Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Wedding bells are ringing after a year

Date: 300408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Farpoint Valley

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

As was recently discovered, Jazmine and Ikus Agapor, one of the sector's most known on/off couple, are finally ready to tie the knot. After an engagement almost a year ago, the premature birth of their son Darron 10 month ago, the disappearance of Ikus for months, it seems they may make their relationship official soon.

Of course, anyone familiar with the couple, their relatives and their past troubles won't hold their breath, but prepare for the worst - and we're not talking about getting left at the altar. No, wedding guests are advised to come well-armed, and keep an eye out for suspicious activity, in case there's another kidnapping or murder attempt.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Black Sands raided

Date: 270408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Black Sands

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Yesterday, a group of unidentified, armed people raided the town of Black Sands on Tatooine. Target of the raid was a supply depot of the Remahr Company right outside the town. According to what reports are available, the raid was successful.

Black Sands is rumored to be in conflict with Jabba the Hutt's organisation for weeks, and some sources claim this raid originated from that. Other parties expressed concern that this will lead to a new escalation, and that the conflict may spread to other areas of the planet, namely cities like Mos Eisley. A more cynical citizen that preferred to remain anonymous claimed that Mos Eisley, long known for its violent street, would not notice any additional gang violence.

Freighter chased from Naboo to Lok

Date: 270408
Planet: Naboo System/Lok System

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Two days ago, an unidentified YT-2400 class freighter on the way to Rori was intercepted by an armed freighter of the same type and a Vaksai heavy fighter and engaged near Rori's orbit. Following several exhanges, the freighter managed to hyper out of the system, under pursuit.

According to reports, the freighter arrived in the Lok system, whith the pursuers close behind, and was forced to land after another engagement in the planet's orbit. The fate of its crew and cargo remains unknown so far.

House bombed after technical malfunction

Date: 270408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Farpoint Valley

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Two days ago, a small house was hit by a bombing strike 600 meters north of Farpoint Valley, and completely destroyed. According to a bulletin from the Navy office in Bestine, the bombing was caused by a malfunction of the targetting computer on a TIE Oppressor on a training flight.

Unconfirmed reports claim the bombing killed half a dozen people, but according to the local authorities, the house was not registered, and scavengers had already gone over the site before investigators arrived.

The pilot responsible for the flight was said to have apologised in person to mayor Clarissa Goldear of Farpoint Valley.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

IMC Convoy encounters increased pirate activity

Date: 240408
Planet: Tatooine/Naboo System/Ord Mantell
Region: Farpoint Valley/Nova Orion Station

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

While in the past, many attacks on the regular IMC cargo convoy happened in the Naboo system, the convoy of two days ago did not encounter any hostiles during their trip through the system.

However, once reaching the Ord Mantell system, the three freighters forming the convoy, Ryian Coron's YT-1300 "Spinning Cloud", Amillo Fauth's YT-2400 "Recreant Sun", and Auros Drayen's "It's Irrelevant", also a YT-2400 class ship, were beset by numerous Ixiyen fighters, and took several minutes to reach the safety of the Nova Orion station, delivering new ship-grade steel.

The convoy took no damages despite a short detour near or inside an asteroid field, and the cargo was safely delivered.

IMC stock rose 5% following this at the Coronet stock exchange.

New Troopers in Mos Eisley

Date: 240408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Mos Eisley

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Storm trooper operations in Mos Eisley often see a lot of casualties, due to the amount of violent criminals and rebels in the city, ready to fight at the drop of a hat. In the past, several stormtrooper units operated in the city despite the losses, some managing to restore something ressembling order, if only for a limited time. The 488th Law Enforcement Division, the IXth Legion, Dark Infantry, the 13th, ITAF are among the units who patrolled the streets.

These days, there seems to be a new unit assigned to the hive of scum and Villainy. According to rumors, they have the nickname "Hand of Judgement", and in true stormtrooper tradition, shoot first and bag bodies later.

If this new unit's placement happened in response to casualties taken earlier by other units is unclear, but as a few people already learned, the new unit's troopers shoot quicker than others. Some of the town's regulars might do well to be a bit more careful when drinking at their favorite watering hole.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Firefight in Canyon

Date: 210408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Mos Espa

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Three days ago, a trade convoy consisting of mutiple landspeeders and skiffstravelling from Wayfar to Mos Espa came under attack in a Canyon near Mos Espa. The convoy had suffered troubles before, when a vehicle hit a rogue bantha, and when a landspeeder suffered an engine failure, slowing the convoy down in the Canyon.

Using the cover and concealment provided by the twisting Canyon, the raiders hit the convoy hard despite numerous guards on speeder bikes and in landspeeders. While the exact details are unknon, a local farmer saw several traces of heavy fighting, and destroyed gear.

The remaining cargo, whose exact nature is not known, was loaded in a waiting gunboat in Mos Espa, and transported off-planet.

According to unconfirmed rumors, this incident was connected to rising tensions in Tatooine's underworld.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

IMC Convoy attacked by rogue TIEs

Date: 170408
Planet: Tatooine/Naboo System/Ord Mantell
Region: Farpoint Valley/Nova Orion Station

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Two days ago, another IMC Convoy came under attack on its route to Ord Mantell. The attack happened in the Naboo system, like a number of other attacks. The convoy consisted of the YT-1300 "Spinning Cloud" flown by Captain Ryian Coron, and escorted by five starfighters.

Shortly before reaching the jump point in the Naboo system, a raider attacked. While it was destroyed after a short dogfight, three more raiders attacked, trying to reach the freighter.

The escort crafts managed to tie the attackers up and allowed the "Spinning Cloud" to reach hyperspace and then Ord Mantell safely, without a shot hitting her shields, but at the cost of four ships.

Unlike past attacks, the ships used by the raiders were state of the art - two Vaksais and two TIE Interceptors wer reported by the survivors. Neither IMC nor the Imperial Navy commented on the presence of TIEs in the ranks of the raiders, but rumors of an Imperial Star Destroyer gone rogue near Ord Mantell persist.

Arson or Accident?

Date: 170408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Black Sands

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

The conflict between Jabba the Hutt's organisation and the Remahr Company of the town of Black Sands is heating up. After the blockade started by Jabba failed to stop several freighters, the town's warehouse and med center was reported to have suffered from a fire caused by a "fuel cell" malfunction. While those reports so far have not been confirmed, arson is a regular tactic used by criminals in the past. Allegedly, the first clinic in Farpoint City fell victim to arson as well, after a dispute of the owner with Jabba the Hutt.

Things are starting to look dire for Tatooine, since Black Sands has proven to be no push over, and the spectre of a bloody gang war looms even closer over the planet. Mercenaries however are looking forward to increased business, both on the ground and in space as both Jabba's cartel and Black Sands as well as anyone fearing to be caught in the crossfire is likely to hire additional manpower for the coming weeks.

Jabba launches a blockade of Black Sands

Date: 170408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Black Sands

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Rumors of trouble between Jabba the Hutt and a new town named Black Sands on Tatooine, allegedly run by a "Remahr Company", circulate since some time on the desert planet.

Twelve days ago, things escalated when Jabba's men attempted to stop all cargo heading to Black Sands by installing a "quarantine" in Tatooine's orbit. Multiple ships were searched, but several freighters were reported to break through the blockade, and land safely at the town. With a possible gang war spilling into space, regular trade is in danger as well, since the line between "blockade forces" and outright piracy is thin indeed on Tatooine. The Tatooine Trading Company and IMC both released statements to the extent that regular cargo business was not affected, but rumors persist that both corporations are looking for additional escorting crafts.

Bestine's garrison was not available for comments, citing increasing pressure by rebel forces in the sector as a reason for their absence during this event.

Suit against Jeric Varrit settled out of court

Date: 170408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Mos Eisley

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Our readers may be familiar with the suit the Siltar Group brought to court against Jeric Varrit as legal representatives of Htrah, famous Mon Calamari musician. Htrah's laywer Celox Scorpio had no trouble filing the suit, but there were serious difficulties getting Mister Varrit to court - as anyone familiar with him expected.

The latest news is that the matter was settled out of court, and - to the surprise of some - not by violence, but by a financial settlement. From what is known, Jeric Varrit agreed to pay 65'000 credits in exchange for the suit being dropped.

According to some rumors Jeric Varrit celebrated this outcome by dancing in hot pants in Jailbirds, but no pictures were availble as proof.

It remains to be seen if civilian suits become a more common reaction to Tatooine's violence. Most locals are sceptical since "hiring a bounty hunter is cheaper than hiring a laywer, and you don't feel like having to shower after the hiring".

Bothan shot after attempted robbery

Date: 170408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Mos Eisley

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Mos Eisley remains as violent as it ever was. Last night, a bothan was shot multiple times after "trying to teach a friend how to live in Mos Eisley". Said teaching involved an attempt to demonstrate where to stab an ubese, to which the ubese, unsurprisingly, took offense, which he expressed with a number of well-aimed blaster shots to the back and limbs of the bothan.

As an onlooker who provided first aid to the bothan later remarked, "at least he taught his friend that trying to stab armed and armored people is not how you survive in Mos Eisley".

Thursday, April 3, 2008

IMC Convoy reaches Ord Mantell

Date: 030408
Planet: Tatooine/Naboo System/Ord Mantell
Region: Farpoint Valley/Nova Orion Station

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Two days ago, the weekly IMC Convoy, composed of the YT-1300 class "Spinning Cloud", captained by Ryian Coron, the YT-2400 class "It's Irrelevant" of Captain Auros Drayen, and the YT-1300 class "Silent Night" flown by Nyrena K'tae, the daughter of the previous owner, set out for Ord Mantell. The trip through the Naboo system saw no trouble, but arriving in the Ord Mantell system, the three freighters were ambushed by a "Vigo" Class Gunship near the station.

The freighters used their higher speed and acceleration to evade, and lure the probable pirate ship away, then sped past their pursuer to reach the station before it could follow them back.

All ships reached the station, although the "Silent Night" took damage to the engine right when entering the docking bay. The cargo, however, made it.

IMC stock rose 4,5 % following this news.

Imperial Navy Defeated in Deep Space

Date: 030408
Planet: Deep Space

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Five days ago, a massive offensive of the Imperial Navy ended with a sound defeat of the forces involved at the hands of a task force of the Rebel Alliance. Despite support by an Imperial Star Destroyer, the Imperial fleet was unable to destroy their objective, a space station serving as a base for the rebel fleet, and ended up losing the Star Destroyer itself.

While details are not clear - the whole battle so far is classified as a "skirmish" in official news - it seems as if the Rebel Alliance achieved a masive numerical superiority in the system prior to the battle. Imperial Sector command did not comment on such, but training schedules at the naval academy were accelerated, and a number of older units were considered for reactivation.

Jeric Varrit Sued?

Date: 030408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Mos Eisley

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

Jeric Varrit, driving force behind the founding of Twin Rivers, and known as a troublemaker in various circles, is getting sued by the Siltar group after he stabbed the famous Mon Calamari musician and entertainer Htrah a few days ago.

The incident in question is convulted, Mr. Varrit apparently claiming that he was acting in defense of a woman Htrah had been threatening with a sword, a weapon illegal in Twin Rivers, while the Siltar group considers the attack completely unprovoked.

Among people familiar with Jeric, the chances of the man attending court, much less adhering to any ruling not in favor of him, are considered slim to none, but the Siltar Group's management cited several incidents in the past where Jeric submitted to the law, so it remains optimistic.

In any case, for the Outer Rim, where "taking it to court" usually means Jabba's court, where his bounty hunters and thugs are hired to deal with problems, the plan to use a civilian court to deal with violence is a novel idea indeed. It remains to be seen, however, if it is a valid solution, especially in the light of the Civil War's eroding of society all over the galaxy.

TTC loses another ship

Date: 030408
Planet: Naboo System

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

A week ago, TTC, the Tatooine Trading Company, lost another freighter, the YT-2400 class "TTC-Sunbeam", in a pirate attack on a IMC-sponsored convoy. The convoy, consisting of the "Sunbeam" and the "Spinning Cloud", an older YT-1300 class freighter, was on the way to Ord Mantell, escorted by two Y-Wings and a Z-95 when it was attacked by unidentified pirates in the Naboo system.

The first attack was foiled when the escorting craft engaged the pirates, holding them off while the two freighters made their escape, but after the escorts were destroyed, the pirates took up the pursuit, and caught the freighters shortyl afterwards.

Despite first-class engines, the freighters were unable to lose the high-speed pursuit - two vaksais and an X-Wing were reported - and the Sunbeam was disabled, then destroyed after the crew used their escape pods. The Spinning Could, piloted by Captain Coron, and carrying the ore cargo, was able to reach Ord Mantell however.

A TTC spokesman announced that the the firm was replacing the Sunbeam, and would keep providing charter ships for a variety of missions. The rates for escort/decoy missions might rise though.

Gang War breaking out?

Date: 030408
Planet: Tatooine
Region: Wayfar

Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).

According to recent information, there's an outbreak of gang-related violence on Tatooine, aimed at the leading crime syndicate on the desert planet, Jabba the Hutt's.

As of two nights ago, 13 of Jabba's Enforcers were confirmed dead near a shuttle. The letters " A K ", were painted on the shuttles landing strip. The only witness thought he saw an armored clad sentient come and leave the scene.

The identity of the assailant's employer, if there is any, is not yet known, but among the usual suspects is Lady Valarian, Jabba's chief rival for control of Tatooine's underworld. However, there are several other likely suspects.