Black-Bart

The People’s Princess Speaks

At a public charity event in which several dozen slaves were granted their freedom, Princess Aisling Duval took the opportunity to speak about the succession.
“It seems peculiar that as the closest living relative of our beloved Emperor, I am not involved in the process of selecting his successor. It is even stranger that there is a process at all – after all, I am the natural heir.”
Her attempt to gloss over the legality of her claim has sparked angry rebuttals from legal experts and the camps of the other likely candidates. When we spoke to people on the street, however, we encountered almost universal support for the Princess. One Capitol resident told us:
“I’m all for tradition, but we have to move with the times. Princess Aisling Duval understands what we need to do, and has the youthful vigour to make that happen.”Update from Galnet News

Research into Strange Objects Begins

A Federal research programme has been established to study the strange objects discovered in a number of systems, including Tanmark and HIP 102128, it was announced today. The project is being led by Professor Ishmael Palin, formerly of the Homeland Scientific Council.
The first of the objects was discovered some months ago, with further objects being found in the weeks that followed. Those who have seen the artefacts first-hand report that they are reminiscent of biological forms, consisting of a spherical bulb-like element connected to a number of cylindrical capsules. Some have even suggested they might be life forms in their own right.
Aside from their unusual structure, the objects – referred to by some as ‘unknown artefacts’ and dubbed ‘anomalous extraterrestrial objects’ (or ‘AEOs’) by Professor Palin and his team – are believed to have the capacity to damage nearby machinery, although exactly how this occurs is not fully understood. This has made transport of the objects problematic, as they can inflict significant damage on a ship’s cargo hold, and on adjacent ship’s systems.
Naturally, speculation concerning the objects has been rife, and there appears to be significant evidence that they are of non-human origin. Professor Palin refused to be drawn on the subject, however, saying:
“A discovery of this kind represents an event of major scientific interest, and I am delighted to have been asked to lead this research project. It would be imprudent of me to speculate on the objects’ origin or purpose. Suffice it to say that my team and I will be subjecting the artefacts to rigorous examination over the coming weeks, and I very much look forward to sharing our discoveries with the scientific community.”Update from Galnet News

Kumo Crew to Target Lavigny-Duval

Systems under the sway of Arissa Lavigny-Duval have begun expressing discontent at the current political situation in the Empire, and the Kumo Crew is taking the opportunity to cause trouble of their own.
Leaked military intelligence indicates that hundreds of Kumo Crew fleets will soon descend on Imperial territory in an effort to cultivate further civil unrest. The plan is apparently to force Duval into admitting the foolishness of the Pegasi War by bringing it as close to home as possible.
Operation Uranus saw the Kumo Crew pirates target worlds under the influence of Senator Denton Patreus, but this is the first time they have been bold enough to strike farther afield. Only time will tell what impact this will have on the Imperial power players.
Commander MikalusUpdate from Galnet News

Pegasi Pirate War Triggers Migrant Crisis

It is now over a month since the Pegasi Pirate War began, and the weeks of conflict have taken a toll on the people of the Pegasi sector and its surrounding systems. What began as a trickle is now a deluge, as hundreds of thousands of people pour out of the region every day. Conditions at orbital stations deteriorate, as thousands of refugees crowd landing pads and loading docks in an effort to board departing ships. Overloaded transports, often flying without adequate safety systems or defences, are becoming a common sight in the Pegasi sector.
On the receiving end of these desperate efforts are the Imperial worlds least able to manage this flood of warm bodies. Imperial systems such as He Xians, Xuanebuth and Pharacani are experiencing the largest influx of new arrivals. Once in Imperial space, many refugees immediately seek Imperial citizenship, and the protection of the Imperial Navy. Some are even willing to enter Imperial slavery contracts if it gets them away from the Kumo Crew.
As the operation to defeat Archon Delaine and the Kumo Crew passes the seven week mark, citizens of worlds caught in the conflict are asking if an end to the conflict is truly in sight. A recent tactical shift has seen Imperial and Sirius pilots working together to rescue marked slaves and return them to their homes. It remains to be seen whether the migrant crisis will complicate these efforts, or undermine support for the war in Imperial systems.
Commander QuadeUpdate from Galnet News

Emperor’s Dawn Bases Discovered

According to the office of Senator Denton Patreus, Imperial intelligence has discovered several bases belonging to Emperor’s Dawn. Senator Patreus, who is leading the campaign against Emperor’s Dawn, has issued a statement confirming that he is initiating a combat operation designed to destroy the insurrectionists. The senator made the following announcement to the press:
“We are not dealing merely with treasonous sentiments here – we are dealing with a violent organisation that has shown itself willing and able to commit truly heinous acts. They have already taken the life of our beloved Emperor – where might their misguided rage fall next? We must act swiftly and decisively if we are to eliminate this threat to the Empire.”
Imperial forces have been mobilised for the operation, but independent pilots are also being called on to lend their aid. Senator Patreus is offering generous rewards to those who contribute to the campaign.Update from Galnet News

Emperor’s Dawn Issues Request for Supplies

As news spreads that Senator Denton Patreus has launched a military operation against Emperor’s Dawn, journalists at The Imperial Citizen report that the insurgent group has issued a public appeal for commodities. Significantly, the goods the group has requested – progenitor cells and narcotics – are illegal in many jurisdictions.
Emperor’s Dawn has not explained its need for these commodities, but given its militant stance it can be safely assumed that the goods will used in its ongoing campaign against the Empire. The organisation is understood to have set up delivery points at starports in the Ipilyaqa and Ch’i Lin systems.
The Empire has not issued a response to the appeal, but it is likely that it will implore the public to ignore the request. But with so many independent traders in the galaxy, many of whom have no particular loyalty to the Empire, it seems inevitable that at least some will answer the call of Emperor’s Dawn.Update from Galnet News

The Truth about Emperor’s Dawn

As the campaign against Emperor’s Dawn escalates, captured materials have revealed more about the group and its aims to destabilise imperial society.
Reporters from a number of respected imperial newsfeeds, including the Imperial Herald, were invited to inspect some of the seized information. At first the reporters were surprised by how innocuous the material appeared. Taken at face value, it seemed to espouse beliefs and traditions supported by many throughout the Empire, despite the rather extreme tone. The propaganda became more sinister, however, when it elaborated on how these beliefs would ideally be enforced. Some of the items included speeches denouncing the Emperor and his ‘complicity in the erosion of tradition’. Elsewhere, demands were made to remove the Emperor so that someone more fitting could take his place. So far, nothing has been revealed about who the group considers a proper candidate for Emperor.Update from Galnet News

New Combat Fighter from Gutamaya Shipyards

One of the defining characteristics of the Eagle Mk II is its peerless manoeuvrability, so when it was announced that the successor to the popular fighter would be less manoeuvrable than the ship it was replacing, eyebrows were raised. It seems, however, that there was little cause for concern, as while the new Eagle doesn’t quite rival its predecessor in terms of agility, it outclasses it in virtually all other respects.
Not only is the new Eagle faster than its predecessor, with a top speed of 300 and a boost speed of 400, it is also has a superior combat profile, boasting advanced armour and shields, and with the small hardpoint of the Mk II replaced with a medium hardpoint. These new features are supported by an improved power plant, although these enhancements do of course mean extra weight, resulting in a base jump range of 10 LY.
The other major change introduced with the new Eagle is that it has been manufactured by Gutamaya Shipyards rather than Core Dynamics, who produced the Eagle Mk II. The result, as one might expect, is a sleeker, more elegant vessel, albeit one that has retained the menacing profile of the earlier model. Additionally, the vessel has been produced specifically for the Imperial Navy, meaning that pilots will need to hold a rank of Outsider or above in the Imperial Navy to fly it.
The Imperial Eagle is expected to retail at 110,825 CR.Update from Galnet News

Imperial Veteran Sceptical about Patreus’s Campaign

Imperial senator Denton Patreus has taken a strong stance on Emperor’s Dawn, condemning the organisation and vowing to eradicate it from the galaxy, but responses to his statements have so far been mixed. Some have speculated that he is simply trying to curry public favour, while others have suggested he is attempting to draw attention away from his connection to Brendan Paul Darius, the emperor’s assassin.
Now, the senator’s assertions have been questioned by a source from within the Empire itself – General Anthony Corvus of the Imperial Navy. In a statement given to the Imperial Herald, the general said:
“We are clearly dealing with a well-organised and highly motivated cell organisation, and despite Denton Patreus’s optimism, in my opinion it is too early to make any predictions about its suppression. I have dealt with similar organisations in the past, and they can be surprisingly hard to extinguish. No sooner have you dealt with one cell, another appears somewhere else.”
Senator Patreus was approached for a response to the general’s words, but declined to comment.Update from Galnet News

Successor to the Federal Dropship Released

Not content with releasing a new fighter escort in the form of the Federal Gunship, Core Dynamics has also unveiled a spiritual successor to the doughty Federal Dropship – the Federal Assault Ship. This new vessel has evidently been designed to provide the Federation with a more combat-oriented vessel, eschewing the versatility of the Federal Dropship in favour of a more focused hardpoint loadout and better flight model.
Compared with the original Dropship, the Assault Ship offers superior speed, acceleration, and manoeuvrability, with a top speed of 210 and boost speed of 350. The ship also boasts two medium and two large hardpoints – a clear improvement over the Dropship. Elsewhere, sacrifices have been made in terms of cargo capacity, with the Assault Ship sporting fewer internal hardpoints than its predecessor.
Having been developed for the Federal Navy, the Federal Assault Ship is only available to pilots who hold the rank of Chief Petty Officer or above in the Federal Navy Auxiliary. The vessel is expected to retail at 19,814,205 CR.Update from Galnet News