Issue #26
Monday, July 18th, 2005Extinction Agenda on Rampage
Extinction Agenda, an invite only alliance made up of many of the grizzled veterans of the universe, ruffled quite a few feathers this week. An attack on the Scorpion Guard led to the Scorpion Guard retaliating with the destruction of some EA buildings. Words have been exchanged from both sides, and this looks to be the beginning of a long-standing conflict between the two alliances.
If that wasn’t enough, EA looks to have some unfinished business with TSO as well. EA pilots have begun firing on TSO with regularity. Potwor, another long-standing Imperial alliance, has come to the support of TSO with a declaration that they would defend TSO in TSO space. Ruby Legion, has closed its doors to EA and has also stated that they will provide military assistance as needed. The Scorpion Guard has also stated that they will fire at will at any EA in TSO space.
Well, needless to say, if EA wanted to stir up a hornet’s nest, they’ve done a good job of it. This should prove interesting to watch for those outside the conflict.
Leech Scientific Breakthrough
Deep in the middle of the Neutral Zone, a lost trader came across a space leech who attacked him. In desperation, the anonymous trader sent everything he had at this space leech and destroyed it, but not before his ship was nearly torn to shreds. It was going to be a long haul back to any part of civilization. But they were going to get worse before they got better as a new blip on his radar showed that another leech was on its way. Preparing his escape pod, he was surprised when something jostled the ship, yet didn’t destroy it.
Carefully making his way back to the cockpit, he found that a baby space leech had attached to his ship, and was secreting a slime all over the ship. As the slime hardened, it was hard as any armor. The pilot found that the integrity of this ship had increased dramatically, and he was easily able to make his way.
At the wormhole however, there was a slight hesitation by the pilot. Would the leech make it through, or would it tear the leech, the ship, or both apart? Seeing as there was nothing he could really do about it, he went ahead and made his way through. The leech survived, and a new marvel was observed when he docked at the next station. People gathered at every possible window to view this rather large baby leech attached to the ship.
Profiteers immediately saw the potential for leeches and immediately began hiring scientists to develop leeches of their own. It wasn’t long before the clod generator and leech breedery specifications were developed and released to the public. Needless to say, the space leech is now a known alternative to shield replacement throughout the universe.
Advertsiement
Looking for a new pet? Don’t want your standard dog, cat, or Tiackenian Sand Shark? Why not try out a brand new Space Leech? Able to repair your ship with increasing ability, a space leech would be an ideal pet for the space mongering pirate! Don’t like long term commitments? Not a problem with a space leech as they only tend to stick around until you die in some horrible disaster, or mature to go looking for mates after a few short weeks. Looking for low maintenance? The space leech is the way to go? No worry about food, water, or cleaning, the space leech just attaches to your ship and away you go!
Stop by your local space leech breeder and pick up your space leech today!
Space Leech Guide
Raising a space leech? Well, there’s definitely some things you need to know! Raising a space leech isn’t all fun and games you know, it takes some dedicated time, a pinch of luck, and lots of love to make YOUR space leech the envy of all lecches.
Well, first the question comes up, how do I get my own space leech? Well, there’s a couple different ways. The easy way to do it, is to run down to the nearest leech breedery and pick up the leech of your choosing. Rumor has it that the leeches that move a bit more in the breedery have a better personality, but there’s no proof in that statement.
However, what’s the fun in picking one up when you can raise your own? First, you put up a clod generator. When a clod of sufficient size is produced, it is sent to the breedery where an egg is inserted. After a few short weeks, the space leech is born. The space leech is given a week to grow before being allowed to adopt a ‘mother’ of its own (your ship).
Now, there have been a few misconceptions regarding the space leech that need to be cleared up before we move on. First, space leeches do not suck blood. These are not leeches found on some class M planets. These are SPACE leeches. Space leeches adopt your ship as its mother. And no, they don’t suck power, fuel, or commodities out of your ship either.
Have a problematic space leech? Give it a zap or two from your mining laser. Stubborn leeches have been known to need higher voltages, but it generally doesn’t take long to get your space leech acting just the way you want it to.
Space leeches need to know their away around your ship. The first time your ship gets damaged, it take the leech some time to figure out what to do. The more you get damaged, the more the leech will repair and it will get better at it. It starts at 1 point every 20 minutes.
Infant space leeches can be stored in your hull and bought/sold like every other commodity, although its suggested you don’t keep them too long. They tend to make a mess of things, and leeches in large packs tend to get violent.
Practical tips for leech owners: But the most expensive armor you can afford. Buy a leech and install it onto your ship. Go shoot something and get your armor into the red. Find a place to rest and allow your leech to ‘train’. The next day, your armor should be full and your leech should be much more able to help you out. Do this for a few days and you should be good to go!
And last but not least, NAME your leech! Leeches are animals too, and they need names.
(large portions of this guide were contributed to by Ivera)
Buidling Transfer system Overhual
Well, after complaints from around the universe, the Building Overhaul committee finally decided to pester building manufacturers into doing something about the lack of doors between the commodities section of the building and the upkeep section of the building.
Building owners have been crying over the fact that materials had to be unloaded out of the building, into your ship, and then back into the building to transfer materials. The discovery that they actually could put a DOOR between the two sections was heralded as breakthrough idea by the Building Overhaul comittee. The Building Overhaul committee has given themselves a fat raise for this success. Buidling owners are just happy the door has been installed.
Wormhole Littering
Well, it’s been a long time coming, but the first space accident occurred this week as a result of a ship hitting debris from a previously failed wormhole jump by some previous pilot. Local citizens have cried out to local jurisdictions to do something about these dirty wormholes, and since it was easy enough to fix, they did something about it. Low level traders now have the ability for wormhole missions, where the trader flies to the wormhole and cleans it for the local jurisdictions. Another successful venture instituted by local governments.
Will wonders never cease?