Black-Bart

Professor Ishmael Palin has requested help in establishing a new research base on Maia b1ba in order to safely study the unknown artefacts. Dr Arcanonn, head of the Canonn Interstellar Research Group, has issued a statement regarding this endeavour:
“I cannot argue with the logic of establishing a research facility out in the Pleiades, next door to Merope, and I urge all Commanders to deliver as many Evacuation Shelters as they can to Nelson Works in Dahan to ensure this facility is completed.”
“With the Canonn throwing its resources at this initiative, I will be contacting the professor personally to request laboratory space for my researchers so that we, too, can be involved once the base is established.”
“Research into the UAs is not a side project for humanity – it is vital. Make sure you’re one of those making a difference.”
Commander Lord ZoltanUpdate from Galnet News

Following last week’s report that the technical issues currently plaguing the galaxy had spread to Gabriel Enterprise in Harma, authorities at the starport have announced that all services have been suspended apart from docking and shipyard access. Meanwhile, authorities in the Maia system have confirmed that the starport of Obsidian Orbital is the latest to experience mysterious technical issues. This announcement will no doubt disappoint those who contributed to the construction of Obsidian Orbital earlier this year.
We will continue to bring you up-to-the-minute reports on this issue.Update from Galnet News

Despite sharing a standard galactic calendar, most human societies prefer to mark the passage of days and years in relation to the stars of their home systems. But a large proportion of the galaxy’s human population still observe some shared traditions, despite those traditions being rooted in the seasons of a planet many have never even visited. Of these, winter solstice festivals are perhaps the most prevalent.
This year, an organisation based in the Hel system is issuing a special appeal to commemorate the approaching winter solstice. The Hel Purple Energy Industry has issued a request for Crystalline Spheres – a commodity currently available only at Snow Moon in the Bento system. A spokesperson for the Hel Purple Energy Industry issued a brief statement:
“It might be an antiquated festival, but we believe the winter solstice is a great opportunity to unwind and spend some quality time with friends and family. And what better way to mark the occasion than to invite people to gather up snowballs – I mean, crystalline spheres – and haul them across the galaxy?”
The appeal begins today and is scheduled to run for one week.Update from Galnet News

Word has reached this reporter of a massive fraud involving fake precious gems originating from the Prism system region over the past few hours. A security services spokesman admitted that they had been caught unawares of the scale of the problem and that thousands of these fakes had already been sold.
“We will hunt down the perpetrators of these crimes, who have cost the the regional economy millions of credits.”
Efforts are now under way to locate the source of these convincing fakes and put an end to their trade. The spokesman promised that those identified as dealing in these items would be punished to the full extent of the law.Update from Galnet News

Eccentric billionaire Alfred Jeffress has made headlines in recent weeks with not one but two galaxy-wide treasure hunts, each of which saw the reclusive philanthropist give out enormous cash prizes. Now Jeffress has announced a third treasure hunt, and once again he has promised to reward the winner with a share of his vast personal fortune.
The event is expected to follow the same format as the previous two. A mystery object has been placed somewhere in space, and the first person to find and deliver it to a specified location will win the competition. As before, the hunt begins with a riddle, composed by Jeffress, which will lead participants to the mystery object:
“To win the prize, follow a story of kings, crowns and jewels, not tall tales told by fools. Your quest to restore the king’s crown starts in the middle. Travel where all frequencies of light reside to start solving my riddle.”
Jeffress has promised that this hunt will be the most challenging yet, having devised even more cryptic clues this time.Update from Galnet News

When an outpost belonging to the insurgent organisation Emperor’s Dawn was discovered in the Federal system of Kausalya two weeks ago, Federal President Zachary Hudson’s response was swift and unequivocal. Promising to “mete out such punishment that the very fires of hell will seem but guttering candles in comparison”, Hudson promptly despatched a military fleet to Kausalya. Today, Admiral Kirby of the Federal Navy confirmed that the initiative to rout the dissidents had been an unmitigated success:
“They were defiant at first, but the battle started to go our way pretty quickly, and the past week has just been a mopping-up exercise, really. I think the Federal Navy Auxiliary made a big difference – when the insurgents saw how many independent pilots we had on our side, their morale took a big hit.”
In a statement, Zachary Hudson exhibited his usual confidence:
“The insurgents’ incursion into Kausalya was clearly the last gasp of a dying animal. They stood no chance against our fleet, and their outpost has been utterly destroyed. I predict this is the last we will see of Emperor’s Dawn.”Update from Galnet News

Authorities at Gabriel Enterprise in the Harma system have reported that the station is the latest to be affected by mystifying technical problems, following a raft of malfunctions and breakdowns throughout the starport. Meanwhile, personnel at Saunders’s Dive in Wolf 1301 have released a similar statement, reporting extensive technical problems over the past 24 hours. A member of the technical team at Saunders’s Dive said:
“It’s the same story as at those other starports – system failures, blackouts, all that stuff. At this rate, half the starports in the galaxy are going to be out of order before long. Someone needs to figure out what the hell is going on, and fast!”
We will continue to bring you up-to-the-minute reports on this issue.Update from Galnet News

Gabriel Vox, chairman of the GalNet Board of Review, has released a statement in response to criticism of errors in recent GalNet publications:
“The GalNet periodical ‘A Week in Powerplay’ summarises weekly changes in political dynamics, economics, and various other situations in thousands of systems throughout inhabited space. With this task comes a high probability of clerical error. It is my dubious honour to correct some of these errors at this time.”
“The summary of 22nd–28th October 3301 incorrectly stated that the Alliance forged no new trade agreements, when in fact an agreement with Kpaniya was finalized.”
“The summary of 3rd–9th December 3301 failed to mention the trade agreement between the Alliance and 37 Librae.”
“Princess Aisling Duval has erroneously been referred to as a ‘senator’ in several publications.”
“Please be assured that we will redouble our efforts to ensure the facts represented in ‘A Week in Powerplay’ are reliable.”
Commander CorrigendumUpdate from Galnet News

The Explorer’s Association has announced that its request for exploration data has been positively received by the galactic community. Over the past two weeks, the organisation has accepted a wealth of information on previously uncharted star systems, which it will now sell to various private clients. A spokesperson for the association issued a brief statement:
“We are delighted with the response to our appeal, and would like to thank all those who participated in the initiative. The significance of your contribution to our ever-increasing understanding of the galaxy cannot be overstated.”Update from Galnet News

Last week, officials at Korolyov Hub in the Arawere system announced the suspension of station services due to ongoing technical issues. Today, personnel at Carter Port in the Rhea system have made a similar announcement, confirming that all services apart from docking and shipyard access have been suspended. This brings the total number of starports closed as a result of the mysterious malfunctions to six.
A complete list of affected stations and systems follows.
Stations where services have been suspended:
Gurragchaa Gateway, Warkushanui system
Gaiman Dock, 49 Arietis system
Weyn Dock, 64 Arietis system
Korolyov Hub, Arawere system
Lobachevsky Outpost, Pic Tok system
Carter Port, Rhea system
Stations experiencing technical issues:
Coats Hub, Warkushanui system
Bond Hub, Varati system
Hinz Hub, Ngobe system
Tsunenaga Dock, Iapodes system
Li Qing Jao, Sol system
Ray Gateway, Diaguandri system
Vizcaino Enterprise, Nganji system
Talos 2, Peregrina system
We will continue to bring you up-to-the-minute reports on this issue.Update from Galnet News