The Emperor Speaks out for Unity - Radio Sidewinder

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Jul 18

The Emperor Speaks out for Unity

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

The Emperor Speaks out for Unity

Although the Emperor showed some signs of frailty when he appeared before the Senate earlier today, his voice was firm as he called upon the assembled senators to work together and not against each other for the good of the Empire.
“We live in times that hold great promise for our beloved Empire. The uncertainty of the past months has weakened our resolve and this cannot be allowed to continue. For too long some leaders of our society have vied against each other and squandered resources over a matter which will be guided by tradition.
“As Emperor it is my duty to ensure the success of the Empire and its continuation long into the future. To that end the previously announced marriage with my good friend Florence Lavigny will proceed at the earliest opportunity. As the wedding has already been announced we will not have to wait the customary thirty days to conduct the ceremony, but we will still give time for wellwishers to attend. Preparations are in the process of being finalised and will be announced by the middle of next week.”
His speech continued for thirty minutes and covered a range of topics including praising his long term friend Chancellor Anders Blaine for his stalwart support. The Emperor left the senate to a standing ovation and cheers from the normally businesslike senators.Update from Galnet News

Jul 18

Imperial Citizenship Offered to the citizens of the Pegasi Sector

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

Imperial Citizenship Offered to the citizens of the Pegasi Sector

Today, Senator Lavigny-Duval addressed the major population centres of the Pegasi Sector in an open broadcast:
“Citizens of the Pegasi sector, the Empire has deployed a substantial fleet to the Pegasi Sector to liberate the Imperial citizens that have been occupied by the Kumo Crew. Our campaign is ongoing and successful. However, we recognize that many of you receiving this broadcast are not Imperial citizens. Roughly 125 billion residents of the Pegasi Sector are in fact members of the Federation. Billions more are not aligned with any superpower.
I ask you to consider what you will do when the Kumo Crew is overthrown. Will you remain exposed to the next tyrant who wishes to fill the power vacuum? Will you continue sending trillions of credits on a one-way journey to Sol? Would you prefer the protection and justice we offer all Imperial citizens? Ambassadors stand ready to assist any among you who desire Imperial citizenship.”
The broadcast sparked heated debates among local governments throughout the Pegasi sector. Outrage at the audacity of the Senator’s remarks is being tempered by widespread grassroots support.Update from Galnet News

Jul 17

Aisling Faction Supports Treaty with Winters

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

Aisling Faction Supports Treaty with Winters

Princess Aisling’s supporter Count Jeffrey Alexander spoke for a full hour today at Smoot Station on Chona. The speech was made principally to the Thirteenth Legion in support of Legate Andariel’s peace treaty with at least one faction in support of the Federation’s Shadow President Felicia Winters. It was also broadcast throughout Aisling controlled space in an effort to have the agreement gain more widespread support with all factions supporting Princess Aisling Duval.
“We stand for a cleaner more moral government in the Empire. Felicia Winters stands for cleaner more moral Federation.
“Petty concerns drive our factions to open conflict with one another, but reflecting on the issues at hand makes it clear our Princess and the Federation’s Shadow President have more in common than differences that separate us. Let us remember there are pirates, slavers, criminals out there who warrant our wrath more than a woman who stands for helping those at the bottom of her own society. As we stand for helping those who deserve more in ours.”
The speech was well received within the Thirteenth Legion, but not all share the Count’s opinion. An opinion poll conducted shortly after the speech showed that most followers of Aisling Duval agreed with the sentiment, but a sizable faction did not. As one Commander reported, ‘The only good Fed is a Dead Fed’.Update from Galnet News

Jul 17

A Week in Powerplay

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

A Week in Powerplay

It’s time for another weekly report on the struggles of the foremost political powers in the galaxy. With ongoing hostilities throughout inhabited space, who has benefitted from the chaos, and who has lost favour?
Arissa Lavigny-Duval has consolidated her existing power base this week and prepared for future expansion. Faced with no new systems to claim for Lavigny-Duval, her supporters directed her efforts to massively fortifying her systems and partaking in the Imperial offensive against Archon Delaine, set to continue for the foreseeable future.
Aisling Duval still expands her power-base at a rapid and consistent pace, claiming several new systems and the support of another Commander group, The 13th Legion. As quick as Aisling’s rise to power has been, her efforts to expand towards Federation space have been blunted once more, when Winters’ pilots halted her attempt to claim Ax Yac Baru.
Zachary Hudson managed to expand his influence into two new systems this week, despite seeing continued, massive challenges to his power through his controlled space. With a focus on fortifying his existing systems and relatively little attention given to expansion, Hudson might have issues claiming new systems in the coming weeks.
Felicia Winters continues to have supporters secure her space, with focused fortification stopping all attempts to seriously undermine her control of her systems. Her expansion continues to see mixed success, with several systems claimed but others successful opposed – most notably the attempt to claim Lugh.
Zemina Torval has seen a substantial drop in support this week, likely due to significant commercial concerns withdrawing financial support for the Senator’s operations. Fortunately for Torval, this calamity coincided with a significant drop in enemy activity against her systems, allowing her to successfully fortify and expand despite her reduced following.
Denton Patreus is the big beneficiary of the combined Imperial offensive into the Pegasi sector. While he only enjoys modest levels of Commander support, he is able to continue to shore up and expand his sphere and influence, now that the Kumo Crew no longer puts pressure on his space.
Edmund Mahon rapidly expands his powerbase, claiming an amazing ten more systems this week. This quick growth brings Mahon’s sphere of influence closer to that of several other groups, potentially exposing him to increased enemy activity in the future weeks, and spreading out his forces.
Li Yong-Rui of Sirius Gov continues to see his corporate government expand its influence at a very quick rate, pushing further towards both Federation space, and the territory of Archon Delaine, Pranav Antal and Edmund Mahon. While generally Sirius Gov sees little opposition to their expansion attempts, their attempt to claim Chounjemait this week has been stopped, presumably by Mahon’s pilots.
Archon Delaine has seen his Kumo Crew weather the Imperial offensive with surprising fortitude. Despite massive enemy incursions, the pirate lord has claimed three more systems this week, albeit none of them Imperial. Due to Imperial attacks being focused on their border systems, the Kumo Crew was able to focus their fortification in a few areas and weather the storm, at least for now.
Pranav Antal continues to see the benefits of diplomacy and the Utopia’s safe strategic position, seeing little in way of hostile activity. While only a small number of Commanders support the Utopian project, they were able to claim another system for the Simguru and to fortify their key systems against enemy incursions.
CMDR CadocUpdate from Galnet News

Jul 16

Adle’s Armada Looks to End Illegal Arms Deal in Hel

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

Adle’s Armada Looks to End Illegal Arms Deal in Hel

Adle’s Armada, a Federally aligned militia group, has responded to reports of an illegal arms deal between the criminal organization Cosmic State, headed by Hammer Arms CEO Grimnir Allvadderung and the Empire aligned Emperor’s Grace leader Vaarwen Mako Brennus.
“This cannot stand! Our people of the Labour Party of Caill Reddi cannot bear this tyrant any longer. He takes the food out people’s mouths in order to make back room deals with the unscrupulous individuals!” says Tyllerius Adle III, Grandson of the groups original founder and current Armada CO.
Adle’s Armada forces have been laying siege to the League of Hel and have put them into a lockdown state. Citizens formally supporting the arms dealer now question his rule over Jone’s Orbital. With the blockade of supplies to League of Hel combat forces, it will only be a short matter of time before the entire system is forced into a civil war between hungry citizens and impoverished arms dealers. Time will tell if Hel will become a sovereign Federally aligned system under the Labour Party of Caill Reddi or if the League of Hel will continue its weapons trade with shady individuals.
“For the safety of the people, this will NOT stand!”Update from Galnet News

Jul 16

Security Support Needed For Cerberus Plague Intervention

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

Security Support Needed For Cerberus Plague Intervention

With increasing reports concerning the so-called ‘Cerberus Plague’, officials from Dajoar, Eleu and 20 Ophiuchi have all declared states of emergency. They are calling on bounty hunters and combat-capable pilots in the region help protect the relief efforts.
The issue arises at the same time that some medics in the systems have stated that the vaccines are not proving as effective against these cases, leading to speculation that the organism has mutated. Carl Simmons, the Chief Medical Officer of Newton Dock and leading the medical team combating this infection, commented:
“While there are some indications that the organism has changed, we are still analysing the data and it is too early to draw any conclusions.”
Further muddying the waters, a representative for one of the pirate gangs claimed that they were helping the right people. In an anonymous statement, they declared:
“As usual it is the rich and well-connected that benefit from official channels. We are simply making sure that these supplies reach the people who need them the most.”Update from Galnet News

Jul 16

Grand Slave Sale in Carns Ends

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

Grand Slave Sale in Carns Ends

The grand slave sale held on Humason Orbital in the Carns system has ended. Deputy Communications Officer Ramon Lamor declared the sale a success, but refused to comment further, or provide actual numbers. He did confirm that a report analysing the sale and the recent activity for the planned market changes at the station would be presented next week.
There have been reports of unrest on the station since the announcement that as of next week, the local economy would be transformed to deal with High Tech goods and services. There was no official comment on these reports at this time.Update from Galnet News

Jul 15

Origins of the Velites Squadron

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

Origins of the Velites Squadron

The ancient proverb, “necessity is the mother of all invention,” remains true, even in 3301.
Commander Na’Qan came from humble beginnings as a miner in distant Imperial colonies. Piracy being rife in those systems, he found himself in their sights regularly. Knowing he could not outrun them in his unshielded Type-6, he learned to elude them. Like Br’er Rabbit’s briar patch, the asteroid fields offered him shelter. He learned to manoeuvre silently among the chaotic rocks and metals.
When war broke out in the Pancienses system, Na’Qan joined the fray. He recounted being interdicted by three Fer-de-Lances, and noticed they could not get weapons lock on his craft. Immediately recognizing the relevance of his mining experience, Na’Qan approached his superiors with an idea. Shortly thereafter, Na’Qan began training wings for what would become the Velites Squadron. The stealthy, precision strikes of the Velites are already becoming legend.
For his service to the Empire, Commander Na’Qan is to be awarded the Imperial Order of Merit, First Class, from Senator Arrissa Lavigny-Duval at her headquarters in Kamadhenu this weekend.Update from Galnet News

Jul 14

Reports of the Cerberus Plague beyond BD-02 4304

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

Reports of the Cerberus Plague beyond BD-02 4304

The heroic efforts of the local authorities at Newton Dock in BD-02 4304, combined with independent pilots from far and wide, have slowed the outbreak affecting the local population.
Carl Simmons, the Chief Medical Officer of Newton Dock, responded to reports of further infections in the nearby systems: Dajoar, Eleu and 20 Ophiuchi.
“We can confirm that there have been isolated incidents which we believe are the same infectious agent that we have seen here on Newton Dock. The populations in those systems should not be alarmed and three operations have been initiated to isolate the sick and prevent further outbreak.”
When asked how the disease had spread to those systems, he replied:
“We can’t confirm the vector as yet. Our current belief is that these cases are simply people from here who managed to travel before restrictions were in place. However, as with any outbreak of this magnitude, we are not taking anything for granted.”
He concluded his statement with:
“Once again we are calling on the resources of the independent pilots in the region to help ensure that these cases do not develop into a full-blown outbreak as seen here on Newton Dock.”
While he denied that the team were calling the new disease the Cerberus Plague, one technician did confirm that the name was being used unofficially and came from an unusual three-pronged structure at the ‘head’ of the phage-like organism.Update from Galnet News

Jul 14

Rise of the Nova Fleet on the Frontier

By Black-Bart | Galnet News

Rise of the Nova Fleet on the Frontier

After several decades as a Freelancer member of the Pilots Federation, Commander DarkStar decided to unite a fleet of former Imperial and Federal pilot. Working closely with Commander Equin0x, he united them into forming a freelancer fleet to patrol the frontier and assisting in their economic development. The long term aim is to help free them the superpowers.
CMDR Equin0x commented to GalNet:
“The superpowers exploit the populations of the frontier colonies to gain cheap labour and materials, in conditions that are near to, if not actual slavery.”
Up until now the Nova Fleet constituted a loosely bound alliance of like-minded individuals occupying distant and relatively uncontrolled areas of the frontier. The fleet has recently grown with a sudden influx of new membership, and now this growing collective has now attracted politicians’ interest in both Imperial and Federation space.
A spokesperson for the Nova Fleet talked to us about their objectives:
“The Nova Fleet will bring prosperity and security to the frontier of the human civilization. We will avoid political entanglements with the superpowers and their lackeys. The truth of our intentions can be seen from the pilots who once served Federation, Empire and even the Alliance who’ve joined us! We should not be underestimated. We will bring security to the frontier, even if that means to fight against the Empire, the Feds or bloody aliens!”
Their influence and fame seems to spread fast, and with over 100 ships, their number of associates grows even faster.Update from Galnet News