Planet New London

Planet New London

File:Br01 01 base.png

Owner

Bretonia Police

Location

D-6/7, New London

DIAMETER: 10,723 km.

MASS: 4.90 x 10e24 kg.

TERRAIN: Terrestrial

TEMPERATURE: -46°C to 43°C

ESCAPE VELOCITY: 10.27 km/sec

Shrouded in an almost perpetual fog, not helped by the constant drizzling rain, the heart of Bretonia is planet New London, with its capital city and seat of government bearing the same name. Colonized in 19 AS, the vast majority of the Bretonian aristocracy lives here, although even the poorest citizen lives in relative comfort and security. A large majority of New London's population works to support Bretonia's obscenely large bureaucratic system, an almost impenetrable network of obscure titles, government offices and paperwork.

Most of the New Londoners are a dour and cynical sort, no doubt enhanced by the miserable weather, what with the fog and the acid rain, not to mention the atmospheric pollutants from the unregulated heavy industry used extensively in the formative years of the colony. Nevertheless, New London is a considered to be a desirable place to live, and attracts countless tourists and immigrants. The planetary population suffered during the bombardment during the war with Gallia, but is thought to be heavily inflated by Leeds refugees, which is an ongoing issue for Bretonia.

All of the major Bretonian corporations have offices on New London, including Bowex and Gateway. The Bretonia Police Authority's central headquarters is here, but the Armed Forces only have recruitment outlets on the planet, with the majority of the Armed Forces administrative capabilties kept in space.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

Kishiro Technologies Universal Shipping Imperial Shipping Samura Industries Bretonia Police Border World Exports Bretonia Mining & Manufacturing Planetform, Inc. Independent Miners Guild Gateway Shipping Bounty Hunters Guild Cryer Pharmaceuticals ALG Waste Disposal Junkers Gas Miners Guild Orbital Spa & Cruise Deep Space Engineering Ageira Technologies

Missions

Bretonia Police Bounty Hunters Guild

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price Robotics 26$ Hessian Tears 168$ Liberty Ale 34$ Medical Equipment 21$ Nanotubes 44$ Rheinbier 44$ Sake 48$ Stabiline 68$ Vodka 41$ Whiskey 16$ Prisoners 197$ Crew 371$ Diamonds 140$ Food Rations 24$ Luxury Food 28$ H-Fuel 184$ Basic Alloy 18$ Mining Machinery 16$ Construction Machinery 43$ Polymers 27$ Consumer Goods 18$ Luxury Consumer Goods 54$ Cardamine 193$ Consumer Goods 193$ Artifacts 185$ Consumer Goods 185$ Ageira Gate/Lane Parts 701$ Gaian Wildlife 265$ Neon 35$ Synth Paste 21$ Vacationers 715$ Wine 74$ Helium 64$ Industrial Materials 29$ HazMat Canisters 37$ Nox 176$ Consumer Goods 176$ Passengers (Liberty) 536$ Passengers (Kusari) 676$ Passengers (Rheinland) 653$ Passengers (Gallia) 736$ Gold Ore 102$ Fire Pearls 50$ Xeno Relics 245$

Exports

Commodity Price Deployable Mining Container 50,000$ Oxygen 8$ Water 9$ Passengers (Bretonia) 200$ Gin 27$ Gold 183$ Pharmaceuticals 23$ Cigars 43$ Tea 24$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price
Arrow	Light Fighter	19,242$
Eagle	Very Heavy Fighter	24,079$
Armored Transport	Transport	38,506$

News

[834 AS] Joint statement condemns Gallic trade deal

MANHATTAN -- 834 -- In a rare moment of unity, the governments of Bretonia, Crater, Kusari and Liberty have issued a joint statement condemning Rheinland for the Treaty of Oerlikon -- a sweeping free trade agreement with Gallia. All have fought wars against the Gallic Union’s predecessor states, and maintain that there are unresolved wartime disputes the Union refuses to address or accept responsibility for. The group sharply rebuked Rheinland’s intent to provide the Gallic military dictatorship with access to dual-use industrial materials. These will likely be used to revitalize the Gallic Navy, destabilizing surrounding regions. Rheinland responded that it seeks to integrate Gallia into the Sirian economy, creating peace through mutual prosperity.

[833 AS] Rheinland pledges support over Dublin action

HAMBURG -- 833 -- While touring Nanotube production facilities on Altona Station, Trade Minister Baron Tobias von Hueber acknowledged Interspace's recent report on the Gold market. He confirmed Rheinland’s support for any military action Bretonia takes to reassert control over Dublin, condemning calls for a negotiated settlement. He argued that capitulating to terrorists and separatists was "intolerable" and would undermine the territorial sovereignty of all the Houses. Hueber closed his speech by urging Bretonia to take immediate and decisive action to restore the Gold trade, offering Rheinland's industrial services to the Bretonian Armed Forces.

[833 AS] Gold volatility taxes Kusari economy

HONSHU -- 833 -- Kusari has been among the hardest hit by the severely damaged Gold market over recent years. This situation appears only to worsen as Bretonian stockpiles are depleted. Share prices in the high tech manufacturing industries of New Tokyo and Honshu plunged on the recent release of an Interspace report predicting crisis in Gold-reliant market sectors. When pressed for comment, Kusari’s trade ministry declined to respond, referring instead to the Ministry of Defence. Lord Tazuka of the Kusari Office of Intelligence confirmed that discussions were presently ongoing with counterparts in Bretonia, and that progress was anticipated in the near future.

[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] Admiral Found Guilty Over Dublin Disaster

BATTLESHIP ESSEX -- 833 AS -- A military tribunal today announced its findings on the loss of the Dublin system and the conduct of the Battleship Essex on that day. The panel found that Admiral James Byng was ultimately responsible for failing to do his utmost to prevent the loss of Dublin and the New London jump gate. A number of charges were raised regarding the deployment and disposition of forces under Byng's command, the botched boarding of Graves Station and the decision to retreat from the system. The judges finally concluded that Byng's conduct would typically have warranted a capital sentence, but commuted this to a dishonorable discharge on account of the admiral's exemplary service during the Gallic War. Representatives speaking on Byng's behalf decried the tribunal as a sham and claimed that he was being scapegoated by corporate, government and intelligence interests who bore actual culpability for the uprising. The Battleship Essex continues to maintain a blockade of Dublin, with government sources stating that the Molly terrorists would be crushed and the system brought to heel in short order.

[833 AS] Cambridge on the Line

NORFOLK -- 833 AS -- The number of recorded Corsair incursions across Cambridge has increased by 193%% in the last 3 years. According to Captain Edwards of the Battleship Norfolk, this is simply a result of the successes in detecting and reacting to attacks. "You can't respond to a Corsair you don't know is there," he noted. "The Cambridge Line ensures we know when and where to deploy our resources for maximum effect." Retired Major Jane Gilliam disagrees. "The Line was never fit for purpose," she says. "The Regents lobbied London to keep it, and so the pantomine continues." It is speculated that the spike in Corsair raids may have been prompted by increased resistance elsewhere, or a shift in their internal politics. Regardless of their true motivations, Interspace Commerce has recognised the elevated peril and adjusted its premiums accordingly.

[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/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] Bretonia Announces Poole Draw-Down

NEW LONDON -- 831 AS -- The Bretonian government has announced a controlled withdrawal from the Poole system, citing ballooning costs and an increasingly strained state budget. Poole was once of critical importance to Bretonia, briefly hosting a Super Gate to Liberty during the Gallic War, and acting as a launching point for Bretonia's colonial ambitions in Omega 48. With the end of the war and Bretonia's withdrawal from Planet Gran Canaria, Poole's prominence waned. The cost of policing the system and maintaining infrastructure has significantly outweighed collected tax revenue in recent years, with Planetform's Terraforming Gas operations reporting disappointing year on year returns.DSE has already confirmed that it will begin deconstruction operations shortly, with the dismantling of the Cambridge jump gate expected to be completed by 833 AS. Planetform has confirmed its intention to withdraw prior to this point, while settling shareholder anxiety with the announcement of promising preliminary findings for a replacement site in Newcastle.

[831 AS] Bretonian Focus Turns on Mollys

SHEFFIELD -- 831 AS -- The Bretonia Police Authority has announced that the eradication of the Molly movement is their top priority. In light of the loss of the Dublin system and the seemingly connected 'Blackout', the dangerous terrorist movement has leaped to the top of Bretonia's most wanted board. Bounties on Molly terrorists have doubled, with Bounty Hunters flocking to the beleaguered House. Guild Master Tina Hale of Sheffield Station commented that, "this is a good deal for a job that's less dangerous than many of our Edge World boards." Despite this, prospective Hunters should be cautious, as the Mollys are notoriously cunning and brutal fighters. The bounties and Police crackdown do appear to be having some initial effects however, with reports of Molly attacks on shipping in the Cambridge and Newcastle systems falling over recent weeks.

[831 AS] Bretonia Withdraws From Dublin System

WATERLOO -- 831 AS -- Markets are down across Sirius as the sector grapples with the twin shocks of The Blackout and Bretonia's withdrawal from the Dublin system. Molly separatists appear to have exploited a worker revolt on Graves Station to take control of and later destroy the base. Of even greater concern is the attack that crippled the New London jump gate, forcing the Battleship Essex to retreat. EFL have accused the gate destruction and faulty Ageira infrastructure of causing The Blackout, which the Liberty corporation denies. The Mollys have since declared their ownership of Dublin, while Bretonia has imposed a strict blockade, jeopardizing the sector's Gold supply. Gold exports previously made up a significant element of Bretonian state revenue, helping to fund post-war recovery efforts. While the reconstruction of LD-14 in the Leeds system offers some relief, Interspace Commerce has already downgraded Bretonia's sovereign credit rating, citing increased volatility and risk for lenders. Bretonia has confirmed that action to retake the system will be launched shortly, providing assurances to partners in the other Houses.

[831 AS] Bretonia Withdraws From Dublin System

WATERLOO -- 831 AS -- Markets are down across Sirius as the sector grapples with the twin shocks of The Blackout and Bretonia's withdrawal from the Dublin system. Molly separatists appear to have exploited a worker revolt on Graves Station to take control of and later destroy the base. Of even greater concern is the attack that crippled the New London jump gate, forcing the Battleship Essex to retreat. EFL have accused the gate destruction and faulty Ageira infrastructure of causing The Blackout, which the Liberty corporation denies. The Mollys have since declared their ownership of Dublin, while Bretonia has imposed a strict blockade, jeopardizing the sector's Gold supply. Gold exports previously made up a significant element of Bretonian state revenue, helping to fund post-war recovery efforts. While the reconstruction of LD-14 in the Leeds system offers some relief, Interspace Commerce has already downgraded Bretonia's sovereign credit rating, citing increased volatility and risk for lenders. Bretonia has confirmed that action to retake the system will be launched shortly, providing assurances to partners in the other Houses.

[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.

[831 AS] Cost of Rebuilding too High?

NEW LONDON -- 831 AS -- Bretonia continues to face a difficult and lengthy recovery process following the conclusion of the Gallic War. The Bretonian people initially accepted this, and quietly pledged to come together and struggle on. While Bretonia is now witnessing an extraordinary rate of growth, it has come at the cost of severe cuts and harsh industrial quotas. Professor Timothy Ball of the Economic Review Institute says, "the recovery we've witnessed so far has been uneven, mainly benefiting Bretonian corporations and Crown agencies. If dividends of recovery are not felt by the average citizen, this inequality could become a major point of domestic political contention."

[829 AS] Marauding in Manchester

MANCHESTER -– 829 AS -- Reports from the Manchester system have now been confirmed by BPA and Bretonian intelligence officials: Liverpool Border Station, guarding over the Magellan jump gate and serving as the command center for police operations in the system, has been destroyed in what is being deemed a terrorist attack. Yesterday at 2200 hours SMT, nearby Sheffield Station and Kingston Border Station received automated distress signals from Liverpool, indicating an emergency aboard the station. Guild patrols redirected from Sheffield arrived on the scene within minutes, finding the border station destroyed. Search and rescue operations headed by Guild and BPA units commenced immediately and successfully salvaged several escape pods bearing several dozen survivors, who were immediately delivered to hospitals on New London. BPA spokesperson Sandra Halling held a press conference earlier this morning. According to joint police and BIS investigations, Liverpool was destroyed by antimatter explosives planted aboard the station. Their detonation caused a catastrophic chain reaction, resulting in the station's own reactors melting down and exploding. Of the estimated one-hundred-twenty persons on board at the time of the attack, seventy-eight have been reported as dead or missing. \So far, no party has taken credit for this heinous attack. However, Bretonian police surmises that it was likely perpetrated by either the criminals known as the Mollys or the infamous pirate organization, the Lane Hackers. The attack occurred following a significant redeployment of local Armed Forces units to the Cortez system for the purpose of joint operations with Libertonian security forces. This, says Halling, may have allowed terrorist sympathizers to exploit undermanned BPA patrols and smuggle illegal explosives through Manchester's ice fields, onto Liverpool Station. While investigations continue, Bretonian Police Authority has reinforced patrols within Manchester and established traffic controls at Kingston Border Station and Birmingham Station. Traffic to and from Liberty has been advised to reroute through the Cortez system.

[828 AS] Sprague Crisis

SPRAGUE -- 828 AS -- Following the conclusion of the war, Bretonia has continued to struggle with the ongoing refugee crisis from the many millions of displaced peoples from the Gallic Invasion. Although attention is focused on New London, the Bretonian capital which was besieged by the invaders, a number of Cambridge journalists have criticised the Bretonian Government for allowing another humanitarian crisis to emerge. Linsey Dawn - a prominent investigative journalist - has reported a large degree of 'disinterest' over the situation on Sprague according to her sources within the government. Going as far to say that "All they do is make sure supplies are dropped planet side. What happens after, they have washed their hands of it!". Dawn also reported that conflict among the different camps is becoming more and more common. The militias that are charged with the maintaining order of their respective camps have been raiding others to steal supplies she has claimed. Maggie Weber, a spokesperson for the Government has suggested that the Kingdom is going through a troubling time reeling from the devastation of the war with Gallia. Later offering a message of assurance that the Militia System on Sprague is temporary and the short-comings will eventually be addressed. Bill Douglas, one of the Border World Export captains who frequently deliver goods to Sprague has come out in opposition to the claims levied by Linsey Dawn. Stating that "This is a load of bollocks. Every supply run I make I hand off my goods to the local constabulary on Sprague. We do not need one of these journalists trying to spread lies at a time like this!".

[825 AS] Sigma conflict escalates as Kusari joins war

GAS MINER NAHA -- The ongoing conflict in the Sigmas has escalated further after Kusari declared war on Rheinland. Kusari accuses Rheinland of severe breaches of the Boorman Treaty, and the murder of its citizens in Sigma-21. Rheinland has denied the charges and demanded Kusari withdraw its forces from the systems it considers claimed territory. Fighting has already spread to Sigma-13, with neutral shipping temporarily holding in Honshu and Frankfurt to avoid being hit in crossfire. H-Fuel prices have spiked with the supply disruption, prompting urgent calls for de-escalation and peace talks from Bretonia and Liberty. Gallia has confirmed its support for Rheinland's position, encouraging them to ""defend their legal rights and territorial integrity".

[825 AS] War Returns to the Sigmas!

SIGMA-21 -- 825 -- Rheinland has declared war on the Gas Miners Guild (GMG), with both sides claiming to be victims of acts of unprovoked aggression. Rheinland has announced its intent to expel the GMG from Sigma-15 and 21, which it considers to be claimed territory. The GMG in return aims to enforce treaty terms from the end of the 80-Years War that it says establishes Guild sovereignty over the entire Sigma cluster. Kusari has offered to mediate the dispute, while Liberty and Bretonia have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities over fear of disruption to the sector’s strategic H-Fuel supplies. Rheinland has advised it will not obstruct Sigma H-Fuel shipments by vessels operating under neutral flags. Interspace has substantially raised premiums for convoys in the region.

[814 AS] Reichstag Condemns Bretonian War

NEW BERLIN -- 814 AS -- Rheinland's Reichstag today issued a statement condemning Bretonia’s use of concealed mines in defense of Planet Harris. The open letter accuses Bretonia of violating the Boorman Treaty, which prohibits the militarization of House border worlds, and bans the use of passive weapons that pose severe danger to civilians in those same territories. The statement concluded with calls for Bretonia to withdraw from Tau-31 immediately. Chancellor Rheinhardt’s government has refused to endorse the motion, clarifying that this expression by individual representatives is not Rheinland’s state position. Controversially, a first draft of the statement has also been leaked, revealing criticism of attacks on neutral civilian shipping by the Kusari Naval Forces was removed.

[813 AS] Rheinland responds to Tau events

NEW BERLIN -- 813 AS -- Rheinland’s Foreign Office has issued a formal statement regarding the escalating tensions between Bretonia and Kusari in the Taus. Rheinland has condemned Bretonia for what it calls “diplomatic brinkmanship” over territorial disputes, leading to escalation that may now realistically result in war. The Foreign Office called for both sides to pause and consider independent mediation in either Rheinland or Liberty. Reichstag members also expressed their sympathy for the IMG’s plight, as the civilian organization finds itself caught between two belligerent powers. Chancellor Steller has confirmed he will attend the Los Angeles Summit called by President Jacobi for promoting peace between the colonies.

[807 AS] Colony War Demilitarization Complete

ODER SHIPYARD -- 807 -- With the deconstruction of the Battleship Goethe, the Rheinland Government has announced that the post-Colony War process of demilitarization has been completed. The Federal Audit Office has also provided a damning report to the Schweizer Commission, indicating that the bulk of the hulls examined were built to cheap, 80-Years War grade, rather than the modernized standards billed for by Daumann and Republican. Opposition politicians have called for the corporations to be charged with fraud. Addressing the Reichstag, Councillor Stellar announced that the day "closed a door on a dark period of Rheinland’s history".

[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] Rheinland High Command missing?

NEW BERLIN -- 801 -- As the smoke clears following the cessation of recent hostilities, citizens across the Colonies have two simple questions: what happened, and why? As the Rheinland Provisional Government looks to answer those questions, it has become apparent that the House’s senior military leadership has vanished. According to anonymous sources, the whereabouts of the Military High Command is unknown, with numerous Admirals disappearing along with their flagships. The Rheinland Federal Police and Liberty Security Force have posted bounties for the missing officers after formal desertion charges were pressed.

[801 AS] Provisional Rheinland Government demilitarizes

POTSDAM -- 801 -- The Provisional Rheinland Government has begun urgent and immediate demilitarization. PRG representatives advised this was an absolute necessity to prevent Rheinland’s imminent financial collapse, and had been a requirement for both Bretonia and Liberty to drop heavy reparation demands. It is expected that these cuts will reduce the Rheinland Military’s headcount by over 80%%, leaving tens of thousands unemployed. This will reduce the force to levels last seen in 794 AS, prior to Chancellor Niemann’s build-up programme. Already huge formations of capital ships have been mothballed in orbit of Potsdam, awaiting shipyard space for deconstruction.

[801 AS] Kusari imposes embargo on Rheinland

NEW TOKYO -- 801 -- Shogun Edo has announced that a full economic embargo of Rheinland will be imposed by Kusari due to the outrages of the Colony Wars. Liberty’s President Jacobi has taken a leading role in mediation between Rheinland and the other Houses, with the Provisional Rheinland Government offering a message of condolence to the Kusari people for the actions of the toppled previous regime. Despite this, Kusari has remained resolute that no normalization of relations will be considered until full reparations are made for the devastation in Honshu and New Tokyo, and the many crimes Kusari alleges were perpetrated there.

[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

Bretonia Police

We focus our efforts in New London, Manchester, and Cambridge; the military takes over in Dublin and the systems bordering Bretonian core space. Needless to say, the military also handle the Gallic threat, although the police forces do on occasion interdict Gallic marauders looking for unprotected shipping. My only experience with Molly attacks has been on the prison transport run to Newgate in the Manchester system. We're heading out momentarily with a crew of them brought in from the Essex yesterday. We have to keep them sedated and well secured, as they can get quite violent - not my favorite duty. It used to be that all we worried about were the home grown criminals such as the Mollys pestering the BMM, and the upper class Gaians complaining about the environment - with photon blasters instead of words. But with two bloody invasions of our northern systems, I wish we could go back to those simpler days. They say that the Police Authority has been caught unawares of the Corsair threat because the director ignored most of the field reports from Cambridge during the last few years. The Corsairs were on the move towards New London and their activity in Dublin has been steadily increasing as well. There's been a spike in Molly and even Corsair raids across the House. I'm doing my level best not to say anything political in public, but if it hadn't been for Liberty pulling us into their war in Vespucci, the Armed Forces might be better off enough to help. As things stand? We're down a major border station, short staffed, and the economic forecast might as well be apocalyptic. I should just go private, might make ends meet if I did. I was relieved on Canterbury yesterday. Did a return patrol along the Lane. I'm glad to be back home. I'll take the rain any day over Corsairs and Gaians interrupting my sleep. This is the one of the best places to buy Gold, or you can head to Dublin for the producer's price. Just remember, that comes at an added risk of Corsair and Molly attack. I recommend sticking to the military patrol route from the gate to Graves if you go there. Just came back from a rough patrol into the Cornwall Field. Those bloody Corsairs have decided to move in and have a little party at our expense. It's like they came out of nowhere. You would have thought they might give us a break now that we have an armada up in Leeds to deal with. Used to be an easy job, New London was. That's just a memory now. We used to handle the patrols throughout this system with the exception of the Dublin gate, where patrols from Suffolk take over. This works well for both ourselves and the Armed Forces, who can focus the majority of their efforts to drive the Gallic menace back. It is up to us to keep our civilians safe from terrorists and pirates. The Bretonia Police Authority is a highly professional organization that takes pride in its highly ethical conduct. We view that detestable corporation called the LPI as an embarrassment to Liberty. They are more interested in staffing their factories inexpensively than maintaining law and order.

Bretonia Mining & Manufacturing

New London serves as our supply base for the Thames Outpost - high in orbit above us. We purchase Food, H-Fuel, Oxygen, and Water. New London also supplies Graves and the Southampton Shipyard with these commodities. BMM views the Mollys as vicious hooligans with no morals whatsoever. We abhor their approach of extreme violence over sensible moderation. We refuse to have any dealings with those terrorists, and our company funds several bounties against them. The Gold mined at our base in Dublin is brought here for shipment to the House capitols. It is closely guarded until it is within the hands of the shipper who will transport it. Dublin is not far, but Molly attacks are frequent.

Bounty Hunters Guild

I heard those Corsairs found a Hole to Cambridge in the Somerset that nobody even knew existed. That's when all the trouble started in London. Before that, the Corsairs weren't that bad in Cambridge. Nothing much that interested them there. It's easier for them to hit shipping to and from Rheinland in the Border Worlds. The Bounty Hunters in Bretonia are a different lot than those in Liberty. Some of us are former Bowex pilots; a few are former BMM types. Only a few are from the police. Me, I came from the IMG. Once we heard Gallia was moving south into the Taus, I decided to embark on a new line of work. I knew the Jump Hole network okay, and I could deal with an Outcast or Corsair. It was a natural fit. It's a little more risky then mining, but the pay's a lot better than chewing rocks. I almost caught a Corsair in the Cornwall Field yesterday. They've been gettin' real aggressive lately - walkin' all over that Police Authority, they are. The government called us in as backup until they get up to speed on those Border World pirates. I guess we'll be here for quite some time, heh. The Corsairs run their Artifacts from the Somerset up to Devon, then across to the Junker base of Trafalgar. Then they start to pillage to drag something back to their homes. I try to nab them before they can offload their artifacts - grabbing those after busting one of them open gets you a nice bonus from the Bretonian authorities. I've been chasing Mollys in Dublin for a while. Thought I'd move up and try me some Corsairs. They're pretty easy to find in the Somerset Field. Just watch out for those gas pockets left over from the old mining days. If you're smart about it you can use them to your advantage. Force one of those lighter Corsair ships into a gaspocket when you've got their shields down, and the explosion will take it out pretty easily. I used to be a BMM miner in the Somerset when I was a young bloke. Then they shut us down for good a few decades years back. Set some bad blood between the BMM boffins and us workers, that. Some of us went to the Mollys and IMG; I joined up with the Hunters.

Border World Exports

Bowex handles many BMM Gold shipments to Liberty. We usually make the return run with Luxury Goods, although that's slowly changing to bringing in Boron and Side Arms. Priorities have to be made I suppose. New London used to be a hub for H-fuel exports. Leeds was our powerhouse of industry... now, now every day is just another fight to reclaim territory from endless enemies. I guess Tau-23 was just one gate too far. Side Arms are transferred from Universal transports to Bowex ships on New London and are sent straight to the men on the front lines. We used to distribute them evenly around the house, but all shipments go to the Armed Forces these days. Our ships haul the raw materials like Basic Alloys to Graves before heading off to the other Houses with Gold. Unfortunately, these commodities are desired by the Mollys and Gaians alike, and there have been a fair number of attacks in recent years. Some of our traffic consists of Food shipments from Cambridge. We use London as a trans-shipment point, with cargos delivered to Southampton, the Essex and the Suffolk. On the return trip to Cambridge I usually take some Basic Alloys or Mining Machinery to the new BMM installation Peterborough.

Cryer Pharmaceuticals

We're selling a load of Pharmaceuticals produced at the Cambridge Research Station orbiting Cambridge. Cryer produces enough at the facility to supply Bretonia and its adjacent Border Worlds, but it's a struggle to keep up with the demand of late. War may be a tragedy, but it's good for business in our case. The Outcasts are Cryer's worst enemy. That Edge World pestilence is well established in Bretonia, especially in the northern systems of Leeds and Manchester. Since the Outcasts have run afoul with the Gallic forces, Bretonia is cutting the Outcasts some slack. A big misstake if you ask me. The Cambridge Institute hasn't received any new shipments of Alien Organisms to study for several weeks now. Most of those shipments came through the Tau Borderworlds, but that route is practically shut down. All medicine that passes through New London is sent to the triage centres located throughout Bretonia. So many men get wounded every day, it's a struggle to keep them alive. The Cambridge facilities are running overtime to provide for everyone.

Gateway Shipping

Gateway actually has very limited business on New London. We ship in Silver from our main base at Kensington by the planet Dover. We buy some basic commodities such as Food, Water, Oxygen and Basic Alloys. We also ship Mining Machinery to the IMG in Dublin and Cambridge. I always feel uncomfortable here -- this is Bowex territory. You can almost feel the stuffy arrogance of this place. It reeks of the Bretonian aristocrats that won't let go of our country. BMM and Bowex -- what a pair. Gateway is in partnership with the IMG, Bowex with BMM. Until we came along, BMM had IMG in a stranglehold since Bowex would refuse to ship their products in many cases, and they simply didn't have the means to ship goods themselves. We've had a rough time ourselves, since Bowex has powerful government connections that insure them many exclusive contracts with the Armed Forces and Police Authority.

Junkers

Sure, we find things among the scrapped ships and other debris. All kinds of things. Left over cargo pods with some goods still in them, stashes of Gold or Side Arms, probably hidden by Mollys. Stashes of Synthetic Marijuana, definately hidden by Gaians. All kinds of stuff. That's why you can find Junkers hauling just about anything. There's a demand for Cardamine and Artifacts on this world, just like any other. Not that I've shipped that stuff myself of course. And I don't know anyone who has. Noone who's gotten caught anyway, heh. Trafalgar is a nice, quiet little corner of Bretonia. It is deep in the debris field, away from the beaten path. We don't get many visitors and that suits us fine. Scrapfields aren't the safest of places to be to begin with. We Junkers are engaged in only legitimate transporting activities. We need Oxygen, Water, Food, H-Fuel, and Pharmaceuticals up on Trafalgar. Scrapping tends to give you a few cuts and bruises every now and then after all.

Kishiro Technologies

We pick up Gold on some of our return trips - always a stressful journey. It's as if you shine in the dark for the criminal elements like the Mollys and the Lane Hackers. They come like moths to a flame. We provide Optronics, H-Fuel and Engine Components for Bretonia. They are shipped from our plants in Honshu. It is a long and arduous journey through Liberty and the Independent Worlds, where Liberty Rogues are an ever present threat. Recently, Corsairs have started attacking our ships within New London itself. This is most unsettling. Kishiro distributes most of the H-Fuel produced by the GMG throughout Sirius. That contract used to be held by Samura, but they overplayed their hand by trying to squeeze too much from the GMG. Now they have nothing, and we have a solid partnership with the Gas Miners. The mixture I sold here comes from our new Ogashawa complex in Sigma-19, a joint venture between Kishiro and the GMG.

Orbital Spa & Cruise

I don't understand how we became enemies of the Gaians. We are only engaged in tourism, not in the ecological change of planets like Planetform. The same New London elites that secretly support the Gaians enjoy the facilities on our cruise ships. I would say that is a bit hypocritical. We ship various Commodities and Luxuary Goods to our resort planet in Cortez, Curacao. Luxuary Foods produced at Cambridge are in strong demand there. The Shetland was presumed lost after the Gallic invasion - but miraculously turned up at the edge of the Dublin system with her cruise engines disabled and stores severely depleted. It turns out the ship had to flee to deep space after Gallic forces tried to board her. They failed but left the ship crippled. It took almost a year for it to cross the vast interstellar space between the systems. It was sheer luck that her captain had a keen interest in early Sirian colonial space travel - before the Jump Gates existed. He knew how to navigate between the stars. Over 1200 souls owe their life to that.

Planetform, Inc.

We use New London mostly as a supply base for our headquarters at Canterbury, right across from the Kensington Shipping Platform near Dover. Most of our shipments consist of Consumer Goods, Food, Water and Oxygen. The Gaians harass us endlessly throughout Bretonian space. So far they haven't harassed our operations in Liberty - Atka and California Minor - but there's no telling if those will remain safe from them. We've attempted to explain our views to the Bretonian public, especially on Cambridge and New London, but they continue to sympathize with those terrorists. Our terraforming operations are critical to the continued well-being of Bretonia. The government has not adequately explained the dire consequences for future generations if we do not complete these projects in a timely fashion. Leeds is dying ecologically, courtesy of BMM's wanton industrialisation there, and neither New London nor Cambridge can handle the lot that will be displaced once it goes.

Imperial Shipping

Most of our business in Bretonia is with Southampton and Scarborough. We bring various raw materials mined in Rheinland to those stations, such as Cobalt and Copper. At least New London is a more civilized stop than those grossly polluted sites. Bretonia should learn from Rheinland and clean up its industrial waste. It's a very difficult journey between here and Rheinland, especially when you are transporting something as alluring as Bretonian Gold. The Red Hessians and Corsairs will be waiting for us in Omega-3 and Omega-7 - you can be sure of that. And before that, you'll have the Mollys to deal with. The Engine Components business has become very difficult. We used to be the exclusive supplier to Bretonia. Kishiro has become a strong adversary since the 80-Years War. I guess we'll have to cut our costs to remain competitive.

Samura Industries

What a cold and wet place this is. It's a long journey for our H-Fuel from Sapporo, Hokkaido. For the return trip we often pick up either Gold or Super Alloys for the Yokohama Shipyard in New Tokyo. Having to go around the Tau systems creates excessive delays and higher costs, but we are forbidden from crossing the Bretonian border into Tau space. Gallia could use that as an excuse to restart their war with Kusari. Bretonia is the largest source of Gold for the entire Sirius Sector. We are heading back to Yokohama with a load as soon as we can arrange the escort. Between Outcasts, Lane Hackers, Liberty Rogues, Xenos, Blood Dragons and Golden Chrysantemums, whomever we hire will have plenty to do. We ship a large amount of Fertilizer to New London, where it is transferred to Bowex freighters for the final leg of their trip to Cambridge. We are proud to assist Bretonia's farmers, who are still independent and not under the evil eye of Synth Foods.

Universal Shipping

Universal handles various levels of Commodities on the Manhattan to New London route. Our armored transports handle the Bretonian Gold bound for Manhattan, and the Luxury Goods on the return trip. If they're well escorted, they usually make it okay through the Independent World gauntlet. The same can't be said for all their escorts. Between the Liberty Rogues, Lane Hackers and Outcasts, they've got a lot to do. I'm making the daily run down from Waterloo to get supplies like Water, Oxygen, Food, and H-Fuel. I think I prefer it up there. At least you get to hang out around other Liberty folks, not just these stuffy Bretonians. Waterloo houses many foreign nationals - Republican, Universal, Samura and Kishiro all have offices there. I just signed off a load of Side Arms to the Bretonian Police. It's a rough run from Detroit - seems like the bad guys know every move we make, especially in Cortez. Must be those Lane Hackers at it again. Still, we made it in one piece. Must have helped to let it slip within a Bounty Hunter's hearing that there'd be a Side Arms convoy departing. I choose being bait over being game any day.

NOTE: Page generated on the 07/06/2024 at 15:55:46 UTC