News of the Universe (Galactic Year 0)
Announcements
First a few rules-related bits:
Acting at a Distance: Special orders can sometimes be used at a distance. You can carry out diplomacy, espionage, and other activities using instant communications, hired agents, and so on. There is a penalty of 10% for acting one jump away, doubled for each additional jump.
State Secrets: Some factions have secrets. To establish another state secret requires an espionage action. The chance varies on how easy/hard it is to keep the secret. Things like colonies, trade routes, large fleets, and technologies you are using are harder to keep secret.
What can I do with special orders? Almost anything you can think of. Feel free to be creative and always explain your plan clearly.
News
Galaxy-Wide News
"In their pride, the first ones thought themselves superior to the lase of the universe. In their arrogance they did not hestitate to pluck the stars from the sky and reduce them to trinkets. They built engines of unimaginable destruction, thinking that they themselves would not be destroyed, but the Universe, in its indifference, did not even notice their passing"
--The Prophet
The galaxy seems to be experiencing an increase in religiosity with the new era that is dawning. More people are joining religious, and new cults and sects are springing up.

Heart Region
The Ring has been very busy, with new delegates from the Majestic, Terpsichorans, Orcherans, and Ilithids arriving at the Ring Station.
Several people took ill in The Nomad Armada. A special ship was set aside for the sick so they could be treated as well as possible. Completing their operations, the Armada left system for Selenis.
Neither The Tribe nor the Insectiods elected to send a delegate to the ring this year. Delegate Istak spent the entire year in the Barter system, delighted to meet new races and question them about their customs.
The Scientists continued about their work. Several intriguing papers on the topic of HE3 viability circulated in the galactic community.

Heartstrand Region
In order to stretch his administrative muscles, President Gault announced the largest space-related co-ordinated operation in Terran history. Military, special forces, and scientists assembled for maneuvers in Saturn close orbit. The purpose of the operation was a little obscure. Maps and charts were made for possible colonization. Apparently something more was found as well, since a very large object was later towed into a high orbit by military ships. The official statment claims this was just a practice salvage operation.
The size of the Terran diplomatic corps was doubled for some reason. It was noticed that doubling the size of the corps greatly increased expenses without actually getting much more work done.
The Terrans also began work on a large colonization fleet.

Cocoon Nebula Region
Queen Isolda made attempts to expand the economy. Unsuccessful overtures were made to attract traders form the Ouroboros route to visit Majestica. The alertness of the military was raised.
Thigns were quiet in the Cappernau system.

Olympus Region
Little happened in Olympus. The Terpsichorans sent messages to the various outposts in the Sechi system in an unsuccessful attempt to build a trade route.

Farstrand Region
The Ilithid race built an exploration ship to help expand their knowledge of the universe.
The Ilithids put their cargo holds to good use with an aggressive program of Thrall resettlement. Large number of Thralls were moved to The Ilithon to man the factories. This reduced the labor shortage considerably.

Transept Region
Strange events on Selenis II! A trade ship landing on the airless world Selenis II discovered a previously unknown lifeform - a sort of tree-like being capable of living in pure vacuum. No other example of this lifeform has ever been found. The Traders knew it was important, so they set up a beacon and a small shelter. As news spread, pilgrims began to travel to the spot, in memory of the Prophet's famous sermon of the Tree. It has become something of a religious destination. The Terpsichoran penal colony has refused to take any part in what is going on.
The Terpsichorans realized that althought they had a delegate at the Ring, they lack a coherent political structure or even a head of state. After a brief power struggle, Ousl Terps, the commander of the guards in the penal colony declared himself chief executive. No one seemed prepared to dispuate this claim.
The Orcherans, who share Selenis I with a Terpsichoran colony, sent messages of co-existence to the Terpsichorans. The Terpsichorans suprised them by agreeing to share the world and co-operate over the use of its resources. The immediate effect was that the price of food dropped drastically in the Terpsichoran community of Outpost 573. Orcherans have also begun to use the superior infrastructure of the Terpsichoran outpost.
Late in the year, Selenis system saw the amazing sight of the Nomad Armada as the fleet entered the system in search of trade. The Nomads advertised the availability of all manner of trade goods and knowledge.

Propsero Region
"There is much fertile soil in the universe, and a mature tree must spread its roots." With these workds, Ominix, the sagacious leader of the Orchera, encouraged his people to colonize the galaxy. Every ship available was charterd to move willing citizens to Selenis I. Fewer than expected signed up, however, and many ships were empty.
The infamous pirate Captain Scourge saw an opportunity in this and attempted to raid the colonists of their possessions. They were startled, however, to see the massive shape of the battleship Thorn appear on their sensors. In a brief, one-sided battle, most of Scourge's ships were destroyed, and Captain Scourge himself was slain. A lucky missle attack struck the bridge of the Thorn, however, and the Orcheran commander Hand was killed. His leiutenant, known only as Lieutenant of Thorn, immediately took command and completed the operation successfuly.
Citing the pirate threat, a new interceptor squadron was built at Orchera Prime.
The Furies, a dreaded pirate squadron, took a break from looting and were not seen in the cluster. Speculation continues as to the location of their secret base.

Widows Gap
The Hive Queen ordered Sutok, among the most brililant of her children, to research the secret of Supercrops.

Factions
Faction Name Player Contact Current Prestige Lifetime Prestige
Orchera Brandon Amancio 3 0
The Tribe Will Herlan 2 0
Terra Doug 2 0
The Scientists Patrick Colacurcio 2 0
Majestic OPEN FOR NEW PLAYER tony AT dowler DOT KOM 2 0
Ilithids Phil LaRose 2 0
Terpsichore OPEN FOR NEW PLAYER tony AT dowler DOT KOM 2 0
Insectoid Scott Waterson 1 0
Technology Report
The Tribe
Theory of Everything
(pure science, discovery)
The Theory of Everything is the result of Human science's contact with interstellar culture. The Theory unifies the current branches of physics under one model. It promises to bring many further breakthroughs in its wake.
Terra
Theory of Everything
(pure science, discovery)
The Theory of Everything is the result of Human science's contact with interstellar culture. The Theory unifies the current branches of physics under one model. It promises to bring many further breakthroughs in its wake.
Insectoid
Theory of Everything
(pure science, discovery)
The Theory of Everything is the result of Human science's contact with interstellar culture. The Theory unifies the current branches of physics under one model. It promises to bring many further breakthroughs in its wake.
The Scientists
Theory of Everything
(pure science, discovery)
The Theory of Everything is the result of Human science's contact with interstellar culture. The Theory unifies the current branches of physics under one model. It promises to bring many further breakthroughs in its wake.
Majestic
Theory of Everything
(pure science, discovery)
The Theory of Everything is the result of Human science's contact with interstellar culture. The Theory unifies the current branches of physics under one model. It promises to bring many further breakthroughs in its wake.
Ilithids
Theory of Everything
(pure science, discovery)
The Theory of Everything is the result of Human science's contact with interstellar culture. The Theory unifies the current branches of physics under one model. It promises to bring many further breakthroughs in its wake.
The Life of the Mind
(pure science, discovery)
Ilithids, with their unique physiology, have delved into pyschic phenomena in a more systematic way than the other races.
Pyschic Ram
(applied science, starship weapons)
Pyschic weapons function by amplifying the psychic abilities of crew to attack the crews of enemy ships. This weapon requires at least one psychic individual to crew the weapon. The psychic ram magnifies the phsychic signature of the crew of a starship, enabling them to launch a mental attack at the crew of another ship. When this close range weapon is successful, it sometimes enables enemy ships to be captured intact. This component can replace heavy weapons in any ship design.
Orchera
Theory of Everything
(pure science, discovery)
The Theory of Everything is the result of Human science's contact with interstellar culture. The Theory unifies the current branches of physics under one model. It promises to bring many further breakthroughs in its wake.
Advanced Biological Engineering
(pure science, )
Advanced Bio Engineering is a deep understanding of the underlying principles of life.
Terpsichore