Alster Shipyard

CLASS: Elbe

GRAVITY: Partial

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 1040

Constructed by Rheinländische Großspedition, the Alster Shipyard specializes in the construction of freight ships and transports. However, the shipyard is more commonly known for its role in the formation of the Unioner movement. After the economic collapse of Rheinland after the Eighty Years War, Rheinländische Großspedition, renamed to Republican, was forced to scale back operations on Hamburg and the Alster Shipyard. In an attempt to cut costs, Republican fired hundreds of shipwrights and thousands of laborers on the surface, citing it had no work left for them. In truth, the company was getting rid of any members of the "Alster Union", a laborer rights organisation that had dominated the labor negotiations with Republican for years. The Unioners reacted violently to their expulsion, and began an armed campaign against Republican. The Unioners are hopeful the return to the Rheinländische Großspedition brand will mark a change in their fortunes, and attacks on Rheinländische Großspedition targets have lessened to make way for potential dialogue.

The Alster shipyard is still in operation. In the years leading up to the Nomad War, the yard was pressed into the construction of smaller military ships. Many of these ships are still in service, and the yard does still see the occasional contract from the Rheinland Military. Most of its jobs are civilian however - the Rheinländische Großspedition, Kruger and ALG transport fleets are largely maintained at Alster. Attacks by Unioner raiding parties looking to disrupt operations at Alster are frequent, but usually routed quickly by Rheinland Police from Lubeck.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* RGS Shipping
* Universal Shipping
* Bounty Hunters Guild
* Rheinland Police
* Synth Foods, Inc.
* Orbital Spa and Cruise

* RGS Shipping

## News

While this troubling trend is observed throughout the Sirius colonies, Liberty is bearing the brunt of the crisis among the four major Houses. Remarkably, even Rheinland, where historical data indicated low Cardamine consumption, has witnessed a notable rise in medical cases linked to the illicit narcotic. Experts postulate that the extensive black market responsible for Cardamine distribution might be facing a shortage, or worse, that Outcast factions deliberately curtail the supply to bolster demand. Regrettably, no law enforcement agency has been available for comment on these concerns.
The long-standing debate over Cardamine's controversial nature, juxtaposing its euphoric and purported medicinal qualities with the genetic alterations it inflicts upon long-term users, continues to echo. A key point of contention revolves around the plight of innocent consumers caught in this crisis. Yet, according to independent polls, a substantial majority of our viewers maintains that the substance must remain banned.
In response to this escalating crisis, Cryer Pharmaceuticals has announced a forthcoming press conference. During the event, the company intends to unveil plans for an expanded production of Stabiline, their touted "wonder drug". This announcement promises affordable access to Stabiline for all patients grappling with Cardamine withdrawal, sparking a remarkable 15%% surge in Cryer Pharmaceuticals' stock following the revelation.

Ageira disputed this finding in their own press release, calling EFL 'fantasists' and countering that their own scientists had narrowed the cause to a rare 'hypernova' stellar event that originated outside the Sirius sector. Both corporations claim that network-wide hardware safeguards have been implemented that would prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Independent researchers have sharply criticized the corporate announcements, accusing both of self-interested misdirection.
Professor Sophia Nagel from Heisenberg Research Station called EFL's accusation 'incoherent' and the hypernova explanation 'nonsense' that did not explain the characteristics of the 'Blackout Pulse'. Despite multiple different Pulse recordings being widely disseminated across the neural net, public efforts have so far failed to triangulate its source.

The incident came as a shock to the public and the law enforcement alike, as pirate activity was believed to have completely died out in the desolate Munich system. The frequency of strikes, from both Corsairs and domestic pirates, have steadily declined ever since the antimatter storm first ravaged the system. While the chaotic evacuation efforts from Nuremberg had initially caused a spike, as the system's population decayed to just skeleton crews and Junker scavengers, the criminal element became nearly absent. Some theorize that the Corsairs were there for the Bessemer specifically, intending for one last taunt at Rheinland's people. Thankfully, the Dohna and her crew were there to thwart their efforts.
The ATS Bessemer was dispatched into the Munich system in order to deploy a network of specially reinforced satellites, meant to monitor the advent of the antimatter storm's core. According to the University of Berlin, the core will wash over Munich around the end of this month, stripping away planetary atmospheres and most likely collapsing all remaining jumphole anomalies. The probes deployed by the Bessemer will provide the scientific community with first-hand data of the storm and its effects, transmitting it back to Berlin through a central relay nested within the safety of Raubling's hulk.
With the task complete, the Bessemer was meant to be the final ship to make the jump from Munich, with the Jump Gate being shut down later the same day. However, due to the damage sustained in the attack, the RPU Dohna did the honours instead, covering the Bessemer's departure to ensure its safe return.

Upon further investigation, the Navy has successfully identified the ordnance being transported as being sourced from Rheinland. Going as far as to state that they contained serial codes which correspond with weaponry used by Rheinland's own Military. Naturally given the circumstances around the discovery of these weapons and Liberty's history of hot and cold relations with the neighboring House, it is expected that this development will lead to further scrutiny when it comes to potentially suspicious activity.

Despite the success of the Military, it seems the Hessians flagship; Battleship Kassel, has managed to escape virtually unscathed. Rumors on Heisenberg Research Station speak of Hessian prisoners taken by Corsairs and Unioners alike. It's no secret there is a lot of bad blood between these groups and the Hessians and this reporter shudders to think of what fate awaits those poor deluded criminals.

The Siege of Saarbrucken is currently underway and it has been reported that the Red Hessians have begun evacuating from the area. It is speculated however that the Red Hessians intend to make the Rheinland military suffer for every meter they take.
The Rheinland Military has offered a reward for any Red Hessians that are caught fleeing from the siege. The military has also advised caution as they have reported several other pirate groups in the area, with some claiming these groups are striking out at the Hessians. This reporter cannot help but think this situation goes to show, that there is no honour among thieves.

## Rumors

* We provide Republican with many of their essential shipbuilding materials, such as Ship-Hull Panels, Basic Alloys, and MOX from Dortmund. In return, they sell us their Scrap Metal and Toxic Waste from old ships that are being dismantled.

* Republican is completely dependent on ALG products to build their ships. They are competing for the new Rheinland Military contract, but lack the technical expertise to fabricate the custom hull materials and other sophisticated features required by the government.

* Privately, Republican committed some management blunders in the early days of Alster. There were many ongoing safety lapses that eventually led to major industrial accidents. The unions would never have become as strong as they did without those galvanizing events.

* The Alster Shipyard workers are proud of our tradition. Unfortunately, there is a group of malcontents that wishes to destroy everything we have created after almost 400 years in Hamburg. The Unioners are a pestilence that must be eliminated.

* This shipyard was once controlled by the unions, who demanded ever higher wages and longer vacations. Republican could afford their extravagant demands during the Eighty Years War. But when the hard times hit, we had to make adjustments in order to remain profitable.

* The Alster unions made a fatal error when they supported the Popular Revolution. The new government worsened the already serious economic situation by inflating the currency to pay off external war debts. This backfired and resulted in the common worker in Rheinland suffering terribly.

* The Alster Shipyard produces Freight Trains, Heavy Lifters, and Rheinland Freighters. It has been in continuous use since 412 AS. We are the only commercial shipyard in operation within Rheinland.

* Gold is used as a reflective coating on windows for our ships. Ours is delivered by special armored transport from Freiburg periodically. It's a difficult run all the way through Rheinland. Criminals can smell it from across a system.

* Every week, we run a transport in from Mainz, in the Frankfurt system. It either carries Boron from the Holstein extraction facility, or Optronics from Kusari.

* A shipyard needs a wide array of raw materials delivered on a regular basis to function smoothly. Liberty provides us with Superconductors and Optical Chips. The Ring, in New Berlin, supplies Engine Components and Construction Machinery.

*NOTE: Page generated on the 28/10/2023 at 17:59:46 UTC*