Elbe Border Fortress

CLASS: Praga

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Limited

CREW: 410

Located not far from Freisdadt, Elbe Station is a recently-constructed command center for the Rheinland Federal Police. The decision to deploy it came after the previously-occupying Battleship Schwerin was recalled to Rheinland. Initially there was uncertainty as to whether Elbe would be sufficient to safeguard the highly dangerous border system, but after considerable construction upgrades, staff relocation and upgraded systems, it is now comparable in terms of police and military power projection as Wildau Station.

Aside from its garrison being in a pivotal position to safeguard Omega-7's trade lanes and Rheinland's mining interests, rumors abound that Elbe was constructed to keep a close eye upon the IMG after persistent reports of "suspicious" activity. The Guild's objections to this more permanent establishment were summarily ignored by the Rheinland Government, especially after what happened on the other side of the border with the involvement of Hessians supporting the then IMG Aland Shipyard defense. Whatever the actual purpose, Elbe now stands as guardian of the whole system and watcher over the Guild's activities, ready to respond to any issue caused be it by the IMG, the local unlawfuls or even from neighbouring Bretonia.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Border World Exports
* Gateway Shipping
* Kruger Minerals
* Bounty Hunters Guild

## News

While the battlegroup successfully managed to destroy both Leipzig Station, as well as Bundschuh controlled Bautzen Station, the assault ended in a catastrophic loss of the Battleship Strausberg, having been ambushed by a heavy Hessian battlegroup. While the Strausberg itself managed to successfully withdraw from the battle, its engines failed halfway towards the New Berlin Jump Gate, and the order was made to scuttle the ship to avoid it falling into the Hessian hands.
As a result, massive riots are taking place all around Rheinland, demanding Kaiser's resignation from his position due to his reckless actions making Rheinland even less safe than it already is. We have reached out to the Kaiser Cabinet, but were refused any comments at the time of publication.

Shortly afterward, a bill mandating a 5%% increase in military spending was passed, along with some minor policies aimed at increased security in the core systems. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

"Those unfortunate events are indeed less than ideal, but they do not affect our supply lines nearly as much as one would make you think. The main concern, that is the Corsairs, is negligible. While formidable and savage, they are too preoccupied with the Outcast situation in Omicron Theta, allowing our heavily armed convoys to pass back into Sigmas without much difficulty. There is also a secondary source of supplies in the Zoners of Freeport 10, with whom we continue to have cordial relations with."
When questioned about the specifics regarding their operations on newly-conquered Planet Gammu, the spokesperson offered no comment. Following the press conference, the company stocks recovered 25%% from the sudden drop of 40% they suffered when the news of Jump Holes collapse spread, maintaining the heightened level caused by Planet Gammu acquisition.

The announcement was made during a surprise press conference held at the Core Branch Office on Planet Holstein in Frankfurt. Apparently, over the past 4 years, Core's flagship: Battleship Mars has been preparing this operation, eventually springing into action shortly after Omicron Theta has reportedly become a battleground between The Corsairs and The Outcasts.
"We expect many great technologies to be made possible with our findings on Gammu, but I can't provide any specifics at the time.", said Core Public Relation Spokesperson Kenneth Raeman. "We also expect interference from the Corsair Empire, although they currently seem too occupied elsewhere to pay us much attention. Of course, fortifying our position in the system is very much a priority for when that state of things eventually changes. In the meantime, our ground based teams are hard at work excavating the secrets of their former inhabitants while our laboratories on Nauru are studying the first objects brought from the planet."
As a result of these news, Core stocks have seen a record one-day gain of 75%%.

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.

## Rumors

* We intercepted a Red Hessian supply shipment crossing the system between the Ostnebel and Westnebel. It was quite a boost in morale around here; normally things are rather glum, but we were able to salvage all manner of goods. Of course, we don't turn in everything we find, they barely pay me enough to feed my children.

* There is a pilot here who wishes to leave our ranks. He has tried to keep it secret but I found out. He wants to become a Bounty Hunter and leave Rheinland. I'm sure it is because he is afraid to fight Red Hessians -- he has trouble killing them.

* My brother is a police pilot in Frankfurt. He says that conditions are worse there. Of course, that is the system that got ravaged by the GMG, but we all lost in "the Eighty." I wish I had been alive to fight in it.

* My family, the Steiners, have grown thin in number. We were once a large group of men and women known as excellent pilots and daring fighters. Now there is just my brother and me left alive.

* We are the guardians to the gates that lead into the Border Worlds. We patrol our side, but dare not go into Omega 7. It is grounds for immediate termination. No lives or ships can be spared defending space that Rheinland cannot even lay claim to.

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