Fort Ramsey

CLASS: Freedom

GRAVITY: Partial

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Limited

CREW: 549

Serving as the main hub of Xeno combat operations, Fort Ramsey is the beating heart of the Xeno movement. While outlying bases such as Nome or Milford are more geared towards sustaining the various non-combatants of the Xenos, the opposite is true for Fort Ramsey, with most of its population being hardened soldiers of the nationalist cause in Liberty. While the Xenos are oftentimes discarded as unorganized and hardly well-equipped, one would be forgiven if they believed Fort Ramsey to be a military academy. The Xeno ideology bases on rigid structures of authority, and loyalty as well as discipline is not just encouraged but expected, lest one face more than mere social consequences.

As such, the atmosphere on board of Ramsey is one of constant tension. With strict expectations of how one should conduct themselves, each individual is forced to be at their best. While ensuring that the business of disrupting the operations of non-Liberty corporations and other foreign influences works like clockwork, Ramsey has a notoriously high turnover rate. Newcomers who can't hack it at Ramsey frequently find themselves back where they started at best, or found dead in an accident, usually Ramsey's busy docks or dangerous maintainence shafts.

## News

The Outcasts and their most loyal agents stepped in almost immediately in anticipation of something like this happening, and set new rules for distribution according to set keys. A small group of Liberty Rogues defied them and followed their own rules of distribution, but they didn't fare too well - the Dons, despite the ongoing crisis in Malta, do not tolerate insubordination.
For this reason, several powerful Junkers and Rogues immediately decided to dilute Cardamine instead of redistributing ostentatiously against the wishes of the Outcasts at the expense of their clients, thereby raising their own shares. Fortunately for these savvy businessmen, word did not reach the Outcasts until some time later, and thanks to an improved network of cooperation, most of the organizers were able evade Malta's assassins.
However, all these measures had only limited effectiveness. Many end-clients and casual Cardamine users have been forced to seek medical attention due to their deteriorating health due to potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms. It is not known how many Cardamine users eventually died because of the shortage, but it appears to be in the order of single-digit percentages - much to the very verbal displeasure of the Outcasts themselves.

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.

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.

Some combat veterans and pilots filtered directly into the Xeno movement proper, while others fight for our cause or otherwise contribute to our goals in other ways, blending into the oppressed population of Planet Erie or operating in our cells on other Libertonian worlds. Many of the Insurgent's former intelligence operatives have been repurposed in the Xenos' ever-growing cardamine business, allowing the movement to consolidate and grow its strength with fresh injections of credits.
If there is one thing that can be taken from the Insurgency, however, it is that Liberty cannot be contested in a direct confrontation of military strength. To think otherwise would be folly. Instead, we will expose the rot inside the government and let the masses decide the rest for themselves, so that we may all enjoy a better future for ourselves and for the Republic we love.

In the video, a number of restrained people that have been identified as former residents of Planet Vespucci, board a Dromedary-class vessel registered to a freelance trader Vincent Ruthen. They are under supervision from several LPI officers, who exchange words with the ship's crew. Private investigators have trailed the ship, determining that it did not land at its purported destination of Gas Miner Naha in the Sigma-13, instead electing to travel away from civilized space into the Edge Worlds. The people aboard it have effectively vanished from the colonies.
This is the latest case in a streak of such disappearances, with investigators estimating as high as ten percent of all inmates thought to be awaiting their trial in LPI internment camps have been covertly shipped off-world for unknown reasons. The fate of these people is yet unclear, but theories range from secret trials to unethical experiments aboard Atka. Outraged by what is apparently an LPI-sanctioned human trafficking operation, protesters flooded the streets and had to be dispersed by police riot control squads.
A Liberty Police official has denounced allegations of corruption, stating that "All interned personnel are secured and all prisoner transfers have been done within the framework of the legal code". He refused to comment on the evidence presented, dismissing it as "slanderous fabrication against the good, hard-working officers of Liberty law". Meanwhile, political opposition already promises increased oversight over the law enforcement corporation for the next election cycle.

For some time, it had been alleged that Insurgent and Xeno-backed cells had been stirring trouble on Erie, inciting violence in the population and seeking to turn the planet into a second Veracruz. Never, however, had such open acts of terror been visited upon the governing Libertonian forces.
The response was quick and decisive. In coordination with the LSF, Vice Admiral Hamish aboard the Battleship Alma lead a Liberty Navy task force directly into the system in Operation Pesticide, escorted primarily by Siege Cruisers, Gunboats and fightercraft, with many of the Navy's capital warships tied in the Vespucci campaign or ever watchful at Liberty's borders. They were met by Zoner Q-ships based from Bethlehem, with many coming from as far as Galileo or even the Sigmas, accompanied by a motley assortment of freelancers and other anarchist elements. Leading the Zoner line was a Aquilon-class carrier, the Pinnacle.
While the Pinnacle came under heavy bombardment from the Alma and her task force, supplies quickly gathered onto Zoner transports from Erie attempted to run the Navy blockade. While some transports were lost to Navy bombers, others yet escaped to parts as of yet unknown. This 'victory', however, came at a heavy price. The Pinnacle was lost with most of her hands still on board and the rest captured, while the Liberty Marines landed virtually unopposed, quickly securing population centers for both the safety of Libertonian assets and the civilians on Erie itself. The Alma is settled now into the low orbit of Erie, a constant reminder to those below that they are under the protection of the Liberty Navy. A comfort to some, a dire warning to many more.

## Rumors

* Have you ever seen a Bounty Hunter in '45? I thought not. Wonder why? Scan one of our very own system guard next time ya see one, and you'll see why. I'm telling you -that- is power.

* I hate this place. I hate every inch of this stinking, ice-covered, rusted junkpile. It's not enough that we can barely hit a convoy without a Navy patrol showing up or a bunch of Junkers running across us, or that we have to dodge half the Ottawa's fighters if we want to head for Ouray. No, we have to live in freezing cold too! The only warm place on this entire station is near the reactor, and unless they like rad-poisoning, no one's stupid enough to sleep down there. I can't take it much longer.

* There's three ways out of this system for us, but only one we actually use. The California Jump Hole is too close to that Lane Hacker base in the St. Lawrence Field, and Fort Severn's practically sitting atop the Alberta one. We have to dodge the Ottawa's patrols every time we head for Colorado, but once we're through, it's just a short flight to good old Ouray.

* We hit a Liberty Rogue convoy the other day near the Huron. We disabled one of the freighters, but an LPI wing ran into us before we could strip anything useful from the wreck. It's probably still drifting out there in the ice field.

* I like eggs.

* If yer in a fix and you're gonna get caught, get caught by the LPI. Bounty Hunters will like as not put a bullet in your head, but the LPI needs to keep Huntsville producing. Remember, for every live Xeno that goes into Huntsvillve, three come out.

* Some Navy jock bumbled his way into the upper Georgian Field a while ago. Some hotshot ace wanna-be with the word 'Unity' scrawled across the nose of his ship. Probably thought a solo patrol'd look good to the bigwigs. We sure showed him, though. His ship's probably still drifting out there.

* I sure like Barrow, but it it's mighty small and the lads over there speak kinda funny. A 'lil like this 'ere boy! Heheh, they crack me up.

* If it comes to a foreign invader reaching Liberty's doorstep, have no doubts about where the Xenos will stand. We'll help the Navy beat back those foreign pipsqueeks, then we'll go back to dealing with the Navy like we always have: a middle finger in their face and a dagger in their back.

* Hell we had a few Bountry Hunters crash through the Kepler hole a few days back, musta gotten mighty lost. We took em out just before they could transmit Refugio's location. Remember, a dead 'Hunter is a good 'Hunter.

* I am partial to a bottle of Vodka now and then, don't tell anyone I said that though.

* Whoa, I'm telling you, don't mess with the Zoners. One of mah buddies jumped a Zoner Dromedray and they weren't best pleased. Some sort of Zoner heavy fighter gave him a visit and showed him the error of his ways.

* Someone's gonna have to make a run for some more Black Market Munitions soon. We're almost dry in countermeasures, and I can't remember the last time I saw any mines on the deck.

* You think we'll ever complete our goals? I don't think we will in the near future, but we will suceed! Foregin companies can only take so many losses!

* Heh, it sure can get warm down by the hangers. If you want a warm room bed down over there, if you like a bit 'o nip to the nights, the upper levels away from the generators'd be a good choice.

* Despite the clamoring that we should seek ties with those other 'unlawful' faction within Liberty, the pirating Rogues and slave trading Junkers, the only groups with whom we have any accord are the Zoners, IMG and The Order. The Zoners are, well, the Zoners. But the IMG are almost like brothers in their struggle and The Order represents a righteousness and sense of justice that Liberty desperately needs to see return. That's why we remain neutral with both groups.

* Say again, which base did you say you come from? Was it Ouray in Colorado? Or Nome in Kepler? Heh, of course not, damn my drink addled mind, Barrow in Hudson right? No? I give up...

* I don't trust those Insurgency boys. They're too uptight, too military. They've even got their own fancy little fighters, and meanwhile ours are just barely held together. All those resources have to come from somewhere. It's a conspiracy, I say. Someone's supporting them, I just don't know who or why.

* Hey, you been to mid-level kitchens? They may look like a dump, but Joe serves good food! Say I sent you and he'll give you a bottle of the good stuff.

* We're really proud of the city we've built here at Refugio. Most of our families live here, well away from the front lines.

* Our opperations in New York were based mainly around Detroit base where we would lift side arms, but now we've redirected some of our forces to grab mining convoys heading to Pittsburgh. We've caught the LPI a little unprepared on that side. They don't know what we want them for.

* With that battleship near Toronto, it's hard to do anything near the only lane in this system. But they don't have enough patrols for the entire system, and it's a long way across open space to Fort Severn.

* We just can't get a break from those bloody Junkers. Everywhere we go, they're almost one step ahead of us. New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and they've even got their little depot here up behind Orillia. I can't take it. Someone should just kill them all and be done with it.

* I don't know where everyone gets the idea that we want to take over the Cardamine trade here in Liberty. True, we fight the Junkers because of their role in it, but not because we want it. We want to stop it. It's one of the biggest corrupting factors in Liberty, and it's rotting the core of Liberty's soul, and destroying it's workers.

* Ever since the Zoners got run out of Bering, we've had to scrape together whatever weapons we can. Doesn't matter who, we'll rob Ageira if we have to. We need guns.

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