Indentured Workers

Good news from the House LiQuan this week as they have announced that indentured workers have begun to be freed from the terms of their unpaid servitude, and are returning to normal productive lives. Thus alleviating the growing claims that the HLQ function via a slave based economy.


KAS Bring Out Big Gun

The Kastorian military junta, stung by repeated accusations of their failure to police their own space, and the recent humiliating destruction of several KAS System Patrol Capital ships by one small Pirate scout, have finally responded by posting notice that all pirates that attempt a boarding action in the Yank system will be targeted by the famed KAS System Weapon.

Newcomers to the Peripheries may be unaware of the System Weapon, which is said to have sufficient destructive power to annihilate entire worlds, and is the ultimate argument of the KAS Junta when it comes to maintaining the neutrality of the Yank system. However, to the best of The Editors knowledge, it has never actually been fired. And rumours have been circulating for years that it was based on lost Alien technology, had broken down, and could not be repaired.

Is it possible the opening of the Halo wormhole resulted in the KAS finding the technological know-how they required to repair the System Weapon?

We await with interest reports of the weapons deployment at some point in the recent future.


Pirate Activity

Inter-Galactic News Reporters have uncovered another list of the new pirate organisations recent activities:

210.19.2
Its as bein a specials days, a days fer a myghty prize. Mes Ravager, replacin thes Endevor, tooks er fyrst ship, as bein an IMP 150XL Gigant wi a hyperdrive (sold) an thes cargo bes myghty too, Is as gots me ands on 510 mkIV missile launchers, 900 mkIII Cloaked Kinetic Missile ans as mkII Heavy Nova Battery. Alls o theys nows solds. Mes boys as as dones mes proud.

210.19.3
As beins a days o grayte battles, buts no pryzes. the Royal Adventure does as as jumps intos Pegasus to be aven a plays wi a FET 100HH man-o-war, theys FETs crew fyghts ard, an its as gets tos 74.59% chance o losin controls, buts thes boardins fayled. Ins Inferno thes boys o thes Corona does aves a gos fer a lil HLQ ships, buts shes as aven enuffs marynes aboards to keeps mes boys busys an she aynts took affer four rounds o bloody and tos and. Stills Is as daynt minds theys kinds o fayles, as as sorts thes men from theys boys, Is as loses a few boys and Is as gayns a few vetryan marines.

A sucessyful boardin NEVER gayns a veteryan, onlys the fayls an thens onlys whens mes boys is droppen fast. Thes Corona as tooks 6 ships an as ad justs thes one vetryan fer er efforts.

210.19.4
Thes boys o thes Savage does as jumps on ins to Masters, wheres theys IMPs gots a fleet o barges sats in orbyts wi no cover fer em. Mes boys as dids took IMP RVNT Smiling Grekken 06 wi ease.

210.19.5
As beins a mixeds days. Thes Brigantine does took thes FET 100 LH Resurrection Shipping 01 innen Misre easys enuffs.
Buts Is losts twos o mes boarders todays, thes last o theys Spectres were losts in Kasmer, an Is losts mes Greater Fortune innen Wastelands, thos shes was ons Skeletyon crews whyles Is as mes boys trys summin news.
Ans theres as we beins three misses, HLQ Caravel, IMP Gigant an as as bein as GTT barge does alls bes gones as mes boys arryves.
Is aynts laughin thes days offs, thes loss o the Greater Fortune dos as its me busyness ards, buts Is gots mores ships as cans be refiiteds. Lykes as nots, wil jus maykes mes quiets fers as bein a day or sos.

210.20.2
Mes boys aboards thes Royal Fortune as does jumps on ins to Kastor, an as as does took mes fyrst birdy ships, thes FCN M Opportune, as beins a 150 XL. Nos cargos buts shes as as aven pleny o mk4 ityms Is as as can fits in mes boarders.

210.20.3
Thes Corona as dos jumps on ins to Yank to as as bes playin wi GTT Ship Minute Man S-15, an shes as took easys. Tis another 20NH Is as as a use fer. Buts its as mosly a days o misses wi barges bein gones befores mes boys arryves.

210.20.5
Yeserdays 2000 hulls o CNF ship o war did as trys fer thes Vigilant, buts shes as runnin wi 1% damgae to er hulls. Is aslo readin as ows the CIA is asken fer detayls o me boardins, sos Is ponderins theys as feelin lefts outs. Sos todays mes boys as dos elps theys feels includeds, an mes boys o thes Ravager does took CNF Ship Quartz Eye, as as beins a 75HH Is aven uses fer.

210.21.1
Innen Dorn mes groun party Rogue troops does as tooks a FET Outpost, was as as to beins as smash n grab fer patches, but theys were nones theres an as bein nothin else worths tookin.
Innen Halo IMP Ship RVNT Smiling Grekken 03 was as tooks easys, onlys thes ones crewsman aboards.
Innen Yank thes boys o thes Corona does as trys fer DTR Ship SSFR-BF61 Galdebrun, buts shes as aven pleny o marines as dos fyghts ard an shes as lefts safe. Shames as as Id lykes a DTR ships fer mes tally.

210.21.2
Is as seein as ows the KAS will nows bes given mes boys as broadsides iffen Is boards anythin. Cants says Is as agreein wi thats, taynts lykes Is taken undreds in Yanks, seven oer four oer five months, taynts as beins a lots given theres as bein thousands o ships plyen theys trades innen Yank.

Anyows Is bin thinken oer expanden mes operayshuns, Is as seein news systems as alls lookin easys fer mes boys.

Wells, 1700HH o FET ships o war as as dos comes to gives theys own OP a broadside, wi theys own employs an gp aboards, 4 o theys own employess is as as deaded, mys boys as as already flown!
Tho theys did blast a ships I tooks ofs thes GTT thats weres as trying to picks sumin ups.


Pirates

Rumours indicate the dread pirate Calypso has returned to haunt the space lanes. Though it is definitely not her responsible for the pirate attacks reported in the previous story.


System Sold

In an innovative move this week, the RIP have sold an entire star system, cementing their reputation as the most innovative traders in the known Peripheries.


FCN Press Release

On 20.2 a combined force of OPS and COH warships launched an ill conceived attack on Pralor Stronghold in Acropolis. The Forces consisted of
3 COH Dominator class capital ships 150HoH
2 OPS Iglormon class capital ships 200NH
1 OPS Sol missile ship class capital ship 100HH

In a 3 day battle a measured response by House Magpie saw the destruction of 1 Dominator, 1 Iglormon and the Sol missile cruiser and the successful boarding of the second Iglormon capital ship. A 60NH Hawk heavy cruiser was the only FCN casualty. 2 Dominators fled with 15-20% damage.
The captured OPS vessel was suprisingly high tech with a number of Mk 4 items installed as well as a COH captain. The COH vessel destroyed had a flagritz officer.


Periphery Classifieds


RIP Sales

Greetings bargain hunters !

You will be very pleased to hear that the RIP are having a clearance sale in order to raise vast sums of money in support of the RIP Piracy Compensation Scheme.

The first part of this sale is a bargain technology event at Quick Snack - home of the Jiggly Room (the most famous nightspot in the peripheries).

As of tomorrow the following prices will be slashed at Quick Snack :

Energetics Principle : was 700,000 stellars now 600,000 stellars.
Energetic Particle Detection Technique : was 175,000 stellars now 145,000 stellars.
Photon beam Weaponry Technique : was 175,000 stellars now 120,000 stellars.

The following items will be placed on the mnarket at extremelly competitive prices :

AI Applications technique : price 145,000 stellars each - 3 available.
Specialist Bio-Resource Exploitation technique : 145,000 stellars.
Super Conductors technique : 145,000 stellars.

The technology event will run until stocks are sold or sufficient cash has been raised.

Get them while the're cheap !

GT Spugman


Jobs Wanted

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=34412&lr=on#post_tag

Hello there!

Need to move something from here to there?
Got a place to be and you need a transport?


Seek no longer!
I offer myself and my ship, the Aspidoscelis uniparens, to your service.

PM me, and we'll discuss the deal.

~aXe


Something Large And Shiny

Greetings,

The RIP are looking to purchase 200 Torpedo launchers.

Any mk is fine... and if you can't fill the whole order... part of it is fine too.

Delivery point must be Quick Snack in YAnk.

Anyone interested ?

GT Spugman


Ships For Sale

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=34147&lr=on#post_tag

I am taking offers on three freighters in Halo

1 scarab class 100 LH normal jump drive

1 HLQ class 75 light Hull normal jump drive

1 Lynx Facilitator 50 light hull Quantum jump but missing 1800 MU of internal equipment ( IE the cargo holds).

These vessels are prizes of war seized by Pride Starhunter commerce raiders from the COH and OPS in response to there recent attack on the FCN in Acropolis. All buyers should be aware of this provenance.


BP Wanted

www.kjcgames.co.uk/phoenix/nexus/index.php?a=posts&tid=34093&lr=on#post_tag

If anyone has a BP for a 20LH ship, please let me know the price.



Special Report - New Dewiek Leader Emerges


The Wolf Mother returns to her lair and assumes the mantle of the First Amongst Equals in the Nation. The Wolf Mother is ancient by Dewiek standards, 37 years old. She should have died many tides ago and yet she has witnessed her own cubs rise and fall in succession.

What does the Nation stand for? Where does it go now?

The tradition of the Nation is such that the alpha male assumes the leadership of the pack, sometimes peacefully but often by the strength of their will and fangs. She has stood by and allowed her favourites to take the charge. The Nation is indebted to MaiChiKwai for his economic stewardship and to Darkmane for his military foresight. But time has come for a change. Mother calls the packs together.

The Council of Elders is assembled: MaiChiKwai, Darkmane, Silvermane, Lucian, Greywolf, Soranus Lupin and others of lesser reknown. It is agreed. The Wolf Mother will speak for the Nation, for the pack and for all the Dewiek.

What does the Nation stand for? Where does it go now?

The Nation is strong in all areas but the tides of power have shifted. The Wolf Mother will speak in a whisper rather than a roar. She will prepare the Nation for whatever the future may bring. Her dreams are troubled. The pestilence spreads and at its heart is a corruption that will bring ruin to all.

What does the Nation stand for? Where does it go now?

Perhaps the Makers will return and purge the pestilence but she fears they are defeated. Good. The Nation still licks the wounds from the terrible vengeance they took. And for what? Because the Dewiek wanted to be free. Their other creations still hunts the Nation. With troubling news of new allies whose might spreads as the Nation's has waned. They will be brought to justice.

What does the Nation stand for? Where does it go now?

The Nation stands for freedom, for honour in the struggle of evolution. The Wolf Mother casts her eyes across the galaxy and sees things as they are. She winces and her old, worn fur bristles at it all.

She calls on the Nation's allies and they sing her glory for the Nation was once the tide itself, the bringer of peace. She hopes they prove to be honourable.

She calls on the guests within the Home periphery to pay homage and they oblige. All but one. She has no quarrel with those in her realm who come honestly, in good faith and equal partnership. But rules will be laid down. Intruders will be dealt with. Newcomers will not be made welcome. This is our hunting grounds.

She calls on the creatures who trade to enjoy the surplus the Nation has accumulated in far flung places. She calls on the traders to sell the Nation what it will pay well for. Such will the bonds of freedom, justice and fairness be established. The Nation will seek no quarrel with those who are weak or in need. She will help them. Some find the offer of help hard to fathom. Distrust has spread in this age. The strong have preyed on the weak for too long.

What does the Nation stand for? Where does it go now?

She gathers her packs and speaks to the Elders in soft tones. She howls about the injustice and of course of the pestilence. Will the Nation intervene to bring justice? Will the Nation protect the weak from aggression? Will the Nation guard the great gift of the Makers? Will the Nation rise?

Yes, comes the howl of the Council. The Nation will rise. In whispers, in unison, with fangs and claws at the ready.

Such is the will of the Wolf Mother. She will say no more. The Council retires.



Message From The Editor


Remember this weekend is a bank holiday.

S.

******

Contacts:
Editor: sss [dot] editor [at] googlemail [replacetoavoidspamdot] com

Fury has erupted between the House LiQuan and the FET following the release of this statement to the media by the Baron LiQuan:

"It is with a sad heart that I must expose Zuvoro Norozov the CEO of the FET has the peasant he is.

A while ago HLQ traded 10 HLQ battleships to the FET, the FET could/would not pay the price so agreement was in place that HLQ could call on the research facilities of the FET to produce BP's HLQ needed.

Zuvoro Norozov has seen fit to stab HLQ in the back has payment for his trust he has shown.
They have given notice that no more BP's will be researched and the HLQ Battleships will not be returned.

Baron LiQuan"

The FET have angrily denied this accusation, stating that the Baron himself changed the parameters of the trade deal, demanding a greater price than had been arranged.

Where the truth of this story lies is of course anybodies guess.


Yank

Reports are reaching our news-room of increasing protests being made outside GTT facilities by Kastorian civilians angry at recent violations of the Yank no-fire zone.

A few Dismas Liberation Organisation placards have been spotted amongst the protestors, suggesting they might become the focus for more generalised ill-feeling towards the Imperial-bloc.


IMP News

SPIDER ALDEBARAN RETURNS HOME
by Camille Nebraska, IMP Starcaptain

Spider Aldebaran's career of exploring the Cluster Periphery seemed to have reached an end when his ship had an unexpected encounter with an asteroid in the Rainbow System. But although there was not much left of the ship, the lucky GTT starcaptain survived the crash. He was rescued by the Mohache, who vowed to promptly return him. Spider Aldebaran, however, had other plans. Claiming he was still recovering from his injuries, he remained with the Mohache for 36 weeks.

Yesterday, Spider Aldebaran was finally delivered to Port Lakme, in the Demon System. With a good few extra kilograms to his mass and a silly smile on his face, he kept looking around as if it was his first time at the base. When asked for an official statement, the only thing he said was: "yo, bro, wassup with all the IMP flags and uniforms?" Apparently, the former GTT starcaptain was unaware that he was now part of the Imperial Services. Rumours that he had a distinctive smell of Heaven Herb are unconfirmed.


Press Release

From GTT Press Department.

The confusion concerning the three RCF attacks against GTT outposts in the Lewis system has been cleared up by additional communications with these outposts. It was not the RCF ground parties that had no forces, but that the outposts had no military defences against attack. The result was that RCF troops tried to attack unarmed employees who fought them off by throwing fish at the attackers. And surprisingly, this worked as the brave RCF troops retreated and left the planet. Perhaps the smell of fresh fish was too much for the RCF to handle as they are used to the more "fragrant" smell of their troops.


Imperial Title

The Emperor of Humanity has bestowed the title of 'Duke Teutonic on Laton, the DCI of the CIA for recognition of his work for the Confederacy and its people.

The award was presented during a lavish ceremony broadcast on slight delay from the Imperial palace built for the Emperor by the Noble House LiQuan.

It is unusual for somebody so senior in the CIA to break cover like this, and be seen by the Peripheries at large, and perhaps reflects a move by the CIA to be less secretive and sinister�

�Or possibly not.

The Emperor himself caused some controversy when he was seen to flirt with an attractive young woman sitting amongst the lesser nobility, prompting a flurry of speculation amongst the glossy gossip magazines.

Dewiek

The Dewiek Wolf Mother has again repeated her warnings against unwelcome visitors in Dewiek space.


RIP Press Release

Greetings,

Building on the unmitigated success of the previous Piracy Compensation Scheme the RIP are proud to announce the launch of the scheme covering the year 208.

The aims of the scheme are to provide compensation to those targeted by Pirates acting under the guise of the Regular Independent Privateers during year 208.

Those who wish to make a claim against the scheme should attach details of their claim to this message.

You have seven days to make a claim in this round - your claim should only refer to actions that took place in the year 208.

Claims for previous years will be accepted after claims for the year 208 are completed.

Please note that this round of claims will be dealt with slightly differently... the consideration of evidence will be conducted taking into account judgements already made by the Independent Adjudicators for year 209. This is being done so that the adjudication period can be shortened.

The second change is that, on no account will claims not attached to this message be considered. There will be no consideration for claims made in private.

You have seven days to make your claim.

GT Spugman


Missing Persons Report

Earlier this month the Odyssey (46859), a CNF flagged courier class vessel carrying General Ulysses F Scott, was boarded in Yank by Pirate forces. It is believed Scott was taken prisoner and transported off ship and away from the area whilst the remaining (now PIR flagged) vessel was left to be destroyed by KAS forces on 210.18.4.

Since then no ransom, notice of capture or other demand has been received by the CNF. We are therefore posting notice that rewards will now be paid for receipt of information that is of use in locating Scott or in the identification of those responsible for this deplorable act. Rewards will vary based on quality and accuracy of the information received.

Lieutenant Richard Bingham
CNF Office for the tracking of Births, Deaths and Missing Persons



Periphery Classifieds


Contact Request

**** WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE PACK ***

The Wolf Mother requests contact with the lord of the Solo system on a trade matter. She will receive your communication by private message.

**** WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE PACK ***


For Sale

Dear Gents - CIA Bedlam (4319) in ARACHNID (129) can offer double of the following per week while stocks last.

Crimson Granites (31182) now 10 thousand @ $1
Orchid Marbles (33712) now 5 thousand @ 0.8

Many regards - CIA Harlington


Ships Wanted

We wish to acquire two ore ships with minimum capacity for 25,000 MUs each.
Please send your offers in private. Thank you.

Cornelius Merryheart
Secretary to House Ravenstone


Special Report

From the Blog of CIA DCI Laton - Official Background and History.


After the death of his brother, a young Imperial Officer, in the year 194 by the hands of the Barbary Coast Pirates, Laton accepted a commission with the Imperial Services after finishing his studies in the Imperial Academy on Earth.

Laton became quickly disenchanted with the Imperial Service's lack of interest over his brother's death; he decided to act on his own.
After becoming suspicious of FET involvement in the death of his brother, Laton landed his ship at FET Home within the Capellan System in order to conduct an investigation at the starbase.

He personally briefed a crew member to undertake a covert mission; infiltration into the starbase, to access the starbase computer databanks and retrieve any and all information on his brother's death and exfiltrate the starbase without detection.
Things did not go as planned during the mission and the crew member was captured by starbase security.
After learning of the crew member's capture, Laton ordered his ship to take off and to move to the Imperial starbase Jax, to report to the Patrol Commissioner regarding his actions. The XO of the ship reported that the ship could not take off! The captured crew member was that week's holder of the memorised computer codes to operate the navigational arrays of the ship, without them the ship simply would not be able to plot a safe course into orbit and would commit virtual suicide by entering into the void of space, blind.

Fearing a potential boarding action by the starbase security forces, Laton contacted the Patrol Commissioner using the Imperial Secures Comms and explained his situation, what he had done and the fate of his crew member
The Patrol Commissioner was not pleased, but still he sent a courier ship carrying crew and an "operative" with the computer codes in order to escape the FET base.

The "operative" entered the ship and reported to Laton, handing him an envelope upon entering his office. Laton explained the situation to the operative and put him to work on the computer system, under the watchful eye of the ship's XO. With the navigation arrays active, newly arrived crew manning the consoles and a course set for orbit, the ship took off and left the starbase security zone with engines blazing.

Laton regarded the envelope with curiosity; it was an official envelope of the office of Patrol Commissioner with the personal seal of the Commissioner covering the fold.
Unsealing the letter, the hand written note explained how the Imperial Viceroy had been furious upon hearing the news of the incident when the Patrol Commissioner had explained the situation and that he had insisted upon the sending the "operative" from his personal staff to "escort the prisoner" back to Jax.
The note explained that past incidents to which this operative had been involved with, the numerous ships commanding officers had never made it back to port and all information of them had been expunged from the Imperial databanks, the Patrol Commissioner fears the worst and urges Laton to deal with the "operative" and flee Imperial space. Laton shreds the note and heads to the bridge, checking and holstering his service pistol.

Entering the bridge, Laton orders the pilot to plot a course for Jax and to pressurise the thrust engine tanks for a sustained thrust burn in order to get there faster. After consulting the XO, Laton invites the "operative" into the bridge ready room to discuss the navigation array's codes, the operative walked past Laton into the ready room, moving around and then sitting at the room's metal table. Walking in the room, Laton drew his pistol and shot the seated operative three times in the chest. The operative looked in disbelief at Laton and then slumped into his seat as his life drained from his body.
Still holding the pistol at the operative, Laton moved around the table and then kicked the lifeless form of the operative from the chair. Another shot rang out as Laton shot the dead operative in the side of the head, making sure the operative was truly dead.

With the moment passed, holstering his pistol Laton steps out of the ready room onto the bridge, he issues new orders to move to the edge of the system as soon as possible and to spool up the jump engines for a multiple jump course.
The hard forces of engine burn shook the ship as it sped away from the Planet Utopia MCXVI, blinking away as the jump engine unleashed its power.

Sitting in the freshly-cleaned bridge ready room, with the senior officers, Laton discussed the next course of action. The Patrol Commissioner had put $10,000 in to the ship's account after they had left the Capellan system prior to making their way to the frontier system of Yank. He had received two coded messages, one saying the FET had posted the ship's transponder code and the other saying Laton had been dishonourably discharged from the Imperial Services.

The decision had been made for him and this was conveyed to the Officers; He, nor the crew, could return home.
Putting the ship into a high orbit around Shiloh, Laton ordered the crew to get some sleep and when they had all left the bridge, he contacted the confederate office at EEM Balmoral and spoke to the CIA field controller there ........


Inclusion into the Confederate Intelligence Agency's forces did sit well with Laton to start with. His original crew had been taken away into the Inner Confederacy and he did not see them again.

Laton underwent various training assignments at XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX and advanced mission command programmes under the tutelage of XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX and was awarded the rank of XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX in recognition for his joining the XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX forces of the CIA.

Eventually, He completed the myriad of briefings and debriefings before being allowed back on board his ship, which had been updated to the survey-cruiser class and had XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX equipment installed, along with a new compliment of crew.

Laton was assigned to deep imperial reconnaissance missions, looking for targets of opportunity. This mission was quickly changed to raiding of Imperial shipping lanes upon commencement of events surrounding the "Alien Artefact" incident, of which Laton proceed to XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX many Imperial ships in the XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX, XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX and XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX systems.
After this incident, Laton was then assigned to patrolling the systems within the Darkfold periphery searching for Imperial reconnaissance vessels, with another patrol frigate.

At the start of one weeks patrol, Laton found that CIA ultracomms were not operational; frequencies where clear and un-jammed, simply not functional. Upon informing the ship's XO of this, they then discovered the ship's transponder was showing the ship as independent. This was the same with other patrol ship, they were both independents.

Breaking cover, Laton communicated with the nearest Confederate outpost in order to discover what had happened to the CIA. A military coup had occurred across the entire CIA command structure and the "survivors" where busy rebuilding the "command" and all CIA vessels are required to head to the nearest confederate starbase for "re-assignment".

Fearing another betrayal similar to the circumstances when he left the Imperial Military, Laton again decided to leave confederate space. The two patrol ships extended umbilical transfer docks to allow crews to move to either ship; Laton's ship heading towards the Titan system, the other heading to a confederate base.

Breaking the umbilical docks, the ships parted company. Laton took his ship into the maelstrom of the Titan system. Unable to go back to the Confederacy and facing the death penalty in Imperial space, Laton was again facing the hardest choice of his life: in order to live he would have to join the pirates (RIP) that were known to be based in the Titan system, the very pirates that had killed his brother only years ago.

Finding the Titan system's only then known planet was difficult even with all the CIA information on the system but after a week of searching, the planet was found and they docked at the only starbase on the planet. Landing at a remote part of the base starport, the pirates checked the details of Laton's story through their contacts in the neighbouring systems.

With all points confirmed, they were allowed into the starport proper for refuelling, restocking and wild antics the pirates called "R&R". Laton preferred to stay in the immediate vicinity of the ship's dock as even the quiet places of the starport had a couple of shootouts daily, over either women, men (was learned that some pirates aren't that picky) or perceived cheating during the various gambling/ trading which happened was taking place.
After a week or so in port, Laton ordered the ship to make ready for flight and upon take off & further orbital manoeuvres the ship ventured beyond the planet's gravity well and blinked silently away.

Arriving in the Yank system, Laton knew he had gone too far in joining the ranks of the hated RIP and issued orders to turn the vessels transponder to independent status. No-one disagreed with this decision and the work was quickly done prior to visiting the friendly ports of the system.

Eventually deciding his loyalty still lied with the CIA; Laton took the ship to the confederate backwater system of Teutonic, setting the ship down on the small moon of Frey. Laton issued his final orders to the XO and left the ship for good. Carrying what he could in a backpack along with his service pistol, Laton walked to the nearest settlement in the distance deciding to wait until such time as it was safe to return back into confederate service.

Later, after many years had passed by, Laton decided it was time to return back to the CIA after a old friend had become governor of the new starbase on the planet. Laton was quickly accepted back into confederate service as it was explained to him that many coups had taken place within the CIA and various safeguards had been put in place to prevent the "purges" from ever happening again.

Laton was quickly dispatched to the central base of Langley, for the various update training of the myriad of ship equipment upgrades, especially the new ISR & static jump drive technology developed in the intervening years and upgrades to XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX of the XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX programme.

The next few years saw Laton quickly rise through the ranks of the CIA, becoming responsible for missions back into Imperial space to support the new confederate war fleets, assuming overseer roles of large CIA starbases in the systems of XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX, XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX and XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX along with inner confederate starbases of XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX & XXX-CLASSIFIED-XXX after the Civil war of the Inner confederacy systems, reaching the role of Operations Director in a little under 6 years.

Laton was later involved in the meeting of Imperial, Confederate and Detinus bloc leaders in order to discuss the Commonwealth peace accords of the year 207 and the ratification of the accords in 208.

After a time, the DCI of CIA had such withdrawn from the day to day running of the CIA and had gone to live in his country estate within the inner confederacy, Laton decided to assume the mantle of de-facto leader of the CIA in order to maintain efficiency within the command structure.
Growing tired of the slowness of change Laton was trying to achieve, Laton assumed the leadership role of DCI upon speaking with executives of the CIA and the outgoing DCI.

Laton has witnessed many things in his many years of service, the death of friends to the many battles of the civil war, operatives lost scouting starbases and the destruction of the many outposts & starbases of both sides.

Hopefully, Laton wishes he will see many more years of peace than he seen years of war......


Special Report - Dewiek Recruitment Message


*** WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE PACK ***

The Wolf Mother calls on new cubs to join the Nation in its great rise to restore its former glory. We are Dewiek: a canine, telepathic, short-lived species that form a civilization that has known space travel for more than 2500 years; whose technology is advanced in all measures; who once defeated the Architects themselves; who formed part of the glorious alliances of recent years that forged the shape of the Peripheries; who straddle two secure Peripheries bearing our name. Much has been lost; knowledge and power await to be reclaimed; old enemies lurk half-defeated; territory to be reclaimed.

The Nation are hunters and freedom fighters. The Wolf Mother has determined the path to restoring our greatness and invites all cubs to advance through the ranks:

Cub Scout
You begin life with just your small scout ship and are tasked with exploration and simple courier jobs. In this role, you will form the bonds with the pack that will serve you throughout your short life. You will serve the Wolf Mother and the Nation, learning the basics of starship navigation and be given a thorough grounding in the sciences.

Pack Senior
Once you have learned the essentials and obtained a political position within the Nation, you are promoted to the role of Pack Senior. Now your efforts must be redoubled as you and your pack control numerous starships and are tasked with greater responsibilities for trade, exploration and colonisation. All Pack Seniors will partake in basic combat training and cybernetic enhanced tactical learning opportunities.

Pack Lord
Those who have proven worthy of the Wolf Mother's love will be given greater responsibility as a Pack Lord and will govern their own domain with a starbase at its heart. In this role, you will raise your fleet and troops ready for the coming hunt. You will hone your skills in all key areas: production management, trade and combat.

Beyond the Pack Lord lies the heady positions of Pack Elder and Wolf Lord The Elders form the Council that advises the Wolf Mother and guides the Nation on its path. The Wolf Lords are the great grizzled warriors who speak for the Wolf Mother and lead the Nation's hosts of ships on the hunt

The Wolf Mother calls upon all who wish to make themselves worthy to step forward. To join the Nation is to howl loudly and clearly:
" You are afraid of nothing and will overcome all challenges.
" You stand for what is right and will bare your fangs only for freedom and justice.
" You are part of the Pack: thinking and acting in unison for the glory of the Nation.


The Nation howls in your honour, my cub. The Wolf Mother beckons you to the Wolf's Lair. Let us rise as one and let the galaxy tremble. For once again, the pack roams free in the galaxy.

*** WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE PACK ***


******

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Editor: sss [dot] editor [at] googlemail [replacetoavoidspamdot] com

No SSS this week

Alliances a-go-go

It is officially political-shenanigans week here in the Peripheries, as not one but two new major alliances have been announced.

Firstly the DEN declared a formal alliance with the GTT with the following press releases:

From GTT Headquarters:

CEO James Stryker is pleased to announce that the GTT has concluded an Alliance with the Dewiek Elder Nation. We see this alliance as a bold step forward for both parties and we look forward to cooperating with the great and wise Wolf Mother on matters of mutual interest and concern. The DEN are to be congratulated for choosing such a visionary leader.


**** WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE PACK ***

The Wolf Mother howls in honour of her new allies. She knows they will stand with the Nation and the Nation will stand with them.

Let our fangs be used for justice and freedom; in honour and for the betterment of Dewiek and Human alike.

**** WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE PACK ***


And then the Falconians also declared an alliance with the DEN:

It is with pleasure that I announce the alliance of the Falconian republic with the venerable Dewiek Elder Nation. Contact with the Wolf Mother Adoqhina has shown that our societies, though different in many ways share many of the same core values of freedom and self-determination. Alliance will help to strengthen both parties as they work towards these ideals.


It would seem that far from being alien-phobic as many have recently suggested, the human affiliations are in fact very friendly indeed with the various alien affiliations.



Bughunt

The Felini Tyranny has formally declared war upon the Obsidian Predator Swarm and the Children of Hexos in response to their recent incursion into Acropolis.

The OPS and COH are surely now left with very few friends indeed.


Pirate Destroyed

The pirate scout Eyes Of Arachnid has been destroyed by the DTR platform Agelenidae Defence and over 20,000 over enthusiastic space interceptor pilots who all scrambled at the same time.


FLZ On The Attack

Flagritz naval forces have struck at SMS heavy cruisers in the Avalon system. It seems the SMS cruisers were outdated vessels whose weaponry was unable to get through the Flagritz point defence systems, turning the battle into what can only be described as a turkey shoot.


Pirate Destroyed

DTR Patrol forces have intercepted and destroyed the pirate scout Eyes of Hole in, yes, you guessed it you clever readers you, the Hole system.


High Star

It has been many years since High Star was last in the news, but it seems as if recent Flagritz violations of the no-fly-zone might be about to ramp up tensions once again in the Twinkle system.

It has further been brought to our attention that the civilian government of High Star have placed the following message in orbit:

"Since the great asset stripping of Highstar in 204.24, Sapphire is off limits to the Flagritz by order of the civilian government of Sapphire."

With the Flagritz growing bolder, and the recent losses of FEL positions in the Cluster Periphery to the Confederacy, could the FLZ be about to make a significant strike against the Twinkle system?


Skirmish

FLZ Baseship task group launched a raid in Onwards system but where immediately met by a small force of capital ships, after a day of combat they withdrew.

The fighting was inconclusive, 100HH ship destroyed on each side, one additional 50NH lost on the FEL side, moderate damage to baseships and capital ships on both sides.


Skirmish

A lone Flagritz patrol cruiser has uncovered a hidden Falconian asteroid base in the Dawn system. The patrol cruiser was destroyed in the battle that followed, but it forced a rapid evacuation of what had bee a safe harbour before heavier elements of the FLZ navy arrived.


Periphery Classifieds



Special Report - Fast Times At Skaven High

Skaven sat back from his dinner table and smiled at his construction manager. She was a pretty little thing and was mostly untouched by the radiation and poisons of the outer world. She got hired mostly for her looks, it was a bonus to find her quite competent in her business as well.

She smiled back and said, "I told you the project would work. No one wants to mingle with aliens and no one wants to scurry from one rat hole to the next scavenging for food, shelter and the dubious safety of a petty clan lord".

Skaven nodded and thought about the ambitious construction project. A Krell Utopia right in the middle of Inversion!!! How could this be? The world is a nuclear nightmare. Well, records were discovered of the "before time". Inversion was a garden world at one point. Skaven searched the records available and discovered that many warlords attempted to "fix" the entire world's ecosystem....with no success. This pretty little Krell came up with the simple idea of turning one sector into a self contained Krell Utopia.... Make it as it was before!!!

Skaven immediately commissioned thousands of structural modules and hundreds of thousands of stellars worth of construction to provide bunker systems and food supplies for the population. (Bunkers being the prefered homestead for Krell clans). The announcements were made that the homesteads are free and a new Krell home was to be started...first come, first choice of homestead (bunker location). The people came by the tens of thousands.

Skaven watched the minor squabbles and posturing by the little pack lords with tears of joy in his eyes.... News of new litters being born began to spread..... good, thought Skaven, we can build more bunkers and domes.....



******

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Editor: sss [dot] editor [at] googlemail [replacetoavoidspamdot] com

Piracy Report

Our News-room has received another series of reports from the ongoing anonymous pirate operation.

210.21.4
Theys FET as finalys blowns up theys own outpost wi alls theys employess inside. mes Rogue Troopers aynt as takin as beins as as singles calsualtys. Theys nows lookin fer sumin elses to bes playin withs.


210.21.5
Mes boys o thes Royal Adventure does as jumps on ins to Pegasus tos be avin a plays wi as bein as as 100HH FET man-o-war. Fayre battles appenins, theys others FET 100HHs sitten theres bein idles an an FPG-Dilated Pupil 07 bes tooks. Is aven meself anothers 100HH man o war, lil fitten ans shes bes anothers as cans be andy whens I taykes mes orders fer mercanary works. Tis as as bein an odd boardin, buts Isll keeps thes whys to meselfs.

Innen Skord Is aven thes Brigantine av a plays wi FEL Broadsword, thes Jaguar Tooth I. Is ponderins Is as not taykes ers, buts Is talks to mes boys n says Is lookin fer a specyal boarder, as bein a myght un wi justs thes best o mes boys aboards. So Is plannin on a fews boardins Is nowin wil as bes fayls, jus to as sorts thes men froms theys boys. Is lost 25 o mes boys, buts I gains 5 vetryans fer mes specyals boarders to bes.

Innen Halo a FLZ pryze be gones as thes Black Pig dos trys n plays.


210.23.2
Is as as ads as beins a quyet weeks as mes boarders gets as bein maintayned n mos o theys as as ad a lil upgradin, an Is as bin busys aven mes scouts looks rounds news systems fer mes boys. Todays was as beins a days o doubles.

Innen Agripeta mes Vasco de Gama does as took IMP Ship RVNT Sign of Times 06, as beins a barge aloaded wi sumin, buts thens shes given as bein a broadside an blowed up ons thes sames turns - destroyed before it could report on the battle. Aynt rights. Ans shes aynts on mes tallys.

Mes Brigand as dos jumps on ins tos Straddle to as be aven a plays wi as bein as IMP 40LH Carrack, thes Fast Freight XLVII, in er olds as dos bes mkIV photon guns.


210.23.3
As as beins as myxed days, mes Vasco de Gama dos as trys fers a KRL Courier innen Agripeta, buts as theys ratty boys fyghts longs enuffs - 73.49% chance of losing control, buts no pryze. Moslys Is as wannin to tells theys ratty boys leaves mes boys alones iffen theys wantins nay troubles, theys as as problyms enuffs wiout picken a fyghts wi mes boys.

Innen Agripeta mes boys as dos goes innen orbits o Mei Mei an dids as tooks IMP Ship RVNT Dancing Molker 04, beins a barge aload wi modyules. Nice n easies.

Innen Tycoon thes boys o thes Savage as dos ave a plays wi a felini barge, shes as crewed bes all uman crew an they as as gos thes distyance - 66.68% chance of losing control, an no pryze agins.

Nows theys GTT as bin tyrin ard fer mes scouts, n Is as ponders mes boys as as lykes as playin wi theys, n Is as theys FET 100HH doin nuthin, mes scouts thos dos lets me downs, theys as sayin ay boss theys 2 o they GTT blagards innen Dorn, so I as mes news ship o war ave a plays wi em, onlys theys aynts 2 theys 14 o em, and theys gives more o a broadside thans Is as as ad ponders. Mes Dilated pupil taykes a myghty broadside, buts theys blows up one o theys GTT ships n itll as do fer mes.


210.23.4
Innen Madonna thes boys o thes Black Heart as dos jumps in an took an IMP Caravel, thes Freight IX, nay cargo buts shes as fitted as bein a Grav Lifter n KAS Landing Device witch Is as ponders will sells easys.

Innen Celt, thes Black Pigs boys dos ave a plays wi thes crew o thes IMP Ship Steptoe & Son 45, as bein as lil 40LH tooks easys an as a fews drop pods aboard, myghts bes andy sometyme.

Nows, ole Wolfie, as Is as spoke is as as beins thes masters o this game, n Is as spoke Wolfie done sets eself as bein a targets o a ship a weeks oer 52 weeks. N Is as as spoke thats thats as bein a myghty goals. Wells todays Is as hits thats goal, onlys nots oer 52 weeks. todays tis 53 ships as tooks oer 22 weeks, n Is as ponders Is as as mays slows downs now, n taykes its easys fer a whyles.


Fifty-three ships captured in 22 weeks is a truly impressive record, and we wonder if it will ever be topped. Truly, this pirate has surpassed Large and Wolfpack in terms of ship captures.

It only remains to be seen if he or she will be able to pull off something on the scale of Pompeii.


Twinkle

More rumblings in the Twinkle system as a small Flagritz ground party is detected and destroyed in orbit of the stargate.



Rumour Control - Heard In The Flyways And Byways


Alliances

"One has become slightly troubled over the last week or so. I just can't seem to get my head around all these alliances being made everywhere, seems every man and his dog - no pun intended - is jumping into bed with all sorts of aliens. I don't like the idea at all, the way I see it, it will just create more conflicts than it prevents. All it takes is for someone to get a little trigger happy, and half the bloody Galaxy gets drawn into a war for no reason. And this new Dewiek chap, Adoghina, there's something about him, about the way he talks, I cant quite put my finger on it, but there's definitely something....."


Hive

"Yeah, didn't you hear? The Hive (HVE) are active again. All those Hive ships people have spotted floating dead and breaking apart in deep space? Figured the Hive Queens had all died, but no, swear to the Great One, an actual operating HVE vessel was spotted in Yank. No idea what those bugs are up to though. Story is they've lost their Queens or something, but have started operating anyway."


Ghosts

"It was spooky, all of these tanks moving without crew? I didn't know what to make of it."

Alliances

"Of course, you know why the DEN have really allied with the GTT don't you?"


Alliances

"You hear the FLZ are equipping the House LiQuan with some of their alien capital ships? Those are big ships designed for big beasties to drive 'em, and here they are being piloted by humans. Doesn't seem right to me. I wonder if the HLQ were behind the abduction of General Scott?"


Religion

"So, me and the boys were out in the backwaters of Darkfold right. And we landed at this outpost right. And there were a bunch of monks, like the Brotherhood, but not quite. So we saw their chapel, and it was all done up like one of those Architect ships. And you know what they said? That they had discovered the TRUE Makers, and worshipped them as Gods now."


Out Of Character Interview

Sid took the time to ask Mica, our resident GM, a few questions about the game. Generously he shared the results, so I'm reprinting them here.


1) How would you describe Phoenix to someone who has never played it
or its predecessor before?

This is by far the hardest question of the lot and the one I actually
tackled last of all. Even after all these years I am no closer to
having a coherent but concise answer.

I could say, a turn-based open-ended space opera in a persistent
universe, but that's like describing a horse as a leg at each corner
or life as that short interval between being born and dying.
It manages to be accurate but totally without actually telling you
anything useful.

If anyone can figure it out, please, I am eager to know. Till then, I
just say, "It's a secret; you have to play it to find out."


2) What do you think makes the game special / unique?

The players. That and a hell of a lot of hard work by Darak (and a
fair bit by me - honestly).


3) What have been some of the highlights for you as the GM over all these years?

The biggest highlight has to be the conversion from BSE to Phoenix -
seeing all those turns being printed in the early hours of the morning
and knowing that it was going to succeed and that we had created
something that previously never existed.

Next is staggering drunk through the streets of Bath with a hoard of
BSE players. Don't recall much of it, just the feeling that this was
the coolest job in the world.

Pubmeets - when players tell us we are doing a pretty good job. This
though is usually followed by a lowlight when they launch into a
tirade of what needs to be done for us to be considered doing a very
good job.

Game development meetings with Darak - hic.

Finally there are the occasional moments of self-indulgent whimsy. The
odd comment on a turn, a special action result that has had me in
tears of laughter and generally being called a bastard by every
faction in the game - can't get fairer than that.


4) What's your general philosophy / guiding principles in the
development and running of the game?

I think GMing is all about human psychology. We all secretly need a
challenge even when trying to avoid conflict. Everyone has goals even
if they are not realised and once you have achieved this goal, boredom
sets in.

The fundamental role of being a GM for me can therefore be summed up
by the Rolling Stones - "You don't always get what you want."
This said, if everything was always unobtainable, then eventually you
would throw in the towel. I know I can be quite ruthless, "but
sometimes, you get what you need."

The basic principle of being a GM is to be fair even when you are not
perceived as being so. It should always be that once all the facts are
known, people can see that you have tried your best - even if you
failed, spectacularly, with flames and explosions, big, big
explosions.


5) Where would you like to see the game in the coming year?

Merely a year? With a veteran team of dedicated programmers I might
have this vision, but realistically, we have a two to 3 year
development plan. This is geared towards greater low-level involvement
- putting the minutiae into the game that gives greater playability
for new players and those that cannot afford to singlehandedly run
empires.

I love this idea of new players entering the rich tapestry that has
been woven over the last decade or so and to be able to get involved,
if only in a few threads but still feel that they are getting
everything they want out of a game.

6) What would be your advice to a new player joining the game?

This has to be talk to other players. Joining the game is akin to
moving to a new city. If you stay in your home, don't do anything but
your job, then you will quickly become isolated and disillusioned.
This is not a console game, or even a MMO where you can only ever be
one character and then just a variant of a handful in a zoo. This is a
game of personalities, ambitions and political dynamics. Even somebody
that does nothing but trade can still be respected and known
throughout the game.

The beauty of this game is that it is not so big that individuality
has been lost.

We have always looked the difference in the game to others in the
terms of instant gratification against sense of self satisfaction that
only comes from nurture and reflection.

You haven't jumped through a dozen hoops in an afternoon, following
the countless other newbs that have also played the game, you existed
at a point in the game time that will never be repeated.

It's the sense of achievement and uniqueness that is wholly owned by yourself.


******

Contacts:
Editor: sss [dot] editor [at] googlemail [replacetoavoidspamdot] com

Double issue last week so no SSS for this week.