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Phoenix is a game of great depth where good play and well thought out actions are rewarded. When first started in 1992 it was set a few centuries into the future when mankind ruled the Stellar Empire. At the frontier, several distant 'Peripheries' had been discovered. These huge areas of space, accessible by specially designed Starships were explored and colonised. Since then however the history of the game has developed and many plotlines have been explored including the fall of the Stellar Empire culminating in a return to the old Empire in order to pick over the stagnant and isolated populations and rebuild. Humanity also found that it was not alone and alien races encountered, sometimes peaceful though not always. As a player you have the option of playing in one of many factions, whether human or alien, aiding their cause. Phoenix is a turn-based game in which players control positions in a persistent and open-ended universe moderated by a human Games Master.
- Positions – ships, bases, agents etc.
- Turn-based - positions are processed in a single* batch on a daily basis, i.e. each position performs a number of actions within a single day and this is referred to as a turn.
- Persistent – positions in the game are always considered active. They can be attacked at any time. There is no logging-off.
- Open-ended – there is one game that has been continually running since 1992. Some positions that existed then still exist today.
- Moderated – the game employs professional referees to add plot lines, modify game data, answer questions and generally expand the game and the game universe.
*The single batch is technically split into sub-batches as this allows for positions that do not need Game Master Moderation to be processed first rather than waiting on the GM to finish moderation. This is explained in some detail in the IGN article Daily Run.
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Position Types
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[Recruit] |
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There are several different types of positions in BSE: Starships, Starbases, Outposts, Platforms, Ground Parties, Agents, Operatives, Cargo Dumps, and Political Positions. You start in command of a Starship. Starships are all-purpose spacecraft capable of exploration, cargo haulage, and combat. Starbases and outposts are small ports founded on worlds throughout the Peripheries. Platforms provide stationary naval defences and are generally built in orbit. Ground Parties are composed of people and equipment (usually) and are commonly used to explore or conduct military operations on the surface of a planet. Cargo dumps are as the name suggests. Agents and Operatives are effective spies in rival Starbases and Outposts and Political Positions are a position type reserved for advanced players and represent the people who actually run the Affiliations. From starting the game with a courier you can build up the number of assets you control. Positions can normally be transferred between players except in a few special cases, including but not limited to Starting Positions, Politicals, Agents and Operatives. Certain positions have a fee levied against them. These may be per week or per update. See fees. While there are no limits to the quantity you can control, positions also have maintenance costs. This is often the effective limit to the amount of positions you can control in the game. Only your starting positions and political are created without the use of in-game resources. Every position in the game will be flagged with an affiliation signature. This is a three letter code that is normally an acronym of their affiliation or the most significant letters:
- AFT - Association of Free Traders
- IND - INDependent
- PIR - PIRate
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Affiliations
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[Recruit] |
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Factions in the game are known as affiliations. Some may belong to the same race while in some cases an entire race may be counted as an affiliation. Players can normally only belong to one affiliation. Assets controlled by the player are flagged as belonging to the affiliation with the exception of their positions they have flagged as Pirates. Assets you control may be flagged as Player Owned or Affiliation Owned. Player Owned positions can be transferred to anyone. Affiliation Owned can only be transferred to other members of the Affiliation. You can purchase Affiliation Owned assets in order to make them Player Owned. |
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Pirates
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[Recruit] |
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Player Owned Positions can be flagged as Pirates. Their main advantage is that they allow affiliations to conduct covert actions without implicating their affiliation. Player Owned Pirate ships can be re-registered. This costs stellars but will remove the pirate flag, making the position a normal Player Owned ship bearing their Affiliation signature. |
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Winning
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[Recruit] |
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Phoenix is not the kind of game that you 'win' in the common sense of the word. Only you can decide how well you are doing. There are always new challenges to face and new goals to be attained. Very little can be achieved easily or quickly in Phoenix. |
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When are turns run?
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[Recruit] |
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Turns are run during standard working days (Monday to Friday) and hours (Greenwich Mean Time). The game is not processed on Bank Holidays. Instead a double day is run on the following working day. In the case of two Bank Holidays back to back (e.g. Christmas), double runs will be on the day before and the day following the Bank Holidays. Normally the second run starts mid-afternoon. Each game week has 5 Days. There are 260 game days in a year (52 weeks). As the game is run on week days the standard date format is year.week.day. 2008 AD = 208 Game Year (208 years after the foundation of the Human Empire). Example 30th October 2008 = 208.48.2 (2nd day of the 48th week in 208). |
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Game Time
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[Recruit] |
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All actions performed by a ship, ground party, agent, operative or platform require time. The amount of time required is measured in Time Units (TU's). These positions can have a maximum of 300 TU's at any one time. The current amount will increase by 60 TU's per day. When orders are sent in, they will perform actions until it has no more TU's remaining. Any actions still outstanding will be listed as pending orders. More information on this can be found under Movement. |
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The Universe
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[Recruit] |
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Within the galaxy are millions of stars. A star is a huge ball of burning gas. It is generally the case that a star has a number of celestial bodies orbiting around it. These celestial bodies could be planets like our own or swirling spheres of cold gas like Jupiter. There could be asteroids or in some circumstances even another star present. Together these are known as a star system, or more commonly just system. A primary star always exists at the centre of the system. Around this, the system is broken down into 4 quadrants and 15 rings known as orbitals. This map is not a map representing true location, but closer to a map used in the real world by underground tube trains. It represents relative location not physical distance. In Phoenix, relative location is based on iso-gravitational regions. These are effectively relative travel times for ships moving from one location to another. Each star system is separated from other systems by phenomenal distances - so huge that it takes light produced by one star many years to reach another. Under normal circumstances travelling from one star to another would be impossible. Scientists however discovered something called Inverse Spatial Resonance (ISR). This showed how one region of space could be uniquely connected to another through the dimensions known colloquially as subspace. The application of this at a macro level meant that with the correct navigational knowledge a space ship could create a sphere around itself and be effectively catapulted instantaneously from one region of space to another. There are two uses for ISR fields. The first use is to move from orbit around one star to orbiting around another star. This is known as 'jumping' from one system to another. Drives designed specifically for this use as known as Jump Drives. The second use of ISR fields is to move through space within a system. This interplanetary travel requires faster formation of ISR fields and many micro-jumps. The speed at which the field surrounding the ship forms is related to the relative volume of the ship compared to its integrity. As such ships that are relatively small compared to their mass such as those constructed out of heavy hulls are able to utilise smaller fields. This means that they can use drives that are able to create fields faster, thus allowing them to travel through interplanetary space much faster than ships that are built from xlight hulls. It is therefore more sensible to create maps of systems based on the use of ISR fields rather than actual distances. This allows the star system to be neatly cut up into regions of relative iso-gravitation known as orbitals. As all worlds have a direct impact on iso-gravitational regions within a system, in some systems it may be the case that some worlds in a low orbital are icy while other worlds in the same system at a higher orbital are in fact warmer. These though are quite unusual and it is generally the case that increasing orbital means decreasing world temperature.
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Peripheries
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[Recruit] |
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Originally the Phoenix universe was split into two main parts, the Stellar Empire (more commonly known as the Inner Empire) and regions of stars beyond called the Peripheries. The game was limited to the Peripheries. Since the collapse of the Inner Empire a few years ago this region of space is now part of the game. It is also referred to as a Periphery as the term Periphery has become synonymous with a region of star systems in close proximity to each other rather than somewhere on the edge of somewhere else. There are few redundant or archaic terms in Phoenix that have arisen on account of its long and dynamic history. Dont worry; they will become clear in time.
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Celestial Bodies
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[Recruit] |
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Most worlds are in fact not spherical. Small asteroids may well be oblong, while rocky planets may be slightly oblate, that is squashed. In Phoenix the size of a world is represented by its X and Y values. Like the system map, these are relative to the time required to cross them. In the case of a planet, each sector is roughly 1,000km across. Earth roughly corresponds to a 36x36 planet. Smaller worlds such as asteroids tend to be made out of localised mineral deposits of an inhomogeneous and generally very rocky nature. As such a sector may well represent only a 100km. Gas giants on the other hand are little more than gaseous spheres. The surface of these worlds is considered to be the depth where the atmospheric pressure is suitable for life (roughly equal to Earths). As such the gravity at this level is also roughly equal to Earths. As the surface at this depth is still insubstantial a sector could easily be 5,000km in diameter. Each sector has a terrain type. In the case of gas giants these will all be gas, but for planets, moons and asteroids, there are many other classes such as craters, mountains, ice, forest, sea etc. |
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Asteroids
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[Recruit] |
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The Solar System has thousands (millions?) of rocks, asteroids, kuiper objects, comets and other chunks of dusty ice left over from the accretion period. Why are there so few in a typical Phoenix system? Actually there are just as many in Phoenix, we make the assumption however that players do not want to scan thousands or even hundreds of planetesimals scattered throughout the system. We therefore have presumed that sensors ignore anything below a certain size and anything that does not reflect any possibility of mineral deposits of a size large enough to be exploited. So ring 15 of a system may well have a thousand (or more) kuiper objects, though most well be less than a few kilometres in diameter and consist of nothing more than ices, dust and be devoid of minerals. They will be fairly easy to spot, just not interesting enough to explore. So in theory ships could hide in their shadow (something presumed by the scan routines), land on one of these (as a special action) or even set up a base though the sensor profile of the asteroid+base will make it fairly easy to spot due to the sudden anomalies. It will also have no minerals, so all in all, it is better to find an asteroid through scanning as it will have a lower sensor profile and have minerals.
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PayPal.Me/creditKJCaccount Don't forget to include your account number in the message. |
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Solo claim swings back and forth
The situation in Solo appears to be getting even more heated. First the NHS dropped 600,000 troops to contest the system and then the DTR answered with enough troops of their own to trump the NHS claim. The NHS found yet more troops, taking the contesting claim up to 750,000 and once again the DTR answered, bringing Solo back under DTR control. Now the NHS have had a look down the back of the sofa and found yet more troops, taking the contesting claim to a massive 900,000 trained troops. We wait to see if the DTR have an answer to this. We can only guess where all these troops are coming from, but what is clear is that the established affiliations clearly have far larger armies than many thought.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
NHS attempt to claim Solo away from DTR
In a shock move the NHS have contested the Solo claim with a huge garrison of 600,000 trained troops. In a move that nobody saw coming, especially as it was unknown the NHS had such a large force of troops to draw upon, the NHS seem to be provoking a response from the DTR. Currently there has been no word from the DTR in how they are going to deal with this claim jumping, although rumours are that they are pretending the Solo claim doesn't really matter to them and so action is unlikely. However this may be a smokescreen and we may yet see the DTR's powerful fleet cause havoc in the system of Solo, which has for a long time been an important junction and fought over by many different factions.
DNA Chairman TonTon resigns
The following communication has been leaked from the DNA to the GTT's PD.
Greetings CEO Fox. It regrets me to have to inform to you that the DNA nation state will be renouncing its claim on Aladdin system following a ceremony planet side, shortly. However, it gives me great pleasure to have to inform you that these ceremonies are being planned by Vladimir Tavikovitch, the South Road Traffic Coordinator. He is also responsible for all DNA and .ore. assets in the Outer Naplian (Capellan) periphery so if there are any further issues, please take it up with him. For any and all other matters, please forward your request directly to the DNA directorate services at NexusID: DNA people. The Foreign Ministry objects one last time to your illegal claim jump of Aladdin, but we realise it is time to de-escalate. Normally i would sign off with Naambta, but doing so would be hypocritical. Let me say good riddance instead. I hereby resign in protest!
Chairman TonTon, Foreign Minister, DNA cc: Directorate Services personnel coordinator - !urgent resignation!
DTR threaten WMB with fines for multiple breaches of DTR Law
Lady Sylvansight of the DTR has issued a fine of 1,000,000 stellars to the Wimbles for multiple breaches of DTR Penal and Territorial Law. This seems a very brave move of the DTR to risk upsetting the huge and warlike WMB when they also have the rival NHS Solo system claim to deal with. No word has been recieved yet that the Wimbles are going to pay, but if the formidable WMB warfleet is seen heading for the DTR home systems we will know what their thought are on the matter. The DTR and WMB fleets going head to head would be a sight to behold.
*** Affiliations ***
AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown> FCN Falconian Republic (70) – Graspien FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Kr'Shan FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility KRL Krell (30) - Namica KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor MOH Mohache (73) – Listens NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz
* Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active ** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.
NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS Inactive: ANT, COD, BHD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,
*** Submissions ***
By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous. |
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
DNA and GTT clash over Aladdin system claim while Pirates look on.
The GTT have this week launched an attack on the DNA outpost in Aladdin, in what appears to be little more than a turkey shoot. Around 100,000 GTT Naplian Startroopers attacked the DNA position to remove the rival system claim. Reports indicate the DNA garrison were taken by surprise and lost control of the base in the first few hours of the fighting. The base has since been reflagged from [Free Naplian Capital] Peaceful Protest to [Loyal Naplian Capital] DNA claim Ended so it's fair to say there was a clear message being sent by the GTT. We have been waiting for the DNA leadership to comment but so far they have been unusually silent. No doubt when they have crawled out from under their desks they will have something to say on the matter.
While this attack was going on several pirate ships were also seen in Aladdin, according to the GTT in what may be true or may be a diversion, with reports of a pirate GP and scout being destroyed while a 150HH pirate warship slipped away and escaped from incoming anti-pirate patrols.
Secret meeting of the EEM
A recent communication intercepted by one of our top reporters today made us aware of a meeting of the EEM. This is underway in a top secret location called Black Pool, which sounds suspiciously like the lair of a pirate band. After pulling in many favours, we were able to identify some of the attending members. On the bases that they won't be named we were able to find out some slight information of the subjects to be discussed at the meeting and one thing is for certain, there could be huge impacts to the lives of everybody living in the galaxy. Details to follow. When the shadowy figures of the EEM come together with the top political players in a pirate base the possibilities are endless!
You are never more than 6 systems from a RAT 🐀
A new saying has arisen in the bars and spaceport of starbases throughout the many peripheries; you are never more than 6 systems from a RAT.
It is understood that this saying originated in Yank and spread by trade vessels to peripheries far and wide. Many starbases have heightened their security and added additional sensors and locks to various entry points including foul and grey water outfalls. Beer and drug stocks are undergoing increased proofing to avoid the critters gaining entry and consuming the stockpiles.
Will this present as a new plague of proportions never before seen or is this some simple urban myth being spread for the amusement of some mischievous entity? Who knows, but to be certain... check the shadows.
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This year we will again be returning to the Briardene Hotel. They were welcoming, the bar didn't run out of beer pre-covid and there was room for quiet chats. Along with Wetherspoons there is the Victoria just down the road (Sam Smiths - last time beer was around 2 shillings per pint and a full round was less than £10).
Mostly drinking beer and talking toot though we have a good few things on the agenda.
Bookings are done directly with the hotel. Book by phone and say that you are with KJC Games
Briardene Hotel Telephone: +44(0)1253 338300 All staff should be able to deal with the booking but if there are any problems ask for Tracy (manager) as she dealt with all our foibles in previous years. |
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Dog days are over
With the fall of the DEN and the implosion of their home territory as the AFT, DTR and GTT moved in, it was unlikely the Dewiek would rise again. The DWP gave the species a little hope with the Dewiek Pocket Periphery kept under lock and key. But news has reached us of the AFT's penetration of this private area of space that's been locked down. With a base and claim in one of the three visible systems it seems that the end of the Dewiek is near. A once noble and aggressive race, determined to make an impact on the galaxy is now little more than a species that lives under the command of others. A sad end to a once powerful species that used to control a significant part of known space.
Pirate activity continues
Yet more reports of pirate activity have been received, one from the WMB, losing a freighter in Solo and another from the FET who reported they had engaged and hit the attacking pirate ship with several weapons before it managed to make off with it's prize. Hopefully the pirate ship took significant damage and will now be out of action for some time. The Corewards periphery seems to have been plagued with pirates recently and many travellers would welcome a break from attacks.
MEK incursion into Corewards
The FET and GTT have mounted a joint venture into Nog-Kesri to tackle a MEK force. It isn't known where they have come from, with the only other MEK ships seen so far being located in the Orion Spur. The lack of a known link between where they have appeared in Corewards and the Orion Spur has caused some concern among planetary populations as who knows where they could turn up next! Fortunately the combined FET/GTT task force dealt the MEK a heavy blow and the threat has been eradicated. But we all know this is unlikely to be the last we hear of the MEK in Corwards and we would encourage ship captains to keep a keen eye on thier sensor screens when travelling near Nog-Kesri.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
CIA freighter fights off overwhelming pirate forces
Fin Saine media broadcast, What is Hot in the galaxy?!?!
MEKlan forces attack in Corewards Arm
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Aladdin faces ongoing DNA/GTT tension
The tensions between the DNA and GTT in the Coptuv system recently spilled over into the DNA system of Aladdin. A significant party of GTT ground troops has reinforced one of their bases in the system and claimed it, forcing the system claim into turmoil as the DNA finds itself under threat of losing the system. With the DNA chairman asking for help, several affiliations have been seen sending ships to evacuate any in the local population that want to escape the GTT. But so far not a shot has been fired and despite the AFT, FEL and DTR assistance no reisistance to the claim jump has been encountered so far. It remains to be seen if the DNA and it's friends will scatter before this hostile take over or put in a last minute counter claim to thwart GTT intentions.
Increasing pirate activity
Recent reports indicate a new surge in pirate attacks with the AFT and GTT reporting ships lost. Knowing how some don't like to advertise losses we wouldn't be surprised if this is the tip of the iceberg. Reports passed to us show the ship PIR Scavenger running ID 43174 and another ship of the same name running ID 68668 have both been in action with successful boarding attempts. It's unknown whether these are seperate ships or the same ship reregistered, but our information suggests that it would be hard for these pirates to cover the space where these attacks happened with just one ship. One thing is for sure, be on your guard as open space is not as safe as it once was.
GCE ships loitering in deep space
After the fall of the GCE and a lot of their assets being shared or purchased it was thought that the affiliation was no more. Yet deep space scans indicate that there is still a significant number of GCE warships holding station in deep space between Coptuv and Yank on the transport route into the Corwards Arm. Nobody knows what these ships are up to and why they are still flagged GCE, but our best guess is that are captains either awaiting new orders or owners after the fall of the GCE command structure.
*** Affiliations ***
AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten BHD Brotherhood (63) - de Molay CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown> FCN Falconian Republic (70) – Graspien FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Kr'Shan FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility KRL Krell (30) - Namica KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor MOH Mohache (73) – Listens NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz
* Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active ** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.
NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS Inactive: ANT, COD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,
*** Submissions ***
By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous. |
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Tension in the Corewards Arm
With the DNA obtaining several ex-GCE bases in the Coreward Arm it has found itself in the middle of an asset grab of serious proportions and aggression. Our reporters witnessed several GTT troop carriers heading for the Corewards system as the DNA published information suggesting they were accidental owners of the system and that the assets were to be moved on. As the GTT ships started to arrive the bases were quickly passed to the CIA, thus thwarting the GTT intentions as they were hardly likely to start dropping troops on their allies bases. This shrew move by the DNA seems to have calmed matters in the Coreward arm temporarily, although the shift in relations between the GTT and DNA has taken a negative turn. When asked what their next move might be the GTT refused to comment.
GCE collapse
The GCE are no more, save for some scattered light freighters. The affiliation which enjoyed a sharp rise and profiltable relations with many has ceased trading. Rumors point to the GTT buying up GCE assets before stripping the rival corporation of anything of value. Although our reporters at the SSS have been quick to point out that any GCE assets not in GTT systems have been taken over by both the DNA and FET. So it seems many different affiliations were able to profit from this development including a new group called the HSH who appear to have taken over the GCE war fleet. No doubt many in the peripheries will be watching with interest where these ships are used, who the HSH are and how they were able to get thier hands on so many warships so quickly.
Secudus trials
In the Cluster Secudus has continued his trials, claiming to root out terrorists working against the Empire. With tends of thousands of beings being sent to the camps or worse. There is no sign of these actions stopping as the NHS clamp down on the locals and bring them under the harsh control of the Empire.
*** Affiliations ***
AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten BHD Brotherhood (63) - de Molay CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown> FCN Falconian Republic (70) – <Unknown> FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Juris FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility KRL Krell (30) - Namica KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor MOH Mohache (73) – Listens NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz
* Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active ** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.
NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS Inactive: ANT, COD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,
*** Submissions ***
By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous. |
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******Empire Syndicated News Network (ESNN) ******
Welcome to the latest version of ESNN, giving the news and views from the ESNN's reporter and news anchor, Ainsley Moore, making this the peripheries' most favourite and most reliable unbiased publication in the known universe from our home in the Heartland,
And so with the news from the last couple of weeks,
Cluster War! DNA Gather Fruit
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