101-2509 Gateway News Service- New Paris
In a move that is raising eyebrows, all five of the Star Lord class colony vessels which were caught on this side of the gate have been spotted in New Paris orbit. Now these ships were originally built to haul large numbers of colonists through the gate for national colonies, and as such each one can haul 50,000 colonists in cold sleep, and deliver 500,000 tons of cargo with the parasite craft on each ship. Continually upgraded over the years from their original TL 9/10 build, they are now equipped with J3 engines, and more modern equipment.
These craft are extremely rare and valuable since they represent the ability to haul large numbers of initial colonists over long distances. Two of them were used to transport colonists from Gateway to the Outlands, three were used to evacuate the residents of Han Shan, so they are considered critical to the sector. Originally built at the Watson/Hansen yards on old Terra, the ships are split among colonies: Gateway (2), Xanadu (1), Amaterasu (1), Friedland (1).
Never before have all five been in one location. There are only two docks large enough to perform maintenance on these vessels, one on Gateway, and one on Amaterasu. The cost of hiring one, much less five staggers the imagination. We have asked why they are there, and are being told NO COMMENT by the government of President Bonaparte. Where New Paris got the money to hire these ships is unknown, since all experts are telling us that there is no way New Paris can afford to hire these ships.
Security is exceptionally tight around the starport and the orbital area where the ships are located. We have seen shuttles going back and forth day and night from the surface to the ships. We are told by a source, who is speaking on condition of complete anonymity that the ships had loaded on masses of cargo before departing Gateway and Amaterasu. The contract for these ships is sealed and no one will speak as to who or what is the mission or the person contracting the ships.
