Schatten Research Facility

CLASS: Mosel

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 920

Schatten Research Facility was constructed some time during the year 797 AS, but beyond that, not much is known. The station was heavily damaged during the Nomad War, and subsequently lay abandoned for several years. The Rheinland Military eventually salvaged a number of relatively intact components, recombining them into a single structure, much smaller than the original station. In the years since, it has served as a classified research station concerned primarily with advancing the weapons and starship technologies of the Rheinland Military, prototypes of which are usually constructed at the nearby Schatten Experimental Shipyard. As with all such stations, rumors persist that darker things happen at Schatten, but supporting evidence has yet to come to light.

When the Rheinland Civil War began, MND forces rallied at Schatten. Though the Military knows the station's location, the station's extensive defenses have thus far discouraged a direct assault.

## News

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.

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.

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

* Did you know this isn't the first station to occupy this space? During the nomad war, there was some spooky stuff going on here by the old Rheinland Government. There were even high-level nomad experiments going on here. A lot of the work going on in the core levels has something to do with the station that was here previously, though the guys down there never talk about it openly. You know what I think? That they are going over pieces of the old Schatten. That would be one hell of a treasure trove if they could ever garner information about what they were doing here before it was destroyed.

* I was talking to a tech from deck twenty the other day. He says they have made some kind of breakthrough with what they were working on. He didn't say exactly what it was they were doing; something to do with bending visible light. To me, it sounds like they were either working on a gravity well generator or maybe some kind of cloaking device. My bet is on the second, seeing as there were plenty equipped on Rheinland ships during the nomad war. The problem with those is even though they have been mounted on human fighters, no one understands how they work. There are rumors that the Libertonians managed to create one themselves, but it was as large as a battleship and unstable at that. If the techs down below can find out how the smaller nomad devices worked we may just see a golden dawn for Rheinland.

* Ever seen the guards around here? Creepy aren't they? I can't wait to get transferred away from this station. The constant security around here is just too much for me. When they told me I would be working for the good of Rheinland they didn't mention I would have cameras in my bunk and have tests once a month.

* The work here isn't that hard, the problem is getting through station security. Security checks are constantly going on around here. Even if you are just moving from one level to another, you have to go through at least one layer. This is especially true for the core decks.

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