Far Frontiers Gateway sector

[Murph]

119-2510 Gateway News Service- Han Shan

An ALF vessel arrived and sent the following message to the human crewed craft in the system:

NORZZORP! NORZZORP! IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET THAT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED ONE OF YOUR VESSELS 17 SNARGS (12 PARSECS) FROM YOUR PATHETIC WORLDS, AND UNFORTUNATELY THE DISGUSTING SOFT ONES INSIDE OF THE CRAFT HAD THEIR LIFE FUNCTIONS CEASE BEFORE WE ARRIVED.

WE WISH TO CONFIRM THAT THEY DID NOT DISCORPORATE UPON SEEING OUR TRUE FORMS, WHICH IS TOO BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE FOR THE SOFT ONES TO VIEW WITHOUT DISCORPORATION. OUR HIGH FLARG WISHES TO ENSURE THAT NO SOFT ONE VIEWS OUR ACTIONS IN A HOSTILE MANNER.

WE HAVE KEPT THE VESSEL AS SALVAGE UNDER THE LAWS OF GIZODONDO, AND AS SUCH THE VESSEL SHALL NOT BE RETURNED, HOWEVER INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE BODIES TO BE CONSUMED BY DECAY WORMS WE HAVE RETURNED THEM SO THAT THE SOFT ONES CAN PROVIDE YOUR SPECIES SPECIFIC FUNERAL RITES.

GAZZORP! GAZZORP! COMMUNICATION ENDS, WE MUST GO CLEANSE OURSELVES AFTER CONTACT WITH THE DISGUSTING ONES.

The seven crew of the free trader Diamond Star were returned along with the “black box” showing that the ship had mis-jumped 12 years ago, and the crew found itself in interstellar space 1 jump (3.26 light years) from the nearest star. The ships cold sleep capsules failed between six months and a year ago. The bodies were intact. The ALFs jumped out after delivering the bodies of the crew.

 

[Murph]

116-2510 Gateway News Service- Xu Su

徐苏 安全设备 Xú sū ānquán shèbèi (Xu Su Safety Equipment) has released a new generation of safety gear for boats and ships which travel the oceans of Xu Su. This new generation of craft, the MK IV, includes gravitic modules to assist in dealing with the heaviest seas, and a better sealed compartment for the passengers.

The company is famous for its MK III life craft which for over a decade has been a mainstay of ships on the treacherous oceans of Xu Su. The current MK IIIf model has been exported widely across the sector, and is credited with saving numerous lives from ships which were forced to deploy it. On Xu Su, by law each vessel is required to have enough life craft for all crew and passengers with a 10% additional margin in case of larger than expected passenger compliments.

The MK IV also contains a longer lived distress beacon, and some rudimentary food preparation facilities with a small desalination tank to allow for fresh water for up to 8 occupants. Plus, in accordance with law it is a bright international orange to aid in visual spotting.

 

[Murph]

123-2510 Gateway News Service- Gateway

Mr. David Lo Pan of Lo Pan Enterprises has issued a press release that he is getting married very soon, and hopes to soon have some heirs to follow after him. He has just directed that a trading station be opened on Shangri La,Jīnsè cǎoyuán (Golden Steppes), Leng Shan, and Lan Gu. He said that he hopes to capitalize on the trade with the Droyne, Hivers, and Vargr on those worlds.

Mr. Lo Pan, while not in the same league as Cheval Enterprises, is a well known business man and philanthropist who is very well known on Gateway. He and his company support the local Chambers of Commerce, the Rotary, the Gateway Cricket League, and many other organizations. He said that his bride, the very lovely Yin Miao Liu is looking forward greatly to being his bride. The pair will honeymoon on Xu Su.

His nemesis Wang Chi Consolidated has been working extra hard to ensure that the Lo Pan Consortium does not get access to trade possibilities before they are able to do so. The rivalry between these two date back to the early days of the 20th Century on Old Terra from the San Francisco Bay area.

 

[Murph]

124-2510 Gateway News Service- Freedonia

Sir Richard Cochrane has returned after his most recent charter to Canyon. The hunters have professed themselves well satisfied, and have given him a five star review on Gulp the review site. Sir Richard after returning, almost immediately racked up yet another fine as he violated a number of traffic rules in his reproduction F-14 Tomcat, to include unsafe flight at an unauthorized low altitude. He has reportedly paid the staggering 3,000 stellar fine, and promised that he will behave. The judge took him to task, explaining to him that “A man of his age” needs to act like an adult. Sir Richard only said he would try to do better, but he got carried away by just the sheer joy of being back on Freedonia.

The local HOA of Harrison’s bay, which is under Sir Richard’s regular flight path has filed a restraining order against him, demanding he stop creating sonic booms, and stop flying at 100 meters off the deck. Sir Richard has promised to work on doing better.

 

[Murph]

The ALFs talk like Coneheads for those familiar with the Coneheads. They have a vastly impressive level of self assurance, and think very highly of themselves. Just FYI.