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News of the Universe (Galactic Year 7) |
| Galaxy-Wide News |
We have a Chairbeing! Tendril was once again elected by a healthy margin. It's first action as chairbeing was to confirm all office holders in their positions for another term. Votes were cast as follows:
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| In the interests of security, the Orchera have tightened access to their space. Beings wishing access to Orcheran worlds, systems, and facilities are asked to request permission first or risk being fired upon. |
| The merchants are afraid. Strange rumors are whispered in the watering holes of the known worlds. The rumors speak of wolves who haunt the dark between worlds preying on ships. No one has seen these wolves of course, but theories abound. "Something worse than pirates" is the only common thread to the rumors. |
| Heart Region |
| Even though this was an election year, the real news at the Ring Station was the startling revelation offered by Ivana Parva at a routine council meeting. |
| "J'accuse!" Ivana Parva comes storming into the Council Session and slams down a pile of data crystals. "Two years ago my people launched an expedition to the Proxima system. Having successfully arrived there, we discovered two habitable worlds. As we began to survey the system, we discovered we were not the first. The Exterminators arrived, and began a planetary buildup we couldn't dream of keeping up with. We recorded as much data as we could, and high-tailed it out of there. As we left, they sent us a message- please listen..." She inserts a crystal into the player, and the holoprojector springs on, and the message reverberates through the room. "These worlds are ours according to ancient treaties with the Majestics. Interfere at your own peril." The projector then shows a fuzzy image of a green world, presumably Proxima, and a ship landing, a ship that seems of familiar design. And who is that getting out of the ship, but someone of Alien Race 81- the shadowy being known only as "The Advisor"? Councillor Parva is strident "I demand that all Peacekeeper ships be removed from Majestic control immediately, where they have no doubt been studied by the enemies among us, where the massive military build up undoubtedly spells no good for the Citizens of the Galaxy, where these new ships have copied features of the Peacekeeper fleet given into their care by the politics of this Council! I further demand that the Council vote to dispatch a battleship to the Sol system, undoubtedly in the most dangerous part of the Universe- half a jump from the home of the Exterminators! Sol will survive yet!" |
| The aftermath of this accusation is tremendous. Sir Mojnar, recently arrived at the station for the Ring votes has to be physically restrained by the Keepers. "Defamer!" he roars, "Liar! I shall see your entrails hanging from my falchion, Terran!" In the end, old habit (and old agreements) die hard and all the races vote as planned, but there is considerable doubt in the corridors of The Ring. Everyone waits to see what the council will do as relations between the Majestics and the Terrans plummet to an all-time low. |
| The Seeker, the new science ship for the Archivist of the Ancients office, set off on its maiden voyage, ending up at the Llorasc system. |
| Chairbeing Tendril made a state visit to Barter, visiting important local leaders and cementing relations between the Orchera and the many merchant houses with influence in the region. |
| The Ring Factories built a brand spanking new small colony ship this year. While a primarily Orcheran venture, many members of other races have applied to fill out the undermanned colony ship's crew. |
| Recent research from the Scientists is disclosing more about hyperspace. Apparently it is possible, though very difficult, to disrupt a known hyperspace route. |
| An Insectoid colony ship made a visit to the Barter system. |
| Heartstrand Region |
| Admiral Taggatta has come under some criticism for his avant guard defensive strategies. The establishment stands behind the Admiral, citing his past service at Saturn. |
| Bill Nye has published a new book, "The Schemata of Technoloy", in which he theorized that there are several essential realms of technology. First there is conventional technology. Then there is the biological technology of the Orchera, which seems to contravert the intuition of physics, but achieves similar goals. Then there is the technology of the Exterminators, whose sinuous machines are like a twisted mockery of life. Finally, there is the technology of the ancients, about which little is known. |
| The Terrans are spending a huge amount on various nebulous research and development projects. Maybe that's why they keep coming up with new ideas like Admiral Taggata's defensive doctrines, and the theories of Bill Nye. |
| Cocoon Nebula Region |
| The Tribe Armada was welcomed in the Majestica system. The Queen hopes that their trade will boost her economy. A large feast was held for the visiting dignitaries. |
| The Tribe has added video game technology to its trade offerings. Sophisticated simluators have been developed for military use, leading to spinoff benefits to the electronics industry. Observers have noted that the latest generation of military recruits are of better quality thanks to simulator training. An interceptor squadron was built. |
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| The Majestic race was up in arms over the recent revelations and accusations levelled by the Terrans. Organized protests in major cities attracted hundreds of thousands of people. |
| Olympus Region |
| Weapons were fired in the Sechi system. After repeatedly requesting that the denizens of Starlight station cease their criminal activities, the Ilithid fleet moved to enforce their demands. Starlight station fought back with surprising ferocity. In fact, the Ilithid attackers were more damaged than the station, perhaps owing to the restraint of the attackers and the Psychic Ram's low penchant for collattoral damage. The Ilithids boarded the station. An exhaustive search turned up dozens of known criminals and pirates, as well as several ilegal smuggling and drug operations. The end of the day saw the Ilithids in full control. |
| Negotiations continued between the Ilithid Protectorate and the Ironforge colony, resulting in an economic agreement. |
| Several ships disappeared in the Satyr system this year. The ships show no general trend in terms of cargo, armament, or ownership. Some blame pirates, other blame the mythical "wolves". |
| Farstrand Region |
| Scientists, explorers, and merchants were fascinated with recetly-released Ilithid reports regarding the world of Cryos (formerly named UTPS). The Cryos system is home to a preindustrial race of warlike nomadic quadrupeds who skate across the surface of their ice world. |
| The Ilithids continued to upgrade their ships and also built an improved defense grid. |
| Transept Region |
| "Chaos and lawlessness are the very antithesis of civilization, no matter what their cause. It falls to the strong to bring law and order to the world through the arts of science, diplomacy, and war." -- Ousl Terps |
| The Terpsichoran government chose this year to "reassert its sovreignty" over the Shring of the Tree. Terpsichoran troops moved in to secure the city, quickly taking command of the landing pads and communications relays. The Cathedral district turned out to be a greater problem. As the Terpsichoran militia approached the inner city, agents of the Red Angels paramilitary organization met their advance with heavy weapons fire. Reports of what happened afterwards are confusing and disjointed. |
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| In an effort to silence what he considered an isolated pocked, Garamand commited the bulk of his foces in an all out attack. The Red Angles, better armed than anyone had suspected, fought back fiercly, leading to heavy casulaties on both sides. But the heavy fighting in the streets was only the beginning. |
| During the battle, the Cathedral of the Tree, heart of the city, was destroyed by a series of well-plaed blasts. Early reports were that Terpsichoran battleships had destroyed the site from orbit, until it was realized that the Terpsichorans don't have any battleships. |
| Things are still tense in the shrine. Most citizens blame the Terpsichorans for the crime, but others claim that agents of the major races have been active in the city for some time. A bizarre cult of techno-sadists called the Black Hole have also claimed responsibility. |
| The Terpsichorans also established a small colony on Seleis III, a gas giant. |
| The Orcheran military toughened defenses in the Brovis system, setting up a space station to monitor for pirate activity. Brovis has been a known pirate haunt in the past. |
| Propspero Region |
| An Orcheran Light Colony Ship departed Vas Orchera for parts unknown. |
| Spore, the Orcheran minister of science, retired, the second such retirement in the last few years. |
| Widows Gap |
| The Insectoids strengthened defensive positions in the Ny-Qyll system. |
| The Home Hive shipyards commissioned a new destroyer. The Royal scientists were also hard at work. |
| Faction Name | Wealth | Player | Contact |
| Ilithids | 2.2 | Phil LaRose | |
| Insectoid | 4.01 | Scott Waterson | |
| Majestic | 5.76 | OPEN FOR NEW PLAYER | tony AT dowlerDOT KOM |
| Orchera | 0 | Brandon Amancio | |
| Terpsichore | 15.97 | OPEN FOR NEW PLAYER | tony AT dowlerDOT KOM |
| Terra | 11.88 | Doug | |
| The Scientists | 7.26 | Patrick Colacurcio | |
| The Tribe | 1.9 | Will Herlan |
| 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. |
| H.E.A.D (applied science, discovery) |
The H.E.A.D (H.E.A.D. (Highly Efficient Adaptable Dome) is a modular habitat for colonists. These habitats can be adapted to many environments. On gas giants, the dome float at a pre-defined atmosphere pressure. On ice worlds, electronics near the outside can take advantage of low temperatures for superconductor use. The H.E.A.D project increases the number of colonists who can safely live on a harsh world. |
| 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. |
| Supercrops (applied science, discovery) |
Supercrops are genetically engineered crops that can live on hostile environments. They improve the farming of desert, ice, and other difficult environments, leading to greater agricultural output. |
| Advanced Hyperdrive 1 (applied science, propulsion) |
Advanced hyperdrives allow hyperspace jumps of 7 sectors. |
| The Scientists | |
| HE3 Viability (pure science, discovery) |
HE3 is a rare form of Helium that can be found on certain gas giants. HE3 fusion is a clean and incredibly efficient power source, providing more cheap energy than any previous method. This technology is required to create applications of HE3 use. |
| 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. |
| Practical Hydrogen Scoop (applied science, ) |
In order to gather HE3 efficiently from gas giants, huge hydrogen scoops can be used. These scoops can be deployed from orbital satellites or from a floating colony base. This technology allows construction of Hydrogen Scoop Deployments. |
| HE3 Weapons (applied science, military) |
Whenever you make a military order, you can specify that HE3 will be used. This doubles the effectiveness of your weapons, but consumes 1 unit of HE3 from your reserves. Note that if for some reason you issue a military order, but no battle takes place, the HE3 is not used up. |
| Tree of Life (pure science, discovery) |
All races have speculated regarding the origin of life. Are all races from the same seed, or is each a unique example? The so-called tree of life shows signs of being the most primordial life form yet discovered. The fact that it is also one of the hardiest, seeming neither to age nor suffer contaigon, leads to a variety of speculations. |
| Positronic Field Generator (applied science, discovery) |
The positronic field generator is a device capable of creating a field that makes existing warp routes unstable. While some argue that this device has only evil applications, other claim the insight into hyperspace field dynamics implied by its creation is the height of scientific acheivement. This technology allows the possesor to build a one-shot device capable of destroying an existing jump route. |
| 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 psychic phenomena in a more systematic way than the other races. |
| psychic Ram (applied science, starship weapons) |
psychic 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. |
| ghost cloak (applied science, starship components) |
The minds of sentient creatures are easily clouded. The ghost cloak uses this ability to enable a ship to pass un-noticed by sentient observers. The ghost cloak does not render a ship invisible, but does make it easier to conceal its passage. A ghost cloak requires specially trained psychic crewmembers, essentially adding 1 construction size level to any ship that includes it. |
| 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. |
| Advanced Terraforming (applied science, ) |
Advanced terraforming can be used to improve the agricultural value and population limit of a colonized desert, ice, or ocean world.. |
| Tree of Life (pure science, discovery) |
All races have speculated regarding the origin of life. Are all races from the same seed, or is each a unique example? The so-called tree of life shows signs of being the most primordial life form yet discovered. The fact that it is also one of the hardiest, seeming neither to age nor suffer contaigon, leads to a variety of speculations. |
| Terpsichore | |