Black-Bart

Reports are coming in of pirate activity in the Robigo system, a seldom-visited region of space that was recently brought under the control of the Sirius Corporation. Fortunately for the people of Robigo Mines, the system’s only outpost, the Sirius Corporation has a history of taking a zero-tolerance approach to those who threaten its holdings. In fact, the company has already issued bounties on the pirates, offering generous rewards to anyone who helps clear them from the area. In a statement, Li Yong-Rui, the CEO of the Sirius Corp, said:
“The Sirius Corporation has a legal right to protect its assets, and a moral obligation to defend its people. The outpost of Robigo Mines is Sirius Corporation property, and we will not allow it to come to harm. To this end, I have set aside a substantial fund to reward pilots who help to eliminate the pirates operating in the Robigo system.”Update from Galnet News

Recent reports from the Warkushanui system suggest that the technical issues affecting the region are worsening. According to the Federal Times, which spoke with station personnel at Gurragchaa Gateway, starports throughout the system are experiencing a range of inexplicable mechanical problems. A technician at Gurragchaa Gateway said:
“We’ve got malfunctions and breakdowns cropping up all over the starport, so we’re in fire-fighting mode at the moment, but no obvious cause has presented itself yet.”
As the technical problems in Warkushanui intensify, some commentators have drawn attention to the fact that the number of anomalous extraterrestrial objects (or AEOs) discovered in the system has recently increased. The Federal Times asked staff at Gurragchaa Gateway if there could be a connection between the mysterious objects and the breakdowns, but was told only that “all available lines of enquiry were being explored”.
If these problems persist, it seems likely that station services in Warkushanui will soon be affected.Update from Galnet News

To date, the Empire’s campaign against the insurgent organisation Emperor’s Dawn has fallen largely under the jurisdiction of Senator Denton Patreus, but now that the question of the succession has been answered, the Empire is in a position to give Emperor’s Dawn its full attention. Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval has issued a frank statement in which she denounces Emperor’s Dawn as “an enemy of the Empire”, and promises to give Senator Patreus her full support:
“Emperor’s Dawn has gone to great lengths to present itself as being aligned with the Empire’s values and ideals, but make no mistake – this organisation is an enemy of the Empire. Senator Patreus has demonstrated sound judgement in his management of the campaign, and I have every faith in his ability to remove this threat to our civilisation. The operation to destroy Emperor’s Dawn will continue under his guidance.”
The statement constitutes the Emperor’s first decree as ruler of the Empire, and reflects a clear commitment to Imperial security.Update from Galnet News

More than 220,000 pilots have signed a petition calling for an inquiry into the lack of anti-collision lights on starships and emergency lighting on system-authority ships. Jenson Zanetti, chairman of the Pilots Federation Safety Board, stated:
“At some point in their careers, most pilots will be struck by an authority or private vessel they did not see, which can be disastrous for both parties. If our proposals are implemented, we predict a massive decrease in the number of fatal collisions in and around space stations.”
The petition calls for all system-authority vessels to be fitted with lighting equipment to help pilots identify these important craft, and for anti-collision lights to be fitted to all starships. The petition concludes by stating that the lights only need to be used within a station’s no-fire zone, and when the ship’s main lights are active.
Commander Devenish, Alliance News NetworkUpdate from Galnet News

Today, dawn broke above an expectant Capitol as Imperial citizens awaited the coronation of the first female Emperor (the Imperial Senate having determined that ‘Emperor’ should be used for both male and female rulers). It looked like the entire population had come to witness the procession of Arissa Lavigny-Duval through the city to the Imperial Palace.
The crowd’s excitement was palpable, but it was undercut by uncertainty over whether the insurgent organisation Emperor’s Dawn would succeed in disrupting the coronation ceremony, as they claimed they would. There have been rumours that Emperor-to-be Arissa refused to travel in a closed speeder, despite concerns for her safety, and she looked every part the Emperor as the procession made its way sedately through the city.
The military and security presence was visible throughout the city, with Naval Infantry in full dress uniform lining the streets. A full company of Imperial Guard marched alongside the Senator’s vehicle, their stark black uniforms contrasting with the crisp whites of the Naval Infantry.
The procession arrived at the palace at exactly midday, where the senators and Imperial family waited. The brief ceremony was transmitted live throughout the Empire, and screened at key locations in the city so the crowds could watch. The multitude roared their appreciation to the sky as Emperor-to-be Arissa Lavigny-Duval completed her vows of office.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval offered a few words for her people:
“This is a day I cannot compare to any other. The trust my fellow senators have shown in me makes me all the more determined to overcome the challenges we will surely face in the coming weeks and months. For too long we have suffered from uncertainty in the wake of the Emperor’s death.
“I had the great fortune to talk with the late Emperor in his final days, and to learn how he planned to strengthen the Empire in these times of change. In the coming weeks, I will announce the formation of my government and my plans to tackle the threats facing the Empire.
“But for now I will enjoy this moment and express my gratitude to the Empire and everyone, from slave to senator, for this opportunity to serve.”Update from Galnet News

Earlier this year, the Sirius Corporation expanded into the systems of HIP 8396, Almagest, Sothis, Ceos, and Robigo. At the time, a number of economists predicted that these systems would witness dramatic change after being brought under Sirius Corp. control, but in fact the affected systems have remained much the same, with citizens reporting little difference to their everyday lives.
It seems, however, that the Sirius Corporation might simply have been biding its time. In a statement released today, Li Yong-Rui, the CEO of the Sirius Corp., announced ambitious plans to revitalise his company’s new holdings:
“Over the coming weeks, the Sirius Corporation will subsidize a number of initiatives designed to revive the social and economic health of our new territories. These initiatives, which will rely heavily on support from independent contractors and pilots, will reinvigorate the economies of the affected systems, and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for our compatriots.”
Roberta Unwin, an economist who regularly contributes to the Money Matters news feed, commented on the announcement:
“Wealthy organisations often expand into new areas without any immediate plans in mind. Sometimes it’s because they think the area will become profitable – other times it’s done to undercut a rival. It’s called speculative expansion. It’s actually rather common, although it usually takes place on a much smaller scale.”
It appears the Sirius Corp. is eager to get started. The first of its initiatives is due to begin today, with the company appealing to independent pilots to deliver osmium to the HIP 8396 system, and promising to reward participants generously.Update from Galnet News

The Revolutionary Noti Value Party, a group based in the Noti system, recently issued an open contract for Aganippe Rush, a rare commodity found only in the Aganippe system. Although the faction chose not to publicise the reason for the request, the response was positive, with hundreds of independent pilots making the journey to Aganippe to gather quantities of the unusual commodity. Authorities at Weber Gateway, were the deliveries were taken, even had to take on additional staff to deal with the influx of trade ships.
A spokesperson for the Revolutionary Noti Value Party released a brief statement:
“We are extremely grateful to everyone who contributed to this initiative. Aganippe Rush is not a widely available commodity, and we appreciate the lengths pilots went to in order to deliver it to us at Weber Gateway.”
The Revolutionary Noti Value Party was asked to elaborate on the reason for its request, but the organisation declined to respond.Update from Galnet News

Reports coming in from the Warkushanui system indicate that a number of starports in the region are currently experiencing technical issues. According to Sam Norris, a technician at Coats Hub, the system’s inhabitants are dealing with a range of problems:
“We’ve had power outages, intermittent problems with our communications, and issues with the docking systems, but I’ve reason to believe that things are worse at Gurragchaa Gateway. I haven’t been able to establish a stable comms link with them for a while, though, so I don’t know exactly what the situation is.”
Norris was asked what he thought might be causing the problems:
“Beats the hell out of me. The generators are fine and I haven’t identified any infrastructure issues, so we’ll need to run some tests before we can be sure.”
The issues in Warkushanui are not believed to be affecting station services at this time.Update from Galnet News

Last week, United Carnoeck for Equality issued a public appeal for help in clearing the Carnoeck system of pirates and other disruptive elements. The agitators had congregated in the Carnoeck system in the wake of the Bacon Protests anniversary celebrations, and were harassing traders and revellers travelling to and from Bacon City.
The response to the appeal was overwhelmingly positive, with hundreds of combat pilots taking to their ships and heading for the Carnoeck system. The resulting conflict lasted for several days and raged throughout Carnoeck, and ultimately succeeded in routing the disruptive elements. United Carnoeck for Equality will soon be issuing rewards to pilots who helped to clear the spaceways of agitators.Update from Galnet News

Following the Empire’s recent discovery of five additional Emperor’s Dawn bases, Senator Denton Patreus has despatched military fleets to three of the systems occupied by the insurgents: Namarii, Tabaldak and LTT 874. The Senator has also authorised a number of Empire-aligned factions to reward pilots who join the fight against Emperor’s Dawn. The insurgents, meanwhile, have responded in kind, promising to reward pilots who help repel the Imperials.
Some news feeds have speculated that the Senator’s actions are designed not only to maintain the pressure on Emperor’s Dawn, but also to minimise the chances of the insurgents disrupting Arissa Lavigny-Duval’s forthcoming coronation.
The outcome of the battle is by no means certain, but one thing is for sure – the wider conflict between the Empire and Emperor’s Dawn is far from over.Update from Galnet News