Freeport 1

CLASS: Dern

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 770

Freeport 1 was opened in 738 AS, by a group of vagrants, wanderers and social outcasts that had left territories of the Houses in order to live beyond the rules and regulations enforced in the core systems. It was the first ever Freeport to be constructed, as the name clearly states, and it quickly gained popularity with the criminals, outlaws and others of a dubious disposition as a place to easily obtain supplies and repair their ships. Most of the criminals who visit Freeport 1 tend to be members of the Mollys or the Corsairs, although the occasional Red Hessian and Gaian are seen onboard.

Originally a small abandoned DSE depot left over from the construction of the Omega 3 trade lane, Freeport 1 has grown, with new cargo modules and habitation decks being constructed until the station was barely recognisable from the small platform it started out as. Small ships are known to be constructed here, sold to both freelancers, criminals and other zoners, and although Bretonia has made irritated noises towards the Freeport, they have as yet left it alone, preferring to put up with the annoyance of criminals docking there to the unknown consequences that might otherwise occur by antagonising the largely peaceful Zoner society.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Red Hessians
* Zoners
* Bounty Hunters Guild
* Independent Miners Guild
* Gateway Shipping
* Border World Exports
* BMM
* Daumann Heavy Construction
* RGS Shipping
* ALG Waste Disposal
* Gaians
* Orbital Spa and Cruise

## News

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.

The Militants believe the Corsairs prey on weakness, and will be more willing to negotiate if armed Zoners prove they cannot be easily or costlessly bullied.
The Reconcilers believe the situation can only be resolved by deescalating the immediate tensions, and then diplomatically securing the release of hostages and the return of the occupied Freeport.
Both sides are adamant that the other's approach will lead to the Zoners' subjugation or expulsion from the region.
Despite this, some common ground has been found, with the collective tasking a number of Fearless Q-Ship captains with deploying to Theta and protecting the Gran Canarian convoys that will be needed to resupply Freeport 5, Corfu and Pygar.

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.

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

* Daumann and BMM hate each other. Did you know that? Aye, they are trying to establish colonial presence in this system so that they may eventually annex Omega-3. That contest is pretty much decided now that Bretonia is settling Nottingham, but I don't see Rheinland letting go of the Rugen installation any time soon. Mark my words, there'll be war in the Omegas again before I'm dead.

* The trick to surviving out here in the Barrier is to have things that powerful groups want, while not annoying any of them too much. We trade with anyone who will leave us be. Strangely, it are the House governments who are most opposed to that. Figures, that the opression we sought to escape is again our biggest threat.

* Zoners hazard the Border Worlds because we don't want any governments telling us how to live. That's why Nottingham has been such a disaster - you can't trust Bretonia as far as you can throw them. We just wanted to be left alone, and now they're knocking the door down and bringing their bloody war with them.

* There are BMM representatives here who purchase goods for their base. With Nottingham just a short distance away, I imagine they'll be more and more soon enough. I don't mind them spending their money with us, but honestly I don't like having them here. Many of us left Bretonia to escape the BMM. They are awful to work for. I don't want to see a second Leeds on our doorstep.

* A couple of Gateway boys were minding their own business in our bar a few days ago when some Bowex chaps started talking some smack to them. Next thing you know a fight was going. I enjoy a good bar brawl and was knocking the teeth out of a BMMer when someone pulled a Daumann "crowd killer" and let loose in there. After that station security locked the whole place down.

* We tried to make this facility as independent as possible. We produce our own Food, and some Consumer Goods here. The Corsairs have need of these at their base Cadiz. Along with the basics, Corsairs will pay for any shipbuilding equipment such as Engine Components or Hull Plates.

* It's important that we help other Zoner bases in the area get what they need to survive. The people at Freeport 5 need some of our Food Rations, Consumer Goods and Pharmaceuticals. We produce some of that here, the rest needs to be imported from Bretonia.

* You are in some tough space, you know. Us Zoners have learned to handle ourselves. We don't go looking for fights, but we know where not to be when the shooting starts. I used to be a pilot in the BAF. That's right. But I gave it up when I realized there weren't a future in it for me but a gold watch or a space burial.

* Some of the Zoners on this base are always lookin at me sideways, acting like I'm the almighty hand of BMM itself. Ah, stupid base snipes is all they are. Next one I see looking at me funny is gonna get some teeth popped outta his head.

* This system is Bretonian space now, didn't I tell you so? The Ole Doug was originally plopped down by BMM on the Queen's orders to keep an eye on them cretinous Rheinlanders. Nottingham ain't exactly all fixed up, but we're living on her as best we can. Can't afford to contract Planetform and I don't know if they'd even want to take a job in Nottingham.

* It really is a shame about that Gateway convoy that was set upon by Corsairs last week. All hands lost, truly a tragedy. Ha! They shouldn't be meddling with Bowex business; I say it serves them all right. Fine by me their wives are widows, that's what you get for marrying an idiot.

* Cambridge supplies this base with almost everything the Zoners and Orbital Spa and Cruise want on Freeport 1: Luxury Food, Fertilizers, even Passengers who want to take a space tour of Nottingham. Then we take other Passengers here back to Cambridge. It works out rather tidily.

* The Bretonians are mad. Nottingham is not fit for human colonisation without terraforming - we had anticipated having centuries of time to prepare our move. They must be desperate to consider this. Still, that suits us well: it is because they are desperate that they need Rheinland for our minerals, so we have little to fear. After their war, they will be forced to abandon Nottingham until it can be made properly habitable. They will not have the means, so it will fall to us then.

* The only competent Bounty Hunters in Sirius are Rheinland Hunters. For that matter, the only competent -anybody- in Sirius are Rheinlanders. Everyone else has gotten lucky -- like Liberty -- or cheated like the GMG and Kusari. We make the finest products, mine the meanest systems, and even have the toughest pirates.

* The Bowex crews in the area are frothing at the bit about Gateway purchasing joint rights to the Bretonian transport franchise. The mighty Bretonian giant is having to sell contracts and rights to bail out debts, I've heard. Serves them right for war profiteering and biting off more than they could chew, if you ask me.

* I make the shipping run to this base from Cambridge. When I come here, I bring Consumer Goods and H-Fuel. When I leave, I transport work Crews who were on leave here back to Cardiff or Planet Cambridge. You'd be surprised how often I get jumped by Corsairs. Aye, they're mean ones. Glad I don't have to tangle with those Hessians too. That would be too much.

* I can tell you where the dangerous elements are in this system to help you avoid 'em. They are everywhere, so go home. Ha, just kidding. There are Hessians to the east in the fields and Corsairs to the west. Both are to the south. Just watch your butt, cuz these pirates will shoot it off.

* If you are trying to kill Corsairs, then keep to the western side of Omega 3 and hunt in the fields there. Make sure to patrol the Coombe in the south too, though you may run into more Hessians than you like down below. If you find them fighting eachother, you'll usually end up being shot by both. One thing you can expect from every criminal in Sirius. They all hate the Hunters, because they know they're never safe from us.

* I've been hired by BMM and Bowex to fight off attacks on Douglas and Nottingham. They pay me well enough, I suppose, but I'm thinking of leaving. They hired four of us and they're already asking the Guild for three replacements. The Corsairs in this space are battle-hardened, worse than their usual lot - there's more than normal for this time of year, too. They're probably trying to hit the colony while they can. If the war ends and the Armed Forces come back, they're in for a much harder time.

* Some Corsair jerk pulled a knife on me a few nights ago in the bar during a brawl. Since he pulled steel, I decided to pull some ceramic. My "crowd killer" lived up to its name, bless that Rheinish engineering. Too bad I got the two behind him. Lucky I was able to get away without being identified.

* The Jump Hole those Corsairs and Hessians are using is in the Coombe Field on the southern end of the system. It leads right into Omega-5. That's right, into the war zone. The Hessians and Corsairs butcher themselves in there. I don't go there unless I'm trying to pass through, and I've got the throttle buried the whole way. There's another one leading to Omega-9 somewhere in the Roth field, but I don't know much about that system.

* I've heard that an interested party in Omega 3 is paying the Corsairs to target certain Bretonian developments. Some drunk Corsairs were discussing it on Cadiz - I don't think they knew I could hear. I'll have to keep my ear to the ground to find out more.

* If you pick up food here, you can take it to Cadiz in Omega 5 - just don't get caught by Hessians. If you feel like taking the risk, there's also the longer trip to Planet Crete, the mysterious Corsair home world. Make sure you've got a Corsair to escort you in though - they've got a habit of killing unannounced visitors.

* It's easy to imagine how this would play out. First some fancy Bretonian lady gets her sensibilities offended by Corsair riffraff on the Freeport, or a shuttle of tourists almost goes for an unplanned spacewalk. Next the BAF or BPA start escorting civilian passenger liners and shuttles. Then they arrange for berths on Freeport 1 to conveniently refuel. Next thing you know, they'll uncover a big Zoner-criminal scandal going on, and the public pressure will "force" the government to increase "security" on and around the Freeport. Power always works the same way, you know. Once it finds a crack, it wedges it wide open sooner or later. I wonder if the Zoners see what's likely coming?

* All the tourism is likely to increase Bretonia's desire to enforce a claim of sovereignty on Omega-3. That will probably be worse for the Zoners than the for IMG at Aland, who already have a working relationship with Bretonia's government due to Cardiff. The Zoners' business dealings with criminals in the Omegas is the worst kept secret on Freeport 1. No doubt the Bretonian government would crack down hard on that.

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