Mannheim Station

CLASS: Sanctuary

GRAVITY: Partial

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 430

Mannheim Station is owned by Kruger Minerals and they use the base to mine deuterium, tritium and hydrogen from the nearby gas giant of Heidelberg. Originally constructed in 670 AS by Daumann, Mannheim never made much profit, although Daumann used it more for the prestige of owning the only H-Fuel manufacturing facility in Rheinland than for making money directly, for it gave them a bit more power, especially over their Kruger rivals.

Eventually, however, as the after-effects of the Eighty Years War faded away, Daumann made several deals with Kruger and swapped the ownership of Mannheim and its gas miners in exchange for the ownership of the Planet Holstein. Kruger, happy to be rid of its failed terraforming project on Holstein, was unaware of the raw material deposits that Daumann surveyors had found on Holstein, nor of Daumann's intent to restart the terraforming process. Nevertheless, Kruger has made a reasonable amount of money out of selling H-Fuel at an extremely high cost to the Rheinland Military for over a century. The Rheinland Military had little choice but to buy its fuel from Kruger, for the Gas Miners Guild would charge them an exorbitant price.

While it is still capable of gas mining, Kruger is unable to compete with the GMG on price anymore, and the economic situation in Rheinland has forced the Rheinland government to cease subsidising the operation. Kruger, having anticipated this move, has slowly been converting the station into a nuclear fuel processing station, using ALG-produced MOX to power selfcontained Nuclear Cores.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* ALG Waste Disposal
* Kruger Minerals
* RGS Shipping

* 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.

## Rumors

* Kruger produces H-Fuel at this station and ships it to Essen. In return, they supply us with the Mining Machinery that keeps our operation going. Even without the Border Worlds, Kruger manages to get H-Fuel for Rheinland.

* Kruger lost most of her capital in the Border World gas mining venture. When that failed utterly, our proud company lost all of her clout. Now, Kruger's only real chance for survival is merging with ALG. It is really the only way left for us.

* Rheinland did not recognize any political sovereignty of the GMG; they were a band of miners, or so it seemed. What we did not realize at the time was that they were a close-knit organization with political clout in Kusari and underworld connections. Only after Rheinland and Kruger had fully committed to the action did we realize the extent of their power and backing.

* The vermin who call themselves the GMG dealt the first blow in the conflict that would erupt into the Eighty-Years War. The Kruger survey vessel Helle Wolke went missing. When we sent ships after her, we found the GMG in the vicinity of the wreckage. The GMG could not explain what had happened, but claimed to be investigating themselves.

* After the Helle Wolke Incident, we knew that the GMG was a treacherous group. As we pushed into the Border Worlds, small skirmishes flared between Kruger and the Guild. When Empress Leicht annexed the Border Worlds, the real war began.

* The amount of H-Fuel we are able to squeeze from the gases in this system is minimal. Nevertheless, the operation is good for PR. It lets the Rheinland people know that we haven't given up.

* Once Station Richtofen was destroyed, we knew that we had lost the war -- and much worse: Kruger had lost the Border Worlds to the GMG. It was a dark day for Rheinland and for Kruger. Maybe one day Rheinland will rise again.

* Station Mannheim produces H-Fuel and also mines Oxygen and Water. These three basic goods are shipped to New Berlin. Then we deliver Food back here.

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