Planet Houston

Planet Houston

File:Li04 01 base.png

Owner

Liberty Police, Inc.

Location

F-4, Texas

DIAMETER: 8,201 km.

MASS: 3.38 x 10e24 kg.

TERRAIN: Desert

TEMPERATURE: -88°C to 100°C

ESCAPE VELOCITY: 9.02 km/sec

Houston is an arid world whose population has slowly increased since settlement; these mostly consist of what Manhattanites would term "the economically undesirable", many of them former inmates of the orbiting prison stations. The cheap labour force has attracted a number of industries, however, including a major Deep Space Engineering manufacturing plant specializing in Nanocapacitor production.

Houston's biggest industry, however, is fuelled by Liberty's criminal element; the vast majority of Libertonian prisoners are housed in the system and prison gangs from the Huntsville and the Sugarland, as well as rehabilitated former inmates looking to go straight, power Texan industries.

Both the Liberty Police, Inc. and the Bounty Hunters Guild maintain their respective local headquarters on the planet; the Bounty Hunters Guild is thicker here than anywhere else in Sirius. After all, not only forcing prisoners to labour is profitable; capturing them is vital, too. Houston is most often "visited" by (former and current) Liberty Rogues and Xenos.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

ALG Waste Disposal Imperial Shipping Bounty Hunters Guild Deep Space Engineering Synth Foods, Inc. Universal Shipping Liberty Police, Inc. Cryer Pharmaceuticals Orbital Spa & Cruise Junkers Liberty Rogues Outcasts

Missions

Liberty Police, Inc. Bounty Hunters Guild

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price Robotics 27$ Medical Equipment 27$ Titanium 46$ Prisoners 190$ Crew 304$ Black Market Pharmaceuticals 18$ Counterfeit Computerware 40$ Gold 240$ Silver 146$ Scrap Metal 14$ Niobium 182$ Food Rations 56$ H-Fuel 131$ Superconductors 27$ Pharmaceuticals 27$ Polymers 50$ Optronics 86$ Cardamine 210$ Consumer Goods 210$ Black Market Munitions 45$ Black Market Augments 41$ Nanocapacitors 24$ Platinum 103$ Synth Paste 17$ Aluminium 133$ Industrial Materials 19$ HazMat Canisters 38$ Nox 192$ Consumer Goods 192$

Exports

Commodity Price Deployable Mining Container 50,000$ Toxic Waste 26$ Oxygen 6$ Water 7$ Basic Alloy 13$ Consumer Goods 9$ Luxury Consumer Goods 18$ Criminals 501$ Liberty Ale 32$ Passengers (Liberty) 342$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price
Rhino	Freighter	19,206$
Falcon	Heavy Fighter	18,778$
Piranha	Light Fighter	13,952$

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/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] 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] 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] - Rheinland Civil War Ends in Reunification

HOLSTEIN -- 828 AS -- After weeks of intense deliberations between Imperial and Federal delegations on Holstein, the two governments have issued a joint decree dissolving both the Imperial and Federal governments in favor of reforming into a re-unified administration. The Holstein Accords, currently in the process of ratification by all parties of the Rheinland Federal and Imperial delegations, reorganizes the newly unified Rheinland under a representative democracy under constitutional monarchy - as well as calling for reforms in multiple branches of the military, and industry. In an immediate show of change, the Federal and Imperial fleets have completely withdrawn from what used to be the battle lines separating the two Rheinland fractions - many have returned to stand-down docks for maintenance and repairs, and off-duty military and civilian personnel have already begun to travel back to their homes. While details of how the reunification will proceed, or whether it will be successful are yet to be seen, but the Holstein Accords has brought the Rheinland Civil War effectively to a close.

[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.

[818 AS] Liberty corporations face uneasy future in Rheinland

NEW BERLIN -- 818 AS -- Chancellor Reinhardt has vetoed a motion from the Reichstag to expel Liberty corporations from Rheinland, in retaliation for Liberty's expulsion of Daumann, Kruger and Republican Shipping. The demands included the immediate nationalization of Planet Stuttgart and for sanctions to be leveled against Ageira Technologies, DSE, OS&C, and Interspace Commerce. The Chancellor’s Office explained that such actions would have far-reaching consequences, scaring away investors and driving Rheinland back to the financial ruin last seen in the days following the Colony Wars. Synth Foods is the single largest tax contributor in Rheinland, while other Liberty corporations provide essential services around freight insurance and Jump Gate maintenance.

[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.

[817 AS] Planetform freighter bombed on Houston

HOUSTON -- 817 -- A Planetform Inc supply freighter has been destroyed while taking on provisions at Planet Houston. The blast destroyed the Clydesdale, killing the two crew members and injuring a number of local workers. Liberty authorities have furiously blamed Rheinland for the strike, promising dire consequences for the “terrorist attack”. Rheinland officials have denied the accusation, pointing instead at Xeno radicals who have previously attacked Planetform operations in the region. “Before pointing fingers at us, Liberty should first look to the sorry state of its own internal security. The Xenos have been an unchecked menace in Texas for decades,” commented Hamburg Reichstag representative Hans Baier.

[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.

[816 AS] Rheinland Torpedoes Talks on Hudson Status

HUDSON -- 816 -- Liberty’s newly elected President Powell has demanded talks with Rheinland on the status of the Hudson border. Liberty has long had ambitions of annexing the system, with Rheinland at several points coming close to selling their consent for the move. Since the last substantive round of negotiations collapsed in 812 AS, Rheinland has remained non-committal on the issue. This ended with a statement by Chancellor Reinhardt declaring Rheinland would “never countenance” auctioning away the “integral” border system, pointing to economic and defense interests. Powell blasted Reinhardt in return, arguing that Liberty was “owed” compensation for Colony War damages, and that Rheinland had a duty to negotiate in good faith.

[816 AS] Synth cuts Houston contracts

HOUSTON -- 816 -- Synth Foods representatives have confirmed that they intend to axe supply contracts with several of Houston's major Fertilizer plants, arguing that alternate sources on Planet Holstein were now "cheaper, safer and closer" for their Stuttgart operations. The agri-giant is the single largest consumer of chemical Fertilizers in Sirius, leaving an enormous hole in Houston's order book. Several plants have already confirmed that lay-offs will be necessary as production is scaled back, likely leading to tens of thousands of redundancies.

[808 AS] Rio Grande Puts pirates to the sword

RIO GRANDE -- 808 -- The Battleship Rio Grande and its fleet has carried out an expansive counter-piracy campaign in Hudson. Attacks on convoys in the region have already markedly dropped, with Navy representatives claiming dozens of destroyed Liberty Rogue, Unioner and Xeno ships. Rheinland's Chancellor Steller called the deployment of the battleship into the border system ‘unlawful’, while the Rheinland Military announced a strategic defense review to probe its readiness levels. The Rio Grande’s ‘take no prisoners’ posture has also drawn criticism from Houston’s congressional representatives, who argue depriving the pirates the possibility of reform through the Liberty penal system is a breach of their human rights. Liberty says it was ‘forced’ to act by Rheinland’s failure to police the system adequately.

[807 AS] Liberty Concerned by Rheinland Pirates

FREEPORT 2 -- 807 -- Liberty has raised a formal complaint with New Berlin over the deteriorating security situation in Hamburg, Bering and Hudson. Pirate attacks in the border worlds have risen dramatically over recent years, as Rheinland plunges ever deeper into economic crisis. The Rheinland Military advise that they do not have the resources to schedule additional patrols, while Liberty corporations claim that existing patrols rarely respond to emergency calls. Liberty Navy sources warn that unless Rheinland steps up, the Navy is going to be forced to ‘clean house’ itself. Preliminary discussions about a Liberty-funded RFP border force are ongoing, however Rheinland is reluctant to accept more Liberty debts.

[803 AS] Hudson negotiations stall

HUDSON -- 803 -- The Hudson border world between Liberty and Rheinland is a dangerous and lawless place. Liberty has long had an interest in annexing the system, having previously commissioned terraforming surveys of Planet Atka. In 800 AS, Rheinland had come close to selling its consent for the move, until Chancellor Niemann abruptly withdrew from negotiations. Liberty has since requested renewed talks in exchange for substantial investment and debt relief packages, but the newly elected Chancellor Steller declined, saying that he would not “make territorial concessions in a time of crisis.” Despite this, Liberty appears unwilling to abandon its ambitions in the region.

Rumors

Bounty Hunters Guild

Not too long ago there was a prison break by some Rogues from a Sugarland work convoy in the East Dallas Debris Field. They fled into the Pequena Negra Cloud, pursued by a Bounty Hunter named Annie "Shorty" Davis. She flew a nice rig called "the Avenger." The Rogues eventually doubled back and escaped through the California Hole. Annie must have gotten confused in there, or maybe her ship was damaged by some enemy fire. Either way, she never emerged from that dark cloud. There are all manner of debris fields in this system for the outlaws to hide in, but you have to be careful if you go in, because some of the debris areas contain radiated fields that will cook you and your ship before you can escape. We offset the cost of housing Liberty's criminals by putting them to work making products for the good citizens of Liberty. If you are on the Sugarland you will be working in the scrap smelters; if you are on the Huntsville, you will be making Consumer Goods. The Outcasts come in from the California Jump Hole and then head for the Junker base in Debris Field One. Before they leave the system, they do a bit of pirating themselves. You'd think they wouldn't care about pirating with all the money they make from Cardamine. This base being primarily a Commodity producer means that it is a tempting target for the criminals in the area. So I patrol the Trade Lanes nearby, hunting for the scum who waylay shipping. If the Outcasts are going to attack a prison, they will attack the Sugarland. That is the only prison that houses them, and truth be told, there aren't many Outcasts there at all. Most of them fight to the death when cornered. The ones who are captured usually die within the first month of incarceration for some reason. Some of them manage to survive, though. The Xenos are strong in this system; they harass foreign shipping resources on the way to Houston from Kusari and Bretonia, or in the past from Rheinland to the rest of Liberty. Those governments and their corporations are displeased with the lack of action from LPI, so oftentimes we get hired to reduce the Xeno population in the system.

Cryer Pharmaceuticals

The Outcasts bring their dreaded Cardamine to this system and then on to New York. At Cryer we are working on a synthetic form of Cardamine that will not lower worker productivity and will be relatively non-addictive. It is a good thing that we do not have to spend much time within this system, since it is filled with all manner of scum. Other shipping companies take over and ship our Consumer Goods from here, leaving them with the risk of piracy. From Ft. Bush we bring Consumer Goods to this planet. It's a round about route, for certain, since they are mostly produced at the prison stations nearby here. But that's the reality of distribution and logistics when it's controlled by a bureaucracy.

Deep Space Engineering

The majority of our operations are found in New York, yet Texas is where you must come if you are looking for Nanocapacitors. This makes us vulnerable to attacks from the pirates and thieves that litter this system. This factories on this planet provide us with a great deal of the Nanocapacitors we use in all our operations in New York. From this base we ship to Newark and Trenton. Deep Space Engineering builds all the greatest of Liberty's technological marvels. From the Jump Gates and Trade Lanes that enable high-speed travel throughout the Sirius Sector, to the luxury liners that bring her joy, we are Liberty construction.

Liberty Police, Inc.

We've got permanent residents at the prison here. They are the ones called NCRs, or "no chance for rehabilitation." In other words, they are going to be staying in Texas for the rest of their lives. There is a Junker base in this system, and that's where you are going to find a lot of the criminals that haven't been dragged to one of our prison stations yet. But it's just a matter of time. We offset the cost of housing Liberty's criminals by putting them to work making products for the good citizens of Liberty. If you are on the Sugarland, you will be working in the scrap smelters; if you are on the Huntsville, you will be making Consumer Goods. Fifty percent of the population living within this system has either served time at an LPI facility or is currently incarcerated. We house all of Liberty's prison population on the Sugarland or Huntsville, or within the penal colony planetside. A lot of the original LPI employees were police that had worked for the state. When the police went private, the pay decreased, so we had to make up for the shortfall, if you know what I mean. Fortunately, we have a little more latitude than we did as employees of the government. If it wasn't for LPI, Liberty Police, Inc., Liberty would have been bankrupted by the sheer cost of housing all of her prisoners. But they were smart enough to privatize their department of corrections, and that is how we were formed.

Junkers

Some of the finest quality Basic Alloys are brought to this base from Beaumont. The income we receive from selling these allow us to re-supply our base from here with H-Fuel and Nanocapacitors. Our base is nicely hidden within this system. A lot of shipping come through Texas, which means there is a lot of piracy, too. That just means we get to take part in the shipping of goods in Texas. If you want to do business with us, look for our base in the North Dallas Debris Field. We supply the upperclasses of Manhattan with its vanity item of choice: Artifacts from Beaumont. You were surprised? Everyone has bad habits; we just make it easier for them.

Liberty Navy

All our patrols originate from the Mississippi. Some patrol the Trade Lane to the Bering Jump Gate, and others fly through the North Dallas Debris Field and along the southern edge of Pequena Negra looking for criminals where we suspect Jump Holes may exist. My patrol wing flies through the southern part of the system, along the edges of the South and East Dallas Debris Fields. Our route then takes us along the western edge of the Grande Negra. A ship can only last a few seconds in the dark matter of the Negras. Our battleships have been patrolling this system since the catastrophe with the Dallas. At first we patrolled this system to protect citizens from going into deadly radiation areas caused by the failed Ageira experiment, but now we patrol to curb the piracy in the lawless area of the Forbidden Zone.

Synth Foods, Inc.

We promote commerce in Liberty as well as Kusari. We will ship Fertilizers from Shinkaku to Los Angeles, and then ship Synth Paste back to the prison stations from Los Angeles. I'm here to try to set up supply contracts to introduce Synth Paste into the food supply here on Planet Houston. Even with the high food prices, it's no easy task. Synth Paste produced at Los Angeles is imported into Texas to cheaply feed the burgeoning prison populations there. Everyone needs Synth Paste, even Kusari. That's why we ship it from Los Angeles to Roppongi. We just have to do something about those crazy Kusari farmers.

Universal Shipping

Our convoy just moored a few hours ago. We ran a load of Cobalt in from Omega 7. Rough run, that was. Sometimes we run Copper. Those criminals can smell it like a pack of dogs. Just came in with a load of Industrial Materials from Trenton. We'll head out in the morning to make the delivery rounds to Bretonia with Nanocapacitors. Our shippers in New York return with Side Arms from Detroit, Industrial Materials from Trenton, and Consumer Goods from Ft. Bush. We ship H-Fuel to the California system, and Synth Paste back here for the prison stations. Houston and its orbiting prisons are the primary Consumer Goods manufacturing locations for Liberty, with the distinction of being the cheapest producer in the entire Sirius Sector, thanks to our free prisoner labor. Consumer Goods are distributed by Universal throughout Liberty space from Ft. Bush. The Nanocapacitor industry needs various materials. On return trips we'll deliver Cobalt, Copper, and Basic Alloy. Universal services all police and military bases in Texas. Only thing we bring back down is off duty Crew from the Sugarland Smelter. They take their shore leave here on Houston. Aren't they lucky?

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