Galnet News

Last week saw the start of a three-week campaign to determine which of the galaxy's minor factions would earn a place in the forthcoming Dangerous Games. The victor of the so-called 'Wildcard' competition will go on to vie for the right to be recognised as an official power.

The first Wildcard event required pilots to fire up their mining lasers and gather gold for their chosen faction. Predictably, the week-long event saw no small measure of conflict, with pilots doing everything they could to disrupt their rivals' operations.

The final tally indicates that the EG Pilots received the largest quantity of gold. But whether or not this will result in ultimate victory remains to be seen, as it will not be clear which faction has received the most support until the end of the three-week campaign.

Mehet Ltd has announced that its campaign to clear the Mehet system of agitators has been a success. Hundreds of pilots responded to the appeal, taking to their ships to eliminate the criminals operating in the system.

Following the success of the operation, Mehet Ltd released a brief statement to the media:

"Thanks to the brave Commanders of the Pilots Federation, Mehet is now free from the depredations of criminals and agitators. On behalf of the people of Mehet, we would like to express our gratitude."

Rewards for those who contributed to the initiative are now available for collection at Schwann Dock.

Those who have explored the trade routes of Wolf 1301 will undoubtedly recall 'wolf fesh', the popular psychoactive drug that was once produced in the system. Although originally legal, when control of the system changed last year the drug was banned, and production was immediately halted. Wolf fesh disappeared from galactic trade routes almost overnight.

But now it seems that the drug is about to make a return. Notorious crime syndicate the Crom Silver Boys, known for targeting traders and miners from their secret base in the Crom system, claim to have procured the secret recipe for the drug, and have announced plans to produce a new variant.

The organisation has already stockpiled the necessary common ingredients, but to begin production it needs a quantity of rarer elements found only in other narcotics. The Crom Silver Boys have therefore placed an open order for the requisite intoxicants, and have promised to reward those who deliver the much-needed goods to Walheim Enterprise in the Herthe system.

Most of the requested commodities are illegal in Herthe, and the system's security forces have vowed to interdict and search any suspicious vessels. The Crom Silver Boys have advised pilots participating in the operation to exercise caution.

The campaign begins on the 9th of June 3302 and will run for one week. If the final target is met earlier than planned, the campaign will end immediately.

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

Here are the latest factions to hold elections:

Crimson Allied Incorporated

Workers of Kagudi for Equality

NLTT 10055 Purple Allied Int

Marquis du Wepawegana

Social Umastae Liberals

Green Party of Torno

Union Party of Scythodio

German Pilot Lounge

Nambi Co

HR 706 Emperor's Grace

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

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.

A flight recording has surfaced revealing the destruction of a Fuel Rat rescue vessel.

Two Fuel Rat pilots responded to an emergency call and refuelled an apparently stranded Python. One Fuel Rat jumped out of the system, but the Python pilot made his move before the second could follow. The footage shows that the attack was swift and came without warning, and resulted in the destruction of the Fuel Rat vessel.

The attacker claims to have been collecting a bounty set by another Commander, who has denied the claim. Regardless of the ultimate truth, both pilots have since been the target of manhunts. The long-term consequences of this incident remain to be seen.

Commander Rorican

Speaking from the Canonn Interstellar Research Institute, Dr Arcanonn has commented on the current state of barnacle research and lauded the discovery of harvesting sites in the California Nebula:

"Once again, the efforts of an independent explorer have resulted in an exciting discovery. Thanks to Commander Wobblytickle's report from California Sector DL-Y D4 C6, the long-suspected presence of barnacles in the California Nebula has now been confirmed."

But Dr Arcanonn's tone grew notably cooler when speaking about the barnacles of the Pleiades Nebula:

"The loss of several barnacles – whether through destruction or exhaustion – is naturally of concern to those of us investigating this enigma."

Commander Nicholas Powell

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:

HR 5082 League

Opala Power Commodities

Latji Coalition

NLTT 2969 Labour

Wyrd Jet Power Industries

Union of V740 Cassiopeiae Future

Purple Energy Co

LP 355-51 Dynasty

Zhang Fei and Co

HIP 1187 Public 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:

Aymifa PLC

Movement for Kaukamine Labour

Imenhit Jet Organisation

LFT 37 Purple Comms Corp.

Natural Indaol Dominion

Oho Bajo Co

Aulin Silver United Company

Official Khaman Defence Party

Wyrd Raiders

LP 726-6 Commodities

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 the economic health of the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to experience an economic boom:

G 41-14 Purple Travel Solutions

Lave Jet Family

Chimba Public Industries

Liaedin Electronics PLC

Potriambunn Jet Clan

Sanna Galactic PLC

Constitution Party of Eotienses

Futhark Empire Assembly

Mictlan Netcoms PLC

Ongkuma Silver Dynamic Ltd

Boom is usually the result of consistent trade profit and completed trade contracts. When a faction experiences a boom, the wealth of the system it controls temporarily increases and trade missions completed in the system have double the effect on influence. The faction's influence may also increase. Booms typically last until they naturally expire.

Here are the latest factions to experience an economic bust:

Raiders of Corin

League of Poncali

LTT 15278 Gang

BD-02 4304 Jet Drug Empire

Jupalo Purple Boys

Brotherhood of LP 98-132

Official Ho Hsien Liberty Party

Allied Kamadhenu Nationalists

Saktsak Movement

Mob of Gende

When a faction experiences a bust, the wealth of the system it controls is temporarily reduced and the faction's influence is temporarily diminished. Trade actions do not contribute to boom while a bust is active. A bust typically has to run its course before ending.

Humanity's newest and most advanced Unknown Artefact research centre, the Canonn Institute in Col 285 Sector IX-T d3-43, is finally open.

Dr Arcanonn, under heavy guard, was the first to arrive at the opening ceremony, and he had this to say:

"It is an amazing feeling to stand before after being in hiding for so long. After more than a year of work, the Canonn has become one of the most open, diligent and dedicated science organisations in inhabited space, and now we have an amazing research centre."

"I want to thank those who supported the construction of the institute. I'm looking forward to repaying that faith by sharing the discoveries we make here!"

Dr Arcanonn finished by announcing an open order for UAs and meta-alloys to help initiate research at the institute.

Commander Lord Zoltan