*** Sirius Times ***

[greendragon]

The Niobium Crisis by "The Rock"

Yesterday, some improtant corporations held their usual conference and the following banquet on Planet Manhattan. It quickly turned out, that while the Gateway Shipping reported relatively safe and acceptable trade routes, the Daumann Heavy Construction's current status was far different. The respected but rarely seen Oscar Daumann - who personally brought the best aviable luxury food to the chefs - announced that niobium became a serius problem throughout Rheinland.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you probably noticed, the Sigma 13 system is swarming with criminal elements. However, our greatest problem is no longer the dense of pirate activity, but the high amount of imported niobium. Our main bases, The Ring and Leipzig are full of this formerly useful commodity, however, soon or later, we wouldn't be able to handle these "junkpiles". Civilian traders brings us too much niobium. It is also troubling, that diamond became unusually rare nowadays, due to recent attacks of the Wilde and criminals. The Chancellor of Rheinland also raised the taxes taken from corporations, and we could barely pay our employees. Due to low wages and harsh conditions, many of our workers left us, thus converted to criminals among the Rote Hessen Armee, the Alster Union, or even the Bundschuh Partei. It looks clear that they are blaming the Daumann for their problems. It is partly true, I admit. Because of the low amount of diamonds, we're trying to sign a new agreement with Kusari, and their corporations about estabilishing a new trade route. Now, our workers are the most important however, so I decided to ppersonally take part in fixing their work and life conditions, by using my personal wealth to supply them with important commodities, qualitious mining and working equipment."

While Kishiro and Samura delegates seemed statisfied, other corporation delegates seemed like felt troubled. Bretonian corporations tells that they fear, that Daumann is about to supply the Kusari war machine, while the Reichstag also seems surprised by the events took place at Manhattan. Most regrettably, we were unable to find more about the Niobium Crisis.

- "The Rock" (no further informations about this reporter)

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by Serpentis (1) and Blackstarr (3)

and... ElDragonNegrodelaDonna, Dexter.Hovis, Syd.Montague... ah, and of course Dietrich.von.Claussen