Black-Bart

Carl Simmons, chief medical officer at Newton Dock in the BD-02 4304 system, spoke at a health summit over the weekend. His keynote address was on the Cerberus plague.
“The original Cerberus plague spread to over 30 systems inside a month, putting billions of lives at risk,” said Simmons. “It is unlikely we would have been able to eradicate the disease had the cure been discovered any later, as ceremonial Heike tea would not have been available in sufficient quantities. Trillions could have perished.”
“We cannot afford to underestimate this new strain of Cerberus plague, and I urge the medical community to take the outbreak seriously. If Heike tea is not delivered in sufficient quantities, or if this strain proves resistant to the tea’s effects, the consequences could be catastrophic.”
Commander CorrigendumUpdate from Galnet News

Maxim ‘VicTic’ Kammerer, chief engineer of the Carmack Intergalactic Mining Association, has released a statement concerning the ongoing CIMA prospectors’ competition:
“We are very pleased that, with your help, we have been able to double the amount of known pristine metallic ring locations, most of which are very close to the bubble. Now we need to prepare for the final sprint.”
The competition will end on the 3rd of April 3302. Any data on pristine metallic rings should be reported before this date.
Karen Keish
Theta Wave NewsUpdate from Galnet News

A summit for the Alliance of Independent Systems was held at Irkutsk Station this week, attended by ambassadors and diplomatic envoys from an array of political backgrounds. Eleven fleets, from both Alliance and Independent governments, were represented.
The main topic under discussion was establishing a framework for a quick-response force to protect parties from the growing threat of Imperial and Federal expansion. Other Topics included factional sovereignty, self governance, the benefits of free trade, and the role of communication in maintaining civility across diverse cultures.
Commander Noir1787 | Radio Sidewinder reporter
Alioth Guardian | Interstellar PressUpdate from Galnet News

This report presents the latest data on the security status of the galaxy’s minor factions.
Here are the latest factions to experience a lockdown:
Union of V740 Cassiopeiae Future
Brokutsu Confederation
HIP 107806 and Co
Tambe Independent Protectorate
Grebato Corp.
Conservatives of Tiliala
Uniting Worom Pef
LP 806-8 Central Interstellar
Ross 546 PLC
Nationals of Algreit
When a faction experiences a lockdown, the security rating of the system it controls temporarily increases and the system’s wealth temporarily decreases. Bounty hunting activity can shorten the lockdown period.
Here are the latest factions to experience civil unrest:
Khong Wang Independents
Karadjari Creative Holdings
Cromovit Bureau
Unionists of LHS 1393
HIP 108419 Gold State Limited
Tuareg State Industry
Mudrus Exchange
People’s Nocorioson for Equality
Flesk Transport Organisation
Dassareti Future
Civil unrest is the result of illegal activity. When a faction is affected by civil unrest, the standard of living in the system it controls temporarily decreases, as does the system’s wealth. Combat missions and activities can bring civil unrest to an end.Update from Galnet News

When the dissident organisation known as Emperor’s Dawn was first brought to public attention, a number of high-profile Imperials were discovered to have connections to the group. One of them was Damon Clarke, a prominent industrialist and a member of Princess Aisling Duval’s inner circle. According to a report published by the Imperial Herald, one of Clarke’s companies had previously sold weapons to Emperor’s Dawn, and the revelation plunged Clarke into scandal.
The prominent patron denied all knowledge of the transaction, but his declarations of innocence were undermined when he fled Imperial space. From that point on, no further information regarding Clarke’s whereabouts or actions was released to the public.
But now an undisclosed source, which claims to be close to the Imperial Internal Security Service, has shared news of Clarke’s fate. A section of the anonymous message is reprinted below:
“As you know, Clarke fled Imperial space when his connection to Emperor’s Dawn was discovered. But he didn’t get far. The IISS caught up with him in Apathaam and brought him back to Achenar.
“Clarke was looking at a death sentence, but the IISS offered him a deal: give up his contacts in Emperor’s Dawn in exchange for a more lenient sentence. Clarke jumped at the offer, and gave up everyone he knew. His information earned him a commuted sentence: house arrest at his home on Capitol. He even got to keep his car. A pretty good deal.”
“So time passes and Emperor’s Dawn gets its ass handed to it by the Empire. But a few of Clarke’s former contacts survive, and they’re none too happy about him selling them down the river. With IISS agents stationed at Clarke’s home, it wasn’t easy for them to get to him, but in the end they succeeded. Poisoned his food, I gather. Nasty way to go.”
The Imperial Internal Security Service has declined to comment on the matter.Update from Galnet News

A spokesperson for the Canonn Interstellar Research Group has issued a plea for a final push in the campaign to establish a research outpost at Thompson Dock:
“The response from the community has been incredible, but we need more palladium!”
“I know you’re tired, but this project is too important for us to give up. I’ve been living on a particularly strong blend of Varatian coffee, and I understand the local suppliers have made it freely available to all miners. It’s great stuff if you don’t mind a few heart palpitations.”
“We really want to hit the next milestone so we can get a commodities market at the station. If we can do that, Dr Arcanonn will be able to do what he does best.”
“So please come and mine for the Canonn between now and Thursday afternoon. The rewards are huge, and the camaraderie among the miners is fantastic.”
Commander Lord ZoltanUpdate from Galnet News

For decades, the Revolutionary Party of Vennik has been terraforming the planet Vennik 1, slowly transforming it into a habitable world. With the ambitious project about to enter its final stage, the organisation has placed an open order for terrain-enrichment systems with which to prepare the planet’s surface for agricultural development.
A spokesperson for the Revolutionary Party of Vennik released a brief statement:
“Terraforming a planet takes decades, so we’re delighted to be entering the final stage. Our aim is to establish an agricultural economy on Vennik 1 so it can contribute to the production of food and medicine in the Vennik system. With the support of the galactic community, we will soon be able to reap the benefit of our efforts.”
The organisation has promised to reward those who deliver the much-needed commodities to Nixon Enterprise in the Vennik system. The campaign begins on the 17th of March 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

This report presents the latest data on expansion among the galaxy’s minor factions.
Here are the latest factions to have expanded into new systems:
Asvincegin Empire Pact
Simarasir Dynamic Solutions
Volkhabe Blue United Solutions
Nepehuevit Empire Assembly
V2160 Cygni Values Party
Tjupany Blue Life Corp.
HIP 34961 Empire League
Revolutionary Gorgon Liberals
Wayan Energy Network
Left Party of Polecteri
Expansions occur when a minor faction reaches a sufficient level of influence and there is a populated system within striking distance. Expansion is costly, so when a faction expands, the wealth and development level of the system it controls are temporarily reduced.Update from Galnet News

Last week, Federal President Zachary Hudson announced plans to construct a new Farragut Battle Cruiser in the Federal system of Beta Hydri. The production of the ship was designed to mark the inauguration of a new arm of the Federal Navy known as the People’s Navy. One Federal source said the ship would “occupy a significant role in the Federal Navy, strengthening our borders and enhancing the profile of our armed forces”.
The Empire made no response to the announcement, but an anonymous source from the upper echelons of Imperial society has now revealed that Admiral Denton Patreus has expressed concern over the Federal initiative. In a message released to a number of media feeds, the anonymous source said:
“The construction of a new ship, even a warship like the Farragut, isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. But we have reason to believe that the Federation intends to significantly expand its Navy over the coming months, and naturally this has the Admiral Patreus worried. If the Federation did indeed embark on a campaign of military fortification, it’s likely the Empire would respond in kind.”Update from Galnet News

The normally peaceful Wilkes Orbital has been the focus of considerable attention in recent weeks. First, the starport was at the centre of a campaign to drive the Blue Hand Gang from the nearby Orulas system. Then authorities at the station announced that the escape pods recovered in the operation contained Professor Ishmael Palin and the other members of his research team. Now it seems that the majority of those recovered from the criminals, including Professor Ishmael Palin, have been infected with a strain of Cerberus Plague, the deadly pathogen that claimed millions of lives last year.
Governor Lawrence, the principal administrator of Wilkes Orbital, has released a statement to the media:
“The situation is certainly serious, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. At present, the disease is confined to those who were rescued from the Blue Hand Gang, so it should be perfectly possible to keep it contained. The pertinent task is to cure the infected.”
Governor Lawrence was asked how he intended to proceed.
“This is a new strain of the Cerberus Plague, one we’ve never seen before. But it seems that Ceremonial Heike Tea, which was used to cure the original strain of the plague, is also effective against this version of the disease. We have therefore issued an open order for Ceremonial Heike Tea with which to cure the infected. Any surplus tea will be stockpiled in anticipation of further outbreaks, although I should stress that such a scenario is extremely unlikely.”
The appeal for Ceremonial Heike Tea begins on the 17th March 3302 and will run for one week.Update from Galnet News