The Tiacken Tribune

Welcome back, Pardus! It has been over two Earth years since our last publication, and to say that a few things have happened would be both accurate and an understatement of incredible proportion. The Tribune knows better than to try to record history at this point. Surely, some of you will be wondering why the Tribune chose now, of all times, to suddenly spring back on the scene. The answer is as simple as it is complicated. The war that currently consumes us between the Empire and the Federation has strained friendships, and we at the Tribune have noticed a steady decline in civility. It may just be that there is little left in the universe that is sacred…nothing left that all pilots, regardless of faction, creed, or alignment can enjoy as one unified group. Perhaps we were just tired of the current “news” being offered by GNN. Maybe we got paid to do it (the staff wishes!). In any case, here we are. And here we may just stay for a little while.

Ghearaz Fezdan — In Memoriam (warning, this post commingles IC and OOC content)

It is difficult, if not impossible, to not occasionally break character when faced with certain happenings in Pardus. Once such happening is so recent that it still stings a bit to talk or write about. I am aware that at least a few posts were created in the Pardus forums regarding Ghearaz Fezdan’s death, and I am sorry to be starting our first return issue on such a down note, but “Fez” as he was known, deserves a tribute from the Tribune.

For those who did or do not know these details, Fez died on Monday, October 12, 2009, from a brain tumor. He had been battling cancer and tumors for months prior to his death, but still was an incredibly positive presence in the forums and various chats. Stories by his friends tell that even in his darkest hours, he found peace and happiness in Pardus. His presence should be missed by all of Pardus, and we should all take time occasionally to remember Fez. I think he would like that.

I think of Tennyson any time I see the words In Memoriam…and find that the most famous stanzas are true even here.

hold it true, whate’er befall;
I feel it when I sorrow most;
‘Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

So this issue of the Tribune is dedicated to my friend, Adrian, known to us as Fez. [/ooc as it were]

That said, the Tribune would like to extend its respect and gratitude to the gods who fly among us as Cubes. Fez’s final farewell shocked Pardus, and many knelt and prayed that the gods would intervene somehow. And intervene they did. Three cubes descended from the sky on Baham. None know what arcane rituals were practiced under the stormy skies, but when the cubes emerged from Baham’s atmosphere, they bore with them a blessed sarcophagus. This vessel shall bear Fez’s mortal remains for 50 years.

The blessings of the gods shine into the distant future! Even so, the Tribune has it on good authority that the Imperial Guard will be seeking aid after the war to destroy Fez’s three remaining buildings so as not to abuse the mercy of the gods. While we at the Tribune do not speak for the Imperial Guard, we think it would be a fitting remembrance if a large gathering of all pilots occurred, post-war, to show that Fez affected them and to bid a final farewell by putting a few rounds into these buildings. Once again, we at the Tribune want to reinforce that we do not, IN ANY WAY, speak for IG. And uninvited guests who simply decide to engage Fez’s buildings will probably be shot on sight.

NEWS FROM THE FRONTS

This has certainly been an active war! Both sides have launched massive assaults, and have seen exceptional success. A brief update from around the Universe shows numerous Imperial passes down, several federal passes breached, and MERC, IG, and the PEC alliances entrenched in Ras Elased.

As always, the Tribune has reporters on most of the front lines, and thus are able to bring you news of the following operations:

Pass-Emp 06 Breach

Tribune sources are sketchy on this operation since the Federation has ordered operational silence. What we do know is that on January 22, approximately twenty federals entered Pass-Emp 006 with the desire to once again punch through the Military Outpost line. What they were not counting on was the presence of Imperial war-hero, Arthurv. Sources have confirmed that Arthurv took advantage of the Emperor’s decree that no fed have safety even on Wormholes in Imperial space and sent several of the would-be assailants home in their escape podes. The Tribune’s observes watched in horror after the federal assault force, after milling about uncertainly for a time, launched an attack on three nearby space farms. It is rumored that nearly 500 tons of the Emperor’s finest Broccoli was destroyed in the flames.

Pass-Fed 06 Breach

To the Federation’s credit, there is not a faction in the Universe that matches them in terms of war missions. The Federal ability to breach a pass, rush missions in, and retreat to relative safety is nothing short of marvelous. The Empire, given GNN’s “war-point” tally, has attempted to adapt and adopt tactics to narrow the war-mission margin. To that end, a fleet of 50-60 imperials entered Pass-Fed 006 in an attempt to rush missions into Federation space. Several federal defenders, including Jonasaar, Sidsnake, MrMoo, and Inco responded to the alarm and rushed to the 13-Avenger military outpost being attacked. Using progressive defense tactics, the Federals were able to destroy eight imperials. Inco was the only federal casualty.

The Imperial Perspective (Umballer)

Our latest operation was a bump in our strategy. We set out in the North Pardus Rim with one target in mind - a military outpost in Pass FED 06. With numbers greater than we’ve ever had before, we were quite confident going into the engagement. However, today, luck was not on our side.

Unlike previously, when we’d encountered little to no Federal resistance, this time we met several online and prepared Federal combatants, including Fleet Admiral Jonasaar, Fleet Admiral Inco, Rear Admiral Sidsnake, and Admiral MrMoo. This opposition managed to destroy a majority of our trader support, while sustaining only one casualty (Fleet Admiral Inco fell to the guns of Queen Tatsu).

Facing mounting casualties, a retreat was called and the Imperial fleet left the hostile Military Outpost heavily damaged, with only 7 of the original 13 modules remaining. The operation itself was a loss for the Empire, although it taught us many things. It taught us how to face opposition under stress (discipline was actually remarkable, the defenders were just too fast). It also taught us that you can’t win every time - and this is one thing we must accept.

With the war ending soon and the points so close that it’s anybody’s guess who will emerge the victor, the war in the NZ may eventually decide the winner. Imperial morale, despite the recent loss, is at a high point. Who knows if the next big battle will tip the favor into Imperial or Federal hands? All I can say is - watch the news.

Prince Umballer, reporting from the front lines of the Neutral Zone.

The Elased Offensive

Since the taking of the Southern Elased nook, and the two assaults on the Northern Elased nook, imperial forces remain entrenched in Ras Elased. Most of the kills coming out of that area in the past few days are traders who are struggling to keep bases in an increasingly hostile sector stocked. Time will tell whether this lull in activity represents the proverbial “calm before the storm” or the end of the push in the PFC.

THE BREACH HEARD ‘ROUND THE UNIVERSE

As we alluded to in our prologue, there are fewer and fewer sacred “places” in the universe today. What makes a place sacred? Is it really a special area of space, blessed by the Cubes? Or is it just an understanding between all of the Universe’s sentient beings to lay down their arms when passing through certain sectors? It used to be the latter, but times, they are a changin’. As wars become more rapid, treachery and preemptive strikes have become commonplace. Where, then, are factions supposed to turn to regain balance — to be able to heal the wounds of war by saving a former enemy from a roaming Z-16 Fighter? The Federation showed us that nothing is safe anymore when they attacked and destroyed Tatsu’s long-standing MO guarding the Nusakan Z-nook.

Let us be clear. To the point when Nusakan was breached, the Federation had conducted a fairly stellar war effort. Multiple enemy passes had been breached, the Federal war-mission machine was in full swing, and Federal morale and operational participation were at a possible all-time high. Initial reports suggested that the Federal war machine has selected Imperial Pass 005 as their next target. The Tribune, however, has discovered through its contacts in the Federation, that, contrary to the earlier intelligence, Pass-Emp 005 was never a target. The Federal fleet, which had been having a great deal of trouble with Queen Tatsu, had determined that they would assault Nusakan, destroy Tatsu’s MO, and raze the production chain of any “hostile” buildings. They were successful. Members of the high admiralty issued conflicting statements, with some going as far as reporting that Federal intelligence had determined that the Z-nook was being used as a retreat point for MERC and its allies during the war. While these reports were immediately refuted by Conglomo, the Federation has not backed down. Others in the admiralty explained that the attack was made against MERC targets, given that Tatsu is currently a member of that alliance. This logic is troubling and has raised more questions than it has answered. Is Solaqu once again fair game? What of Urhoho? Imperials who are fighting for the Empire have buildings and MOs in both traditionally neutral spaces.

Imperials immediately called for full war against the Federation from the Union, neutrals, Imperials, and Federals alike. Z-sectors, especially those closely controlled by demonstrably neutral alliances, have traditionally escaped the hell that is war. After all, the fact that federals, imperials, unions, and neutrals alike could improve their combat savvy at reasonable prices and with a guaranteed supply of Z-class opponents is a valuable opportunity. In fact, there are few other operations like it in the Universe.

For advice on this matter, the Tribune approached one of the founders of the Solaqu project, which offers services similar to those formerly offered in Nusakan. Thornal Malat, leader of Ye Olde Candy Lordes, manager of Solaqu, general bad-ass. To our surprise, Thornal Malat did not echo the bloodlust heard from other corners of the Universe. While Malat expressed regret over the fall of Nusakan, he suggested that violence would only breed further violence. According to Thornal, “If you consider one faction a problem instead of making them a part of the solution, it will remain a problem.” Others, of course, desire a far more…violent…resolution to this breach of neutrality.

Initially, the Tribune was appalled by the assault. After all, the last time this reporter was involved in hostilities within Nusakan’s borders was during the infamous “Broccoli Incident.” Yet should the Universe have been surprised? Federal forces and their allies had already been warned against ambushing in Nusakan once during the early part of the war. Then there were Federal probes of GUA territories in the North Pardus Rim. Further back, the Federal command desired a war with Quinto Imperio to remove the alliance from its ancestral home in the West Pardus Rim. In taverns across the Universe, unanswered questions linger. Does the Federation respect neutrality? Are any neutrals safe from the “Blue Meanies?” Has the Federation crossed the line? To what end?

Conglomo has reacted by initially banning all members of participatory alliances from the Z-Nook. The Tribune extends its deepest condolences to both Conglomo and the hordes of skillers who will suffer from the destruction of the area’s production chain.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Dancing Girls Revolt, Fed in Tatters

Word has reached the Tribune that there has been a mass uprising of Keldonian Dancing Girls formerly serving aboard federal vessels. As all the Universe knows, all Keldonian dancing girls can trace their ancestral heritage to the shores of Keldon, jewel of the Empire. Enraged at the devastation caused by the Federal fleet to their ancestral home, every single Dancing Girl teleported herself off of the Fed vessels. Predictably, Federation officials have categorically denied that this ever happened. When asked why inferior Rashkiri stock had suddenly replaced the elegant Keldons aboard their ships, Federation officials terminated the video feed.

Bureau of Galactic Resource Management Issues Unprecedented Sixth Building License

Wow. That’s some title. Not much more to write. Congratulations to Anfauglir for successfully acquiring his SIXTH building slot license from the Bureau of Galactic Resource Management!

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