Galnet News

A curious record has surfaced, detailing an apparently clandestine expedition to find relics from the lost civilisation known as the Guardians.

The record, which takes the form of a series of personal logs, indicates that the expedition was led by one Professor Melville, an authority on xeno-biology who disappeared a few months ago.

The record has attracted a considerable amount of attention, and is reprinted in full below.

13th January 3303

"I'm not just going to sit here while that jumped-up mechanic Ram Tah spoon-feeds us information."

That's what Professor Melville said. He wanted to know more about the Guardians – maybe even figure out where they came from. So off we went, with little to go on beyond the professor's belief that there were more ruins out there.

He claims to have information that will help us find more sites, but he's keeping it close to his chest. Only he and the pilot know where we're going. It's like he's afraid someone will take credit for his discovery. We've been scanning lifeless planetoids for days, eyeballing the ground for locations.

He keeps reciting the same little speech: "Xeno-achaeology has moved on. The days of exploring the outer reaches, only occasionally finding something of value, are behind us. I have found the key."

But I'm not an archaeologist. Professor Melville is just a means to an end. I signed up for the money.

24th January 3303

We received an update today – apparently Ram Tah has found some new sites. Melville scoffed when he heard the news. "Scraps from an amateur," he said. "We'll find the real secrets. Trust me."

Trust. That's an interesting thing. Why should we trust someone who doesn't trust us? Well, maybe he has reason not to: I took a look at his records while he was talking to the pilot. I don't like being kept in the dark.

Melville thinks there could be hundreds of sites out there. His hypothesis is that the Guardians occupied an area of space similar in size to that currently inhabited by humans, but that for some reason they were forced to migrate. He believes he can find that region of space and the Guardians' point of origin.

The Guardians could well have had a huge civilisation, with hundreds of sites – maybe thousands – in this part of space. The similarities across different sites are comparable to the way we reuse certain structures. After all, how many Coriolis stations are there in the galaxy?

2nd February 3303

Melville thinks the Synuefe XR-H D11-102 system represents some kind of end point or 'last colony'. Beyond that, the sites appear in clusters, with the number of sites in each cluster getting increasingly larger. We discovered a cluster of sites only a few days ago before finding a location with an entirely unique layout. So far we've found three sites in each of the following systems: Synuefe LY-I b42-2, Synuefe NL-N c23-4 and Synuefe TP-F b44-0.

There are basically three different types of site, most of which have a different codex layout. Melville thinks that each type of site fulfilled a different function. He also thinks the Guardians were the dominant species in this region of space. But he's not content with this discovery. He wants to keep going.

Are we ever going back to turn back?

8th February 3303

This isn't a research vessel anymore – it's a prison. All means of communicating with the rest of the galaxy have been disabled. Melville has taken control of ship. His obsession has doomed us all.

I'm transmitting these records in the hope that someone finds them and comes to our rescue. But the chances of that are slim.

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

Here are the latest factions to experience a civil war:

Cemiess Commodities

Vanayequi Independents

Green Party of HIP 103138

Ruchbah Industry

Junga Patron's Principles

Junga Interstellar

Liberty Party of Zeessze

Zeessze Clan

Luyten 674-15 Industries

People's Changthini for Equality

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:

AG+21 1754 Citizen Party

Kini Drug Empire

Labour of Ethgreze

Kokary Liberals

GCRV 4654 State Interstellar

Ross 754 Labour

Mother Gaia

Apoyota Domain

Independents of Mildeptu

Quator Ring

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.

Former Federal president Jasmina Halsey has announced that her campaign to establish a rehabilitation centre for victims of war has received the wholehearted support of the galactic community. Hundreds of pilots supported the campaign by delivering construction materials to Dirichlet Orbital, the campaign's centre.

As the campaign drew to a close, Jasmina Halsey released a statement:

"It is clear to me that, in the current political climate, peace cannot be achieved without practical effort. It feels so good to do something that will have a measurable impact."

"My sincere thanks go to the many pilots who supported this campaign, and to the Yum Kamcabi Purple Life Industry for its generous financial support."

Pilots who contributed to the initiative can now collect their rewards from Dirichlet Orbital in the Yum Kamcabi system.

The Peacock Patrons of Law have placed an open order for Robotics, Ion Distributors and Emergency Power Cells. The organisation has promised to reward pilots who deliver these commodities to Phillips Dock in the Peacock system.

The campaign begins on the 9th February 3303 and will run for one week. If the final target is met earlier than planned, the campaign will end immediately.

Human civilisation spans hundreds of star systems and encompasses a wide range of cultures, but many people still share a number of traditions. One such tradition is Valentine's Day, a celebration of romantic love dating from the 5th Century.

With many choosing to mark the occasion by giving gifts to their significant other, retailers throughout the galaxy are preparing for a busy week. One of these retailers, Vestani Conservatives, has placed an open order for various commodities in anticipation of this hectic period. A spokesperson for the organisation said:

"We won't be able to fulfil our commercial obligations without the support of the galactic community, so we're offering generous premiums to pilots who deliver Thrutis Cream, Deuringas Truffles and Esuseku Caviar to our headquarters at Rose Terminal in the Vestani system."

The campaign begins on the 9th of February 3303 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:

New 31 Aquilae Green Party

Crimson State Group

Eranin Peoples Party

Modgud Commodities

Gliese 868 Services

HIP 1914 Purple Universal Inc

Delta Phoenicis Limited

Fawaol Patrons of Law

Social Bakaduninka Future

HIP 112052 Central Corporation

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

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

Here are the latest factions to experience famine:

Siluruba Purple Transport Ltd

HIP 22145 Gold Mafia

Kvenland Services

FK5 2550 PLC

HR 3954 Crew

Hajon Industries

HIP 9610 Jet Legal Systems

HIP 96289 Blue Major Inc

Kawal United Commodities

Sokat Values Party

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:

Avan Labour Union

Kvenland Services

Order of Ethgreze

Aymifa Resistance

Green Party of Dulos

Traditional Siluruba Autocracy

Camorra of Waime

HIP 105639 Party

HIP 111486 First

Co-operative of HIP 49102

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.

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:

Bacon City, Carnoeck

Dogmaa, Wolfberg

Elder Works, Ross 154

Frick Base, Naurung

Haisheng Orbital, HR 8474

Tall Enterprise, Ngalia

Tarelkin Dock, LP 462-19

The following starports continue to experience technical issues:

Alexander Freeport, HIP 18843

Amnuel Dock, Kwiamoni

Bondarek Orbital, Munfayl

Cayley Landing, Atroan

Donaldson Retreat, Rajuar

Haack Gateway, Halbangaay

Hillary Silo, HR 8474

i Sola Prospect, Brestla

Kooi Gateway, G 190-28

Liwei Gateway, 63 G. Capricorni

Manakov Survey, Aeduci

Melvin Hub, GD 1192

Noctrach-Ihazevich Research Facility, Pleiades Sector AB-W b2-4

Priest Survey, HIP 19147

Roberts Port, CD-52 9732

von Bellingshausen Port, Almar

Meanwhile, the following starports are on the brink of closure:

Bartlett Gateway, Heikegani

Gaffney Dock, HIP 16538

Hirase Horizons, Nemet

White Orbital, Aiabiko

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:

Apoyota Domain

Quator Ring

Mutujiali Crew

United Wat Yu Confederacy

HIP 117399 Confederacy

Yenistani Guardians of Tradition

Ngadjal Citizens' Forum

Hecate Creative Industries

Jamapa Alliance

Aerial Universal Network

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:

Chamunda Crimson Gang

Laedla and Co

Groombridge 1618 Inc

Bhotho Rats

LP 811-17 Gold Energy Partners

Heike Co

Segoveduwa Empire Party

Karsha Empire Consulate

Bureau of Tetrian Liberty Party

Partnership of LHS 417

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.