The Ring

CLASS: Aggregate Structure

GRAVITY: Partial

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 6260

The Ring is probably the most recognizable symbol of Rheinland and a source of great pride among its people. Originally a loose amalgamation of shipyards, habitats, manufacturing centers, and smelting plants built to support the first great push into space from the surface of New Berlin, the structures soon merged into the shape from which its name is derived. The Ring is now a single, massive complex that produces vital components for Rheinland industry.

The number of space-based industries at the Ring is staggering, well exceeding any other industrial facility in Sirius. While this proximity has it's dangers - a calamity in one part of the ring can cascade to other sections - the benefits far outweigh the risks, as the Ring is able to handle nearly any industrial project, simply by being supplied with the raw materials and fuel.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Daumann Heavy Construction
* RGS Shipping
* Bounty Hunters Guild
* ALG Waste Disposal
* Kruger Minerals
* Synth Foods, Inc.

## 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%%.

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.

It remains to be seen how this united Farmers Alliance will impact affairs on the wider stage, with the security forces of both Houses already strained by their fair share of crime and dissidence.

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.

"In the glorious spirit of reunification, we - the people of Rheinland - are reclaiming what we neglected the most in the midst of our civil war - Cologne. With the help of our brothers and sisters who are united under one banner once again, together, we will re-establish and stabilise our trade flow with Gallia by decisively expelling the Red Hessian occupation."
The initiative to re-secure Cologne is the first decisive action of the new constitutional monarchy, and the Rheinland government's debut to the interstellar community. The Gallic Union lauded Rheinland's reclamation of Cologne to re-establish a secure trade artery between the two recently war-torn nations. In response to the news, Rheinland and Gallic exchanges saw a growing increase in the demand for ore and other raw materials, indicating consumer optimism in the re-establishment of trade. Furthermore, the Gallic Navy have deployed a battlegroup to Zurich as a blockade and possibly pincer against the Red Hessians.
Rumours are abound concerning the degree of entrenchment the Hessians have accomplished in Cologne during their year-long period of occupation. Reports have confirmed the presence of Hessian Battleship Kassel in orbit of Planet Saarbrucken and fortifying Tholey Station, in addition to heavy outgoing traffic in what is theorized to be a Hessian evacuation, most likely incited by the Altenburg's movements.

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

* The Kusari Engine Component manufacturer Kishiro has benefited greatly from ALG's entry into the High-Temperature Alloy market. It has been difficult to compete with the cheaper Kusari imports since ALG began shipping them their raw materials. Daumann feels that ALG has betrayed the future of Rheinland industrial might for their short-term monetary gain.

* The Ring also houses the Oder Shipyard. It has served as headquarters for Daumann Heavy Construction since it was first built in 310 AS. Engine Components, Construction Machinery, and Side Arms are the primary products of the factories around us.

* The truth is, Daumann viewed the Eighty-Years War as an excellent way to make large amounts of money in the ship-building business, which ultimately supports all our primary extraction operations. The ships lost during the War may have been costly for Rheinland, but were very profitable for the owners and shareholders of Daumann Heavy Construction.

* Many goods pass through the Ring on their way to distant lands. This facility serves as Daumann's transfer point for its various mining operations further afield in Dresden and the Omega systems. From here, Republican ships haul our minerals and finished goods to Kusari, Liberty, and Bretonia.

* Daumann provides the Cobalt and High-Temperature Alloys for the Engine Components manufacturing plants from our mining and smelting operation of Leipzig, in the Dresden system. On the return trip, we will often take Bretonia-produced Niobium.

* The Ring is the terminating point for inbound Daumann transports delivering Polymers and Hydrocarbons from the base of Reugen in Omega-3. That system also contains a BMM operation producing the same materials, so it is a very competitive route.

* The Ring is one of Rheinland's most famous landmarks. On a clear day, you can see it planetside on Berlin. It is positioned at the La Grange point between Potsdam and Berlin, where the gravitational attraction of the planet and moon effectively neutralize each other. That enables the Ring to maintain a stable orbit with minimal attitude and speed corrections, which would otherwise exert substantial forces on such a large structure.

* The industrial pollution and horrors that have been blamed on Daumann are completely groundless. The Bundschuh and other political terrorists view us as the villains of Rheinland. We have provided generations of Rheinland workers with secure jobs and decent pay. Yet they always want to work less and make more. We couldn't possibly meet their demands and still be profitable.

* From this base, we supply the Alster Shipyard with some of its key raw materials -- Engine Components and Polymers, to be precise. It is not a hugely profitable run, and the Unioners make it difficult for Republican ships.

* The Ring is the focal point for Republican-shipping activity within Berlin space. We import superconductors from Liberty and Beryllium from Bretonia via our Freiburg station. Engine Components are exported from here to Liberty and Bretonia on a regular basis.

* The Ring is a key transfer point for Colorado-bound raw materials like Copper and Cobalt. Daumann ships them here from their mines in Dresden and Omega-7. The security risks are considered too high for Republican to ship directly from those systems.

* My ship specializes in Side Arms shipments to the various Federal Police locations within Rheinland space. Republican is the exclusive supplier of Arms to government bases within Rheinland. Daumann Side Arms are unfortunately not used in other areas of Sirius in great numbers; Detroit dominates the export market.

* Kusari shippers are still not allowed into Rheinland space; the only concession from Kusari that Rheinland was able to be granted in the treaty that ended the Eighty-Years War. Samura and Kishiro offload their Optical Chips, Optronics, and H-Fuel at the Mainz Outpost in Frankfurt.

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