Black-Bart

Since the Pilots Federation endorsed passenger flights and the Beluga luxury liner entered the market, the tourism industry has boomed. Commander Duck of Death, a seasoned explorer, took this reporter on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the far side of the galaxy.
Our journey took us to the Black in Green Nebula, Sagittarius A* and the Red and Green Glory Nebula, as well as a planetary ring with a staggering 54 million kilometre radius. But that wasn’t all.
“I’ve been planned to go to Beagle Point for a few months,” said Duck of Death. “Since I’m on the original roster, I feel I have an obligation to complete the expedition.”
Spirits were high as we traversed the abyss and entered the Solitude Void, but as the bright lights of the core dwindled I could sense the primordial fear building. Finally, we reached Beagle Point. Before us was the entire Milky Way, farther away than ever, and behind us…the rest of the universe. We were standing on the edge of infinity.
Morris Cowley
Freelance Reporter, Elite Travel Writers’ CooperativeUpdate from Galnet News

Last week, the galaxy witnessed a truly audacious rescue.
While returning from Beagle Point, Commander Felix Macedonica found himself without sufficient germanium to synthesise a FSD injection and continue his journey home. Faced with the choice of spending the rest of his life 65,000 light years from home or destroying his beloved Lakon Type-6E and riding the escape capsule back to civilisation, Felix was in dire straits indeed.
At that moment, Commander Chiggy Vonrictofen was exploring the Zunou sector. When Chiggy picked up a weak sub-ether distress signal he quickly established a private link with Felix before appraising the system for asteroid belts and ringed planets that could potentially yield germanium. He then departed for Colonia to fit a mining laser and larger fuel tank.
With his ship appropriately equipped, Chiggy proceeded to cover the first 30,000 light years from Jaques in less than 13 hours, a wraith of speed and purpose. Stopping only to sleep, he finally arrived less than 48 hours after receiving Felix’s first transmission.
The pair travelled to the nearest belt and Chiggy spooled up the mining laser as Felix watched the scanner. Nickel, iron, sulphur, manganese, phosphorus – the elements kept coming, but not the one they needed.
Despair started to creep in. Then it appeared, a word that brought with it a cascade of emotions: germanium. Felix swooped in and secured his freedom.
“Chiggy’s efforts have left me speechless,” said Felix. “His perseverance shows that the indomitable human spirit has no bounds.”
Commander Mad Billy
Institute for Galactic Exploration and ResearchUpdate from Galnet News

Earlier this month, engineer Ram Tah announced a research programme designed to uncover the secrets of the Synuefe ruins. The engineer asked pilots to deliver data from the site to his laboratory in the hope that he would be able to decipher it.
But Ran Tah’s silence has prompted some to speculate that the engineer might not be up to the task of decoding the data, and that his attempt was nothing more than the naive dream of a backwater mechanic.
When approached with these criticisms, Ram Tah said:
“These things take time. I believe I have made a breakthrough, but I will not be pressured into offering untested claims. As soon as I have results, the galaxy will know.”Update from Galnet News

The Uibuth Empire Party has announced that its appeal for basic medicines has received the unconditional support of the galactic community. Over the past week, huge quantities of medication have been delivered to D’Arrest Station in the Uibuth system, which will be used to control the outbreak currently plaguing the starport.
Princess Aisling Duval, who funded the relief effort and whose repatriation centre is based at the starport, released a brief statement:
“I would like to extend my most sincere gratitude to those who supported this campaign. Medical personnel at D’Arrest Station have assured me that the situation will soon be in hand.”
Pilots who contributed to the initiative are now free to collect their rewards from D’Arrest Station in the Uibuth system.Update from Galnet News

For many retailers, this Friday is one of the busiest days of the year, as prices are slashed and consumers compete to take advantage of a range of one-day offers.
As the fateful day draws near, Tchernobog Free, a retail conglomerate based in the Tchernobog system, has placed an open order for various commodities to help it meet demand. The organisation has promised to reward pilots who deliver domestic appliances, clothing and consumer technology to its base of operations at Vancouver Ring.
A spokesperson for the organisation gave a brief statement to the media:
“Half of my suppliers have let me down and I’ve got investors breathing down my neck. I don’t care how you do it – just get me those goods!”
The campaign begins on the 24th of November 3302 and will run for one week. If the final target is met earlier than planned, the campaign will end immediately.Update from Galnet News

The Buckyball Racing Club is back with a new race, and this time it’s taking on the aliens.
Kick the Alien (and Run like Hell) is a 26-kilometre roundtrip SRV race. The event starts at the Noctrach-Ihazevich Research facility and involves driving to the nearby crash site, ‘kicking the alien’, and then driving back to the research facility as fast as possible.
A representative for the Buckyball Racing Club said: “All other methods of interaction with the crash sites have failed to get a response – perhaps this will wake them up”.
The race starts on Saturday the 26th of November and is expected to last for two weeks. Competitors can make their run at any time during this period, and can run as many times as they like.
Commander Alec TurnerUpdate from Galnet News

In February this year, Princess Aisling Duval established a repatriation centre for former slaves at D’Arrest Station in the Uibuth system. Since then the centre has gone from strength to strength, successfully emancipating thousands of slaves and rescuing hundreds from the horrors of illegal slavery.
When the initiative launched, many of Princess Aisling’s detractors dismissed it as a publicity stunt, but her ongoing commitment to the centre has silenced even her most ardent critics. It is understood that she receives daily updates from D’Arrest Station, and makes personal visits once a month.
It therefore comes as little surprise that, following news of an outbreak at the starport, Princess Aisling has secured funding for a relief effort. In a statement, the princess expressed concern for those affected:
“It is extremely important that the unfortunate people at D’Arrest Station receive help as soon as possible, and I implore the galactic community to come to their aid. The Uibuth Empire Party has graciously offered to coordinate the relief effort.”
The Uibuth Empire Party has promised to reward pilots who deliver basic medicines to D’Arrest Station in the Uibuth system. The campaign begins on the 17th of November and will run for one week. If targets are met earlier than planned, the campaign will end immediately.
Update from Galnet News

The independent audit of defunct technology company MetaDrive Inc. has now reached an end, and other than a few minor items the acquisition of all remaining assets has been completed.
One such item is the Imperial Eagle of the company’s late chairman Femi Dakarai, which was owned by MetaDrive. In a strange turn of events, the ship was stolen by former MetaDrive employee Raan Corsen, who disappeared shortly after the audit began.
A number of files relating to Dakarai’s affairs are also believed to be missing. A junior member of the audit team reported that a series of so-called ‘exodus documents’ could not be located. The employee was unceremoniously removed from the audit team shortly afterwards.
A spokesperson for BigSix, the auditor, provided a statement:
“The audit of MetaDrive is now complete, and contrary to previous misleading reports, we have all the documentation we need. It transpires the Eagle spacecraft stolen by Raan Corsen crashed somewhere in the Alioth system while fleeing security forces. The vessel was fully insured, so BigSix is not unduly concerned by its loss.”Update from Galnet News

The Federal astrocartography department has issued a public request for exploration data. Mark Devene, head of the department, elaborated on the nature of the appeal:
“We are looking for data from three specific zones in order to verify certain hypotheses. We want high-quality information on system configurations, planet types, spectral classes and compositions.”
“We are looking at the following coordinates: PLAA AEC IZ-N C20-1, PRU AESCS DL-W C15-37 and EAFOTS EU-R C4-1. Explorers might be more familiar with the colloquial names for these areas – Hawkin’s Gap, the Conflux and the Formidine Rift. Pilots should travel to one of these locations and investigate out to a radius of 200 light years.”
The Tau Ceti Crimson Legal Solutions has volunteered to coordinate the Federal operation. Meanwhile, mysterious organisation The Children of Raxxla has issued an identical request, claiming the data will be used to prove the innocence of the group’s leader, Kahina Loren.
Both campaigns begin on the 17th of November 3302 and will run for two weeks.
Update from Galnet News

Media outlets in Maia have reported that the Pleiades Resource Enterprise has once again emerged victorious from a conflict with the Ant Hill Mob. The battle, instigated by the Ant Hill Mob, was designed to weaken the Enterprise’s position in Maia.
Hundreds of independent pilots supported the campaign by targeting Pleiades Resource Enterprise fighters and delivering battle weapons to system security forces. But ultimately it was not enough to defeat the PRE.
A spokesperson for the Pleiades Resource Enterprise released a brief statement:
“Clearly, the galactic community supports our position in Maia. The Ant Hill Mob needs to accept that the Pleiades Resource Enterprise is here to stay. We’re not going anywhere.”
Pilots who contributed to the initiative are now free to collect their rewards from Obsidian Orbital in the Maia system.Update from Galnet News