No sss this week.

No sss this week.

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No sss this week.

RIP Go Boom

Details on the ground are scarce, but stories reaching our news-room suggest that the days of the RIP may be numbered, as the Imperial-Bloc has launched a series of direct military strikes against multiple RIP targets.

We have reports of a substantial ground assault going in against RIP Freedom City, which might or might not have run into heavier than expected resistence from RIP defenders.

The main RIP outpost on Gorgon has reportedly fallen to the IMP.

IMP Fleet Support vessels have been spotted mustering in the Masters system.

IMP Cruisers and Strike Cruisers are reported to be gathering in the Lewis system.

We have also received word that has been confirmed from multiple sources that the GTT have moved in on the RIP in the Demon system. By the sounds of it they don't have anything more than heavy cruisers and destroyers and some limited numbers of ground forces.

Sources report that the GTT involvement sounds a bit rushed and poorly thought through in contrast to the IMP actions, which seem to have been planned for some time now.

Speculation is mounting that the Imperial action is in response to the long-standing rumours of RIP support for the Wolfpack pirates.


Mohache Go Boom

A MOH freighter in the Venice system has run afoul of one of the DTR�s restricted access zones. The Deearu Accol, a Yew class transport, was engaged and destroyed by the Gamma 9 defence grid.

When asked why a friendly vessel had been destroyed, a Detinus commander remarked that all vessels, be they friend or foe, would be fired upon if they attempted to transit the G-9 orbital quadrant as this is the location of DTR Fleet Command.

Skirmishing In Yank

Imperial forces in the Yank system have recently destroyed a Real-Confederacy warship. While the legality of taking military action in the neutral Yank system is questionable, the IMP probably didn�t do themselves any favours by firing upon a Pirate Bane class cruiser that the RCF have claimed was en-route to intercept a pirate scout ship.

There has been no comment from the Kastorian military Junta, but we�re guessing the IMP have probably had to pay reparations.


Skirmishing In Solo

Imperial forces have fired upon and destroyed an Independent freighter in the Solo system, prompting condemnation from various sources including the Detinus Republic who have stated that the Solo system is a Free Trade Zone, and that INDs have every right to transit and trade there.

The Imperial forces for their part maintain that the IND in question was up to no good, and that all INDs are viewed with the deepest suspicion and should steer well clear of IMP facilities for their own safety.

The AFT, the current system holders for the Solo system, have yet to make a statement. Though with their military forces still smarting from their short sharp war with the GTT, it seems difficult to know how they will continue to maintain their system claim on Solo for much longer. Rumours indicate several other neutral powers may be waiting in the wings to take the system over, including the dread Mohache/Wimble alliance, the Krell, and the ARC.


Consortium In Action

The season of goodwill continues as the Consortium launch a massive series of operations against the Flagritz Empire.

A significant FEL/FCN/SMS fleet moved against the Inferno stargate, and began transitting through it to the Twilight Periphery. A FLZ platform in the Inferno system appears to have attempted to engage the fleet, causing the Falconian elements to peel off and cover the rest of the squadrons as they began jumping through the gate, though given the FLZ platform appears to have been armed with the massively outdated Pulse weapons, very little damage was done, and a number of FLZ freighters and light cruisers were destroyed.

Meanwhile the Consortium fleet on exiting the stargate in the Twilight system was engaged by a far larger FLZ platform, which had a significant supporting fleet of Base Ships and cruisers in attendance, along with a picket force of OPS vessels, which initially came to their overlords support.

A fierce space battle then erupted with heavy damage being inflicted to vessels on both sides. The Consortium forces appear to have taken the worst of it, as they were undermanned as the FLZ platform on the other side of the Stargate held up the rest of their forces for 24 hours. Falconian forces are understood to have taken particularly heavy casualties. At time of press the tide of battle seems to be turning in their favour however, as more and more Consortium reinforcements pour through the Stargate.

The question will no doubt be settled by how many reinforcements the Flagritz can bring to bare.

It is still not known if this is a raid in force by the Consortium, or a dedicated attempt to wrest control of the entrance to the Twilight Periphery, in order to expand their war against the FLZ into a whole new region of space.



FLZ Condemn Consortium Actions

Lord Sektor of the FLZ has appeared giving the following statement:

�It seems the Consortium, even the Falconian, who had sued for peace,
and keep on sueing for peace, for we have kept our promise to return
some prisioners, have attacked our installations at Inferno, thus
breaking the non aggression pact within IMP held territory.

I'll be very disapointed if the Commonwealth Emperor does not condemn
this action.�

The Commonwealth Triumverate itself has stated that actions in the Inferno system are nothing to do with the Commonwealth, as that system is claimed by and for the IMP.

The Imperial viceroy is understood to have asked the Consortium for an explanation of their actions.


Ship Destroyed

A Flagritz scout ship has been destroyed by Felini positions in the Crusade system.


Empress Sarah

There was some brief confusion this week as an IMP vessel bearing the famous name Empress Sarah was spotted in the Madonna system. After checking with the EEM however, this turned out not to be the real Empress Sarah, but an imposter.

It is unknown why the IMP should have commissioned a look-a-like for the Empress Sarah.


Halo System

Our news-room has begun receiving the first reports from the newly opened Halo Periphery:

System Agripeta (198) [HBO]:
Periphery: Halo
Jump Ring: 10
Radiation: 0
Celestial Bodies:

WormholeYank Express (9890){Gamma,1}
PlanetPrimus Adventor (1484){Alpha,3}
MoonPrimus Serviendus (8463){Alpha,3}
PlanetAn Aurum Concursus (4985){Gamma,6}
PlanetMei Mei Mei (2752){Beta,7}
Gas GiantLeonis Pars (3943){Alpha,10}
MoonOmnia Nitida (8754){Alpha,10}


System Message:
Halo Charter
Access:
Access is granted to the External zone of Halo to all parties by the Halo Benevolent Oligarchy (HBO).

Policing:

The Halo Oligarchy will police within the bounds of the Halo Periphery and only within the bounds of the Halo Periphery. Only crimes committed within the Halo Periphery will be punished by the Oligarchy and then as the Oligarchy deems appropriate or convenient.

1st Laws:

No faction may conduct stellar cartography within the Halo Periphery. Any faction discovered undertaking Stellar Cartography will suffer reparation by the Oligarch Execution Fleet.

Only signatories of the Charter (referred to as Clients) may construct bases and otherwise colonise celestial bodies.

All bases must contribute to the HBO system claim. Failure to do so either through lack of troops or desire will be investigated by the Oligarch Execution Fleet at the Oligarch's pleasure.

Ships greater than 20,000mu are banned.

Warfleets greater than 20 are banned - this applies to fleets formed from multiple factions.

2nd Laws:

Any client agrees to construct no more than two bases on any single world. There are no limits to the size of base or platforms constructed. Platforms are limited to one per starbase. Action should be taken to reduce bases down to two and the appropriate quantity of platforms following any event where more come under the control of a single faction. A grace period will be given based on the events and a successful petition to the Oligarchy.

No faction may monopolize any world and permanent exclusion zones are prohibited. The Halo Oligarchy will decide when it considers a temporary defensive measure to have become a permanent exclusion zone by notifying the Oligarch Execution Fleet of the offense.

Conflict is permitted so long as the 1st Laws are not violated.

3rd Law:

Any client is permitted to enforce their own laws within the Halo Periphery as they see fit except where it violates either the client charter or the 1st or 2nd laws.


**Message From The Editor**

Welcome to the first of what will probably be several catch-up editions. The next should be a Christmas Special.

If anybody has any Christmas themed news stories they�d like to share, please send them along to me for inclusion over the next couple of days.

Simon.



******

Contacts:
Editor: Simon Field - sss [dot] editor [at] googlemail [replacetoavoidspamdot] com

No sss this week.