King Midas
SOC-9
Channeling Keith Laumer here? 
Far Frontiers Gateway sector
- Thread starter Murph
- Start date
225-2508 Gateway News Service- New Paris
Ms. Cheri van Bluefenschmidt has vanished from sight. She was last seen at a charity event for the victims of violent crime on 120-2508, wearing one of her spectacular Cloudwear dresses, which had thunderstorms complete with lightning in strategic locals. She was accosted by one of the attendees who asked how she could have the audacity to even show her face and she replied: “De l'audace ? Moralité? Ce ne sont pas des choses dont je dois m'inquiéter. Quand on est aussi riche que moi, aussi beau que moi et aussi bien connecté que moi, de telles choses sont pour le prolétariat, pas pour la noblesse comme moi..” (Audacity? Morality? Those are not things that I have to worry about. When you are as rich as I am, as beautiful as I am, and as well connected as I am, such things are for the proletariat, not for the nobility like me..)
She was seen presiding over her “court” of sycophants before leaving in the company of the most delectable young man, who we suspect will be another amuse bouche for the Red Widow, hopefully he will not suffer like all the others. She was seen leaving with the young man in tow, obviously for a night of sport.
She did not return to her 400th floor penthouse apartment that evening, her servants, being used to her peccadilloes, did not report her missing for a full three New Parisian days (75 Terran standard hours), police swarmed the home, and took all her servants in for questioning. The attendees at the party were also questioned, and none of them recalled knowing anything about the exceptionally handsome and well dressed young man who was at the party.
Video shows Ms. Van Bluefenschmidt being rather forward in her attentions with the young man, and the two leaving the hotel where the event was being held, and getting into her Citroen which headed off towards the downtown area. Video shows the vehicle entering the parking area of the Hotel New Meurice which suffered a security camera malfunction, along with the security systems in a three block area around the hotel.
Hotel staff deny that she checked in at all, and no one can report seeing her enter the hotel, since when Cheri van Bluefenschmidt enters a hotel, she makes an “ENTRANCE”. Police are checking all departing starships and has issued a level one locate and find order per President Vert D’Argent who is apparently beside himself over the disappearance of van Bluefenschmidt.
Ms. Cheri van Bluefenschmidt has vanished from sight. She was last seen at a charity event for the victims of violent crime on 120-2508, wearing one of her spectacular Cloudwear dresses, which had thunderstorms complete with lightning in strategic locals. She was accosted by one of the attendees who asked how she could have the audacity to even show her face and she replied: “De l'audace ? Moralité? Ce ne sont pas des choses dont je dois m'inquiéter. Quand on est aussi riche que moi, aussi beau que moi et aussi bien connecté que moi, de telles choses sont pour le prolétariat, pas pour la noblesse comme moi..” (Audacity? Morality? Those are not things that I have to worry about. When you are as rich as I am, as beautiful as I am, and as well connected as I am, such things are for the proletariat, not for the nobility like me..)
She was seen presiding over her “court” of sycophants before leaving in the company of the most delectable young man, who we suspect will be another amuse bouche for the Red Widow, hopefully he will not suffer like all the others. She was seen leaving with the young man in tow, obviously for a night of sport.
She did not return to her 400th floor penthouse apartment that evening, her servants, being used to her peccadilloes, did not report her missing for a full three New Parisian days (75 Terran standard hours), police swarmed the home, and took all her servants in for questioning. The attendees at the party were also questioned, and none of them recalled knowing anything about the exceptionally handsome and well dressed young man who was at the party.
Video shows Ms. Van Bluefenschmidt being rather forward in her attentions with the young man, and the two leaving the hotel where the event was being held, and getting into her Citroen which headed off towards the downtown area. Video shows the vehicle entering the parking area of the Hotel New Meurice which suffered a security camera malfunction, along with the security systems in a three block area around the hotel.
Hotel staff deny that she checked in at all, and no one can report seeing her enter the hotel, since when Cheri van Bluefenschmidt enters a hotel, she makes an “ENTRANCE”. Police are checking all departing starships and has issued a level one locate and find order per President Vert D’Argent who is apparently beside himself over the disappearance of van Bluefenschmidt.
A little bit. Mostly channeling mindless bureaucrat speak.Channeling Keith Laumer here?
238-2508 Gateway News Service- Nidhogg
A geological survey party which was exploring the daylight side hot zone came to grief. It appears that the survey vehicle drove onto a lake of molten sulfur, and the allegedly solid crust, which collapsed and caused the vehicle to founder in the lake. An emergency distress call was received from the crew indicating they were in distress.
An emergency response vessel from Omega Tech at the starport responded but was too late by the time it arrived the survey ATV had sunk with the crew being lost. This is the seventh survey party lost in the last decade as they were trying to locate valuable finds which are predicted to exist but have not yet been found. Search and Rescue teams were able to locate the ATV, but the heat, and molten sulfur precluded a recovery at this time. Additional resources are being staged to attempt to recover the vehicle and remains of the geologists.
The party was working under contract to Lorimer and Zhadanov Minerals and Exploration which is a company based out of St. Ekaterina. They have been active in the surveying of Nidhogg under contract with several of the small mining groups. They were responsible for the Hijime Mine find on the Cold Wall area which has been the source of large amounts of platinum and platinum group metals.
Nidhogg is a tidally locked planet to a F class star, with a narrow habitable band between the hot and cold sides. The population subsists on mining, and some farming/harvesting of plants in the swampy regions which provide the basis for several medicines. Nidhogg is also the source of the deadly narcotic Nidhogg Green, which is 100% addictive and always fatal in the long run.
A geological survey party which was exploring the daylight side hot zone came to grief. It appears that the survey vehicle drove onto a lake of molten sulfur, and the allegedly solid crust, which collapsed and caused the vehicle to founder in the lake. An emergency distress call was received from the crew indicating they were in distress.
An emergency response vessel from Omega Tech at the starport responded but was too late by the time it arrived the survey ATV had sunk with the crew being lost. This is the seventh survey party lost in the last decade as they were trying to locate valuable finds which are predicted to exist but have not yet been found. Search and Rescue teams were able to locate the ATV, but the heat, and molten sulfur precluded a recovery at this time. Additional resources are being staged to attempt to recover the vehicle and remains of the geologists.
The party was working under contract to Lorimer and Zhadanov Minerals and Exploration which is a company based out of St. Ekaterina. They have been active in the surveying of Nidhogg under contract with several of the small mining groups. They were responsible for the Hijime Mine find on the Cold Wall area which has been the source of large amounts of platinum and platinum group metals.
Nidhogg is a tidally locked planet to a F class star, with a narrow habitable band between the hot and cold sides. The population subsists on mining, and some farming/harvesting of plants in the swampy regions which provide the basis for several medicines. Nidhogg is also the source of the deadly narcotic Nidhogg Green, which is 100% addictive and always fatal in the long run.
244-2508 Gateway News Service- Esperanza
The increase in tourists arriving to visit the famed Esperanza Onsen and Vineyards has caused McVickers Lines to discuss adding Esperanza to their routes for passenger ships. In fact we are being told that discussions are happening at the highest levels of the company to move one of the famed King Richard class liners, possibly the Glory of Nippon which travels along the Gateway > Amaterasu route, to the new route which would pass through Amaterasu then a single Jump 3 to Esperanza.
This potential addition of a King Richard class liner has been greeted with great and resounding joy since any planet which gets put on the route for a visit from a King Richard class ship sees a substantial increase in space traffic with all of its expected benefits. We spoke with Senior Vice President in charge of the King Richard division, and he told us that talks were in progress to ensure that a ship of that status would be able to safely, comfortably, and securely move itself and its passengers to and from the planet in a manner consistent with the level of service people expect from a King Richard class ship.
Even New Quebec has expressed an interest in this move, and we are being told that a further 1,500 citizens of New Quebec who had previously wanted to move off world have backed out after this news arrived. If this comes to fruition, then having Esperanza on a King Richard route will put this planet on the map in a big way.
The increase in tourists arriving to visit the famed Esperanza Onsen and Vineyards has caused McVickers Lines to discuss adding Esperanza to their routes for passenger ships. In fact we are being told that discussions are happening at the highest levels of the company to move one of the famed King Richard class liners, possibly the Glory of Nippon which travels along the Gateway > Amaterasu route, to the new route which would pass through Amaterasu then a single Jump 3 to Esperanza.
This potential addition of a King Richard class liner has been greeted with great and resounding joy since any planet which gets put on the route for a visit from a King Richard class ship sees a substantial increase in space traffic with all of its expected benefits. We spoke with Senior Vice President in charge of the King Richard division, and he told us that talks were in progress to ensure that a ship of that status would be able to safely, comfortably, and securely move itself and its passengers to and from the planet in a manner consistent with the level of service people expect from a King Richard class ship.
Even New Quebec has expressed an interest in this move, and we are being told that a further 1,500 citizens of New Quebec who had previously wanted to move off world have backed out after this news arrived. If this comes to fruition, then having Esperanza on a King Richard route will put this planet on the map in a big way.
246-2508 Gateway News Service- Gateway
A joint venture between Chandra Yards and the Gateway Yards was signed today where Chandra yards will provide modules to the Gateway Yards for their King Richard II class liners which are going to be laid down in the next 12-18 months with an anticipated 36 month building time. The joint venture between the two yards, with Chandra providing security systems, internal defense systems, and the docking bay modules will cut the time of construction from 48 months.
Interstellar Business Machines will be providing the computer and sensor systems for the ships using their Quantum 6000 systems as a basis for the upgraded computer system over that installed in the current King Richard class which is the Quantum 4000 system. The AI has been substantially improved, and along with human monitoring will provide a next generation level of service according to Gateway Yards and Interstellar Business Machines.
The new King Richard class liners will be brought in at an estimated 6,800 tons with a passenger capacity of 240+ in some of the most luxurious staterooms yet made. The famed ships interior design firm of Montalvo et Cie has been selected to work on the ships. McVickers Lines who operates the King Richard tells us that they anticipate orders for an even dozen ships. As the new ships come into service, the existing King Richard Liners will be either sold, or relegated to secondary, but still important routes.
A joint venture between Chandra Yards and the Gateway Yards was signed today where Chandra yards will provide modules to the Gateway Yards for their King Richard II class liners which are going to be laid down in the next 12-18 months with an anticipated 36 month building time. The joint venture between the two yards, with Chandra providing security systems, internal defense systems, and the docking bay modules will cut the time of construction from 48 months.
Interstellar Business Machines will be providing the computer and sensor systems for the ships using their Quantum 6000 systems as a basis for the upgraded computer system over that installed in the current King Richard class which is the Quantum 4000 system. The AI has been substantially improved, and along with human monitoring will provide a next generation level of service according to Gateway Yards and Interstellar Business Machines.
The new King Richard class liners will be brought in at an estimated 6,800 tons with a passenger capacity of 240+ in some of the most luxurious staterooms yet made. The famed ships interior design firm of Montalvo et Cie has been selected to work on the ships. McVickers Lines who operates the King Richard tells us that they anticipate orders for an even dozen ships. As the new ships come into service, the existing King Richard Liners will be either sold, or relegated to secondary, but still important routes.
249-2508 Gateway News Service- Rama
A massive sand storm blew up, and three teams came to grief as they attempted to push on, and make up time. The Galaxy Metals Trekkers, the New Avalon Kingmakers, and the Friedland Sternshiffewerk PanzerNuss all ended up wrecking in the rocky desert area, as they tried to push forward to get back into the lead.
The current leader of the pack is the Sutekh Elder Gods by a mere 10 minutes and 5 kilometers, the Dustball Whirlwinds are on their tail and look to be giving the Sutekh team a run for their money. The Xanadu Pop-Tops have made up time and are within shouting distance of the leaders of the race. They are closely followed by the Gateway Dancing Lights, the McVickers Line Starcruisers, and the BEI blasters. All of these teams managed to close the gap, but at a dangerous pace, taking chances which have already caused other teams to fall back with damaged vehicles.
We are down to 200 teams right now, and we are not even too far into the race. The new course has proven to be as challenging as expected, with some teams calling it the worst terrain and weather they have yet encountered on the race. Most teams are excited at the new route since it is challenging them to be inventive, and push themselves hard.
We are coming up on a mandatory stop at Lal's Crossing over the Udaipur river, where the racers will have a 48 down time to check, repair, refresh, and change crews as needed. The Search and Rescue squads have been busy, with the number of broken down vehicles as evidence of the difficulty of this race. So far it is anyone's race with teams rapidly gaining and losing ground. Some of the worst is yet to come as the route starts to head north around the Alpha sea. The weather in the higher latitudes has been frightful, although predicted to abate somewhat as the racers move north.
A massive sand storm blew up, and three teams came to grief as they attempted to push on, and make up time. The Galaxy Metals Trekkers, the New Avalon Kingmakers, and the Friedland Sternshiffewerk PanzerNuss all ended up wrecking in the rocky desert area, as they tried to push forward to get back into the lead.
The current leader of the pack is the Sutekh Elder Gods by a mere 10 minutes and 5 kilometers, the Dustball Whirlwinds are on their tail and look to be giving the Sutekh team a run for their money. The Xanadu Pop-Tops have made up time and are within shouting distance of the leaders of the race. They are closely followed by the Gateway Dancing Lights, the McVickers Line Starcruisers, and the BEI blasters. All of these teams managed to close the gap, but at a dangerous pace, taking chances which have already caused other teams to fall back with damaged vehicles.
We are down to 200 teams right now, and we are not even too far into the race. The new course has proven to be as challenging as expected, with some teams calling it the worst terrain and weather they have yet encountered on the race. Most teams are excited at the new route since it is challenging them to be inventive, and push themselves hard.
We are coming up on a mandatory stop at Lal's Crossing over the Udaipur river, where the racers will have a 48 down time to check, repair, refresh, and change crews as needed. The Search and Rescue squads have been busy, with the number of broken down vehicles as evidence of the difficulty of this race. So far it is anyone's race with teams rapidly gaining and losing ground. Some of the worst is yet to come as the route starts to head north around the Alpha sea. The weather in the higher latitudes has been frightful, although predicted to abate somewhat as the racers move north.
251-2508 Gateway News Service- Wayfarer Belt
The New Texas government is struggling with upgrading all the facilities that require upgrading and repair due to budget shortfalls. The ambitious plans to extend the Space Control net have fallen two years behind as money just has not been made available due to more pressing priorities on both New Texas and in the belt.
The repair of various habitats has taken priority and the degree of neglect has been the cause of budget and cost overruns on these projects. A complete survey of Habitat #2 and 5 have shown that both were close to failure due to lack of regular maintenance. Money which would have gone to closing the holes in the Space Control Network have been moved to emergency repairs and upgrades for safety purposes.
Also the damage caused when the tank explosion occurred has had far reaching effects as chunks of debris have continued to pose a hazard to space travel, and orbital stations with resources being taken to help in finding and removing the debris which poses such a threat to ships coming in for docking and being under threat of FOD (Foreign Object Damage). Already additional tugs and survey ships have been moved into the belt to look for bits and pieces of debris, but it is difficult and time consuming work.
The New Texas system governor tells GNS that he does not expect that the Space Control Network will be completed now before 2511-2513 at the earliest. He has been requesting additional budgetary items, but is being told that the budget is stretched to the limit right now, and the government is not going to increase taxes or fees at this time. Already docking fees have been raised once to bring in extra revenue, but the governor, despite pleas from his staff is not going to raise fees again since it is starting to get to the point where fees are driving away business. The system was neglected for years when New Texas Metals, Garcia Refining and Smelting, New Tonkin Space Resources, and Aziz Mining were the companies who ran the belt. They were more interested in the maximum return with a minimum of investment.
In 2507 New Texas started taking a harder look at how things were run, and has forced the companies to start improving the life and situation of people of the belt by requiring them to obey New Texas safety regulations completely, which heretofore had been merely winked at by the corporations who appear to have bought several previous governors. But by the law incorporating the Belt into New Texas, changes require a vote in the Congress to allow the System Governor more power to run things. New Texas is leery of giving government agents and representatives essentially a carte blanche since they want government as a servant of the people, not its overlord.
But Wayfarer Belt is not unusual, since most belts are corporation controlled with little oversight from governments, with the exception of Shadowlands Belt, which Amaterasu controls with a strict and firm grip due to the danger posed by the system star and its flares which represent a danger to life in that system. Budget issues seem to be a common feature of all belts, where corporations want maximum return for minimum investment.
The New Texas government is struggling with upgrading all the facilities that require upgrading and repair due to budget shortfalls. The ambitious plans to extend the Space Control net have fallen two years behind as money just has not been made available due to more pressing priorities on both New Texas and in the belt.
The repair of various habitats has taken priority and the degree of neglect has been the cause of budget and cost overruns on these projects. A complete survey of Habitat #2 and 5 have shown that both were close to failure due to lack of regular maintenance. Money which would have gone to closing the holes in the Space Control Network have been moved to emergency repairs and upgrades for safety purposes.
Also the damage caused when the tank explosion occurred has had far reaching effects as chunks of debris have continued to pose a hazard to space travel, and orbital stations with resources being taken to help in finding and removing the debris which poses such a threat to ships coming in for docking and being under threat of FOD (Foreign Object Damage). Already additional tugs and survey ships have been moved into the belt to look for bits and pieces of debris, but it is difficult and time consuming work.
The New Texas system governor tells GNS that he does not expect that the Space Control Network will be completed now before 2511-2513 at the earliest. He has been requesting additional budgetary items, but is being told that the budget is stretched to the limit right now, and the government is not going to increase taxes or fees at this time. Already docking fees have been raised once to bring in extra revenue, but the governor, despite pleas from his staff is not going to raise fees again since it is starting to get to the point where fees are driving away business. The system was neglected for years when New Texas Metals, Garcia Refining and Smelting, New Tonkin Space Resources, and Aziz Mining were the companies who ran the belt. They were more interested in the maximum return with a minimum of investment.
In 2507 New Texas started taking a harder look at how things were run, and has forced the companies to start improving the life and situation of people of the belt by requiring them to obey New Texas safety regulations completely, which heretofore had been merely winked at by the corporations who appear to have bought several previous governors. But by the law incorporating the Belt into New Texas, changes require a vote in the Congress to allow the System Governor more power to run things. New Texas is leery of giving government agents and representatives essentially a carte blanche since they want government as a servant of the people, not its overlord.
But Wayfarer Belt is not unusual, since most belts are corporation controlled with little oversight from governments, with the exception of Shadowlands Belt, which Amaterasu controls with a strict and firm grip due to the danger posed by the system star and its flares which represent a danger to life in that system. Budget issues seem to be a common feature of all belts, where corporations want maximum return for minimum investment.
252-2508 Gateway News Service- Gateway
Shocking all in society, Mrs. C. Lovey Howell’s pet poodle “Piddle” has been dog napped. A ransom note demanding 50,000 stellars has been received. The dog was out being walked by its walker when two unidentified persons pulled up in a grav van with fake plates and snatched the dog away from its handler.
Mrs Howell is completely distraught over this, and has retired to her summer villa with the vapors. She demanded that the police work overtime to rescue her “snookums Piddle!” The dog is described as an Apricot Toy Poodle, with bad breath, flatulence, and a bad attitude. Mrs. Howell is offering a reward of 10,000 stellars for the return of Piddle.
The van was found abandoned in an industrial area, and police forensic teams have scoured the van for clues as to the identity of the criminals who perpetrated this dastardly crime. This dog-napping has shocked Gateway Society, and many Society Grand Dames have hired security for their dogs to prevent just such a recurrence. Mrs Howell has been receiving visitors who are calling to express their condolences.
Shocking all in society, Mrs. C. Lovey Howell’s pet poodle “Piddle” has been dog napped. A ransom note demanding 50,000 stellars has been received. The dog was out being walked by its walker when two unidentified persons pulled up in a grav van with fake plates and snatched the dog away from its handler.
Mrs Howell is completely distraught over this, and has retired to her summer villa with the vapors. She demanded that the police work overtime to rescue her “snookums Piddle!” The dog is described as an Apricot Toy Poodle, with bad breath, flatulence, and a bad attitude. Mrs. Howell is offering a reward of 10,000 stellars for the return of Piddle.
The van was found abandoned in an industrial area, and police forensic teams have scoured the van for clues as to the identity of the criminals who perpetrated this dastardly crime. This dog-napping has shocked Gateway Society, and many Society Grand Dames have hired security for their dogs to prevent just such a recurrence. Mrs Howell has been receiving visitors who are calling to express their condolences.
If this isn't a setup for a The Ransom of Red Chief (Wikipedia) scenario for some PCs/NPCs who richly deserve it, consider a complaint lodged.
Very possibly, but I suspect the dog will win in the end. It is a small hyperactive, land pirahana, that has gas, a really bad attitude, and its owner loves it completely no matter what the dog does.If this isn't a setup for a The Ransom of Red Chief (Wikipedia) scenario for some PCs/NPCs who richly deserve it, consider a complaint lodged.
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