Far Frontiers Gateway Sector #2

[Murph]

017-2511 Gateway News Service- Aki

An exploration vessel from the Gateway Exploration Service arrived on Aki today, and reports that they have found evidence that the world of Bedrock (C0808X) has evidence of once having life on it. Orbital surveys have discovered ruins of ancient cities on this world which is classified as E852000-0.

The survey vessel Beagle has spent several months in system mapping out the system, and discovered that the sole habitable world which has been called Bedrock appears to have suffered a terrible orbital strike with numerous impact craters being found on the surface, which could be the reason for the lack of surface water on the planet due to crustal cracks.

The Beagle sent its two mapping pinnaces on numerous low level mapping passes over the world’s surface. No signs of life could be found, but since the Beagle is not equipped for initial landing surveys, no landing was attempted. Air samples taken reveal some pollen in the atmosphere, with an oxygen-nitrogen thin atmosphere. There are some traces of odd particulates in the atmosphere which would indicate either extreme volcanic activity, or debris from orbital strikes some time in the past.

Photographs and videos of the structures show possibly a TL 2/3 civilization which appears to have completely died out. There is no visible evidence of any high tech civilization on this planet, and several of the cities appear from the evidence to have been subjected to some sort of orbital strikes. The photographs seem to indicate that life became extinct on this planet sometime between 20-25,000 years ago, which would place it in the time frame of the battles between the Lords of Darkness and the Precursors.

The data is being sent off to Gateway with the request that a landing be attempted. The Beagle will head to Shangri La for refitting, maintenance and resupply before heading out into the Near Dark subsector.

 

[Murph]

018-2511 Gateway News Service- Poictesme/Gateway

The old, almost abandoned, science station on this world has come back to life with the discovery of rich mineral finds close to the station by freelance prospectors. As most of the base is underground, and parts had become almost derelict due to the draw down of scientific personnel, the 100 year old facility was really showing its age before the final staff departed leaving only a very small 50 person care taking staff on hand.

With the discovery of subsurface water in good quantities, a miner named George “Rocket Fist” Gonzales moved in to the station with the permission of the caretakers. He found several old fissures on the lower levels of the station which were never really explored when the base was built and just closed off. In what he later called his “mother of a lode”, he discovered metallic spherules of Onnesium in several of the fissures, he quickly filed a claim under the abandoned property act of 2399 since the station was in effect abandoned.

Taking out over 200 kilos of the valuable metal, Rocket Fist found himself embroiled in a lawsuit from the Gateway Federation government claiming his finds were government property. The Supreme Judicial Court of the Gateway Federation has finally handed down its ruling.

In the ruling, it determined that while the facility was in “standby” or caretaker mode, the Government had allowed the miners to set up shop on the planet having essentially abandoned its facilities. And since no contract was required for the miners to operate or that all finds become government property, the Federation government has waived its claim of sovereign rights and cannot use Eminent Domain over the finds of the minerals, which revert back to the miners.

Furthermore, the Federation government is required to pay standard mining interest rates to the miners for the seized or in the case of Rocket Fist Gonzales, the unlawful sale of his property without his permission. The government has been fighting this for several years, and with this ruling the miners have free access to their mines once more. The government was given 72 hours to pay all of the claims since it appeared that they were arguing to the court that it would take them 4-5 Terran Standard Years to pay the outstanding claims, and longer in some cases. The court did not find this argument persuasive and ordered all payments to be rendered in 72 Terran standard hours, or the Federation would have 10% added each day the payment was late.

This represents a huge set back for the Gateway System Ministry, and will force them to treat miners much better in the future. A bill has been proposed in Parliament to force all future mines of this type to sign their lease from the government, and give the government Eminent Domain rights to any “strategic materials” found. However the Prime Minister Gonzalez-Cenisac has said that he is opposed to this bill, and would urge it not pass. It looks like 45% of the Parliament is in favor, 47% opposed and the rest undecided at this time. In light of this uncertainty, the Gateway Stock Exchange saw an enormous sell off of Mining stocks, and overall dropped 5 points in trading, causing the directors to halt trading for two days.

The old station has now become the hub of mining operations on Poictesme, and in the surrounding orbit of the Gas Giant as the existing facilities are now repurposed to support the mining operations in Cabell Orbit. Several of the old Geological Survey stations have also been taken over by mining operators and their crews as bases for mining on the surface of this inhospitable planet.

 

[Murph]

019-2511 Gateway News Service- Freedonia

A bill to formalize the National Anthem “All Hail Freedonia” with standard music, lyrics, and tempo has met vigorous opposition from groups across the political spectrum, with those opposed claiming that being able to sing the anthem as they wish makes part of the charm of Freedonia. The author of the bill said that all he wants is for the National Anthem to at least sound “normal”. He was shouted down by those in the gallery and by many other legislators.

 

[Murph]

023-2511 Gateway News Service- Xanadu

The Guillotine files has claimed another scalp as the head of the opposition party in the Senate as he was exposed as being paid for by BioGen and Fusigon. Also he used his influence to get his children accepted to the best schools, and then to get them jobs with very prestigious firms on Xanadu.

While this sort of nepotism is winked at on Xanadu as long as it is not too blatant, everyone in power does much the same for their children, whether they are competent of not. In the case of the leader of the Opposition, his daughter, was given a job in the Prosecution Service, and moved rapidly up to supervisory positions, she is known as a spoiled princess who shows up and works maybe 3-4 hours a day before heading off to the golf course, or shopping while constantly berating subordinates for her failures.

His son avoided military service by getting a medical waiver, and is now a senior manager for Xanadu Shipyards in charge of new business. He is thought of as a perfumed prince who comes in, spends perhaps 10-15 hours a week actually at his office, and the rest is spent on the golf course or in karaoke bars “drumming up new business”. Our source tells us that he is accomplished at pinning failures on subordinates and others to remain in his position. The file also shows he is involved in an extensive bribery ring where suppliers provide him with both “gifts” and kickbacks for contracts sent their way.

A gift that keeps on giving, the Guillotine file has sent shock waves through Xanadu power circles as the rich and powerful wonder when it will be their time in the spotlight. In the meantime Anna Kim has departed for New Texas where we are told she will be staying for a few months. She was escorted by her “bodyguard” and were seen holding hands as they took the shuttle up to the Empire of the Rising Sun, a King Richard class liner headed to New Texas. She also had quite the security presence with her since rumors are that she is the one suspected of releasing the Guillotine files.

 

[Murph]

025-2511 Gateway News Service- Nidhogg

Four bodies were found on the edge of the cold zone, and Omega Tech EMR staff say they appear to have been shot to death by laser fire. It appears that they were employees of Yaroslavl Mining company, which is a Nidhogg based subsidiary of New Drakkensburg Mining and Exploration.

The deceased persons were stripped of all valuables, and their ATV was also ransacked by unknown persons. The area they were in at the time of their deaths is called Cold Creek Canyon, which is one of the main routes leading up to the Anserra glacier on the cold side.

Omega Tech was able to determine that they had been searching for radioactive in the canyon, when they were attacked. There are tracks of two other At Vs in the area which headed back in the direction leading to the world river. The bodies had been semi preserved due to the temperatures which were hovering around 0C. A local trapper found the bodies, and called in to the starport for EMR services.

The area of the canyon is not heavily traveled, and so it was purely by chance that the bodies were found. We are told that the sample storage bins did show a low level of radioactivity which indicates radioactive ore had been in them sometime in the near past.

Yaroslavl Mining has asked Omega Tech to conduct an investigation into the deaths of their employees, which is a standard practice on this world which has no government and no world police agency. A spokesman for Omega Tech said that they have opened a case at the request of Yaroslavl Mining.

 

[King Midas]

025-2511 Gateway News Service- Nidhogg

Four bodies were found on the edge of the cold zone, and Omega Tech EMR staff say they appear to have been shot to death by laser fire. It appears that they were employees of Yaroslavl Mining company, which is a Nidhogg based subsidiary of New Drakkensburg Mining and Exploration.

The deceased persons were stripped of all valuables, and their ATV was also ransacked by unknown persons. The area they were in at the time of their deaths is called Cold Creek Canyon, which is one of the main routes leading up to the Anserra glacier on the cold side.

Omega Tech was able to determine that they had been searching for radioactive in the canyon, when they were attacked. There are tracks of two other At Vs in the area which headed back in the direction leading to the world river. The bodies had been semi preserved due to the temperatures which were hovering around 0C. A local trapper found the bodies, and called in to the starport for EMR services.

The area of the canyon is not heavily traveled, and so it was purely by chance that the bodies were found. We are told that the sample storage bins did show a low level of radioactivity which indicates radioactive ore had been in them sometime in the near past.

Yaroslavl Mining has asked Omega Tech to conduct an investigation into the deaths of their employees, which is a standard practice on this world which has no government and no world police agency. A spokesman for Omega Tech said that they have opened a case at the request of Yaroslavl Mining.

Bandits? Claim jumpers? Megacorp shenanigans? We shall just have to wait and see...

 

[Murph]

Ah, that is part of the ongoing mystery....

 

[Murph]

New Texas and Freedonia.

 

[Murph]

For those who get the emails of the newsletter, I just sent the completed sector map which is too large to attach here. Thanks to Peter who cleaned it up and did yeoman work making it look decent in photoshop, he did an utterly amazing job on it.

 

[Murph]

There was just so much in this latest newsletter, that I have elected to post the whole thing here:

 

[Murph]

055-2511 Gateway News Service- New Texas

The famed New Texas fuel service stations known as “Duc-ee’s” has announced that it will be expanding from its New Texas home, to Gateway, Xanadu, Sutekh, Freedonia, and Friedland very soon. As all those who live on New Texas, Coffeeville, and Dustball are aware, Duc-ee’s is famed for not only its inexpensive fuel, but is impressive stores which have superb coffee and other beverages, BBQ sandwiches, breakfast delights, and their famed jerky.

It is known as “the Black Hole of Shopping” since people who stop to fill up the grav car end up spending way too much money inside on things that they never knew they needed until they walked inside this mecca of consumerism. It restrooms are famous throughout the galaxy for their size and cleanliness. Most walk out asking themselves the question: “What happened? I just needed fuel, and to use the facilities, how in the heck did I spend 60+ stellars on “stuff”?”

Local chains on all of those worlds are fighting to prevent the Duc-ee’s stores from arriving, since they will force those stores to up their game. So, as the owners of Duc-ee’s say: Come on in, and stop a while. We have what you need, and what you did not know you needed” Here at GNS, all we can say is try the fudge, and the candied pecans. Now we have to convince our bosses that the charge for 200 stellars for jerky, BBQ, chips, and sundries should be “office expenses!”

Note to all: If you have never been to a Buc-ee's gas station with its 120 gas pumps, massive shopping, and ultra clean restrooms, you are missing out on something. Their BBQ sandwiches are good, very good.

 

[Murph]

061-2511 Gateway News Service- Sulawesi

Shocking absolutely everyone, and catching all experts completely off guard, Enclaves Hammerfell and Sulawesi-Orsoni have agreed to an offer by the Imperial government of Xin Zhongguo to purchase their colonies outright. The amount is being withheld at this time, but apparently the Imperial government, getting tired of the constant chaos on the border of its colony has offered quite the still undisclosed sum to the governments of the two enclaves to become part of the Empire.

Observers expected a military option where the Imperial troops took over the two fractious colonies, but the Emperor has decided on the “carrot” approach to these two enclaves who were known for raiding the Imperial colony on Sulawesi. With this purchase, the Imperial colony has roughly doubled its size, and is insulated from most of the other enclaves by the CloudFall mountain range.

This purchase could indicate a new method for the Imperial government to acquire territory on Sulawesi, without the need for fighting or conquest, and eventually put an end to the balkanization of this world. The government of the two enclaves, electing to find “greener pastures” as part of the settlement have taken ship for parts unknown, but with greatly expanded bank accounts it seems with 95% of the leadership headed off world as quickly as they can book cabins on ships headed to other worlds.

Already Imperial police and investigators are making arrests for those who are not pleased with the change in management in the two former enclaves and are causing a ruckus. New Drakkensburg, through its ambassador has filed a strongly worded protest over the “unlawful, and illegal occupation, and bribery” of the two enclaves which up to the takeover had been client states of New Drakkensburg.

 

[Murph]

065-2511 Gateway News Service- Xanadu

Chen Yu Chan of the Red Phoenix has been convicted of several offenses in court. He was sentenced to life in prison at the prison station. Once the verdict was read, a disturbance broke out in the courtroom as members of the gang began hysterically wailing, and throwing chairs. Eleven members of the Red Phoenix were arrested for disorderly affray, and taken to the central jail in Shambhala City.

The headquarters of the Jade Carp gang was shot up by three unidentified members of another gang who then fled on grav bikes. We are being told that the leader of the Jade Carp was wounded, and three of his subordinates were killed in the attack. Police tell us that the suspicion is that the Red Phoenix was settling scores with the Jade Carp since there is a suspicion that the Jade Carp leadership turned informant and tipped off the police as to the whereabouts of Chen Yu Chan which led to his arrest.

Police have no leads as to the location of the assailants at this time, but the bikes were found in an industrial area of the city, and were reported as having been stolen some weeks prior. The Red Phoenix is fighting to maintain its turf, reports are reaching us that the former second in command Randall Liao has taken over the gang.

Liao is seen as both less inclined to open violence, but just as ruthless as Chen when it comes to protecting the gang. He is seen as a much stricter disciplinarian than Chen who was regarded as a bit lax as well as being a “loose cannon” by some of the members of the gang who chaffed under his leadership.

We have a police source who has told us that the Red Phoenix is recruiting heavily at this time, with members looking as far afield as Hades Station for potential recruits. The new leader has removed all restrictions on cyberwear by members of the gang, which, we are told, has led to an upsurge of illegal modifications at the various black cyberwear clinics in the capital, and other cities on Xanadu.

The Red Phoenix has lost its position as a “top tier” member of the Black Dragon Tong coalition of gangs, having moved to a second or third tier at this time. The Jade Carp was poised to move up into the place that the Red Phoenix formerly held, but the killings might have derailed that move. The other contender for the position are the members of the Golden Dragon clan, which have kept a relatively low profile, but are considered one of the clans most likely to resort to force to defend its territory.

The Blue Heron gang has disbanded after the latest police arrests, as well as the elimination of its command structure in inter-gang fighting. The Blue Heron was one of the oldest gangs on Xanadu, but its position had slipped from the top tier to a 3rd tier gang dependent on some of the larger gangs for its existence. Police spokesmen tell us that the Blue Heron has essentially ceased to exist, with its former members being picked up by other gangs as low level muscle at this time.

As the fallout from the Guillotine files continues, the political landscape on Xanadu is changing with where it will end up, being anyone’s guess. The old system of patronage, favors, family connections, secret alliances with various criminal gangs, has gone up in smoke, with too much attention being brought on those connections.

Two major law firms have been forced into acknowledging their ties with organized crime, with both firms firing their CEOs along with a number of employees who have been identified as “fixers” with deep underworld connections in an attempt at damage control. The game of “We don’t know them, we have never dealt with them, and we certainly are not going to go down with the ship” is in full swing among top tier law firms on Xanadu which are scrambling in light of the revelations of the Guillotine files.

 

[Murph]

068-2511 Gateway News Service- New Texas/Forsaken

This hot world which is unpleasant at best has been the site of a new “Gold Rush” as rich metal strikes have caused an influx of miners. Forsaken D830510-C is not a world for the weak, or careless. The mines here deal with both solar flares, extreme temperatures, lack of surface water, as well as other environmental hazards. But the 119,000 colonists on this planet have turned it into a boom town with stunning success.

In one of the recently opened mines, rich veins of thorium, uranium, and other valuable metals have been found causing a rush to the region. Gold is apparently so common that miners are processing gold bearing ore as an afterthought. Current theories of planetary formation are at a loss to explain this worlds rich mineral troves.

There is a downside to all of this however. The planetary facilities are no prepared for such an increase in population, which is causing many unforeseen issues with providing basic living conditions to the newcomers. To combat this, the New Texas government has implemented a “wait list” for potential prospectors so that they can ensure proper life support services for the newcomers.

Already almost at the limit of what its facilities are able to handle, the main settlement of Port Inferno has sent an urgent request to the government of New Texas for assistance in expanding its infrastructure. Other smaller settlements are joining in this request since they are close to the limits of their environmental systems.

Adding to the chaos, are the number of out system miners who have started flocking to this planet. There was a small riot at the downport when a group of 70 prospectors were told that they had to leave the planet temporarily due to lack of capacity in the air and water processors to provide for them. Starport security had to call on other law enforcement agencies for assistance in putting down the riot. The damage to the port was extensive, and all the prospectors have been arrested and are being transported to New Texas where they will stand trial, and then be deported from the New Texas system.

Miguel “Lucky Dog” Gomez is reported to have walked into the assay office,and dropped a 5 kilo platinum chunk on the desk and asked for his money. He said that his mine is doing well, so well, he is thinking of sending off for “One of them thar mail order brides, since a man gets a mite lonely out there, and needs some company”. This is his 4th large deposit of metal from his claim. Lucky Dog is also responsible for the deaths of six claim jumpers who attempted to take over his claim by force.

He is represented by Peters, Lopez, and Chou, attorneys who are some of the most used lawyers by miners determined to protect their claims. When we asked Gabriel Chou about the rumors of the claim jumpers, he told us that his client had merely exercised his rights to self defense, with a grand jury determining that he was well within his rights.

After dropping off his platinum chunks, and other finds, Lucky Dog was seen visiting the local branch of Madam Lulu’s in order to “blow off some steam before getting back to the mine”. He stood all the patrons to drinks, and left well lubricated, cleaned and relaxed after his visit to Madam Lulu’s. Madam Lulu’s place is the most fr

 

[Murph]

072-2511 Gateway News Service- Hades Station

The terrorist group formerly known as MGELFPoaNTaSRaW (The Mother Gaea Ecological Liberation Front for the Protection of all Natural Things and Some Rocks as Well) which has the new hip trendy terrorist name of PSARS (Planetary Saviors against Reprehensible Scum), has claimed credit for the sinking of the Lodestar on Ultima Thule with the bomb.

The PSARS has stated that their goal is to “free” humanity from the evils of anagathics since in their view humans live long enough and are a blight on the cosmos. Naturally there are those who disagree strongly with this viewpoint, which leads to them being outlawed on several worlds. They got their start at the University of New Avalon Sociology department 100 years ago.

 

[Murph]

082-2511 Gateway News Service- Friedland

Breaking news. The Friedland Ministry of War as well as the Foreign Ministry announced today that they have discovered and seized a stealth intelligence listening post located in the Friedland system. To a hushed audience Admiral Graf Heinz von Troost said that they have seized the station which was orbiting inside of the Friedland system. He did not detail exactly how it was discovered citing National Security reasons. The station belongs to the Gateway Intelligence Services.

We were told that approximately 80 members of the Gateway Intelligence Services have been detained at this time. The crew managed to slag the computers, and destroy a great deal of the classified systems before Marines from the Seebattalion were able to board the station. The 1,700 ton station was made of highly advanced materials, and was well hidden in the Friedland system.

The Gateway crew surrendered to the Marines after an assault entry was made by the Marines, we can report that no fatalities on either side are being reported. But several members of the Gateway crew were injured as marines had to forcibly stop them from destroying systems. We are told that they managed to wipe all of the systems onboard the station. A careful examination of the systems showed the destroyed items to be of Gateway manufacture.

The battle cruiser Moltke along with the cruisers Roon and Kretschmer were able to intercept and seize a Gateway spy ship which was coming to rendezvous with the station. The ship attempted to pretend to be a merchant vessel, but was ordered to heave to, and be boarded. The Gateway ship activated its self destruct system, and the crew evacuated the ship before it blew up. They were rescued by the Friedland Navy. No one was harmed in the destruction of the Gateway ship. The crew was arrested and taken to Friedland where they will face charges.

The Foreign Minister has demanded from the Gateway Ambassador both an explanation, and assurances that there are no other stations in the Friedland system. A strong note was delivered to the Gateway Ambassador explaining the position of Friedland. The arrested spies will be tried under Friedland law, with long prison terms being expected if they are convicted. The Gateway Ambassador has demanded their release from custody which has been denied.

The Gateway Ambassador has stated that this whole kerfuffle is over a mere astronomical observation post designed to provide data on the stellar neighborhood, and for Project LONGBOW to assist in building a database of stellar objects. She has claimed that any accusations that the crew of the station are spies is completely false, and offensive towards the Gateway Federation. She has also demanded that the platform be returned to Gateway since it is the property of their science foundation. She declined to address why the station was heavily stealthed, and the computers were destroyed when the Marines boarded.

The Foreign Minister has declared six Gateway diplomats as Persona Non Grata has returned their passports, and has given them 96 hours to be off of Friedland. The Kaiser has canceled an invitation to the Prime Minister of Gateway over this discovery, the War Ministry has canceled joint naval exercises as well. The Foreign Minister has told GNS that this is an appalling, and horrific violation of Friedland’s sovereignty.

The Navy has been directed to complete a very detailed survey of the system to ensure that no other spy platforms are to be found in the Friedland system. The Freedonian Ambassador has backed up Friedland’s position, claiming that in light of this blatant violation of interstellar diplomacy, they have been informed that the Freedonian Navy and System Defense forces are now combing the Freedonian system for any spy platforms.

What this discovery will portend for future Gateway diplomacy with other worlds in the sector is unknown at this time, but we at GNS expect other worlds to start combing their systems for spy platforms placed there by Gateway. This appears to be a scandal that will not quickly die down or be swept under the rug. On Friedland, there is an open boycott of Gateway companies and products which could cost those corporations based on Gateway a great deal since Friedland is a major trading partner of the Federation.

The other question that has now come to light in view of the Gateway Ambassadors slip of the tongue, what exactly is Project LONGBOW really for? All attempts to clarify this statement with the ambassador has been met with a strong “No Comment”. Do not expect this story to die down soon, because the Friedland people and government are furious at this violation of their sovereignty.

The Gateway Embassy has been put on high security alert after an angry mob pelted the embassy with eggs, and garbage. Friedland Police have surrounded the embassy in light of the rioting and potential for violence. The Ambassador was struck by eggs as she left the Foreign Ministry, with police arresting eight people for the assault.

GNS has been told that the Kaiser will address the nation in the next few days to address what actions they are going to take in response to this blatant violation of the Friedland system by Gateway.

 

[Murph]

084-2511 Gateway News Service- Friedland

The Kaiser addressed the nation on the discovery of the huge Gateway spy apparatus in system. Here is the Kaiser’s address:

Nobles, Ritters, and Citizens of Friedland, I come before you tonight to address the discovery of a massive espionage apparatus which has been found in the Friedland System. Our gallant Navy discovered a large stealth station in a location which would normally preclude our forces discovering it. When our Navy approached, they found a stealth station with an extensive sensor net extending 20 kilometers from the station in all directions.

This station was capable of collecting all space traffic communications in our system. A ship which had just jumped in outside of the normal detection zone was also captured, but the crew set the self destruct systems, so this craft which was determined to be 500 tons in size. We were able to detect the station and vessel through the hard work of the Navy, but I cannot go into any details due to national security issues.

The Gateway crew of the station was able to initiate a self destruct of all the computer systems, so by the time we boarded the station, they had completed the destruction of their systems. Our brave Marines were able to secure the station before the self destruct systems could be activated. A science and intelligence party has been sent to the station, along with a tug to bring it closer into the system.

But, just this morning we found yet another base in our system, which contained approximately 125 operatives of the Gateway Intelligence Service. They have been arrested, with five of them being taken to the hospital due to resisting our brave Marines. This base appears to be a “node” for their operations. The crew were able to destroy the computers, and were in the process of destroying other equipment when our Marines breached the base, and stopped the destruction.

In light of this dreadful act on the part of Gateway, I have summoned the Gateway Ambassador. We have directed that the Gateway Embassy to explain these bases in our system. The Ambassador has asked for time to consult with Gateway, which I have allowed, but we have named a number of Gateway Diplomats as Persona Non Grata and ordered them expelled from Friedland space.

I have directed that all Gateway Shipping shall only enter the system at two designated points, and all others entering the Friedland system shall be declared as pirates, and dealt with appropriately. If they heave to and allow themselves to be boarded, after a search we will escort them to Friedland station where they will sign that they understand the rules before being let go. This is provided that we do not discover them to be espionage vessels. We are further pondering if we should embargo all Gateway Flagged vessels with the sole exceptions of Mail craft on proper routes, and McVickers Liners who use the Pony Express route, although even those liners will have to undergo a much stricter inspection upon arrival in the Friedland system, which will regrettably add three days to their schedule.

Gateway has violated our sovereignty in a way that cannot be overlooked. I have directed our Ambassador to hand to the Prime Minister a strong Note detailing our grievances and demanding an explanation of this criminal violation of the Friedland system. I have directed this day, that the Minister for Justice prosecute all those taken in our seizure of these spy stations, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

I have directed the Navy and Customs service to undertake a strict and detailed search of the Friedland system, as well as the Kormoran system to discover any other criminal enterprises that the Gateway Government has inflicted on the people of Friedland. My orders to the fleet command were clear and to the point. Any espionage facility, ship or station found will be ordered to surrender immediately, and not to slag their computers. If, upon boarding such, we find they have destroyed their computers, we will, from this point on, consider them to be pirates, which shall be dealt with as pirates are, by death.

I have sent messages to our friends and allies; Amaterasu, Freedonia, New Texas, Xanadu, Sutekh, St. Ekaterina, and New Joseon detailing all of the information we have obtained so far, with a request to let our Embassy know if they find any Gateway espionage facilities in their systems. I am requesting that the heads of state meet me on Friedland on 110 day to hold a conference so we can determine what actions we are going to take in regards to this criminal invasion of our system.

People of Friedland! I, your Kaiser, takes this matter extremely seriously, and we will respond appropriately as needed. We will await both an answer and the expected apology from Gateway over this violation of our beloved system. Thank you, and may God Bless Friedland and all who serve her. Goodnight.

Well, it appears that the Kaiser is very outraged at this, we have been told that based on some evidence found in the station this operation has been ongoing for at least 30 years, which has caused the Friedland Intelligence Service to begin assessing what might have been compromised during that time. Friedland appears to be taking this matter extremely seriously, but we noticed that the Kaiser was careful to not rattle too many sabers, instead demanding a diplomatic settlement, if possible, but hinting that things could go the other way depending on how Gateway responds.

If the government of Friedland embargoes all of the traffic moving through Friedland from Gateway, this will add weeks of travel as Gateway flagged vessels have to find alternate routes around Friedland. The economic cost would be high, and we at GNS cannot see the government of Gateway taking this lightly.

 

[Murph]

099-2511 Gateway News Service- Sutekh

The government of Sutekh has boarded five Gateway flagged vessels under threat of immediate destruction and subjected them to an exceptionally invasive search looking for possible espionage equipment. We are told that Sutekh System Defense Boats ordered the vessels to heave to under penalty of immediate destruction.

Armed Sutekh Marines then conducted a boarding action, with all of the crew herded into the mess hall while the ship was turned upside down in their search. The Marines told the crew that the slightest hesitation in obeying every single order would result in the immediate termination of their life essence. The Marines were equipped with lasers, PMGPs, and other weapons and were in combat armor.

After a complete search of the vessel, to include the fuel tanks, the ships were allowed to head to Sutekh downport escorted by a pinnace which had its weapons trained on the ship, which had instructions to follow the flight path or be destroyed. Once they were in dock, customs officials and more marines came on board and re-searched the vessels.

The Gateway Ambassador has filed a formal protest with the Sutekh Foreign Ministry, which responded with a short “Get stuffed”. A fleet directive orders all Sutekh ships that: All Gateway vessels entering Sutekh space will be searched and escorted to their destination due the discovery of the intelligence gathering base in the system.

King Dorian II has directed that the forces of Sutekh search each and every ship that even “smells suspicious” as he put it. He has authorized the use of force, to include deadly force for those ships which refuse to cooperate with Sutekh forces. We are told that the Sutekh authorities are taking this discovery as just short of an actual declaration of war upon Sutekh by Gateway. The RSMM has been directed be prepared in case Gateway ups the ante in the future.

 

[Murph]

103-2511 Gateway News Service- Gateway

The Prime Minister had finally addressed the Gateway Federation regarding the ongoing scandal of the intelligence gathering stations found in other systems.

PM: People of the Gateway Federation, I have just been made aware of an old and ongoing intelligence operation which was placed in other systems beginning in 2455 by the Gateway Loyalist government. The stations were slowly placed over the decades in a number of systems, which for national security reasons, I cannot address at this time.

However, I have been assured that those who placed the stations are no longer in the service of the Gateway Federation, with a number of them having been arrested for other criminal actions. Placing these stations in the sovereign territory of worlds that we have good relations, is, in retrospect, perhaps a not ideal situation which has rebounded not necessarily to the benefit of the Gateway Federation. I have been informed that these stations were necessary to assist in our diplomatic efforts to show the friendship of the Gateway Federation to all worlds near and far.

I want to assure those world who have discovered such stations, that the Gateway Federation might have been somewhat misguided in its zeal to treat its neighbors in such a manner which has regrettably caused a level of miss directed annoyance towards the Gateway Federation due to a lack of clarity as to the purpose of these stations which I understand as being possibly justified in light of the discoveries which have come to light but without the proper context to understand the reality of their placement.

But I want to assure the worlds of the Far Frontiers Sector, that there was no ill intent on the part of the Gateway Federation, merely an excess of zeal on the part of some misguided agents and officials in a few offices of the Gateway Federation in their attempt to better understand each of our friends. Those officials who remained have been removed from those offices, and we want to assure all those worlds that we completely respect their territorial integrity and cultural values.

I have ordered a complete review of these old stations, which, again, were placed long before my administration took over the leadership of the Gateway Federation. They were a project of the Gateway Loyalists and their minions who were more interested in doing things that I find should not have been done by the Federation after sober reflection, and much soul searching. I have asked that the Minister of Justice determine what charges, if any, are appropriate for those involved in this matter.

I would like to assure those governments and systems affected by this, that upon our discovery of this regrettable incident, I have directed that steps be taken to ensure that our relationships with our neighbors remains a cornerstone of interstellar amity. So please rest assured that the Gateway Federation is always desirous of good relations, and so would like to express our sincere regret over this matter, which in the larger scheme of things, is a very minor incident which should not cause any breakdown in interstellar diplomacy. And so I close with a wish that this minor incident not get in the way of the Big Picture.

Well, there you have it folks, the PM has addressed the issue, and it appears that the Gateway Loyalists, and need it be said that its paymasters in GeneCo were using these stations to gather information on all the planets around Gateway. A source close to the information tells us that anything that the stations brought in, was duplicated and passed on to GeneCo contacts.

This just goes to show that the work of digging out the GeneCo and it supporters that have burrowed so deeply inside of the Gateway government is an ongoing process. We will keep you informed as to updates on this evolving story.

 

[Murph]

110-2511 Gateway News Service- New Paris

The Jewel of India liner, an early King Richard class liner, has arrived, on what is expected to be her last voyage before heading to the breakers. The Jewel of India, decorated in the classic Muhgal style of a Maharajah’s Palace has been a standard bearer for the McVickers lines on the Gateway to New Paris run for almost two decades now.

The Jewel of India suffered a pirate attack back in 2507, which caused some systems damage to the ship, but it is mostly remembered for its famed accident in 2499 when it exited jump space in the Freedonia system, and struck a large piece of space debris, which depressurized portions of the forward section of the hull, causing the deaths of 87 passengers and crew, shutting down power, life support, and engines.

The accident was horrific, and could have been fatal, but for the training the crew had undergone prevented further disaster, and they were able after a hard 28 hours get the drive up to provide .25g thrust, the life support systems back in full operation, the galley serving hot food, and the grav plates back on so that the ship was able to finally limp into Freedonia orbit. Space Investigators determined that only the well trained and experienced crew allowed the ship to survive such a devastating accident, which would have caused any other ship to be completely lost. This proves that the harsh and demanding McVickers training course for all crews pays steep dividends when an unforeseen accident occurs.

The then Captain of the Jewel, Paul Underwood has gone on to captain several other vessels, and at his special request he has been allowed to captain his old ship for her last voyage so that he could bid farewell to what he has referred to as “The Best Darn Ship in the McVickers Fleet, and the best crew a captain could ever ask for!” Many of the surviving crew who are still with the company have signed on for this last voyage.

Certainly a bittersweet moment for the McVickers/Liao Line family, the Jewel of India will be replaced by the Glory of the Tsars on the Gateway to New Paris run after this trip is completed. The King Richard class of liners is the top of the luxury space travel pyramid in this sector, with ships averaging 99+% capacity for each trip. If you can afford a trip on a King Richard, you will never be disappointed. The lead ship the King Richard is now used for training by McVickers in the Gateway System, and it seldom jumps further than Ember these days.