B-Station Lockdown 'A Crock'

Representatives of the various merchant umbrella bodies met in stormy session with the Governor yesterday over the security lockdown on B-Station.

Merchant ships remain in holding patterns awaiting loading passes, and ships loaded waiting for exit clearance are losing millions of credits. This, in turn is already having some adverse effects on the station economy and according to one spokesperson, Captain Roche of the SS Mary, "..that Madman Zeta has let power go to his head. It's like the Corrunna all over again. Those blasted station marines have been over my ship a dozen times like a plague of sand-rats...why should honest traders suffer? I ask you...the whole thing is a crock!"
Captain Roche outside the Governor's office

The Governor's Office issed a statement last night to the effect that the GFA Colonial Authorities regret the need for extreme security measures, and that a resticted port facility would be available in the near future, with a view to full port operations by the end of the month, depending on the security situation.

This has not placated the Planetary Council, which was meeting in closed session all yesterday, and the Supreme Councillor is due to meet with the Governor and make a formal protest later this afternoon.

DAFT Terrorize More Pie

Reports are coming in of a series of brutal murders in the town of More Pie. Whilst rural crime is on the increase, this marks a high point. Several young people and police officers were callously gunned down in a motiveless and random drive-by shooting attributed to DAFT terrorists.

Mrs Avadne Gut (24), mother of 12, was nearly in tears on hearing of the death of her son, Rot. She said to reporters "My boy was a good boy. I always say that. He was a Keen On Sports and wanted to be a hoverboard champion one day. He Was Cruelly Cut Down in His Prime. He was never in any trouble with the law or nothing."

More Pie COPs are investigating the shootings but are hampered by the mysterious and unrelated theft of their Heavy Response Unit, which they reported stolen from it's garage yesterday. All citizens are requested to look out for an 8 tonne, dark blue, armoured ground effect vehicle, with the initials COP stencilled in large friendly letters on the side.

More Pie Police investigating the empty garage for clues

A reward is offered by the insurance company for its return.

Street Gang Shootout on Southside

Three gang members were killed and 12 injured in a gang-related shootout on Southside last night. No normal people were affected.

The SouthSide Cops have reintroduced a curfew and block to block security sweeps have been introduced. Citizens are asked not to visit Southside unless their trip is essential.

New University Opens on South Continent

The University of Diablo opened in Diablo city yesterday amid much pomp and ceremony. This new university means a lot to the local community, meaning that students do not need to go offworld to the University of Boost, or to BDC Tech for higher education.

The guest of honour was Wilma Cunningham, Chief Exec of Beelzebub Sappers & Miners Association, a major funder of the project.

Ms Cunningham said "...this hallowed place of learning will serve as a shining example throughout Quadrant Two of the way Beelzebub educates it's citizens. I expect Diablo to become a byword within Esteeler space before very much longer."

The new University of Diablo

The opening reception was marred slightly by student demonstrations against what they claim is corporate interference in the academic curriculum. Protest banners proclaining "Lexcorp Owns Our Learning" were removed by security and a number of individuals were escorted from the premises.

Students will start arriving to study there from the beginning of next month.

Health Inspector Strike Hitting Hard

Don Farmers are planning a major protest in support of the Heath Inspectors in Big Dog City on Sunday.

Not all farmers support the strike, however - spokesperson for the Ranchers Association, Ms Randy Roughshod (25) said "Body armor, m*th*rf*ck*ng p*ssies! I was wrasslin' Don's barehanded when I was 6, and I never needed no swutting body armour..."

Despite the complaints of some of the more 'traditional' don farming communities, a sizable number of farmers have been hit economically by an inability to get their on-site abbatoirs approved for off-world export licences. They are trying to put pressure on the government to acceed to the Inspectors' bid to have the cost of personal body armour included on the list of approved tax deductable expenses.

More than 20,000 people are expected at tomorrow's demo, and all city COP leave has been cancelled.

Planetary Council Assmbly Hall, likely to be the scene of major demonstrtaions tomorow.

Spaceport Arrests

A number of wanted space pirates were arrested yesterday trying to sneak into the spaceport and steal a shuttle. Alert GF security forces caught the gang when they made the mistake of getting lost in the hangar area and asked a spaceport worker for directions. The worker, a Mr Stoat, was suspcious. "They were all wearing spacesuits that didn't fit properly and claimed to be flight crew for the next EasySpace shuttle to the Station. My suspcions were aroused when they kept calling the station Freeport, and they swore a good deal more than most flight crew, and kept calling me 'Lad' and 'Me Hearty'. It also seemed odd when they headed for an 8-man shuttle - I mean, 6 crew for an 8-man shuttle? Odd I thought, I thought..odd."

The Colonial Authorities are keeping quiet on the significance of this capture, but sources suggest there may be a link between these desperadoes and the high-profile thefts on the Station on Tuesday night.

Stede, shortly after his capture

The gang of six included the infamous Captain Stede (wanted in at least 12 systems), and his vicious sidekick, Sid.

4 Security personnel were injured in the capture.

Jarvis Brothers cleared of tax fraud

After a 6 month long trial, the controversial and highly litigatious businessmen, Ron and Reginald Jarvis have won their battle against the Colonial Revenue Serivce. Charged with failure to pay over 7 million credits in taxes, the twins stood to suffer upto 5 years imprisonment and loss of assets.

In a remarkable and complex case, during which there was alleged bribery, intinidation and tampering with evidence (which turned out to be a foul slander and was never proved). Against expectations, the twins walked free yesterday.

They were unavailable for comment yesterday, but their spokesperson. Ms Bellum, said

"The brothers are only satisifed that their ordeal is now over and they can get back to some semblance of normality. They were always confident that Esteeler Justice, the finest in the Universe would totally exonerate them."

When asked about rumours that the twins would be making a damages claim against the CRS, Ms Bellum said:

"Mr Jarvis and Mr Jarvis I have no comment at this time."

Sources within the CRS indicate that the colonial authorities are 'livid'. This is likely to lead to the resignation of the Beelzebub Bureau Chief, Lee Ho Fook. Mr Lee was unavailbable for comment

Lee Ho Fook - a doomed taxman?