Taking the Fight Home

Following the Federation's success in rousting the rebel forces from Banki and BD+03 2338, Admiral Vincent has declared his intention to follow the invaders of BD+03 2338 back to their own homes.

Admiral Vincent declared at a press conference earlier today:

"I think the message is clear. We will not allow terrorists to break our laws or brainwash our people. The Polahukuna Raiders, and those like them, need to learn that their actions have consequences. The Federation will not sit idly by and let the infections of chaos and anarchy spread and fester."

The Admiral went on to say that he would reveal plans as to the nature of the Federation's foray into Polahukuna shortly.

President Orders Attack on Nijotec

In a shock announcement issued this morning, President Halsey has ordered an all-out assault on the Nijotec region.

In her address to the Federation, President Halsey had this to say on the matter:

"For too long the Nijotec Syndicate have been praying on the weak, innocent and infirm. I stand before you today to tell you that the Federation will not stand idly by while a supposedly legitimate independent nation abuses its own people. These openly criminal states are nothing more than self-serving parasites that have no place in our greater galactic society. Let the liberations of Nijotec, Banki and BD+03 2338 serve as warnings to any tin-pot dictators that think they can send their own little slices of civilisation back to the dark ages."

Nijotec is a small system that acts as a permanent home to just 21,500 people. In the past, it was well known for its rich mineral deposits, although the system has since been strip-mined to the point where the local refineries are currently exporting very little produce. The recession in the region and the subsequent abandonment of the sector's two outposts by the Lycan Moon Mining Corporation provided fertile ground in which the criminal group known as the Nijotec Syndicate were able to stretch and grow.

The Fastest Pilot in the Galaxy

This is Casey Murrow and today I'm talking exclusively with Commander Samwell Drakhyr, winner of this year's big race, the St. Valentine Day Regatta. So just how did you manage to win it all Sam?

"A bad pilot is controlled by their ship. They are surprised all the time, because their mind is in harmony with neither ship nor surroundings. A good pilot controls their ship. They are surprised only half the time, because they know the limits of their ship so well that it becomes part of them, directed by the pilot's will without conscious effort, like a limb. 

I strive to go beyond that. I scout my route until I own it. I make it part of me. I do my thinking in advance so when I fly on the day there is no mind, no ship, no pilot that exist as separate entities. My hands move, yet in a way it feels like they are steady, inevitable, and it is instead the universe itself that is moving."

Excellent and inspiring advice there from Commander Drakhyr, champion of the 37th almost annual St. Valentine Day Regatta.

The Long Trip Home

After a week of wandering in HIP 110620, the Jaques Starport is now making its way through HIP 110079. GalNet is still no closer to learning the reason behind the station's unexpected return, nor can we ascertain where the cyborg barman's ultimate destination may be.

A number of well known commanders from all walks of life have been seen coming in and out of Jaques, which is fast becoming a popular nightspot among young thrillseekers from the Empire, Federation and Alliance alike.

Now that his self-imposed exile has finally come to an end, Jaques appears content to simply wander the stars in the company of a people he once called his own, accompanied by the booming sound of a dark electric beat.

Station Construction Now Underway

Thanks to the combined efforts of entrepreneurs, small business owners and corporate sponsors, preparations for the launch of the new EAUC Exploration Ocellus are now well underway. 4,871 commanders contributed over 8,154,177 tons of metal to the project, which in turn has allowed the EAUC coalition to outfit the station to a level far beyond their original specifications.

Universal Cartographics has released a statement thanking the committee members who wisely chose the mineral rich system of HIP 101110 as the potential launch site, as well as to CMDR Zimm_Macugz for organising the delivery of an impressive 150,000 tonnes of raw materials.

The new station is expected to be ready for its maiden voyage to HIP 101110 within the next few days.

Effinger Port, Furbaide, Reports Contagion Spreading Unchecked

Despite a valiant effort by medical staff working aboard afflicted stations in Volungu, Liaedin, LHS 3505 and Furbaide, the illness now known as Volungu Blight has managed to evade all attempts to contain it.

The virulent disease has managed to claim hundreds of lives since it first appeared just 24 hours ago.

In an attempt to combat the spread of the Blight, a rapid response team has been set up aboard Effinger Port station in the Furbaide system. This team will be working around the clock to find a cure, but they can't do it alone.

Dr. Miriam Fletcher, head of the Furbaide CDC, has requested that anyone shipping basic medicines divert to Effinger Port in order to donate the supplies needed to stop the Blight before it manages to spread any further.

New VP Appointed

In a formal ceremony in the Congress building on Mars, Ethan Naylor, the Congressman for Siren, was formally signed in as the Federal Vice President.

This is a controversial choice as this is the first time a member of the Federal Leadership has been a Congressman from a frontier world. Some have said that President Halsey is reacting to criticism that her government is too Sol-centric, and that she may regret the choice.

In his appointment speech Naylor said:

"I am honoured to have this phenomenal role. I will see it as my job to make sure that Federal States on the frontier will get the attention they deserve."