Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

GNN, Trill Prime
In other news today, a string of gruesome murders has been attributed to a renegade Trill. Psychologists at the Trill Institute state that the perpetrator torments it's new hosts before forcibly joining with them. It is now thought that the victims are abandoned hosts, when the trill seeks a change of identity.

Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

More on this trilling mystery tonight? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

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GNN, Rigel-II
Con-Am, The Consortium of Amalgomated Resource Collectors, one of the largest producers of mineral resources, closed down it's operations in the Rigel asteroid belt today.

Con-Am provides some of the lowest priced consumer products in the sector, but citizens of Rigel claim it is due to slave mining practices. Rumors also abound that a union was about to be formed, when the belt mining facility was shut down.

Police boat patrols have increased in system.

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GNN, Bolaris IX
Federation Security forces raided a Romulan tavern on Bolaris IX, seizing over 150 tons of Romulan Ale, and putting the shop owner out of business.

Bolaris IX, technically under Romulan jurisdiction, is bordered on all sides by Federation space. The Romulan government says that Romulan-Federation negotions are under way. Charging taxes against the Romulan shop keepers (and splitting it with the Federation) may be a method of reducing Federation raids. The shop keepers disagree, and say that taxing Romulan ale is just another way for the rich to take money from the working class.

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GNN, Epsilon Ceti II
The Terran freighter Bath Kol was commissioned today, to ship personnel and much needed supplies to Epsilon Ceti II. The comet Dark Angel which sweeps close to the planet once every 64 years, will cause terrible weather conditions and crop losses for the next two growing seasons.

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Couldn't they just tractor the comet out of the way? Or use weather control stations?

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Well, sure they could! How'de it happen?

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Equandul-IV,
One man died today in a shuttle accident. Incinerated wreckage was found off the Tabian coast, indicating rapid atmospheric re-entry. Examiner's Office believes a fuel shortage caused engines to give out. The family's insurance agent is looking into possible shuttle system failure.

Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

Use thrusters and bounce off the atmosphere...

Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

You be illin', homes.

Write a news report.

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You want me to write a news report?

Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

I believe what Angle is attempting to do here is plant seeds to get people thinking and writing some fiction. He's doing it in the form of a news broadast which gives a headline and a few seconds of general information. Then one of us is supposed to run with the idea and fill in the details of the story if we are so inspired.

Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

Mostly, it's just for entertainment. I was looking at the newspaper yesterday, and wondered how the headlines might translate into this game universe. Some of it fits quite nicely, and could be turned into 'events'. Others are just flavor type of things.

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NNN, Net-News Division

Chaos erupted on Inter-Galactic Speedway #43214546 when two tankers, one with a load of neo-gen-fish from Altaira and one with a load of pre-whipped generic whipping cream colided, sending 1.4mt of non-processed fish and 8mt of whipped cream across the spaceway. Authorities had nearly restored order when a school of space-dolphins and a hairball of space-cats arrived on the scene, nearly simultaniously.

'It was horrendous' commented one spectator. 'There were guts everywhere. I'll never eat fish again!'

'We just left. There was nothing we could do' Said one patrolbeing, who asked to remain annonymous.

When asked for comment, one of the space-dolphins said 'Yeah, it was pretty good'

No comments were obtained from the space-cats, although the Redway-Glenwood-Xcl'cx hospital informs us that Bob's scratches should be completly healed in a month. Sorry about that, Bob. But even with a granite carapace, you really shouldn't have come between the cats and all that creamy fish.

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This seems to have died...

Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

GNN, Cornelia,

Shuttlecraft Flight school attendant Blurb Xaxica went on a rampage today, killing 120 civilians before ramming the school office building with his shuttle. Local authorities say it's much too early to assess motives, but a fellow student says he was failing to please one of the dead teachers.

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This is GNN.

Earlier today, a mysterious crash on Vulcan has left authorities baffled. All satellite scan logs indicate the ship, piloted by a Vulcan, flew at high speed into the Vulcan asteroid belt, where the ship met up with others in a race. The Vulcan craft, a beefed-up warp sled, clipped a large asteroid and lost a nacelle. The pilot then lost control over the craft and it spun down to Vulcan, where the pilot died in the crash.

Authorities are currently trying to track down the other racers. More news will follow.

And now we pause for commercials.

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This is Jose Traxis for GNN, live from the frontlines of the Terran-Phong war.

The much anticipated Terran invasion of Beta Aqualine IV failed to materialise today when the Terran fleet commander realised there were no troops on his transports. When asked for comment the Admiral's staff said the troops must have been 'Forgotten' when the 3rd Fleet left Devonshire II. More on this story later, only on GNN

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This is GNN.

Earlier this morning, the mental hospital The Happy Loonie admitted a new, and rather unusual and shocking patient - rumors abound, but all speculation points to one man.

It is said that the renowned graphic artist David E. Gervais has done too much SEV work lately, and has gone completely [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/icon30.gif[/img][img]/threads/images/Graemlins/icon30.gif[/img][img]/threads/images/Graemlins/icon30.gif[/img].

Rumors say Mr. Gervais demanded people to call him "King Volrek" and that he started talking to random people on the street saying such things as "Mineral planets are the best" and "Watch out for strange warp points!". He was also said to have been trying to send e-mails to "the Phong", " the Praetorian" and "the Jraenar".

More news to come.

Please stay tuned for these commercials.

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GNN, Terak Nor

Citizens are rioting over new "recruiting" policies for the Terak Nor Stellar Guard. New advances in medical science have allowed doctors to re-animate soldiers lost to battle wounds with minimum physical damage.

The reanimated dead are considered new entities by some lawyers, so that they can process death benefits for relatives, but others want the reanimated to be liable for prior debts. The undead seem to believe that they are the original person.

It is rumored that some recruiters are braying "Give your life for your country, and your debts will be wiped away." Local minister Eminence Herbert declared it to be a sign that the end is coming.

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GNN, Tantalus
Tantalus Labs recently announced a new breakthrough in genetic marker prediction of citizen behavior. Mayor Whimsley has enacted the sector's first pre-crime division, which is now responsible for all births on the planet. "Preventing criminals from being born will prevent crimes from happening," he stated at the opening ceremony.

Traveller's Advisory: Do not stop on Tantalus-II if you are expecting a child birth soon. You might be detained for legal proceedings, up to and including mandatory cancellation of non-viable citizen birth.

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GNN, Perseia II

Hundreds of thousands of people marched through the streets today, heading towards the space port on Perseia II. After a brief stop at the space port, the non-violent demonstrators marched to the planets largest graveyard, holding the bodies of the 2.3 million souls lost in the rebel attacks on the Perseia space port 20 years ago today. The march was organized by the Citizens Against Rebels Association (CARA) which advocates the summary execution of anyone suspected of traitorous activities or rebellious attitudes. The organizers of this march refused to comment to GNN about today's march or their on-going activities.

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GNN, Garœlia Prime

Sources within the Palace of the Gods on Garœlia Prime today have reported that the Grand Lord's health has taken a turn for the worse since his purported improvements yesterday evening. Speculation grows that the Royal Family is censoring any real information before it leaves the conclave, and that the long-lived dictator may not be much longer for this world.

Grand Lord Kelvor Tarkaselet XII has presided over the Tarkasian Empire for nearly 350 Galactic Cycles.

The Grand Lord's little-loved son, Kelvor XIII is expected to assume the Tarkaselet Mantle within the shard.

Film and interviews at 11.

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GNN, Gamma Draconis:

In today's breaking news: the Ninth fleet, stationed in Gamma Draconis, won a major victory against the EEEvil EEE Empire. Rear Admiral Koth sent the bulk of his forces against an outpost of the EEE, leading the vanguard himself from his flagship, the CD Trafalgar. Though Koth's position has been weakened due to recent skirmishes, his vessels proved powerful enough to lay waste to the EEE taskforce. Only three allied vessels were destroyed during the engagement, while the EEE lost no less than twenty-five of their warships before retreating.

Koth was awaiting reinforcements before moving in against the EEE, but he decided to strike at the foe at once in dazing bold manner so particular of his. Intelligence had spotted an enemy relief fleet under way, and so Koth decided to act on the information to prevent the EEE from building up so near allied borders. The outpost was swiftly overtaken, and the resupply line of the enemy destroyed; remaining EEE elements, on patrol duty at the moment of the strike, were soon overcome shortly after.

Rear Admiral Koth is expected to receive a commendation for his performance in the battle, and the whole battlegroup has received high praise from the Allied Headquarters at Capella. Nonetheless, critics in the fleet point out that Koth was on the edge of treason when sending his vessels to the front without the express order of Command: only luck enabled him to carry out his rash plan successfully, and he deployed critical defensive elements of the Fleet in the offensive. The flagship itself was put on the frontline without need, and the outcome would have been vastly different had the Trafalgar been destroyed in the early fire exchange, or so those critics say. Koth is unlikely to take much notice of those remarks however, as he remains confident (or too confident?) in his abilities as a leader and as a strategist.

A report from our special envoy in Gamma Draconis; it just shows how quickly things are happening, and why GNN is always the first on the scene. Fleet officers are saddened to report the death of Koth shortly before the commendation ceremony: an accident happened at the spaceport, mostly due to Koth's "leap before you think" approach to life. His critics have refused to comment on the news.

GNN - "We care"

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This is GNN.

Another chilling PAIR of news stories, first of all the mysterious demise of Mr. NullAshton.

Mr. Ashton's banner sig was apparently what drove several people furious, the body was found orbiting a black hole in the Atull system.

The second news story, forum member StrategiaInUltima announces a personal disaster; he will not be able to be on the forums for at least till Tuesday. Mental hospital The Happy Loonie is standing by to receive him.

(Well, I just wanted to make it known, but NOBODY POSTED IN THE INSANITY RACE so I couldn't post it there.....)

In an entirely unrelated story, D.E. Gervais has been released from the same mental hospital earlier today. Specialists concluded that Mr. Gervais was not mentally normal but had reverted back again to his normal level of slightly wacky.

Now for a commercial break, please stay tuned.....

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GNN, Igneon system
The first convict to ever escape Crematoria has somehow boarded and captured the flagship of a rogue pirate fleet that has been running rampant throughout the galaxy.

At last report, he had lost his mind, joining some bizarre cult. He has embarked on a mission, taking his new fleet apparently beyond the grave to what he called the Underverse, in search of the woman he loved, who was lost in combat.

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GNN, Quadria IV

In a bizarre incident earlier today, the genetically altered cattle being experimented on in the BioCreations lab on Quadria IV's moon Idaria seized control of the facility, killing all the scientists and handlers working at the facility.

Reports indicate that the geneticists had, against the Genetic Alteration Act of 2355, somehow managed to endow the critters with consciousness and some measure of intelligence. From what little we have been able to piece together, it seems the cattle organized the action seamlessly, broke from their holding pens and executed the scientists and handlers with heavy-duty cattle prods, effectively electrocuting the hapless victims. Currently, the favored approach to this attack is to destroy the facility and all the genetically altered cattle from orbit, although there is the inevitable outcry from animal-rights groups against this, who say the cattle should be approached as a new and intelligent species capable of interacting with us in normal society...

For more on this story, join us in one hour for our update on this tense situation.

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And now reports are coming in that the cattle have declared themselves an independent state, calling themselves the Texrak Hegemony...

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Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

Shouldn't that be the Texras Hegemony?

Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

Then it wouldn't be a race from SE4.

Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

GNN, Gateway Station, Dividia

Opening ceremonies commenced today at Gateway Station, one of a pair of matched Klingon space stations at either end of the Dividia-Mirzaan wormhole. The wormhole is an extremely rough ride, due to strong gravitational effects, and ships are often damaged passing through. Gateway station's mission is a repair stop.

The stations are cloaked from normal detection, hiding eerily in the turbulence. Enemy ships meet only the exit space station, after being battered through the worm hole. Klingon shock troops and tractor beams plan to claim all enemy fleets who dare pass through.

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GNN Live, on the scene at the war going on in the B&G.

The Forum Chat Bar & Grill, a resurrection of the Phong's Head Cantina, has seen much war in days past, but never before has it been the victim of an infighting war.

Two to four armies, the exact count is unknown, battle it out in the center of the Cantina, as the patrons sit by watching. Recent reports have also claimed that the barkeep was also under attack, but more information on this has not been received.

As of yet the outcome is unknown, as are the exact participants. We will of course keep you up to date with any new even.....

KABOOOOOM!!!!! A massive explosion blows part of the outer wall off. The reporter looks terrified at the structure, then runs for it like the rest of the on-lookers as airborne Seamander forces come chasing after them.

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"This is GNN for our weekly programme 'Stellar technology'. A few days ago, the Altair Shipyards announced the production of a unique vessel, featuring unique technology: the ASC Butterfly, a civilian Starliner.

This vessel is equipped with standard issue weaponry and grade 3 shielding, as all Starliners of its generation. What was truly unexpected on such a vessel is the presence of self-sustaining warp engines, able to travel at speeds much higher than the speed of light. As all modern propulsion systems, the Zephyr engines are able to cross a system in less than a month, but they can also create their own disturbances in space to connect two systems with ease. Not only does such engines reduce time travel a lot, they also enable the Butterfly Starliner to avoid well-travelled routes, where pirates love to ambush unwary vessels.

Though Zephyr engines have been in use for the past three years by select military forces, nobody had expected a civilian use of these devices so soon. Of course, Altair's CEO Morgan Chane planned on at least four years before the first Butterfly is ready, but the question remains: how did Altair manage to get that technology long before it was due to become widespread? The common theory is that the army was lacking credits to finance further developments in shielding and weaponry; yet, seven vessels of the line were commissioned in the last year alone, an expense most systems could not hope to cover. Altair is suspected to have stolen the technology from the Fleet; indeed, some link this discovery to the suspect disappearance of the Oedipus two years ago, even going so far as to suggest Altair somehow managed to seize the vessel.

Regardless of how they got their technology, Altair Shipyards are expected to make a hefty profit with this new line of Starliners: despite a steep price (more than many colonies' annual income), trillionaires have already ordered a few such vessels, and Altair reported they would be 'busy for more than twenty years with all the orders [they] have received in the past week'. The military has refused to comment on the news, though they did promise an inquiry in the matter.

That's it for today: next week, we will examine the everyday life impact of the improved colonisation programme(project Odysseus).

Galactic News Network: 'Whether on Earth or Gamma Draconis, we are your premier source of information.'"

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GNN, Earth orbit:

'Hello, I'm Terry Cloff, and this is GNN news. As you may or may not know, certain amateur astronomers are claiming that a small object, about three meters in length, appeared, as if teleported, in Earth's orbit. Less credible are the claims that the object was humanoid. Earth's Security forces have denied any and all such claims, as well as claims that they took the object into custody. With me is General Windda Baaj. General?"

"We have done extensive study of these claims and it was clearly light from Venus hitting a weather control balloon, which caused ball lighting."

"And there you have it, folks. Nothing to worry ab"*In the background, about ten miles off, a rather large explosion erupts from the side of Daedalus, the military's high-tech research station. The interview is replaced by a screen saying 'Technical Difficulties'*

* Short explanation: Due to another thread, Narf has become lost in time. Of course, you needn't stick with that explanation if you write a story off of this.

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GNN, Wasaginus-I

Extremist Bert Fendersnipple was sentenced today, after pleading guilty to using a modified transporter to disintegrate five of the temples of Eugenites. The Eugenites believe that life can be improved by direct manipulation of DNA, that family planning involves the design of your children. Apparently Bert had different interpretation.

"I believe everything has the right to life, in whatever shape their DNA may be. No alterations should be allowed, no modifications to the divine plan. Everything should be allowed to live as it is; that's why I killed those heretics."

Apparently the judge agreed, and sentenced him to life on Rura Pente.

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* Apparently the judge agreed to what?

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That "everything (Bert) should be allowed to live"

Sorry, I often don't write half of the thing down, and what seems clear to me would be opaque to me if written by someone else.

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Ah. I was wonder if the name Rura Pente meant anything.

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The Dilithium Mines of Rura Pente, a Klingon penal colony from one of the Star Trek movies.

Re: Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction
 

Ah.