Planet Denver

Planet Denver

File:Li03 01 base.png

Owner

Liberty Police, Inc.

Location

F-4/3, Colorado

DIAMETER: 12,211 km.

MASS: 5.54 x 10e24 kg.

TERRAIN: Terrestrial

TEMPERATURE: -68°C to 59.1°C

ESCAPE VELOCITY: 10.02 km/sec

Originally home to miners, smelters and shipyard workers, Denver has always had a sizeable population, but during the economic collapse of the silver industry in 600 AS, many of the workers were put out of jobs and either left the system or ended up joining the nascent Xeno movement. The planetary population plummeted, with the remaining people left to scratch a living on Denver's farmsteads, and also in the small, but profitable, tourist industry.

With the California water shortages continuing unabated, the wealthy elite of Los Angeles began to search for an alternative holiday destination and place to call home, and they found it in the guise of Denver's rough savannahs and beautiful, pristine beaches. The resulting emigration injected new life into the planet's economy, reviving its fortunes, even as the newly arrived upper class were in the process of systematically taking control of the local government authorities.

Nowadays the planetary population of Denver stands at a healthy number, and is the second most populated planet in Liberty after Manhattan itself. Such is the attraction of Denver that Cryer Pharmaceuticals maintains one of the largest medical research facilities in Sirius, just outside the capital city of Crichton Springs, while the headquarters of the Ageira Technologies corporation and several manufacturing plants supporting its operation on Pueblo are also located on the planet. It is widely known that the Liberty Police are paid handsomely by the wealthy residents to ensure the continued peace and security of Denver.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

Liberty Police, Inc. Cryer Pharmaceuticals Universal Shipping Ageira Technologies Border World Exports Gateway Shipping Planetform, Inc. Bounty Hunters Guild Synth Foods, Inc. Orbital Spa & Cruise Kishiro Technologies Samura Industries Imperial Shipping

Missions

Liberty Police, Inc. Bounty Hunters Guild

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price Hessian Tears 170$ Casualties 22$ Gin 59$ Medical Equipment 12$ Molybdenum 201$ Nanotubes 42$ Rheinbier 57$ Rum 70$ Sake 42$ Vodka 74$ Prisoners 194$ Crew 293$ Gold 244$ Silver 181$ Niobium 160$ Copper 138$ Diamonds 185$ Luxury Food 56$ H-Fuel 143$ Construction Machinery 18$ Polymers 59$ Optronics 52$ Consumer Goods 20$ Iridium 203$ Quantum Multiplexors 23$ Wine 88$ Aluminium 168$ Cigars 39$ Industrial Materials 16$ Tea 31$ Passengers (Bretonia) 643$ Passengers (Kusari) 390$ Passengers (Rheinland) 644$ Passengers (Gallia) 914$ Platinum Ore 43$ Fire Pearls 18$

Exports

Commodity Price Deployable Mining Container 50,000$ Oxygen 4$ Water 4$ Superconductors 12$ Pharmaceuticals 12$ Platinum 90$ Criminals 404$ Liberty Ale 34$ Luxury Consumer Goods 35$ Synth Paste 21$ Vacationers 856$ Scientists 393$ Passengers (Liberty) 318$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price
Havoc Mk II	Bomber	71,612$
Arrastra	Bomber	43,176$
Roc	Bomber	70,176$

News

[833 AS] Liberty addresses Gold concerns

LOS ANGELES -- 833 -- While speaking at an industry event, Secretary of Commerce Trombly responded to Interspace’s startling report on the Bretonian Gold Crisis. Liberty has long been reliant on Gold imports for a range of purposes, with the current scarcity causing prices to spike and damaging economic growth. Bretonia’s continued blockade of the Dublin System has so far failed to dislodge the Molly revolutionaries within, while causing further damage to the broader Sirian economy. Trombly confirmed that, “Liberty does not see a viable short-term military resolution to this issue,” and called upon Bretonia to enter into negotiations with the Mollys, offering limited relief on wartime debts as an incentive.

[833 AS] Gold Insecurity Invites Crisis

WATERLOO -- 833 -- Interspace analysts have published a report on the continued volatility of sector-wide Gold supplies, claiming that further instability invites disaster. The reports note the pressures placed on advanced Optronics, Bio-Neural Processor and Quantum Multiplexor manufacturing were already causing spiraling cost increases in adjacent market sectors. Market analysis also indicates that the bulk of Bretonian exports now consist of recycled and in some cases adulterated materials, likely indicating that stockpiles are running low. Interspace has called upon House authorities to collectively find the means of addressing the Dublin question before economic crisis becomes inevitable.

[833 AS] Stabline Prices Spike Over Atka Destruction

SIGMA-17 -- 833 -- Cryer’s share prices have tumbled on the news that Atka Research Station has been destroyed by brutal Outcast pirates. The remote station served as the primary manufacturing point for the revolutionary drug Stabline, which had promised to eradicate Cardamine dependency across the Colonies. Cryer spokeswoman Alicia Fisher confirmed that critical staff and research materials were successfully evacuated due to the timely intervention of private security forces and the GMG paramilitary. She noted that adequate Stabiline stockpiles exist to “manage demand for priority clients” while a replacement facility is sourced. Cryer is believed to have entered emergency negotiations with the governments of both Kusari and Bretonia to explore potential options.

[833 AS] Solderi's Case Escalated To Planetary Court

MANHATTAN -- 833 AS -- The Sorderi case has moved to the next stage, as Cryer Pharmaceuticals appeals the decision made by a district court on Manhattan ruling them liable for the death of Kella Sorderi. In a case which has gripped the nation, Sorderi's death due to Cardamine withdrawal was ruled "expected and calculated" by Cryer due to the treatment plan presented by them, which Sorderi had followed. The case now moves to the Manhattan Planetary Court. Sorderi's family has expressed disappointment at the decisions, her mother stating: "This is an endless battle, and we don't have endless ammo! Our girl's dead because of them and they're just going to keep this going forever!". Sorderi's fans, also known as "Rosebuds" for her net alias "Bloodrose", have vowed to continue fighting and are planning protests before the Manhattan court. Clashes have already been reported in Sorderi's home town of Opera, JN, as police were forced to use tear gas against enraged followers of the star who feel the trial is becoming lost in bureaucracy.

[832 AS] Cardamine Withdrawal Epidemic!

MANHATTAN -- 832 AS -- Reports of Cardamine withdrawal-related hospitalizations have surged to unprecedented levels, with a specific hospital on Planet Manhattan recording a staggering 450%% increase compared to the previous year. A growing number of addicts are seeking emergency medical care, apparently unable to obtain their regular dose of the highly addictive drug. Symptoms of withdrawal rapidly progress into severe sickness, pushing many of these individuals into critical condition. While this troubling trend is observed throughout the Sirius colonies, Liberty is bearing the brunt of the crisis among the four major Houses. Remarkably, even Rheinland, where historical data indicated low Cardamine consumption, has witnessed a notable rise in medical cases linked to the illicit narcotic. Experts postulate that the extensive black market responsible for Cardamine distribution might be facing a shortage, or worse, that Outcast factions deliberately curtail the supply to bolster demand. Regrettably, no law enforcement agency has been available for comment on these concerns. The long-standing debate over Cardamine's controversial nature, juxtaposing its euphoric and purported medicinal qualities with the genetic alterations it inflicts upon long-term users, continues to echo. A key point of contention revolves around the plight of innocent consumers caught in this crisis. Yet, according to independent polls, a substantial majority of our viewers maintains that the substance must remain banned. In response to this escalating crisis, Cryer Pharmaceuticals has announced a forthcoming press conference. During the event, the company intends to unveil plans for an expanded production of Stabiline, their touted "wonder drug". This announcement promises affordable access to Stabiline for all patients grappling with Cardamine withdrawal, sparking a remarkable 15%% surge in Cryer Pharmaceuticals' stock following the revelation.

[831 AS] Neural Net Influencer Found Dead

MANHATTAN -- 831 AS -- Socialite and media influencer Kella Sorderi, better known under her Neural Net alias "Bloodrose", was found dead in her Manhattan apartment earlier this week, aged 29. The preliminary autopsy has suggested an overdose and the death is not being treated as suspicious by the Liberty Police Inc. at this time. Sorderi had made a name for herself by, among other things, speaking candidly about her Cardamine dependency and her attempts to overcome it by alternative pharmacological means. Though the circumstances of her death remain uncertain, theories abound which implicate the products of Cryer Pharmaceuticals that she had long championed as the future of Cardamine-dependent persons in the colonies. "Cryer killed our baby!", says father Ernest Sorderi. "They used her as a guinea pig for their unproven treatments, and the reality was a family losing their daughter! We will pursue ALL legal means to find justice for her!" The Neural Net is awash with an outpouring of sympathy from Sorderi's fans and scrutiny surrounding her sudden death.

[831 AS] Courts battle over Galileo Platinum dispute

MANHATTAN -- 831 -- Legal filings have been issued on both Manhattan and New Tokyo by Deep Space Engineering, Kishiro Technologies and Samura Heavy Industries. Public briefs shed more light on the dispute's background, with each corporation asserting that freelance prospector ""Taro Yamada"" had sold them exclusive rights to his discovery of Platinum in Galileo. Both courts have claimed jurisdiction over the complaint, and issued their own separate injunctions holding mining operations until their rulings have been issued. DSE has issued a bounty for the capture of Yamada alive.

[831 AS/747 AGS] Gate Corps Clash Over 'Blackout'!

ABBEVILLE -- 831 AS/747 AGS -- EFL's 'Resilience Taskforce' today reported its findings on The Blackout, claiming to have gathered forensic evidence that proved the cause as Ageira negligence. A spokesperson claimed that the destruction of the Dublin jump gate by Molly separatists had created a hyperspace feedback loop that was propagated and amplified through the Ageira gate network. Ageira disputed this finding in their own press release, calling EFL 'fantasists' and countering that their own scientists had narrowed the cause to a rare 'hypernova' stellar event that originated outside the Sirius sector. Both corporations claim that network-wide hardware safeguards have been implemented that would prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Independent researchers have sharply criticized the corporate announcements, accusing both of self-interested misdirection. Professor Sophia Nagel from Heisenberg Research Station called EFL's accusation 'incoherent' and the hypernova explanation 'nonsense' that did not explain the characteristics of the 'Blackout Pulse'. Despite multiple different Pulse recordings being widely disseminated across the neural net, public efforts have so far failed to triangulate its source.

[831 AS] Platinum claim triggers dispute

REPPU CLOUD -- 831 -- In a confusing turn of events, Deep Space Engineering, Kishiro Technologies and Samura Heavy Industries have all issued press statements claiming to have discovered the same Platinum deposits in Galileo. Galileo's mysterious asteroid fields have never previously been commercially surveyed due to the presence of hazardous Dark Matter clouds. Each corporation asserts their exclusive right to exploit the Platinum, citing recognised conventions on pioneer rights. DSE has already threatened to sue its Kusari rivals over any infringement, ensuring a costly legal battle is almost inevitable.

[831 AS] Core of an old problem

MANHATTAN -- 831 AS -- After a recent leak by an undisclosed source claiming to have loose ties to the Liberty Security Force, Congress has been sent into furious debate following intense public uproar, all in response to allegations that the Core has cooperated with the loathsome Outcasts. These allegations come as a shock and have significantly impacted the investment climate, leading many to reconsider Core stocks as an addition to their portfolios. While the investigation is as of yet inconclusive in its findings, analysts believe that values may not reach their historic peaks again as a consequence of this potential breach of trust.

[831 AS/747 AGS] 'Blackout' Causes Jump Network Fail

MANHATTAN -- 831 AS/747 AGS -- Two days ago Jump Gates failed simultaneously across Sirius, freezing commerce and neural net access across the sector. When the network resumed 31 hours later, restored communications broke the news of Bretonia's loss of the Dublin system. This twin shock has plunged the market into chaos, prompting fears of sector-wide economic recessions. Interspace estimates indicate that the stoppage alone caused billions of credits in losses. Gallia immediately accused Liberty of culpability for the outage, claiming the destruction of Dublin's jump gate instigated a cascading failure in faulty Ageira infrastructure. Ageira has sharply refuted the allegation, claiming such a systemic effect would be physically impossible. Independent researchers in Cologne and the Edge Worlds have also announced that a hyperspace pulse of unprecedented strength was detected moments before The Blackout, with data about 'The Pulse' being widely shared across the neural net in recent days. House authorities have remained tight lipped, refusing to comment on their own observatories' data.

[830 AS] Rampant Human Trafficking Cases on Erie

ERIE -- 830 AS -- A scandal rocked Planet Erie's administration when a video recording of Insurgency prisoners, escorted by LPI officers, were being loaded aboard a transport bound for the Edge Worlds, surfaced on the Neural Net. As the Republic's forces maintain law and order on the pacified planet, this leak has undermined their authority, causing waves of public outcry and calls for police reform by both local Zoners and Liberty citizens alike. In the video, a number of restrained people that have been identified as former residents of Planet Vespucci, board a Dromedary-class vessel registered to a freelance trader Vincent Ruthen. They are under supervision from several LPI officers, who exchange words with the ship's crew. Private investigators have trailed the ship, determining that it did not land at its purported destination of Gas Miner Naha in the Sigma-13, instead electing to travel away from civilized space into the Edge Worlds. The people aboard it have effectively vanished from the colonies. This is the latest case in a streak of such disappearances, with investigators estimating as high as ten percent of all inmates thought to be awaiting their trial in LPI internment camps have been covertly shipped off-world for unknown reasons. The fate of these people is yet unclear, but theories range from secret trials to unethical experiments aboard Atka. Outraged by what is apparently an LPI-sanctioned human trafficking operation, protesters flooded the streets and had to be dispersed by police riot control squads. A Liberty Police official has denounced allegations of corruption, stating that "All interned personnel are secured and all prisoner transfers have been done within the framework of the legal code". He refused to comment on the evidence presented, dismissing it as "slanderous fabrication against the good, hard-working officers of Liberty law". Meanwhile, political opposition already promises increased oversight over the law enforcement corporation for the next election cycle.

[830 AS] Troubles in Erie's Paradise

ERIE -- 830 AS -- It was the early hours of the morning when a missile was launched from Erie's surface; A missile that struck its target of an LSF satellite in orbit of Erie. The attack was claimed to have originated by militant Zoners seeking to separate themselves from Libertonian governance, and proved to be the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. For some time, it had been alleged that Insurgent and Xeno-backed cells had been stirring trouble on Erie, inciting violence in the population and seeking to turn the planet into a second Veracruz. Never, however, had such open acts of terror been visited upon the governing Libertonian forces. The response was quick and decisive. In coordination with the LSF, Vice Admiral Hamish aboard the Battleship Alma lead a Liberty Navy task force directly into the system in Operation Pesticide, escorted primarily by Siege Cruisers, Gunboats and fightercraft, with many of the Navy's capital warships tied in the Vespucci campaign or ever watchful at Liberty's borders. They were met by Zoner Q-ships based from Bethlehem, with many coming from as far as Galileo or even the Sigmas, accompanied by a motley assortment of freelancers and other anarchist elements. Leading the Zoner line was a Aquilon-class carrier, the Pinnacle. While the Pinnacle came under heavy bombardment from the Alma and her task force, supplies quickly gathered onto Zoner transports from Erie attempted to run the Navy blockade. While some transports were lost to Navy bombers, others yet escaped to parts as of yet unknown. This 'victory', however, came at a heavy price. The Pinnacle was lost with most of her hands still on board and the rest captured, while the Liberty Marines landed virtually unopposed, quickly securing population centers for both the safety of Libertonian assets and the civilians on Erie itself. The Alma is settled now into the low orbit of Erie, a constant reminder to those below that they are under the protection of the Liberty Navy. A comfort to some, a dire warning to many more.

[830 AS] Victory Over Veracruz!

OHIO -- 830 AS -- An announcement by the Liberty government today unilaterally declared victory over the once-Insurgency as the LNS Ohio settled into high orbit over Veracruz last week. The Battlecruiser Triton, the infamous warship that felled the Delaware, was left as little more than debris burning through the planet's atmosphere that now rests in a crash site located on Veracruz's smallest continent. Over the last few days, Archer-class siege cruisers have been deploying their massive coaxial cannons to suppress military infrastructure on the planet, systematically targeting the very last bastions of the Insurgency. First to be destroyed were the planet's few remaining ground to space weapons installations, quickly crippled by bomber strikes from the Ohio herself, before the remaining desolate ground defences and deserted infrastructure were reduced to rubble, their populations having already long fled the world. A small service was held on the Ohio as the bombardment drew to a close in memory of Rear Admiral Dylan Brandt and those thousands of sailors and marines who had given their lives in the name of Liberty; fought their own lost brothers-in-arms so that others may not live under their misguided yoke, and many more who had their lives irrevocably changed as a result of the evils the campaign sought to end. The announcement also confirmed identical monuments to the Insurgency campaign would be erected on every world in Liberty, from Planet Houston to Planet Erie, each monument an obelisk carrying the names of every serviceman lost in the conflict and serving as a reminder that Liberty is stronger when it stands together.

[829 AS] Battleship Delaware lost In Vespucci: Part II

LOS ANGELES -- 829 AS -- Navy pilots fought in a heated scrap with many of their former comrades-in-arms as a fearsome shroud of flak rippled around the great Battleship Delaware, several trails of explosions snaking towards myriad bombers and torpedoes swarming the vast Mitchell-class. Delaware herself launched volley upon volley of anti-capital torpedoes at the Insurgent Battlecruiser Triton, whose own flak screen was considerably weaker than that of the Battleship. The missiles found their mark, but the battlecruiser retained its hull integrity as the Insurgents' one advantage in fighter superiority began to shine through. Torpedoes and antimatter cannons landed hits on the Delaware's vital flak batteries as they went silent, one by one. Admiral Brandt was heard to give the order to abandon ship right as the ship's hull could take no more and began to be torn asunder, with hull breaches on multiple decks. Tragically, the armored engines of the Delaware had suffered a great deal of damage, and as the armor and shielding was whittled away, vast quantities of radiation and superheated gas began to flood into the crew compartments of the vessel. In an emotional announcement, the Liberty Navy officially stated that they consider the Delaware to be lost with all hands, including Admiral Brandt himself. No life pods could be secured in the heat of battle, with the remainder of the Delaware's escort making a fighting retreat back to the LNS Ohio which had herself been caught lagging behind the Delaware's doomed thrust into the heart of the Insurgency. The Ohio now remains with her own escort, augmented by survivors of the Delaware's battlegroup, and will continue as the Liberty Navy's bastion in the Vespucci system, ready to ensure that the Insurgents pay dearly for the toll they have extracted upon one of Liberty's finest Admirals.

[829 AS] Battleship Delaware lost In Vespucci: Part I

LOS ANGELES -- 829 AS -- The state-of-the-art Delaware was the tip of Liberty's spear in the Kansas system; it was from here that the charismatic RAdm. Dylan Brandt commanded the fleet that secured the system from both Rogue and Insurgent elements. But now, he sought to strike a crippling blow to the Insurgency in their very home, an attack to break the back of the movement and stand as a warning to those who would stand against Liberty's unity. Leading a fearsome line of some of Liberty's most advanced warships, the Delaware bore down on the Insurgency's remaining, cobbled-together fleet in the Vespucci system, out of position from dealing with a Bretonian thrust from Magellan. Immediately caught was the Battleship Vanquisher, one of the scant few Arbiter-class Battleships available to the Insurgents. Caught by itself, the Vanquisher put up a fearsome fight but was ultimately unable to stand against the Delaware and its escort, despite its fighter component dealing severe damage to much of the Delaware's own, smaller fighter contingent, as well as the Delaware herself. With the great Arbiter all but vanquished, the Interdictor-class Battlecruiser Triton stared down the guns of the damaged Delaware and her escort. Outnumbered two-to-one, and outgunned to an even greater degree by the Libertonian heavyweight, Triton and her escorts launched their one and only advantage, their fighter and bomber superiority gained at the Vanquisher's expense.

[829 AS] Imminent defeat of the Insurgency

MANHATTAN -- 829 AS -- The Liberty Navy has finally published news on its most recent operation, beyond the Pennsylvania system. The Navy has committed two vessels and their escorts to clearing out the threat of the Insurgency once and for all. Battleship Delaware and Ohio have since reported the successful destruction of two major Insurgency installations and report that they assume to see the end of the Insurgency within the year. Admiral Brandt, who is charge of this pacification operation, has stated that the defeat of the Insurgency is not only certain but he expects to come home without major losses. Following this press release, the Navy received record applications for its West Point Academy and the arms market has seen an explosion in investors. If support for the Navy continues like this, experts anticipate a return to the Navy's peak operations of 800 AS.

[829 AS] Colorado Training Exercises?

ONE POLICE PLAZA -- 829 AS -- The LPI has been rerouting civilian traffic from the New York-Denver lane, effectively locking off that part of the Colorado system. The reason stated for this interruption are training exercises. An official release states that the takeover of the Battleship Rio Grande by the LPI has delayed important training. A source close to the LPI's board of directors has instead suggested that this might be related to the LPI not meeting its arrest quota. Regardless of the reasons for this unusual interference in commercial traffic, Ageira has publicly voiced complaints that Pueblo Station is not receiving the same amount of patrols as the Navy had provided before. In turn the rates Ageira pays private security and the BHG rose while LPI and Ageira shares fell.

[829 AS] Fingers in the broth

MANHATTAN -- 829 AS -- Liberty's High Congress has passed the recently submitted Organization Categorization Revision Act (O.C.R.A) by a considerable majority. The Act sets out to revise long-standing categorizations of domestic and foreign organizations, which in turn allows or disallows certain actions by Navy and Law Enforcement agencies. It is widely speculated that the recent surge taking place in the Kansas system is related. The oddly self named Insurgency has long been categorized as a "Domestic Paramilitary Organization" that is of extremist political nature, in effect making them Liberty citizens with rights as such. The Act recategorizes them as a "Foreign Supported Terrorist Organization", a drastic shift in political standing. Sources have speculated the move is related to the Bering operation that precipitated the formation of the Insurgency as the root cause of the change in policy. Despite considerable cost both monetarily and in terms of material, the operation failed to expunge the organization to the desired level. The Act comes a considerable spending package for future operations and gives free rein to Liberty Navy admirals to take necessary measures to properly remove the long-standing issue.

[828 AS] Kepler Reopened

AMES -- 828 AS -- In line with Ageira's prediction prior to 801 AS, the darkmatter storm makes an appearance after nearly two decades and no doubt sets the cosmic standard for being fashionably late. Presenting the potential for cataclysmic damage to personhood and proprety prompted Ageira to shut down the gates leading into the system, as well as the respective trade lanes. In the time since then however, Ames has relayed a stunning report that the storm despite being violent at first, has now settled into quite a passive albeit looming stance over the system. Perhaps more surprising than even this is the phenomena regarding the storm's interactions with the established lane and gate network in the system, seeming to bend and contort around the structure rather than engulf them. This stellar formation has produced the spatial equivalent of a tunnel that travelers into the freshly reopened Kepler have taken to dubbing the "Murky Road", prompting a small degree of sensationalized tourism into the system. Which comes as a small positive after the harsh loss of the otherwise frequent traffic. This news comes at the tail end of previous publications that cited the storm as having origins in Alberta, supposedly arriving via some form of leakage through the jumpholes in the system. Newer research has allowed for discoveries which now suggest the contrary and this has in turn reinvigorated research into these storms and their enigmatic natures.

[823 AS] Liberty and Rheinland formally end conflict

NEW BERLIN -- 823 -- President Powell and Chancellor Neumann have signed the Treaty of Atka formally ending the state of war between their two Houses. 6 years of devastating conflict has seen tens of thousands killed and both Houses severely economically damaged. The agreement sees Rheinland cede all claims on Planet Atka, while Hudson and Bering are split in half, creating two security zones. The boundary between these two zones remains neutral territory, to be policed by the Bounty Hunters Guild under a joint contract. In return, Liberty has agreed to immediately end all economic sanctions, and fund 85% of the Jump Gate cleanup and reconstruction project.

[817 AS] War with Rheinland!

HUDSON -- 817 -- President Powell has declared a formal state of war against Rheinland, to a standing ovation in Congress. During an impassioned speech, the President described how Rheinland had treacherously slain a number of Navy personnel in the Hudson Security Zone after initiating an aggressive and unwarranted military buildup across Liberty’s borders. He pledged that Liberty would defend its “intrinsic economic interests” in the region and punish flagrant Rheinland breaches of the Boorman Treaty. He has blamed Chancellor Reinhardt for escalating diplomatic disputes into direct armed conflict, comparing him to the disgraced Chancellor Niemann who triggered the Colony Wars seventeen years ago.

[817 AS] President Powell Grilled in Senate

MANHATTAN -- 817 AS -- Former President Barbara Jacobi, now a senator and a member of the Liberty Reform Party, has sharply criticized President Powell for “reckless escalation that has driven us to the brink of war with Rheinland”. Jacobi famously opted not to press Rheinland for reparations after the Colony Wars, likewise persuading Bretonia to drop their own claims. President Powell fiercely disagreed with this position, and based his election campaign on the feeling that Liberty had been “weak” in failing to punish Rheinland for the conflict. Jacobi and other members of the Reform Party have continued to condemn Powell’s policies, and called for immediate deescalation to find a peaceful solution.

[817 AS] Liberty Declares Border Security Zone

HUDSON -- 817 -- In a significant escalation to ongoing tensions, Liberty has established a Border Security Zone in the two Independent Worlds of Bering and Hudson. President Powell announced that the Liberty Navy will maintain a blockade along what Liberty deems its zone of control. This is purportedly to prevent intrusions by the Rheinland Military, and thwart attempts to facilitate terrorist attacks in Liberty territory. All civilian shipping bound for Liberty through the affected systems are now being stopped for mandatory inspections. Rheinland has furiously condemned the move as military aggression, and called the deployment a flagrant violation of the Boorman Treaty.

[816 AS] Houses clash over Hudson terraforming

PLANET ATKA -- 816 AS -- Rheinland has reacted with outrage at the discovery of Cold Bay Depot, a Planetform terraforming outpost recently constructed in orbit of Planet Atka. Hudson’s status has been the subject of friction between Liberty and Rheinland for decades, however Liberty appears to have grown tired with the impasse and unilaterally commissioned further terraforming surveys and ground preparation. Rheinland has set an ultimatum for the “illegal” station to be dismantled within one month, threatening to do so by force if the neutrality of the contested Independent World is not respected. Liberty has rejected the demand, and declared that it is prepared to defend its intrinsic economic interests in the region.

[805 AS] Houses ratify Denver Convention

PLANET DENVER -- 805 -- President Jacobi has thanked delegates from all the Houses for attending a much anticipated summit on Planet Denver. The President initially requested the meeting shortly after the Colony Wars’ conclusion, however progress was blocked when Kusari refused to participate in any meeting attended by Rheinland. With those issues now resolved, talks were held on a range of issues including economic recovery and joint security. Notably, the ratified Denver Convention upheld laws tightly restricting the trade of alien Artifacts, and explicitly prohibited research on “live” Artifacts. Several clauses were ultimately removed from the Convention, with provisions on border world resource exploitation being dropped over Bretonian and Kusari disagreements."

[801 AS] Colonies Rebuild, Chancellor MIA

NEWS ARCHIVE - 801 AS MANHATTAN -- It's been nearly two weeks since hostilities between Rheinland and the other Houses came to an abrupt end, and peace has settled over the colonies. Despite many lingering questions, government officials remain tight-lipped about what has triggered this sudden change. President Jacobi pardoned the leaders of the military coup against her, who are all recovering from what has been officially called "encephalitic viral infections." Insiders speculate that these infections may be linked to recently discovered evidence of a bizarre mind-control plan initiated by the Chancellor to bring down the major Houses. Meanwhile, the Chancellor and several of his staff are still missing at this time and together face a long list of charges. Newly appointed government officials in Rheinland are now looking into recent events and are said to be enlisting even Liberty's help in their investigation. In other news, LSF Commander Jun'ko Zane and freelancer, Edison Trent, both former enemies of the state, have been granted full pardons and have received the Lone Star for bravery, the highest decoration any individual in the colonies can receive. Though the details of their heroism have been sealed by executive order, they were honored today in a ceremony by President Jacobi, who said, "I, Liberty and the rest of the colonies owe you both a debt of gratitude. It is through your efforts, and people like you, that Sirius will embrace the future. We salute you."

[801 AS] Rheinland ends all hostilities

FULDA -- 801 -- With the disappearance of Chancellor Niemann and the installation of the Liberty-backed Provisional Rheinland Government, an immediate cessation of all hostilities has been ordered. Rheinland forces have begun withdrawals on all fronts. Reports from Kusari have confirmed that the Northern Fleet has retreated from New Tokyo and Honshu, however it has not returned to Rheinland or recognized the authority of the PRG. Government sources believe the fleet may have deserted, with Rheinland's remaining loyalist security forces being ordered to high-alert as a precaution against pro-Niemann coup attempts.

Rumors

Ageira Technologies

Denver is the site of our USI scanner hardware R&D division. A while back a bunch of high-level employees got forced out after a big screw-up. They drifted up into Galileo and set up base, calling themselves Lane Hackers. Nothing but trouble on the Trade Lanes ever since. Just came in from Detroit with a Side Arms shipment. Colorado is one of our toughest runs. All those damned Xenos. We get attacked almost every time in the Silverton Field. We bring in Super Alloys from Pueblo. We then ship Superconductors off to Kusari. We purchase basic supplies for the return trip, like Water, and provide a lift for workers returning to Pueblo as Passengers after their holiday.

Bounty Hunters Guild

There's a couple of Holes into this system. Us Bounty Hunters aren't supposed to tell anyone about them, but you look okay to me. The first one is in the northern end of the Alamosa Field; it goes to Galileo. There's another one into Kepler from the Copperton Field. The Xenos use that one a lot. I'm heading off to Galileo after I rest up. Now that's some intense action up there. All those dark matter clouds, crawling with baddies. You definitely want to have a good shield and a killer ship in the Indie Worlds. This is child's play here in Liberty. My buddy works for the LPI. I used to, but it was lousy pay and a bunch of corporate crap. I prefer the freelance life of a Bounty Hunter. You can make a killing at this, if you don't get killed first. He'll still be doing time with LPI when I'm retired and sipping a California Breeze on the beach in L.A. The Xenos have a base down in the Silverton Field. Pretty easy to bag 'em around there, but the bounty isn't that good, so I don't bother. Guess they don't piss off the powers that be enough. I've heard the Rogues make smuggling runs from the Galileo Hole across the east side of the system to the New York Hole. If you figure out their route, you can ambush them pretty easy. I just got back from a tough run into the Alamosa Field. It was swarming with Rogues and Hackers. They must have a Hole somewhere up there. Bagged me two Rogues, though. Not a bad day's work. Way better than my old job at LPI.

Cryer Pharmaceuticals

Denver is home to Cryer's headquarters and largest drug-production facility. We distribute the Pharmaceuticals ourselves within Liberty to Houston, Manhattan, and Los Angeles. We have several other research and limited-production bases. One is out in Sigma-17. Rough area, that is. Outcasts and Corsairs. Company pays very well out there -- takes out big life insurance policies on anyone that gets assigned. They prefer single types.-- less to pay out, you know. The Universal Shipping transport Chesapeake was hijacked several months ago and flown into the Komatsu Cloud. It is rumored to still be there, serving as a Pharmaceuticals storage depot for the Lane Hackers and Rogues. We just arrived from Los Angeles with a load of Optical Chips for Pharmaceutical production. Yes, our operation is really that high tech. Thought I'd catch a drink before headin' back out. At least Liberty is relatively safe. Some of our research stations are way out there, in harm's way.

Liberty Police, Inc.

Caught myself a Rogue smuggling Artifacts behind Denver in the Cheyenne Field last week. He tried to run for it but smacked straight into an asteroid. Gotta tell ya, it cracked me up watching that ship explode. Stupid Rogues. We've cleaned out almost all of the economic undesirables from this planet. Still a few hanging on up in the hills, but we'll root 'em out and put them to work in the Texas prison factories soon enough. We patrol the Trade Lanes in the eastern half of the system; the navy boys the west side. Mostly Xenos in their part of the system. We get more Rogues on this side. Also get a few Lane Hackers in the Alamosa Field. We got a short-term holding tank for any low-lifers that we round up here. Prison convoy leaves once a week, bound for Sugarland. It's getting harder and harder to find undesirables on Colorado to fill it. Gotta fill that quota and keep the factories hummin' -- that's what HQ says. We don't stray too far from the Trade Lanes most of the time. They don't pay me enough to risk my neck going into assault patrols in the asteroid fields. Some of those young bucks get into it, though. They do a daily into the Cheyenne Field, and do a quick pass into the southern Alamosa. Those Xenos are kind of crazy. Rogues, I can relate to them. Just trying to make a living on the wrong side of the law. But Xenos, they hate everybody. Even the Rogues can't figure them out. Who cares about foreign shippers anyway? They still have stuff to steal. They're always trying to cut costs at LPI, make everyone meet their criminal quotas of the week. Guess that's what you get with privatized police. I heard they don't do it that way in the other Houses. Those guys seem pretty happy. Go figure. Sometimes I think the rich folks here in Denver don't really appreciate all we do for them. We don't really get paid that well, and we take care of all the dirty business that they don't want to deal with. Sometimes it gets kind of dicey, coming up with a reason to arrest some crazy loner out in a shack, just for being what he is. The Bounty Hunters handle most of the asteroid fields. One of my nutso buddies decided he wasn't gettin' enough action with LPI, so he went and joined up a couple of months ago. Keeps bugging me to join him. That's not for me, I got a family and a life to go home to.

Kishiro Technologies

We bring in Engine Components from Honshu, Optronics from Planet Honshu, and H-Fuel from the new gas miners in the Okinawa system. Those cursed Xenos are a serious problem for us in Colorado. We've lobbied the Liberty government to step up patrols, but that has proved unsatisfactory. The Xenos seem to attack only Kusari ships, not Liberty commerce. We don't understand their hatred for us. We ship Pharmaceuticals produced here to Deshima, along with Superconductors bound for our Yukawa commercial shipyard in Honshu.

Liberty Navy

I'm on R&R from the Rio Grande. That's the battleship out by Gunnison. If we weren't around, those worthless LPI drones wouldn't even bother to patrol the areas they do. We take care of the Independent World patrols, too. That's another story. It's no joke out there. I'm about to turn around and head back out on patrol to the Rio Grande. We patrol the east-west line. LPI covers the two other Lanes out of Denver. Personally, I think they should let us patrol the whole system, leave nothing to those incompetents. We nailed a Xeno raiding party in the Copperton Field the other day. It was a turkey shoot. Normally we don't even bother with them that much, but the Kusari government had been raising a stink about Liberty not taking the Xenos seriously enough. It's true, outside of an odd Side Arms shipment, they don't really harass Liberty shipping.

Samura Industries

I can't stand this Synth Paste you Liberty people eat everyday. In Kusari we have superior Food grown by the dedicated farmers of Kyushu using traditional methods. It may cost a bit more, but it's worth it. Denver has an insatiable demand for Junyo Pearls. We also bring in H-Fuel from Okinawa, which gets distributed to the Colorado bases by Universal and Ageira. We ship Pharmaceuticals to Tokyo, which supplies all of Kusari. Less frequently we haul Superconductors for ship construction in Yokohama.

Synth Foods, Inc.

The corporate plan is to eventually handle Food production for all the colonies. We got Rheinland in the bag. Right now, Kusari is proving a bit more of a challenge, mainly Samura and their Farmers Alliance henchmen. Bretonia will have to wait. I ran a load of Food, Consumer Goods, and Basic Alloy up here last week from Manhattan. I'm running a load of Synth Paste up from Los Angeles to the biodome operation on Deshima, and then on to Roppongi. I'll sure be sorry to leave Liberty. Gets pretty hostile up there in Kusari space, especially with that Farmers Alliance.

Universal Shipping

We ship Superconductors out of here to Cambridge. The planet and the research station both purchase large quantities. Came in from Newark yesterday. I'm delivering Passengers for a visit on Denver. Then we're bound for Roppongi in New Tokyo to deliver Luxury Consumer Goods. Gotta cross Galileo first, which will be the usual white-knuckle affair. I just came in from Houston with a load of Nanocapacitors. Houston is the cheapest place in the Sirius Sector for those, thanks to all the free prisoner labor. We sometimes run Consumer Goods in from Ft. Bush.

NOTE: Page generated on the 07/06/2024 at 15:55:47 UTC