| Wildau Station | |
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| Owner | |
| EFL Oil & Machinery | |
| Location | |
| D/E-6, New Berlin |
CLASS: Nordsee
GRAVITY: Partial
DOCKING: Yes
AMENITIES: Limited
CREW: 240
Wildau Station was completed in 826 AS as a planned replacement for the aging Brandenburg Border Station. The massive command center caused scandal from the outset, as project delays led to construction costs ballooning out of control. Additionally, the facility’s complicated, over-engineered design resulted in shocking operating costs, with opposition politicians derisively referring to it as the ‘White Elephant of New Berlin’. Wildau’s problems were further compounded by the political deadlock in the Reichstag, which saw efforts to finally decommission Brandenburg scuppered by unrelated partisan disputes.
Wildau was partially garrisoned by the Imperial Military during the Civil War, acting as an off-world tribunal for prosecuting prisoners of war, far from the fighting on Planet New Berlin. Following the Holstein Accords, the Rheinland Consensus Government urgently needed to make savings. Faced with the choice of divesting Wildau or Brandenburg, Wildau’s obscene operating costs made it the natural choice to cut. Despite this, more than a year later, the Rheinland Government had still failed to identify any domestic buyer interested in purchasing it.
A solution presented itself in 831 AS as Rheinland and Gallia began negotiating the Treaty of Oerlikon. Rheinland accepted a lucrative offer from EFL for a 30 year lease. Daumann were employed to begin refitting the station as a Gallic fuel hub, with the formal hand-over and Promethene distribution commencing in 834 AS. Where Gallic companies are unwelcome on Bonn Station, several have established offices on Wildau as a de facto consulate.
Bribes & Missions Offered
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Commodities
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Ships sold
| Ship | Class | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gallic Frigate | Frigate | 1,042,506$ |
| Aurochs | Freighter | 24,876$ |
| Gallic Repair Ship | Repair Ship | 35,175$ |
News
| [835 AS] Freiburg targeted in terrorist strike |
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FREIBURG STATION -- 835 -- Emergency responders have rushed to Freiburg Station after a serious terrorist attack killed 7 Gallic visitors. 3 Gull-class Transports attempted to ram an IDF Shipping convoy moored to the station, exploding once they hit their targets. 1 of the vessels was successfully disabled by the station’s defense grid. The assailants had just arrived from Omega-7, broadcasting the convoy shipping papers of a small export company based on Freeport 1. RFP officers believe the Gallic ships were the actual target, and have suggested either the LWB or Bretonian radicals could be responsible. Bretonian and Rheinland authorities are cooperating to investigate the incident. |
| [835 AS] Bretonia and Rheinland call for de-escalation |
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CURACAO -- The governments of Bretonia and Rheinland have called on Kusari and Liberty to attempt formal talks, amid fears that continued escalation and military friction could spark war. Queen Carina and Emperor Frederick have offered to mediate an emergency summit on Planet Curacao after Kusari and Liberty imposed mutual sanctions that are already having rippling effects across Sirius. Gallia’s Grand Marshall de Varax meanwhile has condemned Kusari as a “belligerent and destabilizing actor”, and called for Liberty’s demands to be met. Neither Kusari or Liberty has agreed to attend, with each demanding pre-conditions be met by the other. Gallia has not received an invite. |
| [835 AS] Arrests made after Freiburg killings |
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FREIBURG -- 835 -- Freiburg patrons scattered in terror after a bar disagreement between Bretonian and Gallic customers escalated to murder. Witnesses report an IDFS officer said “something about Leeds” to a drinking Bowex transport team. Within moments, a brawl erupted, with Gateway employees assisting their normally bitter rivals. “There was a flash of light and three bangs, and before I knew it, two Bretonians and a Gaul were dead,” bartender Benno Gramann explained. The RFP have held six Bretonians on suspicion of murder and released two Gallic citizens on bail, sparking outrage in Bretonia. |
| [834 AS] Hamburg Blast charges dismissed |
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HAMBURG -- 834 -- The trial against Matthias Schnider and Wolfgang Kohler has dramatically collapsed. MND investigators blindsided prosecutors with a report that discredited a key Bundschuh dossier as “forgeries and fabrications”, instead accusing Unioner bomb-maker Sabrina Herz. Protests erupted across Planet Hamburg in the aftermath, accusing the MND of a “whitewash” that denied justice to the thousands of victims. Baron Schnider has formally resigned his Hamburg University tenure, to avoid “generating distracting controversy”. |
| [834 AS] H-Fuel prices spike as market volatility increases |
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MANHATTAN -- 834 -- H-Fuel prices across Sirius have spiked after demand for future supply contracts surged. This unusual increase has been driven by Liberty corporations who are buying up all surplus stocks, although what has provoked the sudden frenzy remains unknown. Universal Shipping and Synth Foods both declined to comment on their own significant increase in buying activity, however many have noted that neither has the storage capacity to account for the excess. Share prices for Kishiro, GMG and Samura all rose on the news, despite Kusari warning that it may impose export caps on H-Fuel to limit market volatility and curb inflation. |
| [834 AS] Historic trade deal secured with Gallia |
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NEW BERLIN -- 834 -- Following the Emperor’s state visit to Gallia, negotiators have finalized the Treaty of Oerlikon. This historic agreement boosts trade between the two Houses, while formalizing joint security standards in the dangerous Alsace Passage. Gallia is expected to be a major customer for Rheinland’s minerals, manufactured equipment and alloys, after negotiators exploited humiliating Gallic security lapses during the state visit to obtain enhanced market access as compensation. Rheinland citizens are already anticipating the novelty of Gallic foodstuffs, as well as cultural and luxury items. The Trade Ministry has celebrated a sharp drop in Food prices across Rheinland as a victory for the average citizen. |
| [833 AS] Kolleda returns to service? |
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ODER SHIPYARD -- 833 -- For the past year, Daumann crews have carried out the arduous task of disassembling the Battleship Kolleda. The decision to decommission the veteran battleship as a cost saving measure was deeply controversial, sparking numerous protests by ex-servicemen outside the Reichstag. This prompted frequent project stops while objections or political interventions were considered. Last week, a squadron of Heavy Lifter tugs pulled the Battleship from its moorings and escorted it into Frankfurt. While the Ministry of Defence has not offered any comment on the situation, it appears the Kolleda may have been offered a second lease on life. |
| [833 AS] Pausbeck's Day tour ruffles feathers |
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MULEHEIM CITY -- 833 -- A sullen-looking Emperor Frederick has undertaken a tour of Muleheim City to commemorate Pausbeck’s Day. On being asked if he would be doing anything foolish to celebrate his ancestor's folly, the Emperor launched into a meandering tirade that called for the holiday to be banned, decrying it as an affront to his office’s dignity. Speaking to the press later that day, Admiral Scholz clarified that this was a Pausbeck’s Day joke, and the assembled reporters had clearly committed their foolish act for the day by taking the satirical comments at face value. |
| [832 AS] Houses outraged by Roppongi attack |
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NEW TOKYO -- 832 -- Kusari has received blistering criticism from the other Houses after the destruction of Roppongi Station. Roppongi hosted House embassies in Kusari, and was a major business hub for foreign companies. Liberty’s President Hawthorne is said to be “incandescent” over the attack, which killed Ambassador Luisa Mason and her aides. She has threatened consequences unless Kusari exert all “means and resources” towards the Farmers Alliance’s eradication, and announced the LSF will be taking “enhanced measures” to protect Liberty citizens. Interspace Commerce has quadrupled its bounties on Alliance targets. Kusari has opened an inquest into the attack. |
| [832 AS] Armistice collapses over admiral assassination |
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NEW BERLIN - 832 - The Bundschuh armistice has dramatically collapsed, after the assassination of Admiral Ranulf Schmid. Schmid was the former commander of the Battleship Strausberg, who had been hailed as a hero for the decisive blow dealt to the Red Hessians during the Dresden Campaign. Schmid was killed when a bomb detonated inside his personal shuttle -- Bundschuh terrorists have claimed responsibility. After a spate of attacks against Military targets, the Reichstag passed legislation banning the organization. Government officials have reiterated that the Holstein Accords remain strong, despite armistices with both the Bundschuh and Unioners having failed. |
| [832 AS] Battleship Strausberg lost in Dresden! |
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DRESDEN -- 832 AS -- A surprise assault has been conducted by the Military battlegroup spearheaded by Battleship Strausberg, which up until now safeguarded the Dresden's gate into New Berlin. The assault was primarily aimed at taking out the Leipzig Station, a former Daumann station that Red Hessian took a residence in after its abandonment in 818 AS. While the battlegroup successfully managed to destroy both Leipzig Station, as well as Bundschuh controlled Bautzen Station, the assault ended in a catastrophic loss of the Battleship Strausberg, having been ambushed by a heavy Hessian battlegroup. While the Strausberg itself managed to successfully withdraw from the battle, its engines failed halfway towards the New Berlin Jump Gate, and the order was made to scuttle the ship to avoid it falling into the Hessian hands. As a result, massive riots are taking place all around Rheinland, demanding Kaiser's resignation from his position due to his reckless actions making Rheinland even less safe than it already is. We have reached out to the Kaiser Cabinet, but were refused any comments at the time of publication. |
| [832 AS] Kaiser declares war on Red Hessians! |
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NEW BERLIN -- 832 AS -- Earlier today, the Kaiser announced in a surprise press release that the Rheinland has not been putting nearly enough focus on its internal issues as it should. The Red Hessians, in particular, have been a movement that spiraled out of control many years ago, and needs to be addressed by any means necessary. Kaiser's speech lasted a total of 10 minutes, and notable highlights included belittling of the movement origins, calling the Hessians "Liberty Rogue wannabe's wanting to paint themselves as victims", "skulking rats" and other expletives. The speech ended in a bold statement, claiming that in no more than five years, Hessians would be nothing more but a shameful note in Rheinland's history. Shortly afterward, a bill mandating a 5%% increase in military spending was passed, along with some minor policies aimed at increased security in the core systems. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. |
| [832 AS] Core reassures unsettled investors |
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HOLSTEIN - 832 - Spooked investors dumped Core stocks after news broke of the loss of Omicron Rho, jeopardizing the corporation’s export routes back to the Houses. Spokesperson Kenneth Raeman reassured shareholders at a Holstein press conference, confirming “heavily armed convoys have already secured alternate passages through Sigmas and Omegas. To this end, the Core has successfully seized Omicron Kappa to obtain additional xenoarchaeological caches, and re-open the gateway to the Edge Worlds.” News of the company’s recent victory and acquisitions prompted a rebound, with stocks recovering nearly 25 percent by day's end. |
| [832 AS] Rheinland axes Rho project |
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ALABAMA -- 832 -- Rheinland has formally cut its losses and axed the ongoing Jump Gate construction between Sigma-15 and Omicron Rho. EFL Oil & Machinery has repeatedly hiked costs and pushed back completion estimates since 828 AS, blaming sabotage and rampant piracy. The Gallic corporation has steadfastly maintained that the dark matter cloud transiting between Sigma-15 and Rho poses no risk to the project, but Rheinland experts have now conclusively proved the jump connection would be obstructed. Unwilling to risk a Dallas-style disaster, Rheinland has terminated the contract on safety grounds -- to The Core’s dismay. |
| [831 AS] Gate corps clash over 'Blackout'! |
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ABBEVILLE -- 831 AS -- 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] Pulse phenomenon linked to Blackout |
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AMES RESEARCH STATION -- 831 -- Independent researchers have announced that a hyperspace pulse of unprecedented strength was detected moments before The Blackout, destroying many of the sector’s most sensitive and finely tuned observatories. Surviving data about 'The Pulse' has been widely shared across the neural net in recent days, prompting mass speculation. Professor Katsuma Oster of Ames Research Station described the signal as “astounding”. “These readings are unprecedented, as if reality itself were struck like a gong.” House authorities have remained tight lipped, refusing to share their own observatories' data. |
| [831 AS] 'Blackout' causes jump network failure |
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MANHATTAN -- 831 AS -- Two days ago Jump Gates failed simultaneously across Sirius, freezing commerce and neural net access across the sector. When communications resumed 31 hours later, the news broke of Bretonia's loss of the Dublin system. This twin shock has plunged markets into chaos, prompting fears of sector-wide economic recessions. Interspace estimates that the stoppage alone caused billions of credits in losses. Gallia immediately accused Liberty of causing 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. |
| [830 AS] Bessemer Struck by Corsair Raiders! |
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MAINZ -- 830 AS -- An Ageira Technologies research vessel, the ATS Bessemer, has come under a Corsair attack during its final venture through the Munich Jump Gate. The Bessemer, dispatched on a joint expedition by Ageira and the University of Berlin, was en route from the Raubling junction to the Frankfurt gate when it was waylaid by Corsair raiders on the edge of the Schwarzwald cloud. The RPU Dohna, a police gunboat tasked with overseeing the gate during the expedition, was quick to respond, but not before the raiders dealt significant damage to the unprepared civilian vessel. Anonymous sources report that as many as five Ageira employees lost their lives in the attack. The incident came as a shock to the public and the law enforcement alike, as pirate activity was believed to have completely died out in the desolate Munich system. The frequency of strikes, from both Corsairs and domestic pirates, have steadily declined ever since the antimatter storm first ravaged the system. While the chaotic evacuation efforts from Nuremberg had initially caused a spike, as the system's population decayed to just skeleton crews and Junker scavengers, the criminal element became nearly absent. Some theorize that the Corsairs were there for the Bessemer specifically, intending for one last taunt at Rheinland's people. Thankfully, the Dohna and her crew were there to thwart their efforts. The ATS Bessemer was dispatched into the Munich system in order to deploy a network of specially reinforced satellites, meant to monitor the advent of the antimatter storm's core. According to the University of Berlin, the core will wash over Munich around the end of this month, stripping away planetary atmospheres and most likely collapsing all remaining jumphole anomalies. The probes deployed by the Bessemer will provide the scientific community with first-hand data of the storm and its effects, transmitting it back to Berlin through a central relay nested within the safety of Raubling's hulk. With the task complete, the Bessemer was meant to be the final ship to make the jump from Munich, with the Jump Gate being shut down later the same day. However, due to the damage sustained in the attack, the RPU Dohna did the honours instead, covering the Bessemer's departure to ensure its safe return. |
| [830 AS] Leaks reveal secret Gallic negotiations |
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OERLIKON -- 830 -- Confidential diplomatic cables have been uploaded to the neural net after a Rheinland official left an unencrypted datapad on a New Berlin shuttle. Included was a mocking assessment of Gallic negotiators working on a previously secret free trade treaty, and penalty threats over EFL’s slow progress on the Omicron Rho Jump Gate. EFL had privately objected that The Core was failing to provide adequate security against Corsair raiders. The internal communications predict large cost overruns, and further delays of over a year. Rheinland has refused to comment on the leaks directly, but has announced the deployment of Rheinland Military squadrons to Sigma-15 for ‘border security’ missions. |
| [828 AS] Birds of a Feather |
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STUTTGART -- 828 AS -- Many ex-LWB remnants took up the Imperial cause during the Civil War, hoping for a government that would expel Synth Foods from Rheinland. They were left feeling betrayed when these promises were abandoned. Lacking resources, the fighters looked abroad to find support. They found Kusari’s Farmers Alliance, who fight a near identical battle against the Liberty corporation. The Alliance has provided leadership, funding and resources to relaunch anti-Synth operations in Rheinland as a wing of their own organization. It remains to be seen how this united Farmers Alliance will impact affairs on the wider stage, as the security forces of both Rheinland and Kusari are already strained by internal conflict and crime. |
| [828 AS] Cologne Aftermath |
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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! |
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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. |
| [828 AS] Holstein Accords reunite Rheinland |
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HOLSTEIN -- 828 AS -- Imperialist and Federalist leaders have been locked in fierce negotiations in the weeks since the Thuringian Mutiny. A joint decree has now been issued by the “Consensus Government of the Rheinland Federal Empire”, ending the Civil War. This establishes a power sharing protocol, forcing future governments to include representatives from both ideological blocs. The autonomy of system governments has also been restored, along with a slate of constitutional revisions and the re-institution of the Reichstag. The Federalists have conceded the argument over the office of the Emperor, who will soon be formally nominated for life by the Imperial Convention of elector-princes. |
| [828 AS] Thuringian Mutiny - an end to war? |
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THURINGIA -- 828 -- A mass mutiny has paralyzed the front in Thuringia, provoked by the enormous casualties suffered by each side. The Imperialists had consolidated their remaining forces in Hamburg, using Unioner guides for a final push on Thuringia. The “final battle” was inconclusive, making a prolonged bloodbath inevitable. The two fleets then separated, as forward elements powered down their weapons. The mutiny spread, with political officers being arrested by their own crews in some instances. This uneasy impasse has now persisted for a number of days -- it seems leaders may be forced to the table to negotiate a solution. |
| [828 AS] Mass murderer lynched on New Berlin |
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SPANDAU CITY -- 828 -- Steffen Kalb, the serial killer known as ‘Der Mechaniker’, has been shot by vigilantes in Spandau City. Kalb was stopped at a militia checkpoint manned by the Schroder Brigade, and detained when he could not provide valid Imperialist transit papers. A storage unit was confiscated which contained video feeds of over 130 murders that he had perpetrated in the 2 years since escaping Vierlande Prison. In an explicit neural net broadcast, the Brigade’s leader summarily convicted Kalb of crimes against Rheinland’s people before executing him. It is believed that Kalb had been killing in Spandau for several months, exploiting the ongoing fighting as cover. |
| [827 AS] Empire consolidates power |
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NEW BERLIN -- Imperial officials have announced the dissolution of the Reichstag, arguing that the body was not “fit for purpose”. With legislative power now delegated to the Emperor’s ministers, further announcements were made establishing the Empire as a unitary state, and retracting the powers devolved to system authorities under the previous Federal structure. Palace spokesman Baron Ulrich Keufer stressed that, “in this time of crisis we must have a strong central state, free of the corruption that plagues System governors”. Exiled Chancellor Neumann has urged Rheinlanders to take up arms and fight to preserve “historic freedoms”. |
| [827 AS] Rheinland government flees military putsch |
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PLANET NEW BERLIN -- 827 AS -- Rheinland’s government has been spirited away by loyalist troops aboard the newly launched Carrier Saar, narrowly avoiding an attempted Imperialist coup d'etat. The Reichstag has been occupied by masked soldiers, and Progressive Members arrested -- Frederick von Albrecht has declared himself Emperor and announced the body’s dissolution. Chaos has spread across New Berlin as citizens take to the streets to either support or oppose the Imperialist power grab, forming improvised militia battalions. Bloody fighting has broken out across Planets New Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart. |
| [827 AS] Imperialist rioters attempt coup? |
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PLANET HAMBURG -- 827 AS -- Disorder in Bahrenfeld City has continued to spread. Federal Police have declared a state of emergency as Imperial militias begin to direct mobs against planetary authorities. Attacks have been launched against Federal buildings, with the mayor of Rotherbaum taken hostage. Authorities have requested immediate Military assistance to arrest local Imperialist ringleaders. The Carrier Soltau has arrived in Hamburg orbit and ordered RFP ships to stand down with immediate effect. Unconfirmed reports allege troops from the Soltau have arrested the planetary governor for “crimes against the Rheinland people”. |
| [827 AS] Attempted assassination sparks crisis |
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PLANET HAMBURG -- 827 AS -- Fredrick von Albrecht has been central to the recent turmoil in Rheinland. The socialite is the last remaining heir to the defunct Rheinland throne, and has acted as a lightning rod for the increasingly revanchist rhetoric of Imperialist parties. Albrect broadcast his own inflammatory speech after the Bundschuh legalization motion, calling for the dissolution of the Reichstag. Seemingly in response, Albrecht’s Hamburg residence was set alight. He has since called his supporters to protect him from state assassination attempts. Federal Police have opened an investigation into Albrecht for fraud and inciting violence. |
| [827 AS] Reichstag chaos over Bundschuh legalization |
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NEW BERLIN -- 827 -- Chancellor Neumann has introduced legislation to the Reichstag on the legalization of the Bundschuh, one of the concessions made to Progressive parties for their support. The motion sparked pandemonium after Representative Biermann of Hamburg crossed party divisions to attack Representative Riese of New Berlin. After the session was adjourned, Biermann took to the neural net to broadcast an inflammatory speech claiming Neumann was a “traitor who should be shot”. Progressives denounced the entire Imperialist bloc as anti-democratic terrorists; the RFP have opened an investigation into the matter. |
| [826 AS] Reichstag divided in elections |
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NEW BERLIN -- 826 -- Public disillusionment over the Hudson and Saigon Wars have devastated Rheinland’s traditional parties, losing seats to more radical, upstart groupings in recent elections. The biggest winners have been “imperialist” parties espousing nostalgia for the old Rheinland Empire, and progressive parties calling for a radical expansion of the Workers Rights Convention and the curtailing of corporate freedoms. Chancellor Neumann narrowly retained minority control of the Reichstag by offering several embarrassing concessions to a coalition of larger, Progressive parties who would not support each other’s candidates. |
| [825 AS] Kusari declares war on Rheinland |
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SAIGON -- 825 -- In a solemn speech, Chancellor Neumann has condemned Kusari's declaration of war as "a misguided day of sadness for both our Houses". Kusari asserts that Rheinland destroyed Ibusuki Survey Platform in Sigma-21, killing 61 Kusari citizens. The Battleship Bayern had been ordered to enforce an eviction order removing the staging point for Gas Miners Guild terrorists, but was shocked to discover the station's wreckage upon arriving on the scene. Kusari has since released logs from the station's distress beacon, which it claims incriminates Rheinland forces. Anonymous government sources believe these logs have been fabricated, likely to provide a pretext for Kusari's own territorial ambitions in Sigma-21. |
| [825 AS] GMG enemies of the state! |
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HAMMERSEE -- 825 -- The Battleship Altenburg has deployed to counter acts of GMG terrorism in Sigma-15. The Kruger vessel Velbert was brutally destroyed by Guild pirates, killing all aboard. The perpetrators were pursued to a nearby Jump Hole, and are believed to have escaped to Sigma-21. Taking a bold step to secure Rheinland’s interests, Chancellor Neumann has declared a counter-terrorism operation against the GMG. She vowed to pursue all means to defend Rheinland’s territorial sovereignty, including the territories of Sigma-15 and 21. The GMG are ordered to withdraw all forces from both systems and surrender the murderers of the Velbert. The arrival of the Battleship Bayern in Sigma-21 will allow Rheinland to directly enforce its demands. |
| [823 AS] Liberty and Rheinland formally end conflict |
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NEW BERLIN -- 823 -- President Powell and Chancellor Neumann have signed the Treaty of Atka formally ending the state of war between their two Houses. 6 years of devastating conflict has seen tens of thousands killed and both Houses severely economically damaged. The agreement sees Rheinland cede all claims on Planet Atka, while Hudson and Bering are split in half, creating two security zones. The boundary between these two zones remains neutral territory, to be policed by the Bounty Hunters Guild under a joint contract. In return, Liberty has agreed to immediately end all economic sanctions, and fund 85% of the Jump Gate cleanup and reconstruction project. |
| [822 AS] Schulte removed through no confidence vote |
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NEW BERLIN -- 822 -- Chancellor Schulte has been ejected from office after the Reichstag passed a constructive vote of no confidence. The motion is believed to have been tabled after sensitive private correspondence was leaked from his office; it is alleged these documents detailed Schulte's plans to sabotage peace negotiations with Liberty, supposedly as a means of extending his wartime powers. Former Trade and Industry Minister Luisa Neumann has received the necessary votes from Reichstag representatives to be appointed Chancellor. She has vowed to end the war, while securing reasonable concessions from Liberty. |
| [821 AS] Chancellor resigns over health concerns |
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NEW BERLIN -- 821 -- Chancellor Rheinhardt has resigned from office, stating that deteriorating health has prevented him from fulfilling his duties. The Reichstag thanked the outgoing Chancellor for his service, before nominating Maximilian Schulte through a majority vote. Chancellor Schulte served in Rheinhardt’s administration as the Minister of Defense; he has vowed to uphold Chancellor Rheinhardt’s policies, stressing his own unwavering resolve to achieving Liberty’s military defeat for their unjust aggression. Schulte’s inaugural speech hailed members of the Rheinland Military as heroes, whose sacrifice had secured Rheinland’s greatness. |
| [820 AS] Liberty sabotages ceasefire talks |
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PLANET CAMBRIDGE -- 820 -- While fighting has largely ground to a halt in Bering and Hudson following the destruction of the Hamburg Jump Gates, Liberty and Rheinland remain locked in a state of cold war. Rheinland officials have confirmed for the first time that mediation with Liberty has been attempted over recent months in Bretonia. This good faith negotiation has been impeded by the Liberty aggressors’ bad faith conduct and attempts to impose laughable conditions. During these talks Liberty has continued to launch terrorist strikes at Hamburg civilians, intended to coerce Rheinland into capitulation. As a result, no common ground could be found, with Chancellor Rheinhardt vowing to fight on until Liberty’s criminal ambitions are defeated. |
| [820 AS] Wartime powers delay elections |
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NEW BERLIN -- 820 -- Relying on wartime powers, the Chancellor has announced that elections will be indefinitely postponed until the current time of crisis has passed. In a solemn speech to the Reichstag, Chancellor Reinhardt announced the formation of a wartime coalition government to tackle the looming threats of Liberty aggression and Red Hessian terrorism. A number of opposition representatives will join the Chancellor’s government as ministers, most senior being Maximilian Schulte of the Rheinland Conservative Bloc who will serve as Defense Minister. The Reichstag passed an uncharacteristically united motion providing support for the move. |
| [819 AS] Liberty invasion thwarted by bold action |
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BERING -- 819 -- Owing to the deteriorating situation in the Independent Worlds, Rheinland has been forced to withdraw all remaining Military units from Bering and Hudson. Intercepted intelligence on a planned Liberty invasion of Hamburg sadly proved true, forcing the execution of an unspeakable contingency plan. As the Liberty fleets began docking with the Jump Gates, charges were detonated, crippling the connection. Rheinland engineers then triggered the anti-tamper devices on Hamburg’s gates to prevent a connection from being re-established. Chancellor Reinhardt expressed his sincere regret for the move, but maintained it was necessary to repel Liberty imperialism. The destruction of the Gate connections also severs any hope for a quick post-war resumption of trade. |
| [819 AS] Liberty invasion plans leaked |
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HAMBURG -- 819 -- An anonymous Rheinland source has leaked detailed intelligence intercepts of a Liberty Navy plan to force a "knockout blow" in Hamburg. The plot involves massed Liberty battleships simultaneously breaching Hamburg’s Bering and Hudson Jump Gates, followed by Marines landing on the planet and seizing key infrastructure. This marks a significant escalation of the conflict, which had previously been confined to the Independent World border systems. As the news spread, scenes of chaos erupted on Planet Hamburg as citizens swarmed the spaceports in an attempt to flee off-world. Chancellor Rheinhart has called for calm in this grave time, promising his administration were “examining all options, no matter how severe” to protect Rheinland’s citizens. |
| [818 AS] Red Hessians launch conquest of Dresden |
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PIRNA BORDER STATION -- 818 -- Treacherous Red Hessians have launched a full scale attack in Dresden, exploiting the ongoing war with Liberty. In a shocking blow, Pirna Border Station was destroyed, with many brave RFP pilots killed. Chaotic reports from Leipzig Station also confirm that Daumann has abandoned the base following a second major attack. The Battleship Altenburg has deployed to Dresden in response and is currently counter-attacking to stem the Hessian advance, with Military officials confirming that the pirates had been routed in a battle near Bautzen Station. Government officials have blamed the invasion on Interspace Commerce, claiming the Liberty corporation had provided funding and supplies to Rheinland’s enemies. |
| [818 AS] Bonn Station seized over Hessian plot |
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BONN STATION -- 818 AS -- Following a long-running undercover RFP investigation, evidence has been obtained proving collusion between Interspace Commerce and the Red Hessians. The Liberty corporation had acted to undermine Rheinland’s war effort by funneling supplies to Red Hessian terrorists. Marines from the Battleship Strausberg were ordered to board and seize the station. Interspace now faces expulsion from Rheinland space, forfeiting any locally held assets -- a number of local executives were also arrested for sedition. In response, Interspace has suspended all insurance services for Rheinland shipping. The Chancellor’s Office has announced that it is confident that local brokers can make up the shortfall. |
| [817 AS] War with Liberty! |
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HUDSON -- In response to Liberty’s encroachment in Hudson, state sponsored terrorism in Hamburg and attacks on classified research stations, Chancellor Reinhardt has taken decisive steps to secure Rheinland’s interests. Military patrols have been deployed in force to Hudson and Bering; Liberty responded to these reasonable steps by intercepting forward elements and attacking. Several are believed to have been killed in the clash. Liberty has feigned ignorance of their aggression, using the incident as a pretext to declare a formal state of war. Rheinland does not relish such a return to conflict, but we will do whatever is necessary to safeguard our House and people. Our proud Military will ensure the sovereignty of Rheinland, and the autonomy of the Independent Worlds. |
| [817 AS] Rheinland shocked by Gallic discovery |
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NEW BERLIN -- 817 AS -- Shocking reports from Bretonia have revealed the existence of the previously unknown House Gallia beyond the Taus. Jump Holes into Gallia were apparently intentionally hidden within vast mine fields, and only recently breached by a Gallic dissident group named The Council. They describe a House commanded by an isolationist and militaristic absolute monarchy, with whom they are locked into a bloody civil war. The revelation that a French Sleeper Ship arrived in Sirius in 84 AS has sent shockwaves through Rheinland, with many calling for immediate diplomatic contact to be established with the Gallic state. The star cluster settled by Gallia is believed to be the most remote part of the Sirius sector colonized by humanity. |
| [816 AS] Journalists assassinated in arson attack |
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PLANET HAMBURG -- 816 -- Hamburg’s spaceport has been locked down after a masked assailant entered the media offices of WahrheitBericht, gunning down many staff and setting fire to the building. RFP counter-terrorism officers immediately responded, pursuing the gunman to a nearby abandoned hab-block. In the resulting firefight, several officers were killed before the attacker detonated an explosive device, killing himself in the blast. WahrheitBericht had recently published groundbreaking claims about illegal Liberty research programs. Chancellor Reinhardt has furiously condemned the murders as “political assassination”; the MND have taken control of the investigation. |
| [816 AS] Rheinland media alleges illegal Liberty research |
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PLANET HAMBURG -- 816 -- The Hamburg investigative outlet WahrheitsBericht has leveled explosive accusations at Liberty, claiming illegal research activities. Citing anonymous sources, the report alleges the existence of a previously unknown star system code-named “Alaska”, where the Liberty Security Force has recently been authorized to carry out human experimentation and Artifact research prohibited by the Denver Convention. Liberty has responded furiously to the broadcast, with President Powell dismissing it during Congressional questions as “baseless, lurid conspiracy theories”. WahrheitBericht has promised more “bombshell” revelations in the coming days, advertising a full length documentary they will self-publish next week. |
| [815 AS] Economic Recovery Hailed as “Berlin Renaissance” |
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NEW BERLIN -- 815 -- Wealth is flooding into New Berlin’s cities as Rheinland enters a boom period for the first time in recent memory. This sharp growth has been primarily buoyed by record harvests on Stuttgart and the discovery of fresh Diamond deposits in Dresden. Rheinland’s manufacturing sector also heavily contributed, with Nuremberg’s ailing arms industry revitalized by nearly a decade of state investment subsidies, and an exploding order book from both Kusari and Bretonia. Republican Shipping has also continued to focus on their “Hamburg Pivot” strategy, as their high-tech production gamble begins to turn a profit. Chancellor Reinhardt celebrated the results, arguing it vindicates his government’s track record. |
| [807 AS] Colony War demilitarization complete |
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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 |
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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. |
| [803 AS] Rheinland recession bites deep |
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BONN STATION -- 803 -- Interspace has officially confirmed that Rheinland's economy has entered a sharp recession. This is largely a consequence of the devastating Colony Wars, Kusari's trade boycott, and the gradual tapering of the 'lifeline' loans Liberty had used to sustain the Provisional Rheinland Government. Anonymous government sources also commented that audits of Niemann-era records were revealing bizarre patterns of extreme short-term borrowing and expenditure that amounted to ‘financial sabotage'. Chancellor Steller has announced a raft of measures intended to address the economic crisis, including renewed negotiations with Kusari and targeted state investments. |
| [802 AS] New task force hunts war criminals |
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NEW BERLIN -- 802 -- NEW BERLIN -- 802 -- Chancellor Steller has announced the formation of the Marinenachrichtendienst, an autonomous Federal taskforce with a mandate to investigate all echelons of the Rheinland Military. Steller has decried his predecessor, Niemann, as a traitor whose insane wars of aggression were enabled by an insidious, revanchist rot at the highest levels of civil and military leadership. In a fiery speech, Steller ordered the MND's newly appointed Director Von Claussen to 'root out' these 'war criminals' and bring them to justice. Rheinland officials are now believed to have ended the Liberty Security Force’s involvement with the investigation, describing it as an 'internal security matter'. |
| [802 AS] Chancellor Steller elected to office |
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NEW BERLIN -- 802 -- Following emergency elections, the Provisional Rheinland Government has been dissolved and Chancellor Alfred Steller voted into office by the newly seated Reichstag. Steller has vowed to return Rheinland to a state of normalcy, and undo the damage inflicted by the traitor Niemann and his enablers. Steller has promised to uphold the Provisional Government's policy of demilitarization, and has committed to make amends with Kusari and the other Houses for the unprovoked aggression of the Colony Wars. President Jacobi offered her congratulations and Liberty's support to Chancellor Stellar's new administration. |
| [801 AS] Rheinland High Command missing? |
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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 |
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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 program. 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 |
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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 |
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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. |