Freeport 5

CLASS: Funkelberg

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 180

Freeport 5 was originally built by Independent Miners Guild (IMG) miners looking for diamonds among the planetary debris, but the base was subsequently abandoned due to the intense radiation that plagues the system. A small, particularly dedicated band of Zoners moved in soon after and declared the base Freeport 5. Despite being shielded by a planetary fragment, the intense radiation requires a constant influx of Pharmaceuticals for both the Zoners and those travelers unfortunate enough to become afflicted with radiation poisoning.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Bounty Hunters Guild
* The Core
* Corsairs
* Red Hessians

* Red Hessians

## News

As Crete demanded the Zoners of Theta turn over any Hunters aboard their stations and surrender docking control, the Freeport 9 administrators were confident that some kind of compromise could be found. A delegation from Gran Canaria was requested to assist with negotiations, due to the close ties between Zoner and Corsair communities on the planet.
Tragically, the Corsairs interpreted this delay as refusal, and launched a surprise attack while the delegation was en-route. Many of Freeport 9's crew are now being held as hostages while the Corsairs pillage the station. An urgent conclave has been called on Gran Canaria to discuss the Zoner response, while militias on Pygar have taken up arms in case the violence spreads.

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.

Professor Nagel and her team are certain the Pulse originated from outside Sirius, but are otherwise no closer to identifying its source or mitigating a future Blackout event. "Following the Blackout, we began to see immediate signs of jump hole destabilization in multiple different regions, with many ultimately falling out of phase alignment altogether", she commented. The dramatic upending of Sirius' jump hole network has already prompted many groups to abandon stations and withdraw from systems that appear to risk being cut off.
While months-long trips between the stars are possible thanks to the Liberty Engine and many centuries of innovation, few ships are designed or provisioned to make such arduous journeys. Those who were displaced by Sirius' redrawn map hope that system connections will return, while adventurers and explorers rush to discover new routes.

The Militants believe the Corsairs prey on weakness, and will be more willing to negotiate if armed Zoners prove they cannot be easily or costlessly bullied.
The Reconcilers believe the situation can only be resolved by deescalating the immediate tensions, and then diplomatically securing the release of hostages and the return of the occupied Freeport.
Both sides are adamant that the other's approach will lead to the Zoners' subjugation or expulsion from the region.
Despite this, some common ground has been found, with the collective tasking a number of Fearless Q-Ship captains with deploying to Theta and protecting the Gran Canarian convoys that will be needed to resupply Freeport 5, Corfu and Pygar.

For decades the Zoners of Freeport 9 have kept themselves safe from Corsair reprisals by offering useful services, with their biodomes providing Crete with respite from the famines that once ravished it. Despite this, outrage has swept Omicron Gamma after a flight of Hunters killed Commander Juan Garcia, before retreating back to the No Fire Zones of Omicron Theta.
The Council of Elders have ordered the administrator of Freeport 9 to attend Planet Crete to hear their demands. Elder Garcia has vowed that the station's halls would "run red with blood" unless the Zoners turned over all BHG aboard the Freeport. The Zoners are yet to respond, likely trying to anticipate how the Corsairs will react.

The Corsairs see the Pygar colony as a direct competitor for the region's scarce resources, with Elder Garcia warning that there would be "dire consequences" should Freeport 9's biodomes reduce or divert their exports to Planet Crete. Whispers of alien ruins and Artifacts discovered below Pygar's surface may also antagonize the Corsairs, who rely on the Artifact trade as a source of wealth. The hardship of Pygar's extreme conditions and the uneasy relationship with the Corsairs has already led many colonists to consider a return to the now liberated Gran Canaria.

"The standing Navy of the Corsair Empire as well as its irregular raiders must do everything within their means to break existing stalemates or make progress. The enemies of Crete have grown arrogant and take for granted that Corsair offensives have lost their steam, this is an assessment which must be proved woefully wrong."
In response to these express instructions, activity across every Corsair installation has intensified to levels that suggest substantial mobilization.

## Rumors

* The trick to killing Corsairs is taking them head on. They aren't used to someone getting in their face and fighting them squarely; it throws them off balance. Then you have the advantage. I know. I've killed two Corsairs already.

* Obviously you have the skills required to survive if you have come to the edges of Sirius. As a Guild instructor I train newbie Bounty Hunters the skills that you and I already have. The first thing I teach them is that becoming a good pilot is a gradual process.

* I specialize in killing Corsairs. If you want one dead I can do it for you, but its going to cost you. It's a family business, really. My father was killing these heartless cretins before me. It's not easy; these guys are incredible pilots with excellent ships.

* "Lucky" Logan Conner was one tough nut, as anyone will tell you. He would take on an entire patrol of Corsairs, picking them off one by one. Based out of Freeport 5 to be close to his favorite prey, he liked living life on the ragged edge. His luck finally ran out in 780, when he ventured too far from the safety of the Gredos Cloud in the Corsairs home territory of Omicron Gamma. A mass of Corsairs pursued him back into the nebula. It was rumored that they didn't actually dispose of Conner on the spot, but merely disabled his ship and let him die a slow death by asphyxiation.

* This is my first time in this part of Sirius. I couldn't believe it when I saw my old instructor here. He told me that knowing the Jump Holes to this system didn't mean I was ready for them yet. I'm not going home like he said I should I'm good enough for these Corsairs.

* I'm following a couple of Corsairs back from Dublin, where they stole a shipment of Gold. The bounty on these two guys will put me on easy street for months. Once I'm done refueling and resupplying I'm headed into Omicron Gamma.

* We bring Artifacts to this base from Crete. It is not as lucrative a run as others, but the Zoners will find buyers for them. Either way we make our money.

* One day the Corsairs may destroy this base if we find we have no more need of it. The Zoners do not realize what kind of people we are. Death is so familiar to a Corsair that delivering it is second nature. It would trouble no Corsair to put every Zoner at this base to the sword.

* Soon I will be headed to Omega-5 to fight the Red Hessians in that part of Sirius, where it is vital that we gain control. It is every Corsair's responsibility to fly a tour of duty in the Hessian War.

* Do you know what it means when I tell you that I am a Ventru? I doubt you would understand my full meaning. Travel deeper into our worlds and perhaps then the horrible truth will make itself clear to you.

* One of the Zoners here at this base fell in love with my daughter. When she told me of her love I sent her back to Crete. She can never return here. My son has gone looking for the man who dishonored my family.

* Every firstborn Corsair carries the family's ancestral blade. The knife is a symbol of our struggle to live and the solidarity of each line. The blades are made from the remnants of the first ship that landed on Crete.

* People often wonder how Corsairs can have such excellent ships when they are all pieced together from other stolen and salvaged vessels. Corsairs are masters of making something from nothing, and we have an advantage. Not all Artifacts are useless; many we recovered offered insight into the science of ship building.

* The shipyard Tripoli requires many different Commodities to maintain production of our vessels and raiding crafts. We ship Polymers and Engine Components there from this base.

* We're nowhere near as appetizing as a target for the Corsairs as Freeport 9 with their biodomes, but the news certainly soured our relations with Leon. Our convoys have been running double-escort ever since, and we need to buy our food from Gran Canaria at a premium, same with Corfu and Pygar for that matter.

* I've never been a fan of Corsairs but this is a new low they've got themselves on. At least the Pharmaceuticals keep flowing, convoys from Atka just stop at Corfu instead of the Freeport 9, and Corsairs won't be seeing any of that.

* The shipyard Tripoli requires many different Commodities to maintain production of our vessels and raiding crafts. We ship Polymers and Engine Components there from this base.

*NOTE: Page generated on the 28/10/2023 at 17:59:45 UTC*