PRESS RELEASE

[Friday]

Okinawa: Synth Foods Inc was today formally awarded a major tender from the Gas Miners Guild. The contract covers food supply and shelter coverings for the expanding mining operations on the Guild planet of Miura.

Details of the contract are commercial-in-confidence, but leaked documents suggest it includes ongoing supply of Synth Paste, with a land grant for Synth to establish permanent production facilities on Miura in the future.

It also includes an ongoing supply of 'glasshouse' style dome coverings, to keep the frigid Miura air out of the settlements. The first sod was turned on the foundations of a dome unit this morning, at a dedication ceremony. Guild Master Azuki Tamagochi, and the Synth Foods CEO were the guests of honour, and held a press conference today on the planet.

Reaction to the news in the business community was generally positive. News of the Miura expansion gave the Liberty and Rhienland stock exchanges a boost today. Kusari markets were mixed, with Kishiro posting its second consecutive increase in fuel recepits - whilst agricultural shares fell 200 points.

Protests were held outside Guild embassies on New Berlin and New Tokyo by Farmer's Rights groups, the steps of the New Tokyo embassy ran red...with smashed containers of Cranberry Synth, and at least one Guild flag was burned. Aomori Station reportedly locked down their exclusion zone for four hours today, to clear away potentially hazardous waste and debris left by protesting AFA ships - literally venting their frustrations into Guild space.

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