News-News: This new page will debut all weekly changes, updates, upgrades, and advisories that affect this RP as a whole.
News and Patches
Pending Changes and Augments:
1. Hypertext Wiki-links are being applied to almost all 1,000+ pages, helping to answer your TNH questions.
2. Final planetary and lunar astrophysical and historical data packets are uploading. Please be patient, as we are still using the same example-template for the World Data Sheet (chart) on all
planet pages. Actual World Data Sheets will not be available until next year, pending RP frequency.
3. Based upon your donations and requests, we will be apportioning our staff to add new planet pages.
Patches:
The ME2 Verse has now been applied. See the Milky Way Galaxy page in the Galaxy Map drop-down menu.* Current World Data Sheets are examples only, at present, and are open to player suggestions at all times.
New Horizon Website News:
1. The Personnel Dossiers webpage has been updated, still under construction.2. The Himinbjorg System webpage song has been removed, pending adjustment.
4. IRL rates (costs) for our offered goods and services (including courses and training packages) are now
posted at the bottom of our new
Support Us page. Our latest service addition is Website Consultation.
新聞和
修補程序
IRP Verse News:
For the majority of our IRP (In Role-Play) news in this roleplaying universe, see the individual webpages for each character (located in the Personnel Dossiers tab) and cosmic body (clusters, nebulae, star systems, planets, and moons, located in the Galaxy Map tab). Also, new-join characters will be updating their character profiles and IRP/IC (In Role-Play / In-Character) journals in our newly created RP Forum.
TNH Newsflash: Every airlock mysteriously opened at the same time. Oh, boy! Hold on to your bedpans!
"Fox" Galactic News Network
Non-Planet-Specific News from Across the Verse
Ongoing Contemporary Galactic Community-of-Worlds Issues:
Philosophical and religious debates continue at the Ivy League universities on all of the worlds spread out across our colonized Verse. The current 'hot topic' of debate?: why virtually every habitable and terraformable world we come across often has ruins and pyramids, plants and animals, but no comparable sentient life, no indications as to why or how such life might have vanished, and why there is no record or recollection of any previous human activity there, raising the follow-up questions: Who built what is now in ruins? Why are pyramids such a common architectural occurrence? Were these worlds terraformed over a much greater period of time to ensure their stable 'face-lifts'? ...and the wilder questions: Are we somehow creating these ruins merely by expecting them? And now that they are in such excellent condition as paradisaical 'Garden Worlds' (Class M planets, for all you astrophysics buffs out there), ...should we be expecting the imminent return of whoever shaped them that way?
Terraformed Stars:
The beautiful and stunning discoveries of several until-now unexplored and unnoticed solar systems in our arms of the Milky Way have led scientists and artists into a state of mass-euphoria and hurried expeditions. The 'new Suns' that have been found have had their photos and videos 'going viral' across The Cortex. Why? Because these special and rare stars have much dimmer glows allowing for indefinite direct viewing, a full rainbow of assorted and mixed color patches instead of a singular, monochromatic scheme to them, and because many of them even have clearly defined and stable 'continents' resting about their surface areas. Witnesses have described them as being "like bioluminescent, translucent, radiant versions of the fabled planet Earth", and words and images like these have sparked a growing curiosity and burning desire across all of colonized Space to set out in a tireless quest for more of these cosmic entities; logic now telling us all that surely... somewhere out there... there are many more just like them, and others still that are more amazing and breathtaking than them... and even some that are planet-sized, colonizable, and lucrative as resort world investments.
2516 Anno Domini
February, week 1:
1st - UAP Council Denies Access to Economic Reports
"The UAP Council has produced a report of the economic progress of UAP Space which underwent a deep recession following the attack on the Citadel. The UAP claims unemployment is falling amidst job growth, but the chairman of the Orion Protectorate has accused them of denying access to their statistical sources, thus allowing the UAP to manipulate the data in their favor. The UAP maintains that withholding sources is standard procedure in the civilian, federal government, and military sectors, and is vital to investor confidence."
2nd - Comet CR1331 Kingu Threatens Colonyworld of Belan
"The extrasolar comet CR1331 Kingu will soon pass by the colony world of Belan (Undercurrent). The comet contains a volatile gas element that the system's star will warm up, but it is not known how the reaction will alter the comet's trajectory. It is impossible to determine whether the comet will strike Belan or simply pass it by. Belan citizens are hastily evacuating the colony while their government petitions the 34 Tauri fleet to commission a dreadnought to intercept the comet."
3rd - Aish Ashland Submits DNA to Hollywood Bank of Fame
"Aish Ashland, granddaughter of energy magnate Jonah Ashland, attended her hearing this morning for red sand possession. "I think I and a whole lot of people don't even known why it's illegal," she said. "Biotics have stuff like this in their nervous systems twenty-four hours a day. Why is it legal for them?" Her supporters surrounded the courthouse hoping to get a glimpse of the socialite whose infamy hasn't stood in the way of her e-book deal or other engagements, such as the event this evening in which Aish's DNA will be donated to the Hollywood Bank of Fame."
5th - Kingu Comet Classified Harmless by ISAB
"A panel of experts at the Institute for the Study of Astronomical Bodies (ISAB) have classified the comet CR1331 Kingu as harmless to the colony world of Belan. They say the comet's outgassing process will alter its course and it will cleanly miss the planet. The reaction on Belan ranged from gratitude to disbelief, while the fleet admirals, who were considering sending a dreadnought to destroy the comet, welcomed the news and said they will send a news probe to observe the comet's historic passing."
6th - Hollywood Bank of Fame Rejects Aish Ashland's DNA
"Socialite Aish Ashland has had her DNA rejected by the Hollywood Bank of Fame on the grounds that it does not match the sample attributed to her health ID card. Preliminary analysis indicates the DNA she submitted was that of a close female relative. Office watercoolers galaxy-wide are buzzing with the news. New Las Vegas casinos have placed odds on the identity of the sample, covering all her known relatives. The most popular is her close cousin Lili at 2:1. Additionally, odds that this is a deliberate publicity stunt are currently placed at 1.5:1."
7th - New Dallas Giants Defeat Ai Shern Dragons 24-19 in Super Bowl DL
"Verse colonyworld citizens gathered around their vidsets today for Super Bowl DL, an annual sporting and media event that culminates the 34-Tauri-Union-Rules American-football season. The New Dallas Giants defied expectations and took down the Ai Shern Dragons in a tight 24-19 game. The highlight was a 69-yard pass from Londinian QB Bragus Thul. The game's top-3 hit commercials were Aldrin Labs' hilarious "Improvise", Unithirst's "Coffee Cola Rock 'n' Rolla", and Binary Helix's "Not My Future, Thanks." As for the greatest tease, it goes to the trailer for the soon-to-be summer blockbuster Nekyia Corridor, which sent sports fans to the Cortex trying to find out what the heck a nekyia was."
狐狸
新聞
兩個之一八五
January, week 4:
31st - 24th Fighter Group Honored for Role in Battle of the
Citadel
"The 24th Fighter Group of the 34 Tauri Fleet received the Galactic
Unit Citation today for their role in the Battle of the Citadel over two years
ago. It is the highest honor awarded to a military unit and recognizes
gallantry above and beyond those of the Palladium Star, awarded to all Citadel
and Fifth Fleet units who fought in the battle. The 24th were the first unit to
engage the geth flagship Sovereign. Unable to pierce Sovereign's kinetic
barriers, the unit nevertheless gave their lives distracting the warship and
the geth fleet during the Destiny Ascension's docking attempts to evacuate the
Citadel examination personnel. Only one-sixth of the fighter group survived the battle and
the offices of the UAP decided the most fitting honor would be one awarded
to the entire unit."
More: [Entire Article] Cortex Weblink
Under Construction
February, week 2:
8th - Scientists Reassert Fears About Kingu Comet
"A growing consortium of scientists have signed a Cortex petition claiming that the findings of the ISAB concerning the Kingu comet are
in grave error. Using telemetry from the Shining Sky orbital station, they
calculate that CR1331 Kingu will come close enough to produce a dangerous
meteor shower and possibly disrupt the planet gravitationally. Millions of
citizens are headed for higher ground to await the alleged doomsday, blocking
all traffic arteries and overwhelming spaceports. Travel to Belan has been
restricted."
9th - Raloi Welcomed to Citadel Space
"The UAP Council welcomes the planet Turvess to the galactic
community today. The planet's sentient humans, the Raloi, launched their first
space telescope into orbit last year, which detected the presence of the Space-cruiser Azedes. Tomorrow, visitors from all over the galaxy will land outside
six cities on Turvess, bearing welcome wishes and gifts for the Raloi. Tickets
for the Council's sponsored ships have been sold out for months, and due to
disease concerns, no other ships are legally allowed planetfall at that time. A
comm buoy near Turvess will be dedicated to sending welcome messages to the
planet for twenty galactic standard hours."
10th - Kingu Comet Devastates Belan
"The Kingu comet has hurtled past the colonyworld Belan,
and its disruption has been devastating. Though the main body of the comet did
not strike the surface of the planet, the comet, at one-quarter the size of
Belan's moon, disrupted tides all over the planet with its gravity. Tsunamis
have ravaged coastal cities all over the globe, breaking levees, flooding urban
centers, and drowning many citizens. The UAP Council has declared the
entire planet of Belan a disaster zone, and estimates of the full credit value
of the damage will take months."
11th - Galactic Organizations Pledge to Aid Belan
"The Kingu comet's wake of destruction continues to dominate the
news cycle. New video shows meteor showers caused by hot gasses breaking giant
chunks of ice off the comet. No population centers were struck by the impacts,
which left craters up to 180m in diameter. Meanwhile, the Interstellar Red
Cross, the Life-bearer Brigade, the organization Healing Waters,
and hundreds of other charities galaxy-wide have pledged their support to
housing and feeding the uncountable refugees of the planet."
12th - Comet's Toll on Belan Revealed
"Images coming out of the colonyworld Belan are brutal.
Though one might think an aquatics-familiar species such as humanity would survive
flooding, tsunamis more than 15 meters high crushed many living
close to the coasts. Collapsing buildings and broken power lines have also
caused casualties. Pest-driven diseases plague the refugee camps, and insects
and mold spores have infested abandoned neighborhoods. Reconstruction efforts
have begun in some cities, beginning with the all-important drainage of areas
still under water. Spaceport traffic is still jammed as millions of citizens
attempt to return to their homes."
14th - St. Valentine's Day Celebrated Across Earth Colonies
"Many planets and colonies celebrate St. Valentine's Day
today, a holiday themed around romantic love and the greeting card industry.
Prospective or established mating partners exchange love notes with one
another, and some add gifts of cut flowers, jewelry, or sugary confections in
the hopes of receiving sexual favors. Industry insiders estimate over 7 billion
Valentine messages will be sent this year throughout the human colonies. The
holiday is rapidly spreading among the Fringe worlds once ignorant of the occasion, who embrace its unusual
mix of commerce and reproduction."
February, week 3:
15th - Krogan Delegation Ejected from Raloi Welcome
Ceremonies
"The UAP Council delegation to the newly welcomed planet
Turvess ejected several dozen of its representatives today after the introduction of a sport called Kowla devolved into a brawl that left 3 dead and
14 injured. The representatives who introduced Kowla denounced the ejection, saying
that Kowla was successfully introduced to Turvess "with its traditions
fully intact," and that there was no need to overreact. A poll taken among
the Turvess indicated that only 21% opposed the move to remove the Kowla-favoring representatives from
the remainder of the ceremonies."
16th - Ellis Valterus Arrested in Tuchanka Dreadnought Scandal
"UAP authorities have arrested a lawmaker on the Citadel
who was funding a project to rebuild a dreadnought on the planet Tuchanka. Barack Pol-pot Stalin, duarch of the Meade Cluster, smuggled
everything from blueprints to rare materials to backpacks full of cash to the
Talyth clan, according to UAP officials. The sting operation to capture
Barack took one and a half years. If successfully prosecuted, Barack faces life
in prison with no possibility of parole."
17th - Hackers Arrested for Leaking Economic Reports
"Six members of a group calling itself TruthHax have been arrested
for the illegal uploading of sensitive economic data from the UAP Council.
An additional four members of the group were shot to death in what appears to
be an internal struggle. Tela Vasir, the Spectre assigned to the case, had no
comment on her role in these matters, saying only that she considers the case
resolved and is pleased with the rapid results."
18th - Raloi Delegation Sent to the UAP Council
"Now that the celebrations on the planet Turvess have ended, a
Raloi delegation has been sent to Londinium for a three-month stay. The
delegation will be educated in intergalactic law, history, alien biology and
culture, and the rudiments of mass effect physics. Due to an outbreak of the
H7N7 flu virus that infected the avian Raloi during the opening ceremonies on
their planet, the Raloi on Londinium will wear environmental suits whenever
they are in contact with an alien species."
19th - Government Response to Belan Disaster Criticized
"The governmental response to the situation on Belan is receiving
fire today. As fresh food supplies spoil, starvation and looting have become
rampant. Some cities such as New Plentiful have been spared the worst of the
chaos as their geography allows for emergency air- and spacelifts of supplies.
Others, such as the subarctic city of Whitecap, must deal with a paralyzing
lack of infrastructure as well as temperature extremes. The official global
death toll has reached 110,000 and estimates place the complete figure anywhere
from 1.1 to 3.5 million."
20th - Star-Studded Telethon Held for Comet Victims on Belan
"Tonight's telethon to assist the disaster-struck planet of Belan
should be a star-studded affair. A-list entertainers such as Alis Price
Vladamir Bukin will appear in the 2-hour special, directed by Ronny Lam. So
full is the guest list that the entire cast of the Cortex series Crashcart
was turned away at the door. Legends like Amita Valla will be putting in the
hours working the comm units. "We want to let Belan know we're a caring
galaxy," she says, "and if it takes some rich and spoiled
entertainers to call attention to the fact that a few million people just died,
we're there for you, sister.""
21st - Star of "Nekyia Corridor" Struck by
Lightning While Filming on Location
"Filming of the space epic Nekyia Corridor took a turn for the
worse today as lightning struck the leading man. Nathan Gold, star of the
5.1-billion-credits-so-far enterprise, was strapped to the surface of a
spaceship in the upper atmosphere of a gas giant when lightning hit the hull.
Insulated against most of the effect, the Golden One had his suit's electronics
suite fried and had to signal for assistance to get oxygen. Director Morgan
Bierster says that he hopes the footage will stay in the final cut of the film.
"You can't make stuff like this up," says Bierster. "It's going
to be a once-in-a-lifetime sensation.""
February, week 4:
22nd - Heartbeat Takes the Crown at This Weekend's Galactic
Box Office
"This weekend's galactic box office crown went to the new dramadey
hospital buddy actioner Heartbeat, at 3.8 billion credits, edging out the
romantic horror Night Winds at 2.9 billion. In at third is the sleeper hit With
Soft Shoe Number, at 800 million credits, surpassing its previous three weeks
on the charts. The no-budget comedy about a volus and an elcor trying to make
it on Broadway apparently has staying power, confounding elcor and volus
critics who roasted the film."
23rd - Separatists Claim Responsibility for Cruiser
Crash
"Militant separatists on the colonyworld Taetrus have claimed
responsibility for a downed commercial cruiser that crashed into a remote
farming village on the planet. Believed to be a botched hijacking, the cruiser
was going at orbital velocities when it hit the ground, creating a furrow three
kilometers long and setting fire to the surrounding countryside. There were no
survivors. Fire experts say the flight recorder is unlikely to have survived an
impact at such speeds, which can exceed thirty thousand kilometers per hour."
24th - This Year's One Future Summit Begins on Thessia
"The annual One Future Summit, a seven-day convention held on the homeworld Thessia by ecological conservation groups across the galaxy,
opened its doors today. Attendance for the convention is estimated at 200,000
per day with another 300,000 appearing virtually. All profits will be donated to
conservational causes. This year's theme is terraforming. The convention hosts
such luminaries as Iali T'Nuson and Ben Vabo. Elsewhere in the host city, the
more radical fringe has reportedly set up a parallel, underground convention
called the One Chance Summit in which ecoterrorism techniques are not barred
from discussion."
25th - Teenager Leads UAP Fighters on High
Speed Chase
"A Mantis spaceplane led the UAP fleet on a
high-speed chase tonight, originating in New Mexico City. Sixteen-year-old Jorge
Asensio reportedly stole the plane from a poorly secured mercenary landing pad,
having learned how to fly from a flight simulator computer game and the ship's
onboard VI. Following major highways to his school, he buzzed the soccer field
before local Air Force fighters were scrambled to deal with him.
Climbing to the upper atmosphere, he outran the pursuing planes, was then
pursued by UAP fighters in low orbit, then ran out of fuel
over the planet's southern ice cap. After parachuting from the plane, he froze to death before
authorities found his body. Charges of criminal negligence are now being filed
with the Tiburón Rojo mercenary company."
26th - Infamous Cerberus Operative Escapes Custody on
Trident
"Skye Turnick, the sole surviving member of the Cerberus cell
responsible for the now-infamous "torture den" of captive Fringe colonists on
the Terminus Systems planet Trident, escaped from custody at 9:37 local time
this morning. A paramilitary attack using vectored thrust gunships destroyed
the escort boats surrounding the prisoner transport and then took off with
Turnick. Other prisoners in the transport bore witness to the event, some of
them even helping the guards out of the water. Trident's Maritime Justice
Department reports no leads in locating the escape craft, noting that Trident
has only has a few high-res spy satellites or down-looking radar balloons to be
tasked to such an operation. Asked if she believes the attack was commanded by
Cerberus, Special Agent in Charge Angela Rhow said, "If it looks like a
bomb, and explodes like a bomb, it's a bomb.""
27th - Transworld 1 Opens Its Doors on the Planet Kosh
"Transworld 1 opened its doors for the first time today, inducting
it into official records as the tallest building in the known galaxy. Built on
the planet of Kosh in the Attican Traverse, Transworld 1 has its 1002 stories
devoted to shopping malls, office space, three hotels, a zoo and aquarium, and
of course parking. Situated on a world where the gravity is only 70% of
galactic standard, the building uses mass effect fields to weighten the load in
key areas. This extravagance is paid for by a marked increase in rent — office
space in Transworld 1 comes at a pricey 61,000 credits per square meter per
year."
28th - Trident Spaceports Searched for Cerberus Operative
"The manhunt to find Skye Turnick and his Cerberus allies has
slowed space traffic to a crawl on the planet of Trident. In their dragnet to
catch Turnick, the Global Maritime Justice has covered every spaceport on the
planet. Critics say it's not a wise strategy. "There seems to be a hurry
to show that they're doing something when the most likely route off the planet
is straight up," said Ranier Drakensburg, Mayor of Black Bay, Andrada. GMJ
responded in a press conference today, saying that they had no evidence that the
alleged Cerberus criminals had single-stage-to-orbit capability. Additionally,
many of the spaceports were already closed today due to the inclement weather
that plagues Trident throughout its rainy season."
March, week 1:
1st - Principal Photography on "Nekyia Corridor"
Halted After Tantrum
"Principal photography on the space epic "Nekyia
Corridor" came to a halt today as the leading lady Kate First walked off
the set. Phone footage of her tantrum has hit the Cortex, and helmer Morgan
Bierster says it isn't just another fake-reality eyeball-grabber. "If we
wanted free marketing, she'd have been nagging us naked," he quipped.
Scribe Eddie Karbeti has reportedly been brought in to do rewrites to the
script in order to soothe the savage starlet. Karbeti got the gig after the
28th script draft gave former writer Stan Kirbus permanent nerve damage in the
wrists. He'd better hurry; in three days, the lease is up on the mass effect
relay they're using as a set."
2nd - Dalatrass Narra of Mannovai Undergoes Surgery
"Dalatrass Narra of the colony Mannovai underwent surgery to
remove a stomach polyp today. The surgery lasted two hours, and the matriarch is expected to return to her duties late tomorrow night. One of her
personal doctors, Jiahe Urc, confirmed that the polyp was benign and only
noticeable due to a slight inflammation that had been causing the Dalatrass
pain. Before the operation, Narra signed a letter transferring power to
Vice-Dalatrass Husaru, since she would be under general anesthesia for the
duration of the surgery."
3rd - Cerberus Compound on Trident Raided
"The manhunt to find Skye Turnick came to a fiery and tragic
conclusion today. Acting on an anonymous tip, GMJ enforcers surrounded a
compound on the island of Ness. Cerberus operatives inside attempted to first
fight and then flee using the gunships they had used in the Turnick jailbreak.
Armor-piercing missiles brought one gunship down over the compound. The other,
fleeing the scene, was shot down and plummeted into a halfway house for runaway
youths. Firefighters are working to contain that blaze now. Two GMJ agents have
been killed, six wounded, and an estimated eleven people from the halfway house
have been hospitalized. No word yet on their condition. The GMJ will not give
details about the Cerberus connection, but it did confirm that the pilots of
both gunships died in the crashes."
4th - Marth Nations in Suspense as UAP Hears
Ford vs. Huerta
"The nations of Marth are in suspense tonight as the UAP hears Ford v. Huerta, the first case of a natural-birth leader using
reconstructive data storage to prolong his brain functions and stay physically
capable to perform his duties. Speaker of the House, Lisa Ford, has led the
charge against Huerta, saying that the last year of his term was illegitimate.
A stroke left the President legally dead and in cryocool for an hour and a half
before his brain functions were fully transferred to a computer. The amount of
memory degradation was never fully revealed. According to the local line of succession, if Huerta was considered dead, then power
would transfer to the Vice President and Speaker Ford would have held the
position of Vice President for the last year."
5th - R&B Singer Lady Sweat Dies Aged 24
"R&B singer Lady Sweat has died at age 24 in a medical
facility on Charon. The self-titled "hardest-working girl in show
business" and "musical ambassador of Bellerophon" was returning from
Mannovai in a commercial cruiser when solar activity touched off a proton
storm. Protons passed through the ship's hull, incapacitating the crew with
radiation poisoning by the time the cruiser reached Charon. Authorities
suspect that traces of alcohol, cocaine and maxx found in all of the passengers
during postmortem analysis may have been a contributing factor in the
passengers' failure to seek shelter in the cruiser's shielded compartment."
6th - Socialite Aish Ashland Under Fire After Lady Sweat
Comments
"Socialite Aish Ashland is under fire tonight for her comments
about the death of Leila Montrose, better known as Lady Sweat. "This just
goes to show that you can't do drugs and fly a spaceship at the same time,"
she quipped. "You've got to be responsible about it. I know I always snort up
somewhere safe, like a police station or courthouse". Her probation
officer was unavailable for comment."
7th - Simian Bacterial Fever Vaccine Supplies Running Out
"Supplies of the vaccine for simian bacterial fever have run out
on many planets across the galaxy. The UAP Committee on Disease Prevention
announced this week that production of the vaccine is going more slowly than
expected. Out of an estimated 95 billion doses scheduled to be produced by the
previous month, only 70 billion were made due to manufacturing and logistical
difficulties. Public health departments galaxy-wide have been flooded with
calls by people asking where they can get the vaccine. The CDP is warning
citizens against going to the black market for the vaccine; most such
operations are frauds."
March, week 2:
8th - Controversial E-Book has Successful Midnight Launch
"The controversial tell-all e-book "Criminal Negligence: The
UAP Council and the True Story of the Geth Threat" went on sale at
midnight last night and was lapped up by lovers of conspiracy theories and
politics everywhere. Written by a C-SEC officer personally responsible for Councilor Tevos' safety, "Negligence" alleges that the UAP Council knew the Geth were travelling outside the Perseus Veil long before
their attack on Eden Prime. Other revelations, such as the Geth spreading to
not one but five planets before their attack on the Citadel, are now being
revealed to crank up the hype on the author's tour of the Council's
homeworlds."
9th - Manal Taken Off Critically Endangered List
"The manal, a biotically active bipedal animal commonly known as
the "asari chimpanzee", has been taken off the critically endangered
list after two decades of conservation efforts. "This has been an enormous
task, calling together the very best of geneticists, ethologists, zoos,
conservation groups, and grassroots support", said Interplanetary Wildlife
Fund president Diaza T'Rome. The primary cause of the manal's reduced numbers
had been habitat loss due to encroaching cities."
10th - Hijacked Cruiser's Last Moments Detailed
"Analysis of the flight path and transmissions of the MSV Sevrum,
the commercial cruiser that crashed on Taetrus last month, reveals chilling
details of the hijacked flight. As the flight attendants were taken hostage,
the pilots turned the ship at the terrorists' request, but not in the desired
direction. When the terrorists stormed the cockpit and overpowered the pilots,
the flight became erratic as they sought to gain altitude and regain their
bearings. Finally, as the crew fought back, the ship rolled and yawed before
crashing to the ground and disintegrating. Fortunately, the pilots had disabled
the ship's FTL drive, which could have caused a megaton-scale impact."
11th - Petitioner's Witness Testifies in Ford v. Huerta
"Expert witnesses were introduced today in the Systems Alliance
trial of Ford v. Huerta, starting with the petitioner's side. Dr. Samuel
Wachhaus testified today that President Huerta was brain-dead for too long to
make a full recovery. Questioned on Huerta's apparent cognitive health
afterward, Wachhaus testified that the Virtual Intelligence (VI) ran Huerta's artificial memory so
successfully that it took over his brain functions so that "there was no
Huerta anymore. This is not a person with a VI memory, it's a VI with a
partially-organic operating system". The respondent's experts will begin
testimony tomorrow."
12th - Defendant's Witness Asserts President Huerta Made
Full Recovery
"Expert witness Dr. Lin Shiyin testified in the Systems Alliance
trial of Ford v. Huerta today. He claimed that the former President made a full
recovery from a temporarily brain-dead state. Stumbling a little when grilled
on Huerta's timeline of cognition, Lin nevertheless made the case for Huerta
being in full control once his motor functions and memory were assigned
synthetic analogues. "To believe that he is now a different person, a
synthetic, is to draw a line where no line is needed", he argued. "A
new man did not appear on the table when the first open-heart surgery was
performed. His life was merely extended beyond what was thought possible at the
time"."
13th - Galactic Combat Sports League Alters Heavyweight
Title Card After Illness
"The Galactic Combat Sports League was forced to alter its title
card last night after heavyweight contender Bant Cruor came down with simian
bacterial fever. "Bant says he wants to fight, but he's never been this
sick in his life", says corner man Leif Karlsson. "He's puking out his stomach. If he got into the cage now, the only thing he could do is hope
the smell keeps Ghuli away". Rox Ghuli, for his part, understands. "I
don't want to defend my title against someone who's not at their best. The fans
want a fight, not a slaughter". However, a slaughter is what they got when
Randy "Giant Killer" Dozois substituted for Cruor that evening. Dozois didn't stand a chance against Ghuli, getting knocked out by the 150-kilo
pugilist after just 41 seconds."
14th - Earth Scientists Win Hitara Prize
"A team of Earth scientists in Australia have won the Hitara Prize
for Biology for their work on Prothean comm towers. Their research found that
the towers produced small but significant amounts of ionizing radiation, enough
to damage the DNA of Earth creatures such as fruit flies and bees. It is now
believed the Protheans were resistant to low amounts of radiation and avoided
deploying comm towers on planets where they would have an ecological impact.
This research marks the first Hitara Prize for Earth scientists,
where they are often at a disadvantage compared to those on worlds that aren't so heavily restricted when it comes to studying and utilizing advanced technology."
March, week 3:
15th - UCIM Responds to Lay-Off Plan With Protest March on
Thessia
"The United Congress of Industrial Miners (UCIM) marched in protest today
outside the UAP Council building in New Arara on the planet of Thessia. An
estimated 1.5 million union workers and advocates came out to voice their
opposition to the Council's plan to lay off more than 90,000 eezo miners,
shippers, and refiners. Ostensibly designed to trim the budget deficit in a
year of financial turmoil, the plan is seen as a pretext for union-busting by
the UCIM. "We know this galaxy runs on eezo, and in a year of recession
and slow growth, now is not the time to commit financial suicide", stated
UCIM spokesperson Nareesha Rajput. Council press secretary Vaninth T'Joan
responded with a prepared statement: "It is our job to remain fiscally
responsible to our member planets, and in tough times like these, we are forced
to make unpopular decisions". Asked if robots could do the jobs the
Council has cut, T'Joan said, "That is my understanding, yes"."
16th - "Husks 2: Awl Justice" Dominates Weekend
Box Office
"The galactic box office this weekend was dominated by "Husks
2: Awl Justice". The adaptation of the teen-survival/horror/legal-thriller
raked in an impressive 2.1 billion credits, followed closely by the guess-what's-coming-to-dinner romantic comedy "She's a Keeper", which earned 1.8 billion. The
week's most dismal showing is from the much-hyped disaster/action
flick/coming-of-age story "Taze Patterson: Part 1: The Beginning",
which earned just 433 million. Cortex.sharpstickintheeye.com calls it "a cheese
grater for the senses. It's the simulstim equivalent of pity sex... Somehow,
even the action scenes seem bottom-end and stilted, as if created by homeless
people finding scraps from better vids in the studio garbage bins"."
17th - Asari Holiday of Janiris Celebrated Throughout
Council Space
"Colonists throughout Council Space are celebrating the holiday of Janiris today, a springtime fertility ritual marking the new year.
Janiris is celebrated with the making and wearing of flower wreaths, exchanged
among friends and lovers. This year, Janiris falls upon the same day as the
Earth holiday of St. Patrick's Day, a once-religious holiday now widely
celebrated in secular fashion with parades and the consumption of green, fermented drinks. To mark the dual holiday, humans are making wreaths
containing shamrocks, the festival's traditional plant. Londinium's New Chicago River,
usually dyed green for the day, will be dyed blue as a nod to Janiris."
18th - TR-15 Letus Becomes Closest Probe to a Neutron Star
"Astronomers are excited tonight as the probe TR-15 Letus comes
the closest any probe has ever come to a neutron star. The star in question is
in a globular cluster approximately 18,000 light-years from Earth. Though it
contains slightly more than two times the mass of Earth's star, its radius is a
tiny 15.8 kilometers, spinning at approximately 24% of the speed of light. The
probe was sent to the star via the Kappa Iota Relay, a charted but rarely-used
relay predating the Rachni War. The relay was abandoned due to the highly
lethal radiation found on the other side, but the small doses that pass through
the relay are manageable for a shielded probe. Control of the radiation
emission and reception of Letus's signal is made possible by the infamous Dark
Switches, a set of previously unknown control functions the Protheans installed
on mass effect relays."
19th - GNN Correspondent Robin Lasky Arrested on
Tuchanka
"GNN News correspondent Robin Lasky has been arrested as part of a
mass sweep by authorities in the Republic of Ghurst on the planet Tuchanka.
Lasky, who was covering the rebellion within the state, is being held
without charge at the notorious Urlukah Federal Prison, where she may be
imprisoned for life or face the death penalty. Already, a Cortex petition
begging for her release has gathered over 50,000 identi-tags, but experts
remain skeptical. "Tuchanka prisons don't respond well to human rights
campaigns", says Neil Ulster of Universal Reporters. "They respond to
ransoms"."
20th - Dalemitrians Gaining Ground on Earth, Palaven and
Mannovai
"A new religion is gaining ground on Palaven and Mannovai.
The Church of the Divine Plan, also known as the Dalemitrians, believe that the
Citadel was constructed by the Protheans as a Space-ark, used to preserve life
when gamma ray bursts and other lethal space weather sweeps through the galaxy
exterminating all but the faithful. According to adherents, this disaster will
strike "near the end of the century" and the Citadel Council is
criminally liable for refusing to import species' DNA to the Space-station.
C-SEC classifies the religion as an apocalyptic cult, and cites their numerous
weapons violations as a "troubling sign". The church's annual income
is estimated at nearly 900 million credits."
21st - GNN Requests Release of Arrested Correspondent
"New footage tonight from Tuchanka shows that the prison where GNN News correspondent Robin Lasky is being held is ill-suited for any inmates.
The temperature stays at 37 degrees Celsius during the day, parasites breed in the
cells, and the food is usually live. Originally detained without charge, Lasky
is now accused of spying. She is reportedly bunking with two other females,
one who brutally stabbed her mate to death, and another convicted of murder and
grand larceny. GNN has requested Lasky's immediate release, but officials
say she will be part of a mass-hearing in a few days."
March, week 4:
22nd - Reconstruction Begins on Comet-Devastated Belan
"It has been one Belanese month [six Earth weeks], since the comet
Kingu caused devastating tides that killed over a million Belanese. Now, with
the water drained wherever it can be drained, the rebuilding starts. This
planet has never seen so many alien humans. Migrant workers
are a common sight; so are the charity volunteers and religious groups. The
UAP government and its scientists are daily targets of hatred and blame for
not doing more to stop Kingu. UAP Council Emergency Services estimates the refugee
count is over four million displaced, either moving inland or to flotation
cities and other planets, or waiting in temporary housing for new habitats to
be built. Normalcy may eventually come, but it still feels distant."
23rd - "Connected" Unveiled at Milgrom Museum of
Art Seasonal Reopening
"Installation artist June Fasha unveiled her latest massive
creation at the seasonal reopening of the Milgrom Museum of Art on planet
Bekenstein. The piece, titled "Connected", features a single beam of
white light from Milgrom's moon colony aimed straight down to the museum using
carefully-placed reflectors and anti-scatter algorithms to bypass atmospheric
interference. Fasha's selection as the featured artist at this event was hotly
debated among art critics as she has been accused of producing 'stunt art' to
ensure notoriety rather than artistic merit. Fasha's patron Donovan Hock took
exception to the criticism. "Art is an expression of one mind attempting
to stimulate another", Hock said. "Just because it's big and flashy
doesn't mean it's without value. 'Connected' proves that today's artists will
go to fantastic lengths, even to another planet, to find another mind. If its
medium overshadows smaller pieces, well, that's a commentary on the modern
individual's sense of insignificance on the galactic stage"."
24th - Clawball Legend Neno Raxirian Returns After
Suspension
"After a five-game suspension, clawball legend Neno
Raxirian is back on the scene just in time for the semifinals against the Tarax
Threshers. Raxirian was suspended for having a jarvus-string racquet, an
illegal advantage he claimed not to know about. Coach Helven can't wait to get
the midfielder back into the mix. "He's got some rust to shake off, but
I'd rather have a rusty Neno picking up grounders and sending them downfield
than anyone else. He gets the ball to the shooters, and that's what
matters". Raxirian himself is modest about his accomplishments. "I
just want to put this behind me", he says. "I don't like black marks
on my record, and I sure don't need any help putting that ball through against
the Thresher line"."
25th - Graduate Student Killed by Pod Crabs on Virmire
"A 24-year old graduate student has been killed by pod crabs on
the planet Virmire, officials say. The student, Jeff Sizemore, was on Virmire
to do his master's thesis on tide pools and was on a beach when the creatures
struck. The large pod crabs feed on mollusk-like creatures and are usually
considered harmless by Virmire natives. There were no warning signs of an
attack. "The crabs are dumb as stumps and aren't afraid of anything",
says Virmire resident Rhane Elaxen. "You can drive a tank through a pack of
these things and they won't react". Members of Sizemore's research team
found his mauled body, which bore no marks of pod crab mouths. "I don't
understand", said fellow student Gayle Schreiber. "It's like they
killed him just because he was there"."
26th - Arrested GNN Correspondent Attends Court Hearing
"GNN correspondent Robin Lasky attended her hearing in Ghurst
today along with 40 others. The charges were read en masse, and no legal
counsel was provided. However, when asked if anyone wished to speak on the
accused's behalf, a GNN producer detailed the history of Lasky's
correspondence, saying it was balanced and often supportive of the regime. The
ruzad, or judge, said her footage would be reviewed to determine her guilt or
innocence. An individual trial for Lasky will be held in seven days."
27th - Noveria Now's Annual "50 CEOs Not to Mess
With" Released
"Noveria Now's annual "50 CEOs Not to Mess With" issue
hits the Cortex today. The e-mag's number one this year is Eldfell-Ashland Energy
exec Jonah Ashland, beating Ganar Yulaz of the Blood Pack mercenary company and
third-placer Killira T'Nama of Binary Helix. Says the mag: "Ganar can send
goons to your door, but Ashland can set the price of helium-3. Which is more
likely to pinch you, your family, your business, and your government?"
Coming in last was newbie Marcus D'Angelo of Spyte Media, whose spat with Prime
Minister Amul Shastri of Earth led to a deluge of mocking viral videos until
Shastri cried uncle. "We'll never look at a Hindu cow the same way
again", concludes the "Now" team, "and fortunately for the
cows, neither will Shastri"."
28th - Protracted Fighting on Garvug After Aborted Coup
"Tonight: Inside the war on Garvug. A Terminus Systems world with
a population of 40% separatist and 30% loyalist, Garvug has always been a rough
place. But now corporate armies, many of them from companies based in UAP Space, have crossed the line. They have backed a coup of the separatist clan-based
government in exchange for unfettered access to the planet. Eco-engineering
firms like Binary Helix and Guanghui Solutions seek license to repair the
balance of nature at any cost, while mining firms like Sonax Industries want
access to state-protected iridium deposits. The aborted coup has turned into protracted
fighting in the capital of Dhazil, with the state's army slowly gaining the
upper hand. As night falls and reinforcements for both sides arrive from
off-planet, this is still anyone's game."
March, week 5:
29th - State and Corporate Forces Clash Outside Garvug's
Capital City
"The day was marked by fierce fighting on the planet Garvug in the
Valhallan Threshold. Comm buoys aimed at the star Paz have been taken out by
state starships, cutting the system off from all outside communication. The
Intergalactic Press got a news ship through the relay, bringing video from the
planet's capital Dhazil. Corporate forces fought for air and space supremacy,
shooting down at least two ships but losing five of their own. Artillery
pounded power stations and airfields from outside the capital, paving the way
for what will no doubt be a push into the streets. "This is going to get
worse before it gets better", said a Guanghui armored unit commander.
"They don't know who they're dealing with"."
30th - Human Holiday of Passover Celebrated
"Today marks the human holiday of Passover, commemorating the
liberation of slaves through the power of an omnipotent deity. Members of the
Jewish religion celebrate with a special meal of unleavened bread, wine, bitter
herbs, and the meat of a young herd animal. During the meal an ancestral story
is recited about the flight from their oppressors and the miracles that saved
the Jewish people and gave them law. Songs, prayers, and a ritual reading of
questions designed to educate the young round out the ceremony. Traditions
differ on whether or not members of other faiths are allowed at the meal: one rule says
the presence of non-Jews makes the meal impure, but another rule says that all
who are hungry should come and eat. The second view has dominated in recent
years, and small businesses have sprung up that specialize in making
dextro-amino-acid-based food for participants with this now-common dietary need evolution."
31st - "Densing" Gaining Popularity After Eezo
Price Fall
"With the price of eezo falling to affordable levels, the strange
and dangerous sport of "densing" has caught on among young people of
all colonies. Competitors wear mass effect field generators turned up to twice
normal and attempt to shove one another out of a ring. Described as "sumo
for the skinny", the sport can easily result in strains, sprains, or
broken bones when participants crash to the ground. But fine-tuning the
generators allows for competitions that would never take place in a traditional
gym. "I think it's hilarious", says 50-kilo veteran Jewel Dyson who
has a 13-1-1 record. "I can throw guys two or three times my size across
the room"."