Planet Cambridge

Planet Cambridge

File:Br03 01 base.png

Owner

Bretonia Police

Location

D-6, Cambridge

DIAMETER: 10,131 km.

MASS: 5.11 x 10e25 kg.

TERRAIN: Terrestrial

TEMPERATURE: -49°C to 73°C

ESCAPE VELOCITY: 10.21 km/sec

A serene, beautiful planet covered in lush, green plains and deep blue oceans, planet Cambridge is eminently suited to human colonisation. Settled 70 years after the New London planetfall, the planet has developed a significant agricultural industry. Heavy industries never developed since the planet lacks easily accessible mineral deposits, and were eventually prohibited to prevent pollution from damaging the planet's ecosystem, and the large farms that make up most of the settled surface. It is also home to the Cambridge Research Institute, a science academy that is devoted to pure scientific advancements. Many important scientific breakthroughs have occurred on Cambridge, including the Bretonian Super-Alloy manufacturing process. Cambridge is also the primary food producer for all of of Bretonia.

Cambridge has always attracted a large number of potential immigrants due to it's pleasant climate. Many are turned away due to the population and security restrictions on the planet itself, but the war with Gallia forced these restrictions to be eased, and a large influx of population has led to development on previously protected land, including polutting factories, much to the idignation of the Green Front.

Due to its prominence in Bretonia as both the primary food producer and as a bastion of scientific knowledge, it is perhaps inevitable that Cambridge harbours a large portion of the Green Front party members and offices, with a majority coming from the professors and students, as well as a number of vociferous researchers and local aristocracy. This has lead to many arguments between the various academic departments over the morality and viability of human terraforming, and its long term effects on the landscape of Sirius.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

Bretonia Police Border World Exports Gateway Shipping Imperial Shipping Bounty Hunters Guild Cryer Pharmaceuticals Independent Miners Guild

Missions

Bretonia Police

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price Hessian Tears 141$ Casualties 42$ Liberty Ale 38$ Rheinbier 36$ Sake 55$ Prisoners 201$ Crew 413$ Diamonds 123$ H-Fuel 167$ Pharmaceuticals 13$ Consumer Goods 22$ Luxury Consumer Goods 58$ Cardamine 194$ Consumer Goods 194$ Artifacts 155$ Consumer Goods 155$ Ageira Gate/Lane Parts 802$ Gaian Wildlife 281$ Wine 71$ Cigars 45$ Tea 27$ Nox 175$ Consumer Goods 175$ Passengers (Liberty) 593$ Passengers (Kusari) 761$ Passengers (Rheinland) 559$ Passengers (Gallia) 695$ Fire Pearls 57$ Xeno Relics 230$

Exports

Commodity Price Deployable Mining Container 50,000$ Gin 17$ Oxygen 7$ Water 8$ Food Rations 16$ Luxury Food 20$ Scientists 230$ Robotics 21$ Medical Equipment 15$ Fertilizers 39$ Basic Alloy 27$ Construction Machinery 46$ Vacationers 672$ Passengers (Bretonia) 306$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price
Clydesdale	Freighter	16,032$
Roc	Bomber	70,176$
Civilian Armored Transport	Transport	68,506$

News

[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] 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.

[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/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!".

[816 AS] Terrorist attacks rising in Omega-3

FREEPORT 1 -- 816 AS -- Omega-3 has a long and turbulent history of being a lawless space. In recent days there have been a particularly brutal spate of killings, with several BMM and Bowex convoys massacred. The Bretonia Armed Forces has been on the case for weeks, and yesterday successfully intercepted the mysterious attackers mid-ambush. Major Helen Hardy identified the assailants as Rheinland Military vessels, commenting that, “it was like 800 all over again” -- referring to Rheinland’s assault on Omega-3 during the Colony Wars. Following a complaint to the Rheinland government, defense officials were quick to deny responsibility for the attacks, pointing instead to the Military deserters-turned-terrorist group commonly known as The Wild.

[812 AS] Rheinland warns about “Wild” attacks

FREISTADT -- 812 -- For many years rumors have spread about attacks on Omega shipping by a group known as The Wild. Now their ships have been sighted marauding across Stuttgart and New Berlin. Rheinland has announced that MND intelligence has identified these menaces as traitorous Colony War deserters and war criminals, who stole Military hardware and vanished into the border worlds to enrich themselves. It is unclear what prompted the renegades to extend their attacks into Rheinland core space, however it is speculated that they may have been driven out of their old hunting grounds by other pirate organizations such as the Red Hessians or Corsairs.

[808 AS] Hamburg University restricts research access

ROTHERBAUM CITY -- 808 -- Hamburg University has announced a change to its publication process. Academics from other institutions will now need to subscribe to a ‘commercial affiliates’ programme managed by Republican Shipping to gain access to the university’s papers for peer review or research. Objections have been raised by New Berlin and Cambridge Universities, who argue that the move threatens academic freedom and scientific rigor. Hamburg University was bailed out by Republican Shipping three years ago when the institution faced imminent bankruptcy. Republican's Academic Investments Office say the fees schedule will subsidize "innovative research" and "push forward novel paradigms".

[805 AS] Republican bails out Hamburg University

ROTHERBAUM CITY -- 805 -- Hamburg University has narrowly avoided bankruptcy after negotiating a financing deal with Republican Shipping. The University's public funding was recently removed as a part of the ""difficult decisions” made by the government to stave off financial collapse. Republican is believed to have appointed itself as a “corporate guardian” for the institution, providing funding in exchange for exclusive rights to commercially exploit any resulting intellectual property. Republican representatives have confirmed that the investment forms part of the company’s broader plan to revitalize the Hamburg economy.

Rumors

Bretonia Police

Cambridge's big imports are Basic Alloys, Fertilizers, Light Arms, H-Fuel, Optical Chips and Optronics. The goods come from a variety of sources, all across Sirius. Ever since the outbreak of the war, Cambridge has become a much more somber place. Luxury Goods used to be massive import here, but the entire market has dried up now. Cambridge is a very nice posting for one of us police types. It's not industrialized and all like Leeds and London. It does have those Cambridge University snobs, though. They help support the Green Front, which is the "official" arm of the Gaians. They provide financial support and sustain the media war with Planetform and BMM back in London. We keep an eye on them, but they know better than to directly involve themselves with ecoterrorism. The Henry Jones Gold convoy was bound for Rheinland when it was attacked by Corsairs near the Omega-3 Gate. Its escorts were destroyed, and the ship was commandeered. An Armed Forces patrol responding to the initial distress call intercepted the raiding party near the edge of the Grasmere Cloud, and a bloody firefight ensued. The heavily damaged armored transport was the only pirate ship able to escape into the safety of the Grasmere Cloud. Its crew is believed to have perished in there before establishing contact with other Corsairs in the area. Now that Nottingham is being colonized in earnest, the Police Authority has had to assign folk to that system. It's been a right nightmare so far. Corsairs, Hessians... Even those Daumann rascals try to start trouble from time to time. And the Armed Forces aren't a lot of help, they have their hands full up north. Still, we make the best of a bad situation, that civilian militia initiative they're running is having some effect. The Grasmere Cloud patrol is a volunteer-only assignment - mostly young hotheads out to prove themselves. They've got plenty to do with all the Corsairs in there. There are heavy casualties on that one, sometimes 20% a week. The folly of youth... Still, those that survive usually learn a trick or two. And to never volunteer for high-risk duty again for that matter. A lot has changed on Cambridge since the outbreak of wars in the Taus. We used to produce the bulk of Bretonian Consumer Goods here, but most of the factories have now been shifted to New London to provide employment for the Refugees in the camps there. On the plus side, funding has been boosted for 'practical' farming. The patrol to the Norfolk isn't too bad. You've got the Cambridge Line between you and the bad guys in the clouds, and the military not far away. You've just got to keep an eye out. The Line itself can be a hazard if an IFF detector fails. Synth Foods hasn't arrived in Bretonia yet because nobody wants what happened to Rheinland. Consequently, the Cambridge growers are trying to be more efficient and lobbying London to insure that the Liberty megacorporations don't get a foothold here. Personally, I hope the day will never come. The Gaians would have a right fit if Synth started to tinker with the climate on Cambridge. The prison convoy bound for Manchester got attacked yesterday. Corsairs came out of nowhere and ambushed them along the Lane to the New London Gate. They figure they were hidden among the asteroids in that huge field north of Planet Cambridge. It's a common tactic for those savages.

Border World Exports

We transfer a lot of the Republican cargo from Rheinland to Bowex ships here, including Engine Components going to Southampton, and High-Temperature Alloys going to Gateshead. Occasionally, there's the odd Diamond shipment bound for Lancaster or the BMM Mining Machinery factories. You can pick up the latter two from Rheinland yourself, if you're so inclined. Bowex brings in a lot of Cambridge's vital imports from various locations. Industrial Materials are distributed from Lancaster, Basic Alloys are shipped from Planet New London, Optical Chips come from Los Angeles, and Polymers make the short trip from the Omega-3 system, where we get them directly from BMM at Douglas Station. I suppose we could get Optronics directly from Honshu now, but I wouldn't fancy my chances against the GRN in the Taus. Good money there, if you're brave enough. My convoy is holding here overnight to pick up Luxury Food. We're headed out in the morning for the Hawaii in Sigma-19, so I better have a drink tonight, since it could be my last. Corsairs and Outcasts are drawn to the Sigmas like flies - it's a real trial by fire getting through.

Cryer Pharmaceuticals

We use Cambridge as a convenient supply source for the Cambridge Research Station, which is high in orbit above this planet. The Cambridge Deans are more than happy to pressure for favourable supply contracts for us, due to their universities' investments in the Institute. Hydrocarbons and Polymers are shipped from Omega-3, but Food, Water and Oxygen are brought up from the planet here. Cambridge is a good recruiting center for Cryer. The University provides us with many eager graduates who do not want to be far from home. There is a daily work shuttle expressly for that purpose. It allows us to recruit the brightest and most promising minds of Bretonia into our company. Cryer uses Cambridge as our trans-shipment point for Pharmaceuticals produced on the station. In addition to our research activities, we supply all of Bretonia's needs, and have several export contracts. The conflict in northern Bretonia is creating a high demand for various Pharmaceuticals at the front line bases.

Gateway Shipping

We run the supplies to the IMG's Cardiff Station across the system. From there we pick up Beryllium for shipment to Liberty or Rheinland. This is one of our core contracts with the IMG that helps keep us competitive against our rivals. From Cambridge the Trade Lanes get much more difficult. I'm heading out to the IMG's Freistadt Station in Omega 7. We ship Pharmaceuticals and Basic Alloys there. That's if the Hessians or Corsairs don't intercept me first. I'm on the Kensington circuit. We usually import H-Fuel or Gold. On the outbound trip it could be Luxury Food or Pharmaceuticals. We don't make a lot of profit, but it's a fairly safe trip, since you don't need to cross a Borderworld to get where you need to be.

Imperial Shipping

This is Republican's main terminating point in Bretonia. We deliver Engine Components and High-Temperature Alloys from Berlin and Dresden. The rise of the Corsairs in Bretonia has persuaded us to let the locals handle the cargo for the last leg to New London and Newcastle. We get enough of those Hispanic pirates in the Omegas. The highest value cargoes shipped between Rheinland and Bretonia are Diamonds, Super Alloy and Gold. Corsairs and Red Hessians plague us the entire way. House space isn't so bad, but for the leg through the Omegas, you'd better hire security. Lots of it. We only do business with established, reliable shippers like Bowex. Gateway is a brash upstart company that has unwisely chosen to partner with the renegade IMG.

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