Milford Base

CLASS: Cobweb

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Limited

CREW: 280

The relative safety of the Pennsylvania system has drawn a small Xenos population into the system. It was initially discovered by Xeno fighter pursuing a number of Junkers through a (to them) unknown Jump Hole. After dispatching of the Junkers, the Xenos returned to Barrow to report what they had found. Construction of Milford started two years later, in 772 AS

The Xenos in Pennsylvania are generally the least agressive of the organisation. Milford is in a good position to obtain supplies from the large Zoner population in the system, which are then sent to other Xeno bases as needed. The Rogue and Junker presence makes these trips dangerous, so the Xeno formations that depart from Milford are usually large.

## News

The Outcasts and their most loyal agents stepped in almost immediately in anticipation of something like this happening, and set new rules for distribution according to set keys. A small group of Liberty Rogues defied them and followed their own rules of distribution, but they didn't fare too well - the Dons, despite the ongoing crisis in Malta, do not tolerate insubordination.
For this reason, several powerful Junkers and Rogues immediately decided to dilute Cardamine instead of redistributing ostentatiously against the wishes of the Outcasts at the expense of their clients, thereby raising their own shares. Fortunately for these savvy businessmen, word did not reach the Outcasts until some time later, and thanks to an improved network of cooperation, most of the organizers were able evade Malta's assassins.
However, all these measures had only limited effectiveness. Many end-clients and casual Cardamine users have been forced to seek medical attention due to their deteriorating health due to potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms. It is not known how many Cardamine users eventually died because of the shortage, but it appears to be in the order of single-digit percentages - much to the very verbal displeasure of the Outcasts themselves.

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.

Some combat veterans and pilots filtered directly into the Xeno movement proper, while others fight for our cause or otherwise contribute to our goals in other ways, blending into the oppressed population of Planet Erie or operating in our cells on other Libertonian worlds. Many of the Insurgent's former intelligence operatives have been repurposed in the Xenos' ever-growing cardamine business, allowing the movement to consolidate and grow its strength with fresh injections of credits.
If there is one thing that can be taken from the Insurgency, however, it is that Liberty cannot be contested in a direct confrontation of military strength. To think otherwise would be folly. Instead, we will expose the rot inside the government and let the masses decide the rest for themselves, so that we may all enjoy a better future for ourselves and for the Republic we love.

In the video, a number of restrained people that have been identified as former residents of Planet Vespucci, board a Dromedary-class vessel registered to a freelance trader Vincent Ruthen. They are under supervision from several LPI officers, who exchange words with the ship's crew. Private investigators have trailed the ship, determining that it did not land at its purported destination of Gas Miner Naha in the Sigma-13, instead electing to travel away from civilized space into the Edge Worlds. The people aboard it have effectively vanished from the colonies.
This is the latest case in a streak of such disappearances, with investigators estimating as high as ten percent of all inmates thought to be awaiting their trial in LPI internment camps have been covertly shipped off-world for unknown reasons. The fate of these people is yet unclear, but theories range from secret trials to unethical experiments aboard Atka. Outraged by what is apparently an LPI-sanctioned human trafficking operation, protesters flooded the streets and had to be dispersed by police riot control squads.
A Liberty Police official has denounced allegations of corruption, stating that "All interned personnel are secured and all prisoner transfers have been done within the framework of the legal code". He refused to comment on the evidence presented, dismissing it as "slanderous fabrication against the good, hard-working officers of Liberty law". Meanwhile, political opposition already promises increased oversight over the law enforcement corporation for the next election cycle.

For some time, it had been alleged that Insurgent and Xeno-backed cells had been stirring trouble on Erie, inciting violence in the population and seeking to turn the planet into a second Veracruz. Never, however, had such open acts of terror been visited upon the governing Libertonian forces.
The response was quick and decisive. In coordination with the LSF, Vice Admiral Hamish aboard the Battleship Alma lead a Liberty Navy task force directly into the system in Operation Pesticide, escorted primarily by Siege Cruisers, Gunboats and fightercraft, with many of the Navy's capital warships tied in the Vespucci campaign or ever watchful at Liberty's borders. They were met by Zoner Q-ships based from Bethlehem, with many coming from as far as Galileo or even the Sigmas, accompanied by a motley assortment of freelancers and other anarchist elements. Leading the Zoner line was a Aquilon-class carrier, the Pinnacle.
While the Pinnacle came under heavy bombardment from the Alma and her task force, supplies quickly gathered onto Zoner transports from Erie attempted to run the Navy blockade. While some transports were lost to Navy bombers, others yet escaped to parts as of yet unknown. This 'victory', however, came at a heavy price. The Pinnacle was lost with most of her hands still on board and the rest captured, while the Liberty Marines landed virtually unopposed, quickly securing population centers for both the safety of Libertonian assets and the civilians on Erie itself. The Alma is settled now into the low orbit of Erie, a constant reminder to those below that they are under the protection of the Liberty Navy. A comfort to some, a dire warning to many more.

Upon further investigation, the Navy has successfully identified the ordnance being transported as being sourced from Rheinland. Going as far as to state that they contained serial codes which correspond with weaponry used by Rheinland's own Military. Naturally given the circumstances around the discovery of these weapons and Liberty's history of hot and cold relations with the neighboring House, it is expected that this development will lead to further scrutiny when it comes to potentially suspicious activity.

## Rumors

* The Rogues represent some of the worst Liberty has to offer. Thieving, murderous scum that'll do anything for a wad of credits. They also help the Outcasts in their Cardamine poison trade. The only time a Xeno'd leave them be is if they have a bunch of foreigners at gunpoint. What's better to hit two birds with one stone? Let them birdies hit eachother and keeping the stone.

* Liberty's gone and done to Erie what it did to Denver all those years ago. It boils my blood to see history of that sort come full circle, and at least in our current state, there's nothing we can do about it. Losing Bethlehem and the Zoner presence here in general has put our supply situation in the red. We're back to fighting the Junkers to survive, or trading favors with Ramsey. Neither of which is pleasant, but we have to tough this out and at least try to fight back.

* The Outcasts try to rot out Liberty from the inside with their Cardamine poison. On top of that, they steal from those who do try and make a honest living. They may be tough bastards to kill, but that doesn't keep us from blowing them to bits whenever we can.

* Junkers are generally neutral among those on the bad side of the law, but not with us! Those stinking slavers are the final insult of Liberty to the working class. When you've got nothing left they can take, they'll sell your bloody body for profit.

* We're nice and out of the way here at Milford. We make sure that foreign corporations don't get it in their head to take a slice of Erie's development, and we can wreak havoc on those damned Junkers and their slaving trade. The Navy never bothers us out here. Some Bounty Hunters try, but those we can handle.

* You ask me I think the Zoners here got what they deserved. Thought they could sit around, have their cake, and eat it too. This is what that sort of showboating gets you, because there's no such thing as the best of both worlds.

* If you ask me, I think the Zoners here got what they deserved. Thought they could sit around, have their cake, and eat it too. This is what that sort of showboating gets you, because there's no such thing as the best of both worlds.

* If you truely want to show your support of the Xeno movement I have a tip for you: get us Light Arms. Guns are often the only way to get our point across, and we got thousands of folks planetside who are eager enough to use em. Cops have a hard time opressing folk who shoot back.

* I don't like having to attack the Liberty Police or Navy, but they usually force the issue. Those sorry bastards got their head so far up the corporate rear that they can't understand that what we're doing is for the good of Liberty.

* Despite the fact that Zoners often come from other houses, we don't mind them much. The Zoners don't steal jobs, they just want to live life the way they want to. They stick to the Borderworlds and try not to bother anyone. In fact, we benefit from them because they're among the few folk who will freely trade with us.

* We Xenos prefer to only hit foreign shippers. To make their losses Liberty's gain. Our gain. It's payback for the millions of citizens that have lost their jobs to those foreign influences. If they lose enough, they'll be forced to pull out, and Liberty will be for Libertonians again.

* We ran out toilet paper the other week, what a disaster that was.

* Ouray keeps us well stocked with Light Arms. Those Ageira moneygrubbers don't seem to like the idea of selling us their weapons at cut rates as their patriotic duty, so instead we have to cut them out of their transports' hulls. That's okay. It's more fun this way.

* Pennsylvania has a few rare resources which foreigners come to pillage - mainly Neon and Basic Alloy. Those bastards would rather fill their own pockets then to build their factories here. That's why we treat them to a healthy dose of Particle Cannon fire every now and then. Kill em all, until they stop coming. Xenos take no prisoners.

* Liberty's gone and done to Erie what it did to Denver all those years ago. It boils my blood to see history of that sort come full circle, and at least in our current state, there's nothing we can do about it. Losing Bethlehem and the Zoner presence here in general has put our supply situation in the red. We're back to fighting the Junkers to survive, or trading favors with Ramsey. Neither of which is pleasant, but we have to tough this out and at least try to fight back.

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