News of the Universe (Galactic Year 2)

Announcements

Everyone gets their own map now? If you know some info that others do not (for example, you just discovered a star system), then this info will be on your map. If you discover a new star system, information about the system will become public 2 years after discovery, or when an open hyperspace route is charted.

Damaged ships and fleets take one full turn to be fully repaired.

Everyone now has wealth! Check the rules for details on how it works. This is a temporary measure until the full economy comes online.

The Ring elections are next turn! You need to visit The Ring with a character in order to vote. Please vote for a character for chairman in your next turn orders. If you have any tiny expectation you might win, you may also include who you would like to appoint to the available positions. The positions are: Administrator of the Ouroboros Rote Commodore of the Fleet Ring Factory Contracts Only one of these positions may be given to a character in your own faction. Have fun!

News

Galaxy-Wide News "When the attack came, no one knew what it was. No one knew what to think. Only afterwards did we peice together the truth, and when we did, we were more mystified than ever." -- Jonss Taggatta, "The Exterminator Incursion" "I propose that the exterminators are the last remnant of some ancient war; killing machines left when their masters died. As evidence for this I point out that none of their chosen targets were of any strategic significance in the present era. Presumably they were acting on orders that were given when those locations were important." -- Report of The Ring sub-council on the Exterminator Incursion Heart Region The Ring was the place for parties this year. The Orchera hosted the Majestics, the Ilithids toasted the Orchera (not literally), and the Terran's mixed drinks for everyone. The Terran delegation's new office of Cultural Exchange, while meant to foster Terran-Majestic understanding in particular (since those culture have much in common) was a popular place for everyone to visit. The Shakespear series was a particular hit, with members of the Orcheran diplomatic team guest starring as Birnam Wood. Late in the year, the party atmosphere was broken by a sudden an unprovoked attack. A huge battleship of unknown design dropped out of hyperspace and started an attack run on The Ring. The various races rushed to their vessels (mostly diplomatic ships unsuited to combat). Fortunately, the AI's on the Peacekeeper battleships awoke to the threat. The three battleships came on station and intercepted the invader. The battle raged for several hours. The invader was only able to close to weapons range once, but when it did it tore a hole several hundred meters in diamter in Battleship Solon. In the end, the invader was obliterated by the awesome firepower of the Peacekeeper Fleet. Only Sir Mojnar seemed disapointed that the battle never came closer to the Ring itself. Orb Chess, a complex 3-dimensional game involving movements between orbiting planets, is all the rage at the Ring Station concourse level. Tendril and Sir Mojnar are particular fans, and their weekly game often draws a small crowd. Heartstrand Region "At first we thought it was a routine patrol strayed from it's usual route, but they didn't answer any hails. But when the intruder eclipsed the sun on its approach, we knew it was no Patrol." --Admiral Taggata, Report on the Exterminator Incursion The Terran High Command formed a new military force, under the command of Admiral Taggatta, tasked with guarding the outer solar system. While many citizens complained that outer system operations were already too expensive and had shown no tangible benefit, the High Command's plans turned out to be prescient. In keeping with his life-long fascination with Saturn, scientist Bill Nye launched a new project to research colonization of difficult environments. The Highy Efficient Adaptable Dome, or H.E.A.D will be a multi-use habitat useful in many different situations. Diplomat Ivana Parva travelled to The Ring to establish a permanent Terran Embassy. She also established the Office of Cultural Exchange in order to foster mutual cultural exchange with the Majestics. Several of the other delegations have also shown interest in Terran culture. Simultaneous with attacks elsewhere, an Extermiantor battleship, code named Asmadai, attached the Terran military force at Saturn. Admiral Taggata's fast reactions saved the force from disaster. In a brief but intense battle, the invader was destroyed. Early investigation of the wreckage shows that some form of self-destruction nano-technology had already rendered much of the wreckage unsalvagable. Majestic fashions, music, and designs are all the race on Earth this year. At the end of the year, a large colonization convoy was completed at Earth. Cocoon Nebula Region The exterminator came out of the sky and burned the Ragnarok prospecting colony to ash. Within a week's time, it had systematically hunted down every outpost in the Ragnarok sphere, murdering nearly a million souls. The Fenris Guard, traditionally tasked with guarding the world of Majestica itself, was slow to react. In the end, The Advisor was forced to react to the threat almost without support. The Inquisitorial Barque and the alien AI ship known only as Prospero moved to Ragnarok to intercept. In the ensuing battle, the Esterminator showed itself a match for the Majestic military, and The Advisor was forced to retreat while Prospero held off the attacker. The Exterminator chose not to puruse, instead following mysterious purposes of its own near the gas giant. If the Majestic's new battleship, Hammer of Thor is unable to deal with the threat, then the Majestics will be in dire straits indeed. Enthusiasts for a revivial of Terran culture opened Majestic's first Museum of Art. It is located in the captial across from the Museum of Military History and next to the Museum of Famous People who Died Glorious, Painful Deaths in Battle. Attendance has been poor, but the idea is catching on. Olympus Region The Olympus region was very quiet. Farstrand Region According to the latest edition of the Ilithid-Terran dictionary, the Ilithid language is richer in idiom and imagery than previously suspected. For example, the Ilithid ship Protector I, Protector II, and Explorer I are actually called "Iron Cuttlefish", "Iron Squid", and "Iron Anemone". For more Ilithid ship designs, see: http://www.geocities.com/hugedb/BossList.html. In order to combat the decline of the Thrall race, the administration has initiated an aggressive breeding program. A new destroyer, the Iron Octopus, was commissioned from the Ilithon shipyards. The Ilithid science vessel Iron Anemone undertook a jump to the Forgotten System. Soon after the jump, however, contact was lost with the Anemone. This is causing much concern. A new faction of Terpsichorans has arisen on the former Terpsichoran homeworld or Terpsichore Prime. These hardy souls call themselves "The True Terpsichore", and they scrape out a difficult living in the irradiated landscape. No one knows where they come from. Many Terpsichorans whisper that Ousl Terps is wrong to make the Selenis system the center of Terpsichoran culture. Transept Region The Selenis system experienced an unprecedented economic rennaisance this year. New factories were built on Selenis I and II and unemployment dropped to near nothing. Ousl Terps has followed an aggressive policy of public works expansion, modernizing the facilities at the Selenis II Penal Colony. Curiously, the inmates, most serving life and even multi-generational sentences, seemed to welcome the greater workload. This may be because of the hefty bribes that Ousl Terps is rumored to spread to inmates and guards alike. Part of the reason for the growth in the Selenis economy is the arrival of the Nomad Armada. For the entire year, The Tribe lent expertise to the Terpsichorans in their modernization effort, also trading them materials and equipment at an excellent rate on the grounds that a better economy will mean better trade the next time the Armada returns. The Tribe also had better results dealing with its own problem. A quarantine ship was set aside to control the progress of the Tribal plague, with excellent success. The Tribe sent their new Science Ship on its first mission, an uncharted jump to UM28. The jump was declared a success. Merchant shipping in the Brovis system was harried by pirates all year long. Owing to the isolation of the system, however, no help was immediately forthcoming. Propsero Region The Orchera continued their relentless battle against he pirate threat, pursuing and cornering the remnants of Cpt. Scourge's squadron near Luminar B. A substantial pirate base was found hidden in a deep crater on the world. The Orcheran's utterly destroyed it. It is to be hoped that the pirate threat in Vas Orchera is now ended. Orcheran scientists, always fascinated with life in all its forms, launched a research project into advanced terraforming techniques. An additional squadron of interceptors was also built. The long suffering Orcheran people welcomed this additional construction in light of the pirate threat. Widows Gap The Insectoid race has embraced science with singleminded efficiency. Research into the supercrops project contines. A science ship was built and dispatched to the UVX7 system. Delegate Istak has declined to travel the Ring, apparently preferring the busier hub of the Barter world.

Factions

Faction Name Player Contact Current Prestige Lifetime Prestige Orchera Brandon Amancio 4 1 Terpsichore OPEN FOR NEW PLAYER tony AT dowlerDOT KOM 4 0 The Tribe Will Herlan 2 0 Terra Doug 3 1 The Scientists Patrick Colacurcio 2 0 Majestic OPEN FOR NEW PLAYER tony AT dowlerDOT KOM 2 0 Ilithids Phil LaRose 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