Epernon Base

CLASS: Le Taniere

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 350

Located in the Sarthe Ice Asteroid Field, Epernon is one of the few unlawful bases in the central systems of Gallia. Just like a number of other similar bases, it suffers from overcrowding. Strong law enforcement also prevents raiders from operating openly out of this base. Yet, Epernon is an important black market hub, with many goods smuggled in from the Core Worlds switching hands here. The base was founded around 300 AGS and came under Unione Corse control around 500 AGS. Not many official records of its former operations exist, although it is known that it was involved in supplying Normandie rebels during the First Gallic War.

## News

Once a beacon of our national ingenuity, Metz was the site of the experimental Metz Mirror Array, more commonly known as the MMA project. The project was intended to assist the terraforming operations through a sophisticated array of orbital mirrors. The array would redirect additional sunlight onto the equatorial band of Metz, further raising local temperatures on the otherwise icy world.
Decried by its detractors as a "fool king's endeavour", the ambitious project never had the opportunity to prove its capabilities, as the nearly complete array fell victim to Kusari's invasion of Lorraine. With the array gone and supplies severed, the terraforming project and the biosphere it maintained collapsed during the occupation, leading to widespread famine across Metz. Unfortunately, in the wake of King Charles' gambit in Bretonia and the near complete destruction of Lorraine and Languedoc by Kusari forces, the Union government has declared the system a total loss and ordered a full evacuation of the planet.

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 most ambitious project was by far the Metz Mirror Array or MMA, which consisted of a vast phalanx of reflective satellites in orbit of the planet meant to increase the sunlight during Metz's 28 hours day. Contracted by EFL, the project was about to be finished when Kusari began its invasion of our Home. Most of the MMA satellites were spared during the earliest hours of the war as the initial fighting occurred around the stations of Roanne and Montigny. Unfortunately, the rest of the MMA was completely destroyed by the scorched earth tactic of Kusari's retreat.
On the planet's surface, the 70 million inhabitants suffered the long six months of the war. Being unsupplied, the oil reserves necessary to provide energy to the generators of the water reclamation facilities were dry by the end of the summer. As consequence, the quantity of water collected for agriculture was well below the required quantities for sufficient production. This was also coupled with a very early winter, with the first frosts in the equatorial regions by the end of September. These multiple factors resulted in serious consequences on Metz's food production and reserves, to the point that the possibility of famine was even evoked.
While this statement is revealed to be false, the food situation on Metz is more than worrisome and the confusion created by the end of the war and the Reunification makes the Metz supplying mission in food even more complex.

In the heat of battle the Confederate forces seemed to be losing to the Kusari invaders, but in their hour of need the Royal Enclave arrived on the scene and jumped to Gallia's aid. Even with their combined forces it was a devastating battle. With significant losses on both sides, the Languedoc system has suddenly become a graveyard of destroyed vessels and their former crew.
The struggle was not in vain as the Kusari forces located in the system ended up pulling out of Languedoc and regrouped in the Tau-31 system, giving the locals in Languedoc a much needed reprieve from the ongoing fighting.
However distressing unverified messages are coming from the Lorraine system, claiming that the Kusari forces have started pulling out of the system and are applying a scorched earth tactic. Taking down as much of the local infrastructure and bases as they pull back to the Tau-53 system.
We are working around the clock to try and verify these messages, as well as the resulting loss of life if it is true.
With the Kusari forces pulling out of our house we can finally hope the end of the war is near, however it is clear it has come at a great cost.

Meanwhile the Royal Enclave has snuck the king back into power, ruling from the shadows with eyes glowing purple! He is possessed I tell you! And not only that, but the entire government is corrupt! "Reformation" Hah. You all better all be prepared my brothers and sisters, the worst is yet to come! We have to protect our loved ones!
Whatever you do, don't drink the wine from New Paris. They have laced it with microchips they will use to control your body. A little cooperation project of our 'beloved' government and Technocracy!
I hope you all enjoyed my little segment of truth, until we meet again!
Mak. E.

Fourchambalt's hospital and morgue have both been expanded, as the long job of rescue, cleanup, and last rites for the dead will be administered from the station. Despite the losses, seeing Tokogawas retreat before them has raised the morale of the men and women of the Confederal Defense Force. So many gifts of flowers, chocolates, and other sweet and savory favors have arrived for the wounded fleet personnel being treated in the expanded sickbay with gifts of that station administration has been forced to open cargo-freight bays to contain the gifts of well wishers.

The Confederal Government has so far remained divided on the "Rheinland Question", with the exception of authorising the deployment of the La Fierte battlegroup to the border. This decision appears to have been prudent, with reports circulating on Oerlikon that a large Rheinland engine plume was detected on a heading towards the Valais Cloud. So far Confederal Defence Force representatives have remained tight lipped about the possibility of a Rheinland battlegroup seeking refuge in the system.
Despite the political gridlock between Republican, Duchy and Minarchy representatives, the Defence Force has received authorisation to deploy into the Cologne system in order to secure Gallic assets. Intelligence reports have confirmed that the group known as the Red Hessians has attempted to assert control over the system, and infiltrate Zurich. A public warning has been posted advising that 'Hessians' approaching the Zurich jump gate will be fired upon.

Sirius has its own powerful pirate groups, and rumors of some of the most powerful of those groups, known as "Outcasts" and "Corsairs", are already spreading in Gallia. The House of Bretonia, which is closest to Languedoc, has a group of terrorists known as "Mollys", and a mysterious group of unlawfuls with no particular goals: "Gaians". Outcasts and Gaians, who are closest to Gallia borders, represent the imminent threat. Other groups will also be interested in gaining access to whatever Gallia has to offer. Corse consider the decision of the Council to open passage for all ships from Sirius into Gallia a premature and ill-thought one, a decision that will harm all parties in Gallia itself.
Unione Corse will treat intruders in the way they deserve, attacking them only if they will attack first or will venture into areas they are not supposed to visit. In addition to that, Unione Corse plans to avoid any dealings with the newcomers, and will secure its own interests in Gallia space with any means necessary. Venturing outside Gallic space is not in the best interests of Corse, but our group will continue gathering of information on Sirius and seeking new business opportunities related to the new discoveries.

## Rumors

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