Heaton Mining Station

CLASS: Wellington

GRAVITY: Partial

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 420

Formally known as Merthyr Tydfil, this mining station was repurposed for operations within Newcastle System following colonization of Carlisle. It is unknown why the station was renamed, though it is rumored that Newcastle residents had difficulty pronouncing the old name. Heaton processes noble gases found within the nearby field, providing much needed income as the Bretonian economy struggles to recover. Terraforming resources mined here are being used across the sector.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Border World Exports
* Gateway Shipping
* Planetform, Inc.
* Bounty Hunters Guild

* Bounty Hunters Guild

## 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.

With the end of the war and Bretonia's withdrawal from Planet Gran Canaria, Poole's prominence waned. The cost of policing the system and maintaining infrastructure has significantly outweighed collected tax revenue in recent years, with Planetform's Terraforming Gas operations reporting disappointing year on year returns.DSE has already confirmed that it will begin deconstruction operations shortly, with the dismantling of the Cambridge jump gate expected to be completed by 833 AS.

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Planetform has confirmed its intention to withdraw prior to this point, while settling shareholder anxiety with the announcement of promising preliminary findings for a replacement site in Newcastle.

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## Rumors

* California Minor is almost done. It is ironic that it will be done before the Edinburgh project, but there's good reason for it. For one, there isn't a hostile army stomping around in California, and two, the conditions on California Minor are a lot better. Naturally, our company has gained experience over the years in handling projects, which have allowed us to accellerate most stage one and stage two phases. I'm interested what the new carbon- and sulphurfluorides will do, they might allow us to shave off a few decades yet.

* We tailor the Terraforming Gas mixture to the planet it is destined for. If we have a planet that requires a rapid heating we can produce the more expensive Sulfur Hexafluoride compound. That is over 3 times more efficient then standard Carbon-Fluorides. It also has a lower density, so it won't pool near the surface.

* Best steer clear of the Bounty Hunter folk that visit this base. They aren't exactly nice people. Hell, a number of them had some years in Newgate before joining their ranks. Still, they help out when the Gaians give us grief, so it's not all bad.

* With Stokes out of commission, Planetform has had to find another source for our terraforming gases. The asteroids drifting into the system are quite rich in certain compounds that can be processed into greenhouse gases. Once processed, they are transferred to terraforming projects that require a temperature elevation to kickstart a new climate.

* This project? Unexpected, but quite beneficial to the company. Up until now we've been relying on third parties for our Terraforming Gases - which were mostly industrial byproducts riddled with impurities, and not entirely suitable to the terraforming process. But as byproducts or even waste, they were dirt cheap to acquire. However, the war with Liberty means that those produced by ALG can't be delivered to the Liberty projects quickly, and the Gallic invasion has eliminated Stokes as a source, most likely for decades to come. Producing them ourselves seemed a logical choice.

* I'm just a transport crew worker. Our transport's still being loaded so we've got some time to ourselves. We'll be headed for California Minor once we're loaded. The project there is on schedule, perhaps even a little ahead right now. I hear Liberty is moving people onto the planet already, but that's a bit premature if you ask me. The conditions aren't very comfortable yet.

* Good day sir, welcome to Merthyr Tydfil. Or M.T. as it's more commonly known to our pilots. 'Tis a bit of a mouthfull otherwise. It's not a new station anymore, but it's new to what we use it for. BMM used this place to mine Beryllium from the planet we orbit, but they've found a better source in Cambridge.

* The Terraforming Gases we produce here are mainly Carbon-Fluorides. They are more expensive to produce, but the upside is that they last a lot longer. Gases like carbondioxide and methane are quickly washed out of the atmosphere, but Tetra Fluor Methane will remain in the biosphere for thousands of years. An ideal compound for long-term climate adjustments on planets with a tendency to revert to their natural climate. The only problem is it's tendency to settle near the surface, causing it to pool in fissures and caves.

* Stokes was the main source of terraforming gases until it fell. They were a byproduct from the refining activities the BMM did on that station, and often contained minor toxic impurities. Still, they were a very cheap source of greenhouse gases, BMM was quite glad to be rid of them rather then adding to the Leeds smog clouds.

* Planetform has only a few operations left right now. The Harris operation is put on hold - but even a terraforming operation on hold requires an amount of maintenance. Until a climate adjustment is stable, planets will want to revert to their natural, less human friendly state. But it's not all bad - we're planning to initiate stage one on Atka in Hudson soon. That might annoy Rheinland, but they're no longer in control of that system.

* I really don't get what the Gaians have against terraforming. I can understand the wish to preserve the ecology of Gaia, since it is unique, and one of the few Earth-like environments mankind has found in the Sirius sector. But I really don't see what their problem is with us bringing dead, lifeless worlds to life. It's not like anyone is harmed by creating life on a planet.

* There's an unusual amount of freighters moving through those rocks south of here. You'll have to go much further then the mining operations Planetform has at the asteroid field edge. I get the feeling there must be several jumpholes in there - and a smuggling route for both the Corsairs and the Mollys. The Armed Forces and Police Authority don't seem to care enough to do something about it. Me, I don't go hunting for smugglers unless someone pays me to.

* Planetform's eager to let us have access to this station. It's in a good spot for us. In turn, all they ask is that we help them mop up the Gaians when those ecofreaks show up. I hardly even break a sweat when dealing with those guys. They're barely worth the fuel and ammo, but hey, a good hunting nest is worth something too.

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