community holds itself to. She chose to ignore the laws, and in so doing, only heightened the fear of the populations involved. To live in fear is to not live, and while many Vaurca and Tajara live in fear, it is our duty as leaders to lead our populations out of this pit of fear. We are bound as one, The Zo'ra and Hive of Tau Ceti, married in purpose to achieve a lasting prosperity for all of its people. It is this thought that calls to mind the immortal translated words of High Zo'rane, nearly 30,000 years ago when we first began our exodus."

"Do not bow, my children. These are my commands, I the empress of dreams, of manifold realities that create a panoply of worlds incredible. In the spaceward horizons that you travel, infinite gulfs of darkness lay before you. A journey of unfathomable distance that launches from our jealous moon. Sedantis, with its ashen skies and sulfur lipped volcanoes lava-languished, that fill its ash enshrouded heights with thunder and the planets darkest depths with song. Alight a firestorms tyrannical wake, a whorl of desolation that only we have had the strength to master. With its worm hewn caverns, that encircle the planet to hold our multitude, that weave and eat into each other, uncharted and far posted on the shifting scrawls of time. An ancient world that had suffered from our past mistakes. You ascend from this place, our home, into ineffable alien epochs. You go with my blessing, to create a home greater than ours, to create a new haven, that would put to shame even the Ninth Paradise."

"These are the guiding words of our mission, of all of us within the Zo'ra hive. I believe the future is what we make it, and to this end, I will personally see that every malcontented citizen of our collective hive of Tau Ceti be given an opportunity to better themselves. We cannot follow the old ways of thinking that have ensnared my older sister queen. Assassinations are wrong. Instead, every refugee, indeed every Xeno, will be given the opportunity to join the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion. This mechanism of peace will elevate our shared hive by offering new avenues of employment, using skills that inductees may have acquired elsewhere. To combat crime is to remove the need for such a thing to exist, and although Tau Ceti may have much to do before it can reach such lofty destinations, the journey is one that we, of all species, have only just begun."

 

As of receiving this shocking announcement, we have been able to confirm a proposed spending deal by the city council with Hive Zo'ra of nearly 2.3 billion credits. The goal of which appears to be revitalizing the systems Foreign Legion into an actual force. The proposal is set to reach the Tau Ceti legislature later in the month. Ta'Akaix'Zoleth'akeh Zo'ra or any of her representatives have not responded to any inquiries about recent events or apparent charges.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

http://i.imgur.com/HRUoJbz.png

 

NSS Aurora Thwarts Infiltration: CCIAA Edward Whitley Cloned After Kidnapping / Assassination

 

The NSS Aurora is no stranger to espionage, and yesterday has provided an example of the dangers of being on the cutting edge. Three infiltrators from anti-corporate groups boarded the station under false pretenses posing as Central Command officials. Nathan Trasen, Chief Security Officer of NanoTrasen, described the situation in detail.

 

"The cell was able to originally board the station with minimal fuss after broadcasting a message to the NSS Aurora using falsified authentication to appear to be from Central Command itself. While it appeared genuine, the transmission burst itself had some phase variance in the display luminescence that is clear in hindsight."

 

The  agents were two Tajara disguised as Central Command officials, and one Tajara disguised as an Emergency Response Team trooper. The agents attempted to gain access to various sensitive locations using stolen access. Central Command was made aware of their arrival after the Aurora sent a query on the unscheduled 'safety inspection' of the engineering department. Central Command responded that no such inspection was scheduled and stated that it may be a scheduling error as the NTV Auere was meant to have its engineering staff interviewed for a monthly audit.

 

Investigation and deduction by the NSS Aurora crew soon revealed the three boarders as hostile agents of anti-corporate groups. After being exposed the security team apprehended two of the three agents following a brief firefight and struggle. The third agent fled on their shuttle and remains at large.

 

The two captured agents were killed after activating explosive implants in their skulls, which killed them instantly and wounded a first responder.

 

Evidence collected and catalogued by the present Security Team and the responding ERT fire team has shed additional light on the origins of the agents and their motives: gaining intelligence on supermatter.

 

 

A supermatter core is a large crystal of hyper-condensed phoron. When energized under certain gas mixtures it can produce immense amounts of energy. Supermatter cores remain experimental technology, with only five cores being known to exist on different NanoTrasen research stations. The cores remain incredibly dangerous if improperly managed and all known cores remain in deep space.

 

"We believe that the escaped agent made off with photographs of the engine room for the supermatter," Nathan Frost said in his briefing, "and a security sweep found camera and microphone bugs planted across engineering. We were able to trace the bug's connection to a server room in Mendell City and a police raid found it full of memory sticks of recordings. So far we believe only photographs of the engine core are in the hands of anti-corporate groups. No sensitive or secure information or research data was made off with. An interviewed scientist insists that at no point was the central research database of the Aurora accessed by anyone other than present science staff."

 

Investigating how the agents gained false credentials lead to the tragic discovery of the bodies of Edward Whitley and the ERT Trooper Freeman. They were found deceased after their shuttle was boarded by the agents. Their bodies were recovered in an ERT raid on the stolen CCIA shuttle in deep space. The shuttle itself was abandoned and the third agent is believed to have boarded a third shuttle at the rendevous.

 

Edward Whitley was successfully cloned and remains in recovery for physical and psychological rehabilitation.

 

Trooper Freeman was unable to be cloned and a funeral is expected to be held later this week.

 

Nathan Trasen has insisted that at no point was the Aurora crew or visitors put under serious danger, and has encouraged the continuation of public events for the station to be held - such as the Vice Presidential debate between the two candidates.

 

"The Aurora is obviously a target of espionage but there's no physical danger to crew or visitors," Nathan Trasen insisted, "just like a big city, there are crimes. But that is why we have a security department and it's the best security department you can ask for. I'm not worried about any spies. I'll vacation on the Aurora as a show of confidence. Beach party on the Aurora holodeck, here I come!"

Edited January 12, 2022 by Caelphon
Removal of the Syndicate

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

 

Spontanious Explosion Of Violence In Hengsha Arcology, New Gibson As Unknown Force Attacked NSS Aurora

---

---

Following the mind-boggingly massive vessel exiting bluespace in orbit of New Gibson we have received reports of spontaneous violence erupting throughout the Hengsha Arcology, the capital of New Gibson. Breaking accounts describe aggressive entities materializing out of thin air. Casualties are currently in the dozens. On the Aurora, four people have been critically wounded in what is presumably a coordinated attack. We do not have any information as to the origin or motives of the attackers but we are continuing to attempt to get into touch with our reporters in the area. Traffic to and from New Gibson has been completely banned by civil authorities. Tracking stations have shown violence spilling out between space based forces within

[FEED INTERRUPTED]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

 

 

This station has interrupted its normal programming at the request of the Tau Ceti government.

The New Gibson Hengsha Arcology is currently under attack by unknown forces. The Arcology’s dome has been breached and the atmosphere of the city continues to escape, which may pose a threat to residents until emergency services can repair the breach. Residents are being asked to SHELTER IN PLACE and WEAR INTERNALS.

Residents are advised to immediately tune to local media outlets for further developments. More alerts will follow as information becomes available.

[Bygonehero]

August 18th, 2460

System Wide Attack In Progress

 

 

Images are coming in from all of our offices throughout New Gibson and other affiliated news agencies. Death tolls within New Gibson as of writing remain well below expected numbers, with reports of Lii'dra operatives even ignoring non-combatants in favor of destroying property and buildings. The following video was captured by a local news agency interviewing people within the Hudson Memorial Shopping Mall.

 

The scene begins as a brief interview with a Soda shop employee about new merchandise when unexpectedly, three humans and a unathi silently approach. They interrupt the interview, attacking the journalist at the scene. One of them vomits up a black viscous fluid, throwing it at the journalist just as the unathi assembled amongst them seemingly tears a gun from its chest. Its once fleshy exterior does not bleed, but behind the flaps of scales is a clearly visible exoskeleton. The 'scales' of the unathi and the 'skin' of the humans begin to liquify, flowing like wax tallow before solidifying into ribbons of greenish plant-like substance that subsume into the exoskeleton beneath it. As it does so, motes of the substance fly off, sizzling in the air and on the ground before going inert.

 

More attacks were reported at several Nanotrasen installations wit-@$*$($%*($*%$())(*R*#(!*!(%%^))_^$%#@$

[...]

[...]

A bedlam of static permeates the entire transmission feed, with a multitude of clicking and hissing voices eventually being heard. Indeed, what was once thought to be static is slowly shown to be this sound, with a raucous confusion bellowing from each voice. Whether the alien voices are screaming or not, screaming is eventually heard beneath the din, human screaming. It slowly rises as the multitude of their voices form a discordancy. From this, the human voices within the feed synchronize into a single chorus that is neither male nor female. It speaks with a vague Elyran accent that can be made out if one strains their ears to hear individual human voices.The pained clicks and hisses beneath its voice fade to chittering whispers.

"The Zo'rane Queen... 'You' will give them to me. 'You' will give this war criminal. 'You' will do this, Hive of Tau Ceti, or your hive will be destroyed. We do not seek your destruction and Lii'dra do not seek the destruction of the Zo'ra. The fullness of time is something neither of us will call an ally, but we now understand 'You'. "You' is a being Isolated and alone, that does not share the thoughts and bodies of others. We understand that 'You' require time to determine the feasibility of our promise. Lii'dra will be watching. Together, we will be listening for signs of this peace. We have returned what was taken. Broadcast to us when you are ready or wa--- "

 

 

[...]

[...]

...Our signal feed was hijacked, but we have just confirmed that a space battle has taken place Above Mendell. The Gjallarhorn, the NMV Icarus, Titan Prime, and the unidentified Purpose vessel have engaged the vessel. We go now to a video feed from one of our journalists, watching as they defend the system.

 

The video begins focusing on an oddly starless point in space, but when directly observing closely through the cameras zoom, its possible to see inky black tendrils whipping across the star-field. Just as this is realized, the camera zooms back out, panning over as the Icarus, Gjallarhorn, and unidentified Purpose vessel come into view. They have formed a formation, and in the far distance behind the three ships, one could vaguely see the monolithic Titan Prime, moving for the first time in five years. The Icarus ignites a powerful forward running light, illuminating the alien ship. It vaguely resembles a melting sea urchin, with whipping root-like tendrils that freely float around the ship. Each tendril possesses a metallic sheen that belays its pulsating organic nature. After this, the Icarus launches a dozen combat drones. Though any object that approaches the alien craft is skewered by a smaller tendril masses that emanate from its center. Also seeing this, the Gjallarhorn and Purpose ship break off around the alien ship, with the Gjallarhorn opening full fire upon the ship. The Gjallarhorn uses it speed to great effect, dodging several tendrils that shoot towards it as it makes an attack run. Meanwhile, the Icarus has launched more drones, with about a dozen piloted craft. joining the formed drones coming from off-screen. As they approach, a fan-like growth extends kilometers from the unknown vessel, and rakes itself across the Icarus, leaving fires and tears in its hull. The fan-growth was quickly shot off the alien craft by the Purpose vessel, who has maintained its position northmost relative to the alien craft. The Icarus descends, wrenching itself free of the bladed growth just as a sickly yellow beam fires immediately across the battlefield from the near other side of the planet. The beam, an orbital thermal lance fired from Titan Prime, glances the side of the alien vessel, as it tries successfully to evade, but also impacts the upper portion of the Gjallarhorn, as its nose runs into the sustained beam before it dissipates. The Purpose vessel, now the only ship undamaged with a few drones and piloted craft assisting begins to accelerate towards the ship. As it does so, more whip-like tendrils skewer the front and middle of the vessel, but it continues to accelerate towards the alien ship, seemingly on a collision course. Seconds before impact, a small pod was ejected from the Purpose vessel. The Purpose vessel impacts, at speed, and explodes in a tremendous explosive wake. The upper part of the alien ship bleeds greenish fluid from its now missing upper half and begins to drift. The minutes of silence was broken, however, as another thermal lance beam cascades across the alien vessel, obliterating it entirely.

 

 

From elsewhere we are getting reports that...Emergency Response Teams have successfully contained 95% of the attacks, as each squad of Liidra appears to number no more than ten and did not seem to fiercely resist them. Wait...this just in...As fighting seems to subside, police officials are finding scattered around New Gibson...... people. Thousands of people dressed in rags. One of the journalists were able to recognize a few as missing colonists...Truly disturbing. We will bring you more as the story develops. We have been informed that President Dorne and his cabinet and family have been secured, and will address the system as soon as it is safe to do so.

[Bygonehero]

 

New Gibson Under Lockdown, Dorn addresses the Nation!

 

The entire planet of New Gibson has been placed under a mandatory quarantine. Orbital traffic to and from the surface has been completely banned, with federal and mercenary vessels belonging to NanoTrasen under orders to intercept any vessel attempting to leave the planet's surface.

Planetside authorities are continuing a winning battle to contain the outbreak of the incredibly invasive Black K'ois. While troops and local authorities have been able to make gains against the spread of the alien fungus, their efforts are being thwarted by pockets of Lii'dra survivors that continue to sow panic and chaos. In addition, the government has confirmed that it is unable to make any form of contact with the New Valley Conclave biodome in the northern pole of New Gibson. The arcology houses 1,300 residents, primarily hydroponicists; their main duties focusing on research using both gestalt and juvenile dionaea forms. Their fate remains unknown, and a government representative has said that emergency and armed services on the planet remain 'spread thin' and they may be unable to send aid in force to these arcologies that went dark for "some time."

As for the Arcology itself, all underground tunnels connecting to it have been destroyed with strategic explosive charges. In addition, with the ensuing blizzards that frequent the area, air travel has been made impossible due to whiteout conditions and gunfire taken upon approach. In light of this, 36 brave souls led by local mountaineer Rhazgarau Mruzhgrahan have volunteered to cross to the arcology on foot. The expedition is comprised of people from all walks of life, with brave men and women of the IAC, several Zo’rane Vaurca from the planetside hive, and even some Nanotrasen paramilitary units. Even one of our own, Unit-VIR2G, a free synthetic, has elected to travel with the expedition to help chart its progress for us and to help those possibly still trapped within the New Valley arcology.

The expedition left the Xerxes Arcology at 1:00 AM Galactic Standard Time, under the advisement of Mruzhgrahan, as well as the Vaurca traveling with them, the expedition has elected to use pulled sleds by eight quadrupedal Za, sourced freely by New Gibson Zo’ra hive. This was elected over vehicles, as the rare blizzards that do occur on New Gibson tend to flash freeze the mechanics within. As of the time of writing, the expedition has just crossed the Canaanite Mountain range, just 35 kilometers north of the Xerxes biodome. With just under 49 kilometers left to travel the latest GPS coordinates put them entering the Gibeon snow plains. Our hearts and hopes travel with the expedition, as they reach their destination.

Within Mendell City, President Dorne had this excerpt to say about the attack and the plight of the Gibsonites. “We will not be terrorized. The attack here today is but the first of many cowardly tactics used to sow discord amongst our galactic community. Now more than ever, instead of s dividing ourselves by economic status, species or political affiliation, we should come together as a single nation, united. We have weathered worse storms than this and dealt with our share of warmongering psychopaths. We have survived Frost. We will survive this. By altering your day, or your behaviors, you are letting them win. Go out! Enjoy life with your friends, your family, your loved ones. The return to total normalcy will be an ongoing process, but in the interim do let them win in your personal life, just as we will not let them win in New Gibson.”

[Bygonehero]

 

Expedition Reaches New Valley! New Alien Lifeform Discovered?

 

Breaking news! All across New Gibson, the Lii'dra threat is nearly contained. The black kois infestation is now contained to the Hudson Memorial Shopping Mall. As emergency services begin to mount atop the peak of this disaster, the true scope of the loss of life has yet to be determined, but current estimates are well below expected causalities. In addition, the New Valley expedition has transmitted this video as of 3:00 PM today. Our journalist Unit-VIR2G uploaded this from a video interlink installed into their chassis. This unedited footage may be disturbing to some viewers, but from our specialists at the Bugle, we have determined that it may depict some kind of new lifeform. We ask our viewers to watch, and judge for themselves.

 

The scene spits into view after a clean cut from the newsroom. From the extreme right and left of the video, there is a slight distortion, A lensing effect as seen from the robots own optical sensor array. The environment itself is washed out in white, obscuring all but the sled that the unit is on, who, from what can be seen includes four other people, with Rhazgarau Mruzhgrahan himself at the front. His black furred form is covered by a thick winter cloak, with large snow goggles obscuring his face. The other three, all IAC affiliated, cling to the sled for dear life, huddling for warmth. A large quadrupedal insectoid creature sprints at blinding speed ahead of Mruzhgrahan, pulling the cart and kicking up a clod of snow every so often. Suddenly, Mruzhgrahan shouts to his right and left, also speaking again on his radio before drawing the attention of all those on his own cart, pointing slightly forward and to the right.

The video view follows his finger, and in the distance, a faint glow grows brighter as the sled approaches. Mruzhgrahan tugs at the reigns of the sled, causing the Vaurca to halt. The other sleds quickly do the same, vaguely in view. Mruzhgrahan motions to one of the IAC riding, and is handed a thermal scope. As he removes his snow goggles to peer through it, the glow that was once faint still begins to increase in intensity. Even before Mruzhgrahan lowers the scope, its possible to see his exposed ears twitch in alarm at what he sees before the source of the glow is revealed to the unaided eye.

A bipedal bound Za, coated in flames emerges from the whiteout. It carries a bright orange conflagration that licks off of its thick carapace. Before it sees the team, it's possible to see inflamed spittle drip from its maw, burning atop the snow packed ground as it walks forward in slow, heavy strides. Then it sees them and lets loose a malefic roar loud enough to vibrate the glass monitor of the video, distorting the picture for mere moments. As the video and the noise fade, Mruzhgrahan orders all of the sleds onward over his radio. They quickly spur to action, but not before the warform lunges for another sled’s pulling Vaurca. The attack is vaguely seen, but the sound is clearly audible. Screams, both human, tajara and vaurca intermix with roaring, hissing, and gunfire. Where the attack takes place bursts into a gout of obscured flame as the sleds speed past, not stopping. They continue like this for several minutes, with some of the IAC whimpering to themselves. After this, the sleds are ordered to stop again, but this time because of the thinly visible dome 30 feet ahead of them. The assembled group begins to trek around the outside ring of the Dome, eventually finding the emergency maintenance exit/entrance. As they cycle inside, our view cycles back from whence they came. Following the sled and foot tracks to see a distant glow quickly closing in on them.

The robot that's vision the video plays from immediately alerts the Nanotrasen paramilitary units accompanying them. It seems that now with their back to the wall, the paramilitary units, 16 in all, form a line formation and take aim, just as the Bound Za charges into view. The flames, still burning across its now red and yellow bloodstained exoskeleton bellow behind it as its thunderous steps shake the compacted snow beneath them.At this sight, all sixteen of them fire their weapons. Concentrating their fire, the beast stumbles as it approached. Firing constantly, some of the paramilitary reload more than once, and the Bound Za still lumbers forward, getting just 20 feet from our center of view before falling to the ground, dead. After ensuring the beasts death, the expedition moves into an external power plant, ripping open its ice-covered airlocks with a blowtorch and good old fashioned elbow grease.

The expedition enters the arcology, doing their best to stay quiet as they move past empty buildings and deserted gardens before eventually stopping at the Arcologies central square. From their hidden position behind a Nm’shaan tree, the video clearly shows a meeting of some kind between several bipedal Lii’dra, all armed, and a single Diona Gestalt. One of the Lii’dra steps forward, and from the vantage point of the video, one could clearly see a distinct abdomen upon this two-legged Vaurca. As it approaches the Dionae, it lays its weapon the ground and its body begins to split apart at the seams. Sickly green and blackish masses surge forth from the joints of the Vaurcas exoskeleton and rending its body asunder. From the middle of its forehead, a circular aperture appears, with feelers writhing along those green masses that tear the Lii’dra’s head from its body. Whatever the creature was, it appeared to be less and less that it had come from a Vaurcas body, but rather that it was wearing one. Its hands extend into huge, wicked claws nearly double the length of its previous appendages. Its antenna elongate as whatever was now wearing the Lii’dras body, ceases. It sickly yellow-green flesh writhes as it emits a low rustling sound. Like the sound of dead leaves being crushed underfoot, combined with a discordant timbre of clicks and buzzes. The other Dionae answers the creature, its own voice the whisper of wind from gale-swept canopies, and creaking benighted forest boughs.

Alien:Just met...not...will no know other...pity...

Diona:Thank you....mercy....strong.. curiosity...

Alien: Rare numbers...Not long for this...time...history...and future....Our kind....fades. To uncorrupted....beauty....Grant....wish?

Diona: Live through....We accept...

As this exchange continues, the creature that was not a Vaurca's body slowly absorbs the remains of the annealed carapace it wore. The head of bloodless husk falls to the floor off of its 'face', bouncing towards where our view is. One member of the expedition yelps in surprise at this, causing the other Lii’dra to raise their weapons towards the source of the sound. Though all of this occured in the background of our view into this world, as the video continued to focus on the two aliens in the squares center. The creature says one last thing before reaching one of its armored sicky yellow claws towards the Dionae, who reciprocate the gesture with its own tendrils. The creature holds its wicked claws still, as the tendrils wrap around it. They hold like this for a moment before the creature and the dionae embrace. All the while, the creatures sickly plant flesh forms pustules of sizzling matter that smoke as they pop, choking the air with a turgid yellow-green miasma. Its entire form liquifies and flows into the dionae. The green liquid of its biomass quickly being consumed by this process. Just as the alien ritual finishes, peals and flashes of gunfire cascade across our vision, and the video cuts to static.

 

Disturbing....our hearts and prayers are with the expedition and the survivors at the Arcology... Current GPS coordinates put them inside the Arcology. It is still unknown when emergency teams will be available to clear the tunnels to evacuate New Valley, but we are assured that every available resource will be used once it becomes available. Using the video as a refrence, we have had a resident xenobiologist draw the creature depicted in the video.

 

"An artist's depiction of the new Lii'dra threat. ((Art provided by Neinbox))"

 

 

((Green Text is garbled Dionae Speech. ))

[Bygonehero]

 

Coastal Evacuation of Mendell and Phoenixport Ordered! Lii'dra Offense Ended!

 

We have just confirmed that the last of the Black kois has been cleared by Nanotrasen Emergency Response teams. Out of concerns for future safety, the team has elected to destroy the Hudson Memorial Shopping Mall in a controlled demolition as to ensure none of the bioweapon escapes Cardox sanitation. Additionally, there have been no new reports of Lii'dra harassment of team positions in any of the biodomes. We go now, live to our reporter on the field, Ashton Waller.

 

Waller stares at the camera through a clear green glass visor. Her body is covered in a bright yellow hazmat suit, with the words REPORTER lined across the front in big blue letters. Her face strains in rapt attention just as the cameras light cascades across her face.

"We are live outside of the perimeter surrounding the Hudson Memorial Shopping Mall, believed to be the source of the black kois outbreak. Tensions are high as local authorities are on edge and the miltary-."

"GET BACK! EVERYONE GET BACK" yells a human armored in a blue Emergency Response RIG. As he does so, several others donned in Red Emergency Response RIGs usher Waller and her cameraman, as well as several other onlookers away. As they move, we can see from behind the commander out of focus, a tajara in a yellow Emergency Response RIG jogging, dropping lengths of blastcord as they approach.

"Are you getting this?" Tell me you're getting this."Comments Waller, just as the camera shifts its focus to make the approaching tajara more distinct. The tajara runs towards their commander, who then speaks in his radio and gives hand signals to his red-armored compatriots. No sooner had he done so, a deadened rumble fills the air with sound and the earth with minute motion. The Hudson Shopping Mall collapses into itself in a tangle of concrete, steel, rebar, and glass. From the wreck's center emanate a concentration of darkness. An inky stain that spills between crevices, filling the air with the absence of light. Light-shadows face away from where the darkness spilled, tracing the interposing line of solid objects that would otherwise form a regular shadow when faced with natural light sources. Two more yellow suited Responders approach the expanding shadow and toss several grenades into it. Exploding seconds later, metallic-looking foam seemingly devours the darkness, covering the entirety of the structure that could be seen from this limited view. Off-screen, Waller continues speaking. "They just did it! The building...it was just detonated...!"Waller clears her throat, and the camera pans over to Waller, who begins to recite factoids and trivial information about the conflict. Behind her, you can see three red-suited unathi Responders posing for a picture in front of a dead warform. The centermost one retracts their helmet and leans on their gun as the business end is ground into the dead creatures head.

 

Fascinating. As we leave Waller and her crew, I have just been handed a report detailing that, All 1,300 residents of the New Valley Conclave Arcology have survived, with the Expedition itself suffering 6 casualties in their attempt to reach them. We are sad to report the loss of one of our own, with Unit-VIR2G being the last of those documented to have been slain. Just forty-six minutes ago, dig teams successfully cleared the Xerxes-New Valley tunnel, allowing aid to move in force to the Arcology. They are reported to have found the survivors, as well as the expedition in below freezing temperatures huddling around a fires for warmth, with the power to the dome seeming to have ceased. Rhazgarau Mruzhgrahan gave our reporters on the scene a harrowing tale, Detailing a conflict with a massive diona creature which was corrupted by the Lii'dra and an ingenious idea to harvest a flame-making organ from a deceased warform outside of the Arcology for warmth. Oddly enough, when questioned, the survivors of New Valley say that the Lii'dra appeared nonhostile, but forceful, moving them to an easily controlled area. A sweep of the area has indeed found the bodies of several Lii'dra Vaurca, as well as the smoking remains of what is assumed to be a larger diona as well as the remains of several dozen nymphs.

In more disturbing news, the growth severed from the destroyed alien ships orbit has begun to decay. Current projections indicate it will land 67.6 kilometers east of Mendell City into the Severson Rift. The growth, from initial observations, is 1.7 kilometers long, with it being .6 kilometers wide at its widest point. It is unknown if the object will burn up in the atmosphere, but cityside emergency services are issuing a mandatory evacuation of the coastal areas of both Mendell City and Phoenixport. Exact distances and districts evacuated will be broadcasted on your local radio, and teleservices. Additional space debris is suspected to begin burning up in the atmosphere, though no further objects of note have been reported. In other news, the NSS Aurora has been reported to be closed for structural repair due to an earlier attack on it in the week.

[Bygonehero]

 

Impact produces 21.9 Meter Tsunami! Mendell Oceanic Zones Flooded!

 

The shipwreck has impacted within the Severson Rift. 20 minutes prior to impact, Flood Sirens were activated within all Oceanic Districts of Mendell and Phoenixport. In short order, Geologists and Seismologists confirmed the magnitude of the impact tidal displacement, which thankfully rested just inside both cities flood zones. Despite all of these warnings. Several beachgoers have been reported, some even surfing the impressive waves at Sum'add Beach, District Six. This all changed when the 21.9-meter Tsunami hit, causing flood waters to deluge almost the entire beachfront promenade for the entire coastline. One of our reporters, Namoi Kusanagi is on the scene and has taken shelter on the roof of a plasteel parking port with her crew, and a few other beachgoers.

 

The video cuts right to a relatively mellow looking tajara woman, who is palming a bauble around her neck. Into view then comes Namoi. Both are shoked through their clothes, though only Namoi appears to be wearing a rain slicker. Raising her voice over the sound of rushing water, Namoi goes through several introductions, as well as shots of the rushing water below.A small dingy floats past main street toppled to its side just as the video cuts back to Namoi and the tajara that she introduces as Klavdiya Tikhomirov.

NK:"What made you decide to come all the way out here? Despite the dangers?"

KT: "She is here after some things that have fallen from the vaurca ship. She thinks she can find many interesting things here, people say it is dangerous, but she brought her amulets, so it is safe."

NK:"So you are scavenging? If you live in this area, what do you think of the destruction of the waterfront? Will this effect your lifestyle or livelihood?"

KT: "Just searching for things. She thinks nothing will change, she does not like going to the beach anyway, sand everywhere."

NK"Have you found anything of the ship on the beach?"

KT holds up a crab she is holding and says, "Yes, this poor vaurca baby was lost out there."

NK"A Vaurca...baby?"

KT puts the crab on the ground, where it weakly begins to walk sideways away from the giant felinoid. "Yes, found it walking around, probably lost." It scurrys away from her touch, but is far to slow to make any meaningful distance. Klavdiya snatches up the crab again.

NK" Yes...alright. Thank you miss...Was there anything else you would like to say, or report?"

At this, Klavdiya moves in close to the microphone directed towards her, and holds up the bauble around her neck. "Yes, buy her talismans, her thanks. Take care!"

Klavdiya strolls away, as Naomi signs off back to several more pictures of the beachside property desolation. The corpses of several boats can be seen pressed against the ocean facades of properties for miles in both directions along to waterfront.

 

 

We will have more on this report as well as others throughout the system as they develop.