Gentlesophonts:
The following news briefs appeared in *Melbourne Times* #2:
Melbourne Times News Service
Anokye/Pollux (1419.16 B848689-B) 21 Apr 3001
In its official report released today, the Navy confirmed that the
unidentified ship destroyed at Epimetheus/Pollux three weeks ago by the frigate
Foch was an Aztlan Maza-class escort.
According to the report, the Foch was conducting frontier refuelling shortly
after emerging from jump when it encountered the unidentified ship in the upper
reaches of the gas giant's atmosphere. When it refused to respond to the
Foch's hail, the ship was fired upon and eventually destroyed.
Initial efforts to identify the ship were hindered by the loss of the
wreckage in the giant's lower atmosphere. The report states that the ship was
identified after an analysis of telemetry gathered by the Foch during the
engagement.
A spokesperson for Commodore Geraldine Kolchak declined to comment on the
report, but sources close to the Commodore stated that the discovery of an
Aztlan warship in Commonwealth space was certain to lead to further escalation
of tensions in the Pollux subsector.
Dedn/Europa (2934.30 AA6A865-D) 24 Apr 3001
In a terse communique released today, the mysterious Committee for State
Security announced that it had assumed all executive authority in the Meren
Worlds.
Actual composition of the Committee remains unclear. The Committee has been
rumored to be an extension of the reactionary wing of the Expansionist Clique,
which has suffered from increasing turmoil since the end of the Markets War.
The status and location of Morrochai Gvo remains unknown. The communique
stated that the Meren Autarch had been "relieved of its responsibilities" by
the Committee.
In a separate statement, Ivondond Verch, leader of the Reformist Clique and a
frequent critic of the Autarch in the past, called for Morrochai's restoration
to its "appropriate and lawful position" and characterized the action of the
Committee for State Security as a "supra-legal usurpation of executive
authority".
New Canaan/Gaea (2215.10 A865999-D) 27 Apr 3001
The New Lhasa Skystupa fell to the ground today.
The gravitic spiritual and entertainment complex slowly descended from its
aerial position 800 meters above the city after its main gravitic generator
shut down. A Skystupa spokesperson stressed that it had been a controlled
descent and that the Skystupa's 860,000 inhabitants were never in danger.
The cause of the generator failure has yet to be determined. The
spokesperson stated that Skystupa engineers hoped to have the complex airborne
again within a few days.
The New Lhasa Skystupa is the first gravitic urban complex developed on New
Canaan. The effect of the generator failure upon additional Skystupas
currently under construction at New Medina and New Istanbul remains unclear.
Aztlan/Procyon (0911.20 A9879A7-D) 28 Apr 3001
The Imperial Household announced the engagement today of Crown Princess Sola.
The heir to the Adamant Throne will wed Don Arturo Kumate, an officer in the
Diplomatic Corps.
The Crown Princess, currently serving as an auxiliary craft pilot in the
Imperial Navy, had long shown little interest in marriage. Sources in the
Household have denied reports that the Crown Princess was pressured into the
engagement by Empress Ana and Grand Duke Guillermo.
Don Arturo first met the Crown Princess nearly 18 months ago during a
reception held for her by the Ehime monarch at the Ehime embassy. Don Arturo
has served as Her Majesty's ambassador to the Ehime court for the past three
years.
The wedding, in accordance with Imperial tradition, has been scheduled to
coincide with the annual Festival of the Founders to be held later this year.
Earth/Sirius (1720.19 A867988-D) 01 May 3001
Earthsteward Emile Cevera opened year-long ceremonies today celebrating the
Tricentennial of the founding of the Commonwealth of Earth.
"As we cross this threshold of our fourth century, we reach forward to the
myriad of opportunities that beckon to us," said Cevera in remarks carried live
across the globe.
The Commonwealth Tricentennial will be celebrated in a variety of events over
the next year throughout the worlds of the Commonwealth. The celebration will
climax with the Commonwealth Games to be held here at Earth.
Nyanza/Nyanza (1531.12 A86898A-D) 03 May 3001
The Nyanzan Subsector factor for Ysinal udi-Quinan announced today that the
Aeroi mercantile giant had reached an agreement with the Nyanzan Navy to
provide armed escorts for YuQ shipping operations in Nyanza, Wanganui, Aquila
and Ourora subsectors.
The three-year contract includes provisions for piracy suppression as well as
escort duties. Representatives of the Federation Navy declined to discuss the
actual price of the contract. Analysts at the Nyanza Securities Exchange
estimated the amount to be in the gigacredit range. Ysinal udi-Quinan stock
had risen 5.625 points by the close of trading today.
A spokesperson for the Ouroran embassy criticized the joint Aeroi-Nyanzan
effort as an "unnecessary and provocative escalation" of the recent trade
tensions in the region.
Amazonas/Ourora (1934.24 A766955-D) 12 May 3001
House Moreira officially closed the Mendes Highport today. The closing
coincided with opening ceremonies for the new Amazonas Highport which has been
operational for several months now.
The Mendes Highport was constructed around the hull of the Conestoga-class
sub-light transport Chico Mendes which brought the original settlers from Earth
over five hundred years ago. The ship served as an orbital base of operations
for the initial colonization of Amazonas. Over the centuries the orbital
facility has grown into a sprawling shipyard complex that served as Amazonas'
primary Highport.
The new Highport was constructed by Moreira after it determined that further
upgrades to the Mendes facility were impractical. Moreira officials have
described the new Highport as the "centerpiece of commercial infrastructure" in
the Community.
The Mendes facility will be stripped down and the Chico Mendes hull
refurbished in time for the sexacentennial of the settling of Amazonas.
*****
Happy Travelling,
David Johnson
Houston, Texas, USA
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