Bruchsal Base

CLASS: Weisheit

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 650

Believed to be founded by a group of New Berlin University students in 679 AS, the movement had much support among the liberal elite of New Berlin, tired of the corrupt practices of the government that had led them to financial ruin near the end of the 80-Years War. During the Dresden rebellion of 700 AS, the Bundschuh found their first official cause -- shipping supplies "liberated" from Frankfurt to the Kruger and Daumann rebels. Three months after that, sympathetic maintenance workers started sabotaging Daumann manufacturing operations in New Berlin. The industrial heart of Rheinland stopped beating, and the Popular Revolution had begun.

Five years later the Emperor was overthrown, and a new coalition government was established in its place. While the Bundschuh initially pushed for a full investigation into the activities of companies such as Kruger Mining and Daumann Heavy Construction, more pragmatic elements within the government decided that for the newly formed Rheinland Republic to succeed, it needed the support of the aristocrats who controlled those and other major companies. Both Kruger and Daumann were eventually required to pay substantial reparations intended to "improve the Rheinland Republic for the good of all people," and all Rheinland companies were forced to comply with a newly ratified Workers' Rights Convention.

By 715 AS business in Dresden had more or less resumed as usual. The Bundschuh were driven underground, an impractical brand of idealism ill-suited to building a consensus among the many different government factions and the aristocrats who controlled the purse strings. The Bundschuh took the ideological high route, attracting the purists dedicated to overthrowing the corrupt Rheinland regime represented by the government, Daumann, and Republican. The Red Hessians adapted the more pragmatic approach of stealing and plundering in the guise of fighting the powers that be. As a result, the Red Hessian ranks swelled, and the Bundschuh dwindled.

The Bundschuh have always looked to the Unioners, LWB, Red Hessians, and disgruntled Republican, Daumann and Kruger workers for possible recruits. They maintain a distinct note of neutrality towards the criminal groups, although they find the Red Hessian and Unioner practice of indiscriminate piracy distasteful. They prefer to focus on Daumann, Republican, and military bases, although they do raid a ship on occasion for supplies, preferring Samura or Kishiro, as they have no more love for Kusari than the rest of the Rheinland.

Bruchsal itself is an old Popular Revolution-era supply depot formed from a hollowed asteroid; slowly expanded over the decades to house many hundreds of people at maximum capacity. Typically orbiting Planet Holstein just out of scanner and defensive grid range, the proximity to the Westerwald, Sigmas, and various Rheinland population centers means that Bruchsal stands as the political and administrative heart of the Bundschuh Underground. The local patrols based from the station are known to be particularly ferocious; enough that they enjoy a relative control over the entire Taunusfeld, despite frequent skirmishes with both Federal Authorities and Smugglers sneaking through the Jump Holes dotting the field.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Junkers
* Red Hessians
* Unioners

## 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.

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.

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

* Our base is located in the Taunus Asteroid field of Frankfurt. Within the same cloud is a Jump Hole to Sigma 13. Nearby is another Jump Hole that leads to Hamburg. In Hamburg there is the Vierlande Prison Station, the *Westfallen* battleship, and the Berlin Jump Gate. These are all priority Bundschuh targets.

* Because we have taken the high road, and not one of piracy like the Red Hessians, our ranks have dwindled. But the members of the Bundschuh are purists, committed to a political agenda -- unlike other underground organizations.

* In 700 AS, the Dresden Revolt sparked the Popular Revolution that would do away with the Rheinland Imperial Government and replace it with a coalition of the people. The Bundschuh was a key player in the Dresden Revolt, running supplies to the rebels.

* After the revolution, the Bundschuh found itself sidelined by the new government. The coalition wanted the support of the wealthy aristocrats who headed Daumann Industries and Kruger Mining. By 715 AS, the Bundschuh was forced to go underground again, this time by a government it had helped to create.

* The Bundschuh need not lower itself to common piracy like the Red Hessians. Instead, we are funded by the enlightened Berlin intelligentsia looking to do away with the burdens of a corrupt government. This frees us to work directly toward our political agenda without being sidetracked by financial necessities.

* The corporations, though exploitive and uncaring, aren't truly at fault for what they do. Corporations are intrinsically self-serving; it's the government's role to keep them in check. As long as the government is corrupt enough to accept corporate bribes, the workers cannot be free.

* The Bundschuh is a political organization founded by New Berlin university students who were tired of the corruption of the old regime. Decades later we still toil under the yoke of an oppressive government, though its name has changed.

* Those who go to Vierlande seldom return; most sentences are for life, and it's not just pirates, but the political opponents of the corporate elite as well. The Bundschuh fly attack raids on the prison ships and inbound convoys. We fight to liberate our brethren who have been unjustly incarcerated.

* The Bundschuh recruits new members from the Red Hessians, LWB, Unioners, and even disgruntled Daumann and Kruger workers. But the people we take in must care about our cause, because they won't get rich flying for us.

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