Phoenix
Phoenix Nexus News Howl Bitesize - 220.50.5
Howl Bitesize - 220.50.5

user image

  Star Date: 220.50.5

user image

Veil Lifted on Flagritz Home Space

As the Hellcadium ISR field continues to fluctuate, one of the newly exposed systems is Junista inside the previously hidden and inaccessible home periphery of the Flagritz Republic.

Over the past few weeks Flagritz Republic patrols and platforms have dealt with a number of scout ships from the Human Empire as the IMP wasted no time in exploiting this opportunity to poke around in their old enemy’s backyard. It is understood that at least one of these unarmed scouts was destroyed with no one willing to estimate how many more might be buzzing around.

Coincidentally, suspected IMP lackey, SSL TOAD, has also been overheard showing an obsessive interest in the Flagritz periphery. However, we have received no reports of this being anything other than his usual drug-fueled, barely decipherable mutterings at this stage.

Either way, this sudden, uninvited interest in the Flagritz Periphery has left the FLZ leadership muttering darkly about appropriate measures being taken. Defensive fleets and supporting structures are being deployed in the Junista system and beyond in expectation of further uninvited guests.

user image
When You stare into the Flagritz Periphery...

user image

Thete's Timey-Wimey Tease

Investigation into the Thete anomaly continued in the Dewiek Pocket Periphery. The anomaly was scanned from all angles by a number of the Dewiek Nation’s best sensor ships and officers. The data, collected over several weeks, was sent to one of the DEN’s most advanced scientific laboratories for analysis.

What they found will shock you!

Contrary to previous analysis, more detailed scans revealed the anomaly’s antigravity feature may have been a false impression. We asked Bardulphus Litvak, leading professor of Wormhole Theory at [REDACTED] to explain the team’s findings.

“Dust particles approaching the mass were observed to slow down, hence the initial indication of antigravity. However, this new data suggests this may not actually be the case.

“A similar phenomenon is found for all forms of energy and matter when approaching an event horizon but this anomaly is definitely not a black hole or hidden singularity. Time is simply being distorted and this does not appear to be natural. Whatever is within this anomaly is experiencing time at reduced rate and we are damned sure this was intentional.”

The professor was unwilling to speculate further at this stage but interest in this previously overlooked backwater system is certainly growing.

user image

Hellcadium? "Hell Yeah!"

With the increased interest in Hellcadium from many affiliations the Detinus Republic Senate held an unscheduled meeting to discuss the public policy for the system. A speedy resolution was reached to allow any affiliation to settle in the system. Many DTR citizens argue the decision was simply a pragmatic and servile response by the Senate. Some citizens, however, told pollsters they lamented the massive wasted opportunity that smacks of weakness and short-sightedness from the Republic leadership.

One resident of the Arachnid system was quoted as saying, “I can’t see old Iron Lady Diaz rolling over like that but then we’re probably just counting the days before the Senate dissolves in favour of rejoining the Stellar Empire.”

user image
Detinus Senate Hard at Work

user image

Overheard in the Drinking Halls

Seeking the path to Perfidion Reach led the Raiding Acquisition & Trade affiliation to the Void system in the Cluster periphery. It is rumoured they found some secret faction there which was invited to join the steadily growing RAT, only recently formed from the merging of two other smaller, if long-running, affiliations, the Raiders of the Imperial Periphery (RIP) and Red Confederate Forces (RCF). This may be an affiliation to keep a wary eye on as they continue to absorb the disenfranchised parts of humanity from across the galaxy.

***

There is talk around various space bars that High Baron Roy LiQuan has been desperately scouring asteroid belts, looking for something important to the future of the Noble Houses. Sources suggest paid mercenaries are following several leads that allude to various nobles being Meklanised. In strangely coincidental timing, several MEK scout ships have been spotted in the Orion Spur.

***

There are reports of IMP patrols dealing with a worrying increase of pirate activity beyond Traitor’s Gate in the Coreward Arm periphery. There is some scepticism as to the authenticity of these claims as many still believe Pirate Large, Edward Lowe and other related PIR activities are sponsored by the IMP. The NHS have also enjoyed prolific anti-pirate operations of late but it is unknown if they were patrolling the same region.

***

Mysterious figures identifying themselves as part of the “XFR” have been spotted lurking around Brotherhood bases. Nothing is known about their intentions or even what this “XFR” group might be.

***

A FET ship was recently ejected from a Krell system, sniffing around where it was not welcome.

user image