|
- Local
Dateline Q3 - 3201.379
Rumours are coming in of a number of military ships missing in Quadrant
3. Local authorities are tight-lipped about this - some announcing
that this is part of a planned security exercise, others that there
is a temporary communications fault. Critics of the new Ultron anti-pirate
system have been pointing to the possibility that Ultron has failed
in some way - stranding vessels in interstellar space. Official
sources from all polities are dismissing these assertions as 'unfounded
nonsense' or worse. Nobody was available from Pymm Industries -
the manufacturers of Ultron- to comment on these allegations. Professor
Henry Pymm, polymath, genius, and CEO of Pymm Industries was reported
to be on holiday.
|
| |
|
-
Local Dateline T22 Q1 - 3201.358
Reports are coming in of a significant - possibly forerunner - archeological
find on a backwater world on Quadrant 1, known only as 'T22'. Military
forces from major polities in the quadrant have been despatched
to investigate - though the situation remains unclear. At least
one scientific commentator, Professor Trucker of Vertol University
was quoted as saying "This is a pathetically obvious hoax -
this is such an insignificant world, well outside the sphere of
known forerunner finds. I suspect some local entrepreneur is trying
to cash in on the current growth in Forerunner research - as as
I point out in my recent book - 'Meet the Forerunners' (Vertol University
Press - 35credits hardback) the forerunners were probably only active
in a subset of human space concurrent within the current boundaries
of Q0, Q5, Q6 and Q7, and were a lot less significant than many
people think".
|
| |
|
- Dateline Binni Q0 - 3202.057
News of an additional Martian GF Division en-route to Binni has
done little to reduce tension in the former FRB on East Continent.
Martian forces have managed to get some semblance of peace in Bradley
City, but the other cities remain lawless and the countryside is
rife with warlords and bandits. Recent attempts by the local Martian
GF Commander General Black to form a local militia headed by Martain
officers is proving slow to get off the ground, as recruits seem
reluctant to come forward for fear of reprisals on their families.
Negotiation have been opened with warlords, but all has not gone
well - particularly when 25 warlord supporters were killed by Martian
forces when the former attempted to kidnap the negotiators.
Meanwhile, the remainder of Binni is showing considerable improvements,
and the signs of recovery are growing as industries, schools and
hospitals are being put back into operation thanks to interstellar
aid - mainly from New Mars.
|
|
|
|
: Local
Dateline Bugs Q4 - 3201.398
A major planetary crisis was pending when the planetary Governor
Karol V Krankmeyerand his family, were captured and held by DAFT
terrorists in the planetary capital Klone. The terrorists were exceptionally
well organised and had the building wired to conventional explosives
as well as a nuclear weapon. Local SWAT were negotiating but the
situation was deteriorating, risking not only the Governor but many
of his family.
Although military forces were on standby - including an assault
team of Starship Marines from the 711th Regiment - local commanders
were worried that they would be unable to disable the bombs in time.
Serious consideration was being given to the terrorist demands of
freeing DAFT prisoners, a shuttleload of money and free passage
out of the system.
|
Hostages included Governor Krankmeyer, his family
and 21 gubernorial aides, who had been attending a garden party.
Picture taken shortly after their capture by DAFT terrorists.
|
|
However the deadlock was broken by the unauthorised actions of
a lone vigilante, who managed to slip past the police cordons, enter
the DAFT held building, disable the bombs, subdue 42 heavily armed
terrorists and release the hostages. The police have the perps in
custody, but are remaining uncommunicative about the vigilante.
Hostages are reported to have been suffering from shock, and were
only able to say that their rescuer was 'amazing'. One survivor
said "we couldn't believe it - he was like a human whirlwind
- the DAFT bastards tried to shoot but he moved too fast - by the
Ideal - it was unbelievable. It was hard to believe he was just
one man".
Police have put out warrants for the arrest of the viliante for
a variety of offenses, though they have little in the way of description
except that the individual is male, about 1.9m tall, of heavy build.
Security cams simply showed a masked figure. Tabloid media have
already dubbed the mysterious hero as 'The Masked Avenger'.
|
| |
|
|
- Local Dateline Senta Q5 - 3201.378
Unconfirmed reports are coming out of Quadrant 5 that some sort
of forerunner find has been made by Esteeler scientists in the Senta
system. Observers are awaiting some sort of public announcement
of the find, but no comment has so far been forthcoming. Governor
Wendel Quivver was unavailable for comment on this matter, but an
aide said "I am not aware of any such find, and even if I were
aware of such a find, I would not be at liberty to discuss it at
this moment in time".
|
|
|