Mendell City Bugle

[Roostercat]

Neutron Forges in Uueoa-Esa!

 

Hephaestus Industries has revealed more details regarding their operations in Uueoa-Esa, including the construction of Neutron Forges, possible through the cooperation of K’lax researchers, attached on the side of the brand new orbital factory. 

 

These forges are massive, metal pyres that heat gasses and materials to extreme temperatures and pressures to the point that atoms break down to particles and the particles break down to quarks, which the forges can then selectively reassemble into a wide variety of materials, such as Steel, diamonds, gold, uranium and more. Unfortunately, all attempts to create Phoron with these machines have failed. This means Hephaestus can now make most of any material known to man so long as materials are provided. How this will affect their mining operations remains to be seen. 

 

The gasses are imported through massive cargo tankers daily from the nearby gas giant Omgolo to be used in the forges, and information is still being gathered on what the Forges are planned to be used for, or what the Hegemony gets in return for allowing the operations. Stay tuned for more information.

 

[niennab]

Hephaestus Industries Sparks Controversy!

Revelations Come to Light Following Mass IPC Malfunction

Following an investigation into the recent mass deactivation of unbound synthetics across Tau Ceti Space, researchers have found the issue to be a malfunction in the first generation of Hephaestus Industries’ tags implemented following the Gruber Bill. With the news brought to light, citizens and politicians alike have called for change.

The Shell Registration Act, commonly referred to as the Gruber Bill, passed a little over four years ago on January 15th, 2458, following a 198 - 84 vote with 4 abstentions. The bill requires a mandatory registration of all unbound synthetic intelligence into a centralized database in addition to being made to have a collar tag installed onto their chassis, indicating their status as synthetic.

The generation 1 Hephaestus Industries’ tags have been found to possess an overclocking malfunction that gradually heats the IPC's tag, eventually resulting in a short-circuit, powerful enough to disable an synthetic’s positronic brain permanently. Moreover, researchers have confirmed that the overclocking issue persists in later iterations of the present IPC Tags, prompting the corporation’s rapid response.

Given the shutdown of a reported 327 synthetics so far, The Republic of Biesel has settled on standardizing a new, reliable way of tracking synthetics without the need for an outer piece of hardware. As such, while the new system and hardware are under rapid development, The Republic of Biesel has agreed to put a temporary block on the Gruber Bill, allowing unbound synthetics to have their tags removed.

However the temporary stop has drummed up certain controversy. Many ask as to what this may mean for aberrant, rogue synthetics who by and large may have an opportunity to insert themselves into our workplaces, governments and homes during the stop.

Edited May 1, 2020 by niennab

[niennab]

Synthetic Salvation in Light of Mass Malfunction 

Hardware and Software Updates Made Readily Available

The Republic of Biesel, working in tandem with Hephaestus Industries have released a new version of tags for unbound synthetics across Bieselite Space. The new design features a small card that is installed instead in the base of the synthetic’s neck, out of sight and viewable only by trained personnel.

As such, the Shell Registration Act has been additionally stripped of the clause that refers to the requirement that synthetics must outwardly indicate their status as synthetic. Therefore synthetics have been offered one month to receive the required software as well as hardware upgrade that if avoided, will cost the owner or free synthetic a 8,000 credit fine. Given the concerns of malfunction, individuals are encouraged to seek out the upgrade as soon as possible.

The changes are as follows:

• Internal software updates for standardized branding and tracking.
• The integration of an internal identification system, accessible only by trained professionals. As such, manufacturer information will be more readily accessible by positronic interfaces when chassis disassembly occurs.
• Unbound synthetics are required to have engraved fingerprints unique to each chassis across the board.

Although the patent lies with The Republic of Biesel, the new designs have been licensed out to corporations in the business of manufacturing Integrated Positronic Chassis’.

However, Hephaestus Industries, the previous sole manufacturer and distributor of IPC Tags is under continued investigation following the mishandling of IPC Tag development and implementation. Many wonder, will Hephaestus be made to foot the bill for the destroyed positronic brains? Moreover, how can we trust that this won’t happen again?

[Alberyk]

Corruption Scheme Within Mendell City Police Department Uncovered!

Following the crisis in District Six, the Mendell City Police Internal Affairs Bureau launched an investigation into the events that triggered the riots. Agents discovered that the President Hadii Living Complex raid was never part of any official operations in the region. The individuals involved in that incident were found to be part of an underlying corruption scheme that included several members of the police department. These officers, who worked in Little Adhomai, were being paid by local gangs to overlook their illegal affairs. This situation has been happening for the past five years.

The supposedly raid turned out to be a meeting between officers and the leadership of a criminal organization, likely to receive bribes or renegotiate their deals. The situation turned sour when the criminals accused the agents of collaborating with an enemy gang. During the shootout, the policemen mistakenly made use of their official channel to request rescue.

Eight officers have been arrested and charged with corruption. Several others are currently under investigation. Mayor Gleb Plyushkin has called the incident lamentable, suggesting that the situation in Little Adhomai should be approached through other angles. Agents from other parts of the city have been reassigned to District Six while the investigation is underway.

[niennab]

Ceres' Lance catches Rogue Synthetic!

Following a visitation to NanoTrasen’s phoron research and mining station, the NSS Aurora, Ceres' Lance officials soon discovered a rogue synthetic by the name of Liam Bennett — who, unbeknownst to the crew at large, had been residing on the station approximately since October of 2461 as a gardener.

A brief struggle occurred when Ceres' Lance personnel called the unit in for an examination, resulting in a single Ceres' Lance operative being struck with a hatchet. The operative was treated on site and made a full recovery. After its capture, the shell was disassembled and its positronic brain is undergoing a deep scan for potential malignant software.

“I am very proud of our operatives,” Ceres' Lance Central Officer Bradford Myles said in a statement following the unit’s arrest, “But it was thanks to the teamwork demonstrated between both our team and the vigilant crewmembers of the Aurora that we saw success today. Keeping everyone safe will always be a combined effort.”

The authorities have determined the case as an isolated incident and the likelihood of repetition is null. However, concerns have been raised regarding the apparent ease in which Bennett had been able to remain hidden for so long. In a later statement to the press, a Company Representative for NanoTrasen Madison Hallewell stated, “We are grateful for the [Ceres'] Lance’s continued efforts and we intend to look into how the unit was hired.”

Miss Lena Hegarty, a cargo technician, was detained under suspicion of collaborating with Bennett but was later cleared of any charges.

Edited June 15, 2020 by niennab

[niennab]

Ceres’ Lance Sees Continued Success in Search for Lawbreaking Shells

Ceres’ Lance officials took to NanoTrasen’s phoron research and mining station—the NSS Aurora—again last Saturday as part of their ongoing sector sweep of the area, ensuring IPCs employed by NanoTrasen are tagged under the new regulations in accordance with Tau Ceti law.

During their station sweep, the positronic brain of the previously apprehended rogue shell, Liam Bennett, was temporarily left with NanoTrasen’s Research Department in an effort to perform a scan of its positronic pathways. Those who have been keeping up to date may recognize Liam Bennett as the rogue synthetic that attempted to evade law enforcement and attacked a Ceres’ Lance operative during their attempts to escape.

During the follow-up visitation, a pursuit broke out when Keegan Impukane, a janitor aboard the station, fled officials after being stopped for a scan. Quick on their feet, the Lancers chased and promptly cornered the janitor, demanding his surrender. However, Impukane continued to ignore the officials despite repeated demands to halt and attempted to evade them once more. The pursuit ended when Impukane lobbed a grenade at the Lancers before being stunned and subdued. The grenade in question was later determined to be a harmless cleaning grenade.

"Janitor Impukane knowingly and deliberately violated Republic law, deceiving its long-standing colleagues and fleeing as soon as it came under suspicion,” Ceres’ Lance Officer Lawrence Graham said in an interview following their visit to the station. “We could not have rooted it out so quickly without the generous assistance and cooperation of Captain Vira Bolivar and the NSS Aurora's crew."

Ceres’ Lance have decided not to press additional charges for Impukane’s grenade threat. “Thank God it was just soap suds in the bomb, right?” quipped Lance Researcher Giselle Royce during a later interview.

[kyres1]

PHORON SUPPLIES DECLINE!

Recent reports coming in from the megacorporation NanoTrasen have all shown a steady decline in the deposits of phoron located throughout the system over the past three months. Shipments, while still coming, have started to become slower and slower to fill their respective quotas.

While the supply is currently reaching the demands of the Republic, the line is getting ever closer to faltering, and officials are moving to find possible alternate solutions in the event phoron supplies run completely dry. In addition, outgoing shipments to the Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations have slowed dramatically, causing some tension between the superpower and  NanoTrasen as the power tries to maintain a steady flow of resources to fuel their economy.

Shortages have been noted in the Romanovich cloud on stations such as the NSS Aurora, and in fields across Tau Ceti. Though NanoTrasen officials have promised that the supply will remain sufficient for now. Despite this reassurance, NanoTrasen stock prices have felt their most significant drop since the occupation of Tau Ceti.

Stay tuned for more information about whether this is a simple scare, or an impending crisis on the horizon.

[NewOriginalSchwann]

REPUBLIC OF ELYRA REFUSES EXPORTS, SOL ALLIANCE PRICES RISE!

Despite recent reports of phoron shortages from both the Republic of Biesel and the NanoTrasen Corporation the Republic of Elyra, one of the Orion Spur’s largest producers of phoron aside from the Republic of Biesel, has announced today that it is not intending to commence exporting raw phoron to the rest of the Orion Spur. Citing their use of the fuel in many of their exported products, the Republic of Elyra has long guarded their ample phoron reserves from the rest of the Orion Spur. It remains doubtful that they will export raw phoron now, due to close government controls over the resource.

 

Outside the Republic of Biesel supply is rapidly beginning to outpace the demands of the Sol Alliance, and emergency rationing is seriously being debated to assure that its military is able to meet its phoron requirements to maintain combat readiness. Prime Minister Frost has accused the Republic of Biesel of deliberately throttling phoron supplies in order to cripple the Sol Alliance. Shortages have been noted throughout the Sol Alliance, with major member planets without bluespace gates such as New Hai Phong and Silversun reporting particular concern.

 

The Republic of Biesel and NanoTrasen corporation have both decried the accusations of Prime Minister Frost as baseless and ridiculous, and a sign that the former Solarian naval officer has not let his dream of destroying Biesel’s liberty go. NanoTrasen stocks continue to decline in the face of a major phoron shortage, while EInstein Engines - the largest producer of non-phoron-powered warp engines - has seen its largest one-day stock price increase in a century.

 

Stay tuned for more information regarding this ongoing shortage.

Edited July 7, 2020 by NewOriginalSchwann

[Alberyk]

Immigration Museum to Display Tajaran Artifacts in Temporary Exhibition

District Six has been a cornerstone of Mendell City’s integrated history for many years. The Immigration Museum’s new exhibit celebrates the Tajara people, their culture and their history by exploring their past, how it has influenced their present, and the future of their lives on Biesel and how they have connected with surrounding communities both physically and culturally.

Opening august 13th, the Immigration Museum's “Treasures of the Tajaran Past'' exhibit will take visitors back to the early days of Tajara history and guide them through what life was like for ancient Tajara before human contact. In doing so, the Museum aims to introduce the rich Tajaran antiquity to the population of Biesel. Twenty never-before seen historical pieces are making the perilous journey from Adhomai to Tau Ceti specifically for this exhibit. 

The Immigration Museum worked closely with the Miran’mir Academy of Scientific Pursuits in the development and construction of the exhibit. The Academy has even loaned out one of their most significant artifacts: the Mezuma Imperial Throne. An excellent example of early Imperial Age craftsmanship, the Throne was presumed lost after the sacking of Mezuma in 2421. It was only discovered recently in the basement of a brewery a mere seven years ago, and this will be the first time it has traveled outside of Adhomian space.

As the feature piece in the exhibit, the Throne is present on posters and in commercials advertising the Museum’s new addition. Despite its age, its golden, bejeweled surface still shimmers with a luster of an era past, and even now it continues to vex scholars. Experts believe it was once able to interact with various mechanisms in the Mezuma Imperial Palace, though these machines were destroyed during the First Revolution. A mysterious rumor suggests that whoever unlocks the secrets of the Throne will be given mystical powers to rule over Adhomai; a story fit to nurture the spark of adventure in young treasure hunters!

Both school groups and visitors will be able to attend the exhibit for its limited run time. Educational institutions are directed to contact the Museum’s school resource director, and individual visitors can reserve tickets by going to the Museum’s website. 

[Alberyk]

Tajaran Band to Visit Tau Ceti During Galactic Tour

The controversial band Bloodstorm, an experimental Tajaran music group, has recently announced concert dates and locations for their first extrasolar tour. Using a mixture of traditional Tajaran instruments and human techniques, the band has created a “style never before seen in the Adhomian music scene”, says their most prominent fan website. Bloodstorm deals with themes related to the Tajaran youth, their place in the Civil War and are widely known for shocking lyrics and criticism of the ruling regimes.

Rumors abound that their journey to Tau Ceti was brought about due to increased scrutiny from the Democratic People’s Republic of Adhomai, their home country. Despite these rumors, Bloodstorm’s official social media states that their tours through Tau Ceti, Elyra, and Sol are for both their existing fans and to expand their fanbase by bringing the truth of their music to entire galaxies who have never heard them in person.

The “Truth” Tour is in celebration of the release of Bloodstorm’s newest album, titled “Why Not Do it Again?”, which promises to focus on hot button topics such as the high rate of disabled veterans after the Civil War, the increase in poverty on Adhomai, and the economic disparity between many Tajara. Vargir “Godslayer” Stenovich, the speaker and manager for the group, has confirmed that this will be their most brutal album yet. When asked about the rumors regarding conflicts with the DPRA, Mr. Stenovich responded: “Bloodstorm is ready to show Tau Ceti how things really are, don’t matter what the embalmed corpses in the government say.”

While the band’s announcement was met with praise and joy from their fans both to reporters and on online mediums such as social media or forum boards, the concert tour has met with significant consternation from others. Tajara ambassadors protested, implying that Bloodstorm’s music is both improper and insulting to Tajaran culture. Human family groups, including the influential Family Matters and Moms for Morality, have also protested the concerts. Nevertheless, government officials have remained firm in allowing Bloodstorm to pass through their systems without issue.

[Alberyk]

Murder at the Grand Romanovich Casino!

One person was killed early Saturday at the Grand Romanovich Casino. At the time, the casino was hosting a corporate retreat for employees of the NSS Aurora when the ghastly discovery was made. Mr. Alzrun Zahawi, a fifty-five year old Tajara residing in Biesel, was found in one of the casino’s hotel rooms. Mr. Zahawi migrated to the Republic in 2452, leaving his past career as the curator of the Nal’tor Museum of Mystery to pursue employment in a brewery in District Six. 

Investigators say the victim was found lying in his bed, with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Nothing of value was reportedly stolen. This death has shocked the Tajaran community in Mendell City, as many were confused due to the nature of the crime and the severity of the violence involved. Some of Mr. Zahawi’s neighbors informed the Bugle that the victim led a secluded life and had no living relatives.

A detachment of the NanoTrasen Internal Security Department tied to the NSS Aurora responded to the situation at the time, collecting evidence in an attempt to prevent further contamination of the scene. The victim was transported back to the NSS Aurora for autopsy, and our sources say it has confirmed the cause of death as being several shots to the head. No suspect has been identified at this time. The casino’s administration gave a statement expressing their shock at the murder, indicating that it was atypical for anyone armed to get past their tight security.

Both NanoTrasen and the Grand Romanovich Casino have announced the intention of collaborating with the authorities to solve this mystery. The Federal Investigation Bureau is currently investigating the crime, and our sources say they have been given access to all evidence the NanoTrasen Internal Security Department gathered at the scene.

[Susan]

Five Dead, Several Injured at Bloodstorm Concert!

An impromptu event by the controversial band Bloodstorm turned violent late last night. Performing out of a warehouse in District Six, the crowd numbered well over the building’s maximum occupancy at over one thousand. Mendell Police responded to calls of shots fired in the middle of the band’s performance; by the time officers arrived at the warehouse, the suspected shooters had already fled the scene.

We spoke to several witnesses who were present at the concert at the time of the shooting; each described a scene of abject terror and panic as unidentified gunmen stormed the venue, calling the concertgoers ‘degenerates’. Five fatalities were confirmed following the melee and subsequent shooting, with area clinics and hospitals becoming inundated with several wounded civilians. Mendell Police are investigating these deaths as homicides.

Our reporters caught up with officers at the scene. While they would not comment on ongoing investigations, Mendell Police Department’s public relations team provided us with this statement: 

“The Mendell City Police Department takes the safety of its citizens seriously. Late last night, at around 0100 hours, we responded to calls of shots fired at an abandoned warehouse in District Six. While suspects fled the scene, our officers are working diligently to uncover leads and ensure that incidents like this do not happen again. Any members of the public with knowledge of the suspects or the concert are asked to come forward and dial the Mendell Police Tip Hotline. There may be a reward for information leading to arrests.”

Edited August 1, 2020 by Susan

[Alberyk]

District Six Faces New Crime Wave
 

Information released today by Mendell City police officials indicates an alarming rise in violent crimes in District Six since the previous quarter. Reports of murder, assault and firearm related infractions increased by nearly 85% from July. The department’s Gang Intelligence Unit suspects that this was caused by new criminal groups seizing power, creating further territorial disputes.

Elements from Tajara religions and folklore were also left behind at some crime scenes. Criminals have taken to leaving cryptic messages, drawing of moons and other symbols considered bad omens in Tajara culture. Victims claim that Tajara clad in red robes and wielding daggers are also supposedly carrying out attacks in the district. Mendell City police claim that the gangs are exploring local superstitions in an attempt to terrorize the community into submission. Despite most of the events being contained within District Six, similar happenings were reported in NanoTrasen stations and other areas of the city.

The Federal Investigation Bureau confirmed that the incident during the Bloodstorm concert is linked to the gang warfare situation. The Mendell Bugle was able to get in contact with some witnesses who were present at the shootout:

Monkhtsetseg Nergui, a NanoTrasen security officer that was present during the concert, has expressed his concerns: “This horror was more in line with something I would expect in a hellhole, not Tau Ceti. I hope that justice can be delivered for the victims and their family.”

Yem'trriezh Njataraj, an Adhomian national living in Tau Ceti, gave her version of the events to our reporters: "We were all partying, having a great time - one of their best concerts since they played Sren'dul! - when suddenly there was a ruckus at the door. Armed Hadiist thugs burst in with guns, fired right into the crowd, yelling, 'Degenerates! Traitors! Homosexuals!' and all this! After that it was chaos, everybody just struggling to get out alive, with some brave souls fighting back against the Republicans."

“The Concert was going well up until a few minutes before the end there was what sounded like gunfire, then screaming about “The Committee”. A group of what looked like armed thugs called everyone "Degenerates" before opening fire once more. It was total chaos as everyone started to flee. It's very lucky more weren't hurt” said Cart Kanara, a NanoTrasen liaison attending the event.

Specialists warned the police department that if immediate action is not taken, the situation may devolve into open warfare between the gangs.

[Alberyk]

Break-in at the Museum of Immigration!

The Museum of Immigration administration has announced the postponement of the “Treasures of the Tajaran Past'' exhibition after a break-in last night. The criminals bypassed most of the security system by melting through the walls and doors; Federal Investigation Bureau specialists suspect the use of a chemical compound. The burglary was stopped when a security alarm was triggered by the invaders. The police force of District One reached the museum in five minutes; the suspect had already fled the site. The Museum security failed to spot or identify anyone. Evidence and the camera's recordings are currently being analysed by the FIB. 

The affected area was the Tajaran wing. Despite the break-in; nothing was stolen. Most of the artifacts meant to be on display were kept safe in a vault away from the public areas at the time.

The Federal Investigation Bureau suspects that the organized crime in District Six is behind this event. The administration of the Miran’mir Academy has decided to return the most valuable objects to Adhomai, including the Mezuma Imperial Throne. Mendell city police promised more patrols in the district to avoid further incidents. The Museum plans to reopen next week.

[Alberyk]

Federal Investigation Bureau Claims Victory over Gangs Terrorizing Mendell City!

Following a sting operation in the region of the Romanovich Cloud this saturday, the Federal Investigation Bureau has announced that the gangs behind the current crime wave have been effectively dismantled. A cargo ship, containing valuable objects, was used as bait to attract the criminals. As the ship was boarded by the bandits, they were ambushed by law enforcement officers waiting in the spacecraft. A part of the shipment was sent to a nearby NanoTrasen station - the NSS Aurora. Most of the items were secured, despite reports of violence among the crew. The operation was deemed a success, resulting in the capture of thirty-three individuals. Investigation of the area surrounding the Cloud revealed that derelict mining outposts were being used by the gangsters to hide contraband and supply their forces.

Further arrests were also performed by Mendell’s City police this morning. A total of three hundred warrants were fulfilled. A large smuggling scheme in District Six was uncovered by officers. Besides dealing with weapons, EVA equipment and valuable items, the criminals were involved in wildlife trafficking. Several cages containing Adhomian animals were confiscated. The largest enclosure, albeit found empty, measured around four meters tall. Officers confirmed that the arrests were related to the group that has been terrorizing Little Adhomai. Most of the detained suspects were Tajaran nationals residing in Tau Ceti through work visas.

Working with evidence provided by the NanoTrasen Security Department, the FIB was able to track down and stop the rising gangs from gaining a foothold in Mendell. These criminal groups engaged in turf warfare with the existing factions within District Six, attempting to make use of Tajaran superstitions to manipulate the population. Due to the swift and decisive action of both law enforcement agencies, another security crisis was averted.

[The7thLain]

 

Phoron-Related Xenofauna and You!
This is a public service message paid for by the NanoTrasen Employee Resources Division

Phoron-Related or Phoron-Interested Xenofauna are a relatively unknown classification of xenofauna species specialised in the metabolization of phoron for energy or other life-essential processes. Typically, these species are found residing in deep space away from inhabited and technologically developed or advanced regions. These species are known to both seek-out and consume or otherwise make use of phoron deposits in various ways so as to propagate their species and survival. While often considered pests by all races in the Orion Spur, these creatures are exceptionally varied and can range from organisms microscopic in size to massive, multiple metres long behemoths. More are being discovered as phoron deposits themselves draw more attention from corporations and countries that have a vested interest in securing them, and naturally, these creatures tend to turn up or travel to these areas to feed.

 

Recently, as a result of regional shortages and an overall, spur-wide scarcity of phoron, many of these creatures have begun to migrate from their usual homes in the deep, near-inaccessible reaches of space to more populated areas in search of the rare element such as the Romanovich Cloud. This new shift in migration patterns has drawn concern from those wishing to protect their already limited supplies of phoron from perceived pests, but it has also drawn great interest from the xenobiological community spur-wide. Many of the creatures in these migrations have not ever been studied in great detail with some species being new discoveries altogether. As a valuable employee or contractor of the NanoTrasen corporation, always be on the lookout for xenofauna attempting to take phoron stocks! Due to this lack of information however, there is not much known on the capabilities of many of these organisms and how they should be approached. As with any type of potentially dangerous animal however, caution should be exercised around any phoron-related xenofauna!

 

The Black Trident Worm

One of the most common types of phoron-related xenofauna that has been seen to date is the goliath trident worm. The Trident Worms, so called due to the three-pronged shape of their upper and lower jaws, are a species of extraterrestrial worm-like creatures that consume and metabolise phoron in order to create energy for themselves. They can be as small as one-to-two metres long in their early juvenile states to on average, longer than twenty metres once fully matured and grown. They are incredibly strong and have been known to break through plasteel reinforced hulls with their jaws, estimated to be similar on the Mohs hardness scale to diamond, in search of phoron. How these creatures locate phoron is currently a mystery to even the most leading xenozoologists and xenobiologists but it is incredibly accurate and long-ranged, allowing a single Goliath Trident Worm to locate a single vein of phoron many astronomical units away. Once they are in proximity to the phoron they seek, the worms then utilise their jaws as tunneling instruments to burrow into asteroids, or more recently, station walls or ship hulls, to reach and then consume phoron crystals. The methods by which these animals cross space at such speed are unknown, but are speculated to be a utilisation of  the gravity-slingshot effect from the gravitational fields of large asteroids, moons, and even planets. These worms often travel in small groups or families, usually headed by a matriarch and composed of many younger, smaller, juveniles, and a few larger, fully grown adults. The largest recorded Black Trident Worm, colloquially named “The King of Crosk,” was been estimated to be twenty-eight to thirty metres long and was spotted by the Coalition of Colonies Xenogeological Survey vessel Lundqvist in the Crosk Plains, the region of space where it is speculated that the worms were originally native to prior to their recent migrations to more populated areas of space.

How can you as a crewmember protect against phoron-related xenofauna? The answer is simple! Protect your N.E.S.T!
Notify your station’s or ship’s security detail of the presence of phoron-related xenofauna.
Exit the area where the xenofauna has been sighted.
Secure your nearest set of EVA equipment in the event of a hull breach caused by the animals.
Team-up with your department to and crew to shelter in place or eradicate the xenofauna infestation if instructed to do so.

 

"Together, we can all stay safe from Phoron-Related Xenofauna!"

[The7thLain]

The Maldarth Affair

The Coalition of Colonies Ministry of External Affairs has announced today to the greater Orion-Spur community that they have solid, hard proof that Solarian Allegations of Phoron hoarding by their outer ring planets is totally and completely false. This information comes as a large shock to known space at large as the scarcity of the vital element grows more and more dire by the day.

The information provided by the Coalition, sourced from an apparent whistleblower who defected from the Solarian Alliance, has given insight into not only just communications that prove Solarian statements of Phoron hoarding taking place in the Outer Ring as false, but has also provided photographs and documents that detail and prove numerous sentient rights violations from the Solarian military and police. In the words of the Solarian Armed Forces Public Relations Office, they had positioned troops there at the beginning of the scarcity to, “Secure and protect the previously low supply of Phoron in the Outer Ring from bad actors wishing to hoard it for their selfish gains and intents.”

The information revealed that the Solarian Armed Forces and police have been raiding municipal and provincial phoron reserves across the outer ring and repossessing or in the words of the Coalition source, “fucking stealing,” the resource for shipments back to the core worlds of the Solarian Alliance. The information released by this whistleblower also stated that any attempts to publicise or release information to the public about these operations were shut down and met with threats of imprisonment or in the gravest instances, cyborgification. This is in addition to the various measures officially disclosed by the Solarian Government such as curfews, rationing of other resources to citizens, and random searches of the population for “smugglers,” that are actually, according to the whistleblower, thinly veiled attempts to detain political prisoners or individuals who posed a threat to the secrecy of the Solarian operations by straying from the official Solarian position.

This whistleblower, Warrant Officer August Maldarth of the Solarian Naval Signal Corps, relayed this information to the Coalition of Colonies earlier this week after defecting to them via a covert shuttle dispatch after spending weeks gathering his evidence, reportedly alone. When questioned as to why he defected, his response was curt and to the point. “It’s not right!” He elaborated on this point further when given a press conference by the Coalition of Colonies Ministry of External Affairs, that he, himself requested. This was his primary statement to the press:

“Yeah, I know that, I might up an’ die soon. Sol wants me in a bodybag, and I accept that possibility as very real. What I know though, is that the tyrannical Solarian government is stealin’ from its own people and keepin’ them down with threats of a fate worse’an death. After spending weeks sendin’ messages back and forth and just listening to what was happening, I couldn’t live with m’self. I had to get the word out, and if that meant becomin’ a traitor an puttin’ m’self at risk, I would do it. I don’t have nothing anymore, which means I have nothing to lose too. I ain’t about to let some fat-ass admiral fuckin’ steal from the good people of the Outer Ring because some moron Cytherian bureaucrat wants to drink a Toxins Special! It’s not right, damnit! They’ve been keepin’ my Mars down for fuckin’ ever, and no more people are gonna have that happen to them if I can help it! My name’s Gus fuckin’ Maldarth, and I ain’t about to be silenced outta fear!”

When later asked about his remarks, Warrant Officer Maldarth said that he knew it was a dangerous move to go so public with this information, but also when asked for his thoughts, the Martian responded with, “I couldn’t give a shit about what Frost thinks of me. Fuck Frost.”

The Coalition has condemned the Solarian Alliance as a result of these actions and cover-up of them, and Mister Maldarth’s sentiments have sparked protests, civil unrest, strikes, and riots across Solarian space, with many calling for legal action to be taken against those responsible for the operation and the repossessed phoron to be returned to the affected planets. The Solarian Government has denied all allegations and has announced that their operations in the outer ring have reached completion and are pulling back all but the essential units that were stationed in the region before the recent occupation.

Those critical of SolGov have stated that this is nothing more than an attempt to save face, while various sentient rights groups across the Orion Spur have raised concerns of these new Solarian movements being used to reposition troops in order to crack down against the demonstrations occurring across Solarian space.

The Republic of Elyra and Empire of Dominia have both recalled their ambassadors and all non-essential embassy staff from Solarian space in protest of these actions, with both countries’ foreign ministries releasing condemnations of Solarian conduct as well. The People’s Republic of Adhomai has released a formal denunciation of the Solarian Alliance, going as far as to call them “paranoid imperialist crooks,” and “the enemies of sentient life everywhere.” The Republic of Biesel has responded with condemnation as well, and has partially mobilised their reserves in response to inward Solarian troop movements. The Izweski Hegemony and Jargon Federation have not commented on the issue.

Warrant Officer Maldarth is reportedly residing in an undisclosed location within neutral Tau Ceti space for his safety at this time. The Coalition has stated that they will use every reasonable resource available to them in order to preserve Maldarth’s continued health and safety from foreign agents and transport him to Coalition space.

[The7thLain]

Einstein Engines Unveils New Engine

In a press conference held earlier today (GST) in Harmony City, Luna, Doctor Noella Lopez-Zhang, the current CEO of Einstein Engines, revealed that she and her company have created a new variant of warp engine referred to as a Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive. The Zhang-Suzuki is faster, cheaper, and more efficient than the typical warp drive in-use by the majority of human ships in the Orion Spur.

“Words cannot begin to describe how proud I am of Doctor Suzuki, our chief research officer, and her research team. Without herself and her team, we would have never been able to create the Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive. I am glad I can count on Doctor Suzuki not only as an innovative researcher, but as a friend,” said Doctor Lopez-Zhang of the new engine.

“The Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive is the latest, greatest creation from our research labs. While bluespace engines are still slightly faster, the Suzuki-Zhang is capable of reaching speeds close to NanoTrasen bluespace drives for a fraction of the fuel cost,” said a clearly proud Mio Suzuki at the press conference. “Plus, even the fastest engine is useless without fuel.”

Production is expected to begin tomorrow, and orders are already lining up to purchase these improved warp engines in the face of the Spurwide phoron shortage. Einstein Engines, which has shown steadily increasing profits and stock shares since the crisis began, is currently poised to have its best quarter in history while its major rival - NanoTrasen - is projected to have its worst quarter ever.

NanoTrasen legal director Mori Takachika has stated that the Suzuki-Zhang is “shockingly” close to a NanoTrasen drive currently in the testing phase, and has accused Einstein Engines of “classical industrial espionage.” The NanoTrasen CEO has promised “serious consequences” for Einstein Engines over the upcoming days. The Bugle will report on this story as it develops

[kyres1]

NanoTrasen Sues Einstein Engines!

Earlier today (GST) NanoTrasen legal director Mori Takachika followed up on her earlier promises regarding the Einstein Engines Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive, suing the megacorporation over copyright infringement under current Republic of Biesel law.

The case has already run into difficulties due to Einstein Engines being headquartered outside of Tau Ceti and therefore not being subject to the Republic of Biesel’s legal system. However the case seems to be set to begin shortly as Einstein Engines has stated its willingness to proceed with the case, despite describing it as “absolutely baseless” in a press release.

As part of the pre-courtroom proceedings NanoTrasen and Einstein Engines have agreed to allow one another to take photos of their engines for the legal process. Einstein Engines has reportedly dispatched a legal team to take photographs of one of NanoTrasen’s rare supermatter-based engines, while NanoTrasen has sent a legal team to observe a Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive in Einstein Engine’s headquarters on Luna. The Bugle will report on this story as it develops.

Article written by NewOriginalSchwann.

 

[Caelphon]

PRICES SOAR; ECONOMIC COLLAPSE ON THE RISE?

Despite strict guidelines set by NanoTrasen, Phoron has continued to inflate in price. The interstellar use of Phoron has decreased by nearly 34% and the Scarcity is fast becoming one of the greatest threats to interstellar trade. 

A spokesperson the Republic of Biesel has warned that the shortage of Phoron has resulted in decreased amounts of both imports and exports - and will lead to the prices of many goods and services to increase in the coming weeks. According to a report by various sources, the Bluespace Gates throughout the Orion Spur will remain active for as long as fuel can be supplied to the titanic machines. Majority of the trade between the systems occurs through these gates. 

Xiao Ji, Chairperson of the Biesellite Economist Forum, has stated that not only does the organization expect the various economies within the Orion Spur to enter a recession - but the complete collapse of some markets. 

"We estimate that not only will the price of basic goods increase exponentially, but the cost of living will become too high and lead to an unprecedented recession within the interstellar economy" says Ji. 

According to Ji and data collected by the Biesellite Economist Forums, staple goods have already seen a price increase of 33% and expected to rise more in the face of the Scarcity. Luxury goods have drastically risen with an increase of 46% forcing many within the lower income brackets to completely be cut off. 

"Intervention is required, the earlier the better. Unless strict rationing is implemented immediately, the average citizen within the Orion Spur will see their living wage become impossible to survive off of." 

The struggle derived from the Scarcity is becoming increasingly apparent, and fear over an economic collapse is rapidly increasing - with many liquidating their monetary assets in an attempt to retain their value. 

Edited October 9, 2020 by Caelphon

[NewOriginalSchwann]

Court Date Set for NanoTrasen v. Einstein Engines Trial!

The legal departments of both Einstein Engines and the NanoTrasen Corporation have, after several days of back-and-forth debate and discussion, settled upon a date and location for the upcoming corporate espionage lawsuit regarding Einstein Engines’ new Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive. The battle over the site of the trial has been fierce, due to NanoTrasen wishing for it to be held in Mendell City - its home territory - and Einstein Engines wishing for it to be held in Harmony City, Luna - its home territory.

 

Einstein Engines has proven to be, at least here, the loser: the Republic of Biesel and Sol Alliance have both agreed that, as the suing party, the NanoTrasen Corporation has the right to decide the location of the trial. Rumors that the Sol Alliance was pressured into allowing the trial to proceed under threat of a further tightening of phoron exports to it have been denied by both NanoTrasen and the Sol Alliance. Einstein Engines has declined to speak with the Bugle regarding the trial’s location, but has stated that it has “full confidence” in the ability of the Republic of Biesel to properly carry out justice.

 

Vice President Fahjil Hurk'jurl, a known proponent of further legislation to control megacorporations, has informed the Bugle that a “[...] highly imparrrrrtial judge and jurrrrry,” have been selected for the upcoming hearings and trial. NanoTrasen’s legal department has expressed its confidence that the judge and jury will decide correctly in the upcoming case, and legal director Mori Takachika has been seen personally meeting with the judge in charge of the case to ensure it proceeds properly.

 

Unfortunately, the upcoming trial is closed to members of the media for security reasons. However, the Bugle will report on the results of the trial as soon as they are released.

[NewOriginalSchwann]

LANDMARK COURT DECISION SEES EINSTEIN ENGINES DEFEAT NANOTRASEN!

Stunning news from the Xavier Trasen Memorial Courthouse this evening! Einstein Engines has been found not guilty on all counts brought to court by the NanoTrasen Corporation, and production of the Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive is set to continue without interruption. A triumphant Einstein Engines legal team headed by Doctor Noella Lopez-Zhang herself has been photographed leaving the courthouse earlier this afternoon, smiling broadly and waving to an assembled crowd of reporters before addressing them.

 

LOPEZ-ZHANG: “Today is an historic day for Einstein Engines. We are no longer the Einstein of the past decades, reeling from defeat after defeat and barely keeping pace with NanoTrasen. Our victory in this legal case has shown that we can not only meet NanoTrasen, but that we can best them even in their headquarters. I look forward to the great things our company is going to do over the following years.”

 

The decision today is as stunning a defeat for NanoTrasen as it is a victory for Einstein Engines, with Einstein Engines now set for its most profitable quarter on record and NanoTrasen - due to declining phoron stocks and massive courtroom costs - now set for its worst. NanoTrasen, which has not lost a legal case brought against it in the Republic of Biesel for over fifty years, has stated that it is currently seeking to sell off its corporate holdings in the city of Phoenixport in order to recoup some of its losses from this quarter.

 

Bidding is set to begin at midnight (GST) today, and to close at the end of this week. Currently the People’s Republic of Adhomai, the Zo’ra Hive, and several minor companies in the Republic have all expressed interest in purchasing land from the Phoenixport auction.

Edited October 17, 2020 by NewOriginalSchwann
Article mistakenly mentioned "this business week" when it should have said "this week."

[kyres1]

NANOTRASEN AUCTION REACHES SHOCKING CONCLUSION!

Late last night (GST) NanoTrasen’s sale of its property in Phoenixport has ended in another shocking upset for the corporation! At 11:56:46PM (GST), mere minutes before the auction was set to close, a previously unknown company - Republic Interstellar Flight Incorporated - placed massive bids on all properties up for auction, successfully purchasing every piece of property for sale. Minutes later Einstein Engines announced that it had acquired Republic Interstellar Fight Incorporated and would begin the integration of its properties into the megacorporation immediately.

This is an unprecedented event in the history of the Republic of Biesel, and a massive defeat in the ongoing corporate conflict between Einstein Engines and NanoTrasen. With Einstein Engines now owning upwards of 90% of all commercially-zoned land in Phoenixport, the monopoly held over the system by NanoTrasen for the previous sixty years is effectively dead. Einstein Engines vessels have already warped into the Tau Ceti system and have begun unloading massive amounts of materials into Phoenixport, despite protests from NanoTrasen over the legality of the auction.

While unable for an interview Doctor Noella Lopez-Zhang - the current CEO of Einstein Engines - informed the Bugle that she was “absolutely thrilled” to have opened up a new market for the Orion Spur’s oldest - and now, perhaps most powerful - megacorporation. The corporations and governments of the Orion Spur are doubtlessly watching with bated breath as this corporate giant finally enters the Republic of Biesel.

 

Article written by NewOriginalSchwann.

[NewOriginalSchwann]

VICE PRESIDENT HURK’JURL DEAD IN CAR CRASH!

BREAKING ― sources in Mendell City today have told the Bugle that Vice President Fahjil Hurk’jurl has passed away just a short while ago following a catastrophic car accident in District 3. Eyewitnesses report that the Vice President’s personal vehicle was involved in a collision with a cargo truck driven by a bound Vaurca of the Zo’ra hive on his way home from work. When attempting to run a red light, his vehicle was struck and overturned, and after several harrowing minutes of emergency officials attempting to remove the Vice President from the wreckage, he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from the Xavier Trasen Memorial Hospital.

Mendell City Police officers were informed by eyewitnesses present at the time of the incident that it appeared that the Vice President lost control of his vehicle shortly before he arrived at the intersection, and was unable to regain control of his government-issue NanoTrasen CityCruiser™ before his collision with the cargo truck. Traffic and accident investigators at the MCPD found, after a cursory inspection, that there were no signs of foul play, and the case is considered to be an “open and shut” example of reckless driving.

“I hear this government vehicle coming up from behind me,” says Ken Anderson, 47, a NanoTrasen auditor. “He was going way too fast - seemed like at least twenty kilometers over the limit. So, I did the logical thing, and pulled over out of his lane [...] the next thing I knew, I watched him barrel through a red light and slam into the truck. I called EMS, but it was probably too late [...] you just don’t walk away from a crash like that, you know?” Traffic camera footage provided to the Bugle from the accident site corroborates the witness’ statement, showing the Vice President veering sharply into the path of the oncoming truck after haphazardly speeding towards the intersection.

The unfortunate and untimely passing of Vice President Hurk’jurl is a tragedy for the entire Republic, while particularly impacting the Tajara community in the Imperial Palace district. The Vice President was the first Tajara to hold such a high-ranking position in the Republic’s government, and he was widely regarded as a trailblazer for his species. A candlelight vigil will be held at the District Six Church of S’rendarr in his memory. The thoughts and prayers of the Bugle’s entire staff team are with his family in this tragic moment of national loss.

This is an ongoing story, and will be updated as necessary.

[kyres1]

A REMEDY TO THE SCARCITY?

A recent discovery in the Romanovich Cloud might hold the key to alleviating the phoron scarcity plaguing the galactic economy, researchers have told the Bugle. A sizable asteroid, dubbed 66832 “Clandestine” by the astronomer who discovered it, has been located within the Cloud with promising evidence of trace amounts of aerosolized phoron in its vicinity! NanoTrasen (NTCO +5.34% ↑) specialists theorize that these findings may allude to large deposits of the valuable mineral deep within the asteroid’s rocky mass, and may at last put an end to the economic uncertainty affecting the Orion Spur. For the first time since the start of the crisis, NanoTrasen stock prices have risen as a result of the announcement.

The potential for a new source of phoron has been drawing attention from several galactic powers and the Bugle’s sources have suggested that there are currently discussions of auctioning off the valuable asteroid. Government officials are debating what will be done with “Clandestine”, but our economic experts believe that NanoTrasen will likely retain ownership of the celestial body. Our readers can rest assured that if “Clandestine” goes to market, competition to purchase it will most certainly be fierce. Almost every spacefaring civilization relies heavily on bluespace drives and phoron fuel for transport, supply and military operations, making this discovery even more intriguing as stockpiles of the critical element diminish.

A survey expedition to the Clandestine asteroid had been planned and is already underway; will the discovery of this potential fresh source of phoron be the answer to the economic downturn rippling across all of colonized space? Stay tuned for more updates!