| Krefeld Base | |
| Owner | |
| Unioners | |
| Location | |
| E-2, Cologne |
CLASS: Braunstein
GRAVITY: Complete
DOCKING: Yes
AMENITIES: Yes
CREW: 350
Krefeld is a Unioner controlled base within Cologne's shroud of the Norddrauwolke. First built to guard the a nearby jumphole, the collapse of the jump connection turned the base into a port of exchange for Hessian and Unioner diamond smugglers. With the steady decay of Unioner - Hessian relations, Krefeld came to mark the historic border between Unioner and Hessian zones of control with Krefeld guarding the gateway to Hamburg - the heart of Unioner territory.
Krefeld is the site of the first true test of Unioner Hessian relations. In 826 AS, a contingent of Hessians boarded Krefeld at gunpoint, claiming to be hunting political dissidents. Instead, the Hessians shot several Corsair traders aboard the station, in what the Unioners and the Hessians call the 'Krefeld Massacre'. The Unioners of Krefeld have been skirmishing against the Red Hessians ever since. It is thought that the Krefeld Unioners are particularly aggressive towards the Hessians, due to their own troubled history. Krefeld based forces are often sent south to fight the Hessians around Saarbrucken.
Bribes & Missions Offered
| Bribes |
| Missions |
Commodities
| Exports | ||||||||||||||
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Ships sold
| Ship | Class | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Arbeiter | Very Heavy Fighter | 25,029$ |
| Solidaritat | Bomber | 70,176$ |
| Tiger Shark | Light Fighter | 23,022$ |
| Unioner Gunboat | Gunboat | 1,210,006$ |
| Rheinland Pirate Cruiser | Cruiser | 2,507,900$ |
| Rheinland Heavy Transport | Heavy Transport | 1,006,006$ |
News
| [834 AS] Hamburg Blast charges dismissed |
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HAMBURG -- 834 -- The trial against Matthias Schnider and Wolfgang Kohler has dramatically collapsed. MND investigators blindsided prosecutors with a report that discredited a key Bundschuh dossier as “forgeries and fabrications”, instead accusing Unioner bomb-maker Sabrina Herz. Protests erupted across Planet Hamburg in the aftermath, accusing the MND of a “whitewash” that denied justice to the thousands of victims. Baron Schnider has formally resigned his Hamburg University tenure, to avoid “generating distracting controversy”. |
| [834 AS] A bad breakup? |
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DARMSTADT -- 834 -- It appears the LWB and Farmers Alliance have gone their separate ways, on very bad terms. Witnesses report seeing fighting between LWB and FA squadrons, and the FA resultingly retreating from Rheinland space. The FA’s expansion into Rheinland alienated many of the LWB’s traditional allies, most notably the Red Hessians. The Hessians for their part appear to have moved quickly to fill the vacuum the Alliance left behind, approaching LWB commanders with offers of weapons and technical support in exchange for the LWB supplementing their supply lines in west Rheinland. LWB pilot Arthur Saebel noted, “we've done what's best for our people.“ |
| [834 AS] Seeds of discontent sprouting in Stuttgart? |
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STUTTGART -- 834 -- The LWB collapsed a decade ago, only knitting itself back together with support from Kusari's Farmer’s Alliance. While the LWB were initially grateful for these foreign patrons, discontent appears to be growing. The FA imposed its own officers on the LWB, and has been calling the shots since. One anonymous LWB pilot bitterly complained that the FA “only care about stopping Synth exports to Kusari”, with Rheinland farmers a distant afterthought. This tension has come to the forefront after Kusari commanders prohibited the LWB from targeting Gallic food imports. While the competition has damaged Synth Foods, it has also driven Stuttgart’s remaining independent farmers to breaking point. |
| [831 AS] Jump Hole Upheaval Causes Chaos |
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HEISENBERG -- 831 AS -- Jump holes across Sirius have become increasingly volatile and chaotic over the last year, with Professor Sophia Nagel from the Heisenberg Research Station linking the unusual phenomena to the Pulse. The Pulse was an unprecedented blast of hyperspace energy that was detected immediately prior to last year's Jump Gate Blackout. Professor Nagel and her team are certain the Pulse originated from outside Sirius, but are otherwise no closer to identifying its source or mitigating a future Blackout event. "Following the Blackout, we began to see immediate signs of jump hole destabilization in multiple different regions, with many ultimately falling out of phase alignment altogether", she commented. The dramatic upending of Sirius' jump hole network has already prompted many groups to abandon stations and withdraw from systems that appear to risk being cut off. While months-long trips between the stars are possible thanks to the Liberty Engine and many centuries of innovation, few ships are designed or provisioned to make such arduous journeys. Those who were displaced by Sirius' redrawn map hope that system connections will return, while adventurers and explorers rush to discover new routes. |
| [829 AS] Take what you can, when you can |
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PACIFICA -- 829 -- It was inevitable, we're outlaws once more. This comes as no real surprise -- while they initially paid us off to keep Bering and Hudson under control, Federal bribes don't cover the bills. There's simply more money on the other side of the law. Now we've no reason to play nice and Imperial Shipping is back on the target list. Despite grand promises to the unions during the war, they failed to follow through on any of those commitments. Conditions on Alster are as bad as they've ever been. It seems our support during the war wasn't worth much respect in the Reichstag when corporate bribes are involved. |
| [828 AS] Cologne Aftermath |
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COLOGNE – 828 AS – The siege of Planet Saarbrucken proved that the reunited might of Rheinland is a force to be reckoned with; the Hessians have largely vacated the system. In preparation for the assault, the miners turned pirate had weaponized the nearby Tholey Station to slow down the advance of the military. In order to bring a swift end to the fighting with minimal casualties the commanding officer ordered the station be neutralized rather than boarded, resulting in its destruction. Despite the success of the Military, it seems the Hessians flagship; Battleship Kassel, has managed to escape virtually unscathed. Rumors on Heisenberg Research Station speak of Hessian prisoners taken by Corsairs and Unioners alike. It's no secret there is a lot of bad blood between these groups and the Hessians and this reporter shudders to think of what fate awaits those poor deluded criminals. |
| [828 AS] Hessians Flee Under Rheinlands Might! |
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COLOGNE – 828 AS – Under pressure from both the emperor and elected officials for a quick and decisive resolution to the ongoing Cologne crisis, the Rheinland Ministerium of Defence ordered the Altenburg battlegroup to advance onto the Red Hessian position at Planet Saarbrucken. The Red Hessians recently received additional reinforcements as it became clear the former miners planned to dig-in and would need to be uprooted from their position. The Siege of Saarbrucken is currently underway and it has been reported that the Red Hessians have begun evacuating from the area. It is speculated however that the Red Hessians intend to make the Rheinland military suffer for every meter they take. The Rheinland Military has offered a reward for any Red Hessians that are caught fleeing from the siege. The military has also advised caution as they have reported several other pirate groups in the area, with some claiming these groups are striking out at the Hessians. This reporter cannot help but think this situation goes to show, that there is no honour among thieves. |
| [828 AS] Holstein Accords reunite Rheinland |
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HOLSTEIN -- 828 AS -- Imperialist and Federalist leaders have been locked in fierce negotiations in the weeks since the Thuringian Mutiny. A joint decree has now been issued by the “Consensus Government of the Rheinland Federal Empire”, ending the Civil War. This establishes a power sharing protocol, forcing future governments to include representatives from both ideological blocs. The autonomy of system governments has also been restored, along with a slate of constitutional revisions and the re-institution of the Reichstag. The Federalists have conceded the argument over the office of the Emperor, who will soon be formally nominated for life by the Imperial Convention of elector-princes. |
| [828 AS] Thuringian Mutiny - an end to war? |
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THURINGIA -- 828 -- A mass mutiny has paralyzed the front in Thuringia, provoked by the enormous casualties suffered by each side. The Imperialists had consolidated their remaining forces in Hamburg, using Unioner guides for a final push on Thuringia. The “final battle” was inconclusive, making a prolonged bloodbath inevitable. The two fleets then separated, as forward elements powered down their weapons. The mutiny spread, with political officers being arrested by their own crews in some instances. This uneasy impasse has now persisted for a number of days -- it seems leaders may be forced to the table to negotiate a solution. |
| [827 AS] Imperials write a blank cheque |
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PACIFICA -- 827 -- The Imperials have long promised many things. Rheinland jobs for Rheinland citizens. Blocking the sale of foreign-built transports. Bringing back well-paid construction jobs to Hamburg. Nothing ever came of this, until now. After losing the last election, they’ve taken matters into their own hands and toppled the government with the Military’s support. We’ve no love for the Feds who sold our people out to Kusari and then looked the other way when Republican crushed the Unions. Senior Imperials have offered us major concessions for armed support against the Feds. After thinking it through, we’ve taken them up on the offer: why not get paid for something we’d have done anyway? |
| [827 AS] Rheinland government flees military putsch |
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PLANET NEW BERLIN -- 827 AS -- Rheinland’s government has been spirited away by loyalist troops aboard the newly launched Carrier Saar, narrowly avoiding an attempted Imperialist coup d'etat. The Reichstag has been occupied by masked soldiers, and Progressive Members arrested -- Frederick von Albrecht has declared himself Emperor and announced the body’s dissolution. Chaos has spread across New Berlin as citizens take to the streets to either support or oppose the Imperialist power grab, forming improvised militia battalions. Bloody fighting has broken out across Planets New Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart. |
| [827 AS] Imperialist rioters attempt coup? |
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PLANET HAMBURG -- 827 AS -- Disorder in Bahrenfeld City has continued to spread. Federal Police have declared a state of emergency as Imperial militias begin to direct mobs against planetary authorities. Attacks have been launched against Federal buildings, with the mayor of Rotherbaum taken hostage. Authorities have requested immediate Military assistance to arrest local Imperialist ringleaders. The Carrier Soltau has arrived in Hamburg orbit and ordered RFP ships to stand down with immediate effect. Unconfirmed reports allege troops from the Soltau have arrested the planetary governor for “crimes against the Rheinland people”. |
| [827 AS] Attempted assassination sparks crisis |
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PLANET HAMBURG -- 827 AS -- Fredrick von Albrecht has been central to the recent turmoil in Rheinland. The socialite is the last remaining heir to the defunct Rheinland throne, and has acted as a lightning rod for the increasingly revanchist rhetoric of Imperialist parties. Albrect broadcast his own inflammatory speech after the Bundschuh legalization motion, calling for the dissolution of the Reichstag. Seemingly in response, Albrecht’s Hamburg residence was set alight. He has since called his supporters to protect him from state assassination attempts. Federal Police have opened an investigation into Albrecht for fraud and inciting violence. |
| [826 AS] Victory turns to ash at Vierlande |
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PACIFICA -- 826 -- This should have been a day of celebration, marking the occupation of the despised Vierlande Prison. Sadly, we were betrayed. Our supposed comrades in the Red Hessians and Coalition turned on us in the moment of victory. A full accounting of those lost is still being gathered, but initial reports confirm that Wedel Station has been destroyed, along with the Battleship Undine. Krefeld reports a massacre aboard, perpetrated by pre-positioned Hessian agents. The scale of this treachery is beyond belief, and a grievous wound that can never be forgiven. |
| [824 AS] Kielfeld Losses Continue |
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PACIFICA -- 824 -- Unioner smugglers are advised to steer clear of the Kielfeld - if you need to get to Barrow, route through Bering. Over the last six months, losses in the area have jumped over 300%, mainly hitting our Artifact and Diamond freighters. Crimson Squadron were sent in to investigate, with only Crimson leader Lea Nacht surviving. She says, “there’s a new breed of Bounty Hunter out there, likely ex-Unioners that know our routes.” Nacht successfully retreated deep into the field after her wing was ambushed, field repairing her Eagle’s engines and comms over the next 5 days before she could limp home. While we mourn the loss of the veteran Crimsons, Nacht’s tenacity allows their legacy to live on. |
| [803 AS] Driven to desperation |
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NEW BERLIN -- 803 -- As Rheinland falls further into economic crisis, many face financial ruin. Desperation has driven political radicalism and crime. Where tens of thousands of Military personnel were laid off in the aftermath of the Colony Wars, huge numbers of trained pilots have found themselves unemployed. As local corporations stop recruiting, some have turned to the Bounty Hunter’s Guild, however many have resorted to the Bundschuh, Red Hessians and Unioners. The RFP has already noted a sharp increase in criminal activity across Rheinland and the surrounding border worlds. |
Rumors
| Unioners |
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