Inter-Galactic News

August 1998 Issue 39

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Outer-Comm.

To: All
From: Cathedral Central

Greetings...As a matter of policy, Cathedral Central normally observes radio silence on matters that may affect internal security (i.e. practically everything). In this particular instance however, the Sect Leader feels moved to pass on the following sentiments...
...FTO Rear Admiral Pendragon, C/O Logans Claw
The Fortean Family wishes to congratulate Rear Admiral Pendragon upon the conspicuous speed of his departure from the Inferno engagement, having taken fire from the BHD Polaris and the CNF Fulgar. It is to be presumed, we think, that this is what the Viceroy means by "superior training". Finding reverse gear is, let's face it, 95% of the Imperial captaincy curriculum
...FTO Commodore Arthur Johnson, C/O Galactic Conveyor
In case you were wondering, you have Ensign Noel Johnson (deceased) to thank for the severe bending of your midships and the destruction of your scintillators therein. For more of the same send an SAE to Cathedral Central, marked "Parcelbomb Dept only"
...FTO Lieutenant Freeman K.C, C/O FET Rattler Trader
The question has to be asked. Where did you come from, and why? This is presumably the "training" factor detailed by your Viceroy - i.e. that Imperial bloc starcaptains need to be trained up to Commodore before they can tell the difference between a weapons console and a strawberry star-shake dispenser. "Fire damn you, fire!" "Bzzt. Please insert coin"...
For those without the details before them the Patrol Cruiser Rattler Trader just about successfully made Inferno in time to reinforce the Imperial bloc armada and then promptly...
Round 1 Manoeuvred because there were too many rebel ships
Round 2 Manoeuvred due to excessive main damage
Round 3 Manoeuvred because it could not fire
Round 4 Manoeuvred because the starcaptain elected to do so which is a lot of fancy flying, though that didn't stop the BHD Isgrimmur and the CIA Black Op blowing ruddy great chunks out of it.
...FTO Ensign Walker, C/O Egyptian Princess (deceased)
Ouch. I suppose this is what happens when under qualified (i.e. under-commodore) starcaptains find the right buttons and take on their supposed equals. Ensign Jack Beveritt (aboard the Blockbuster - formerly the Ain Jalut and the veteran of seven separate engagements) offers his condolences for the death of Ensign Walker, his crew and basically anybody else aboard the Egyptian Princess who, in concert with the CIA Black Op, Jack was forced to cut to ribbons. Jack apologises for accomplishing this without taking a single mu of ship damage in the entire battle and thereby calling into question the fairness of the bout.
...FTO Vice Admiral Sir Joseph Cherenkov, C/O Tolstoi
All we at Cathedral Central can make of Sir Cherenkovs conduct is that he must have been asleep. Under strict orders not to wake him his crew presumably spent the battle stiffly at attention on the bridge while the Solar Renaissance and Death Singer expertly blew out the Tolstois engines. Cherenkov is a clear exception to this Cathedrals hypothesis concerning Imperial training. Might we suggest a promotion to Star Admiral and a new box of medals? Failing that, slip some Cortalon into his horlicks. That'll get the old boy going.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen for an update on the FGZ war by IWNC -
your Independent War News Channel

To: All
From: Governor, Minister J Bolivar Digriz, GTT Colony New Atlantis (2069), Yank System, SS 2951 on Spritzer

I am willing to pay well for any information on who the Illuvatorians are, and where they can be found. I have a large number of their Phanali idling the days away in my colony. If I can not return them 9for a reimbursement) to their rightful masters, then my genetic specialists will be provided with a new pastime.

To: All
From: Governor, Minister J Bolivar Digriz, GTT Colony New Atlantis (2069), Yank System, SS 2951 on Spritzer

Having terminally dismissed New AtlantisÌ previous philandering governor, I am rebuilding the colony into the future jewel in the GTT crown. The market is viable and facilities are cultured. Trade by negotiation is especially welcome. Contact me at: c/o Ian Kentzer, CV2582, C.Wing, HMP Full Sutton, Moor Lane, York, YO4 1PS.

* Open Transmission *

What you will hear next is a sequence of messages that were picked up by one of our ships earlier today. The transmission code of the ship sending out most of the messages was later identified as FET Wavedancer.

voice 1: ...mother, I am heading back. ETA 10 min.....
voice2: ....OK, recon 1.....
voice 1: ...mother, aeh, looks like I'm picking up something here... Hold on.... Several blips....strange
readings..... I will take a closer look..... Maybe just a malfunction, this is the c6 scanner that already made
trouble earlier this week, you remember ?
voice 2: Captain, recon 1 is picking up some signals. Shall he come back or take a look ?
voice 3: Let him have a short look, but not too long, I don't wanna stay here any longer as necessary.....
voice 2: Aye, Captain. Recon 1, you can take a short look, but take care.
..........
voice 1: Mother.... the blips are still there and I can't figure out any malfunctions.... the resolution is still shit but
it looks like a dozen or so objects.....
voice 2: Careful, we are not invited if there is a party out there........
voice 1: Frag it.... Those are damn Baseships...... I will try to get a better scan and then head out ASAP.....
voice 2: Recon 1, Get out there now.
voice 1: I got some interesting data here...... Damn, I think they've seen me.... Two are closing in..... I am
heading home, mother.
voice 2: Get out there - NOW.
voice 2: Captain, I think recon 1 bumped into some baseships.
voice 3: What ??? What are they doing out here ? Merde ! Get him out there and back in here asap. Navigation,
plot us a course away from their positions. Engine, prepare for emergency manoeuver. I wanna thrust
and jump online on my command. Comm, prepare two messages, one distress signal with info recon 1
has gathered just in case and one high priority signal for mission command. How long until recon 1 is gettin' home ? How far are behind ? Sensor: Are you already picking up something?
voice 4: ......Nope, captain, nothing on the screens yet, but I don't expect to seem them yet....
voice 2: Recon 1. How long will you need to get here and how far are they behind you ?
voice 1: ......I am burning my engines up..... Will take me about 3 more mins - they are close - and I mean real
close..... hear those crackles ? itÌs is not a badly tuned engine, trust me.....
voice 4: Man, I have recon 1 and a couple of baseships now on my screen...... all are losing in real fast..... ETA
to reach us 2 min....
voice 3: Engine, are the thrusters and jumps ready ?
voice 5: Aye, mam...... on your mark.....

voice 4: Here they come. 20 seconds for recon 1 to reach us. this will be a real close stunt.....
voice 1: mother, this will be really damn close....better you head out now and leave me behind..... I am not sure I
can evade their fire much more or longer.....
voice 3: Shut up...we will not leave you or anyone behind.... Weapons, prepare for suppression fire. Fire at will.

voice 1: ...I am in....
voice 6: ...Bridge, recon 1 is in and secured.
voice 4: They are now opening fire on us....
voice 3: Go, go, go, let's get out o'here.

This is all our ship picked up. It is unknown if the FET ship made it or if it was captured/destroyed. We will keep you updated as soon as we hear something new.

* Another Open Transmission *

(Somewhere in Inferno...)
- Captain, we are picking something in the sensors.
- What is it?
- It should be coming in ID range, right now. One thing for sure, it's not small!
- I don't care whether it is small or not! Is it a Republic's ship?
- Err, do we fly SOL's, Captain ?!?
- EVERYBODY TO BATTLE STATIONS! NOW!! Well gentleman, let's buy our fleet some time. That's why
we are here!
- Captain, they're powering up their weapons!
- Take evasive action! Launch the Fighters!
- Captain, Comm here. Our fleet has gone through, we are clear to proceed to the next location.
- Not now!!! We have a SOL to take out!! Attack Pattern Beta! NOW!
- But Captain, It's a SOL!! It's Harcourt's SOL!
- I don't give a da..BUUUMMMM !!!!!

- Admiral, one more down.
- I'm getting tired of these Cygnets. Wherever you go, there is always one bugging us! It's better than meeting
one of those Baseships, anyway. Well, take us to our destination. We are already late.

And the reality

INFERNO SYSTEM WEEK 34 YEAR 198
COMPOSITION OF FORCES
SIDE 1: FGZ SCORTIA 23 (292) A CYGNET COMMANDED BY ENSIGN
SIDE 2: FET SENTINEL (1229) A SHIP OF THE LINE COMMANDED BY VICE ADMIRAL HARCOURT

A chance encounter close to the warzone.

ROUND 1
FGZ SCORTIA 23 (292) manoeuvred this round because it had no space weapons but did have fighters left
FET SENTINEL (1229) fired at the FGZ SCORTIA 23 (292)
Main Section (SHIELDS = 0/0/0) 221 Photon Guns - 107 hits - 2140 damage - 48%
FGZ SCORTIA 23 (292) BLOWS UP!

Main Research Lab, RIP Colony Terminus

- Okay lets see what you've got....
- Certainly Sire, I'll just-
- Cut the Royalty bull - "Sire this", "Your Highness" that...Old Saggy might have gone in for all the pomp
and ceremony, but I dont ! Ok ?
- Yes Your Hi- ahh er.. yes er...?
- Dalton ! ok ? just Dalton. Drop the Pirate King stuff, its just a title ok, I only use it to wind up the Imps and
- Confeds with their "Stellar Emperor" nonsense.
- Um.. right Sire - ahhhh - I' mean Dalton...!
- Hey Gabe get someone to send word out to cut this "Sire" crap.
- You mean a "Royal Proclomation" ?
- Hah ! Very funny, don't you start it too! And will ya get the damn Golden Codpiece outta the way, for True
Ones sakes ! Don't you ever take it off ?
- Only in the bath...
- Why bother, its gold, its not gonna rust !
- Yeah, but it chaffs a bit when its wet !
- I don't think I want to know that...
- Right ! C'mon then you, Chief Scientist fellow, don't just stand there gawping man! Lets see what all these
research stellars have been buying ....
- Right, - well as you know currently the best form of defensive shield is probably the Colony Scintillator -
- Yeah yeah, we've got those, Old saggy pinched some from FET Yokosuka and you've done the research, right?
- Indeed Sire, I mean Dalton, however we have now been working on something even better !
- Go on....
- Well as you know Solo is a fairly unique system-
- Yeah its chock-full-O-RIP ! <g>
- Yes, thank you Gabe! Just ignore him Professor...
- Yes well, anyway Solo is unique in that its strong electromagnetic fields prevent energy weapons from
functioning.
- I thought the fields were dissipating?
- They are, but even if they go completely, the planets will still have very strong and unusual magnetic properties
- So ?
- So, for the last few months the research department has been working on a new kind of magnetically induced
planetary shield. ThatÌs what all the stellars have been paying for.
- Does it work ?
- Well, um.... we don't know.... we 're just about to try it out.
- Okay well, go push some buttons Prof and lets see what you've got.....
- Very well, now the theroy is very complex, errr hows your geo-electro-magentic-siesmology-field generation ?
- My what ? ! Look Prof, me and Gabe here are Pirates ok? We didn't bother too much at school, just give it to
us in simple terms ok ?
- Well, um err yes.... well as you know the planets in Solo have very strong magentic fields and Tyburn in
particular seems to have one of the strongest. So by stimulating Tyburns magnetic field using a specialy
designed complex and lots of power we can increase the field strength, so that it projects above the surface and
produces an electro-magnetic barrier in the orbit.
- You mean we can make the orbit like the rest of the system is now, energy weapons are useless, even if the
Solo fields disapate ?
- Correct !
- Well damn me ! Fire it up Prof, lets get a look at this thing !
- Just a few last minute technical adjustments.....
- Hey whats the hammer for Prof ?
- Ahh, that for very technical adjustemnts...Right well, places everyone, we are ready to proceed! This will be
just a small test, for full effectiveness we will need to install complexes at all our colonies.
- What ever you say Prof !
- Standby to initiate magnetic induction. Standby to power systems. Standby field generators. Comence test in...
5...4..3..2..1...Now !
(30 seconds later...)
- Er... Prof ? Prof ? Hey Professor! Is it working, 'cos all I can see is a few more lights flashing on and off ?
- One moment......Yes ! Its working ! We have a magnetic barrier in orbit !
- Thats great Prof, now err .. tell me... is the floor suspossed to be shaking like that ?
- Ahh, we thought this might happen, just some minor tectonic activity, caused by the increase in the planetary
crust's magnetic field. It will soon settle down.
- Umm Prof, its getting worse......Why are the walls starting to buckle ?
- Oh dear..... hmmm, a little bit stronger than we thought. Increase the power supply to the planetary field!
That should solve it.
(2 minutes later...)
- Look Prof, you got any Hard-Hats around, 'cos now the ceilings looking a bit dodgy, and the floors getting real
bad....
- Yes er... what is the reading on the Richter Scale ? Point 2, Point 21, Point 27, Point 36 Point 5...Oh dear this
is much worse than we expected...
- Er Prof, you maybe want to shut it down now !
- Um yes, I think we should, do some recalibrating perhaps...
- Just shut it down ok, the windows are falling out ! Shut down the test ! Cut the power ! Err Prof, ....its not
stopping !
- Oh..... the buttons stuck !
- Stuck ? Waddaya mean "stuck" ? Just turn it off okay !
- I can't I can't....
- Oh for crying out loud !
- Gabe give me the hammer will ya.
- Okay prof which damn button ?
- That one ? Right !
(Sometime later.....)
- Look I said I was sorry about your control panel Professor, ok ? It just that it was rather a big hammer and
rather a small button ! And at least we stopped the earthquake ! Look, we'll buy you a new one, loads more
flashing lights and stuff, ok ? ThatÌs it, cheer up. Now what happened ?
- Well it seems that the magnetic force we generated was a lot stronger than we anticipated, and so we started
some seismic shock waves, hence the minor earthquakes....
- Great, so we can protect ourselves from energy weapons in orbit but we shake the planet to bits in the process?
- Well err... in broad terms..... err unfortunately ....yes !
- Right, well can you fix it ?
- I'm not sure, I think we need to do some further work, but I'm confidant we may be able to come up with
something. I think we need to use a lot more power to try and stabilise the fields.....
- Okay, Professor, well keep working, you've got an unlimited budget on this one ok ? Pull this off and who
needs scintillators any more.......Oh boy, are some people gonna be pissed about this one ! <hg>

To: All
From: SMS Public Relations
Subject: Press Release

At the terminus of week 35, an SMS surgical strike deep into Flagritz territory succeeded in capturing and destroying a strategic Flagritz colonial asset. An estimated 40,000 MUs of colonial equipment was destroyed in an action which is considered a great success by joint military command. 10,000 Flagritz citizens are now looking for somewhere to work. Although admittedly little is left, the colony is for sale if there are any interested parties. Contact this office for details on location, assets and pricing.

Priority Markets

Capellan Periphery

Colony	Sys.	S.S.	Item	Buying	Selling	Price
IMP Jax (2990)	1	349	Alien Pets		1400	35
IMP Jax (2990)	1	349	Thorlium Ore	1400		45
SMS Moria (1565)	1	349	Luxury Foodstuffs		9586	25
FET Tortuga (4734)	1	349	Colonists		10000	20
SMS Little Italy (1264)	1	1440	Grass Juice		14954	10
EEM Hypso (4802)	1	1939	Ambrosia	500		50
EEM Hypso (4802)	1	1939	Luxury Goods	1000		5
CIA Sin City (209)	146	631	Planet Probes		26	10
CIA Sin City (209)	146	631	Veterans	75		200
EEM Balmoral (4100)	146	2857	Condensed Metals	1000		6
EEM Balmoral (4100)	146	2857	Untooled Factories	10@8000	5@10000
SQM Windhooks (2071)	146	1947	Luxury Foodstuffs		7000	7
KAS Rubis (4063)	146	2951	Chemicals	10000		100
KAS Rubis (4063)	146	2951	Jacium	9750		300
GTT New Atlantis (2069)	146	2951	Processed Thorlium	500		150
FET Alliance Station (604)	146	2951	Jac/Thor Alloy	100		50
FET Alliance Station (604)	146	2951	Processed Thorlium	50		205
AFT New Aurora (4428)	146	2951	Food		1000	3
DTR Babylon (2350)	146	2951	Small Arms	1800@10	5400@12
DTR Babylon (2350)	146	2951	Veterans	580		1000
FET Hilton (2217)	148	1440	Untooled Factories		50	7000
FET Hilton (2217)	148	1440	Metals/Non-Metals	25000		3
FET Port Goodwill (4153)	148	1440	Luxury Foodstuffs		8000	10
FET Port Goodwill (4153)	148	1440	Metals/Non-Metals	5000		10
IND Freedom City (2653)	149	2150	LBCM	1000		600
IND Freedom City (2653)	149	2150	Photon Guns	1000@200	2000@360
AFT Eclypse (1124)	150	2232	Photon Guns		784	180
AFT Eclypse (1124)	150	2232	Waste	1886		150
IMP Sevastopol (4997)	159	2438	Medical Supplies		7324	50
IMP Leeward (4871)	159	2438	Clothing		4000	5
FET Port Royal (1571)	160	740	Luxury Foodstuffs		4000	45
CLN Outreach (1758)	160	740	Pulac Crystals	500		40
SMS Ironhold (1512)	160	2557	Processed Thorlium		1	100
FET Silhouette (1651)	160	1841	Colonists	9398		30
FET Silhouette (1651)	160	1841	Luxury Foodstuffs		1968	20
FCN Falencia (3351)	162	1148	Alien Livestock		2000	100
FCN Falencia (3351)	162	1148	Jacium		1000	500
DEN Aslan (1665)	163	2856	Precious Metals	30		200
DEN Aslan (1665)	163	2856	Stargate Key 163		1	15000
FET Falconhaven (4806)	165	2259	Colonists	10000		10
FET Falconhaven (4806)	165	2259	Luxury Goods		1000	20
IND Amity (1831)	166	1745	Metals/Non-Metals		6180	5
IND Amity (1831)	166	1745	Processed Thorlium		100	170
FET New Hope (951)	166	1745	Strion		8700	160
AFT Mare's Nest (848)	167	647	Luxury Goods		140	10
AFT Mare's Nest (848)	167	647	Luxury Foodstuffs		148	10
CIA Atlantis (3315)	171	1433	Colonists	20000		25
CIA Atlantis (3315)	171	1433	Condensed Metals	5000		15
AFT Amythest (282)	173	532	Life Supports		90	20
IMP Cezta (2625)	173	532	Colonists	1496		30
IMP Cezta (2625)	173	532	Fissionables		6464	20
IND Oasis (3173)	175	2150	Colonists	2000		40
IND Oasis (3173)	175	2150	Pulsar Tanks		196	1400
GTT Thermopylae (1152)	178	1742	Jewellary		2000	6

Darkfold Periphery

Colony	Sys.	S.S.	Item	Buying	Selling	Price
CIA Serpent's Hold (4341)	4	251	Colonists	10564		30
CIA Serpent's Hold (4341)	4	251	Mines		17	3000
CIA Langley (2301)	17	1636	Fissionables		8282	15
CIA Langley (2301)	17	1636	Untooled Factories		4	5000
IND Thorn (140)	17	2258	Ambrosia	500		50
CNF Kapitol (1491)	17	2258	Colonists	940		22
CNF Kapitol (1491)	17	2258	Fissionables		7540	25
CIA Armoury (179)	17	2456	Biochemists	50		750
CIA Armoury (179)	17	2456	Untooled Factories	100		5000
BHD Osgiliath (1440)	17	3047	Fissionables		9500	40
BHD Opacus Custos (3012)	18	2352	Condensed Metals		10000	30
BHD Opacus Custos (3012)	18	2352	Luxury Foodstuffs		8902	35
CIA Entropy (488)	24	2342	Colonists	2000		15
CIA Entropy (488)	24	2342	Luxury Foodstuffs		1000	5
AFT Return (4313)	41	1850	Heaven Herb		10000	15
AFT Return (4313)	41	1850	Mines		62	3250

Cluster Periphery

Colony	Sys.	S.S.	Item	Buying	Selling	Price
CLN Antioch (4822)	25	839	Alien Pets		990	50
CLN Antioch (4822)	25	839	Jewellery		990	50
CLN Skypoint (1824)	38	3032	Untooled Factories	50		9000
CLN Gomorrah (3170)	98	1555	Fissionables	2000		20
CLN Gomorrah (3170)	98	1555	Pulac Crystals	5000		30
IND High Star (1971)	103	1841	Condensed Metals	3000		12
IND High Star (1971)	103	1841	Metals/Non-Metals	30000		2
IND Kabul (4931)	138	638	Fissionables	1000		30

Space Academy XIII

This months new arrivals to BSE are as follows:

Ship Name	Ship Number	Address
Yankee Damsel	477	Kenneth Reeves, 10943 Beverly Drive, Hanford, CA 93230, USA
Excalibur	995	David J Dixon, 17 Mount Road, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0DT
SS Perilous	4158	Robert Ryan, 11 Springfield Hall Gardens, Gledholt, Huddersfield, HD1 4HA
Stargazer	1767	Iain Record, 11 Borgie Place, Worle, Weston Super Mare, Somerset, BS22 9HG
Starblazer	2103	Kieron Dudley, 7 Anstiebury Close, Beare Green, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 4RE

Inter-Galactic News

August 1998 Issue 39

Outer-Comm.

To: All From: Cathedral Central

Good evening ladies and gentlemen for an update on the FGZ war by IWNC - your Independent War News Channel

To: All From: Governor, Minister J Bolivar Digriz, GTT Colony New Atlantis (2069), Yank System, SS 2951 on Spritzer

To: All From: Governor, Minister J Bolivar Digriz, GTT Colony New Atlantis (2069), Yank System, SS 2951 on Spritzer

*** Open Transmission ***

*** Another Open Transmission ***

And the reality

Main Research Lab, RIP Colony Terminus

To: All From: SMS Public Relations Subject: Press Release

Priority Markets

Capellan Periphery

Darkfold Periphery

Cluster Periphery

Space Academy XIII

This months new arrivals to BSE are as follows:

To: All
From: Cathedral Central

Good evening ladies and gentlemen for an update on the FGZ war by IWNC -
your Independent War News Channel

To: All
From: Governor, Minister J Bolivar Digriz, GTT Colony New Atlantis (2069), Yank System, SS 2951 on Spritzer

To: All
From: Governor, Minister J Bolivar Digriz, GTT Colony New Atlantis (2069), Yank System, SS 2951 on Spritzer

* Open Transmission *

* Another Open Transmission *

To: All
From: SMS Public Relations
Subject: Press Release