Helgoland Station

Helgoland Station

File:Bw05 02 base.png

Owner

Gas Miners Guild

Location

D-6/5, Sigma-13

CLASS: Abbey

GRAVITY: Partial

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 200

At the Battle of the Yanagi Nebula, the forces of the Gas Miners Guild managed to obliterate almost the entire Rheinland Navy in a surprise maneuver. The remnant of that great battle became a vast field of Scrap Metal and radioactive cores that has rendered the area a major navigational hazard. Under an agreement brokered by Interspace Commerce, ALG Waste Disposal was allowed to build Helgoland Station and begin clean-up of the affected area, shipping Scrap Metal and other waste back to Rheinland for re-smelting.

The Yanagi cleanup was finally completed in late 818. As part of the original contract, the Gas Miners Guild purchased the Helgoland facility from ALG and has begun converting the facility in a small shipyard, with the intent to sell shipbuilding capacity to Kusari and maintain their transports and gas miners at Helgoland.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

ALG Waste Disposal Kishiro Technologies Imperial Shipping Gas Miners Guild Rheinland Federal Police Zoners

Missions

Gas Miners Guild

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price Robotics 23$ Ablative Armor Plating 32$ Molybdenum 154$ Rheinbier 36$ Sake 40$ Solar Panels 23$ Boron 18$ Beryllium 58$ Cobalt 37$ Hydrocarbons 35$ Oxygen 11$ Water 11$ Food Rations 47$ H-Fuel 90$ Basic Alloy 37$ Super Alloy 64$ High-Temperature Alloy 26$ Superconductors 30$ Pharmaceuticals 19$ Polymers 43$ Consumer Goods 33$ Iridium 133$ Neon 44$ Synth Paste 25$ Helium 72$ Industrial Materials 24$ Xenobiotic Filters 35$ HazMat Canisters 32$ Passengers (Kusari) 360$ Aluminium Ore 53$ Xeno Relics 193$

Exports

Commodity Price Deployable Mining Container 50,000$ Crew 275$ Toxic Waste 15$ Hull Panels 41$ MOX 24$ Engine Components 34$ Aluminium 117$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price

News

[834 AS] GMG destroys Sigma smuggling ring

NAHA -- 834 -- GMG spokesmen have announced the successful conclusion of a security operation in Sigma-13. The Guild paramilitary confirmed that diligent patrols had uncovered evidence of a large smuggling operation being conducted from an abandoned Kruger gas miner, fuelling Corsair and Outcast raids across the region. “Thankfully our pilots acted decisively, putting an end to this menace and expelling the itinerants from the GMG’s territory.” Interspace risk adjusters reacted favorably to the news, lowering premiums for the dangerous border world by half a percentage point.

[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.

[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/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.

[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.

[825 AS] Ibusuki station massacred - Kusari enters war!

SAIGON -- 825 -- In a furious speech, Prime Minister Yukihara Reijiro of Kusari has declared a state of war against Rheinland. This follows the destruction of Ibusuki Survey Platform in Sigma-21, 12 hours before Rheinland's eviction ultimatum expired. Despite Rheinland's protests that it was not responsible for the act, Kusari has accused the Battleship Bayern of the murders, releasing the station's final distress calls that begged Rheinland forces to cease fire. As a result, Kusari has mobilized the Kusari Naval Forces to begin joint military operations alongside the Gas Miner's Guild. The Prime Minister has ordered Rheinland to withdraw all of its forces from the Sigmas immediately or face Kusari's fury.

[825 AS] Rheinland demands Ibusuki destruction

IBUSUKI SURVEY PLATFORM -- 825 -- Rheinland has issued an ultimatum for Ibusuki Survey Platform in Sigma-21 to be abandoned. The 48 hour warning has been provided to allow Kusari citizens time to evacuate from the jointly Kishiro and GMG operated station before the Battleship Bayern enforces the order. Kishiro Technologies has announced that it has assumed full administration of the platform to avoid being dragged into Rheinland's conflict with the Guild. Rheinland has reiterated that the platform must be abandoned, while the Bayern continues to advance towards Planet Saigon. Kusari has reacted with outrage to the development, threatening immediate repercussions if neutral Kusari citizens or property are harmed.

[825 AS] Rheinland Aggression Triggers War

SIGMA-15 -- 825 -- Rheinland has continued on a path of aggression against the Guild, with paramilitary wings being repeatedly scrambled to chase Military intruders out of Sigma-13. During a border patrol in Sigma-15, Guild forces encountered an illegal Kruger gas harvesting operation. The crew were informed they were operating in breach of their House’s treaty obligations and ordered to abandon the miner. Instead, the thieves attacked our patrol, while calling Rheinland Military reinforcements. The miner was accordingly destroyed. Rheinland’s declaration of war uses this lawful exercise of authority as a pretext for naked imperialism. The GMG will defend the Crow Nebula to the last. The Rheinlanders are invited to join their ancestors.

[825 AS] Rheinland Pushes Forward With Sigma Ambitions

HAMMERSEE -- 825 -- Despite the ongoing dispute with the Gas Miners Guild over the status of Sigma-15, Rheinland has announced plans to construct a Jump Gate to Frankfurt. Many believe the move brings Rheinland one step closer to formally annexing the system. A secure jump connection will reduce the cost of supporting the colony on Hammersee and nearby Bochum Refinery, removing the need for expensive and time-consuming deep space haulage. Controversially, EFL Oil and Machinery has been contracted for the work, provoking furious criticism from Bretonia and Liberty who accuse Rheinland of funding Gallic military aggression. The GMG called the project a reckless act of Rheinland hostility.

[824 AS] Rheinland and GMG Clash Over Sigma Claims

SIGMA-21 -- 824 -- Daumann deep space explorers have announced the discovery of the Sigma-21 system, filing a territorial claim on behalf of Rheinland. The Gas Miners Guild disputes these claims, pointing to the First Treaty of Honshu that ended the 80-Years War. At that time, Rheinland conceded territorial sovereignty of the Crow Nebula to the GMG. The Guild argues that any newly discovered Sigma systems fall within their domain by default. Rheinland has acknowledged the GMG’s rights to the system’s southern nebula wisp, but strongly rejects the assertion that the Treaty extends to the areas outside it. As this dispute escalates, the GMG has also rebuked Rheinland’s claims to Sigma-15.

[814 AS] ALG announces Sigma-13 milestone

HELGOLAND STATION -- 814 -- ALG representatives have announced that all commercially viable salvage has now been retrieved from the Yanagi Cloud debris field in Sigma-13. This means the project now enters its second and most hazardous phase, which focuses on the clearance of material deemed too contaminated or dangerous to be recycled, such as unexploded mines and heavily irradiated or otherwise contaminated ship hulls. ALG’s cleanup effort has repeatedly missed project milestones, which the corporation blames on poorly motivated Junker subcontractors. It now forecasts final debris clearance for 824 AS.

[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".

[804 AS] Treaty of Honshu eases Colony War wounds

HONSHU -- 804 -- Dignitaries from Rheinland and Kusari today ratified the Second Treaty of Honshu, officially normalizing relations between the two Houses and ending Kusari’s embargo. Rheinland has formally accepted sole culpability for the Colony Wars and agreed to a 20 year reparations package. This includes preferential rates for Kusari corporations on military goods and resources needed to rebuild the Kusari Naval Forces, and financial compensation for the damages inflicted in Honshu itself. Chancellor Steller offered his sincere condolences to Kusari over the war, and promised a brighter future of mutual prosperity.

[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] 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

Gas Miners Guild

Now that the remnants of the Yanagi battle have been cleared, Helgoland has been turned over to the GMG as per the stipulations of the contract ALG had. Helgoland has been a large salvage yard for years, it won't be hard to convert it into a small shipyard to maintain our Gas Miners. The GMG does not have many large ships, it is not our way - but it is still good to have a place to service the few we have, then to have to rely on an outside party such as Kishiro to maintain them. Trade between Rheinland and Kusari has been steadily increasing over the past years. The two Houses are growing closer to eachother, which is good for us. It stabilises the region. Corsair and Outcast raiders remain a problem however, so ships do tend to get damaged. It is another reason why a shipyard in this system is not a bad thing to have. We have known for years that the Junkers were involved in illicit goods trafficking, but up until now they had a purpose - to assist ALG in the removal of the Yanagi debris. With the end of that, the only thing the Junkers are still good for is smuggling and harboring our enemies. We tolerate neither. Aside from maintaining our own ships, we hope to entice some independent shipping companies to call at Helgoland for maintenance eventually. It is in a very strategic spot - right between the abundant minerals that Rheinland is blessed with, and the Optronics and Hull Panel industries of Kusari. It should allow us to set very competitive rates here. There used to be a jumphole to New Berlin to the east of the base, but it is gone now. When the largest irradiated components were removed from the debris field, it changed the balance of the system, and several far Jump Holes destabilised as a result. The Jump Gates are unaffected as far as we can tell. With the radiation gone, this part of the Crow Nebula is slowly returning to it's natural state. That means where there is light traffic, there will be Oxygen Pockets which pose a hazard, especially to lightly shielded ships. Transport Shields can usually handle them, but Freighters or smaller Fighters need to avoid those areas or risk being destroyed. Sometimes, transports under attack by pirates will try to flee into one - not all of them make it back out however. The heavy traffic around various stations and along the lanes ensures those areas stay safe. Helgoland is likely part of the GMG's long term plan for this region. Sigma-13 is our sovereign space, and a major trade route, but once Gas Mining becomes unfeasable here, we'll need another purpose for this area. Making a profit from its location and the presence of the Trade Lanes seems the logical thing to do. Sometimes people ask if those protostars in the center of this region pose a danger. In all honesty, they do, but not within our lifetimes. Stellar formation takes millions of years, and these two concentrations are relatively recent ones, probably some 50,000 years old. Eventually, they are likely to merge and ignite into a standard M type dwarf star. When that happens, we'd best not be around, but that's a few hundred thousand years ahead of us yet. This GMG project is ambitious. We do not have any experience in doing large-scale shipwrighting. Most of our ships are small, and are built aboard our larger Gas Miner platforms. A fullsized shipyard, even a small one, is new ground for us.

ALG Waste Disposal

With all the components we managed to salvage, we have turned a fortune. But it doesn't feel right to me. Feels like we've dug up a mass grave. Still, Daumann was happy to buy most of the parts we salvaged that were still spaceworthy. Rheinland Cruiser and Battleship engines have largely remained the same, so many of the parts are still compatible. I just hope they aren't haunted like some of my friends claimed. Our contract to Kusari and Rheinland for cleaning up the Yanagi field is almost completed now. Only a few kilotons of debris remain to ship to our smelters back in New Berlin, and the Helgoland facility needs to be repurposed. As per the contract, the base was turned over to the GMG as-is, but they have hired some of the Helgoland staff on as contractors to help them reshape the station into its new role. I'm glad this job is over. Sifting through the debris field was frightening at times. Not only was there always the threat of a Corsair or Outcast raider lurking amongst the debris, but the wrecks themselves were often terrifying. We had to clear each piece part by part for undetonated explosives before they could be dragged back to Helgoland for dismantling. Dead sailors do not decay in the cold vacuum of space. Frozen bodies, decades old... their faces showing the sheer terror of their final moments. It will be years before I can sleep easy again.

Imperial Shipping

If the GMG do turn this base into a small shipyard, that will be good for us. Rheinland is the logical choice to supply them with most of the goods such a yard needs in volume, such as Basic Alloys and Engine Components. Officially the Rheinland Military were not allowed in the system until recently, but at least the GMG had the respect to make one exception - The Seewinde, a burial ship. Thousands of sailors perished in the Yanagi battle, and many bodies were still sealed inside the wrecks. The Seewinde took these sailors home, and gave them a proper burial. I'm here to pick up a shipment of salvage bound for the Oder Shipyards. It may seem odd to reuse over two centuries old ship parts, but keep in mind that in space virtually nothing decays. Anything the GMG haven't shot up back then is potentially refurbishable, and many parts are still compatible. The Junkers have made off with many small parts, but the market for Rheinland capital ship components isn't that big.

Kishiro Technologies

It is good that the Yanagi debris are finally cleared away. It is not a pleasant thought to hit a large chunk of an old cruiser while travelling through the Trade Lane. A hit like that overwhelms any shield in moments. We lost quite a few ships that way, until ALG was contracted to clear the wreckage. I wonder how Rheinland messed up the Yanagi campaign so badly. They had a huge advantage in ships and men. They must have been ill-prepared to fight inside a nebula. The GMG also suffered terrible losses, but they still secured a decisive victory, one that bolsters their reputation to this day. I am delivering a cargo of Robotics, mainly new external cranes for the drydock. The ones ALG used are set up for heavy demolition, not delicate construction. They will all need to be replaced. Fortunately, the mountings are universal, so it should be easy enough to get this done.

NOTE: Page generated on the 07/06/2024 at 15:16:42 UTC