Battleship Westfalen

CLASS: Bismarck

CREW: CLASSIFIED

ARMAMENT: CLASSIFIED

Named after the sole surviving Rheinland battleship following the end of the Nomad War, this venerable vessel represents the first of many Bismarck class warships constructed in the years that came after.

Though its namesake ship has long-since been dismantled, the Westfalen continued the tradition of serving as a guardian of Hamburg. This tradition, however, changed when conflict with Liberty broke out. Initially successful at fending off the smaller Liberty warships, the resulting stalemate forced the Westfalen to cease offensive operations.

Though the decade that followed was uneventful for the battleship, tensions with Kusari prompted the Rheinland Military to convert the Westfalen into an impromptu border station at the Hudson Jump Gate in Hamburg. This drew Liberty's attention, however the warship provided much-needed security for convoys heading for the frontier worlds.

When the Rheinland Civil War began, the Westfalen was recalled to the Stuttgart system, where it saw little action and continues to remain to this day.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* ALG Waste Disposal
* Synth Foods, Inc.
* RGS Shipping
* Orbital Spa and Cruise
* Universal Shipping
* Bounty Hunters Guild

* Bounty Hunters Guild

## 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.

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.

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

* Our most lucrative runs for MOX are into Colorado. One must first survive the Xenos in the Independent Worlds, however. The Rogues would also like to get their hands on bomb-making material -- especially the group found in Hudson.

* The structural integrity of this ship is suspect. It suffered a lot of damage during the Eighty Years War, but was forced to remain in service, since all of its sister ships are now Scrap Metal in the Sigma-13 system. We are always nervous when we have to enter the reactor compartments of this ship. Especially since the recent accident.

* With Saarbrucken back under Rheinland control the rest of Sirius will know our house got its act back together again. The civil war took a significant toll but Rheinland will come back stronger than ever.

* Cologne is quite the jewel in Rheinlands crown; it's underdeveloped sure but it is the only major trade route connecting this side of Sirius with Gallia. I'm sure it will bring great prosperity in the future.

* The Altenburg and the Karlsruhe used to practically be sister-ships, patrolling the same route and everything. During the Rheinland civil war the two ended up on opposite sides though. How the Karlsruhe faired? Well, if you look behind planet Steinfurt you'll find the debris field. Such a terrible loss of life.

* The military's brought us in to help them out in Cologne. They don't pay us too much, though. But they have good, long-range scanners and a strategic position in this area, so it's worthwhile for us. Most of the actual bounties are put up by Republican.

* There are a few reformed Hessians in Hamburg. They're the lucky ones who got out of Vierlande before their sentences were up. One guy had some story about some neutron star in Omega-41. That's way out there in the Edge Worlds in Corsair land.

* Daumann is the real culprit in the Eighty-Years War. The Imperial Navy Command had grave doubts about the wisdom of fighting a guerrilla-style war in the Crow Nebula against an enemy that was so well-supplied by Kusari. But Daumann saw the huge profits to be made in lucrative shipbuilding contracts, and bribed hundreds of key government officials. The rest is history.

* Many of the young officers are leaving the Rheinland Military, tired of the poor conditions and low pay. Most of them end up flying commercial transports for Republican or Synth Foods. The rest end up with the Bounty Hunters Guild.

* Thanks to Cologne, Rheinland is in a bit of a unique position. Several systems, like Cologne and Frankfurt, have trade lane technology from both Ageira and EFL. I doubt any of the other houses have something like that, well unless you count Bretonia. I hear Gallia replaced Bretonian infrastructure every time they conquered a system during the war.

* Ever since we lost the war, Rheinland just hasn't been the same; the entire colony feels beaten and bereft of vigor. Look around, there is no one smiling or enjoying themselves. What will it take for my House to heal?

* This might be a battleship, but that doesn't dissuade the local criminal organizations from trying to attack us. Bundschuh, Hessians, the occasional Corsair, we usually run them off after a few minutes. I guess they don't have any other exposed military targets left in Rheinland. Have to have an enemy to keep the cause going.

* There are rumors circulating that ALG is planning on building a new shipyard in Dortmund to build the Bremen and her sister ships. They're willing to build them at cost in order to gain entry into this new market. That's an attractive proposition for Berlin at this point and time.

* The Rheinland people don't respect the military anymore. We lost the Eighty-Years War to a ragtag bunch of gas miners as far as they're concerned. If it wasn't for the victory against Kusari a few years ago we might never have recovered our public image. Of course, the civil war that followed didn't exactly help.

* The Rheinland Military is normally tasked with patrolling the northern areas of Hamburg and the adjacent Independent Worlds of Bering and Hudson. But ever since the discovery of Cologne we have to cover that area as well. We were spread thin enough before but now? I'm not sure how the Military will handle it.

* It's a quick trip from Hamburg. We run in supplies on a regular basis. Sometimes they can't pay us, but we usually can arrange something. Maybe four dead Unioners for a container of Pharmaceuticals.

* Republican is competing with ALG to win the contract for constructing the next generation of Rheinland battleships. We have a clear advantage in ship design and practical construction experience. But they have a definite strength in alloys and specialized Hull Panel fabrication.

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