Monte Carlo Freeport

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Monte Carlo Freeport
Owner
Freelancers
Location
D-2/1, Provence

CLASS: Kelly Grace

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 570

Monte Carlo Freeport was built by an independent entrepreneur between 690-695 AGS. As with most Freeports, groups like the Gallic Brigands and Unione Corse have often used the station as a black market hub.

Home of the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, the Freeport once stood as a shining beacon of affordable debauchery and thrills, many of which were extra-legal. Unfortunately, during the Second Gallic War, Monte Carlo found itself struggling to survive amidst possible takeover, the demise of the tourism industry and an influx of refugees.

The rise of the Gallic Union helped steer Monte Carlo into a recovery, so they have been using funds from their black market trading to remodel their race track in the Vaccares Asteroid Belt in an attempt to revive their former glory.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes
Missions


Commodities

Imports
Commodity Price
Hessian Tears 163$
Silver 148$
Fertilizers 40$
H-Fuel 190$
MOX 36$
Pharmaceuticals 63$
Consumer Goods 16$
Terraforming Gases 45$
Cardamine 167$
Consumer Goods 167$
Artifacts 210$
Consumer Goods 210$
Gaian Wildlife 325$
Xenobiotic Filters 65$
Passengers (Liberty) 944$
Passengers (Bretonia) 756$
Passengers (Kusari) 700$
Passengers (Rheinland) 689$
Passengers (Gallia) 254$
Biodome Materials 72$
Xeno Relics 242$
Exports
Commodity Price
Deployable Mining Container 50,000$
Crew 228$
Oxygen 8$
Water 8$
Food Rations 26$
Bio-Neural Processors 67$
Vacationers 211$
Aluminium 187$
Promethene 19$
Nox 97$


Ships sold


Ship Class Price
Moonbeam Heavy Fighter 7,158$
Sunbeam Very Heavy Fighter 20,679$
Eclipse Bomber 79,362$


News

[750 AGS] Grand Marshal secures economic victory for Union

NEW PARIS -- 750 AGS -- The Grand Marshal has declared a decisive victory in trade negotiations with Rheinland. Military envoys successfully pressed the Rheinlanders for concessions as recompense for a number of insulting breaches of diplomatic protocol during the recent state visit. As a result, excellent rates on imported minerals have been secured, in addition to the removal of tariffs on Gallic agricultural surplus. The Treaty of Oerlikon will be an enormous boon to rebuilding Gallia's strength and greatness; Bretonia, Kusari and Liberty's furious criticisms of Rheinland for their forward thinking is simply evidence of their weakness and fear.

[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] Jump Hole Upheaval Causes Chaos

HEISENBERG -- 831 AS -- Jump holes across Sirius have become increasingly volatile and chaotic over the last year, with Professor Sophia Nagel from the Heisenberg Research Station linking the unusual phenomena to the Pulse. The Pulse was an unprecedented blast of hyperspace energy that was detected immediately prior to last year's jump gate Blackout.

Professor Nagel and her team are certain the Pulse originated from outside Sirius, but are otherwise no closer to identifying its source or mitigating a future Blackout event. "Following the Blackout, we began to see immediate signs of jump hole destabilization in multiple different regions, with many ultimately falling out of phase alignment altogether", she commented. The dramatic upending of Sirius' jump hole network has already prompted many groups to abandon stations and withdraw from systems that appear to risk being cut off.

While months-long trips between the stars are possible thanks to the Liberty Engine and many centuries of innovation, few ships are designed or provisioned to make such arduous journeys. Those who were displaced by Sirius' redrawn map hope that system connections will return, while adventurers and explorers rush to discover new routes.

[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.

[829 AS] Tau In Transition

Freeport 6 -- 829 AS -- Bretonia and Kusari have been quiet in recent weeks as the Tau cluster continues adjustments, partly by design, into a new reality. Kusari has abandoned Tau-53 completely as trade with Gallia is frozen indefinitely, a nearly depleted hydrocarbon deposit seemingly not worth the investment in itself. Misaki Station has seen its manufacturing facilities detached and towed to a new location as Samura attempts to recoup some of its investment in Tau-53. Meanwhile, both Gallia and Bretonia have readjusted their Tau focus to Tau-23 as Orkney descends into chaos. Existing gate infrastructure in Tau-31 and Languedoc have been redirected to Tau-23, and a collective deja vu is felt among Tau denizens and observers from all Houses as the resources of Tau-23 are eyed by competing mining interests. Trade between the houses however, as in Kusari, is completely off the menu. Independent trade factions have also been warned against attempting to cross the divide.

[744 AGS] - Food issues on Metz

METZ -- 744 AGS -- Ever since the very first day of human settlement on Metz, the terraforming of the planet faced numerous challenges, and the most prominent of them was the development of agriculture. Metz only receives enough light to warm the equatorial regions above freezing while the warmest summers rarely exceed 20 degrees celsius, and only where the warm waters hold sway over the weather. Despite the climate not being favourable, the Gallic authorities never questioned the potential of the planet, and the Gallic Office des Eaux et des Forêts, the successor of the Office Royal des Eaux et Forêts ordered several projects to undertake the terraforming of the frigid world of Metz.

The most ambitious project was by far the Metz Mirror Array or MMA, which consisted of a vast phalanx of reflective satellites in orbit of the planet meant to increase the sunlight during Metz's 28 hours day. Contracted by EFL, the project was about to be finished when Kusari began its invasion of our Home. Most of the MMA satellites were spared during the earliest hours of the war as the initial fighting occurred around the stations of Roanne and Montigny. Unfortunately, the rest of the MMA was completely destroyed by the scorched earth tactic of Kusari's retreat.

On the planet's surface, the 70 million inhabitants suffered the long six months of the war. Being unsupplied, the oil reserves necessary to provide energy to the generators of the water reclamation facilities were dry by the end of the summer. As consequence, the quantity of water collected for agriculture was well below the required quantities for sufficient production. This was also coupled with a very early winter, with the first frosts in the equatorial regions by the end of September. These multiple factors resulted in serious consequences on Metz's food production and reserves, to the point that the possibility of famine was even evoked.

While this statement is revealed to be false, the food situation on Metz is more than worrisome and the confusion created by the end of the war and the Reunification makes the Metz supplying mission in food even more complex.

[744 AGS] The Rise of the Gallic Union

NEW PARIS -- 744 AGS -- After much deliberation, the representatives of the Duchy, Republic, Minarchy, and the Enclave emerged on Christmas morning to declare the historic reunion of the disparate Gallic states into the Gallic Union, a military republic. The Gallic Union will be headed by the Maréchal de Gaule, and that Marechal's Seigneurs (Lords) and their appointed governors and those governors' Civilian Council, while the citizenry will elect a Chancellor to advise the Marechal.

The inaugural Civilian Council, filled with notable citizens from across Gallia, elected Louis de Varax, decorated Grand Marshal for the Second Gallic War and the Kusari Invasion to the rank of Maréchal de Gaule, the executive of Gallia. The Grand Marshal has appointed navy officers to Seigneurship over each system of Gallia. Together with the Marechal, they now have the noble task of leading Gallia into a prosperous future.

The inaugural Civilian Council convened on the 22nd of December to elect former President of Ile-de-France Bastien de Chamborant to the office of Chancellor with an overwhelming mandate of 70 percent of the vote. After his inauguration on the 26th, Chancellor Chamborant issued the following statement from the balcony of the Grand Ministere:

"My mission is to work alongside the Maréchal and the Seigneurs for the greater good of our nation. My consultative role will allow our citizens to fully participate in the reconstruction of our House turned towards our core Gallic values."

"Our Great House is now entering a new era, on the dawn of the year 744 AGS, and we can now trust that our leaders will impose Gallia as a major house of Sirius!"

As the year comes to a close, the newly reunified house looks towards the dawn of a new Gallic era.

[743 AGS] The Government wants to silence you!

BRUNOY -- 743 AGS -- Bonjour mes amis! I have interrupted this broadcast to bring you a special news bulletin that our government doesn't want you to know about! Did you know the former Council is backing the Hessians to block our trade to Rheinland? Oui oui! I saw it with my own deux eyes! A battleship entered the Aveyron Nebula just last Tuesday! What more evidence do you need?

Meanwhile the Royal Enclave has snuck the king back into power, ruling from the shadows with eyes glowing purple! He is possessed I tell you! And not only that, but the entire government is corrupt! "Reformation" Hah. You all better all be prepared my brothers and sisters, the worst is yet to come! We have to protect our loved ones!

Whatever you do, don't drink the wine from New Paris. They have laced it with microchips they will use to control your body. A little cooperation project of our 'beloved' government and Technocracy!

I hope you all enjoyed my little segment of truth, until we meet again!

Mak. E.

[743 AGS] Gallia Reunited?

NEW PARIS -- 743 AGS -- After having come to the peoples aid on more than one occasion during the Kusari invasion of Gallia, the Enclave has been officially recognized and accepted as part of our government.

The acceptance and incorporation of the Royal Enclave comes amid sweeping changes in our governmental body to a military structure to ensure swifter and more capable responses should such a cowardly invasion occur again.

Many fear the incorporation of the Enclave will lead to the Sirian Houses recognizing Kusari's claims of Gallia still having and utilizing weapons of mass destruction like the Warwolves used during the Glassing of Leeds, though rumors have already started to spread that the dismantling of these weapons is a concession the Royal Enclave has agreed to do.

As one of the first acts of the new government, a controversial peace treaty has been signed with Kusari, giving the invading House rights to Tau-53 and mining rights to Tau-23. While some voice discontent with this agreement, the government has pointed out that the war has led to an increase in criminal activity in Gallia that requires immediate attention to control.

One government official was cited saying "We have done well for centuries on our own, if Kusari wants to burn bridges with this agreement we will simply focus on our own development and our relations with Rheinland instead."

[743 AGS] Upheavals within the Gallic Assembly

MARSEILLE -- 743 AGS -- For several weeks, tensions have been rising between the Duchy and Minarchist deputies. Both states are being confronted with the Kusari invaders; and every state has been asking for more resources to be allocated to their own front lines. The Duchy has been particularly expressive in their requests as the Kusari Forces have captured Lorraine, and are currently executing a bloody siege on Nevers. Meanwhile the République has been trying to monitor the two rivaling states, and the military has been tasked with coordinating their strategic plan with the assistance of the Parisian Assembly.

The situation was not resolved with the Minarchy supporting a vote of no confidence in the current leadership; later causing the resignation of Jean Besson, the President of the Parisian Assembly, on the 15th of October. Elections to renew the Assembly were held on the same day of Jean Besson's resignation, and the results were revealed on the 18th of October.

To the surprise of many, the Militarists were victorious; with considerable support of the Defense Forces, and thanks to their alliance with moderates and independents within the other parties. The new President of the Assembly, Dorian Lasalle made a short but resolute announcement after his nomination to President, the most important role in the Assembly: "My new government and I will immediately start to solve the internal affairs and a solution with the conflict against Kusari will soon be found. Then, a new era for Gallia will rise."

Overall elections have opened many doors for the Militarists and closed some for divisionist representatives at the Parisian Assembly. The recent conflicts have shown an increase in unity among the states, confronted to their most difficult challenge since their creation in 742 A.G.S. The final seat count sets the Gallic Defense Guard Party (GDG) as the single largest party with 52 percent of the seats, followed by the Union for Tradition Party (UT) with 25 percent, the Democratic Federation of the Liberals Party (DFL) with 11 percent, the Gallic Commerce Guild (GCG) with 9 percent, and the Pacifists of Paris Party (PP) with only 3 percent of the seats.

The GDG, an authoritarian right leaning party of ex-officers from the Defense Forces, is arguably the biggest victor in these elections with their impressive 52 percent of the total seats available in the Assembly. The surprise and confusion is shared among all parties, but is overall explainable with the rapidly increasing popularity of militant views since the start of the invasion by the Kusari Empire.

Nevertheless, the rest of the deputies have accepted to collaborate with the GDG for the greater good of Gallia, solving the internal conflicts and finding a favorable outcome to the war with the Empire. Many citizens within every state have shown their hopes and concerns regarding the unexpected push of the GDG in the Assembly but President Lasalle reassured them saying "Every state will be listened to and we will work with all the parties for the greater good of Gallia".

[743 AGS] High treason prompts power change in the Enclave

BORDEAUX -- 743 AGS -- Director-Regent of the Gallic Royal Enclave, Renée Hennequin d'Avignon, was executed for treason against the people of Gallia. The information was confirmed yesterday by the Provisional Enclave Directorate, the new ruling body of the Gallic Enclave. The spokesperson of the Directorate, Julien de Lacroix, issued a statement in which the Director-Regent was charged with espionage and selling sensitive information on Enclave's defences to adversary for commercial benefit:

"Director-Regent betrayed the trust and duties bestowed upon him as the King's regent, this is the highest level of treason and the punishment is only death. The motive of such a heinous crime was greed, he simply sold us expecting to get enough money to escape and live luxurious life with enemies conspiring against the people he swore to protect. Luckily, our agents intercepted her data transmission and prevented the enemy from getting it, in doing so proving Director-Regent being guilty. He was executed by guillotine the very same day without trial for he deserved none."

The precedent of the highest ranking nobility betraying the army and the people casts shadows over the position of the nobility in the hierarchy of the Enclave in general. The fact that nobles have often schemed against the interest of the people continues to swing public opinion toward the military command that is already the de facto ruler of the Enclave. Seen as more predictable, reliable, and responsible for the survival of the Kingdom's remnants, the Royal Army remains the basis of the Enclave where every third man is a member of the Royal Army or Fleet. At this point, the factionalism of the nobility previously seen as an inalienable part of Gallic politics is beginning to be perceived as a liability to furthering national goals and ideas and the military leaders of the Enclave keeping in mind the survival of the nation can no longer close eyes on intrigues of selfish barons and counts.

The Provisional Directorate stepping up to become the ruling body of the Enclave, the nobility of Bordeaux is raising concerns that it is de facto a coup d'etat by the army that would stray the Enclave away from the traditions of Gallic Monarchy towards a simple junta.

Because of most high-ranking army officers being of noble blood themselves, the conflict is also seen as rivalry between civilian and military nobility. However, the army allows a talented commoner to rise in ranks and become on par or even surpass nobility based on one's merits while a civilian administration deprives commoners of such opportunity. This allowed the Provisional Directorate to get tremendous public support among the commoners of Bordeaux and the servicement of the Royal Army.

The Provisional Directorate pledged to carry out further investigation of possible traitors among the Enclave nobility and assured that the security of the Enclave and its population is the highest concern of the new ruling body. Saving Gallia from Kusari invasion, restoring stability, and fortification of Enclave's space were listed as the other policy milestones for the nearest future.

[743 AGS] Epinal Heroism

NEVERS -- 743 AGS -- The war against aggressive Kusarian invaders reached a new level of intensity with their forces now back into Languedoc, but with large reinforcements this time. The information has shocked the Gallic citizens, especially those in the Minarchy, who were hoping not to see further bloody battles in their system. Nevertheless, the saddest news comes with the sacrifice of the battleship Epinal in Burgundy. In one last heroic move, the battleship, already damaged during the earliest battles of the very first days of the conflict, saved Avallon from destruction after Kusarian battleship Ueda suddenly charged the station under a creeping barrage from the Kusari lines. To engage and halt the Ueda required the Epinal to press its reactors into overwhelming overload and while she was able to disable the Ueda and redirect her from ramming the station, she fell to the Matsumoto's long range guns.

The Capitaine of the Epinal, Martin Charbonneau managed to send a last message to its forces in the very last minutes of the intense confrontation: "My crew and I have retreated enough. We have the chance to stop them and we'll seize it. Epinal, your hour has come, it is time to show everyone how a true Gallic soldier fights for his house. May our sacrifice not be vain. Longue vie à Gallia!"

Epinal was an honorable veteran of the Second Gallic War, having participated in many battles against the former Council in Champagne and Lorraine, where she remained since, before the Kusari invasion. The crew was highly disciplined and experienced and its loss will be greatly felt in the weeks to come. However, the Duchy forces, far from being demoralized by this event, clearly express their intentions to avenge their fallen brothers. The Defense Forces leadership in Burgundy say the morale among the crews is very high not just thanks to the heroic action of Epinal, but also due to the express arrival of the newly constructed battleship Hossegor, along with her escort ship Vaxoncourt, which have absorbed former Epinal escort Les Vosges into their cohort. The good fortune didn't stop as the legendary Cassard and her battlegroup arrived from Languedoc to reinforce the front. Outnumbered almost two to one in this theater, it is expected that Kusari will suffer a crushing defeat in the days to come.

In response to the heroic actions of Epinal throughout the Second Kusari-Gallic War, the Grand Duke Valentin Trintignant asked the Chancellery of the Gallic Rewards and Values for the honor of being the person to posthumously award La Légion des Valeurs Gauloises to the Capitaine of the Epinal and her crew, one of the highest decoration in Gallia.

Nevertheless, despite the optimism of the Defense Forces in Burgundy, the situation is worsening in Languedoc and the Parisian Assembly has refused to comment on the new offensive of Kusari in this sector for the moment. According to some deputies, the Assembly has been facing internal legitimacy issues since the recent redeployment of forces, with major factions losing confidence that the Assembly is willing to defend them.

[743 AGS] Confederate Defense Forces Make Gains in Languedoc

FOURCHAMBAULT SHIPYARD -- 743 AGS -- With the arrival of the Cassard fleet, redeployed from Gallia's Rheinland border in Zurich, CDF Admiral Armelle De Verley proudly reports driving the invaders in Languedoc beyond reach of Gap Station. The Admiral suggests that through the honor and bravery of her forces and the resolute support of the Gallic people that the defenders of Languedoc were able to inflict two to one losses on the Kusari fleet. The admiral's staff expects that breaking the advance at Gap station, though expensive, ought be instrumental in driving the Kusari Navy back to Tau, and are sure that relieving Zurich of Cassard is a weakness that Gallia can weather for the time being.

Fourchambalt's hospital and morgue have both been expanded, as the long job of rescue, cleanup, and last rites for the dead will be administered from the station. Despite the losses, seeing Tokogawas retreat before them has raised the morale of the men and women of the Confederal Defense Force. So many gifts of flowers, chocolates, and other sweet and savory favors have arrived for the wounded fleet personnel being treated in the expanded sickbay with gifts of that station administration has been forced to open cargo-freight bays to contain the gifts of well wishers.

[743 AGS] Confederal leaders speak out

NEW PARIS -- 743 AGS -- Following the surprise attack launched by the Kusari State against Gallia, the leaders of the Confederation have each released a public statement about the state of war.

President Orianne Castaignède of the Republic condemned the attack on the Duchy and the Minarchy, expressing that such a move in search of justice is a disgrace to the idea of justice. Going as far as stating that 'concerns over those responsible for the war should have been brought to them directly'; not 'Lashing out with past grievances'.

The Grand Duke of Burgundy, Valentin Trintignant, has declared his commitment to the total repulsion of the Kusari fleet, saying; "This attack is completely unprovoked, and misguided. The Kusari state should be ashamed of themselves - The forces of the Duchy will crush these invaders and the Kusari vandals will be brought to justice!"

The leaders of the Minarchy also came out to condemn the actions of Kusari. Stating that the attack on their territory is unwarranted and besides the stated goal. One prominent member, Patron Mathéo Dufresne commented with "[swearing] - What did we do?" when asked for his thoughts on the war.

The reaction among the general population of New Paris has been of shock and bewilderment. Many of those interviewed had believed we were past conflicts with Sirius, and many curse the aggression. The most common responses followed themes of colourful patriotic pan-gallic support, while other sizable portions of the population are still worried that La Vieille Garde are being deployed too far from home.

Lionel Balzac, a prominent politician on New Paris, has came out to assure the confederacy that there 'are no plans to withdraw the La Vieille Garde from the front-lines' as they continue to mount a united defence against the Kusari invaders. Going as far to express 'total commitment for the good of Gallia' in his public address. Since the institution of the Confederacy, Lionel Balzac has been seen as one of the guiding voices of Ile-De-France, and his support had reassured many across the sector.

[743 AGS] Alarm raised in Zurich

OERLIKON OBSERVATORY -- 743 AGS -- The Gallic Confederation has reacted with alarm at the unfolding events in Rheinland. The First Rheinland Republic has fallen to a violent coup, resulting in the creation of a new Empire. The 'Zurich Corridor' linking Gallia and Rheinland had been intended to open a new avenue for trade and investment across southern Gallia, transforming the Zurich system into a highly profitable trade artery. Rheinland's collapse into civil war has come at an extremely inopportune time, mere days after the successful completion of the Zurich gate and lane projects.

The Confederal Government has so far remained divided on the "Rheinland Question", with the exception of authorising the deployment of the La Fierte battlegroup to the border. This decision appears to have been prudent, with reports circulating on Oerlikon that a large Rheinland engine plume was detected on a heading towards the Valais Cloud. So far Confederal Defence Force representatives have remained tight lipped about the possibility of a Rheinland battlegroup seeking refuge in the system.

Despite the political gridlock between Republican, Duchy and Minarchy representatives, the Defence Force has received authorisation to deploy into the Cologne system in order to secure Gallic assets. Intelligence reports have confirmed that the group known as the Red Hessians has attempted to assert control over the system, and infiltrate Zurich. A public warning has been posted advising that 'Hessians' approaching the Zurich jump gate will be fired upon.

[742 AGS] Second Gallic War has Ended!

NEW PARIS -- 742 AGS -- The Second Gallic War ended in a ceasefire last Saturday, as Royalist forces under command of Rear Admiral Bastien Savatier de Fontenoy received the order to surrender from the Grand Duchy of Burgundy, a royalist secessionist polity formed in a state of emergency by the Duke of Burgundy.

In the absence of the King or any heirs, Valentin Trintignant, Duke of Burgundy, gathered the support of the nobility of Burgundy, the Marquise de Vandoevres and Marquis de Roanne in Lorraine, while offering the Vicomptesse Allos de Metz, Grande Maitresse de l'Office Royal des Eaux et Forets the financial support needed to continue their terraforming operation in Lorraine. The Duke initiated talks last week to discuss the glassing of Leeds and the Crown's imminent defeat at the hands of Allied forces in Bretonia. Only minutes after the Council's Fleet moved on Planet New Paris, Trintignant declared himself Grand Duke of The Grand Duchy of Burgundy and authorized the surrender of the Royal Navy. His haste in calling for a ceasefire likely saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Gallic citizens threatened by collateral damage from battle over Planet New Paris. While most Royalist ships in Gallia's core systems recognized and surrendered to the authority of the Duchy, Admiral Savatier did not, and slipped the Rocroi away from the site of the battle in the confusion. Battleship Rocroi and her cohort remain at large, but have not been seen or heard from since the battle.

The Council reciprocated not only the ceasefire but also with the formation of a new governing body. The systems of Champagne, Picardy, and Orleanais declared their independence as the Republique of Gallia, a decision which appears to have been in the works for some time. Unlike the ad hoc vassalage of the Duchy, the Republique presented itself with a fully fledged constitution and complete governing body, led by President Orianne Castaignède, the former Governor of Marne.

The systems of Languedoc and Languedoc both formed provisional governments following the fall of the Monarchy, however both declined invitations to join the Republique. This decision could be linked to the significant losses both systems incurred on account of the Council's direct and indirect interference during the Second Gallic War. Officials from Gap and Quillan are rumored be engaged in preliminary talks with the Minarchy of Provence, who have extended offers of free trade and protection to the two war torn systems, which seem reluctant to view both the Duchy and Republique as having the best interests of the historically poor region in mind.

Ile de France, possessing no noteworthy standing military of its own following the mass exodus of nobles to the Gallic Hebrides, has declared itself a neutral, autonomous territory. This decision was grudgingly accepted by the Republique, aware of its low reputation among Parisians owing to decades of royal propaganda. Such a move was seen as the best way to demonstrate the fall of the Monarchy and secure the former seat of royal power without bloodshed. In response political instability after the Exodus of the King, the Acting Viceroy of Ile de France, a former low ranking regional official who now speaks for the political associations on New Paris, has called for the Republique, Duchy, and Minarchy to send diplomatic representatives to the negotiating table, where it seems the future of Gallia will be decided in the weeks to come.

[742 AGS] Grim Times for the Gallic Crown

NEW PARIS -- 742 AGS -- The situation in the Core Worlds has grown increasingly dire, as a large fleet of Council warships has been spotted amassing near the Orleanais Jump Gate in Ile de France this morning. The insurgents have been quick to capitalize on the Crayterian victory in the Barrier last week, seizing Planet Amiens and rallying with forces from Provence at the edge of the Chevreuse field.

News from the Bretonian front is not much better. The fighting over New London remains fierce, and though the Bretonian blockade of the planet has been breached and preparations are underway to deploy Triumphs into New London's atmosphere, reports indicate the battle damaged or destroyed over 60%% of the material of those fleets and that the death toll is in the tens of thousands.

Front line forces are unable to retreat without risking total defeat at the hands of the Sirians. The Epinal, Rocroi, and Venissieux have been recalled to New Paris, but odds appear grim, and military analysts have thus far declined to comment on whether or not the ad hoc defense will be able to defend the capital. En masse evacuation from the Core Worlds has begun, with standing orders from the Crown for all loyal citizens to proceed to Bordeaux and Toulouse post-haste, where they will be provided for.

A GRI asset who asked that we did not disclose their identity has claimed that the King's transport, flying under civilian flag, came under fire from Maquis terrorists while en route to the Brittany jump corridor. Though the transport survived the attack, King Charles is allegedly comatose. Our source could not provide any further comment on the state of the King or who was heading the state in the absence of a monarch.

[742 AGS] Crown Formalizes Claims III

ROUSSILLON -- 742 AGS -- The bounty of the Hebrides came at a cost however, as Council terrorists in Roussillon fought fiercely to prevent the Crown from seizing the opulent region for the prosperity of the Gallic people. Perpignan, a large spaceport located at one of Toulouse's Lagrange points, purported housed a large population of noncombatants. The station, which could have served as a major trade hub in the central Hebrides, was destroyed in the fighting as Council militants who occupied the base refused to surrender, resulting in unnecessary loss of life.

The situation was the same on a similar yet greater scale on Planet Toulouse itself. The planet, which possesses an atmosphere disagreeable to the human lung, was dependent upon great domed cities for habitation, and vast fields of atmospheric scrubbers which Crown scientists project would have cleared the atmosphere of its irritants fully within the next several years. Nuclear warheads were smuggled onto the planet's surface as the Montmorency, which spearheaded the assault, was occupied at Perpignan, and detonated at every city and scrubber field, as well as at both of the planet's polar ice caps, releasing many tons of greenhouse gases and causing sea levels to rise significantly.

Despite these setbacks, EFL has expressed confidence that Toulouse can still be terraformed, and in time will serve as a new home for the Crown's people. Plans are already underway to commence repairs on the planet's docking ring so that cleanup crews can begin preparing the planet for eventual colonization. The Montmorency has been stationed in orbit of Toulouse, and now presides over Roussillon to ensure security throughout the Gallic Hebrides for the posterity of Gallia for years to come.

[742 AGS] Crown Formalizes Claims II

BRITTANY -- 742 AGS -- The Brittany system, best known as a military stronghold and beachhead into Sirius, was also brought under the Crown's administration. Once known informally as Tunisie by the military, the system's provisional control has been a point of jovial contention within the ranks of the Royal Navy's admiralty. Nestled between the Barrier and the Hebrides, command authority of the system was occasionally called into question. The King's declaration put an end to this light hearted feud, renaming the system and placing it decisively within the newly formed Hebrides administrative region of Gallia.

Despite the strong military presence, Brittany still sees Brigand and Outcast raiders skulking the peripheries of the system, and the Royal Police have warned against traveling outside of the designated patrol zones until the Brittany can be brought under more thorough local control. Though lacking any habitable worlds, the system is replete with dense mineral rich asteroid fields containing Cobalt, Molybdenum, and other valuable resources. GMS and EFL have already staked claims upon several sites within the system, undeterred by local pirate activity. Analysts say that once industry in the system enters full swing, Brittany could generate thousands of new job opportunities for citizens of the Crown.

[742 AGS] New Weapon Against Bretonian Resistance

CALAIS -- 742 AGS -- The Agincourt System has been under full control of our navy for nearly six years. Nevertheless, small pockets of Bretonian resistance still remain dug into deep mining tunnels and bunkers, eager to use any opportunity to disturb the order which the royal army is tasked to maintain. The military research and development team of Calais has agreed to provide us with some insight in the, very literally said, groundbreaking weapon which should finally put an end to Bretonian resistance, no matter how deeply dug in. It is the "Triumph"-class, the newest addition to the Royal Navy. The state-of-the-art design carries a minified version of the "Warwolf" cannon amidships on the bottom of the hull and is the only capital ship known to man that is capable of atmospheric flight below 5000 meters, thanks to its eight horizontal thrusters. Although unmatched, our Valors would be defeated by Admiral Nature in such a task, as the magnetosphere greatly disperses the effect of their mighty forward cannons. The Triumph is able to fly past the magnetosphere, and thus exert its full firepower on the ground.

Royal military analysts predict that the Bretonian resistance will surrender as soon as they witness this weapon in use, but even if they do not, their neutralization will be ensured promptly.


Rumors

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