Galactic News Network -- Food For Fiction

[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.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

* Apparently the judge agreed to what?

[AngleWyrm]

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.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

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

[AngleWyrm]

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