Issue #15
War of the Shadows
Roughly a week after OSN placed a series of bounties on TSO and then cancelled them, the OSN declared war on TSO and invaded the Olbea sector. The first day’s casualties included several lightly or undefended buildings and it seems the OSN focused mainly on neb plants the first day. Finishing the day, OSN placed bounties on several TSO members, likely members who had neb plants based on the first day’s attacks. The second day was more of the same, but TSO seemed to get organized and began coordinating a resistance. Another four buildings were destroyed in the OSN attacks, but OSN took several casualties as well. At this point, OSN retreated to rearm and regroup. Ironically enough, both groups declared victory at this point: TSO, for having driven OSN out of TSO territory, and OSN for having accomplished their objectives.
What the goals of OSN were in these attacks can only be speculated: A simple holy war in the name of the Shadow? A follow through at TSO for the disregard of prior warnings? A show of strength by OSN for being able to strike at targets outside of the Neutral Zone? OSN being hired out to attack TSO? A combination of the above is likley.
Whatever the goals were, some of repercussions after the attacks were almost as fascinating as the actual events. The first repercussion was that TSO implemented a plan to erect MO’s around the area protecting themselves from future attacks. Based on previous encounters, OSN likely counts this as a victory. The second was the reaction to a certain pilot Spillypants that was destroyed during the conflict. Apparently found cloaking in a Babel Transporter in Olbea space on different days, TSO raided the ship and found robots. Under the assumption that he was part of the OSN attack force, Spillypant’s ship was destroyed. Whether he was actually part of the OSN attack force, or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, the debate continues with both sides claiming they are correct.
The Lost Launch
It was a dark and stormy afternoon. Lightning flashed in the sky and the building shuddered with the booming thunder. I was standing in my corner office, watching the rain poor down on the park below. I was considering my good fortune as the story of stories dropped into my lap. It was a story of intrigue, betrayal, and redemption. Ah, I can see it now…
Ah, but dreams are dreams I guess. Instead, I was sitting in the cold cramped office of Tribune HQ. The thunder? Alf tossing small asteroids at the station (he tends to get grumpy after repeatedly being driven away from the station). The lightning? The blinking lights of flashing freighters as they docked and then left. The story of my career? The want ads. I needed to get out – the humdrum day to day was just too much. So I headed to my ship to go check out the area.
I hadn’t even left the docking bay when it happened. A crackled message over the speaker…
“Help… it’s coming back… is anybody out there?”
Calls for help in Sol are not uncommon. In fact, they are extremely common. However, Sol is a crowded place bur rather chaotic. It’s about as chaotic to the Neutral Zone as you can get without being in the Neutral Zone. It’s full of traps for the foolish and unwary. Calls for help are commonly used as bait for hit and runs. However, the desperation in the tone made me think twice about this call. So I responded.
“Yes, this is Lost, we’re in Lalande and we’re stuck. And this Young Dragon, it’s coming back… we can’t kill it… it just keeps coming back!! Ah!! Here it comes!!! Hsss…
Action was needed! There were people in trouble! No Young Space Dragon (YSD) was going to keep me from helping those in need. This Babel T of mine had killed more than its share of YSDs in its time. Time was wasting, it was time to move! Not knowing the condition of the survivor pilot’s ship, I picked up some bots, some drugs, and fuel (just in case), and headed out to Lalande – one of the dragon nesting grounds, and the home of a soon to be infamous YSD.
Upon entering Lalande, I saw Lost battling the YSD. The dragon screeched as it circled the stranded ship. The dragon was in pretty poor shape. A few blasts from my Babel and it scattered giving me a warning hiss as it escpaed. Imagine my surprise when I found that the dragon hadn’t been circling ONE ship but two.
Come to find out, Lost had been running Fed missions and had spread himself thin on completing them. He had limped into Beta Proxima running low on funds and turns and still had a few YSD’s in Lalande left to kill, Lost had recruited Launch to his aid and the two of them entered Lalande with the purpose of helping Lost complete his missions. What turned into a little jaunt into Lalande turned into a fight for survival!
The two managed to tag team to take a few YSD’s out, but it was too little too late and the missions failed. The only goal between the two of them now was to make it out. And then it happened. They turned to leave, both of them low on turns, only to find the YSD from hell blocking the entrance where they had entered. It didn’t look like much, but it had a temper, and a fierce one at that. Between the two of them, they were able to drive the creature away. It used everything they had, but they drove it away. The two sat and recovered. Just before they were able to power up engines and head towards the exit, the YSD came back. Another fierce battle took place with the same result. This had happened repeatedly before I arrived – the Dragon attacking and the stranded ships fighting with everything they had to eventually drive it off again. Any gains they had made in getting the engines started were drained during the attacks.
Having scared off the fearless YSD, I offered what services I had on board – bots, drugs, fuel. The two seemed to be in pretty good shape already while we waited for the ships to warm up again but it was only a matter of time before the creature came back. And come back it did. Facing a superior firepower, the YSD fought with a fierceness I’d never seen before. It was a valiant attempt by the YSD, but it was no match for my Babel T. I kept it off Lost and Launch allowing them time to recharge their engines. This happened several more times: each time the YSD coming in to feed on the stranded ships, and the mighty Babel T driving the creature off. As we sat there, I felt extremely vulnerable. Our exchange here had been on the public channels for all to hear: lawful citizens and pirates alike. While the Babel was more powerful than a YSD, most pirates would have found the three of us a nice tasty treat. The YSD came back a few more times before Lost was able to make his escape. With the two of them free, my mission was done and I headed on home, but I’ll never forget the screeching, screaming, roaring YSD of Lalande: the Dragon that wouldn’t die.
Did you know…
…that it IS possible to have negative turns? If you happen to sit on a creature when it respawns, the attacks of the creature will deplete your turns just as if you’d attacked it.
…that a rescue mission to refuel a stranded party is considered a failure if you forget the fuel and become a victim yourself.
…that it is impossible for someone to rescue you if you give them the incorrect sector from which to rescue you from?
Missile Upgrades
KillQuick Inc, the largest producer and supplier of missiles throughout the galaxy introduced a reengineered missile design this week. The new improved computer systems in these missiles truly account for a more “fire and forget” kind of attitude. While there are still some kinks to work out, the new missiles rely less on skill of the individual and more on the missile computer complexity and size of the target. The bigger the target and more advanced the computer, the more likely the missile hits. The adjustment looks to try to equalize some of the discrepancy between high fighter skills and freighters whom have a ton of missiles to deploy, but comparatively little skill.
Later the same week, it seems that KillQuick Inc received a hefty ‘enticement’ from the Imperials. Missiles wielded by Imperials now have a faster reload time than those of the Federation. In addition, Killquick has discovered an opportunity to increase profits and has introduced missile ECM measures. Able to be purchased by pilots, ECM measures decrease the ability of enemy missiles to do damage to the target. As a defensive measure, this is good news – especially for those pilots flying large military craft that can be hit by even the most inexperienced of pilots. Needless to say, the stock of KillQuick, Inc. has jumped by leaps and bounds this week. There are definitely some happy stockholders.
Defusing Demand for Explosives
After an initial rush to make sure explosives were correctly dispersed around the galaxy, the demand for explosives has lessened of late. The lessened demand has pushed the prices for transporting explosives down. Reactions from traders range from disappointed to outright hostility. Many mission runners had made a huge profit off of running explosives and the decreased profit with no decrease in risk has many traders in an uproar. The fact that mission runners don’t HAVE to take explosives missions hasn’t quite reached their need for credits. Let’s hope it gets there soon before somebody else gets hurt.
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Getting FHA-T
FHA and Triad announced themselves as a full alliance this week with the promise of something more interesting to come. This move caught nearly everyone by surprise including high-ranking alliance members on both sides. With a full alliance in effect, the two large alliances would double the next biggest alliance. Speculation has circled a bit as to what the ‘more to come’ is about. Most are thinking of some kind of combined alliance between the two, but rumors have spread regarding the alliances going AWC, mercenary, running extortion rings, and everything in between. It will be interesting to see exactly what happens.
Champion of the Federation – AWC!
Earlier last week, Federal officials trembled as Paradis and his doomstar came rumbling into space near the Federation offices. The slightly chaotic Paradis marched into the Federation offices and with a confident smile, asked for his alliance to become part of the Federation. The Federation officers laughed nervously thinking this was some kind of joke. It wasn’t. And so a few minutes later, Paradis and the AWC were a Federation alliance. Without even leaving the counter, he immediately asked to declare a private conflict with the Rangers. The Federation official in charge, knowing he was basically signing away any chance of promotion for the rest of his life (but valued his life a bit more than a promotion), signed the order and watched the confident Paradis leave the office.
So with order in hand, Paradis was able to engage the Rangers without fear of retribution from the Federation. Since there were only two alliances ‘formally’ connected with the Federation, it would be interesting to see how it worked itself out. Shortly after the conflict began however, the Rangers abandoned their Federation status. Multiple reasons have been given as to the switch including tactical error, switching the odds, and not giving Paradis the satisfaction of hunting down Rangers without a rep penalty. However, in citizens’ eyes from Earth, to Ericon, to Beta Proxima, the Rangers have abandoned their post as the ‘Defender of the Federation’. Despite what anybody says, there is no debating the fact that AWC is the single formal Federation alliance. It will be interesting to see what the Rangers do to regain their status among the peoples around the Federation.
Tribune Tidbits
The Scorpion Guard Drug Outpost in Skara is now open and trading regularly in drugs. Buying for 15k, selling for 20k – location Skarra (20,8)
In addition to visits from OSN, TSO has had other issues this week. Tiava Sheer handed over the reigns of TSO to Atwitzgen and Ultimate and Fiona quit Triad to return and ‘visit the area’. Needless to say, Olbea is not exactly a vacationer’s paradise this week.
Wanted
One substitute editor for the Tiacken Tribune. I will be enjoying the beaches of Tiacken I the week of May 22nd through May 28th with no access to a computer. Want to know what being an editor is like? Give it a try. I’m accepting applications now and will announce a substitute editor in Issue #17.
Disclaimer from the Tiacken Tribune
The Tribune’s goal is to bring you informative, entertaining, and interesting material on a weekly basis. It is NOT the goal of the Tribune to play politics towards any specific side or agenda. Should you feel like the Tribune is slanting a particular direction, voice your opinion. The Tribune is nothing without its readers. We are here for you.
As always, the Tribune is open for comments from the public. Think the editor can’t find his way out of a paper bag? Let me know. Do you have a different perspective on a story? Send it in. You can post your comments directly to the issue of the Tribune at the bottom for all to see, or you can send me a Letter to the Editor for posting in the next issue.
May 2nd, 2005 at 6:47 pm
another great issue guys, where do you get some of your info from? Some proper reporting going on, very precise info.
On a seperate note where can i pick up and pay for the Mathilda Mk1 from. :D.
May 3rd, 2005 at 3:44 am
Excellent, I loved the “Champion of the Federation” article :D, keep it up!
May 5th, 2005 at 3:15 pm
OSN attacked TSO because they were a blight upon the Holy Shadow!
They were punished for their many misdeeds and taught that the true path of rightousness lies in forging strength. We sickened at the sight of supposed followers of the Shadow allowing themselves to become weak and complacent!
We hope they do not forget the lesson or we will be forced to teach it anew!
May 5th, 2005 at 3:46 pm
Hello Pardus!!
Anyone remember me???? :P
I found out about this place and figured I should come by and check it out. I just HAD to say hello!!!
hehehe
This is a nice setup. You have some good info available for both newbies and oldtimers.
May 5th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
Well as always an interesting issue of TTT, and it even attracted someone once thought lost to the world of Pardus, nice to hear from you frank black :)
May 8th, 2005 at 11:03 pm
frank black…your famous in the pardus world and AWESOME JOB TRIBUNE!!!!!