stDarNES1: Stars! -- UPDATE 8
--------------------
GALACTIC NEWS ORGANIZATION (NDE 8)
We have some special news for you tonight folks. But, first, let's hear from Mr Dee out in the Backwater Region.
<fizzzzzzzz....>
Uh, Good evening out there to the multi-verse. Mr Dee here with another exciting update about your favorite Simian Friends!! Let's see what we have going on...
Astral Sojourners
After the recent disaster in the Sierra System, the Supreme Dictator (Jared Jenkis) has stepped down from office and was commissioned into the navy, where he will command the next military venture into Sierra. There has been some grumbling in Oncol over the move, but so far the situation remains normal. The people await the candidates for the upcoming Election.
On a more positive note, the long anticipate "Fruits of Science" project has finally been completed on Oncol. This project is expected to create an economic upswing with each technological discovery by capitalizing on patents gained through research.
A wave of development has swept through the Sojourner empire, with Broder, Enemsi, and Nox all attracting more and more investment and colonists.
Sojourner scientists have announced exciting new discoveries relating to wave-form energy, the principles of which have allowed a new field of Terraforming to open up!
(modnote: Only 1 EP was banked. You had 17EP to spend, +1 banked. You spent 17EP in your orders)
Harpellian Hegemony
Colony2 is loaded up with 1,000 colonists from the Harpell System, making its way through Qomoc to eventually establish a new colony at Lander.
Harpellian scientists have also unlocked the secrets of wave-form energy, and have gained the ability to begin terraforming worlds.
The military on Harpell has modified 1,500 new recruits with the latest bio-engineering techniques to create an awesome new ground force to protect Harpell. Training of these new "GenTroops" has commenced, and pending success, the military hopes to gain funding to modify more baselines.
(modnote: Pay attention to how many ships each EP buys. 1EP buys 5 Carriers, not 1. I split the carriers evenly between your flotillas. Also, your current tech level allows each carrier to carry up to 100fighters only)
Haven
Research continues in the Biotech field, with extensive research in improved genetic modification. As a corrolary, a research team has been given a grant to pursue a proposal that would, in theory, help protect against the Scourge. Well known to the people of Haven, the Scourge is present in the Dahl System, and long range scans have confirmed that the Scourge can move through jumpgates.
More fighters and carriers are constructed at Xanthus Prime. Swarm Force loads 150 fighters and makes the jump to Byblos. TF Alpha moves to Byblos.
The quality of life improves on the colonies due to massive spending on the part of the goverment. Eyes are starting to turn to those worlds, as many consider relocating from Xanthus Prime. Residents of the colonies, however, are grumbling because more money is being spent on what they call "leisure supplies" instead of developing the infrastructure of the colonies.
Long range scans indicate a startling move. The Scourge present in the Dahl System has consumed and destroyed the jumpgate between Dahl and Xanthus Prime. The jumpgate in Xanthus explodes due to the instability created when the other end of the gate closed. Luckily, only a few small unmanned monitoring craft were present around the jumpgate when the explosion occured.
Miria
The first shipments of Spice have arrived from Arrakis. The demand is insatiable for this exotic product, and the first shipment sells out within a couple standard days. Mirian Economists point favorably to the Spice, noticing that it is now providing a significant boost to the Mirian Economy.
Research into advanced construction techniques have led to a new framing method allowing Transport vessels to carry more people, at no additional loss of fuel and speed.
Government funding projects bring a new wave of development to Centaus, Arrakis, and Emey!
6 new cruisers are commissioned at Hr'Tor, adding more might to the already impressive Cruiser Fleet of the Mirians. EF2 jumps from Crisum to Totalus, gazing upon the homeworlds of the UCCT. The 2 Cruisers from Colony Fleet remain behind in Arrakis to protect the Spice Flow, while the Transports return to Hr'Tor.
In a startling development, a new political alliance has formed in the Mirian Faction, led by a Duke Atreides of the Emey System. This new alliance advocates researching ways to combat the Scourge, the only element in the known Universe that could bring harm to the Mirians. Researchers and companies aligned with the alliance have thrown private money into Biotech research, enabling a deeper understanding of human genetics and how to modify it. The researchers are confident that with further spending, ways to resist the Scourge can be found. (STORY BONUS: +1 Biotech Level)
Republic of ZIB
Research money is spent on developing new weapons capabilities for ZIB ships. 12 Cruisers are built at both Zadon and New Zion. At long last, the Sound Stage is completed on Zadon, which immediately begins broadcasting across both ZIB Systems.
Skyjack Conclave
A new carrier group named Firebrand is formed at Lambert (2 carriers(10f)) and jumps to Var Hodis. Upon exiting the jumpgate, they pick up the distinct signatures of ships, definitely not of Skyjack design. The unknown ship is a carrier which immediately unleashes a wave of fighters against Firebrand. Responding quickly and efficiently, the fighters scramble to intercept. A fierce battle ensues, in which the Skyjack group is outnumber 7 to 1. However, the pirate carrier is in a bad state of disrepair and cannot provide any cover fire for the pirate fighters, while the Firebrand Carriers are able to cover their small convoy of fighters. In the end, one of the Firebrand Carriers is destroyed, along with 8 fighters, but the pirate fleet is completely destroyed. (SKYJACKS: -1 Carrier, -8 Fighters; PIRATES: -1 Carrier, -70 Fighters). Scans of Var Hodis reveal a Class 6 Star System.
A second Carrier Group is formed, called Trailblazer, which jumps to Yenang System. The system is a Class 4, and is inhabited by a people who refer to themselves as the Butu Technocracy. After a few tense moments in which Trailblazer postures against the large Butu fleet, successful communication is made and the commanders of both fleets meet aboard a Butu Cruiser.
Scorpleton 1.1 and 1.2 return to Lambert and merge together to create a super transport fleet. The newly formed Thecoliv Swarm (10 Carriers(210f)) jumps to Ceiti. Tumbleweed jumps to Nellis and picks up brief spikes of radio transmissions coming from the surface of a hot jungle world. The person on the other end claims to represent the survivors of the Old Dominion 51st Air.
The Old Dominion Cruisers in the Vayin System are finally brought online by Skyjack personnel. The weapons and defenses of the ships have been adapted with Skyjack Technology, and while not as powerful as they might have once been in the Old Dominion days, these Cruisers far outpower the other cruisers in the Skyjack fleet.
Ceiti is developed through public and private sector investment. Skyjack researchers have succeeded in ushering in a new era of robotics technology, and have even found a few ways to fight the Scourge's attacks on technological items. 130 Fighters are constructed at the Madya Halo.
Entrepreneurs on Ceiti have begun transporting "Yellowtail" to the other Skyjack worlds, creating a profitable new enterprise, as Yellowtail meat cannot yet be synthesized cheaply. Despite an aggressive marketing campaign designed to shift attention away from the fact the Yellowtail is found in the 'colo-rectal chamber' of Ceiti native mudskimmers, the word preceded each shipment. However, once people actually
tasted the meat, they loved it and don't seem to mind where it comes from. (STORY BONUS: Yellowtail Export from Ceiti)
Imperial Republic of Trinity
The Shalin Fleet jumps to Hern and establishes a new colony. Hemp Fleet jumps to Ragnor and establishes a new colony. Investment flows into Tron and Pr'ator, developing those Star Systems to a whole new level.
Military Scientists have released upgrades to existing troop weapons technology. 15 new SJACs are constructed at Trinity.
In Hari System, scientists have received an impressive amount of funding to study the Solar Flares that threaten the Inner System every few years. They have so far learned to predict when the Flares will occur, to within weeks of the actual event.
Excelsior continues it's defensive position around the Metrev Theocracy's homeworld, though some SJACs have been scouting out the system. Attempts to reason with the Theocracy have been met unanswered. Scans of the planet show an oddly declining population.
The Zentraedi politely decline the invitation to join Trinity. Exodus moves from Pr'ator to Vayin. Yolin moves to Trinity. Obilisk moves to Holden. Ra moves to Jemma System; scans unveil it as a Class 3 system. Before extensive scans can begin, Ra is attacked by what is apparently an Old Dominion Defense System. Despite heroic maneuvers, Ra is destroyed. (TRINITY: -1 Scoutship(Ra)).
Scoutship Sypher jumps to the Anatolia Systems, ordered to find out what happened to the Jaenar Empire. What they find leaves the crew in shock. Initial scan confirm the worst: the Scourge has penetrated the system. Long range scans indicate the remains of the Jaenaran fleet around Anatolia III, and the inoperative remains of a once-formidable starbase. Long range scans of the planet (and the entire system) show no signs of life. The Scourge is present on the far side of the System, for now, posing no immediate risk to Sypher. . . According to all data collected, the Jaenar Empire has ceased to exist.
Meanwhile, on Pr'Ator, the local government has dedicated 90% of the habitable regions of the planet to preserving the Native Reptilioid Population. Most colonists have been moved off-world to make use of artificial habitats, so as not to disturb the natives as much as possible. Scientists on the surface are conducting observational research, considering the different approaches to raising the natives to full sentience. Due to their slight nature, the researchers have nicknamed the natives "skinnies."
On Trinity a new project has been started - codenamed: Dimensional Fortress. It is designed to eventually build new colony modules that would set up a SpaceStation around each newly-colonized world. While it would increase the initial investment needed to found a new colony, everyone is agreed that it will save money in the long run.
UCCT
The Cassini Fleet jumps to Xanj. Alphalian Fleet unloads its passengers on Crisium, nearly doubling the population on the colony! 5 transports break from TDF and jump to Crisium, unloading another 2,500 colonists, and then attaching themselves to Alphalian. TDF consolidates itself with the unattached carriers and fighters in Totalus.
A Trade Route is established with the Trinetev Composition! A SpaceStation is constructed in orbit of the Crisium colony, making life easier for surface-to-orbit (and vice versa) launches. UCCT Scientists are instructed to begin researching more advanced construction techniques.
Meanwhile, a think tank in Totalus has begun a Project to create a "Systems Wide Network" which will streamline the flow of information, including multimedia and communications. They seek to revolutionize how Star Systems connect to one another on an informational level by utilizing knowledge gained from studying the jumpgates.
...And so it goes in the Backwater Region, Mr. Grey. Back to... <crazzipop....> damn!
STORY WINNERS
-Miria: +1 Biotechnology Tech Level
-Skyjack: Yellowtail Export from Ceiti, EP bonus
NOTES:
-SoulWarrior -- I know you're kinda back in action. Do you know when you're going to take up the mantle again?
-I will no longer be penalizing players for not writing stories. However, I will still award bonuses to the top 2 stories each update.
-SpaceStations are now represented on the Starmap, color-coded for each faction.
-I also corrected an earlier mistake where I gave terraforming abilities at Energy Tech 2, instead of 3.
ORDERS ARE DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 10 AT 0900 (9AM) EST.
about the Duke thing 
?
