Freistadt Base

CLASS: Cochrane

GRAVITY: Partial

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 380

Freistadt Base is run by the Independent Mining Guild to provide support for the mining of Copper, Cobalt, and Silver from nearby asteroid fields. Originally a DSE waystation left over from the construction of the Omega-7 trade lane, it was reoccupied by unemployed miners in the wake of the economic collapse of Rheinland after the 80-year war. These miners joined with the Independent Miners Guild not long after the discovery of abundant mineral deposits in the surrounding asteroid fields.

 Recently, Rheinland has deployed Battleship Schwerin to keep an eye on Freistadt and it's surroundings, suspecting IMG support of the Hessian movement. Protests by the IMG, citing the presence of a warship would needlessly endanger the station, have fallen on deaf ears in Rheinland.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Gateway Shipping
* Independent Miners Guild
* Bounty Hunters Guild
* Daumann Heavy Construction

* Bounty Hunters Guild

## News

This shift has been particularly evident in recent events, as the Corsairs grow increasingly assertive across the Omegas. A stark example of this newfound vigor occurred when the famed space bazaar, the Battleship Hood in Dublin, met a merciless end at the hands of a Corsair battlecruiser. Furthermore, the once-unassailable Red Hessians now find themselves locked in a fierce struggle to safeguard their positions in the Dresden system against the relentless advance of the Rheinland Military.
The Corsairs appear poised to intensify their pressure on all independent and free-spirited individuals in the Omega Region, spurred on by the defeatist sentiments expressed by certain Zoners and independent miners who might consider Corsair protection if it promises safety.
Despite the imposing presence of our pivotal IMG station, Freistadt Base in Omega 7, which remains under the watchful guardianship of the formidable Elbe Border Fortress, the situation in the deeper reaches of the Omegas portends increasing complexity in the years ahead. Combined with the diminishing influence of Bretonia in the region and the resurgent Rheinland's efforts to reclaim its lost Dresden system, the Corsairs' audacious pursuits are set to escalate.

Within a month of the IMG's plea, the political leadership of the Crayter Republic unanimously concurred on the imperative need for assistance. Simultaneously, several of our courageous pilots volunteered to become supply carriers destined for the strife-torn planet Malta. While executing cargo operations in the perilous Omicron Alpha system posed a grave risk, the opportunity to strike a significant blow against the Outcasts on their home turf was deemed too compelling to forego.
In tandem with the preparations for breaching Outcast defenses on planet Malta, our fleet took the bold step of extending emergency military support to the IMG at Falkland Base. The ultimate objective: to drive the Outcasts out of the Tau-37 system once and for all.

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.

"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.

In an immediate show of change, the Federal and Imperial fleets have completely withdrawn from what used to be the battle lines separating the two Rheinland fractions - many have returned to stand-down docks for maintenance and repairs, and off-duty military and civilian personnel have already begun to travel back to their homes.
While details of how the reunification will proceed, or whether it will be successful are yet to be seen, but the Holstein Accords has brought the Rheinland Civil War effectively to a close.

## Rumors

* If you are looking to go into Omega-5, use the Jump Hole on the far west side of the system. It's just south of a large gas pocket below the Trade Lanes. Be very careful; Omega-5 is a meat grinder no matter how good you are.

* There are two Jump Holes in this system. One leads to Omega-11, which is pretty much dominated by the Hessians. That Hole is located in the Furstenfelde. Look southwest of the Daumann base in there and you should stumble across it.

* The IMG mining station here supplies Dortmund with most of the raw materials we need to produce a variety of materials. Daumann and Kruger mostly supply the Ring. Our partnership with IMG allows us to get raw materials at a competetive price.

* The Hessians attack our transports like they do with all Rheinland companies, however, statistically ALG transports seem to get hit less often. I suspect these independent miners to have something to do with that. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. To be attacked by Hessians usually means you'll be spaced.

* I'm glad I don't work for Kruger anymore. No sir, I wouldn't step foot on that base of theirs for anything. You can bet the men there are working obscene hours, eking out profits for the executives in New Berlin -- and getting shot up by Hessians.

* Kruger and Daumann both continue to expand into the system, which forces us to move out further and further from Freistadt in search of new claims. Those blasted companies keep mining out the fields we find, and there's little we can do about it. At least the Hessians give them more grief then they do us.

* The Hessians don't really attack us, so that is good. We don't have to fear for our physical safety, but Gateway does all the shipping to this base and their convoys often get attacked on the way in. So the pirates do make our lives a bit harder sometimes, but I'm not going to try and explain that to the Hessians who come here.

* Usually IMG has to compete with BMM for resources within systems. Here in Omega-7, BMM knows that it would be too costly to start operating where we have already laid stakes. No, this system was left to us. Now I just hope that the Rheinland companies will do the same.

* It's easy to get lost in here if you leave the Trade Lanes. It's a dangerous system to live in, but being friends with the Hessians helps. Well, not friends, but not enemies either. Imagine getting lost and then beset by pirates. It's over pretty quick.

* The Republican freight train Bremerhaven was attempting to evade a Corsair attack along the Trade Lane when it blundered into the Furstenfelde gas pocket and was disabled. Attempts to rescue the crew and its cargo of Engine Components were unsuccessful. The drifting ship serves as a reminder of the dangers of venturing off the safe path in the Walker Nebula.

* The local word is that one of the early Corsair raiding parties into Omega-7 headed straight into the Gubenfelde gas pocket just south of the Omega-3 Gate. It is believed that the remains of at least three ships are still in there.

* Many IMG miners are sympathetic to the Hessian cause. This has more to do with who these miners are then the IMG: Many of our members are ex-Daumann or ex-Kruger workers who were badly treated by these companies. The Hessians hate the Rheinland mining consortiums for the same reason.

* This base was left behind by the companies that built the Trade Lanes and Jump Gates in this system. What we mine is the amount that will buy us the Food and supplies we need from Freiburg. We don't need to amass a fortune or anything like that. Just trying to get by.

* A Red Hessian attack on the Kruger freighter Monschau failed when the ship attempted to flee. Unfortunately, it flew straight into the Ebersfeld gas pocket that separates the IMG mining area and the Elbich Mining Facility. No one has yet dared to retrieve the cargo of Silver, as the risk of explosion is too high.

* The Hessian movement opposes the current expansionist, militaristic government of Rheinland. They're fighting a war on two fronts: One with the Rheinland military forces, the other with the Corsairs. If they could concentrate all their forces on Rheinland, I bet they could beat the military back easily.

* This system used to be free from pirates, but after the revolt, the Hessians gathered together and started attacking shipments moving between Rheinland and Bretonia. A lot more of us miners came here after the revolt as well. Daumann and Kruger are both evil companies that worked us for nothing but promises and heartache. I hope the Hessians kill them all.

* Omega-5 is the site of a full scale war between the Corsairs and Hessians. The two factions are vying for control of this critical Jump Hole crossroads in the Omega Sector. Within the area of the no-man's-land and the Hammen Hole are numerous dead ships from both sides. Most are picked clean, but there are some that may still yield some weapons.

* Watch out for the gas pockets in this system. If you fly through one of those, you are going to become a permanent fixture of your ship. You will melt right into your seat. I've seen it happen; some fool was not being careful and -- kapow! -- vapor.

* I hear word that Dresden is running out of raw materials to mine. That's why it doesn't surprise me to see Daumann sniffing around here. If I had to wager, I'd say they are just testing the waters for a larger operation in Omega-7. They weren't here ten years ago when Dresden was still doing fine. You wait and see. I'm right.

* One of Gateway's more lucrative runs to this base originates in Bonn. We ship Trade Lane Parts here and head back to Bonn with Silver and Copper. It can be quite dangerous since you can be attacked by two of the most vicious groups in all of Sirius.

* This base receives all its basic supplies from Freiburg. More than just the basic necessities; we also bring Mining Machinery and Engine Components. I fear that much of what we ship here, the IMG turns around and sells to the Red Hessians, making our jobs much more perilous.

* Copper and Cobalt is shipped to Dortmund. ALG will use its smelters to turn the raw ore into workable materials. If the miners here were more ambitious, they could do the same.

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