Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction

[AngleWyrm]

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.

[NullAshton]

Use thrusters and bounce off the atmosphere...

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

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.

[Alneyan]

"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.'"

[narf poit chez BOOM]

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.

[AngleWyrm]

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.

[AngleWyrm]

You be illin', homes.

Write a news report.

[NullAshton]

You want me to write a news report?

[geoschmo]

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.

[Renegade 13]

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.