Galnet News

Weeks after Dr Arcanonn shared Commander Engalo's report of a 'firefly fandango' between the Unknown Artefacts and meta-alloys, he has issued this update:

"After Engalo's research was published, our science teams set to work, trying to identify whether an interaction was indeed taking place. Soon after, many Commanders – including Locastan, Criosx and Engalo himself – came to the conclusion that what they were witnessing was most likely a product of the distortion field surrounding the Unknown Artefacts."

"The field seems to diffract light in the Artefacts' vicinity, causing objects around them to appear in duplicate. After close observation, it was concluded that what appeared to be pairs of dancing fireflies were actually duplicates of the same firefly."

"I commend the teams for their hard work, and am pleased to be able to cross this phenomenon off our list of investigations."

Commander Lord Zoltan

Former Federal president Jasmina Halsey spoke to select reporters at Leoniceno Orbital today, answering the questions many have wanted to ask since she was recovered from the wreckage of Starship One. When asked about Starship One's destruction, Halsey replied:

"I remember very little, really. A thunderous noise, then silence. Being thrown across the bridge in my chair, and then being unable to breathe. I remember one of my bodyguards getting me to the pod as things floated about silently, like a dream. The last thing I remember is a terrible pain in my ears and a very loud noise as the pod filled with what looked like steam."

The former president's voice was distant, and she seemed to drift off between sentences. She certainly did not sound like the forceful leader from last year.

A reporter from the Alliance Tribune asked President Halsey what it was like to drift through space for so long:

"It was wonderful. Amazing. I saw the universe, and our galaxy within it, as I'd never seen it before, and I felt the presence of the real caretakers of our galaxy. The paradox of their existence – tiny yet gargantuan, fleeting yet eternal. They spoke to me as I drifted in the void. It was amazing. I must share their message."

This unorthodox statement prompted a flurry of further questions, but Halsey's escorts promptly led her from the room.

This report presents the latest data on the security status of the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to experience a lockdown:

Revolutionary UGP 145 Free

Votadini Fortune Holdings

Dukes of Karsu

LHS 2637 Dominion

LTT 17149 Pro-Independent Party

Barnard's Star Advanced Corp.

Nationals of NLTT 897

FF Andromedae Jet Comms Holdings

Siris Exchange

LP 282-7 Gold Federal Corp.

When a faction experiences a lockdown, the security rating of the system it controls temporarily increases and the system's wealth temporarily decreases. Bounty hunting activity can shorten the lockdown period.

Here are the latest factions to experience civil unrest:

HIP 24597 Bridge PLC

Sandagaray United

Laukang Corp.

HIP 10716 Vision PLC

Kuyu Organisation

Maridwyn Constitution Party

Ch'u Ti Co

Nan Sapwe Crew

Nationals of Algreit

Social Miola Coalition

Civil unrest is the result of illegal activity. When a faction is affected by civil unrest, the standard of living in the system it controls temporarily decreases, as does the system's wealth. Combat missions and activities can bring civil unrest to an end.

This report presents the latest data on expansion among the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to have expanded into new systems:

Nobles of Kirrae

Sanuma Gold Dynamic Industries

New Khaima Democrats

Irulachan Jet Public Inc

Jaroere Exchange

HR 8380 Silver Central Solutions

Crimson State Industry

Alanaribri Transport Holdings

Nationals of HIP 6108

HIP 101857 Silver Life Int

Expansions occur when a minor faction reaches a sufficient level of influence and there is a populated system within striking distance. Expansion is costly, so when a faction expands, the wealth and development level of the system it controls are temporarily reduced.

For some, Naraka is a system located in the Hydrae Sector, but for others, it's a system situated between Pi-Fang and Eranin. That's because there are two systems that bear the name 'Naraka'.

This quirk of circumstance has long been a source of confusion for independent pilots, but Universal Cartographics has deigned to address the issue by renaming the former of the two systems.

A Federal spokesperson released a brief statement:

"Until Universal Cartographics has dealt with this issue, all travel to the Naraka system has been restricted. Access to the Naraka system located between Pi-Fang and Eranin remains unhindered."

Not everyone is happy about the impending change, however, with one resident of the soon-to-be renamed system remarking:

"This is all well and good, but what will happen to my mail? It's like Universal Cartographics didn't even consider the postal service."

Recent reports indicate that some members of the galactic community are concerned about the development of Unknown Artefact-resistant ship modules. Critics of the new technology, developed by Professor Lea Tantaga, have claimed it will facilitate further black-market trade of Unknown Artefacts, thus exacerbating the so-called technological plague.

In an attempt to counter the rising concern, a member of the technical team at Obsidian Orbital released the following statement:

"I know some people are concerned that these new modules might aggravate the technological plague, but there's every reason to believe we can use the Unknown Artefact-resistant material developed by Professor Tantaga to protect our starports from UA-related malfunctions. All that's needed is for pilots to deliver meta-alloys to the affected starports. We'll do the rest."

This report presents the latest data on conflict among the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to experience a civil war:

Allied Loki Tan Movement

Brotherhood of Loki Tan

Mombilar Group

Mombilar aristocrats

Independents of Tolun

Tolun Travel Organisation

HIP 37722 Bureau

HIP 37722 Blue Brotherhood

El Tio Empire Party

El Tio Systems

Civil wars occur when minor factions compete for control of major assets such as starports. When a faction is involved in a civil war, the standard of living, development level and security level in the system it controls are temporarily reduced. Combat activities can bring a civil war to an end.

Here are the latest factions to experience war:

Ngane Patron's Principles

Caleta Liberals

Gugurun Jet Power Industries

Svaratia Syndicate

Pilati Rats

Plendovii Solutions

Sak Nicopa Bureau

Harma Law Party

HIP 28193 Empire Pact

Ross 163 Liberals

Wars occur when a minor faction invades a star system controlled by another minor faction. For the duration of the war, the standard of living, wealth level and security level in the disputed system are reduced. Combat activity between the two warring factions determines the outcome of the conflict. If neither faction succeeds in dominating the other, the war ends in a ceasefire.

The Pioneers Cooperative has announced that the recent appeal for meta-alloys has received the full support of the galactic community. Having taken delivery of thousands of tonnes of meta-alloys, the organisation will now begin producing ship modules that can safely transport the Unknown Artefacts. A spokesperson for the Pioneers Cooperative released a brief statement:

"Given the relative scarcity of meta-alloys, we were concerned we might not receive enough, but the galactic community has proven itself equal to the task. Work on the new modules is scheduled to start at once."

Meanwhile, Professor Tantaga was asked about the starports experiencing UA-related malfunctions.

"In theory, the UA-resistant material could be used to return the affected starports to normality, but I don't think launching a second campaign for meta-alloys is the right approach. In my opinion, the affected starports should be given the formula for the UA-resistant material, so any meta-alloys they have can be used to protect their outposts."

The Revolutionary Party of Vennik announced that it has received sufficient quantities of terrain-enrichment systems to bring its terraforming project to a successful conclusion. Hundreds of pilots responded to the organisation's appeal by delivering the much-needed commodities to Nixon Enterprise. The success of the campaign will allow the organisation to embark on the final phase of its plan to terraform Vennik 1, by preparing the planet's surface for agricultural development.

Following the success of the campaign, a spokesperson for the Revolutionary Party of Vennik released a brief statement:

"For decades, the people of Vennik have harboured a dream – a dream of a life-sustaining, fertile Vennik 1. Today, that dream becomes a reality. We are hugely grateful to those who helped us achieve our dream by supporting our recent appeal. Thanks to you, the arid expanses of Vennik 1 will soon be verdant panoramas, resplendent with life."

The ongoing Federal campaign against Onionhead has taken a new turn with the appointment of an 'Onionhead tzar', who will assume overall responsibility for eliminating the drug from Federal space. Edward Bores, a seasoned government official, has assumed the role, promising to employ "targeted measures" in the fight against the illegal narcotic.

At a press event, Bores marked his appointment with the announcement of an innovative new campaign:

"We are launching an initiative called 'Hand in the Head' designed to encourage Federal citizens to surrender any Onionhead in their possession. Individuals who deliver Onionhead to our headquarters at Grandin Gateway in the Altair system will be generously rewarded. At the end of the campaign, any Onionhead we have received will be destroyed."

Meanwhile, an organisation known as the Altair Purple Mob has launched a campaign to prove that the drug is harmless, with the ultimate aim of having it reclassified as a non-toxic plant. Like the Federation, the organisation has issued an appeal for quantities of the drug, but unlike the Federation, the Altair Purple Mob intends to study the plant rather than destroy it. A spokesperson for the organisation said:

"Legalising Onionhead would decriminalise its users, provide the Federal government with a new revenue stream, and destabilise the criminal network through which the drug is currently bought and sold. It's a no-brainer."

The competing campaigns are scheduled to begin on the 31st of March 3302, and will run for one week.