Where Were You When Archon Delaine Fell Into Turmoil?

After several weeks of open conflict between Imperial forces and the Kumo Crew, civil unrest is now out of control in the pirate controlled systems of Bhattra, Hexians and Brynhilo.

"Harma Delende Est!", meaning "Harma must be destroyed" in the ancient Latin language, has been the battle cry of the White Templars during the conflict the group is now calling "The Action at Harma". With the assistance of the Imperial Coalition the Templars helped to organize, several star systems now threaten to free themselves from the pirate lord's grasp.

In a rare interview, the elusive Templar Knight CMDR Byr Goefin showed confidence that they will triumph: "We believe we can pry systems from the grip of the Pirate Lord and return Imperial citizens to their families across the Empire. We will work tirelessly to achieve this goal."

Already, citizens across the Empire are celebrating and asking their neighbours: "Where were you when Archon Delaine's empire fell into turmoil?"

Commander Pierre916

Capitol Herald | Interstellar Press

This has been a sponsored story for the White Templars.

Alliance Corporation Launches Exploration Programme

The Dumbbell Nebula, also known as Messier 27, is the new target of an ambitious Alliance exploration programme. The Wolf 406 Transport & Co corporation publicly launched earlier this month an initiative to survey every astronomical body around this nebula. In order to swiftly complete the mapping of nearly 9000 star systems, the Wolf 406 Transport & Co is enlisting the help of experienced independent explorers to work alongside pilots from the Alliance Elite Diplomatic Corps (AEDC).

The First Merchantress of Wolf 406 Transport & Co, Victoria Wolf VI, explained the choice of the Dumbbell Nebula in an official press release: “It has been more than one and a half millenium since the Dumbbell Nebula was first seen by human eyes, thanks to Charles Messier; yet it still remains uncharted territory despite being within the reach of modern technology.”

Independent pilots wishing to participate in this exploration programme are invited to coordinate directly with representatives of the AEDC.

CMDR Léonard "Kulzar" Chamberlain

Allied News Service | Interstellar Press

Click here for more information.

Published in Alioth, Lave, Gateway and Wolf 406. 

Congressional Corporate Donation Transparency Bill

The bill introduced by Liberal Congressman César Neves almost three weeks ago is now undergoing a motion to vote in Federal Congress. The Congressional Corporate Donation Transparency Bill proposes to make representatives’ donations from corporate sources publicly available and transparent. Premier Federal politics show HARDTalk this morning debated the implications of the bill, with former Liberal Congresswoman Ailana Middlebrooks stating:

“Well obviously the Republicans are scared, otherwise they’d be pushing for this vote so they could get it off the table. The fact that they’ve been filibustering it for this long indicates that they’re concerned that not all party members will fall in line.”

The debate opposition, former Republican Congressman Akash Bali, countered: “I think we can all agree that this Liberal notion is just a huge waste of time. The Federation doesn’t need another layer of red tape.”

If the motion is carried the 213 Liberal representatives will be aiming to get Congress’ 49 Democrats on side in order to defeat the 238 Republican party in an upcoming vote.

Cmdr Stateira Eleshenar

Regulus Observer | Interstellar Press

Editor's note: numbers of representatives in the Congress as listed in this story may be subject to change. 

Nagi Rejoins Empire

Last night militia forces loyal to Empire Pact boarded Bolkow City, industrial and political centre of Nagi.

Governance in the system, long-standing member of the Empire and home to millions of imperial clients, recently fell to hostile takeover by independent Nagi Corporation.

Inquisitors of the Chapterhouse, Noxa, Edgar Starwalker, and Jubei Himura, from nearby Kamadhenu, led ships into battle above the rings of remote Nagi ABC 2 – drawing away corporate security forces.

Eyewitnesses claim Empire Pact faced little resistance from station defenders, with System Authority command codes secured within minutes of their arrival.

Chapterhouse of Inquisition spokesperson Selune d'Amenta confirmed the group's involvement:

“With our help Nagi has returned to the imperial fold. Citizens can rest assured that other fallen systems can expect similar intervention very soon, as part of our Tour of Duty initiative.”

Events in Nagi contrast with reported problems in Facece, where Chancellor Anders Blaine has been struggling for months to regain control from a local independent faction.

Commander Pentwyn Sudonnan

Capitol Herald | Interstellar Press

Written by CMDR Edgar Starwalker under a pen name.

Published in Nagi, Kamadhenu, Achenar and Nemgla.

Tears of the Pilgrim

In tense scenes Utopian forces today established a quarantine zone in the plague system of Peregrina with the aim to study a mysterious pathogen on one of its moons, Undine.

Aboard the Talos 2 outpost orbiting the plague world, scientists are now beginning to examine the disease and its possible links to the technological plague that is sweeping across human space.

Using a long range communications array to maintain quarantine, lead scientist Aia Vogel explained the mission:

"Humanity faces an unknown disease that is slowly affecting our technology. We know very little about it, so we must investigate any lead that could help us. Our base here gives us an ideal opportunity for researching the infection on Undine as well as any links to the unidentified alien artefacts around Merope."

Commander Gan

Utopian News Network | Interstellar Press

Leading Scientist Expresses Doubts

Yesterday Professor Ishmael Palin called upon independent pilots to deliver meta-alloys, produced by the newly discovered ‘barnacles’ in the Pleiades Nebula, to Obsidian Orbital, suggesting that the material could be the cure for the technological virus spreading through inhabited space. However, Professor Violet Belbin of the Xenological Research Institute today expressed doubts:

“I would caution against any hasty hailing of this wonder material as the answer to our problems. The nature of these ‘barnacles’ is not fully understood. They could be a form of alien life. Harvesting them may have unforeseen consequences. The Xenological Research Institute is sending a team to Maia and asks that Professor Palin takes our concerns into consideration.”

Pilots have already started scouring the system and are bringing back cargo holds full of meta-alloys to Professor Palin’s base of operations at Obsidian Orbital.

Cmdr Stateira 'Starcloak' Eleshenar

Zandu Science Journal | Interstellar Press

Published on GalNet News.

The Fate of the Antares' Crew and Passengers

Last week Sirius Corporation announced the successful recovery of debris belonging to lost passenger liner the Antares, and proclaimed its intention to subject the wreckage to extensive testing to determine the cause of the vessel’s destruction. What is still not known is whether any organic remains were found. The Friends of Antares memorial group issued a brief statement:

“We trust that if any biological remains have been found Sirius Corporation will not delay in repatriating them to the next of kin for appropriate funerary rites.”

One pilot who worked on the recovery effort said:

“If the craft ripped itself apart I doubt there’ll be anything left. If it didn’t… well, I’ve done a lot of rescues and even more wreckages. Explosive decompression ain’t pretty – and I’m not talking about the bulkheads. Any who didn’t try to hold their breaths will have been turned into swollen blue icicles. I don’t know if Sirius Corporation picked any up though – all I found were twisted scraps of metal.”

Sirius Corporation has yet to confirm the recovery of organic remains.

Cmdr Stateira 'Starcloak' Eleshenar

Zandu Science Journal | Interstellar Press

Flying the Friendly Skies

The issue of security has come to the fore in Wolf 1230 today as the Da Vinci Corporation with Wolf 1230 Dynamic Industries reveal plans to establish a Free Fly Zone within its space.

Finding endemic corruption and malpractice within the existing security force, Da Vinci Corporation intend to take on policing themselves to create a neutral territory where all commanders can fly without fear of intimidation and violence. Spokesman for the Da Vinci Corporation, T.T.Starr, outlined the project:

"No matter your background or allegiance, if you respect the rules you will be welcome. Da Vinci Corporation commanders along with specially commissioned volunteers will police Wolf 1230 and its surrounding systems to ensure the safety of all visiting pilots. If the scheme proves successful, the Da Vinci Corporation along with Wolf 1230 Dynamic Industries will promote our systems for hosting galactic events in the future".

Commander Gan

Artemis Sentinel | Interstellar Press

Published in Wolf 1230.

Updated - Changing Face of Senate could Threaten Emperor's Progress

The Eridani Dispatch editorial team is sorry to confirm that this report was based on unsubstantiated rumors and accusations. While corporate interests in the Empire may be on the rise, there is no indication that the patronage networks of established Senators in the Imperial Senate are under their influence. Furthermore, the spokesperson for the Chapterhouse of Inquisition, Selune d'Amenta, claims that she was entirely misquoted. For these reasons, the editorial team of the Eridani Dispatch officially retracts support of the story but will leave it available for review in a show of transparency for its readers.

Findings published by advocacy group Chapterhouse of Inquisition point to increased corporate influence in the Senate.

The coronation of Arissa Lavigny-Duval had commentators predicting resurgence for patronage governments in political centres throughout the Empire, driven by the new emperor's lauded traditionalism.

Chapterhouse's report paints a different picture, highlighting Nyalayan, Vish, and Ocairi, examples of key systems that formerly sent Senators from among their patrons to Achenar, but in recent weeks have seen their governments restructured - and new Senators sponsored by corporations instead.

Selune Saunders, a spokesperson for the Chapterhouse HQ in Kamadhenu, explained the report's implications, “The changing make-up of the Senate means the Emperor will face serious hurdles passing her legislation.

“Measures seen to unduly favour the Empire's various Pacts, Societies, & Leagues – widely supportive of the Emperor - will be robustly challenged; as will measures that risk curtailing freedoms of the corporate sphere.”

Saunders refused to take questions on social media rumours that Federation mercenaries covertly support certain corporations in the Empire; independent newsfeeds link the changes in the Senate with recent slow-downs in Arissa Lavigny-Duval's anti-corruption projects.

Cmdr Edgar Starwalker

Q1 Eridani Dispatch | Interstellar Press

Alliance Pilot Liberates Slaves

A huge outpouring of support for humanitarian aid spread across the Lavian populace today as Alliance pilot Stephen Li delivered 400 human beings, including 86 children, to his home port, rescuing them from branded slavery in Kumo space. The sudden and unexpected arrival of so many malnourished and injured individuals saw station residents rally round to offer medical and food supplies, with many agreeing to host recovering patients. Mr. Li gave a statement to local news outlets:

"I don’t care what some bigwig politician says. I liberated these folk from Comanga and nothing’s going to stop me going back for more. These people are branded with burns bearing the Kumo insignia. Most of them are underweight and suffering from malnutrition. If they’re unwilling or unable to fight alongside the Crew, they wind up as slaves. As a result they’re considered not worth wasting the food on, so they’re just worked until they're used up. Most of the kids were in an industrial processing facility for Onionhead, sorting the crops by grade to be smuggled into the Federation."

"Archon Delaine can jump into a black hole," Li added, "And the Alliance needs to seriously rethink its priorities."

Alliance non-interference has been a controversial internal debate over the past six months, with detractors of the policy decrying Federal pressure as the primary cause.

Cmdr Stateira 'Starcloak' Eleshenar

Alioth Guardian | Interstellar Press

The Worlds Beyond

Today Utopian delegates from Antal returned from a symposium to establish the Pioneer’s Cooperative, a group dedicated to supporting new expansion projects into uninhabited space.

Also attending were Loren's Legion, Communism Interstellar, The Black Birds Squadron, Aisling's Angels, The Canonn, The Independent Pilots Consortium, Emperor's Grace, The Mercs of Mikunn, United German Commanders, EXO, The First Great Expedition, The Code, Adles Armada, The Guardians of Harmony, CHIMERA, The Distant Worlds Admins and The Hutton Orbital Truckers. 

"To live is to grow, and mankind must push ever outwards", proclaimed one attending Utopian explorer. "Humanity has come here today unified under a banner of progress, and Utopia is proud to add its support and experience in this noble venture. Our commune at Takurua demonstrated expansion outside the core systems was possible, and the success of Obsidian Orbital in Maia shows mankind has a unified desire to expand the frontiers of human space and scientific understanding."

CMDR Gan
Utopia News Network | Interstellar Press

Published on GalNet News. 

Adoration for the Emperor

Crowds in Capitol were delighted today to catch a glimpse of Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval, as the new head of state went about her duties. An ever-increasing crowd had been growing on the planet, hoping to pay personal tribute to the Emperor by demonstration of the adoring masses.

The Emperor enjoyed a quiet seasonal break, making the traditional broadcast of Imperial monarchs on Empire Day on 2nd January. Her reflection back on the previous year and expression of goodwill found great popularity amongst the Imperial citizenry, who have warmed to their new sovereign as the late Hengist Duval’s heir.

Replacement of official documents and plaques with the new Emperor’s titles and insignia was also completed over the festive period, and stations now proclaim the glory of Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval across the length and breadth of the Empire.

Cmdr Stateira 'Starcloak' Eleshenar

Capitol Herald | Interstellar Press

A Place of Serenity

New explorers setting out into the void have started sending back reports of previously unknown settlements. At multiple locations less than 200ly from the inhabited systems, informal colonies are being formed on recently discovered planets, off the official record kept by Universal Cartographics.

Earth-like worlds are the most popular sites, but unofficial outposts have been verified on other planetary bodies, from high metal planets to icy moons; many of them settled by former pilots, and with population of less than a hundred. Veteran pilot Jonah Adane Tabor, sole occupant of one Earth-like, stated:

“Shinrarta Dezhra? Too many people! Look, I fought a lot of battles in my time – a lot of senseless killing and blood-shedding over nuthin’. I seen my friends blasted into stardust in an instant, vaporised, just like that. Everyone I know is gone now. It crawls into yer brain. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep… I don’t want to see those things in my dreams no more! I parked up here ‘cause I just want to be left alone. I can’t live with other people. I built this home with my own hands. This is my little corner of the universe to find peace.”

Cmdr Stateira 'Starcloak' Eleshenar

Sentient Life | Interstellar Press

This has been published in Shinrarta Dezhra.

A Strange Destiny

Kumo Crew warlord Archon Delaine unwittingly became the centre of a local religious dispute earlier this week. During their New Year conclave, a schism appeared within the priesthood of the ascetic Faithful Cult of Mannovalo on the meaning of a prophecy that may involve the pirate chieftain.

It seems Archon Delaine fits the description of a 300 year old prophecy describing a white-haired conqueror. A splinter group calling themselves the True Faithful Cult of Mannovalo claims that it is Delaine’s destiny to convert all Kumo vessels into generational colony ships and lead them to a new home in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This is counter to the orthodoxy promoted by the Righteous Faithful Cult of Mannovalo. They instead believe that the warlord will give away all his ill-gotten gains and become the new high priest of their pacifistic religion on Mannovalo 1.

This religious feud threatens the stability of the Mannovalo theocracy as planetside protests increase in intensity. The Kumo Crew has not issued any comment on the issue at the time of broadcast.

Cmdr Stateira 'Starcloak' Eleshenar

Q1 Eridani Dispatch | Interstellar Press

Famous Composer Seeks Patron

International superstar and composer Lilit Kassouni today begins a tour of inhabited space to showcase her new work, '400 Billion Stars'. Critics, who had a sneak preview during rehearsals earlier in the week, are already calling the suite a revolutionary blend of ancient Earth forms and modern technology that tells the story of Humanity’s place in the galaxy.

The tour begins at Sol, and will travel to Sirius, Alioth, Antal, and Achenar to close the final performance. It is widely understood that the composer is looking for a patron amongst the great and good of the galaxy, though in a brief press statement Ms. Kassouni focused on her music:

“It’s telling a tale of the Human experience thus far, and what we may encounter in future. Our history is both beautiful and terrible, and there’s a lesson to be learned in that. I hope it will speak to audiences across space, whether you’re living in the Alliance or the Empire.”

Cmdr Stateira 'Starcloak' Eleshenar

Wolf Entertainment Weekly | Interstellar Press

Published in Sol, Alioth, Antal and Achenar.

Anarchy in the Heart of the Alliance

Several weeks after the coup that plunged He Bo into anarchy, the Alliance Assembly remains paralyzed over the legitimacy of a military intervention in this system of the Alioth star cluster. The He Bo system has effectively been in a state of lawlessness since the Sons of Icarus, an independent mercenary organization, took control of Krylov Ring station from the democratic Social He Bo Revolutionary Party.

Supporters of a military solution argue that this situation is a humanitarian crisis and cite the Lave revolution of 3265 as a precedent. However, according to Aaron Perron, opponent to interventionism and representative for 70 Virginis: ”We have no legal ground to justify Alliance involvement in what is, at its core, an internal matter. If we bring war to He Bo, we will only bring more misery to its people.”

With over 24 billion inhabitants, He Bo is one of the most populated agricultural system in civilized space.

CMDR Léonard “Kulzar” Chamberlain

Allied News Service | Interstellar Press

Published in Alioth, Lave and Gateway.

The Labyrinth of Bureaucracy

As the Federal Congress reconvenes following a brief holiday interval to mark the start of a new standard calendar year, Liberal representatives are preparing for the reading of a new bill submitted by Congressman César Neves. The bill outlines a proposal to make the Federal system of government more accountable, by requiring representatives to declare any donations they have accepted from a corporate sponsor. Former Congresswoman Ailana Middlebrooks made the following statement on premier Federal politics show HARDTalk:

“Well the system is a joke and has been for decades. A Federal citizen cannot simply bring an issue to their representative to act on. Some bills backed by petitions from significant numbers of the populace are shelved simply because certain members of Congress refuse to vote without a generous incentive – usually only the corporations and the mega rich can afford to sweeten the deal. And what’s going on stays behind closed doors – the Federal public has no idea whether their Congressperson is honest or taking bribes just to do their job.”

The Liberal party will be hoping to crack the whip to their own members and find partial support amongst the Republicans, although whether they gain the support they need remains to be seen.

Cmdr Stateira 'Starcloak' Eleshenar

Regulus Observer | Interstellar Press

Published in Sol, Nanomam and Rhea.

Utopia's Newest Initiate

Pranav Antal’s Utopian vision was predicted by commentators to see an influx of pilgrims at the beginning of the new standard year, as the Utopian message spreads across civilised space, but today there was an unexpected addition to Utopia’s initiates.

Amelia Chong, daughter of late Federal governor Neil Chong of VVO 19, made formal pledge to the Utopian cause at Tanner Settlement in Polevnic, just days after appearing before a congressional corruption committee on Mars. Ms. Chong stated:

“I loved my father but these past weeks it has become apparent to me just how deeply he was willing to compromise his principles, to betray a friend, to betray the Federation. That trial was a sham. Captain Oliver Jackson never kidnapped me; he liberated me from another Kumo captain and took me home. He’s painted as a monster but it’s all just scaremongering by the corporate press. The time I spent amongst his crew I learned just how mistreated they’d been by the Alliance, the Empire, the Federation. I feel ashamed that I believed the stories for so long. I won’t be surprised if Congress sweeps my testimony under the rug instead of taking action and addressing the problem. Perhaps Utopia can provide the answers I’m looking for, and that humanity so desperately needs.”

Cmdr Stateira 'Starcloak' Eleshenar

Regulus Observer | Interstellar Press

Retrospection

As the Galaxy celebrated the arrival of 3302, Sim Library historians in the Antal system archived the previous years events as experienced by Utopians in an annual ceremony known as 'The Transfer'.

The newly uploaded simulations included the horrors of the Ewah war, Traitors Purge, Munshin refugee convoy missions and the founding of the Takurua commune with Sirius Inc. Others featured the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and The Andanini Accord with the Sirius and Da Vinci Corporations.

Overseeing the ceremony, head Curator Gol Deleuze gave a short speech as the new simulations were entered into the library:

"Utopia stores these events so that future generations may learn from our triumphs and failures. To forget the past is to condemn the future, for history is the teacher of life."

Commander Gan

Utopia News Network | Interstellar Press

Published in Antal and Polevnic.