Fort Carthage

CLASS: Convent

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: RESTRICTED

AMENITIES: Limited

CREW: CLASSIFIED

**>>>HIGH SECURITY<<<**

Carthage is the primary nerve center of the Order's High Command, and additionally houses the organization's drydocks from which capital-class vessels are constructed and maintained. Construction of the massive complex began after Lisbon Station - from which The Order explored and claimed Omicron Epsilon as their own - was found inadequate to support needs of The Order. Fully operational status was achieved in early 809 AS, allowing for the state of the art refit of capital assets no longer reliant upon agreements with the Corsair Empire. Most of the patrols in-system originate from Carthage, serving in full capacity as a primary military port in Omicron Epsilon.

## News

Moreover, our potential support for the Corsairs' endeavors in Omicron Theta confronts hurdles of its own. The loss of Lisbon Station in Omicron Beta has rendered our northern border increasingly vulnerable to Outcast intrusions, compared to more secure times. Adding complexity to the equation, the Corsairs' acquisition of Freeport 9, a move perceived by some as indiscriminate, has strained cooperation prospects with certain Order agents and supporters. While the Order maintains no formal allegiance to the Zoners stationed on Freeport 9, these developments have been troubling for those of Zoner origins among our ranks.
As traditional alliances within the Omicrons continue to wane, our age-old nemesis, the Core, shows unmistakable signs of strategic preparations. Though the accuracy of these forewarnings remains uncertain, the Order stands resolute, ready to confront any eventuality that may materialize in the imminent future.

Initial attempts to explore this mysterious realm via long-range sensors faced a formidable hurdle—intense electromagnetic interference emanating from a local gas giant. Consequently, Order agents were compelled to resort to conventional reconnaissance methods, deploying Onuris-class reconnaissance fighters equipped with interference-resistant short-range sensors.
While conclusive evidence of Nomadic presence within the Tau-61 system remains elusive, the series of vanished patrols and perplexing sensor anomalies persist, necessitating sustained commitment on the part of the battleship Amenta and its diligent crew.

As Crete demanded the Zoners of Theta turn over any Hunters aboard their stations and surrender docking control, the Freeport 9 administrators were confident that some kind of compromise could be found. A delegation from Gran Canaria was requested to assist with negotiations, due to the close ties between Zoner and Corsair communities on the planet.
Tragically, the Corsairs interpreted this delay as refusal, and launched a surprise attack while the delegation was en-route. Many of Freeport 9's crew are now being held as hostages while the Corsairs pillage the station. An urgent conclave has been called on Gran Canaria to discuss the Zoner response, while militias on Pygar have taken up arms in case the violence spreads.

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.

For decades the Zoners of Freeport 9 have kept themselves safe from Corsair reprisals by offering useful services, with their biodomes providing Crete with respite from the famines that once ravished it. Despite this, outrage has swept Omicron Gamma after a flight of Hunters killed Commander Juan Garcia, before retreating back to the No Fire Zones of Omicron Theta.
The Council of Elders have ordered the administrator of Freeport 9 to attend Planet Crete to hear their demands. Elder Garcia has vowed that the station's halls would "run red with blood" unless the Zoners turned over all BHG aboard the Freeport. The Zoners are yet to respond, likely trying to anticipate how the Corsairs will react.

The Corsairs see the Pygar colony as a direct competitor for the region's scarce resources, with Elder Garcia warning that there would be "dire consequences" should Freeport 9's biodomes reduce or divert their exports to Planet Crete. Whispers of alien ruins and Artifacts discovered below Pygar's surface may also antagonize the Corsairs, who rely on the Artifact trade as a source of wealth. The hardship of Pygar's extreme conditions and the uneasy relationship with the Corsairs has already led many colonists to consider a return to the now liberated Gran Canaria.

However, this triumph was not without its share of setbacks. During the battle, critical issues surfaced concerning the Horus's system reliability. These problems reached their zenith when the Horus's primary weapons systems inadvertently disabled its primary drive during a combat engagement with a formidable Core patrol in the Omicron Minor system. In a daring rescue mission, the battleship Thebes swooped in to save the imperiled Horus.
While the primary power supply was eventually restored, the Horus was recalled to the shipyard for a comprehensive examination and necessary repairs. In light of these reliability concerns, the decision has been made to withhold the deployment of this advanced, yet temperamental technology for the time being.

## Rumors

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