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Far Frontiers Gateway sector

156-2508 Gateway News Service- Rama

The Rama Racing Commission announced that the new route will, in addition to those favorite stops for the racers, Abishek's Dhaba, and Bruce's Billabong, also stop at Bachan's Village, Mukerji's place on the upper Thapa River, and Zinta station where there will be food, fuel, rest and beer. Other stops are to be determined. The additional distance and navigational difficulties are already the subject of some controversy among racing teams. The race will begin on the first day of High Spring on Rama which will be 210 day. By this time the winter blizzards and severe storms will mostly be over, as will be the expected flooding since this years snow pack is thicker than normal.

Betting is going on as each team is working to develop new strategies towards the new race route and the limitation on navigational aids. So far this year 212 teams have signed up, including teams from Cheval Enterprises, The Royal Sutekh Merchant Marine, Thevins Corporation, The Gateway Corporation, BEI, New Texas Arms, New Joseon Foods, as well as planetary teams. The Freedonian Team has gone into seclusion, apparently testing their new vehicles, which we are being told are based on the New Texas Motors racing systems, but with special modifications. It looks like this new race season will be a big one for everyone.

We have been told that the Sutekh planetary team is already on planet, and is testing out their vehicles which are specially modified Cheval Motors Master Mk IX race vehicles. Security is tight around the vehicles to prevent too close a look at the vehicles as they are worked on by the pit crews. Teams are scheduled to start arriving this week, with most wanting to be on planet at least two weeks before the race is set to start.
 
That's pretty cool.

The GAATV is not a grav vehicle per se, its used to lower the ground pressure, like Legolas walking on the snow.

The funny thing is that, maybe, utilizing the grav feature, the vehicle could "walk on water", maybe just enough buoyancy in the large tires to let it traverse calm lakes and such.

But, if in the middle of the lake, you turn the grav assist off, well, them you get the second version. The Submerged ATV (not quite as useful as the Submersible ATV).

Of course the real issue is, if you have the grav assist, why use wheels at all.
 
161-2508 Gateway News Service- New Texas

BEI Inc, the famed arms maker was the victim of a hostile take over attempt, as Dragonfell Interstellar, and van Doorn Investments had purchased 7% of the outstanding stock in BEI, and put it before the board that they were offering 51.62 New Texas dollars per share, which was more than the current trading price of 50.15 per share. The board made the offer public, with the two companies continuing to purchase shares during this period.

Quick research by board members showed that both companies were chartered on New Drakkensburg, so a counter offer was quickly made for 52 New Texas Dollars per share for a group of investors which included Bilmont Cockvalve, New Texas Arms, Sergei Romanov, Cleaners Inc, Dorian Cheval, and several others.

Dragonfell and van Doorn countered with an offer of 52.30 per share, which sparked a frenzy on the market, with the counter investors having to raise their share offer to 54 NTD per share. Finally the government declared trading halted for the day, to allow the market to cool off. The New Texas government declared that BEI, as a major arms company was "critical infrastructure" and blocked any sale to New Drakkensburg chartered companies. This caused the sale price of BEI stock to decline to 46.75 per share, and initiated a sell off by investors.

The New Texas Commerce Bank quickly stepped in, and purchased 70,000 shares, causing the price to rebound to 50 even. Dragonfell Interstellar and van Doorn filed suit in New Texas court protesting the action of the New Texas government and asking for an immediate emergency injunction to allow them the right to purchase BEI at the original offering price. The court declined, and set an initial hearing date for 180-2508.

This appears to be a new tactic by New Drakkensburg to get their hands on advanced technology since they are under an embargo by most worlds in the sector. Financial reporters are concerned with the possibility of the sale, but admit that since they legally own at this time 7.8% of all BEI stock, the case will set a precedent in court. The court did also put a hold on any sale of BEI until it makes a final ruling.
 
162-2508 Gateway News Service- Han Shan

A ship of the Alien Life Forms (ALF) has entered the system and sent the following message to the waiting merchants:

NORRZZORP! NORRZZORP! ALL THE UNSIGHTLY SOFT ONES, BE AWARE WE HAVE RETURNED TO CONDUCT TRADE WITH YOU. AT THIS TIME WE ARE OFFERING VALUABLE COMMODITIES IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR WORTHLESS PRODUCTS. WE WILL MEET IN ORBIT OF THE SACRED LANDS OF FUMGOZZLING THERE TO EXCHANGE GOODS.

YOUR REQUEST FOR VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS IS DENIED BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SPECTACULAR SELF IMMOLATION AFTER GAZING UPON OUR FORMS WHICH WILL CAUSE YOU TO COMBUST DUE TO OUR SHEER AWESOMENESS. THEREFORE THE REQUEST IS DENIED. MEET US IN 14 BLORBS TO COMMENCE THE TRANSFER OF GOODS. WE OFFER GOOD PRICE AND GOOD QUALITY MERCHANDISE TO THE FOUL SOFT ONES. MESSAGE ENDS.
 
Murph said:
162-2508 Gateway News Service- Han Shan

A ship of the Alien Life Forms (ALF) has entered the system and sent the following message to the waiting merchants:

NORRZZORP! NORRZZORP! ALL THE UNSIGHTLY SOFT ONES, BE AWARE WE HAVE RETURNED TO CONDUCT TRADE WITH YOU. AT THIS TIME WE ARE OFFERING VALUABLE COMMODITIES IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR WORTHLESS PRODUCTS. WE WILL MEET IN ORBIT OF THE SACRED LANDS OF FUMGOZZLING THERE TO EXCHANGE GOODS.

YOUR REQUEST FOR VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS IS DENIED BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SPECTACULAR SELF IMMOLATION AFTER GAZING UPON OUR FORMS WHICH WILL CAUSE YOU TO COMBUST DUE TO OUR SHEER AWESOMENESS. THEREFORE THE REQUEST IS DENIED. MEET US IN 14 BLORBS TO COMMENCE THE TRANSFER OF GOODS. WE OFFER GOOD PRICE AND GOOD QUALITY MERCHANDISE TO THE FOUL SOFT ONES. MESSAGE ENDS.
Click to expand...
I guess a sort of Star Trek Medusan in reverse. Or alien teenagers pulling a prank, not really sure.
 
coliver988 said:
I guess a sort of Star Trek Medusan in reverse. Or alien teenagers pulling a prank, not really sure.
Click to expand...
They are a exotic atmosphere breathing life form, that passes through three stages: larvae, juvenile (a ferocious eating and killing machine), and adult. The adults are large, contemplative Combat Philosophers, who speak in CAPITAL LETTERS, and have an ego problem with the soft carbon based, oxygen breathing life forms. They are essentially a McGuffin.
 
From a response to an email from one of the Traveller guys in my little group that had comments on the Special report #5, which is attached.

Well, think about it, what do they do with their families? I suspect most of their families stay on the units base on Coffeeville, mostly likely the larger units, and the smaller units might also do that as well. The larger merc units DO have retirement and pensions for their troops, almost like any other corporation. Remember there are banks involved, and a member of one of the larger Merc units can opt to have money set aside for a "retirement" after 25-30 years. They are contractors, and have a corporate structure in some ways since they have lawyers, business people whose purpose is to find contracts. The unit (the larger ones) which are well established also have hospitalization, and medical insurance/disability paid out of contract prices, again handled by the banks and mercenary broker companies (at least the larger and more reliable ones).

They are not just military units, they are fully operating corporate entities. Now individual mercs are sort of like you, on their own in terms of medical, disability, retirement, etc. I took a look at Renaissance Italy and the mercenary units that operated there like the Condittore units. Or the mercenary companies in the 30 years war, they were businesses. They were actually a business, not just hack and slashers. I can see outfits like Omega Tech acting as "Mercenary brokers and support structures" for the larger units. The term "Camp follower" had big meaning to the mercenaries of the Renaissance. Or the Pournelle Co-Dominum mercenaries like Falkenburg's Legion.

By larger units, I am thinking company (100+) size and better. The really big ones have their own infrastructure, as well as their own ships to carry them about. Most merc units have 5 year "enlistments" or work contracts, and the individual merc can "re-enlist" at the end if the commander is good and brings in the money. Coffeeville is making bank offering support structures for the merc units at very attractive prices. There is a huge industry for supporting the mercenary trade there. Plus by home basing on Coffeeville, your taxes are low, the world protects your dependents, etc. So instead of paying taxes on each world where you work, you pay on Coffeeville, which they like since it brings in a nice chunk of change, and all the Swiss and other banks have branches on Coffeeville.

Also all the large arms makers have offices on Coffeeville, where they can sell weapons to the mercs, and just incidentally, to the Coffeeville Army. Additionally those Merc units which are physically on Coffeeville are declared part of the Coffeeville "National Guard" in case of emergencies. This is a win win for both sides, since it gives mercs a bit of legal standing. Remember Combat Attorneys. Plus the economy of Coffeeville makes a decent chunk of change off of what the mercs purchase on planet. So neither side wants to really do anything to hurt a good thing.

Some mercenary units do very well for themselves, and are as well equipped as some national armies, but, and here is the difference; the mercenary owns their equipment, so if it gets blown up real good, they are out that and have to get the money to replace the gear. National armies not so much, the government just buys them new toys. This is something we do not think about too much when working on mercenary units. Most of the time we think they are one and done sort of things, rather than long term units.
 

Attachments

174-2508 Gateway News Service- Gateway

The Galloping Gourmet awards are taking submissions for its tri-annual best of the best dining establishments in the sector. The rules are that the places nominated, have to be a) affordable, b) quality food, and c) are not chains. So by setting these rules, the Awards have started showcasing some of the better small Mom and Pop eating houses across the sector. It is seldom that a place wins twice in a row, but not unheard of.

The secret inspectors show up and start dining, checking out the quality, quantity, flavor, service, and overall atmosphere of the places. The winner the last time around, The Dirty Duck in Outer Slobbovia on Marduk was hands down the best of the best, with their Spicy Masamun Curry, and the side of Texas style brisket spring rolls with the hot and spicy garlic-chili dipping sauce.

The new results should be out this year a bit later, and some of the winning entries are new and worth a trip no matter where you are located. Foodies everywhere are looking forward to the new awards so they can head out on food pilgrimages across the sector.
 
176-2508 Gateway News Service- Wayfarer Belt

"Tater Tots" Johnson, and "Puddin' Pop" Gomez were arraigned today in Magistrate's Court on Belt station #5 after an investigation by the Space Safety Administration, New Texas Rangers, and the New Texas Revenue Service showed that these two foul varmits had been involved in some "claim jumping" incidents in the belt. At the time of their arrest, their ship was filled with a cargo of ore that Mr. Jack "Hot Pockets" Suarez claimed had come from his legally licensed asteroid mining operation.

The Rangers and others have been involved in months of investigations after allegations surfaced that claim jumping, cargo jacking, and other criminal offenses were on the rise in the belt. The two Johnson and Gomez are well known in the belt as untrustworthy folks who always seem to "hit it rich" despite oddly not seeming to have to work very hard at it. Their ship, the Silver Dollar Sally has been impounded by order of the judge in this case.

Legal observers, though think that with the composition of the juries here in the belt it is going to be unlikely that the two will get a fair trial, so it is most likely that the case will get remanded to New Texas, where the evidence is considered not as strong as law enforcement and prosecutors would prefer. The two men have been released on 100,000 New Texas dollar bonds each. Both are restricted to Station #5, and have been banned from accessing their vessel, except under armed guard.
 
179-2508 Gateway News Service- New Texass

We are having a great deal of lifeform news, New Texas has issued warnings that hydra attacks are on the increase all along the coastlines, and up the major rivers. While anti-hydra barriers deter the larger ones, the larval stage can often times get through the barriers, and once in a river, are able to grow up to 10 meters in length for its body, and 10-20 meters in length for the tentacles.

As all our readers know, the New Texas Hydra is an exceptionally dangerous creature, which has a scorpion like sting concealed on its back, which can “pop” out and extend up to five meters beyond the face of the hydra. As one of the most dangerous critters on New Texas, the hydra is given a great deal of respect by all old timers. While mainly a salt water creature, it can travel up to 100 kilometers up rivers, and live in brackish water for quite some time.

The first colonists attempted to eradicate the hydra, but then discovered that the hydra is one of the primary predators for several of the most destructive pests on New Texas, so they were placed on the protected list because other methods of controlling the Land lice, and New Texas Juneybug were less than effective. Hydra’s will eat the Land Lice, and Juneybugs in preference to any other prey. Since both pests tend to spend time near water, they are easy prey for the hydra.

Anti-Hydra barriers are 98% effective, but once more New Texas Authorities are requesting all citizens to follow good safety precautions around rivers and the coast. Areas which are commonly patrolled, and have barriers installed are generally safe for swimming, but once more Hydras are able to travel quite some distance from the sea so unless the area is specifically noted as “Hydra free”, caution is advised.

As the hydra is an opportunistic predator, and is not adverse to extending its tentacles out of the water to grab prey along the shore. The hydra sting is fast acting, exceptionally painful, and contains both a paralytic agent, and a reducing agent to help liquify its food, it is advised to call Emergency Services immediately, and if possible use one of the more commonly available anti-venom kits which are sold in drug stores everywhere on New Texas.

Hydras tend to be found in warm climates, and warm water, so anything too far north of the equator sees fewer hydras as a general rule, but this does not mean that they are not there, in 2496 a Hydra was seen attached to a New Texas whale just below the Arctic, although admittedly it was in a warm stream of water.

Authorities are telling us that there is an increase in hydra attacks this year, as more tourists and recent immigrants have arrived who are not familiar with the New Texas Hydra and its biome. The New Texas authorities are putting out a new Public Service announcement regarding the New Texas Hydra.
 
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183-2508 Gateway News Service- Gateway

Staff at Delta Computer Services, a medium sized computer systems firm in Lotharville got quite the shock when they opened for business this morning, when they found a co-worker behind one of the latest Interstellar Business Machines Cyberdecks apparently brain fried. The employee, Osric Vanupadakorn was the night system operator with the company and had been employed by them for the last year. He was known as a quiet, reserved sort, who did not make many friends at the company due to his lack of social skills. By all accounts he was a solid, dependable sort, and had only recently been allowed unsupervised access to the systems. His manager was out with a case of Tyronian Trots that night, and so he was the only staffer on duty.

The manner of death reminds police of the still unsolved murder of Mr. Lysander Alexios of Winklebar Services back in 2506. Rumors are that there are more than a few similarities in the deaths. It appears, according to our source in the Police Service that Mr. Vanupadakorn was using illegal software in an attempt to hack into the Cheval Enterprises servers when he was hit with a Black ICE program. Our source is calling it the "Soulkiller" program, which has been rumored to have been developed by a hacker only known as the Red Widow, with the program allegedly able to suck the very soul of a hacker into the net.

The cause of death is being officially listed as unknown, suspected foul play at this time while investigations are ongoing. The police have sequestered the cyberdeck the late Mr. Vanupadakorn was using, and are using the most strict protocols to attempt to locate the killer and where the Black ICE came from.

The source tells us that the ICE first seized Vanupadakorn's cyberdeck, preventing him from disconnecting, and then as our source put it: "Turned his brain box into Silly Putty". Rumors have been floating about that "Soulkiller" was offered on the black market, but the person who wrote it and tried to sell it suffered an "accident", a fatal one.

Police have also sent teams to Cheval Enterprises to seek the companies cooperation in this investigation. The System Manager for Cheval Enterprises has provided full support to the police, and claim that their SyOps detected an attempted intrusion coming from outside of their data fortress, but the hacker was stymied by their, completely legal, ICE programs. So far police are unable to determine where the attack which killed Mr. Vanupadakorn originated, or what was the motive for the attack on him.

We are being told that Mr. Osric Vanupadakorn is not the real name of the deceased, but instead it is Hiroshi Odinsson who was formerly employed by the Bank of Gateway where he was fired after allegations of illegal hacking surfaced. Not enough evidence to prosecute was obtained, but the bank terminated his employment anyway.

A search of his apartment found vast amounts of cyber gear, three cyberdecks, to include a Interstellar Business Machines 6800, which is one of the better cyberdecks and is extremely customizable. It is a preferred cyberdeck for the hacker subculture despite its high price. An SGI-Zetatech combat cyberdeck was also found, which had been reported as stolen by the Gateway military. Police are being quiet on everything they have found, but we are reliably told that forensic investigators are shocked at what they have found so far.
 
184-2508 Gateway News Service- New Texas

The crew of the Silver Dawn have arrived on New Texas to an overflow crowd of well wishers, celebrities, and others who wanted to welcome the crew as they "came home". The crew has shown remarkable signs of mental recovery, thanks to the efforts of the Sutekh medical staff on the station who took excellent care of the ancient astronauts.

The New Texas congress has passed, and the President has signed a bill granting them back pay for the entire time they were missing. While still suffering to some extent with "Temporal Adjustment Syndrome", the crew seems to be looking forward to settling down on New Texas. The hefty payment of all back pay for all the crew members, which ranges from 5,500,000 stellars, to 12,000,000 stellars in today's dollars. Plus they have been granted official New Texas citizenship, which was only a formality since New Texas claims unbroken descent from Texas, and if the gate ever is re-opened, New Texas will become part of Texas again.

The ship has been transported to New Texas, with a museum complex being constructed for it to be opened to the public. Once the construction is complete, the entire ship will be slowly lowered from orbit and placed in the museum of Space Exploration. The crew has been inundated by both Vid offers, as well as ghost writers wanting to tell their story. The data from the ship is being shared with Sutekh and any other world which would like access.
 
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