Galnet News

Since the Synuefe ruins were discovered in October, hundreds of explorers, archaeologists and relic hunters have scoured the site for information about the race that created it. When engineer Ram Tah started researching the ruins, hundreds more joined the search, motivated either by a thirst for knowledge or by the promise of reward.

Now, Ram Tah claims to have made a significant breakthrough. In a statement, he said:

"Thanks to the hard work of many dedicated pilots – and in particular Commander Noodlz05 and his wingmates – I have isolated a signal in the Guardians' monolith network that will allow scanners to identify sites within 1,000 light seconds. This should make finding further Guardian ruins considerably easier."

"I would like to thank all those involved for their help. This was not an easy task, but together we have learned a great deal about the Guardians' fascinating culture."

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:

Colanja Gold Power Services

Social Zaragas Independents

Brani Federal Holdings

New 31 Aquilae Green Party

Yakabugai Exchange

G 41-14 Purple Travel Solutions

Kokary Holdings

Brotherhood of LP 98-132

Wolf 359 Blue Travel Commodities

Panoi Holdings

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:

Lords of Ngaliba

Chamunda Crimson Gang

i Bootis Central Limited

LHS 535 Silver United Ltd

HIP 6758 Posse

LTT 2622 Crimson Power Solutions

Orishpucho Jet Hand Gang

Nagii Union

HIP 5700 Electronics Co

Robigo Cartel

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.

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:

Branglal PLC

LHS 3516 Fortune Company

Idomatyritu Travel Industries

Allied Kui Xenab Regulatory State

Brotherhood of Caerete

Jaques

HIP 5712 Guardians of Tradition

Friends of Kotigen

Defence Party of NLTT 57668

League of Ross 1015

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:

Limapa Blue State Commodities

Coquim Industry

Zugen Incorporated

Durius Dominion

Ross 210 Pro-Alliance Party

HR 8170 Brotherhood

HIP 13269 Silver Drug Empire

Regulatory State of Kausan

Lao Zi Blue Fortune Corp.

Imenhit Limited

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.

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.