Galnet News

Sad news from the Chi Orionis system this morning with reports that Femi Dakarai, chairman of the hyperdrive-research company MetaDrive Inc., has passed away following a short illness.

Dakarai was taken ill last week after working tirelessly to secure financial backing for the company. Board members reported that he was working long hours and had been showing signs of stress for several months. An assessment of MetaDrive Inc. by an independent auditing firm appears to have been the final straw.

"We should have acted sooner, but we were working extremely hard," said Rosaline Merden, company secretary. "With the company set to deliver on some very exciting technology in the coming year, it's particularly tragic. We will carry on in his memory."

Board members were quick to pay their respects, and according to unofficial sources have made a generous payment to the Dakarai family on behalf of MetaDrive Inc.

In related news, Raan Corsen, a junior employee of MetaDrive Inc., was recently suspended from the company after auditors detected account irregularities. Security forces in the Chi Orionis system, recently brought under the control of the Earth Defense Fleet, have asked the public to report any sightings of Corsen.

MetaDrive Inc. has become something of a poster child for the depression currently affecting stock markets. Economic forecasts remain gloomy, with little prospect of improvement on the horizon.

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

Here are the latest factions to hold elections:

Epsilon Eridani Future

Iota Tucanae Empire Consulate

HIP 24947 Imperial Society

HIP 36731 Services

Chongquan Crimson Federal Dev

Nahuaru Crimson Bridge Int

Moror Vision Organisation

HIP 32382 Confederation

He Qinga Fortune Co

Atarapa Incorporated

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

The Federation has issued a public appeal for exploration data as part of its ongoing operation in the Pleiades Nebula. The appeal is being coordinated by the Pleiades Resource Enterprise, which released the following statement to the media:

"Given the recent discovery of possible non-human wreckage in the Pleiades, it is essential that we have comprehensive and up-to-date information on the entire region. We are therefore asking pilots to sweep the Pleiades and deliver any resultant exploration data to Pre Logistics Support Gamma in the Pleiades Sector IH-V C2-5 system. Commanders who contribute to this initiative will be generously rewarded."

The announcement comes in the midst of animated debate over recent Federal and Imperial action in the Pleiades.

The campaign begins on the 22nd of September 3302 and will run for one week. If final targets are met earlier than planned, the campaign will end immediately.

The Merope Expeditionary Fleet has been tasked with constructing a new forward operating base in the Pleiades Sector Ab-W B2-4 system on behalf of the Empire. The new outpost will support the Empire's ongoing operations in the Pleiades Nebula.

A spokesperson for the Merope Expeditionary Fleet released a statement:

"I realise some might perceive this as an attempt to assert Imperial dominion over the Pleiades Nebula, but establishing a strong military presence in the Pleiades is the only way we can oppose Federal attempts to establish a monopoly on meta-alloys."

In support of this initiative, the Merope Expeditionary Fleet has placed an open order for Power Generators, Tantalum and Auto Fabricators, and has promised to reward pilots who deliver these commodities to its base of operations at Obsidian Orbital in the Maia system.

The campaign begins on the 22nd of September 3302 and will run for one week. If final targets are met earlier than planned, the campaign will end immediately.

Personnel at Thoreau Orbital in the Obotrima system have been forced to suspend various services – a direct result of an Imperial campaign to destabilise the starport by flooding it with explosives.

As a major manufacturing centre for autonomous defence drones, more commonly known as skimmers, the station was considered a priority target by the Empire.

A member of startport personnel, who chose to remain anonymous, said:

"The Federal Navy knew this attack was coming, but they did nothing. The independent pilots who delivered skimmer components did a great job, but without military support, how could they hope to foil the Empire's plan? Now Thoreau Orbital is in dire shape. Who knows how long it'll be before things are back to normal."

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

Here are the latest factions to experience famine:

Workers of LTT 18075 Coalition

Muthnir Gold Allied Partners

Justice Party of LTT 10823

Tjurinas Progressive Party

Kameni and Co

Durojin People's Party

Alpha Centauri Freedom Party

Union of Mbundu Confederacy

LHS 1505 Crimson Camorra

Republic Party of Kremata

When a faction is affected by famine the standard of living in the system it controls temporarily decreases. Combat activity has no effect on influence while a famine is active. Completing food-trade missions can bring a famine to an end.

Here are the latest factions to experience an outbreak:

Notus Silver Society

Gungkuni Crimson Rats

Sandagaray United

Othiti First

Mendindui Union Party

HIP 60942 Just Sect

Ix Chita Power Holdings

Lords of Chualang Mu

Ither Purple Brotherhood

Detris Jet Brotherhood

When a faction is affected by an outbreak the standard of living in the system it controls temporarily decreases. Combat activity has no effect on influence while an outbreak is active. Completing medicine-supply missions can bring an outbreak to an end.

At 7.00 am tomorrow morning (GMT), the monitoring of powers' activities will go offline for a short period while the latest data is assembled. Pilots who operate for one of the powers should deliver any cargo or vouchers before this time to ensure their activities are registered.

Since leaving the Clearwater psychiatric centre in July, former Federal president Jasmina Halsey has maintained a relatively low profile. But now the former leader has broken her silence to share news of "a compelling vision" with the galactic community.

In a public address at Gotham Park in the Alioth system, Halsey described the nature of her vision:

"I saw a place of extraordinary beauty. A paradise. It was truly wonderful."

"This was no dream – it was a glimpse of something very real."

"We must find this place. It could be our future."

Halsey's peculiar statement will no doubt disappoint those who believed she had made a full psychological recovery.

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:

PSPF-LF 2 Liberals

United Ba Po Constitution Party

Knox and Co

Dominion of Sowiio

LFT 37 Blue Natural Corp.

Djuhti Independents

Agarda Republic Party

Lu Xians Noblement

Revolutionary Party of Ancanec

Rudjer Boskovic Inc.

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:

Xi Ursae Majoris Energy Network

Democrats of LHS 278

Mob of Eranin

Revolutionary Ausantuatel Values Party

Sowiio Services

Natural LP 390-16 Constitution Party

Umbrigua Movement

Wolf 424 Ltd

Eburnakura Purple Advanced Sysy

Mongatha Domain

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.

Sources close to the Imperial Senate have released a statement indicating that Lady Kahina Tijani Loren, erstwhile senator of the Prism system, has been charged in connection with the attempted assassination of Admiral Denton Patreus.

Prior to this development, Lady Kahina had not been heard from since mid 3301. Details of her recent activities are shrouded in mystery, although under the alias Commander Salomé she has been linked to various revolutionary organisations, including the Children of Raxxla, the Phoenix Group, the Dark Wheel and now Emperor's Dawn.

After Lady Kahina went missing in the Cemiess system last month, the Children of Raxxla attempted to destabilise the system's economy to force system authorities to reveal her whereabouts.

"Her intentions are clear," said a reporter for The Imperial Citizen. "She hates Patreus for his takeover of the Prism system – which I might point out was entirely legal – and harbours ridiculous delusions of becoming Emperor. She's been sowing seeds of discontent everywhere she goes. As we reported last month, she is dangerously unstable and an irresponsible warmonger. Now that she's been caught, she should be dealt with harshly. The same applies to the factions loyal to her."

Princess Aisling Duval also addressed the arrest, saying: "I was always suspicious about her. Now her true colours have been revealed. I hope she receives a just punishment for her atrocious crimes. I wouldn't be surprised to discover she was behind the instability of the past year. My thanks go to our loyal Imperial security services for their diligence."

Lady Kahina has reportedly been moved to the Achenar system to await trial.