Kensington Shipping Platform

Kensington Shipping Platform

File:Br01 07 base.png

Owner

Gateway Shipping

Location

F/E-4, New London

CLASS: Izzard

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 480

Constructed in 672 AS, Kensington Shipping Platform was the fruit of Gateway's relative success in the past two centuries. Rising from relative obscurity, Gateway Shipping has shown itself to be a strong competitor to Border Worlds Exports.

Though they may not hold major contracts with Bretonian giants such as BMM and Border Worlds Exports, Gateway Shipping has had great breakthroughs with upstart corporations such as the Independent Mining Guild, Planetform, ALG Waste Disposal, and several other small firms that produce domestic products within Bretonia who were scorned from their respective businesses by BMM and BowEx. By filling niche markets, Gateway has found its place in the Bretonian market, a place large enough to actively compete with BowEx, though the former giant still holds the majority of market share.

With the advance of the Royal Navy into the heart of Bretonia, New London, Kensington sustained damage during raids. However, following the end of hostilities, Gateway has found new opportunities within Bretonia owing to the construction of the nearby Belvedere Refinery, made possible in part in thanks to Gateway lobbying of the Bretonian governement that ALG was the best fit for the job, ignoring recent issues with the Rheinland corporation. With the facility operational, Gateway business in New London is experiencing a much needed boom after some very difficult years. Despite this improvement of the business environment, refugee issues Bretonia is facing in the wake of Leeds and the danger of the route to Kusari remains a concern for the shipping corporation.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

Bretonia Police Gateway Shipping Planetform, Inc. Independent Miners Guild Bounty Hunters Guild Universal Shipping

Missions

Bretonia Police Gateway Shipping

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price H-Fuel 166$ Pharmaceuticals 16$ Xenobiotic Filters 47$ Passengers (Bretonia) 231$

Exports

Commodity Price Deployable Mining Container 50,000$ Robotics 21$ Gin 24$ Nanotubes 39$ Crew 283$ Oxygen 4$ Water 4$ Food Rations 12$ MOX 13$ Basic Alloy 9$ Super Alloy 20$ Superconductors 40$ Construction Machinery 32$ Consumer Goods 14$ Nanocapacitors 39$ Industrial Materials 20$ Tea 17$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price
Bretonia Transport	Transport	126,006$
Bretonia Heavy Transport	Heavy Transport	1,006,006$
Bretonia Train	Super Train	1,506,006$

News

[833 AS] Admiral Found Guilty Over Dublin Disaster

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

[833 AS] Cambridge on the Line

NORFOLK -- 833 AS -- The number of recorded Corsair incursions across the Cambridge system has increased by 193%% in the last 3 years, as stated in the latest reports from the Battleship Norfolk. According to the ship's ranking officer, who described this apparent eruption of pirate activity as "alarming", that while presenting its obvious challenges, this figure is a success of the Armed Forces's efforts in detecting and reacting to attacks. Captain Edwards went on to explain that "you can't respond to the Corsair you don't know is there. Our proactive approach, supported by the sensory and defensive capabilities of the Cambridge Line, ensures we know when and where to deploy our resources for maximum effect. In addition, this detailed reporting has prompted command to strengthen the BAF garrison in the system, with forces due to be redeployed from elsewhere to assist in dealing with this increased threat." Jane Gilliam, whose commendation for repelling a Corsair raiding party as an Armed Forces Captain featured in a CNS article in 800, was not so convinced. "We all knew even back then that The Line wasn't fit for purpose. The Heilbronn disaster should have seen it scrapped, but the Regents on Cambridge didn't want New London looking too closely and pressured the Norfolk to lobby to keep it. If William was still with us, he'd say the same." The exact catalyst for the extra attention from the edge world pirates is unclear, with various commentators speculating on increased resistance to their operations in Rheinland, Hessian efforts in the deep Omegas, or a shift in their internal politics. Regardless of their true motivations, Interspace Commerce has recognised the elevated peril and adjusted its premiums in response.

[832 AS] Cardamine Withdrawal Epidemic!

MANHATTAN -- 832 AS -- Reports of Cardamine withdrawal-related hospitalizations have surged to unprecedented levels, with a specific hospital on Planet Manhattan recording a staggering 450%% increase compared to the previous year. A growing number of addicts are seeking emergency medical care, apparently unable to obtain their regular dose of the highly addictive drug. Symptoms of withdrawal rapidly progress into severe sickness, pushing many of these individuals into critical condition. While this troubling trend is observed throughout the Sirius colonies, Liberty is bearing the brunt of the crisis among the four major Houses. Remarkably, even Rheinland, where historical data indicated low Cardamine consumption, has witnessed a notable rise in medical cases linked to the illicit narcotic. Experts postulate that the extensive black market responsible for Cardamine distribution might be facing a shortage, or worse, that Outcast factions deliberately curtail the supply to bolster demand. Regrettably, no law enforcement agency has been available for comment on these concerns. The long-standing debate over Cardamine's controversial nature, juxtaposing its euphoric and purported medicinal qualities with the genetic alterations it inflicts upon long-term users, continues to echo. A key point of contention revolves around the plight of innocent consumers caught in this crisis. Yet, according to independent polls, a substantial majority of our viewers maintains that the substance must remain banned. In response to this escalating crisis, Cryer Pharmaceuticals has announced a forthcoming press conference. During the event, the company intends to unveil plans for an expanded production of Stabiline, their touted "wonder drug". This announcement promises affordable access to Stabiline for all patients grappling with Cardamine withdrawal, sparking a remarkable 15%% surge in Cryer Pharmaceuticals' stock following the revelation.

[831 AS/747 AGS] Gate Corps Clash Over 'Blackout'!

ABBEVILLE -- 831 AS/747 AGS -- EFL's 'Resilience Taskforce' today reported its findings on The Blackout, claiming to have gathered forensic evidence that proved the cause as Ageira negligence. A spokesperson claimed that the destruction of the Dublin jump gate by Molly separatists had created a hyperspace feedback loop that was propagated and amplified through the Ageira gate network. Ageira disputed this finding in their own press release, calling EFL 'fantasists' and countering that their own scientists had narrowed the cause to a rare 'hypernova' stellar event that originated outside the Sirius sector. Both corporations claim that network-wide hardware safeguards have been implemented that would prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Independent researchers have sharply criticized the corporate announcements, accusing both of self-interested misdirection. Professor Sophia Nagel from Heisenberg Research Station called EFL's accusation 'incoherent' and the hypernova explanation 'nonsense' that did not explain the characteristics of the 'Blackout Pulse'. Despite multiple different Pulse recordings being widely disseminated across the neural net, public efforts have so far failed to triangulate its source.

[831 AS] Bretonia Announces Poole Draw-Down

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

[831 AS] Bretonian Focus Turns on Mollys

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

[831 AS] Bretonia Withdraws From Dublin System

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

[831 AS/747 AGS] 'Blackout' Causes Jump Network Fail

MANHATTAN -- 831 AS/747 AGS -- Two days ago Jump Gates failed simultaneously across Sirius, freezing commerce and neural net access across the sector. When the network resumed 31 hours later, restored communications broke the news of Bretonia's loss of the Dublin system. This twin shock has plunged the market into chaos, prompting fears of sector-wide economic recessions. Interspace estimates indicate that the stoppage alone caused billions of credits in losses. Gallia immediately accused Liberty of culpability for the outage, claiming the destruction of Dublin's jump gate instigated a cascading failure in faulty Ageira infrastructure. Ageira has sharply refuted the allegation, claiming such a systemic effect would be physically impossible. Independent researchers in Cologne and the Edge Worlds have also announced that a hyperspace pulse of unprecedented strength was detected moments before The Blackout, with data about 'The Pulse' being widely shared across the neural net in recent days. House authorities have remained tight lipped, refusing to comment on their own observatories' data.

[831 AS] Cost of Rebuilding too High?

NEW LONDON -- 831 AS -- It is a surprise to few that Bretonia has, and continues to face, a difficult and lengthy recovery process following the conclusion of the Gallic War. The Bretonian people have generally come to accept this, and quietly pledged to come together and struggle on, in search of the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Public opinion now seems to be shifting. While Bretonia is indeed witnessing an extraordinarily high rate of economic growth in particular, it may be the case that the strain of this effort is becoming untenable, and potentially the rewards misplaced. Timothy Ball, of the independent think tank Economic Review Institute, believes this may indeed be the case. "Bretonia's economy is definitely on the rise. While still not at pre-war levels, and not expected to be for some years, the recovery we've witnessed so far has been uneven", he says. "The reconstruction of damaged and destroyed public infrastructure is underway, but seems to be lagging behind the rate of recovery being enjoyed by several major corporations. This can be explained by various factors for a time, but unless rectified, at some point this inequality could become a major point of domestic political contention."

[829 AS] Marauding in Manchester

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

Rumors

Gateway Shipping

Gateway handles the supply of most IMG bases in and around Bretonia. We also handle cargo runs from various ALG bases which Republican refuses to do. Republican and Daumann have attempted to keep ALG in a stranglehold, much in the same way that Bowex and BMM tried to keep the IMG in a stranglehold. Now that the three of us are cooperating, that practise no longer works. Our two big cargos for long-range runs to Liberty are Beryllium and Gold. That Gold attracts a lot of attention, especially in the Independent Worlds, although the Corsairs have begun to hit us just outside the base here. Luckily the Police Authority always has a few patrols close by. One of the key aims of our partnership with IMG is to get along with as many of the criminal factions as we can, thereby lowering our operating costs in the Border Worlds, which will comprise the bulk of future mineral discoveries in the sector. BMM and Bowex take a much harder line, which hurts them with factions like the Mollys and Red Hessians. I tried my hand at smuggling recently, heading up through Newcastle to try and sneak through to Tau-31. My little freighter was spotted instantly, and I had to make a run for it back through the Newcastle jump hole. Those Gallic pilots have got far more agile ships then the Mollys and Outcasts ever did. Kensington distributes Consumer Goods throughout Bretonia. Planets, space stations, depots, wherever there is a Bretonian, you'll find us supplying him or her with the finest little necessities of life. It isn't as lucrative as Luxuary Goods, but you're not as attractive a target for pirates either. Gateway and the IMG are partners. We haul their minerals and supplies to distant markets. ALG has recently joined our partnership, enabling us to expand into Rheinland and take on the Daumann-Republican monopoly, which is eerily similar to our own BMM-Bowex road block. None of them are too happy with our competition. Bowex is far too reliant on their government contracts. They have forgotten how to be efficient, and that will be their downfall. Gateway doesn't rely on bribes and other dirty tricks. We simply outperform those fossils. Gateway delivers goods throughout Sirius. It is ironic that we're most restricted in our own home, Bretonia. BMM prefers to deal with Bowex, as do most of the government organisation. The Police Authority is more pragmatic however, and have begun a trial with us to see how we work. This is Gateway's home base and hub for our shipping operations throughout the Sirius Sector. Bowex made sure that we couldn't use London itself as our base. We've adapted okay. It's actually a little more centrally located - transports coming from Liberty always pass by Kensington if they do business in New London or Cambridge. Silver is brought in from the IMG base in Omega-7, Freistadt. Then we ship it out to New London and the terraforming folks. Silver is used in cloudseeding, electronics and jewelry making, so there are a lot of places with a demand for it. I used to haul H-fuel from the Hokkaido system, but now that Leeds is blockaded, I'm trying to find decent routes into Rheinland and Liberty. Although our corporation can go into Kusari again, it's a long haul to go around the Taus to get there. We'd like to get more involved in the Luxury Goods and Food trade, but Bowex has a lock on that. Its exclusive military and police supply contracts are the worst because they make the Bretonian government pay through the nose. That's what you get with centuries of no competition. The Police Authority wizened up and has started to use us for their operations in Poole. Once we show the government how efficient we are, I reckon not even those Bowex lobbyists will be able to hold us at bay.

Bretonia Police

We were asked to provide supplementary security for this group of bases following the sharp increase in Corsair and Gaian activity around here. We've had direct attacks from the Somerset Field seven times in recent weeks. It got pretty bloody, but the Bounty Hunters have wizened up and have a few ships waiting on Canterbury. The Gaians aren't really active south of the Devon Field. They're more of a northern Bretonian problem. I've never seen them in Cambridge, which is kind of ironic since that's where most of them originally came from, but with BMM moving into the system, that's bound to change. I alternately patrol the two eastern Trade Lanes that originate here, but I dread the Cambridge Jump Gate run the most. I start getting the shakes a good hour before heading out on those days. I signed up for police duty, not military work. The Corsairs rival the military in tactics and skill. Corsairs in New London, Mollys in Dublin, Gaians in Edinburgh, Gallia in Leeds. Oh, and Outcasts in Newcastle. Those that say space is dangerous got it right. But that's why the police is there, to keep the civilians safe. I almost caught me a Corsair smuggler crossing the Manchester Trade Lane the other day. Saw him scurry across in front of us. We pursued him, but lost him in the fields. The Corsairs mostly ship Artifacts, which wouldn't be a business model if those idiot aristocrats back in London would stop buying them. The Gaians are always putting out probing attacks on this area to check for a lull in our patrols. Occasionally we give them one, then launch two squadrons from Canterbury and Kensington to overwhelm them. It is our hope a few ambushes like that will deter them from coming here.

Independent Miners Guild

The Gold run from the Hood used to be a cake walk back when the Mollys weren't really our enemies. That all changed when the Corsairs came to town. Corsairs have been hurting our operation pretty badly. We lost two Gold shipments in a row last month. If we spot the Mollys and Corsairs going at it, we usually help the Mollys out if we can. I'm based in Cambridge most of the time, where Beryllium at Cardiff is mined - I've just shipped a load of it here. Cardiff was the founding operation of the IMG, and it's been going ever since it was established. We usually pick up our Mining Machinery here for the return trip. We're just stopping by to pick up basic supplies for the Hood in Dublin. We usually get Food, Water, Oxygen, Pharmaceuticals, and such. There are lots of miners to support out there. We handle those supply runs ourselves - saves the Gateway boys the need to cross into Dublin. The Mollys and Corsairs run a lot of ambushes in Dublin. Some of our pilots are more used to that kind of Borderworld-ish nature.

Planetform, Inc.

Seems like these Gateway people have a much easier time with the criminal element than we do, except, of course, with the Corsairs and Outcasts. Nobody gets close with them, at least not on the legitimate side of the coin. We get our basic supplies and Silver from Kensington. Our headquarters, Canterbury, also orbits Dover. Pretty quiet over there - feels more like a real HQ than this. This is more of a trade hub. I enjoy sitting in the bar here when offduty, and listen to some of the stories various pilots have. You learn a lot about Sirius by listening. Those Gaians had the gall to attack this base the other day. I guess they were going for storage depots. Too many police and Bounty Hunters around. They chased them off pretty quick. A few Corsairs approached as the Hunters were mopping up, but decided againt attacking when their sensors picked up the two police patrols. Guess even they have their limits.

NOTE: Page generated on the 17/11/2023 at 17:48:44 UTC