Galnet News

Professor Ishmael Palin has requested help in establishing a new research base on Maia B1BA in order to safely study the unknown artefacts. Dr Arcanonn, head of the Canonn Interstellar Research Group, has issued a statement regarding this endeavour:

"I cannot argue with the logic of establishing a research facility out in the Pleiades, next door to Merope, and I urge all Commanders to deliver as many Evacuation Shelters as they can to Nelson Works in Dahan to ensure this facility is completed."

"With the Canonn throwing its resources at this initiative, I will be contacting the professor personally to request laboratory space for my researchers so that we, too, can be involved once the base is established."

"Research into the UAs is not a side project for humanity - it is vital. Make sure you're one of those making a difference."

Commander Lord Zoltan

Following last week's report that the technical issues currently plaguing the galaxy had spread to Gabriel Enterprise in Harma, authorities at the starport have announced that all services have been suspended apart from docking and shipyard access. Meanwhile, authorities in the Maia system have confirmed that the starport of Obsidian Orbital is the latest to experience mysterious technical issues. This announcement will no doubt disappoint those who contributed to the construction of Obsidian Orbital earlier this year.

We will continue to bring you up-to-the-minute reports on this issue.

In this weekly digest, the latest GalNet data is compiled to show the economic state of a short list of minor factions and the star systems they inhabit.

Here are 10 of the 10,971 minor factions currently enjoying an economic boom:

HIP 16365 Commodities

LHS 2884 Dominion

Ingamba Emperor's Grace

Liberals of G 165-13

Wolf 225 Federal Industry

Tapany Netcoms Systems

League of Itza

Petra Camorra

Labour Union of HIP 97950

Segontiaci Imperial Society

When in boom, the wealth of a system is increased for the duration and all trade missions have double the effect on influence. Boom can also positively increase a minor faction's influence. Boom can be entered by consistent trade profits and completed trade contracts. Booms tend to last until they naturally expire or until some other indicator takes precedence, such as famine.

Here are 10 of the 1,420 factions currently experiencing economic bust:

Korazotz Boys

United Tellus Order

Ross 346 Crimson Electronics

Revolutionary Party of Diaguandri

Potriti Flag

TZ Arietis Purple Council

Narakapani One

Apurui Citizens' Forum

HIP 51197 Central Services

Kruger 60 and Co

The wealth of a system diminishes while in bust and the minor faction's influence is also lessened. The effect of trade contracts and actions do not contribute to boom while a bust is active. A bust generally has to run its course before ending.

Data is correct at time of publishing.

Each week, GalNet presents a list of 10 of the 1,596 minor factions currently expanding into new systems.

Labour of Seleru Bao

Borfor Democrats

Tjalkond Progressive Party

Integrated Kurutas

Esuseku Corporation

Cashikori Citizens' Forum

HIP 117865 Empire Pact

Boveltibes Progressive Party

Order of Ch'i Ling

Guuguyni Empire Consulate

Expansion occurs when a minor faction reaches a sufficient influence rating and there is a populated system within striking distance. The act of expansion is a costly one, and the wealth and development rating suffers during the period of expansion.

Data is correct at time of publishing.

This weekly transmission lists some of the systems currently in conflict around the galaxy, based on the latest data.

Here are 10 of the 12,026 minor factions involved in a civil war:

United b Herculis Resistance

b Herculis Fortune PLC

Conservatives of Garrinbatz

Garrinbatz Crimson Camorra

Ixbalan Network

Ixbalan Purple Brotherhood

Autocracy of Chuquiba

Chuquiba Gold Drug Empire

HIP 44811 Gold Life Ltd

Osci Gold Legal Corp

Civil wars involve conflict between minor factions in the same system over ownership of major assets such as starports. During civil wars, only combat missions and activities help bring the conflict to a resolution. Security, development level and standard of living indicators all drop for the duration of the civil war.

Here are 10 of the 5,324 minor factions at war:

Smethells 173 Empire Party

Pien Ek Creative Interstellar

HIP 23027 Jet Ring

BPM 28514 Collective

Shenggan Transport Corporation

Naebin Jet General Company

Union of Shalatucas Left Party

Lie Zhonpon Vision Incorporated

Kapura Mob

Co-operative of Wikalar

Wars occur when a minor faction invades another star system. For the duration of the conflict, wealth, security and standard of living are all severely impacted. Combat missions and activities determine who wins the war. If no winner emerges, the war ends in a ceasefire.

Data is correct at time of publishing.

Word has reached this reporter over the past few hours of a massive fraud involving fake precious gems originating from the region of the Prism system. A security services spokesperson admitted that they had been caught unawares by the scale of the issue, and that thousands of fakes had already been sold:

"We will hunt down the perpetrators of these crimes, which have cost the system economy millions of credits."

Efforts are now underway to locate the source of these convincing fakes and put an end to their trade. The spokesperson promised that those dealing in these fake gems would be punished to the full extent of the law.

Despite sharing a standard galactic calendar, most human societies prefer to mark the passage of days and years in relation to the stars of their home systems. But a large proportion of the galaxy's human population still observe some shared traditions, despite those traditions being rooted in the seasons of a planet many have never even visited. Of these, winter solstice festivals are perhaps the most prevalent.

This year, an organisation based in the Hel system is issuing a special appeal to commemorate the approaching winter solstice. The Hel Purple Energy Industry has issued a request for Crystalline Spheres – a commodity currently available only at Snow Moon in the Bento system. A spokesperson for the Hel Purple Energy Industry issued a brief statement:

"It might be an antiquated festival, but we believe the winter solstice is a great opportunity to unwind and spend some quality time with friends and family. And what better way to mark the occasion than to invite people to gather up snowballs – I mean, crystalline spheres – and haul them across the galaxy?"

The appeal begins today and is scheduled to run for one week.

Eccentric billionaire Alfred Jeffress has made headlines in recent weeks with not one but two galaxy-wide treasure hunts, each of which saw the reclusive philanthropist give out enormous cash prizes. Now Jeffress has announced a third treasure hunt, and once again he has promised to reward the winner with a share of his vast personal fortune.

The event is expected to follow the same format as the previous two. A mystery object has been placed somewhere in space, and the first person to find and deliver it to a specified location will win the competition. As before, the hunt begins with a riddle, composed by Jeffress, which will lead participants to the mystery object:

"To win the prize, follow a story of kings, crowns and jewels, not tall tales told by fools. Your quest to restore the king's crown starts in the middle. Travel where all frequencies of light reside to start solving my riddle."

Jeffress has promised that this hunt will be the most challenging yet, having devised even more cryptic clues this time.

This weekly roundup highlights some of the minor factions pursuing the dream of democratic freedom by holding elections.

Here are 10 of the 2,891 minor factions holding elections:

LHS 6386 Blue Transport Systems

Rish Blue Travel Company

Lhou Xuang Prison Colony

HIP 12605 Empire Party

Keer Dynamic Company

Constitution Party of Daii

Jukuna Crimson United Inc

Damna Silver Travel Group

League of BD+28 413 Conservatives

Allied BD+28 413 Order

Elections occur when two minor factions of a similar political structure resolve a conflict over ownership and influence within a system.

Data is correct at time of publishing.

When an outpost belonging to the insurgent organisation Emperor's Dawn was discovered in the Federal system of Kausalya two weeks ago, Federal President Zachary Hudson's response was swift and unequivocal. Promising to "mete out such punishment that the very fires of hell will seem but guttering candles in comparison," Hudson promptly despatched a military fleet to Kausalya. Today, Admiral Kirby of the Federal Navy confirmed that the initiative to rout the dissidents had been an unmitigated success:

"They were defiant at first, but the battle started to go our way pretty quickly, and the past week has just been a mopping-up exercise, really. I think the Federal Navy Auxiliary made a big difference – when the insurgents saw how many independent pilots we had on our side, their morale took a big hit."

In a statement, Zachary Hudson exhibited his usual confidence:

"The insurgents' incursion into Kausalya was clearly the last gasp of a dying animal. They stood no chance against our fleet, and their outpost has been utterly destroyed. I predict this is the last we will see of Emperor's Dawn."