CNS - Zoners to Aid Troubled Neighbors

[Howard10]

'€œIf we do not close ranks with those nearest to us, we shall all be destroyed,'€ says Zoner representative, following the cataclysmic events surrounding Freeport 9 over the last few weeks.

Moved by the plight of their brothers and sisters of Theta, the Zoners of Freeport 10 have vowed to assist Freeport 9'€™s beleaguered inhabitants. While the tiny station straddling the divide between Outcast core space and disputed territory has little influence, its equally tiny population has the determination to make a difference.

Already, ship owning residents have diverted many of their craft from the transport of food to nearby factions, instead pointing to Freeport 6 to cover any excesses that their own freighter fleet could not therefore meet. Shipments of Niobium from the station have ceased, as food, water and oxygen take precedence.

Participation in Freeport 10'€™s '€œcracking teams'€ have already risen exponentially, with an almost 125% increase in productivity. Previously only enough water had been harvested to satisfy the station'€™s own needs, but with the alleged filtration problems encountered ever since the destruction of Freeport 9'€™s biodomes causing apparent draught onboard, additional supplies have been brought in to '10 for distribution. The production of clean drinking water is now no longer hindered by a lack of dirty ice, but rather the strain placed on '€˜10'€™s own filtration systems.

Sources aboard Freeport 10 have commented on the operation, claiming that, '€œthe sudden increase of congestion around the station is a relatively minor cause of concern, but solutions are already in discussion.'€ It is believed that with the Outcasts'€™ blessing, the majority of ice mining will be shifted away from the Freeport and into the local Bermejo Ice Cloud.

Excess food is also being dispatched, along with any oxygen that can be spared. There was brief speculation regarding bulk importation of oxygen from Malta, which was rapidly dismissed on the grounds of a potential Cardimine contamination. Currently votes are being held aboard '€™10 by the local residents regarding the exact proportion of food that should be dispatched. More isolationist Zoners argue the fear that overextending the capacity of the biodomes may lead to the station being held ransom to the sale of food from outside sources later in the year.

Sources aboard the station say that they are not expecting the Outcasts to offer any resistance to the supply initiative moving through their space, although it is said that permission will always be sought if available. Safe passage through the battleground of Omicron Eta is a far more dubious prospect, with both Hispanic factions clashing leading to indiscriminate fire on all ships in the area. Pilots have stated that this is no deterrent, and they will brave these perils in order to aid their troubled brethren.

Only time will tell if this latest supply initiative will prove to be any more useful than the trickle of provisions currently inbound to the battered station.

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