Far Frontiers Gateway sector

[Grav_Moped]

My apologies to all, I have been having computer issues, my Windows machine is crashing regularly for some unknown reason

You have my sympathy. I'm having Micros~1 issues here too. One of my workhorse portables (a relic flagship Samsung tablet*) had it's copy of Word for Android lose its link to my primary OneDrive account -- and there went my mobile writing workflow. Thought they'd forced an "upgrade" to O365 and totally ruined it, but figured it out. Easy fix, right? Use the app's wizard thingy to log in again, and your mother's brother is Robert.

No such luck. For absolutely no reason I could find (killed everything, even restarted the tablet) the login wizard ran like molasses in... liquid nitrogen.
Every. Character. Entered. Took. Twenty. Seconds. To. Appear.
Even typing <Tab> to get to the link/button for the next pop-up took twenty seconds to take effect.
As did typing <enter> once the highlight was in the right place.

Mind you, once I got through that mess, the app runs as nicely as ever. I'm almost certain this "malfunction" was deliberate, to "encourage" users to upgrade to O365 and contribute the subscription revenue stream... Officially, they'd claim it was to block bots. Nah.


Desktop is Win11 but I'm using LibreOffice and Firefox.
Collabora Office for Android has file compatibility issues I haven't sorted out, and AndrOpenOffice has its own issues.

 

[Murph]

056-2509 Gateway News Service- New Paris

There has been an increase in guerrilla activity on this planet, with some of it linked to off world mercenaries who have been smuggled in, and deserting military units which are working with rebel units.

Our sources are telling us that New Drakkensburg has declined to send the additional Suppression Units they had previously promised, and are considering pulling out the ones already on planet. This has angered the New Paris government since they had been counting on the Suppression units to assist in dealing with the rebel forces who seem to be growing in strength each day.

President D’Argent is reportedly looking at harsher repressive measures in light of the resistance to his government. The General strike has not added to his mental calmness since it has ground the very economy of New Paris into a complete standstill.

The strike started off slowly as police were arresting striking workers, but as more and more workers stepped up, the police realized they could not take into custody a large percentage of the planetary population. Asking for orders from above, the police descended into utter immobility since none of the leadership could make a coherent plan on what to do. Added to this, some of the more aggressive police units came under attack by striking workers, and as the police and Suppression units started firing, from building around the units gunfire rained down on them, killing or wounding a number of police, which forced them to move back to regroup.

At several of the locations, improvised explosive devices were detonated, which oddly caused no loss of life, but covered the police and suppression units in indelible paint, and manure. As the bright colored units attempted to regain control of the situation, their communications were scrambled, causing immediate loss of cohesion. Striking workers have shut down this planet, and are being joined by more and more workers. Right now all the toilets in the capital city have ceased working as water and sewer has been turned off.

Army units were sent to restore the water and sewer, but workers sabotaged the plants, and it is estimated that it will take at least a week to restore things. Also several of the control computer systems have been taken by workers councils to hiding places. The General Strike has caused chaos all across New Paris with troops increasingly unable to restore services, and citizen discontent reaching new highs. We are told that unrest is starting to increase in light of the strike.

 

[Murph]

057-2509 Gateway News Service- Ultima Thule

A messenger ship has arrived from L0609X where a survey crew has discovered the remnants of a human colony. What we are being told is that the colony vessel Red Barchetta had misjumped roughly 280 years ago, and ended up on this planet. Due to the technology of the time misjumps were more common, especially with frontier refueling. The ship was headed towards the Xin Zhongguo subsector with a load of 3,000 colonists in cold sleep. After the misjump, the ship was unable to be repaired, and it was forced into orbit of the one habitable planet in the system, a cool world, that has stats E856000-0. It appears that at one time there was a thicker atmosphere, but a disaster not only wiped out the colony in its entirety but stripped away some of the atmosphere.

It appears when the supernova at L0709X occurred, the radiation wave front from the blast traveled through close systems, with the electromagnetic pulse causing unspeakable damage to all systems that the colonists depended on the survive on this otherwise pleasant world. Then as the radiation storm him, all the colonists took lethal doses of radiation, which also appears to have killed off most of the animal and plant life on this planet.

The survey ship GSS Flaming Telepaths has been part of the survey force in this area learning more about the supernova and its remnants. The colony was initially overlooked due to the amount of resources, but as a more detailed survey has been initiated, the ruins of the colony have been found. The colony was found as survey drones conducted a detailed radar and visual mapping of the surface of this planet.

Based on initial observations, it shows that the population had increased from 3,000 (plus the 100 man ships crew), to 12,950 based on records and observations. Most data in the computer systems was destroyed, so actual paper records have been found since the colony knew that they had weeks if not days of survival. The expanding cloud of radiation, gas, and other byproducts of the supernova hit 3.26 years after the blast, with more coming over the next few years.

The colony was called New Chance by the colonists. These colonists were a mixed group mostly from SE Asia who were looking to colonize one of the worlds in the Xin Zhongguo subsector. Ruins show that they had made a good start on an industrial base, with several mines located, along with extensive agriculture. There was the main colony, and several other smaller satellite towns around it.

The survey crew is working on a more detailed assessment of the colony, and they have been working to provide the bodies with proper burials since the lack of animal predators has caused bodies to be left where they passed. A request for additional personnel has been received to assist in the survey, along with medical and other specialists.

This is one of over a dozen missing colony or other ships which have remained undiscovered to date. It is suspected that there are other misjumped colonies out in the sector. The Travelers Aid Society has now upgraded the status of the Red Barchetta from missing, presumed lost, to lost.

 

[Murph]

067-2509 Gateway News Service- Hades Station

We witnessed a bit of a contretemps, or perhaps we should call it a "marital disagreement" today, at the A Cuppa Joe store on the Zocalo level of the station, as Erich Wulfe was seen somewhat annoyed as his wife told him that he could only have "decaf" since he needed to "chillax". Erich, who is well known for his love of the special blend made just for him by the store on the Zocalo, which is from real old Earth Jamaica Blue Mountain beans grown on New Avalon was visibly shaken by this wifely demand.

He was also limited to one small pastry to go with his: "Utterly fake, and not even something one can call Coffee" drink. He was seen choking down the "foul brew", and in a complete departure from his normal practice was seen adding cream, and, if we can believe it, sugar to the cup to make it "taste less foul". Lorraine was heard telling him: "Now dear, you have been mainlining the coffee lately, and you need to detox."

Mrs. Lorraine Wulfe was seen sipping her normal morning Latte, with a muffin on the side. Erich after he gulped down the last of the brew, was seen storming off to his office in what our sources tell us, a completely foul mood for the rest of the day. Lorraine was overheard telling him: Now dear, you know this is for your own good, you are a little too stressed, and even your doctor said cut back on the coffee." Erich was heard responding: "Doctors just want to make your live miserable, and have you ever seen a doctor without a cup of Good Coffee? If you ask me they just want more for themselves!" To which Lorraine replied very serenely" "Whatever you say dear."

 

[Murph]

070-2509 Gateway News Service- New Caledonia

The New Loch Lomond Distillery has started shipments of its latest offerings of the "Fine Dram" with each shipment being guarded by a veritable army of security officers. The 20, 25, 30 year old Loch Lomond Single Malt have been tried by taste testers with a uniform verdict that the whiskey is superb, with the 25 year old coming in for especial praise from reviewers, as having a proper lingering finish with notes of cinnamon, pear, leather, and black currants, exceptionally smooth on the palate. There is an even older bottling, that is being called "Beyond Age" and is reputed to be a blend of 40 and 50 year old batches. Hamish Wallace, the master distiller had this to say: We waant ye tae ken that this is th' best whiskey we kin mak', 'n' we staun by oor product! made by master distillers, oor freish loch lomond is a brew served at th' best tables.

Since the hijacking of the shipment in 2507, the Distillery has increased security to very high levels and it is unlikely that such an event will occur again. The New Jamison's distillery on New Ireland, in the same system has also released several well aged bottles of its famous Irish Whiskey in 18, 22, 25 and 30 year bottling which Whiskey drinkers everywhere will applaud both for its excellent palate, and reasonable cost.

New Caledonia has become the Whiskey capital of the entire sector, and has scorned those who prefer the New Bourbon, New Tennessee Rye, and other bourbon and American style whiskeys, with both sides throwing a great deal of shade at each others bottles of adult beverages. While the Bourbon style whiskeys are popular, true Whiskey aficionados tend to gravitate towards the New Caledonian offerings. We at the Gateway News Service look forward to sampling each and every offering by all of the distillers.

However, we must caution our readers against the Old Panther Sweat offering from Black Jack Donner distillery, since our reviewers had to seek medical treatment for destroyed taste buds, intestinal distress, and hallucinations. We are told that the Old Panther Sweat, which is called a Rye/Bourbon combination is promised to be bottled at no more than 30 days old, and at a 124 proof for those who are manly enough to try it. One of our reviewers said that it would make a fine paint remover, but keep it away from organic material. The Black Jack Donner Distillery has filed a vigorous protest over our review. We are told it is popular due to its very low price with university students.

 

[Murph]

072-2509 Gateway News Service- Hades Station

Representatives of multiple gangs from Xanadu have been arriving over the last week looking to hire the services of Biddle and his associates in their war on each other. At this time our sources are telling us that Biddle is off station, but expected back at any time. A source close to the gangs tell us that they are prepared to offer exceptionally high amounts for his unique skill set.

Hades Station security has informed all parties that any violence or disruption of the station's operations will result in their being spaced. The Red Phoenix crew were annoyed that "mere rent a cops" would dare speak with them in such a manner. Station Security quickly showed them the error of their ways. Everywhere the gangs show up, Station Security is already there prepared to prevent any disruption of the station's peace and quiet.

We have had no comments or action by the Black Dragon Tong leadership since it appears to some that they are waiting to see how this shakes out, but long time gang watchers tell us that they have to be concerned since too many activities are becoming public which would cause the police to stick their noses in areas that the Tong wishes to remain undercover.

A member of the Red Phoenix made the mistake of bumping Mr. Erich Wulfe, who was already stressed by his new decaf regimen and diet, and the gang member addressed several extremely disrespectful comments towards Mr. Wulfe, and then attempted to shove him out of the way. Mr. Wulfe, being always the gentleman, albeit one with severe caffeine withdrawal right now, showed the gang member not to mess with a man with an 8th degree black belt in Jeet Kun Do. Station Security showed up, and quickly removed the now groaning gang member to the station lockup where he was placed in the sensory deprivation tank for 8 hours to calm down.