Weekly Galactic News Roundup: April 3rd
Empire Correspondents
Sarum Vassal Topples Rival House in Bid for Influence
Jelvia Taredi • YC123.04.01
Mekhios, Sarum Prime, Domain - In Empire culture, minor holders and vassals to the major Houses engage in a perpetual socioeconomic (and sometimes military) battle for influence. A long-time vassal to the Sarum House, Lady Abigail Renaud, has successfully subdued the most prominent rival to her family’s estate, House Baelor. The move is suspected to bring substantial favor and influence for House Renaud.
Inside sources report to I-RCN that House Baelor was burdened with debt and struggling with a potential bankruptcy situation due to neglecting financial responsibility in favor of expanding infrastructure within their holdings. By taking out loans to support this infrastructure development, they likely exceeded their ability to pay it back. These sources suspect that this lack of balance has left the House Baelor susceptible to power moves by rival houses. The most immediate threat to the influence of House Baelor being that of House Renaud.
As for House Renaud, the heads of the family have within recent years fallen out of prominence. Empire political analysts theorize this may have been due to a lack of strong leadership within the ruling family. However, Lady Abigail Renaud, who is also a capsuleer, has been reportedly eager to improve the standings of her family’s holdings. It is rumored that under the advisement of Lady Abigail Renaud, House Renaud moved in to purchase major territorial assets from House Baelor in order for House Baelor to better manage their financial issues.
The holdings for House Renaud has now effectively doubled thanks to the acquisitions from House Baelor, while House Baelor has all but dissipated as a result of mismanagement of their assets. How Lady Abigail Renaud plans to utilize House Renaud’s newfound influence on Mekhios remains to be seen.
Federation Correspondents
Tense Standoff Between I-RED and UNF Forces Leaked; UNF Orbital Shipyard Continues Expansion
Taigeru Beldeia • YC123.03.31
Eugales, Placid - In footage leaked to local fluid route networks by an unknown witness, a lone I-RED Harpy-class assault frigate can be seen examining the UNF orbital shipyard in orbit of Eugales VI, a storm world in outer orbit within the star system. UNF pilots that were active at the time of the encounter then proceeded to undock in two vessels, and engaged in an orbit around the orbital shipyard. A minute or so of the tense encounter ensues, before the I-RED vessel is seen warping off.
I-RED has not officially published any details regarding the incident. Military analysts are unsurprised of the encounter, given that I-RED has recently engaged in an economic stimulus initiative of the neighboring Viriette constellation following a recent Sansha’s Nation incursion. Given the close proximity of UNF’s base of operations in Eugales to Viriette, an encounter was expected to happen at some point.
Meanwhile, I-RCN has verified reports that the UNF orbital shipyard has seen an increased output of combat vessels. The marked increase in production of these warships coincides with the recent deployment of Federal Intelligence Office taskforce to the system to allegedly “carry out counterterrorism operations.” Furthermore, additional extra-large construction apparatuses have been observed being added to the shipyards.
Again, when pressed for comment on the situation in a recent press briefing, I-RED Executor Alex Hinkelmann declined to share any details on I-RED’s stance towards the UNF operations in Eugales. He only stated, “operations of the UNF in Eugales are of no concern or priority to the Ishuk-Raata Enforcement Directive. Clearly, however, the Federation government may have some issues to discuss with them.”
Cooperation With Local Elements Turns Sour for Intaki Space Police
Selenna Solange • YC123.04.03
Ishukone Corporation Factory, 98Q-8O, Syndicate - Sources within the Intaki Business Logistics Union [I-BLU] have revealed a disturbing trend of leaked confidential information from ISP data vaults within the JQV5-9 constellation.
An anonymous I-BLU non-capsuleer employee has submitted reports to I-RCN that their capsuleer employer was involved in covert ‘clean up’ operations to retrieve ISP data stolen by a local pirate gang. I-RCN has been unable to substantiate the claims of this baseliner employee, however, if true, then the news is likely to damage local business confidence in the ISP. The nature of the data that was supposedly hacked is suspected to relate to security contracts ISP has taken up recently with local businesses who hire out security escorts.
Such confidential data is normally heavily encrypted in local data terminals maintained by the ISP, and the theft of such data may indicate that the local ISP branches have been infiltrated by pirate elements. I-RCN has not received any comments from the ISP despite reaching out for more information. Likewise, I-BLU leadership was unavailable for comment with regards to the potential leak from within their organization.
In other news
• VIP guests in the form of Empire loyalist capsuleers and allies are expected to attend a special showing of “The Heartrending of Lady Melisandre” in the Older Opera House in Dam-Torsad
• Rumored Khimi Harar plans for counter-insurgency action in Syndicate against perceived ‘heretical threat’ raises extra-territorial legal issues
• Despite welcoming recent newborn, former I-RED executives Roirdan Bouchate and Selenna Solange are already making a swift return to duties
• Public confidence in I-RED Operation Grey Steel™ initiative falling to all-time low following months of poor communication and lack of dividend payments to investors
• Local scanning operations in 98Q superpocket of Syndicate have revealed the installation of numerous, large ‘black monoliths’; who is orchestrating such a prank remains unclear