Issue #32
Monday, August 29th, 2005Center of the Malestrom
Hidden away behind thier wall of outposts, PACK has enjoyed a relatviely quiet existence. However, PACK found themselves in the center of the Malestrom this week. It all started when a group of fighters sneaked into PACK space and started wreaking some havoc. Pilots were attacked, buidlings were raided, and general mayhem was the order of the day. Reasons for the intrusion include the payback to PACK for the amount of time they’ve blocked access to Imperial starbases, the hiding of Scorpion Guard buildings behind PACK walls, and even simple bounty collection. Parties from both sides justified their positions with PACK saying they let in traders as needed and the intruders saying that PACK didn’t do enough. Needless to say, the intruders were not leaving unless forced out and PACK and the Guard have been getting the job done - but not before several millions in damages were inflicted before the intruders were forced out.
Needless to say, PACK space was not exactly a stable environment.
Coincidentally enough, the conflict here happened to coincide with the universe expansion. The universe expansion connects right through one of PACK’s blocked sectors. As with any expansion the Holy Traveler Cass happened to be making her way through the PACK area when her ship was torn to shreds in an ambush. It seems that she had been bountied earlier that week and she had tripped Romanu’s ambush on her way to the newly opened areas.
Reparations are being made - but it looks like we’ll all have to wait just a bit longer for the newly mapped areas.
As to getting through the blocked PACK sectors, PACK has asked for some time to figure out exactly what they’re going to do.
For an alliance that keeps a relatviely low profile - PACK has found themselves at the center of the universe.
Alliance Give Away
As his farewell present to the universe, Ford Prefect decided to create and then give away an alliance. The rules of the alliance give-away contest were that you must be part of the alliance in order to have a chance to win. Six or so lucky contestants took the chance at winning the alliance. Through some unannounced and likely unorthodox way, Shaitan ended up the winner. What this new alliance’s goals will be is still yet to be determined. Will Kehage be on a crusade to conquer the galaxy? Will they become a pillar of light – holder of truth and justice? Or will they just be another alliance that fades away into the realms of mediocrity…
Extender Owner’s Guide: Addendum
I have been Captain now for a little over a week. I’d been pushing for Captain now for months with one goal in mind: the big purple fish that is the Extender. It is an amazingly good drive, but the owner’s manual doesn’t mention a few of the miscellaneous dangers you might face while owning one.
For example:
While heading out to Tau Ceti to do some standard F W E runs, I happened past a medusa. I’ve seen quite a few medusa here in the past few weeks and never had any problems with them. Unless provoked, they seem to be relatively passive.
However, this was the first time I’d passed a medusa in my new ship. The first time I passed it, I didn’t notice it inch towards me. The second time I passed it, it was behaving oddly, but not like I’m a medusa expert or anything and I blew it off. The third time I passed it, it was too late. The medusa was attacking my ship! One of its tentacles grabbed the hull and began to squeeze the ship. I knew the hull would collapse under the strain any second and I scrambled to the escape pod. An unarmed Extender against a medusa? Damn right escape was on my mind! I jettisoned out and immediately hit the distress beacon – turning to watch the inevitable destruction of my brand new ship.
But it never happened. The medusa just seemed content holding my ship – almost fondling it. Could it be?
My thoughts were broken as a freighter in the area answered my call. His words echoed my thoughts exactly…
“Oh man, you’re screwed. It looks like that thing is trying to ^&*% your ship!”
It wasn’t too much longer before Arjunsr piloting his hawk also heard the call and headed out to dispatch the beast – but not before the beast had…finished with my ship. The friendly freighter escorted me back to my ship in order for me to examine the damage. Interior scans showed some heavy structural damage. It seems the Medusa wasn’t as gentle as I’d have liked, but the ship was in good enough shape that I could take it to Tau Ceti for repairs.
Structural repairs ended up rather extensive but that cost was cheap compared to the cost to get the exterior cleaned and repainted.
Needless to say, for all of you Captain’s out there flying the Extender – be careful when passing those ‘passive’ medusa.
Letters to the Editor:
Dear Editor:
I would like to thank you for giving me a new purpose in life. I was happily married, had a good job, and had the perfect family on board Tribune HQ. I knew everything was perfect and that I must be missing something out there. However, I didn’t worry much about it because everything was perfect.
This was all shattered when Tribune HQ was attacked last week because of your moronic director. Thanks to Tribune HQ, I found what was missing in my life.
GRIEF as I watched my family sucked into space.
DESPARATION as I used all my strength to hold on long enough for the station sector to be contained.
FEAR as I wondered if anybody would find me in the lockdown area.
PAIN as I tried to move and realized I’d likely broken several bones.
RAGE when I discovered this was not an ACCIDENT!!
And finally…the feeling that keeps me motivated day in and day out – the one I never thought I’d feel to such a deep degree. The one that keeps me up at night planning and plotting.
REVENGE.
One day, you are going to die. I will be at your funeral to spit on your face and laugh.
Until then, I’m going to make your life as miserable as possible. Enjoy your life Editor – you don’t know how much longer you’ll have it.
[Editor: Uh…not sure what to say here other than I better hire a better security service.]
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Medusa Studies
Technocracy closed off access to part of its space last week claiming it was just a temporary closure. This set off alarms across the Empire as the last time Technocracy pulled this kind of stunt, they blocked off access to the bio lab and built illegal buildings in the area. After repeated accusations, Technocracy gave in and put out a press announcement:
They were performing ‘experiments’ on a medusa they had captured behind the MO wall near the bio lab. Unlike the director of Tribune HQ, Technocracy had the fighters and necessary equipment on hand to keep the medusa at bay and they were using the opportunity to advance Keldons’ understanding of the creature - or so we thought.
Much like the Tribune HQ medusa, the captured medusa showed much more fight than those allowed to roam in the wild. Meds and drugs by the ton were needed to sedate the creature and records show tons of meds/drugs being shipped into Technocracy space for experimental reasons. Once sedated, Technocracy began a battery of tests on the creature for various scientific, medical, and educational purposes.
The Technocracy scientists were amazed that after the tests began, a SECOND medusa entered the area in what they claim was an attempt to free the captured medusa. This type of medusa collaboration was unprecedented! Unfortunately, the second medusa posed a risk to technocracy space and had to be put down.
But Technocracy was rather vague in the exact TYPES of tests that were being performed on the medusa - and the Tribune now knows why! My crack team of reporters were able to infiltrate Technocracy space to see exactly what was going on behind those doors. Experiments they were performing? Well, it INVOLVED a medusa, but they weren’t exactly studying it. They were rather studying the ability of the medusa to teleport from one part of the galaxy to another. If someone were able to harness that kind of power - they would be rich or unstoppable - likely both.
Unfortunately for Technocracy, things didn’t quite go as expected. A crack team of scientists were able to temporarily freeze a medusa teleportation hole and a small fleet jumped through - but the jump was blind. The team ended up in an unmapped, unknown, and untapped part of the universe with an unhappy medusa to worry about.
The medusa was finally put down, but the way back to known space was long since gone and the surviving ships were not exactly at 100%. Attempts to recreate the hole were dismal failures with the resources on hand so the remains of the fleet slogged through sector after sector looking for any signs of recognizable features or civilization. They were about one day from having to find a class M planet to settle down on when they lucked into being able to stabilize a wormhole that led back to known space.
An Imperial flagship happened to be passing through and caught wind of the call from the previously closed wormhole. This type of event was a type X secrecy classification! This could give the Imperials the resources they needed to put down the Federation once and for all. This also meant that every TRUE power in the galaxy knew about the incident in less than ten minutes.
And so now - the race is once again on for the exploration of the new twenty-two sectors in the Neutral Zone.
Rumor has it that the rag-tag fleet that made it back to Technoracy space was flogged, demoted, and sent to kitchen duty for the rest of their careers. Rumor also has it that the spin doctor for Technocracy was given a hefty raise.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Time.
It slides through our fingers like the water from the shores of Tiacken. Every moment we wait, more souls are lost. And not in the physical sense as uses for lost mindless drones can always be found. But rather, children are born into a culture where living under the rule of others is perfectly normal. That life is not really theirs to do as they wish – that they are property to be bought and sold and don’t know any better.
These people lack the strength to do what they need to do. They fear the consequences of their actions.
They have yet to understand true fear. But they will.
In the end – one way or another – they will understand what they have to lose.