Galnet News

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 pair of independent pilots by the names of Noctrach and Ihazevich has discovered the remains of what appears to be a starship on planet 9a of the Pleiades Sector AB-W B2-4 system. The discovery represents the culmination of a galaxy-wide hunt coordinated by the 'Granger Gang' – a band of miscreants led by the smuggler and bounty hunter Otto Granger.

The event began with a cryptic message delivered by Granger to news feeds throughout the galaxy. This was followed by a series of enigmatic clues, inserted into news channels at a number of starports.

Solving these clues led pilots to the three members of the Granger Gang: Otto Granger, Mahina Dillon and Logan Khol. When confronted, Granger and his companions claimed to have made a discovery of profound importance, but they refused to reveal the nature or location of this discovery.

Instead, each member of the gang said they would issue a request for a specific commodity, promising to reveal further information if they received what they asked for. Logan Khol's subsequent request for narcotics was enthusiastically received by the galactic community, and when his targets were met, a further clue was released:

"The latitude was -26 and it was a cold moon in the Pleiades sector with the letters 'AB' in its name."

Although the Granger Gang planned to release further clues, they were quickly rendered redundant. Within hours of Khol releasing his information to the public, Commanders Noctrach and Ihazevich discovered the mysterious wreckage.

Commentators throughout the galaxy have been quick to offer their opinions on this remarkable discovery.

"I'm familiar with every starship design of the past fifty years, and most of the older ones, too," said Augustus Sym, an Imperial veteran and former test pilot based in the Achenar system, "and I've never seen anything like it. There's no doubt in my mind – that is an alien ship."

Others have adopted a more cautious stance, while acknowledging that the find could be significant. Professor Ishmael Palin, a leading authority on xeno-biological research, said:

"I have always been open to the possibility of intelligent non-human life, and this wreck may indeed be an alien vessel. But I will withhold judgement until further evidence is released, or at least until I have an opportunity to inspect the site myself!"

Technical personnel at New Dawn Station in the Ceos system have announced a breakthrough in the ongoing fight against the so-called technological plague.

Tag Arthurs, head of the starport's technical team, released the following statement to news feeds:

"Although our understanding of meta-alloys remains incomplete, we are now able to apply them much more efficiently. Consequently, we now need much smaller quantities of meta-alloys to return a malfunctioning starport to functionality – half as much as we used to, in fact."

"We've also determined that the week immediately following the first signs of Unknown Artefact-related interference is a critical one. If an affected starport can be supplied with meta-alloys within that week, it is far less likely that the situation at the starport will worsen."

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:

Ackwada Gold Allied Group

Defence Party of LFT 926

Revolutionary Nysa Future

Citizen Party of Kongkomisso

LP 336-6 Blue Major Corp.

Wolf 497 Liberals

Jet Energy Ltd

Nobles of Mbukuravi

Regulatory State of LHS 2157

Wat Yu Resistance

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:

LP 876-76 Travel Ltd

Aeneas Organisation

Mob of Eranin

Justice Party of LHS 215

Votaroi Advanced Industries

CD-35 9019 Vision Network

Pirates of Luyten's Star

Chireni Group

Nobles of HIP 10716

Khun Crimson Ring

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.

News feeds throughout the galaxy have received a mysterious message from an as-yet undetermined source.

The message, which is reprinted in full below, appears to contain an oblique reference to a particular location, but the nature of the communiqué makes it hard to determine exactly what it refers to.

"We've found something. Something incredible. Something the whole galaxy will want to see. The truth."

"We could show it to you, but that wouldn't be much fun. So instead we're going to play a little game."

"It begins on the 28th. We'll be waiting for you."

The Federal Security Service, aware that the message will pique the interest of the galactic community, said:

"Frankly, I suspect this is some kind of hoax, but there will inevitably be some who attempt to unravel the mystery. All we can do is urge them to exercise caution."

Independent auditor BigSix has reported various anomalies in the accounts of MetaDrive Inc., a company based in the Chi Orionis system specialising in hyperdrive research.

Reviewing the company's financial records, assessors found evidence of a series of payments to undisclosed suppliers but none of the corresponding checks and balances.

"It's a big mess," said the senior auditor of BigSix. "The company is being placed in receivership. It needs a buyer, and quickly."

Femi Dakarai, the chairman of MetaDrive Inc., was not available for comment.

Following the news, shares in MetaDrive Inc. plummeted. But a short time later, Sirius Corp unexpectedly volunteered to prop up the company.

"We've been interested in collaboration for a while," said the marketing manager of Sirius Corp's hyperdrive research division, "and were in talks over licensing MetaDrive's exciting new technology. We have no desire to see them go under."

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

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

Kamarada Jet Legal Services

Tollan Free

Wuluwait Fortune Commodities

Epsilon Phoenicis Principles

Yuinni Worker's Party

Hatis Silver Brothers

HIP 19408 Monarchy

Brutas Crimson Netcoms Corp.

Official GCRV 52424 Defence Force

Machadan Alliance

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.

Here are the latest factions in withdrawal:

Aymiay Values Party

Confederacy of Yamahun

Alliance of CD-33 8748

HIP 24968 Empire Consulate

Partnership of Kaupatak

HIP 106213 Jet Power Services

Fular Purple State Corp.

Union of BD+14 611 Partnership

Dukes of Kachakapa

Union of LTT 2240 Democrats

Factions are considered to be in withdrawal if their level of influence within a system drops below a certain level. If the faction's influence remains low for a total of five days, the faction must leave the system entirely. If the faction manages to increase its level of influence, it remains in the system.

This report presents the latest data on starports experiencing technical issues as a result of Unknown-Artefact related interference.

The following starports are currently closed:

Fozard Dock, HIP 19934

Irens Dock, Manite

von Bellingshausen Port, Almar

Haack Gateway, Halbangaay

Gurragchaa Gateway, Warkushanui

Korolyov Hub, Arawere

Lobachevsky Outpost, Pic Tok

Rutan Terminal, Scirtoq

LP 462-19, Tarelkin Dock

Liwei Gateway, 63 G. Capricorni

Ramsbottom Hub, Segovan

Meanwhile, the following starports continue to experience technical issues:

Carter Port, Rhea

Kooi Gateway, G 190-28

Ising Dock, 109 Piscium

Jaques Station, Eol Prou RS-T d3-94

Robigo Mines, Robigo

Skvortsov Orbital, 63 G. Capricorni

Saunders's Dive, Wolf 1301

Alexander Freeport, HIP 18843

Bloch Vision, Loperada

Lave Station, Lave

In his keynote speech at a recent conference, Karl Devene, head of the Federal Astrocartography Department, warned would-be explorers of the dangers of venturing into the void:

"While there are some very well-organised expeditions, many are poorly prepared and have no goals beyond pursuing ridiculous myths echoing back from the edge of inhabited space. It is dangerous and irresponsible to venture into uncharted areas without proper discipline."

"What we need is sound astrocartographic data – not a bunch of amateurs traipsing all over the place and making a complete mess of the whole situation."

"I will be making deputations to various authorities to curtail these activities and leave exploration in the hands of the professionals."

"If humanity finds itself in a first-contact position, do we really want some grubby, ill-prepared spacer to be our envoy? I think not."

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

Here are the latest factions to experience a civil war:

LP 64-194 One

LHS 5072 Industries

Kakas Flag

Nuenoch allied

Ross 692 Law Party

Confederation of Sui Xing

Nezhenses Gold Posse

People's Party of Bolon Tzu

Tabaldak Gold Cartel

Monarchy of LHS 3117

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:

Angelic Church of Messi

HIP 57352 Free

Blood Brothers from Alrai

Traditional Borme Defence Party

HR 826 Empire League

Warra Confederacy

Urd Confederation

The Fuel Rats Mischief

Union of Malloc Independents

Parhua Purple Major Corp.

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.