Tennstedt Base

Tennstedt Base

File:Rh08 02 base.png

Owner

Bundschuh

Location

B-5, Thuringia

CLASS: Rosch

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 230

The Bundschuh have long been concerned by the MND's work within Thuringia, amid persistent rumors of torture, human experiments and research on dangerous alien technologies. This concern would peak with the unexplained explosion of Planet Gotha in 820 AS and the spike of Wild activity in 823 AS. Tennsdedt was excavated in the Gotha Fragment Field shortly after, with significant financial and material support from The Order. The Bundschuh and The Order would cooperate on investigations into the Gotha Incident and intelligence gathering about the MND’s activities. The station’s hazardous and isolated location also made it an ideal temporary hiding spot for wanted Rheinland dissidents.

The Bundschuh and MND would strike an uneasy accord during the Civil War, as both were equally opposed to the restoration of a monarchist Imperial Rheinland. Tennsdedt would be expanded during this period, with the base offering a safe port and reprieve for Bundschuh pilots who had been fighting in New Berlin and Frankfurt. In the aftermath of the war, the Bundschuh continued to host Order patrols in Thuringia, and resumed direct combat operations against the MND following the collapse of the armistice agreement in 832 AS. Currently the Bundschuh are investigating the increasingly alarming energy readings emanating from Planet Gotha, and the spiralling situation in the Suhl Anomaly.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

Bundschuh Junkers Red Hessians Unioners

Missions

Bundschuh

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price Robotics 32$ Ablative Armor Plating 58$ Hessian Tears 124$ Criminal Cells (Rheinland) 14,853$ Energy Field Equipment 50$ Medical Equipment 53$ Molybdenum 144$ Detroit Light Arms 121$ Solar Panels 65$ Vodka 43$ Military Surplus 1,451$ Black Market Pharmaceuticals 179$ Slog 192$ Abductees 855$ Hybrid Equipment 2,107$ Counterfeit Computerware 205$ Gold 217$ Wildcat Gold 256$ Silver 124$ Niobium 192$ Copper 200$ Oxygen 18$ Water 18$ Diamonds 88$ Food Rations 34$ H-Fuel 60$ MOX 39$ Basic Alloy 30$ Mining Machinery 30$ Construction Machinery 31$ Hull Panels 49$ Optronics 77$ Consumer Goods 34$ Engine Components 58$ Daumann Side Arms 60$ Gallic Enfer Blasters 125$ Black Market Blasters 175$ Black Market Light Arms 138$ Azurite Gas 185$ Xeno Relics 191$ Volgograd Ordinance 168$ Black Market Augments 125$ Iridium 189$ Platinum 223$ Synth Paste 24$ Aluminium 85$ Industrial Materials 29$ Munitions 33$ Xenobiotic Filters 44$

Exports

Commodity Price Deployable Mining Container 50,000$ Black Market Munitions 119$ Casualties 37,805$ Rheinbier 41$ Pharmaceuticals 53$ Kemwer Technologies 243$ Passenger Cabin (Rheinland) 24,593$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price
Raven's Talon	Very Heavy Fighter	26,879$
Waran	Bomber	69,116$
Poltergeist	Bomber	47,987$

News

[834 AS] A bad breakup?

DARMSTADT -- 834 -- It appears the LWB and Farmers Alliance have gone their separate ways, on very bad terms. Witnesses report seeing fighting between LWB and FA squadrons, and the FA resultingly retreating from Rheinland space. The FA’s expansion into Rheinland alienated many of the LWB’s traditional allies, most notably the Red Hessians. The Hessians for their part appear to have moved quickly to fill the vacuum the Alliance left behind, approaching LWB commanders with offers of weapons and technical support in exchange for the LWB supplementing their supply lines in west Rheinland. LWB pilot Arthur Saebel noted, “we've done what's best for our people.“

[834 AS] Seeds of discontent sprouting in Stuttgart?

STUTTGART -- 834 -- The LWB collapsed a decade ago, only knitting itself back together with support from Kusari's Farmer’s Alliance. While the LWB were initially grateful for these foreign patrons, discontent appears to be growing. The FA imposed its own officers on the LWB, and has been calling the shots since. One anonymous LWB pilot bitterly complained that the FA “only care about stopping Synth exports to Kusari”, with Rheinland farmers a distant afterthought. This tension has come to the forefront after Kusari commanders prohibited the LWB from targeting Gallic food imports. While the competition has damaged Synth Foods, it has also driven Stuttgart’s remaining independent farmers to breaking point.

[834 AS] Imperial Shipping culpable for Hamburg Blast

TENNSTEDT BASE -- 834 -- Bundschuh agents have obtained caches of academic correspondence, research notes and cargo invoices dating back to at least 824 AS. Imperial Shipping funded Scientists to carry out illegal research into Artifacts and Xeno Relics, in a foolish attempt to reverse-engineer technologies that could upend the balance of power in Sirius. This blind pursuit of profit has backfired with fatal consequences for the people of Hamburg. What remains unclear is how the Blast is linked to the simultaneous explosion of the Battleship Kolleda, and the weapon the MND had been meddling with. We will continue to investigate alongside our partners in The Order.

[832 AS] Bundschuh avenge Bautzen murders

NEW BERLIN -- 832 -- After the brutality of the Civil War, we embraced peace and -- despite severe misgivings -- the chance to steer the new state through political discourse. Despite this, promised democratic reforms failed to arrive, while officials turned a blind eye to violence inflicted on our candidates. The final straw came with the invasion of Dresden and the cold blooded murder of Bautzen Station’s crew by the Strausberg fleet. We have now ended the life of the treacherous Admiral Schmid, however it is clear that this state cannot be reasoned or cooperated with in good faith. The Federal Empire combines the worst impulses of the Republic with the incestuous corruption of the Old Empire. One solution remains: wipe it away and start anew.

[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.

[828 AS] Cologne Aftermath

COLOGNE – 828 AS – The siege of Planet Saarbrucken proved that the reunited might of Rheinland is a force to be reckoned with; the Hessians have largely vacated the system. In preparation for the assault, the miners turned pirate had weaponized the nearby Tholey Station to slow down the advance of the military. In order to bring a swift end to the fighting with minimal casualties the commanding officer ordered the station be neutralized rather than boarded, resulting in its destruction. Despite the success of the Military, it seems the Hessians flagship; Battleship Kassel, has managed to escape virtually unscathed. Rumors on Heisenberg Research Station speak of Hessian prisoners taken by Corsairs and Unioners alike. It's no secret there is a lot of bad blood between these groups and the Hessians and this reporter shudders to think of what fate awaits those poor deluded criminals.

[828 AS] Hessians Flee Under Rheinlands Might!

COLOGNE – 828 AS – Under pressure from both the emperor and elected officials for a quick and decisive resolution to the ongoing Cologne crisis, the Rheinland Ministerium of Defence ordered the Altenburg battlegroup to advance onto the Red Hessian position at Planet Saarbrucken. The Red Hessians recently received additional reinforcements as it became clear the former miners planned to dig-in and would need to be uprooted from their position. The Siege of Saarbrucken is currently underway and it has been reported that the Red Hessians have begun evacuating from the area. It is speculated however that the Red Hessians intend to make the Rheinland military suffer for every meter they take. The Rheinland Military has offered a reward for any Red Hessians that are caught fleeing from the siege. The military has also advised caution as they have reported several other pirate groups in the area, with some claiming these groups are striking out at the Hessians. This reporter cannot help but think this situation goes to show, that there is no honour among thieves.

[812 AS] Rheinland warns about “Wild” attacks

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

[808 AS] Hamburg University restricts research access

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

[806 AS] MND director dismissed

NEW BERLIN -- 806 -- Anonymous government sources allege Director Von Claussen of the MND has been dismissed over an unspecified "fatal conflict of interest". The decorated war hero was appointed as the fledgling agency's first leader and given a mandate to purge Rheinland of the traitors who facilitated the Colony Wars. It is believed that this work led to a severe breakdown in relations with the Rheinland Military, who bore the brunt of the resulting purges. The Rheinland government have refused to comment on the situation; Director Von Claussen himself was unavailable for comment.

[808 AS] Successful strike eliminates Nomad parasite

BRUSCHAL -- 808 -- Our friends in The Order again provided intelligence about a Nomad Infiltrator -- this time Republican Shipping CEO Klaus Schulze. The MND had uncharacteristically taken Schulze alive after raiding his Planet Nuremberg bunker -- something the Nomads would not allow unless it furthered their plans. Our own sources provided the dates and times for the convoy that would ship Schulze to a government facility in Thuringia. Following a surgical strike by Bundschuh squadrons, the Armored Transport and its escorts were destroyed. We have protected the MND from their own worst impulses - the Nomads are an influence they do not understand and cannot be trusted to contain. Leaving Schulze in their custody could only have ended in disaster.

[805 AS] Republican bails out Hamburg University

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

[804 AS] Secret war in Rheinland?

HAMBURG -- 804 -- A petition has been filed with the Chancellor's office by the families of deceased Military personnel, claiming that dozens of Hamburg families have received next of kin notifications over recent weeks. Sabine Wexler says, “the Ministry of Defense refuses to release my son’s body or tell me why he died. He was a soldier, not a pilot. He shouldn't have been fighting.” A representative of the Chancellor passed on his condolences to the families, and advised that the deaths were related to counter-terrorism operations against the Red Hessians. The families have vowed to take the matter to court unless the withheld bodies are released for proper burial."

[804 AS] Leaked documents reveal war profiteering

NEW BERLIN -- 804 -- Daumann and Republican Shipping have both come under fire after a cache of leaked documents revealed their profits from Colony War shipbuilding contracts. Chancellor Niemann’s unprecedented military buildup cost hundreds of billions of credits to surge production in both the Oder and Alster Shipyards. The documents released by Bundschuh activists revealed that both corporations reaped record-breaking profits for this work. Several Reichstag delegates have called for the corporations' executives to be investigated as war criminals and the public funds clawed back. Chancellor Steller’s office has reluctantly promised an inquest into the matter, appointing Otto Schweizer to investigate.

[803 AS] Driven to desperation

NEW BERLIN -- 803 -- As Rheinland falls further into economic crisis, many face financial ruin. Desperation has driven political radicalism and crime. Where tens of thousands of Military personnel were laid off in the aftermath of the Colony Wars, huge numbers of trained pilots have found themselves unemployed. As local corporations stop recruiting, some have turned to the Bounty Hunter’s Guild, however many have resorted to the Bundschuh, Red Hessians and Unioners. The RFP has already noted a sharp increase in criminal activity across Rheinland and the surrounding border worlds.

[803 AS] Bundschuh strike the Nomad menace

BADEN BADEN -- 803 -- Our forces today struck another blow against the Nomad threat in Rheinland. We had long suspected that their puppets were not limited to senior government and military officials, but extended to corporate facilitators too. Exhaustive investigations traced CEO Wolfgang Daumann to an isolated compound on Baden Baden. Our strike team successfully infiltrated the facility, confirming Daumann's infection. Shortly before the team was wiped out, Commander Dietrich detonated a bomb, destroying all present. These heroes of Rheinland will be forever remembered for their sacrifice.

[802 AS] Friends or threats in high places?

BRUCHSAL -- 802 -- We have learned that Herr Von Claussen has been appointed as the first director of the newly formed MND. The appointment to this senior Federal office has been met with trepidation by some, given Von Claussen’s close knowledge of Bundschuh operations and bases. Despite this, we would urge calm. Von Claussen is a hero of the Nomad War, and a close friend to the Bundschuh. While our contribution to Rheinland’s survival is unlikely to ever be publicly recognized, Von Claussen witnessed our sacrifice first hand. A Federal director who covertly supports our cause of a just and free Rheinland is an asset indeed.

Rumors

Bundschuh

Those who go to Vierlande seldom return; most sentences are for life, and it's not just pirates, but the political opponents of the corporate elite as well. The Bundschuh fly attack raids on the prison ships and inbound convoys. We fight to liberate our brethren who have been unjustly incarcerated. Our base is located in the Taunus Asteroid field of Frankfurt. Within the same cloud is a Jump Hole to Sigma 13. Nearby is another Jump Hole that leads to Hamburg. In Hamburg there is the Vierlande Prison Station, the Westfallen battleship, and the Berlin Jump Gate. These are all priority Bundschuh targets. The Bundschuh need not lower itself to common piracy like the Red Hessians. Instead, we are funded by the enlightened Berlin intelligentsia looking to do away with the burdens of a corrupt government. This frees us to work directly toward our political agenda without being sidetracked by financial necessities. The corporations, though exploitive and uncaring, aren't truly at fault for what they do. Corporations are intrinsically self-serving; it's the government's role to keep them in check. As long as the government is corrupt enough to accept corporate bribes, the workers cannot be free. We get everything we need from the Junkers. Either we go into the Border Worlds to Yanagi, or to New Berlin, where we will find the Kreuzberg Base. The Bundschuh recruits new members from the Red Hessians, LWB, Unioners, and even disgruntled Daumann and Kruger workers. But the people we take in must care about our cause, because they won't get rich flying for us. Because we have taken the high road, and not one of piracy like the Red Hessians, our ranks have dwindled. But the members of the Bundschuh are purists, committed to a political agenda -- unlike other underground organizations. The Bundschuh is a political organization founded by New Berlin university students who were tired of the corruption of the old regime. Decades later we still toil under the yoke of an oppressive government, though its name has changed. After the revolution, the Bundschuh found itself sidelined by the new government. The coalition wanted the support of the wealthy aristocrats who headed Daumann Industries and Kruger Mining. By 715 AS, the Bundschuh was forced to go underground again, this time by a government it had helped to create. In 700 AS, the Dresden Revolt sparked the Popular Revolution that would do away with the Rheinland Imperial Government and replace it with a coalition of the people. The Bundschuh was a key player in the Dresden Revolt, running supplies to the rebels.

NOTE: Page generated on the 15/12/2024 at 15:51:01 UTC