Heisenberg Research Station

CLASS: Valier

GRAVITY: Yes

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 460

The Heisenberg Research Station was originally founded in 761 AS as a Rheinland government owned observatory and laboratory dedicated to the study of planetary body movements within the resource rich fringes of the Walker Nebula, as well as to record the orbital phenomenons around planet Steinfurt. A minor research station, it remained crewed by a small number of scientists for the next 6 years until the Rheinland government faced yet another wave of overbearing financial cuts and had decided to abandon the station. Powered down and abandoned for the next 50 years, Heisenberg fell into steady disrepair before eventually being repressurised by a group of squatters following the chaos of the Nomad War.

With most of its research equipment still intact and the stabilisation of a number of surrounding jump holes the station quickly found itself in the middle of many fringe trade and smuggling routes. Frequented regularly by passing explorers and adventurers, Heisenberg became something of a small freeport, while at the same time attracting many astronomers and astrophysicists from all across Sirius with its scientific equipment, and gaining a reputation of being a politically neutral place for great minds of science to converge and discuss their findings.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Freelancers
* Unioners
* Red Hessians
* Bundschuh
* ALG Waste Disposal

* Bounty Hunters Guild
* Unioners
* Bundschuh
* Rheinland Military
* Gallic Brigands
* The Maquis

## 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.

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.

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.

"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.

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

* I'm one of the people who's observing the movement of the myriad of planetoid objects visible from this place. The base we are currently on is orbitting Herne, which in turn orbits Steinfurt, which is the only major planet in the system -- and because of galactic drift there are many, many comets either currently passing or scheduled to pass through this very system. Steinfurt itself is like a big bull's eye for them. Whoever built Heisenberg skillfully put it in a La Grange point orbit between Steinfurt and its moon so we're quite well protected, but the folks over at the ALG refinery might be in for a bit of a ride... we've tried to contact them already, but I fear they might just brush it away.

* You know, I came here from Bretonia to escape a boring life on Cambridge... and I have to say: I will probably stay here for a while. There is something really intriguing about Rheinland and its precision and sense of justice. It's so black and white in a way, but then bathed in shades of grey in another. On one side you have the government which tries to desperately preserve order and prosperity in the face of foreign aggressors, an unforgiving economy and rampant civil unrest. On the other hand you have the large revolutionary movements which try to fight for a better tomorrow, and end up justifying their means with the ends. On the outside they seem like just a bunch of pirates with an unclear goal. But these "pirates" tend to stop here often these days, and I've spoken with them enough and heard their arguments to say this: they do make a good point.

* Those little red diamonds that some of the smugglers here bring through... have you ever studied them? They have a very interesting structure and composition, I have never seen anything like it. The lattice is so tightly packed, it interferes with light waves passing through it, almost like a prism. These diamonds could only be formed in extremely high pressure, probably on a carbon planet. Oh, what I would give to be able to inspect that planet...

* There's not many places in Sirius like this one. The "scientific forum of freedom" is what they call it on Cambridge. Here I can sit down with my colleagues from Liberty, Rheinland... sometimes even Kusari, and debate on the uses and merits of energy absorption in nuclear fusion, without being charged by my government with "conspiring to create weapons of mass destruction" in the process! Well, at any rate astrophysics is my other passion, and I do need lots of supplies to carry on working with this equipment here. And it's not like I am the only one on this station either. If you know anyone who trades in scientific equipment, do point them here will you?

* I generally run simple supplies to this station, like water and food rations. They don't have any biodomes here, so they can't grow their own food, so it's good business. Not to mention the conversation is always engaging.

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