Battleship Strausberg

CLASS: Bismarck

CREW: CLASSIFIED

ARMAMENT: CLASSIFIED

The Battleship Strausberg was, after some delays due to Unioner terrorism at Oder Shipyard, launched in 815 AS. Upon Strausberg's commission, the ship was stationed outside Bonn Station in response over Interspace Commerce's (IC) activities. Persistent intelligence reports alleged that IC was covertly supplying the Red Hessians. Ever since its first tour of service, the Strausberg battlegroup has gained a reputation for bloody anti-insurgency operations, and an unsparing attitude to any group that would aid and abet the Red Hessians and their allies.

When these reports were confirmed by undercover RFP operations in 818 AS, Strausberg enforced a rigid quarantine of the station. IC was evicted from Rheinland. With the Hessians of Dresden cutting a brutal swath through the mined-out system, veterans of the Liberty-Rheinland War were immediately re-tasked to New Berlin's Southern Front. The Strausberg oversaw the placing of the Dresden Minefield, fighting off any Hessians that dared come close to the jump gate.

The turbulent years of 825-828 AS have seen the Strausberg fight in the Sigma War against Kusari and the Gas Miners Guild, as well as fellow Rheinland brothers and sisters during the Rheinland Civil War. With the recent reunification the Strausbergs has finally turned her attention back to what many of the crew consider their primary objective; keeping the Red Hessian menace in check in the Dresden system.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

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

* Bounty Hunters Guild

## News

"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.

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

* We deliver MOX to the Westfalen every few months or so. Berlin has been having difficulty making their payments since before the civil war. ALG would like to improve our relationship with the military, so we often waive the transport and installation fees.

* 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 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.

* Some of the Hunters use this as a base to strike against the Red Hessians in Dresden. Plenty of Hessians down there with a bounty on their head. Kruger posts the bulk of them, though Universal chips in on occasion.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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?

* 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 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* Although it's not far to Hamburg from here, the Unioners will attack us if given the opportunity. Their preferred method is to disable a Trade Lane ring near the center of the stretch, then flee back into the Nordheide at the first sign of a military patrol.

*NOTE: Page generated on the 06/10/2023 at 22:40:24 UTC*