S 1350 [819 A.S.] Rheinland Forces Destroy Jumpgates To Hamburg!
S 1351 MANHATTAN -- 819 A.S. -- In what military analysts call an act of \
desperation, Rheinland has sabotaged and destroyed both the Bering \
and Hudson jumpgates leading into Hamburg. The damage is still being \
assessed, but initial scans by Deep Space Engineering maintenance \
teams suggest the gates are both a total loss. Carriers Roanoke and \
Weatherlight were both lost to the Rheinland Jump Gate sabotage, with \
over half their crew lost in the subsequent implosion.
This unprecedented move has effectively ceded both Bering and Hudson \
to Liberty. While Liberty Naval patrols will keep a close eye on any \
Rheinland activity, it seems likely the bulk of the Rheinland fleet \
will now concentrate its actions in New Hampshire, where Battleship \
Concord was forced to withdraw.
With Hudson no longer in dispute, Liberty has dispatched Battleship \
Alma to secure the Atka terraforming operation, and has asked \
Planetform to resume the terraforming process.

S 1352 [818 A.S.] Daumann Engineers Develop New Ship
S 1353 THE RING -- 818 A.S. -- Despite the relentless Libertonian push on \
our fatherland, the last few months of war were not in vain! Daumann \
engineers have today unveiled the product of many months of \
development, designed to support our operations on the very front: \
the Elbe class carrier. Financed in part by the wealthy Rutger family \
from New Berlin, the design was completed just a few months ago after \
a complete battlefield analysis of Liberty Navy force composition. \
This ship was thus designed from the ground up to supplement \
Rheinland forces against the Libertonian invader. Its armament and \
size will make it especially effective in supporting the fighter \
craft based from its landing bays. The ship is expected to make its \
first appearance on the front lines in a few weeks time.

S 1354 [818 A.S.] Naval Forces Deploy New Battlecruiser
S 1355 YOKOHAMA -- 818 A.S. -- The Komainu class battlecruiser is a rare \
example of the engineering prowess of Kusari's two great keiretsu \
joined in one hull and the latest addition to the Kusari Naval Forces \
shipline. The project has lead many critics to wonder what might have \
been achieved if Samura and Kishiro had set aside their commercial \
ambitions much earlier in service to the State.

In the clear expanse of Kusari hub systems, the advantage was with \
the largest and most heavily armoured of capital ships. However, the \
Komainu was designed for a significantly different theatre of war. \
While the Kusari Battleships blazed a path through the Tau systems \
and into Bretonia, they struggled to maintain an efficient hold on \
that territory due to the hostile maneuvering environment of the \
asteroid fields. In their stead, the Komainu guards the gates of \
Kusari in the Tau systems, and combines a sleek hull with the \
firepower to destroy any threat to its sacred home.

S 1356 [818 A.S.] Kusari Declares War Against Gallia!
S 1357 NEW TOKYO -- 818 A.S. -- In a shock announcement, the Shogun of the \
Kusari Government has declared war against the Kingdom of Gallia. \
Efforts to negotiate a settlement regarding a joint invasion of \
Bretonia have broken down, and fighting between elements of the GRN \
and KNF are already coming in from across the Tau sector. Casualties \
are expected to be high, with initial reports suggesting many \
thousands could perish within the first few weeks of conflict.

S 1358 [818 A.S.] Gallia Claims Tau-31, Kusari Forces Mobilise
S 1359 NEW TOKYO -- 818 A.S. -- The Kingdom of Gallia, a relative newcomer \
in Sirius politics, was today reported to have sent an invasion fleet \
into independent Tau-23 and Tau-31 and has requested all military \
forces present there to withdraw immediately. The Gallia Royal Navy, \
the main naval force behind their house, is estimated to hold numbers \
far exceeding those of even the greatly overdeveloped Liberty Navy, \
to this date considered the largest navy in the colonies. Although it \
is currently unclear whether Gallia forces have any intent to fire on \
Kusari forces enforcing the imperial claim to Tau-31, The Kusari \
Government has called for an immediate meeting between commanders \
from both sides, referring to the Gallic claims as "deeply offensive \
to the Kusari nation".

The Honourable Emperor Jien Kogen is currently personally leading \
Kusari Naval Forces in Leeds despite mounting pressure for his return \
home. His response to the situation is as of yet unknown.

S 1360 [818 A.S.] Tau Border Worlds Taken By Gallia
S 1361 JAVA -- 818 A.S. -- In as many years as the Independent Miners Guild \
has existed, the Tau systems have never witnessed a troop movement on \
this scale as the one we are witnessing right now. Gallia, a new \
arrival on the Sirius political scene, did not waste time in making \
war on two of the biggest warmongers. The force they sent in to seize \
the systems separating the two however outnumbers both the Bretonian \
and Kusari navies combined. This means that Tau-23 and Tau-31 is now \
officially under Gallia rule, with all IMG personnel subject to their \
war time laws. IMG Guild Masters are wasting no time in assuring the \
public that they will do everything in their power to ensure that \
this transition goes through as smoothly as possible.

Niobium prices are expected to rise as a result of the added danger \
of operating here, so hopefully not a great lot of you will leave the \
confines of Java station for safer pastures.

S 1362 [818 A.S.] Naval Forces Stuck In Bretonia?
S 1363 HOLMAN -- 818 A.S. -- The last five years have been anything but \
boring for the inhabitants of Holman: the Bretonian-Kusari war, \
Bretonian occupation soon turning into Kusari occupation, many \
"accidental" shots hitting Holman itself through all the fighting \
occuring right next to it, and now Tau-31 seized by storm by the \
biggest naval taskforce seen to date in the history of the colonies. \
It would seem that the only option left for Holman is either to \
evacuate themselves to safety or to bow down to their new Gallian \
overlords. But can Gallia really hold Tau-31? Even though Kusari \
officially backed out of the war, a large chunk of their navy \
disagrees with this decision. Supposedly led by their former Emperor \
Jien Kogen, they have banded together with what remains of the \
Bretonian Armed Forces in Newcastle, bent on kicking the Gallia Naval \
Forces out of Tau-31. Only time will tell if they will succeed \
however.

S 1364 [818 A.S.] Armistice Signed With Kusari Forces
S 1365 NEW LONDON -- 818 A.S. -- In the face of the impending Gallia \
invasion fleet and rising threat of an attack on Leeds, the Kusari \
Emperor-in-Exile has seen fit to step forward and present the Queen's \
government with an offer of peace and alliance against the Royal \
Navy. The Queen has officially signed the agreement only yesterday, \
but the general order to cease all hostility against former KNF \
forces in Bretonia has already been issued. The secretary of state \
has also used the occassion to announce a call to arms, stressing the \
inevitability of the Gallian invasion of Bretonia. The remaining \
Kusari forces in Bretonia are expected to make their base somewhere \
in Newcastle, and will help with the defense of the system against \
any Gallian attacks.

S 1366 [818 A.S.] ATTN Naval Forces: Our Current Situation
S 1367 BATTLESHIP YAMAGUCHI -- 818 A.S. -- In light of the recent events on \
the Bretonian front, the honourable Emperor Kogen addresses all Naval \
Forces still under Imperial command:

"To Our Honourable Samurai still serving in the war against the \
foreign devils,
After years of victories against the Bretonians, nobody could have \
ever expected such a course of events to come to bear. The past from \
Sol is coming back to haunt us in the form of this French house, \
declaring war upon us from a position of surprise and dishonour. \
Their limitless hordes are too many to stand against on our lonesome, \
even for such proven warriors as the valiant Seto battlegroup. We \
will receive no more support from our homeland, as they have decided \
to abandon my wisdom in favour of what they perceive to be their own.

We cannot, will not dishonour those who died for Kusari's right to \
the Tau sector by retreating like cowards! The Kusari Naval Forces \
are proud, we cannot be defeated! Making war on the Bretonians was \
honourable, we fought each other from a position of tactics and the \
superiority of ideals. This Gallia has no regard for either ideals, \
nor tactics, nor honour!

My fellow samurai, the Bretonians may be our enemy but our feud was \
interrupted and defiled, and for this affront we must strike back. We \
will reclaim Tau-31 from the dishonourable Gallians so that we can \
finish what has been started."

S 1368 [818 A.S.] New Draft Measure Passes
S 1369 NEW LONDON -- 818 A.S. -- The New London Parliament has spent the \
last few days discussing almost exclusively matters of war as the \
threat of an invasion of Leeds, much bigger than what was ever \
expected from Kusari forces, now forms like a shadow cast by the \
incredible numbers of ships that Gallia has sent to fuel their \
imperialist conquest of the Tau systems. Several measures were passed \
by almost unanimous vote, including forming an emergency leading \
party coalition for the duration of the war with Gallia, war time \
resource rationing and, perhaps most controversially, a general \
draft. All able bodied citizens from ages 18 to 40 will soon be \
receiving their draft letters and will be commissioned as either full \
time troops or reserves. All Bretonian shipbuilding companies are \
expected to receive large scale rapid ship construction contracts \
shortly as a direct result of this.

S 1370 [734 AGS] The Reconquest Begins
S 1371 NEW PARIS -- 734 AGS -- King Charles XI addressed the nation today to \
announce the beginning of the Great Reconquest, the reclamation of \
the rich and fertile regions of Sirius stolen from the rightful \
control of Gallia by the Libertonian and Bretonian traitors.

"My faithful subjects! We have stood by long enough while the \
ravenous remnants of the Alliance feasted upon the lands they have \
eyed for themselves from long before the landing! We know what they \
did to assure themselves domination, we know that they led Coalition \
forces to our sleeper launch site so that they may escape like the \
rats that they are, and take the best of this region for themselves. \
All their actions must have consequences! Starting from today, they \
will be running once again. They will run, or they will be included \
into the rightful control of House Gallia! Hail the reconquest!"

The crowd gathered at Ile du Palais cheered throughout the speech. \
The first Royal Navy units are expected to reach and pacify Tau-23 \
within days, officially marking the first step on the road to victory.

S 1372 [735 AGS] Sirian Campaign Picking Up Steam
S 1373 NEW PARIS -- 735 AGS -- The Royal Navy is claiming victory after \
victory in the Bretonian colonies. After successfully flushing out \
what appears to have been a pirate base in the "Lewis" system, our \
forces took the sparsely inhabited "Edinburgh" system with only token \
resistance. The first real test of our forces against the enemy came \
in the toxic wasteland called Leeds, where the first heavily \
inhabited planet lays. Enemy resistance was stiff, but our forces \
have managed to gain the upper hand in virtually the entire system. \
This puts the Gallic Expeditionary Forces in a position to strike at \
New London, and the heart of Bretonia. Military analysts predict that \
all organised Bretonian resistance will falter if New London falls, \
and that taking London itself would mean a quick end to to the war, \
avoiding needless bloodshed.

S 1374 [818 A.S.] Council Forces Evacuated From Languedoc
S 1375 TOULOUSE -- 818 A.S. -- As the last Council evacuation ship makes it \
out of Languedoc toward the newly colonised system of Roussillon, \
Council forces breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have managed to \
get away from the blunt hammer of the Royal Navy forces. While it was \
obvious from the start that Languedoc would not be held for very \
long, it seems the Council has far underestimated the veracity of the \
Royal Navy as the first assault waves advanced into the system long \
before the end of the evacuation effort. The evacuation was \
nonetheless completed successfully thanks to the valiant efforts of a \
last ditch defense fleet who have managed to hold the Royal Navy at \
bay at great cost. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten, nor will it \
be in vain. The Council will begin efforts to sabotage Royal Navy \
operations in the Tau sector within the space of a few weeks.

S 1376 [819 A.S.] Liberty Attacks Research Outpost In Bremen!
S 1377 HAMBURG -- 819 A.S. -- Rheinland defense forces in Bremen sent out a \
general distress call today following an unexpected suicide attack by \
the Liberty Navy which successfully disabled the Battleship \
Westphalia and allowed a good portion of their strike force waiting \
on the other side to jump through unharmed. The Liberty forces used a \
similar tactic to the one use by the Kusari Naval Forces in their \
breakthrough to Leeds over two years ago. While the heroic crew of \
the Westphalia restored their stricken vessel, the Liberty fleet \
attacked and plundered a civilian research outpost elsewhere in the \
system. Reinforcements from New Berlin quickly drove back the \
attackers, destroying a good number of them. The Westphalia is \
reported to be pursuing the remaining attackers in New Hampshire.

S 1378 [819 A.S.] Casablanca Falls!
S 1379 VIERNHEIM -- 819 A.S. -- After years of Hessian occupation, the \
Corsairs have finally launched an attack strong enough to overwhelm \
the defense at Casablanca and have retaken the base. It has taken \
them more than eight years to accomplish this, and it was something \
that allowed the Red Hessian movement to continuously raid their \
supply transports to and from Gran Canaria, dealing the Corsairs \
greater blows than on any other front. While this will undoubtedly \
create new battle lines in Omega-47 and Omega-5 now that the Corsairs \
have secured their supply line, the Red Hessian Oberkommando has \
stated that counter assaults are already in preparation and that the \
war over Omega-47 is only set to escalate. Meanwhile, Omega-47 \
operational command has been moved to Viernheim base, which has been \
fortified against possible Corsair raiding parties. Preparations for \
the first counterstrike continue.

S 1380 [735 AGS] Foreign Diamonds Flooding the Market?
S 1381 LYON -- 735 AGS -- GMS officials are privately voicing concerns over \
the influx of diamonds from Sirius into Gallia's markets. Planet \
Lyons' red and pink diamonds have been a mainstay of GMS profits for \
decades, but recent analysis by the company's assayers indicates that \
an increasing share of the market of especially industrial diamonds \
are arriving from Sirian sources, as far as Rheinland. So far, there \
has not been a large enough influx of foreign gems to destabilize \
prices in Gallia, but GMS is not waiting for that to happen. GMS \
lobbyists have been quietly talking to Royal Ministers about the \
problem, and legislation to combat the apparent smuggling may soon be \
submitted for debate.

S 1382 [735 AGS] Bretonian Booty Replenishes Crown Coffers
S 1383 NEW PARIS -- 735 AGS -- The first benefit of the patriotic war \
against the treacherous Bretonians is the flow of seized goods being \
shipped from the GRN forces in the newly acquired Edinburgh and Leeds \
systems back to Gallia. After the enormous expenditures made during \
the war with The Council, the Crown has been reluctant to increase \
taxes on Gallic citizens to raise funds, so the seizure of Bretonian \
goods during raids into the Newcastle system is welcome news to the \
Royal Treasurer.

S 1384 [819 A.S.] The Council Begins Munitions Sales to Sirian Factions
S 1385 TOULOUSE -- 819 A.S. -- Capitalizing on the proficiency of its work \
force in the munitions industry, The Council's first industrial \
product manufactured in its new home is Munitions. The Munitions are \
being stockpiled to replenish the fleet from its recent operations \
against the Royal Fleet, but are also being sold throughout Sirius to \
factions who are desperate for a reliable, low cost source of \
Munitions on the black market. The Council sees these economic ties \
as the beginning of possible new alliances for the faction, as well \
as a way to create sympathy and attract support for their own fight \
against the Crown.

S 1386 [819 A.S.] Outcast Shipwrights Unveil New Ship Designs
S 1387 MALTA -- 819 A.S. -- Outcast shipwrights at Malta have announced that \
a new line of ships specifically tailored to Outcast needs are now \
available. Visitors of Malta who frequented the Valetta Shipyard have \
likely already caught a glimpse of these ships. Dubbed the \
"Conquistador" line, these ships are sleighted to slowly replace the \
aging "Borderworld" line, which has been the mainstay of the Outcasts \
for over five centuries. The designs have reportedly received mixed \
results, with some pilots indicating they would prefer to stick with \
the proven models, such as the Scimitar or Sabre, while others favor \
the narrower profile of the Gladius or Rapier.

S 1388 [735 AGS] Brigands Secure Deal with Liberty Rogues
S 1389 MONTAUBAN -- 735 AGS -- In a move guaranteed to cause envy among \
Gallia's underworld networks, the Free Brigands of Gallia has secured \
a lucrative agreement with the Liberty Rogues for the import of \
contraband material from Gallia into Liberty, via their new base in \
the Roussillion system. At the same time, the Gallic Brigands gain \
access to a wide variety of Sirian goods to take back into Gallia. \
With the main effort of the Gallic Navy directed at Bretonia, \
smuggling opportunities through the Tau systems are plentiful. \
Brigand representatives are reportedly in talks with the Outcasts to \
safeguard their passage through the Tau systems, but regardless of \
the outcome of those negotiations, the volume of goods flowing to and \
from the Liberty and Gallic black markets is expected to increase \
dramatically.

S 1390 [819 A.S.] The Council Relying on Soft Diplomacy
S 1391 TOULOUSE -- 819 A.S. -- The Council knows that the establishment of \
long term diplomatic relations with the Houses of Sirius is in its \
best interests, and is critical to its desire to end the war between \
Gallia and Sirius. The reprocessing of the atmospheric toxins into \
Hydrogen Cyanide - a powerful but extremely toxic solvant - is \
quickly becoming the main export product of the nascent civilisation \
that established itself in Roussillion. The Council sees trade with \
foreign powers as an important step towards establishing friendly \
relations, in a time where most people know Gallia only as invaders.

S 1392 [735 A.G.S.] Cardamine the New Scourge of Gallia?
S 1393 NEW PARIS -- 819 A.S. -- Royal Police spokesmen dismiss media reports \
of widespread abuse of the new drug Cardamine within Gallic society, \
but arrests for drug related offenses seem to be on the rise. \
Cardamine, which has an unknown origin, seems to have spread \
throughout the upper tiers of Gallic society quietly, and has only \
received media attention after becoming a dominant force in street \
level crime. Some blame contact with Sirius as the source of the \
problem, pointing to a conspiracy among the Sirius Houses to afflict \
Gallia with degenerate addictions. One prominent politician called \
for investigation of the Junkers as the likely culprits who \
introduced Cardamine to Gallia, but so far his allegations have been \
seemingly ignored by the Royal Police. Inquiries to the Royal Navy \
about whether Cardamine has shown up in cargo interdictions on \
Gallia's borders have gone unanswered.

S 1394 [819 A.S.] Sirius Robotics Strikes Deal with IMG
S 1395 ALAND SHIPYARD -- 819 A.S. -- Sirius Robotics signed a lease with the \
IMG entitling the robotics manufacturer to industrial production \
space on board Aland Shipyard. The small company, which has quickly \
become a leader in robotics innovations and design, is taking aim at \
Ageira's and Kishiro's market shares in consumer robotics. The deal \
to manufacture robotics on Aland positions the company astride \
existing logistical routes, but removes it from oversight from what \
it calls "intrusive and sedentary House bureaucracies" that hamper \
the progress of technological development. Ageira contends that its \
products have withstood the test of centuries, and its track record \
speaks for itself, predicting that Sirius Robotics will "bankrupt \
itself even faster than its gadgets and gizmos malfunction".

S 1396 [735 AGS] Solar Engineering's Political Clout Pays Off
S 1397 NEW PARIS -- 735 AGS -- Solar Engineering won a major victory when \
the Gallic government criminalized the transportation or possession \
of so-called Hypnotainment Bands, the hacked version of the company's \
highly successful Holotainment Band product line. Despite Solar's \
campaign to make possession of even one Hypno Band illegal, the \
government heeded expert testimony from addiction experts who claimed \
that Hypno Band users should be given addiction treatment rather than \
imprisoned as criminals. Even without the total criminalization of \
possession of a Hypno Band, Solar is well positioned to pursue a \
crackdown on what it calls "the subversive elements" in Gallia that \
are exploiting its products to ensnare innocent people. Despite the \
claims of some consumer groups that Hypno Bands are really nothing \
more than Holotainment Bands that are freed from their safety \
protocols, Solar claims that Hypno Bands are dangerously modified \
versions of their proprietary technology, which they claim is \
perfectly safe. Consumer groups point out that Holo Band use can \
result in addictive behavior similar to Hypno Band use, and that \
Solar's interest is primarily in removing a commercial rival to its \
product rather than public safety. Regardless, Solar is expected to \
use the new law as justification for an accelerated campaign of \
bounties and interdictions against Hypno Band dealers and suppliers.

S 1398 [819 A.S.] Junyo Fire Pearls are Hot Items
S 1399 JUNYO -- 819 A.S. -- The discovery two years ago of unique mollusks \
in Planet Junyo's deep oceans ignited a fire storm of interest on the \
part of Kusari marine biologists. The interest soon spread to the \
board room of Samura Industries, which established multiple deep sea \
farming operations on Junyo to cultivate the small shell-dwelling \
creatures that produce unique red-tinged pearls. Early attempts to \
grow the mollusks at shallower depths failed, apparently due to the \
mollusks' strange biological need for the higher pressure \
environments found in the deep oceans in order to survive. Fire \
Pearls quickly became the hottest selling items across Sirius' \
jewelry markets, and top designers in all the Houses have adapted \
them into their new fashion collections. Samura boasts that Fire \
Pearls may soon rival diamonds as a "lady's best friend," but Daumann \
and Kruger spokesmen dispute such claims, reminding consumers that \
pearls are easily ground into dust, but "diamonds are forever".

S 1400 [819 A.S.] Nuclear Physicists Certify ALG's Nuclear Devices Safe and \
Secure

S 1401 NEW BERLIN -- 819 A.S. -- In its latest bid to pacify anxious \
politicians across Sirius, the Chief Science Officer of ALG Waste \
Disposal held a press conference on Planet New Berlin while flanked \
by nuclear physicists from major universities in Rheinland, Kusari, \
and Bretonia. Responding to numerous rumors about ALG's Nuclear \
Devices being unsafe during transport, or potentially lethal in the \
hands of criminal or terrorist groups, ALG's CSO presented \
certifications from nuclear physics departments at major Sirian \
universities showing that Nuclear Devices are both safe and secure \
from tampering. The CSO stated, "Nuclear Devices possess multiple \
safety protocols and fail safe measures that totally eliminate any \
possibility of meltdown or explosion. The devices are constructed to \
"scram", that is to shut off all fission activity as their default \
state, making them unusable for military purposes. The anti-tampering \
mechanisms make the fissionable material in the core entirely secure \
from unauthorized extraction or detonation. ALG's Nuclear Devices are \
fully as secure as Ageira's legendary white boxes."
Similar assurances from leading Sirian nuclear physicists are \
expected to result in the removal of the restrictive political \
measures enacted regarding transportation and sale of the devices, \
since, as the academicians note, these restrictions are based on \
"false, misleading, and superstitious notions" rather than scientific \
facts. Supporting statements released by the public affairs bureaus \
of the four House militaries confirm the reliability of ALG's Nuclear \
Devices, noting the lack of a single instance where a Nuclear Device \
has caused any loss of life or hazardous nuclear spill.

S 1402 [819 A.S.] OSC Expands into the Luxury Goods Market
S 1403 CURACAO -- 819 A.S. -- Anxious to diversify it revenue streams, \
Orbital Spa and Cruise has established several lines of luxury \
products. Planet Curacao's unique native tea species is being \
harvested for sale throughout Bretonia and Kusari. "Miracle elixirs" \
are being marketed as novelty drinks throughout the Houses.
In a risky gamble to enter the technology field, OSC has contracted \
with several famed Kusari artists to produce Holosculptures on board \
Luxury Liners Hawaii and Mackinac and sell them throughout the \
Houses. Visitors can watch the artists at work in their studios, and \
for a large fee can commission specific art works or sit for \
portraits.

S 1404 [819 A.S.] HazMat Canisters - New Breakthrough in Waste Containment
S 1405 DORTMUND -- 819 A.S. -- ALG Waste Disposal has fired a shot across \
the bow of its rival BMM for dominance in the toxic waste industry. \
ALG's HazMat Canisters offer a high technology solution for \
industries across Sirius. While until now industry had to risk toxic \
leaks while accumulating enough material to justify dispatch of a \
waste disposal vessel, ALG's HazMat Canisters offer a safe, durable \
solution that eliminates the need for costly waste containment areas \
near industrial sites. The canisters can be safely and reliably \
stored in any normal environmental conditions, and their contents may \
be transferred directly to the cargo holds of ALG Movers without \
danger of leak or local contamination. Privately, ALG executives are \
reported to be confidant that their new innovation will push BMM \
right out of the toxic waste business altogether, and that \
governments will soon ban the more common dumps into gas giants \
completely.

S 1406 [819 A.S.] Human Trafficking Ring Busted on Sugarland
S 1407 MANHATTAN -- 819 A.S. -- Sugarland Prison's long time warden and \
several of his deputies were forced into permanent retirement after \
conviction for numerous counts of felonious conduct for their \
operation of a "labor racket" on board the prison. After a lengthy \
investigation by the LSF, the LPI's upper echelons of management on \
Sugarland were indicted and subsequently convicted of several \
thousand counts of felony kidnapping, false imprisonment, and \
conspiracy, among other crimes. Some of the felonious acts date to \
the warden's former posting as a LPI officer on Planet Houston.
Rather than facing certain death by imprisonment alongside their \
former prisoners, or construction of expensive isolation cells on \
Huntsville or Sugarland, the former LPI officers have been given \
sentences of hard labor for life in Pittsburgh's boron mines, where \
authorities assure the public they will both be punished and \
prevented from further exploiting Liberty's most vulnerable members \
of society.
The conclusion of the trials brings an end to a sordid tale of \
corruption, exploitation, and alleged slavery that have plagued \
Houston politics for decades, and mired the LPI in scandal for over a \
year. An LPI spokesman hailed the verdicts as long overdue justice \
and pledged that "Liberty is once again a safe haven for the \
unfortunate, and free of the wicked institution of slavery that \
exploits the vulnerable for the enrichment of the unscrupulous." \
Liberty politicians have used the trials as a forum for heaping scorn \
on the Outcasts and Liberty Rogues, who are reputed to be the \
criminal syndicates behind the abuses.

S 1408 [819 A.S.] Foreign Labor Sought for Boron Mines
S 1409 PITTSBURGH -- 819 A.S. -- Planet Pittsburgh's long history of labor \
problems took a turn for the worse soon after the outbreak of war \
between Liberty and Rheinland. Using the increased demand for boron \
due to its necessity in ship hull panel construction as leverage, the \
planet's largest labor union, United Boron Miners, went on strike to \
protest the chronically low wages, hazardous working conditions, and \
lack of adequate medical care provided by the mining companies.
\ Despite months long negotiations, the mining companies failed to \
reach a settlement with UBM, and turned to Refugees as a solution for \
their labor dilemma. Bretonians fleeing the Kusari advance in Leeds \
were offered free transportation to Pittsburgh in exchange for a \
signed contract of five years labor in the boron mines. The opening \
of Gallic space to Sirius has seen an influx of more Refugees from \
Bretonia in spite of the withdrawal of Kusari's forces. Rumors of \
Refugees from Gallic space composed of political dissenters have sent \
the mining companies into political spin mode, claiming that Gallic \
Refugees being provided work and homes in Liberty is a moral victory \
over the tyrannical Gallic monarchy.
UBM representatives see the influx of Refugees to Pittsburgh in very \
different terms. Refugees are seen as "scabs" and "illegal \
immigrants" who are taking native Libertonian's jobs. UBM ominously \
predicts the permanent ousting of its members from their homes on \
Pittsburgh if the mining companies are able to replace the labor \
force in its entirety. Outbreaks of violence on the planet have led \
some pundits to speculate that the ongoing labor strife may soon \
spill over into space, if the out of work miners are able to acquire \
spaceships to interdict refugee convoys, or if the Xenos are somehow \
pulled into the dispute. Both LSF and LPI spokesmen describe such \
predictions as mere union scare tactics.

S 1410 [819 A.S.] Baden Baden Luxury Seafood is a New Delicacy
S 1411 BADEN BADEN -- 819 A.S. -- After a decade of costly development, \
Planet Baden Baden's oceans are finally yielding a commercial \
resource in the form of edible crustaceans that are being marketed \
through the exclusive auspices of Orbital Spa and Cruise Lines as a \
unique feature of its luxury accomodations. Plagued for years by \
unexplained mass die-offs among its coastal sea farms, OSC was unable \
to sustain a viable supply line for its expensive menus until a joint \
team of Planetform and Cryer scientists identified the parasitic \
contagion that was depopulating Orbital's sea farms.
Noted for their unique flavor, Baden Baden's native crustaceans have \
now become the entree of choice for elite diners vacationing at OSC \
resorts.

S 1412 [819 A.S.] Ageira Signs Contract to Supply Liberty Military Hardware
S 1413 FORT SEVERN -- 819 A.S. -- Ageira Technologies has secured a highly \
sought after contract to take over Military Vehicle manufacturing. \
Despite the highly sensitive nature of the top secret design \
specifications developed by the Navy for construction of it's \
equipment, cost overruns and failure to meet production deadlines led \
to the Liberty government forcing the Navy to license the production \
to a civilian company. Ageira sees the new contract as a means of \
diversifying its military hardware portfolio, while other Liberty \
companies are quietly concerned about Ageira's rising influence \
within the Liberty government. Critics are quick to point out the \
"close" relationships between government and industry in Bretonia, \
Rheinland, and Kusari as problematic for civil reforms, but Ageira \
spokesmen herald the close cooperation between the company and the \
government as necessary for the profitable and efficient \
manufacturing of military equipment and the stability of the republic.

S 1414 [819 A.S.] Quantum Multiplexors Reach 2nd Generation of Technology
S 1415 SHINJUKU STATION -- 819 A.S. -- Samura Industries rolled out the \
second generation of its Quantum Multiplexor networking system with \
the opening of its new Misaki Station production facility in the \
Rishiri system. Renowned for their ability to seamlessly integrate \
the complex computer systems employed by corporations, governments, \
space stations, and capital ships, Quantum Multiplexor technology has \
revolutionized command and control functions across Sirius. Samura's \
proprietary design of the technology has secured a dominant market \
share within the industry due to its reputation for long term network \
stability and self debugging features.
Rumors of inquires by the Gallic Royal Navy into Samura's \
technological designs prompted fierce protests from other House \
governments, and led the new Kishiro backed government in Kusari to \
completely outlaw any transfer of the technology to Gallic control \
through Kusari space. Samura maintains that Misaki is not technically \
in Kusari space, and since Gallia can easily import goods through the \
recently revealed Lyonnais jumpgate in Rishiri, it is unlikely this \
outlawing will have any effect.

S 1416 [819 A.S.] Cell Therapy Breakthrough for Agriculture
S 1417 CANTERBURY STATION -- 819 A.S. -- Cooperation between Planetform, \
Synth Foods, and Cryer Pharmaceuticals on the development of \
Xenobiotic Filters encouraged the corporations to continue joint \
research and has led to another technological breakthrough. Enhanced \
plant growth through fertilizer application was the mainstay of \
agriculture for centuries, but in 817 A.S. Cryer scientists developed \
a microcellular enhancement technique that causes accelerated energy \
production by plant cells' mitochondria, leading to increased tissue \
growth. Once a delivery system that could convey the cellular \
enhancers directly into the plant cells was developed by Planetform \
the following year, the corporations began mass marketing their new \
product, called FloraGro, throughout Sirius.
Crops using the product yield up to 10% more at harvest than without \
it, and Synth Crops yields are sometimes increased by 20%. Since only \
a tiny amount is necessary to achieve results, the increased expense \
of FloraGro application is no deterrent to House agricultural \
operations which are hard-pressed by labor difficulties due to \
conscription for the various Houses' wars.
Planetform chose to locate its Floragro production on California \
Minor, in an apparent attempt to stimulate immigration to the planet \
and broaden the base of the planet's economy.

S 1418 [819 A.S.] Alien Bacteria Re-engineered for Air Filtration And Waste \
Disposal

S 1419 COLD BAY DEPOT -- 819 A.S. -- In 815 A.S., a Planetform survey vessel \
discovered an unknown bacteria indigenous to Planet Atka in the \
Hudson system. Further study conducted after the construction of Cold \
Bay Depot in 816 A.S. revealed that the bacterial organisms had \
evolved the unique ability to split carbon atoms from their adjoining \
elements in order to use the carbon as a food source. Any molecular \
structure containing carbon can be "digested" by these bacteria. The \
digestion process consumes approximately half of the carbon in the \
molecule as fuel for the bacteria, and secretes the remainder along \
with other elements back into the environment. Planetform scientists \
speculate that the bacteria evolved this unique ability as a result \
of originating in an environment of deep space, instead of what are \
normally considered habitable planets, and arrived on Planet Atka \
aboard a meteorite.
Early experiments with the bacteria revealed that their spread \
throughout an ecosystem habitable by humans is exponential, and that \
if allowed to reproduce unchecked in such an environment, a habitable \
planet could be rendered a complete wasteland within decades by the \
bacteria's ravenous life cycle. This discovery turned initial \
excitement into frustration as the disastrous impact that the \
bacteria's introduction would have on planetary environments was \
fully understood. The terraforming of Planet Atka has been put on \
hold due to the countereffects that the bacteria would create.
The solution to the bacteria's destructive appetite resulted after a \
research grant contributed by Synth Foods funded a joint team of \
Planetform and Cryer Pharmaceutical scientists. The Cryer scientists \
used their latest genetic manipulation techniques to genetically \
re-engineer the bacteria. An enzyme critical to the bacteria's \
survival was discovered, and the gene responsible for it's production \
was isolated and then removed from a breed line of bacteria. The \
following generations of bacteria were unable to produce this simple \
enzyme, and died without reproducing unless artificially supplied \
with a steady diet of the enzyme.
A nanotube filtration pack was developed that carries enough of the \
enzyme to feed a bacterial colony for several weeks. The bacteria are \
implanted into the nanotube filtration packs, which are then \
positioned on racks within a filtration system. Waste is then pumped \
through the racks of filters, and the resulting discharge contains \
only non-toxic atomic elements. In water purification systems, the \
discharged hydrogen and oxygen are rejoined into H2O molecules in an \
electrostatic recombinant process that is in wide use on space \
stations and large spacecraft throughout Sirius.
The bacteria are harvested by Planetform from Planet Atka and are \
implanted into nanotube matrices, and then sold as filtration systems \
for air, soil, and water purification systems, and even toxic waste \
disposal. The filters efficiently eliminate all poisonous or toxic \
materials by breaking down the molecular structures into more basic \
elements which can then be recycled or deposited into an ecosystem \
without threat of contamination. The benefits to space station and \
spacecraft environmental systems is tremendous, and the cost savings \
more than compensate for the limited shelf life of the filters.
The resulting Xenobiotic Filter product is sold throughout Sirius. \
Planetform Inc. supplies the genetically engineered bacterial \
colonies and nanotube filter packs, Cryer Pharmaceuticals holds the \
patents on the breed line of bacteria that it genetically altered, \
and Synth Foods secured an "at-cost" 100 year licensing agreement for \
it's Synth Paste production operations as repayment for it's research \
grant which funded the product's development. All three corporations \
are positioned to reap windfall profits from the filters' sales for \
the forseeable future as biodome communities and population centers \
retool their waste disposal facilities to use the new filters.

S 1420 [816 A.S.] The "Wilde" Strike Again
S 1421 FREITAL -- 816 A.S. -- In the past year the renegade group known as \
"the Wild" has become more and more common in the southern parts of \
Sirius, extending its influence well across the Omega systems and \
even impacting the results of battles between Corsair and Hessian \
forces. Red Hessian commanders have been increasingly preoccupied \
with finding a suitable weapon to defeat these new invaders, as a \
result learning more about the Wild's goals and abilities. According \
to data gathered by field agents, individuals identified as the Wild \
are not only extremely dangerous through superior technology, but \
also capable of basic mind suggestion and exerting influence on other \
individuals in a limited manner. This ability makes them able to turn \
their enemies against each other in certain scenarios, and has \
prompted the Red Hessian Oberkommando to declare Wild ships as \
priority one targets for this reason alone.

In addition to that, deep space recon into bordering systems has \
revealed free standing structures under construction in the system \
marked as Omega-58. Although their purpose remains to be seen, \
speculations arising from the shape and design include some kind of \
an alien jump gate or super weapon. According to a high ranking \
Hessian commander: "We need to find as much information as we can on \
these Wild. Something or someone is controlling and helping them, and \
we will find out who it is soon".

S 1422 [817 A.S.] Chancellor Reinhardt Issues Call To Arms
S 1423 NEW BERLIN -- 817 A.S. -- The entire board of Rheinland ministers was \
called into an emergency meeting with the Chancellor and the Fleet \
Admiral of the Military shortly after the official declaration of war \
from Liberty. With the meeting ending only minutes ago, Chancellor \
Reinhardt has emerged from the chamber to address the nation \
personally:

"Fellow Rheinlanders, countrymen. Today is a day of shame for the \
colonies. Today we all plunge right back into widespread war as the \
warmongers in the Liberty government decide to take by force what \
they claim is theirs: our fatherland. Make no mistake, they will not \
give us pause nor respite. Their forces are numerous and well \
equipped, and it will not be an easy fight. And yet I am not worried! \
We as Rheinlanders have always overcame the greatest of strifes by a \
united effort, and we will do so once again. The Rheinland Military \
has the equipment, able leadership and experience to push the \
invaders back. What they need above all is you! All able men must \
serve our nation in this time of great need. Together we will push \
back the invaders and shame them in the eyes of the colonies, so that \
we may live in peace until the end of days. Victory to Rheinland! \
Victory to our Fatherland!"

S 1424 [817 A.S.] Powell Criticised By Opposition
S 1425 MANHATTAN -- 817 A.S. -- Former President Barbara Jacobi, the famed \
"survivor" of the last Rheinland aggression on Liberty, now a senator \
and a member of the Liberty Reform Party has today criticised \
President Powell's statement on the escalation of hostilities with \
Rheinland, calling it a "heavy handed approach to a problem that is \
quickly running out of control". President Jacobi is known for not \
pushing for any reparations from Rheinland after the conflict of 800 \
A.S., a policy which President Powell famously disagrees with. \
Jacobi's allegations that Powell's policy regarding the aftermath of \
the 800 A.S. war is leading Liberty into yet another conflict has \
been sternly rebuffed by Powell's supporters, who claim Rheinland to \
be using money from Liberty to fund their own Military. Jacobi \
herself and other members of the Reform Party have announced they \
will continue pressing the issue.

S 1426 [815 A.S.] BMM Reports Significant Profits
S 1427 NEW LONDON -- 815 A.S. -- As the war rages on in Tau-31, many \
companies and organisations suffer great losses due to the widespread \
militarisation of the adjoining systems. But it would appear this \
does not include the Bretonian Mining and Manufacturing company, \
which has reported record profits in the last five years just two \
days ago. Analysts confirm the outbreak of the war and the subsequent \
threat of Leeds has led to prolonged peace in Dublin which allowed \
the BMM to expand their mining operations. Furthermore, BMM \
operations in Tau-23 fell under the protection of the Armed Forces \
after Harris became the last Bretonian bastion in the Tau-31 system, \
further earning the company protection against pirate attacks. A BMM \
spokesman commented on the situation: "Despite our great profits, we \
do have a war going on. Our hearts are out to the transport captains \
who did not make it back to the homeland because of Kusari attacks on \
such civilian transports".

S 1428 [815 A.S.] Kusari Captain Sentenced
S 1429 NEW TOKYO -- 815 A.S. -- Although the latest Bretonian attack on \
Holman has been repulsed swiftly by the valiant Naval Forces \
defenders, a tragedy befell the IMG station as battery fire from the \
IKN Satsuma cruiser hit and heavily damaged a docking bay due to a \
misfire during the defense, killing 27 civilians and wounding several \
more. The Kusari government issued a press statement today \
apologising for this unfortunate situation and announced the \
sentencing of the captain involved to dishonourable discharge. "Our \
hearts and minds are with the grieving people of Holman outpost. We \
will do everything in our power to prevent such tragedies occuring in \
the future, however the demilitarisation of the Holman zone is not \
yet an option at present" - a Kusari spokesman said.

S 1430 [815 A.S.] The "Other" Military
S 1431 BRUCHSAL -- 815 A.S. -- It is relatively well known in modern \
Rheinland that the Nomad War came as a result of the machinations of \
the alien infested Chancellor Niemann. What is less known is how much \
of his orders were carried out by people who simply "believed in the \
cause". Many of those people are still in charge in the Rheinland \
Military as if nothing had happened, and nobody is able or willing to \
stop it. But despite the threat that the Military poses through their \
blind willingness to follow orders, there is a different threat that \
is far more dangerous that has evolved and yet diverged from the \
Rheinland Military of the times of the Nomad War.

In mainstream Rheinland they are known as "Die Wilden", the \
traitorous followers of Niemann who have fled into the Omega systems \
after the death of their Chancellor, and who decided to attempt a \
bloody coup against the present government in an effort to redeem his \
legacy. But there is a far darker truth in this particular story.

Red Hessian and Bundschuh forces had dealt with these "wild" groups \
of Military since 801 A.S. when their scattered remnants attempted a \
withdrawal into the deep Omega systems following their defeat in \
Honshu. They have later encountered them yet again during the Red \
Hessian push on Casablanca Base in 811 A.S. and now we are seeing \
them once more, this time on a murderous rampage through the lanes \
and outlying areas in the core systems. These are not just fanatics \
bent on taking over Rheinland. Any who fight them know their skills \
and responsiveness, almost as if they were guided by something else. \
There is a growing concern that we may once again be dealing with the \
alien forces that enslaved our fatherland once before in order to \
make war upon the colonies. If there is one thing we do know for sure \
is that they must be stopped before they succeed in whatever they are \
trying to do this time.

S 1432 [816 A.S.] Terrorist Attacks on the Rise in Omega-3
S 1433 CAMBRIDGE -- 816 A.S. -- Omega-3 has had a long and turbulent history \
of being a lawless space, where Bounty Hunters and criminals duke it \
out in the absence of house naval presence, and civilian transport \
captains are caught in the middle. But if one were to look at the \
casualty statistics, it would not be hard to spot a very recent \
extreme rise in fatalities within the system. The Bretonia Police \
Authority has been on the case for a number of weeks and have managed \
to obtain proof that these terrorist attacks have been perpetrated by \
a gang utilising Rheinland made ships, but with weapons of strength \
unlike any seen before.

When asked, the Rheinland Foreign Ministry was quick to deny any \
allegations of privateering, citing standing Military orders that \
forbade regulars from patrolling beyond Omega-7 unless actively \
pursuing an offender. \.

S 1434 [819 A.S.] Daumann Suffers Due To Hessian Attacks
S 1435 NEW BERLIN -- 819 A.S. -- Consumer confidence in Daumann Heavy \
Construction is reaching a record low, as the company's stocks \
continue to drop following the loss of Leipzig Station to the Red \
Hessians in Dresden. The war with Liberty has forced the Rheinland \
Military to move its assets away from Dresden to help the war effort, \
and after the destruction of Pirna, the Federal Police indicated they \
could no longer guarantee the safety of Dresden. Daumann's high \
temperature alloy industry has been moved to the industrial \
facilities on The Ring, but production capacity is still being \
restored after the hasty evacuation of Leipzig. Talks with ALG \
concerning the use of their new Wuppertal facility have been cut off \
after it became clear that ALG wishes to start its own High \
Temperature Alloy production line to compete, rather then cooperate, \
with Daumann.

S 1436 [818 A.S.] Gallia Forces Stronger Than Suspected
S 1437 NEW TOKYO -- 818 A.S. -- In breaking news, reports coming in from the \
Tau-31 system indicate reinforcements of the Gallic Royal Navy \
continue to engage the KNF. Neither KNF High Command nor the Kusari \
Government can confirm the status of the Emperor and Shogun. \
Government executives have declared a state of emergency, suspending \
the constitution and calling upon the military to maintain order in \
the face of mounting panic from civilians across Kusari. The \
government remains defiant in the face of calls for the government to \
step down, stating that it has every confidence the KNF can hold its \
lines of defense against the overwhelming numbers arrayed against \
them, citing Emperor Kogen's call to "defend Kusari to the last man, \
the last drop of blood".

S 1438 [818 A.S.] Imperial Palace Seized, Government Declared Invalid
S 1439 NEW TOKYO -- 818 A.S. -- In a surprise move, senior generals of the \
Kusari Naval Forces have seized key government installations in New \
Tokyo, including the Imperial Palace. Sources within the KNF state \
High Command no longer had confidence in the Kusari Government. Since \
the Constitution was suspended, and with the Emperor and Shogun \
considered MIA, it appears that the KNF has given their support to \
the Democratic Party of Kusari to negotiate an end to the Gallic \
conflict and hold fresh elections. Without support from the military \
the current government has little choice but to resign. Violence has \
broken out in Kyushu, where loyalist elements of the Farmer's \
Alliance have vowed never to let Kusari's royal heritage be lost, in \
what appears to be the start of a new chapter in Kusari political \
history.

S 1440 [819 A.S.] Emperor Kogan Passes Away in Foreign Space!
S 1441 NEW TOKYO -- 819 A.S. -- Shogun Sulu has appeared on media channels \
to bring the sad news that Emperor Kogen has passed away. To prevent \
speculation regarding the circumstances of his death, Shogun Sulu \
revealed the Emperor had been fighting metastaticed cardiac sarcoma - \
heart cancer - for the past two years. "When his Imperial physician \
had indicated that he would not make the end of the year, the Emperor \
departed for Seto at once, to offer Kusari one final service in \
leading the war personally, before his end." \n\
Emperor Kogen is succeeded by his brother Tetsuya, who will ascend to \
the Imperial Throne in exile. Shogun Sulu also had the following \
statement: "It is a disgrace that the Father and Steward of Kusari \
cannot be laid to rest even within Her own borders. Honor demands \
that one day it shall be so. I can not believe any Son of Kusari \
would deny Emperor Kogen that final honor."

S 1442 [819 A.S.] The Republic of Kusari Is Born
S 1443 KYUSHU -- 819 A.S. -- In a watershed moment for the Kusari nation, \
the people have spoken. A majority of votes across Kusari have fallen \
in favour of removing reference to the Imperial Majesty from public \
life. The new Prime Minister Kato Takahashi had this to say: "This is \
a defining moment for our nation. The Democratic Party of Kusari has \
made its case to the people, and the people have declared their \
support for this historic reform". Voting was least favourable in the \
conservative heartland of Kyushu, where government and media offices \
have come under attack by angry mobs. At least 200 people have been \
killed in the violence so far, with representatives of the Farmer's \
Alliance vowing to keep an honour guard of security ships in space \
"Until our Beloved Emperor returns to claim what is rightfully His".

S 1444 [819 A.S.] Elections Herald New Era in Politics
S 1445 HONSHU -- 818 A.S. -- Fresh elections instituted by the interim \
military government have seen a massive upset in most electorates. \
News from the poll rooms across Kusari indicate a majority seats \
being held by the Democratic Party of Kusari, 60% by the final tally. \
The Conservative Party is expected to take up most of the remaining \
seats, along with a few independants. Exit surveys indicated a strong \
voter resentment for the previous government's failure to avoid \
conflict with Gallia, as well as concerns over corruption in the \
ranks of former government officials. The interim government is \
expected to formally hand power to the DPK, led by Kato Takahashi and \
former general Shimura Yokitara. Mr Takahashi has vowed to hold a \
referendum on the status of the Imperial Majesty "as soon as is \
practical, to end the question of Kogen's return and enshrine in law \
the mandate for reform granted to us by the Kusari people".

S 1446 [819 A.S.] Kusari And Gallia Open Borders For Trade
S 1447 NEW TOKYO -- 819 A.S. -- The Kusari Republican Government has reached \
a trade agreement with the Kingdom of Gallia, opening their \
respective borders for commercial traffic with respect to eachothers \
corporations. The agreement came several weeks after the revelation \
that Gallia had secretly been constructing a Jump Gate in the Rishiri \
system. While this Gate was likely intended to open up a second front \
on Kusari initially, it will now serve a more peaceful purpose. As a \
result, traffic through Hokkaido and Rishiri is expected to increase \
dramatically. Gallic officials have promised Gallia will respect \
Rishiri's independent nature, and considers it a demilitarised zone \
much like the Tau-29 buffer around Freeport 6.

It is the year 820 A.S., and with it comes Bretonia's darkest hour. The house Gallia begins their assault on Sirius in earnest by brushing aside the Bretonian Armed Forces and seizing the Leeds system, changing the political landscape of Sirius forever. Governments and regional powers far and wide now seek to respond to the situation, either by launching themselves toward a desperate united front against a seemingly unstoppable enemy, or seeking to use the resulting chaos for their own benefit.

Liberty is in the process of the biggest mobilisation in its history. Rheinland's gambit of blowing the gates in the face of a Libertonian advance has made the leadership of Liberty focus on the greater foe: a great portion of the Liberty Navy fleet is now on the move to Magellan to catch the advancing Royal Navy of Gallia in a pinch. But is the war between Rheinland and Liberty really over, or is the Rheinland Military merely trying to lull the Libertonians into complacency?

Rheinland's plan has definitely brought them a much needed respite. While their overall defence held against any Libertonian incursions, the Munster research facility was lost and the data it held captured. Rheinland is now faced with a prospect of a counter push against a stronger enemy, so that they can regain what they have lost. But even at home troubles multiply: Rheinland's revolutionary movements seized the opportunity before them and struck at a Rheinland whose Military was off fighting at a distant front. The Dresden system has been taken by storm in a show of defiance, and the Rheinland government now has to choose between attempting to solve problems at home first, or committing resources to the pursuit of the stolen Munster base module, before it can disappear deep within Area 21.

Meanwhile in Bretonia a mass exodus takes place: as core planets begin to fall to an enemy far stronger than the previously hostile Kusari Empire, the Bretonian government attempts to evacuate as many people and as much materiel as possible to the newly annexed system of Omega-3. While the Bretonian navy is pushed out of Leeds, the Cambridge fleet pushes into orbit of Planet Sprague, now functioning as the refugee camp of Bretonia. With thousands of civilians and armed forces personnel still trapped on Planet Leeds, the Bretonian government issues an order to all able citizens of the house to assist with the smuggling of these people and the materiel that they guard off of Leeds, under the noses of the patrolling Gallia Royal Navy. But with all the focus on shipping all valuable stocks to the rear there are many opportunities for an enterprising pirate or freedom fighter: the Mollys relocate closer to Omega-3 to hit these transports as a priority, and Corsairs become an even more frequent sighting in the ice clouds of Cambridge. The Bretonians will have to carefully consider how many forces they are committing to the defence of these shipments. Not enough defenders could spell disaster for the refugees on Sprague, but too many may mean that the Royal Navy begins to threaten the seat of power in New London sooner than expected.

Despite the chaos in the south, the newly founded Kusari Republic tends to its own problems, wrecked by years of war and a defiant imperial administration. Contrary to Liberty and Bretonia, the republican government pursues a policy of appeasement with Gallia, seeking greater trade ties to rebuilt its coffers through the resource hungry Gallic state. But while to an outsider the new, non partisan government would seem to have put an end to the struggles between Kusari big business, new troubles are simmering under the surface. Samura executives and rich families are non too happy about their influence eroding away, and they still have more than enough support among the populace to begin stirring up unrest. In response, Kishiro begins to once again work closer together with the greatly rising GMG. Kusari republicans will have their work cut out for them, having not only a political balancing act on their hands, but also the task of rebuilding the economy. They need to tread carefully, as mistakes may once again plunge the House of Kusari into the depths of civil war.

No matter the distance from Gallia, all of Sirius is feeling the effect of the Gallic invasion. Those who see the coming shifts in power, prepare themselves to seize their opportunity from the chaos ahead. Those who are not as farsighted, will be doomed to a desperate defence against these seekers of glory. One thing is for certain: the conquest has only begun.