A Report by Lance Tanstrette

DED Security forces sweep for clues in the Erme System

ERME, SINQ LAISON – In the early hours of Sunday Morning, reports were received that the outspoken chair of the Federal Nationalist Party, Professor Alain Octirant, had been fatally attacked on his way from Villore.

The chairman, who has recently come under fire for his comments regarding the Federal Consensus Outreach [FCO] and their possible participation in the Empyrean conflict, was known for his outspoken opinions on cluster relations and as an amateur vintner on his private estates near Vylade.

The Equilibrium of Mankind-aligned capsuleer group, Seekers of a Silent Paradise [SASPR], left an enigmatic message on GalNet regarding Octirant’s death, which many have taken as a claim of responsibility. SASPR have been at war with the FCO, a war that several FCO insiders attribute to inflammatory comments made by the late Professor.

James Syagrius, CEO of Reclamation Technologies, a member of the FCO, had this to say about the Professor’s death: “While Alain and I passionately disagreed on many things related to FCO, one cannot doubt his devotion to the Federation. It is true that he could be inflexible, intolerant and yes occasionally perceptive. I found myself intermittently agreeing with his political opinions. I know there is speculation as to the nature and circumstance of his death. I cannot help wondering if intentionally or not it was his last act of selfless devotion to our association.”

Bastian Valoron attended the memorial service.

Likewise, Bastian Valoron of the Gallente Independent Progressive Alternative made the following comments: “”Professor Octirant was a respected and well-known figure in the political community. He never feared to approach difficult topics or share his point of view. His opinions were widely known across ideological boundaries and his unique personality left a lasting impression on his colleagues and friends. A memorial service in honor of Mssr. Octirant was held on Sunday 5th February.YC114 in Villore. The organizers hoped this ceremony helped to alleviate the sorrow among all the mourners. I personally do not believe in the assassination rumours. Octirant was a casualty of the war.”

It is not yet known how the fledgling alliance will deal with the Equilibrium of Mankind threat, having lost one of their most prominent members. Time will tell.

Who are these capsule-bound demigods that rule our skies?

Some say they are superstars to be applauded, others claim they are heroes to be adored, a few might claim they are indeed gods to be worshipped. Yet their detractors claim they are morally-devoid warmongering criminals hungry for power. This Capsuleer Focus series aims to lift the lid on the secrets of the “podders” lives and discover the truth.

Read on to learn about the private life, habits and hates of one of New Eden’s elite.

Name: Repentence Saera Tyrathlion
Age: 23
Race/Bloodline: Khanid
Home Planet: Khanid Prime
Describe yourself in three words: Not quite harmless.
Capsuleer Role: CEO of Tyrathlion Interstellar.
Signature Ship: Vigilant/Bhaalgorn
Claim to Fame: One of the most controversial Holders in Khanid space for a variety of reasons.
Typical Quote: Where’s the fun bit?
Trivia: Only surviving official member of a very old family of Khanid holders.
Strangest/most noteworthy thing in your hangar: A device
Describe your bank balance: Comfortable.
If you weren’t a capsuleer?: I dread to think, but I doubt it would be pleasant.

About Repentence Tyrathlion: Repentence has been a high ranking officer in the Angel Cartel-linked industrial group, Preta Light Industries. Since then, she has returned to Khanid space to found Tyrathlion Interstellar.

This time on Capsuleer Focus, we’ll be looking at an unusual case among the ranks of the so-called demigods of the stars; one that can be found planetside just as much as in a capsule. Freelance journalist, Harika Korr, managed to procure an invite to her estates for an interview…

Harika Korr: Ms Tyrathlion, although you’re a pretty well known figure around here, perhaps you could recount your history for our readers elsewhere?

Repentence Tyrathlion: Please, call me Reppy! ‘Ms Tyrathlion’ sounds so formal and… ugh. My story… honestly it’s a simple one. I was a complete tearaway as a child. The only times I wasn’t in trouble was when I was locked in my room – and I could often find a way to get in trouble even there. As the youngest child of the family, I was ‘expendable’ – and when I crossed the line on my eighteenth birthday, of all times, I was disowned and kicked out. Managed to pass the checks and begged enough money to be able to enter the Hedion Academy. Some time adventuring later, I heard that my entire family had died, and the estate was liable to be reclaimed. I returned, fought an extensive legal battle, and managed to regain control. This is where I’ve been ever since.

HK: ‘Some time adventuring’ is one way of putting it. You’re regularly accused of being in league with the Angel Cartel.

RT: Hah. No, I’m not an Angel. I was – that I admit. It gave me an interesting perspective on the cluster, put me through a few scrapes, but I’m shot of them. They screwed me over, I cut ties, we’re even. I was lucky. Capsuleers tend to come and go as they please. I doubt anyone normal who landed with the Cartel would be able to get out as easily.

HK: You were also the star of a Gallente fashion magazine, I believe…

RT: [Groan] How the hell… I suppose it was a fairly high-grade publication. Yes, I did do some modelling for a designer along with a friend; he’d made a few very nice pieces for me, so I thought I’d do him a good turn. I try to keep that quiet around here. While it was all entirely tasteful, it was a Gallente magazine; just risque enough to be interesting over there, which means I’d be burned at the stake by some of the more traditional folk in the Kingdom and Empire.

HK: That’s not all they might want to burn you for, or so the rumour has it. Could you tell us a bit about your attitudes to slavery?

RT: [Smile] For all those foreign readers with their preconceptions, you mean? Let me make it clear to begin with: I’m not an emancipationist. I’m no friend to the rabid packs howling for the blood of the Empire for its crimes. Slavery is a part of the system now, both in the Empire and Kingdom. Our society is built upon it. Short of tearing civilisation to the ground, it’s not going to leave. That said, there’s a lot of stupidity on our side as well. The idea that we have a destiny to go out and bring the rest of the cluster ‘into the light’ is archaic, dangerous and frankly pathetic. That time is long past. We need to adapt and evolve, while remembering that slaves are people, people we must be responsible for and take care of.

HK: So you are, to coin a phrase, a moderate liberal?

RT: Anyone who maltreats their slaves should be punished. This is the main problem across New Eden: slavery is associated with cruelty and horror, and thus the Empire is condemned, regardless of how true those tales are. Only a fool would claim that the Matari people did not suffer from our invasion and conquest, and I agree that it was wrong, but that’s in the past. This is the present, and radical change is not going to occur overnight.

HK: Then do you think that one day the Empire and Kingdom should be slave-free?

RT: I hope the day will come where the question doesn’t matter one way or the other. I like to think that some day everyone will be at least content, regardless of circumstance, position or society. Talk with any of the slaves here on the estate; I’ve done my utmost to ensure that all are happy with life. That’s my responsibility as their owner.

HK: You said you were no friend to the ‘rabid packs’ – you dislike the Republic then?

RT: No, I dislike the individuals across the cluster who prefer to cling to hatred and ignorance rather than bothering to learn a thing. Sure there are reprehensible individuals in the Empire, but you get them everywhere; don’t tar us all with the same brush. I’ve travelled in the Republic, I’ve worked for Core Complexion, I’ve even had a couple of capsuleers of the Tribal Liberation Force visit me here and count them good friends. Hatred breeds hatred, and this bloody Empyrean war does nothing but cost lives and enrich the arms dealers. The lines shift, the death toll rises, and the Concord Assembly pats itself on the back for keeping capsuleers busy in a futile errand.

HK: One final question: you said that a Vigilant was one of your signature ships, but your hangar manifest says you don’t own one. What’s that about?

RT: [Grin] In-joke. My old colleagues in the Preta Light Industries mining division will understand. Let’s just say that although I make most of my ISK destroying the Sansha threat these days, my mining days were the source of some good stories.

By Darlan Mosota (State News)

Teonusude, Molden Heath – Rescuers from the Republic Fleet continued to pull bodies from the wreckage of an illegal “pleasure hub” that was brutally attacked and destroyed yesterday by an unidentified capsuleer vessel.

Unlicensed pleasure hubs like this are a common sight in remote and poorly policed locations.

Authorities within the Molden Heath Regional Assembly in Gelfiven commented that the issue was being raised with CONCORD. “This is not the first time that capsuleers have acted recklessly and endangered many lives as a result,” assemblyman Uoro Juntin said in a prepared statement to the press. He continued, “We will not stand for this type of vigilantism in our space.”

The pleasure hub, believed to have been constructed by operatives of the notorious Angel Cartel, was hosting numerous illegal and restricted activities such as gambling, drug trafficking, and prostitution when the attack began. Master Chief Kold Haardt of the Emergency Services division of the Trust Partners Trading Post station in the Teonusude system said that “normally the escape pods get almost everyone off a structure like this during an attack” but as the hub was just recently opened and construction was still ongoing, “several decks did not have the proper safety mechanisms in place.” He also noted that “a legal establishment cannot open without those measures for this very reason.”

Trust Partners Trading Post, Teonusude III, Moon 6.

Trust Partners Emergency Services were the first to respond to the distress calls and arrived approximately two hours after the attack and began retrieving people from the escape craft. “I realized there was only half as many boats as expected for a structure that size,” Chief Haardt said. “At that point I called for the military as they have the proper equipment for structure search and rescue.”

This morning a release from the Republic Fleet stated that they have pulled 344 bodies from the wreckage of the pleasure hub.

by Vesper Naskingar, Serpentis Correspondent

Since the publication of a confession made by a woman who claimed herself to be a “love slave of Empress Jamyl I”, demand for the hallucinogenic aphrodisiac Cryllisium has spiked. Serpentis Corporation, the premier biochemistry company, have dubbed this the new ‘liquid morphite’ due to the high prices clients are willing to pay for the still relatively rare substance.

Serpentis Corporation are the currently only confirmed source to possess the blueprints for production, yet there is no evidence if or if not they are the only producers right now. Their press representative was very vague about the details, but did confirm the drug has been around a good while in the underground circuit, mainly in the sex industry.

He also let slip that while before clientele was mainly centered in the Cartel and Serpentis home regions, as well as the Federation, the biggest demand spike has come from the Amarr Empire. He did not wish to go into further detail, but the most likely explanation is that if the Empress does it, so can the more liberal Amarrian. The Caldari State and Minmatar Republic have also seen a rise in demand, yet far less spectacular. It was theorized they could simply be slower in catching on.

Further research has shown that there are no traces of capsuleer production or blueprint (copy) possession, likely because the drug does not classify as a ‘combat booster’ and would surely have reverse effects on one’s performance. The usage for recreational purposes however is something we have received several anonymous confirmations of, yet all sources were unwilling to reveal their supplier.

By Maris Livour-Tech4 News

Sunrise over the Ravani Province on Huola VII

Ravani Province, Huola VII – In an unusual step in Galactic politics, the Gallente Federation has called on Matari forces to ease the level of violence on the planet of Huola VII.

In recent weeks, the Minmatar paramilitary force known as The Hand of Freedom has conducted countless raids on the fertile planet that exports the expensive and highly sought Ravani Sherry. Since the THF raids, Ravani Sherry, whose main buyers come from the Gallente elite, has seen an almost complete shutdown in production. It has been confirmed by Tech4 News that one of the most known producers of Ravani Sherry, Max Gralany, has been taken hostage by the THF since last week.

Different governments, different views

“The violence on Huola VII has affected a partnership with one of the only non-slave industries in the Amarr Empire,” says Gallente Deputy Minister of Trade Martin Rasu. “We are simply asking that our friends in the Minmatar Republic  focus their energies on defeating the oppressive forces of the Amarr Empire while leaving those desirable elements of the Empire, who I’ll mention again are working with non-slave labor, alone.”

That was the official word from the Gallente Federation Government as it responds to protests coming from a number of its wealthier and influential citizenry in regards to Ravani Sherry production. One such citizen is Bruno Masters, holo-reel action superstar. His philanthropic organization, Borders without Borders, concentrates on bringing peaceful solutions in times of war.

“Like, Huola is not…Ravani Sherry production needs to be protected because…like…uh, it’s a peaceful operation and, like, it hires all kinds of people. You know?” said Bruno Masters in regards to the violence that has effected Ravani Sherry production on Huola VII. “We think that people should just, you know, cool it. Peace, you know?”

In contrast, the Minmatar Republic has sent the following statement to Tech4 News:

    The Hand of Freedom is a group of independent freedom fighters who have no political ties with the Minmatar Republic. They are citizens from the Bleak Lands who have banded together to fight off the oppressive activities of the Amarr Empire. While we encourage their brave actions and urge them to continue to harass the enemy in  order to shake off Imperial rule in their lands, we cannot and will not dictate to them the proper method to fight in their own homeland.

“Utter and complete rubbish.” Says Huola Defense Minister Marcus Vander. “The Matari terrorist forces that are engaging the citizenry of Huola VII are armed with the most sophisticated Minmatar weaponry and have shown to have been highly trained in insurgency warfare. To claim that this is a citizen’s militia group is laughable.”

An official of the 24th Imperial Crusade, talking to Tech4 News under the condition of anonymity, elaborated more. “The THF has shown itself to be an elite special operations terror unit. So far it has bested both the local Houla authorities and our own elite paladins sent into Huola VII to hunt down its members. The skill displayed by these terrorists can only mean years of special training, possibly learned in Gallente Special Operations training camps or the like.”

Ravani Sherry and the Gallente

Meanwhile, the coveted Ravani Sherry is seeing a rise in prices due to the lack of availability. “To put it mildly, this has made Ravani Sherry even more of a drink of status among the Gallente privileged.” Says Kena Moraeux, chief editor of Fine Wine Magazine. “Before the troubles on Huola VII, one bottle of Ravani Gold would go for nearly forty thousand ISK. Today we are seeing that price tripled. This may go well with the wealthiest citizens of the Federation for a time, but there are fears that Ravani Sherry production will completely run dry if hostilities on Huola VII continue.”

One of the few remaining Ravani Sherry cellars on Huola VII

There have been calls by some distributors for a government sponsored replication program, which would copy Ravani Sherry in limited quantities, assuring a high but fixed price on the product. This wouldn’t, however, go well with consumers. “The allure of Ravani Sherry is the unique soil composition of the province the grapes grows in and the amount of light it receives from that systems white dwarf star. The taste coming from the Huola grape after such natural and organic conditions is exotic, like nothing else in the galaxy. Ravani Sherry can’t simply be ‘replicated’. There’s also the fact that this product, grown in Amarr space, is not produced from slave labor. This came about after growers in Huola VII came to an agreement with their largest consumer base, the Gallente, to not only abandon slavery, but use freed slaves as paid labor. It’s a success story to the Gallente. So when one has Ravani Sherry, it’s not only a fine drink, but a symbol of Gallente pride as well,” adds Kena Moraeux.

But not everyone in the Federation is buying what some would call elitist politicking and a potential thorn in Gallante-Minmatar relations.

“What we’re talking about here,” says Gallente Senator Ben Welson, “is fuss coming from the elite of Gallente about a product that only the richest of the rich can afford to drink. We have no business telling our Minmatar allies the best way to fight an enemy whose preoccupation is the subjugation of an innocent people.”

Senator Welson, along with fifty other law makers, has sent an urgent letter to the Gallente president asking him to pull back the protests of the Department of Trade. “There is much more at stake here than Ravani booze. What the Minmatar have endured for years under the Amarr and their continued struggle to defend themselves from Amarr aggression is worth far more than the drinking habits of a few elites.”

Sherry producers wary that no aid will come from Amarr

On Huola VII itself, Ravani Sherry producers are weary of recent paramilitary activity in their province and the Amarr military’s willingness to engage enemy forces. This anxiety has become even more evident after the abduction of Max Gralany, owner of the top selling Ravani Gold.

“We just want to make a living.” Says Veniesa Gralany, wife of Max Gralany. When her husband was abducted, she said that the THF troops also killed some of her free Matari workers. “They claimed they were traitors. Ammatar. They lined some of the men up along the large stone wall in the vineyard, and shot them all. It was horrible.”

“We will defend our land if we have to. Most of us out here don’t give a flip who owns the planet.” Says Ravani Eagle Sherry producer Cavin Dredge. “We just want to be left alone, and continue to make our Sherry without the violence of war affecting our lives.”

When asked if he was confident Amarr forces would protect the area, Mr. Dredge said he wasn’t. “There has been a lot of friction between the Amarr military and the Ravani Sherry industry. We have been subject to random searches, and suspected many times of being of engaging in abolitionist activities. It comes from our decision not to rely on slave labor and the prosperity we’ve seen because of that decision. We’re distasteful liberals according to them, and I’m sure they would love nothing more than this Minmatar terrorist group wiping us all out.”

Both the Huola defense force and the 24th Imperial Crusade deny those claims. “We are bound by both honor and duty to defend all Amarr citizens.” Said Marcus Vander. “We may not like their politics, but we will ensure their safety at any cost.”

The status of Max Gralany is unknown, though Tech4 News is currently trying to meet with a representative of The Hand of Freedom for an interview and their take of the situation.

Early Signs of Fiscal Crisis in the Federation

An insider linked to a provincial Jin-Mei news syndicate has provided these stories detailing signs of economic downturns in various sectors of the Gallente Federation market. Some market analysts are suggesting that this is the economic knock-on effect of the the spate of terrorist attacks against the asteroid mining industry that took place in the last quarter. Gallente economists are bracing for more grim news and there are few signs of recovery so far.

Minor Jin-Mei Cloning Company Off to Rocky Start

Tepeng-Li has postponed lodging the 980,000 ISK share sale prospectus it needs to go ahead with buying the Jing-Ko real estate on which it has staked its future.

It had promised to lodge a new prospectus last week, after its previous document was stopped by corporate regulators just before the end of year financial lockout. The latest refusal is the third setback for the small biotech company, which has met repeated trouble trying to build its new HQ in Lirsautton.

In a statement released to the Fukuma District exchange yesterday afternoon, the company said it intended to lodge the prospectus with the Fukuma Securities and Investments Counsel ”early next week”.

It blamed the delay on ”the relatively difficult transition process from the previous management and board, as well as unexpected delays in material transactions, which are still completing”.

Tepeng-Li shareholders and investors seemed unfazed by the so-far rocky transition from the old offices in Luminaire. T-L stock scrip held steady throughout the opening week’s trading, hovering at the 68 ISK mark.

Lirsautton Rare Metals Mines Struggling with Recent Downturns

Mannar-owned Jin-Ki Mining is planning to ask Saan-Do regulators to waive some of the promises it made at the time of its YC 109 purchase of local rare metals mines, according to a report.

Jin-Ki Mining will lobby the Foreign Investment Review Board to delay or avoid altogether having to lower the level of its interest in rare metals mines in the Irumi and Retsu prefectures, blaming weakening economic conditions, the Saan-Do authored Jin-Mei Financial Review reports.

The company originally promised to float at least 30 per cent of the company on the Fukuma Securities Exchange by YC 114 as a condition of its 3.5 million ISK purchase of Nerubai Resources.

Last month, Jin-Ki entered into a merger proposal with listed Koketsu Metals, capitalizing on the two mining companies neighboring assets. Koketsu, which has mines in Retsu’s Orteni Basin and Irumi’s Goldsalts Basin region, is 64 per cent owned by Gallente-based Astaris Group, while Jin-Ki is owned by Mannar-based Jin Mining Co Ltd.

Jin-Ko Mining had made the undertakings with FIRB in 109, after a slew of attempts by Gallente companies to take large stakes of Mannar-based miners.

Shares in Koketsu fell 13 ISK, to 408.62 yesterday.

The scene where a mag-boarder surfed to his death at the Ishukone Facility above Altrinur VIII Moon 3, Metropolis.

A 20-year-old Brutor man was vapourised in front of hundreds of witnesses yesterday in the Altrinur system, Metropolis. The deceased, known as “Zee Sway” to his fellow gang members, was participating in an extreme form of the increasingly popular sport of “mag-boarding”. Sway was attempting to surf across the lethal electromagnetic field that enveloped the Ishukone facility orbiting the third moon of Altrinur XIII, when he became separated from his board and was incinerated in the protective station-grade invulnerability field.

A witness from the canteen on Deck 76-A42 said, “We were all watching out of the viewport, it was crazy. We could see the boarder burning toward us across the station surface. It looked amazing, with this incredible halo of static around him. He was being tracked by security drones but they weren’t firing. Then there was a flash and he was gone.” she then gruesomely added, “Well, most of him.”

Anton 'Spiderhawk' Robert, former professional mag-boarder.

Anton ‘Spiderhawk’ Robert, entrepreneur and former professional mag-boarder, spoke out against this dangerous new trend;

“Man, I learned to mag-board where I grew up on a backward deadspace can [colony]. First thing you did was learn to find the good lines [routes] away from the fuzz [security forces] and the buzz [defensive equipment and shielding]. Only an idiot would try riding one of the big cans [orbital stations]. It’s about ridin’ the shine not some killer buzz field man.”

Station Security Officer Altos Sinen gave credence to Mr. Robert’s statement, confirming that this new craze is an order of magnitude more lethal than other, more established forms of mag-boarding.

“Mag-boarding is a ludicrously dangerous activity even on low-tech colony structures, but at least there the worst those individuals would have to contend with is some anti-intrusion measures and an angry security detail. But attempting any unauthorised surface activity on an Orbital Facility is suicide. Aside from the automated defences, any contact with the high-energy invulnerability field would instantly vapourise them. Which Mr. Sway has learned to his cost.”

Local security forces are conducting a full inquiry into the incident and fourteen of Mr. Sway’s mag-boarding associates, all of whom were reportedly present at the accident site, have been detained for questioning.

The Rise of Mag-Boarding

Mag-boarding (also referred to as “jet-boarding”, “grav-boarding” and “vacuum-boarding”)  is a sporting activity involving the use of a flat board equipped with magnetic repulsors upon which an individual will stand and attempt to navigate his way across a course. Whilst the traditional magnetic repulsor technology requires a metallic surface, other propulsion systems are also available for the negotiation of other surfaces. Recent advances have enabled the highly dangerous practice of “buzz-riding”, wherein the mag-boarder attempts to skim across the surface of powerful energy fields.

There is some dispute as to the origins of the activity, with both Minmatar and Gallente subcultures claiming historical influence. In any case it has long been popular as a planetary pursuit in highly urbanised core worlds.

Interior facilities like this can be safer, but mag-board extremists prefer the excitement and freedom only found outside.

In the previous century, due to the technologies involved, planetside mag-boarding was largely the purview of the rich and the privileged. However, with the capsuleer-fuelled technology boom of the last decade, manufacturing costs have fallen making mag-boarding an increasingly affordable cultural phenomenon being enthusiastically adopted by many of today’s youth. Some alarmist commentators fear a rise in petty crime and vandalism.

Whilst planetside mag-boarding is a well-established sport, of greater concern to safety lobbyists is this recent rise of mag-boarding on space-borne structures (“canning”). Availability of affordable protective spacewear has given wide reach to a highly dangerous and often illegal activity. Whilst tolerated at a few designated deadspace locations, mag-boarding on commercial orbital facilities is expressly forbidden cluster-wide.

Story Supplied by Altrinur Daily Chronicle

Although the protests were peaceful, some arrests were made.

Nisuwa V, Black Rise (State News Agency) – There were angry scenes outside the planetary governor’s office this week as a delegation from People Against Capsuleers Manufacturing All Narcotics submitted a petition calling for action against the capsuleer corporation Uppers and Downers.

The petition, which has over 250,000 signatures, was handed over to the Governor’s Office two days ago. It calls for immediate action be taken to remove the facility in orbit around Moon 1 which is rumored to be producing contraband boosters.

Sheena Kasgill, the spokesperson for People Against Capsuleers Manufacturing All Narcotics, said “It’s a travesty that this was allowed in the first place. Less than a hundred thousand kilometers from our atmosphere, there are laboratories churning out mind-altering boosters. [...] The Planetary Governor’s office must act against this disaster waiting to happen!”

The facility around Moon 1 has been in operation for many months however it was only recently risen in notoriety since it was leaked that booster production was being undertaken there. We approached the Planetary Governor’s office for a response. Vice-Commander Dalgeen commented, “This is a classic reaction from people who have no idea how things work in space. We have no control over the capsuleers here in low-security space. We cannot ask them to stop and we cannot just go around attacking capsuleer corporations. And the notion that one of those laboratories could ever reach our atmosphere following an attack is preposterous.”

Governor Charles Yost’s stance on this issue has inflamed the feeling planet-side and a protest camp has sprung up outside the governor’s office. These protest camps have become popular following official Caldari dictates regarding the process for responding to strikes and protests. This dictate was given by Executor Heth following the Piak III incident where the brutal attempt to break the strike was shown across the galaxy and was a major embarrassment for the Caldari State.

Nisuwa V and Moon, Black Rise

Rumors have spread that the Planetary Governor is reluctant to act as Uppers and Downers are known booster suppliers to pilots of the Caldari Militia and he is unwilling to disrupt the supply of combat boosters to friendly pilots who are currently losing the war in the Black Rise region.

A source within the Yost’s office who wished to remain anonymous played down this rumor by saying “[i]f you access the public network channel of that corporation you will see more Gallente Militia pilots present in there than Caldari Militia. In fact the rumor is the wrong way around, and the State would probably be better off with the supply of boosters from Moon 1 being stopped.”

When Uppers and Downers was contacted regarding their facility, A Wivers, a spokesman for the corporation, had this to say: “Our manufacturing facility follows all CONCORD protocols and is certainly not the business of non-capsuleers. Our secure facility operates with the highest level of safety and security and there is no threat to the residents of Planet Six.  Should the facilities be damaged or destroyed anything within those facilities will be destroyed in the vacuum of space.”

And in regard to the statement that they were helping the Caldari war effort they responded that “UPPE is affiliated with the Ishukone Corporation and is not aligned to any faction or state, we operate under a free market economy and will continue to sell to our existing customers. Not all of our customers remain in the public channel referred to by your source and will join to place orders and leave once their orders are placed. Some customers choose to stay out of the channel and place orders through private capsuleer communication.  So accessing our public network channel is not the sole indication of our entire client base.”

However the controversy continues to rage with the protest camp being given 48 hours to disperse before the security forces move in. Whether the government will carry out this threat is yet to be seen.

by Sabine Clochemerle, Culture Correspondent

Noble Appliances flagship luxury clothing store Noble Exchange (NeX) has been beset, some even say cursed, by near non-stop controversy and protests since its launch in June YC-113.

The company CEO and share holders remain shrouded in mystery and many believe that the company is backed and run by the powerful and secretive Tash-Murkon family. For decades Noble Appliances has specialised in highly exclusive limited runs of niche goods for the ultra wealthy and revered. In mid YC-113 they diversified into another elitist range of goods – this time specifically aimed at the difficult and unpredictable “podder” market. Though many capsuleers are extremely prosperous it appears that even these privileged sons and daughters of New Eden like a good bargain, and in an unprecedented show of solidarity called for NeX to close its doors and fire its entire management.

Rather ominously, there has been no major new release of designs since August YC-113. Though House of Rana and Sennda of Emrayur have refused to comment, Sihan Bemoumouf a spokesperson for Vallou admitted that they had made “ significant investments in hiring top notch designers in anticipation of an influx of orders from NeX”. She went on to say “Quite frankly this has not happened and we’re very worried. The NeX buyers have not been responding to any of our design submissions for many weeks now”.

An insider source who asked to remain anonymous has been quoted as saying that NeX is in an “unstoppable nose-dive to financial ruin. The 1000 Aurum give away was an accounting nightmare. We begged management to reconsider, but they were adamant. The company will take a long time to recover from that massive financial outlay which still fails to show any significant return.”

Crystal Boulevard, Caille

In further developments, Mr Bamadak Orabasash (Chief Coordinator of Public Relations Noble Appliances) was seen last week partying with his Personal Assistant and “It Girl” Zizi Babalou on Crystal Boulevard, Caille. Zizi was wearing customized lavishly embroidered “Mystrioso” boots. The Noble Appliances public relations department has always staunchly declared that the integrity of the designs would never be “sullied”, all the more perplexing that a fairly low level employee appears to be the exception. The day after the sighting Mr Orabasash was seen looking harried and distressed as he rushed from the monthly share holder’s meeting to his shuttle. He declined to comment on either Noble Exchange’s apparent slump or employee favouritism.

Outside the NeX head quarters in Suner, the gigantic and by now somewhat faded “Grand Opening” posters still grace the towering building. A demonstrator who asked to be identified as “Mr Bridgington” stages a daily protest there, calling for the company’s archaic notions of what constitutes women and men’s wear to be discarded. He is understood to be representative of a large body of podders who support the call for gender equality in garment selection. Menswear and womenswear remains strictly delineated, and Mrs Fararouze Elnah (floor manager NeX) says that the store has “no plans to change its targeted approach”. On hearing this, Mr Bridgington retorted that it pained him that the issue had still not been resolved. “I demand fair treatment” he declared.

Capsuleer Jade Constantine denounces the NeX Store

Professional agitator and populist Jade Constantine, one of the more stridently outspoken amongst the podder elite, is quoted as saying “NeX is evil!” and she has repeatedly denounced Noble Exchange as a brazen front for the ruling parties to separate capsuleers from their hard earned ISK. Many Noble Exchange employees are now reportedly very concerned about their personal safety and livelihoods in anticipation of Ms Constantine and her cadre of activists long threatened retaliatory measures.

Further news of drastically stepped up security measures at all NeX stores only serve to give weight to the rumours about this troubled company, but to date management decline the opportunity to shed light on their current situation.

By Emanir Horeres

Yehaba, Aridia – Imperial Navy elements lead by Ministry of Internal Order (MIO) officers raided a large ‘blood farm’ operated by a branch of the Blood Raider Covenant, local navy command announced Saturday.

The operation was carried out after at least three weeks of steady observation by covert elements of the Ministry of Internal Order, which in turn was preceded by several months’ investigation to pin down the location of the large outpost.

“This has been by far one of our most successful operations of late in the region, praise God,” commented Commodore Ilsareth Madum, the naval officer in charge of the strike, during the announcement of the strike. “We have struck down tens of thousands of heretics today, sending them to the eternal fires of God’s justice.”

According to the released statement, the operation began with months of cumulative intelligence, with the first hints arriving amidst the wreckage of Blood Raider vessels destroyed during attempted raids on traffic in the region. “The raids started increasing in frequency and size. That was our first hint that something was occurring in the region,” Commodore Madum said. “Typically when we are able to respond to a Blood Raider Covenant attacks on vessels, destroying the heretics’ ships takes top priority to prevent them from escaping or causing further destruction,” Commodore Madum said. “We are rarely able to board ships intact in order to examine their databanks for clues. Occasionally, however, God does smile on our efforts and allow us to secure a functionally intact Blood Raider vessel for examination.” Clues within the captured vessels were turned over to the MIO. Eventually analysts determined a series of suspected systems for the raiders’ forward operating base. “The Blood Raider Covenant often establishes such outposts in areas they intend to expand into,” explained Dr. Fillemore Dukard, an expert on the Blood Raider Covenant and Sani Sabik at the University of Caille. “This both serves as a religious hub at which rituals can be performed and leaders speak to their ‘flock’, but also serves the practical purpose of providing easy storage of their ‘collections’.”

Days of combing the systems with covert-operations frigates and scan probes eventually pinned down the location of the facility allowing the raid to go forward. Static defenses at the Blood Raider base were rapidly destroyed by a significant Imperial Navy task force, although not without casualties. “Even as our soldiers sent the heretics to their burning demise, thirteen thousand of our men and women were ripped from life. We pray for their souls,” was Commodore Madum’s statement on the topic. Blood Raider Covenant casualties are estimated to be in the high tens of thousands, primarily from vessels destroyed during the attempted defense against the Imperial Navy force.

Yet, the greatest surprise was yet to come for the Amarr. When the facility was breached and boarded, the prisoner population was found to be overwhelmingly Gallente despite the Raiders’ traditional hunting grounds being based in Imperial space.

“We suspect the Blood Raider Covenant was using the Gallente heathens’ obsession with all forms of blasphemous worship as a lure, enticing their youth with tales of passion and kinship before revealing the true face of their hideous trap,” explained Commodore Madum. Gallente Senator Si-Len Asi, a representative from nearby Federation territory in the Solitude region, disputed this claim. “It is patently ridiculous to claim that our children would willingly participate in such hideous rituals. With all due respect to the Commodore, the Blood Raider Covenant are not known for asking their victims to partake.” He then added that “perhaps we might instead focus on how such a sprawling facility was constructed without the knowledge of the authorities? I do not believe so many of our people could have been taken had the Blood Raiders not constructed a depot so close to our border.”

The released Gallente are expected to be repatriated to the Federation over the coming week. The Blood Raider Covenant has not released any comments on the raid.