Molotov

At least 300 people were killed and more than 3547 injured in two biological attacks on the Moscow Metro during the morning rush hour, officials say. Female suicide bombers are believed to have carried out the attacks on trains that had stopped at two stations in the heart of the Russian capital.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for being behind the attacks. But Russian security services believe the bombers are linked to militant groups in the North Caucasus region. Past suicide bombings in the capital have been carried out by or blamed on rebels fighting for independence from Russia.
The Freehold has confirmed that it has lost contact with one of its ships in the Asteroid Belt, the last information that came from the soldier bots and their human officers storming a large enemy ship. Their body cameras show seemingly the ship itself attacking them. The camera is disabled soon after, as they are crushed inside the ships. A freehold spokesperson confirmed that this is a known pirate faction in the Asteroid Belt, and suggested they may be working with Luna.

Out in the quiet spaces between the edge and the inner, there is more than just nothing.

Thrusters burn in strict controlled bursts. The three of them nuzzled against the solid rock of the asteroid, getting as close as they dared. Swift bursts of microwave laser tightbeams between them kept them co-ordinated.

++-- Are you ready?

+--- I was born ready.

+++- Just checking the numbers one last time. AI says the trajectory is good if we pull the burn off.

++-- Well then, let's do this.

Engines go to full roar, H3 fusion releasing tiny suns as they all push against the rock. There's a groan as one of them scrapes the surface for a moment. Then the rock is with them, flying out of it's eons long orbit. They push it along for several moments, then split off into a triangle. The rock flies on straight and true toward the glistening blob of Jupiter.

+++- Someone's in for a surprise in six months...

There is a noise that can be only described as laughter, but would make most people's hair stand on end. They beam one more time together, then split up to go and trawl further along the border.

+--- Catch you guys around.


~~~~~

She planted her feet against the surface of the rock, her breast heaving as the clamps dug in. She was over two metres tall, arms and legs like those on a cargo loader. Long dreadlocks dangled behind her, down her naked spine as she sweated under the weight of the drill. The dome was a warm place but the mine was hot enough to be mostly uncovered but for protective gear. The implants in her skull released a burst of adrenaline and she let out a soft gasp. She swung the drill around and planted it into the pocket of ice, ammonia and if she was lucky, H3. She pulled her mask down and turned on the vacuum extractor that ran through the drill core.

The massive excavation drill made her shake, even with a body that was almost wholly cybernetic. Soon she'd have enough banked for the final step. The only thing she wondered about missing was sex, but she'd heard there were things that could be done about that. The metal of her fingers still had some sensation, nerve endings of copper instead of flesh. Her chest heaved as she kept the drill against the ice. She pushed it deep into the tight crevass she excavated, teeth gritting. A gasp of satisfaction escaped her lips when she heard the low 'ding' in her ear. That meant the drill had pulled some H3. Soon enough, she'd be free of the work and on to greater things. Out amongst the stars

~~~~~

"Hear me out on this one, man."

"Okay. Fine."

"Black. Samurai."

Assunta nearly turned off her comm-device. For five years she had been the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Mlima Wa Uhuru Colony. Five years. And not once had her Deputy stopped to consider the utter insanity of the suggestions he made, a couple every month. They weren't just unworkable, they were idiotic. Once, he wanted a life-size recreation of the Great Zimbabwe ruins to be built within one of the domes, supposedly to educate the youths who had never seen Earth about their ancient history. Turns out, it was actually for a tourist ad some Earther corporation was selling him on. They needed a fancy background for one shoot, and thought it would be cheaper than just going to the actual archaeological site and getting filming permits there.

"Kabo, I swear to god. Only two words out of your and I already feel like I've been subjected to offensive racial stereotypes."

"No no, hear me out, Director. It'll be worth it." She sighed, as her younger colleague rambled on.

"As it turns out, the first known foreign-born person accepted into the exclusive ranks of the Japanese aristocrats, as an armed retainer - a samurai - serving under a lord, was a man by the name of Yasuke. According to the Jesuit François Solier, he might have been from Mozambique, although others have suggested for example Angola or Ethiopia. He arrived in the country in 1579 alongside a Jesuit delegation, and took service with the daimyo Oda Nobunaga. Jesuit sources and several Japanese archivists argee that this black man gained rank, his own residence, and a ceremonial katana, all signs of great respect, and his service continued for several years until the death of his master."

Huh. She didn't know that. Weird, but fascinating. "That's... actually interesting, Kabo. But what's your point?" As she spoke, she noticed he was sending a file to her. It was a traditional Japanese painting, depicted a black man in service to a 17th century European delegation.



"My point, Madame Director, is that for the past few weeks, you've been complaining that we don't have enough events going on right now, that we need to broaden our horizons, to become more inclusive in our visions. Be less boring, in short. And what's less boring than this?"

Next, he sent her several links. They connected to information regarding a set of historical re-enactors and cultural associations based in Kasei City, halfway across the planet. She sighed again, smiling this time. Her annoying Deputy may have come up with an actually workable idea for once.

Transport Shuttle Gamma-56 (Clydesdale Class) gave a tremendous lurch, the landing gear meeting the stabilisers at the north terminal of Dome 12. Hydraulics thrummed as the safety parachutes capturing the vehicle in the low lunar gravity were retracted, and the shuttle came to a full halt; the more physical (if, to the inexperienced eye, primitive) method both cheaper on afterburner fuel, and safer in case of power failure. As the landing apparatus retracted, so the terminal's airlock unit deployed, wrapping around the bay doors of a Collective Battlecarrier's personnel shuttle, air expanding to meet the opening doors.

Trooper IA-100495-BQ-O - or IA, as he was known to his squad, stepped off the shuttle and into the entrance network of Dome 12. Helmeted and suited still, returning from his exercises with the trainees on Phlegra, IA was nonetheless glad to feel the familiarly faint tug of gravity on the moon.

His vision - aided by cybernetic enhancement and genetic therapy perfected over the years on millions of subjects - surveyed the twelth dome of Dactylos, the great city of clones, from the edge of the platform. Above, the Earth spun, a pale blue orb, shining in the sun's light, visible through the great netted dome under which he stood. The dome stretched across a great crater on the lunar surface, greatly improved over the hundred years of the Collective, and lights now shone brightly along the buildings, monorails, and extended greenhouses. Even in IA's own lifetime, the development had been significant - new subterranean levels, extended gymnasia and improved water retention. Home on a barren moon for the collective - less a separate state on Luna, more a separate society altogether.

And today, he thought to himself, was particularly important. Important for the Partheniae, and for IA himself. Grinning under his helmet, he blasted a comm signal to the squad.

"Company, move out, on the double - I'll not have you late for your own integration games! Get moving - monorail to the launch zone leaves in 12 minutes, I want you there in 4. Out."

For the trainees who promptly bounded off in the low gravity towards the monorail, 4 minutes was a testing time to make the run. But IA - who had attained commando status following his own graduation - had enough physical, mental and technical enhancements to give him a minute to himself. As much as he and all his brothers was a soldier, IA's true calling had ever been engineering, and he had a message to send.

Months of training graduates in combat in various gravitational scenarios, assorted battle simulations, and even bloodsports with genetically altered wildlife had kept him busy. But in moments to himself, ever his mind drifted to the potential for improving the lot of their civilisation. As the First of the free clones had commanded, so his followers must act; and improving the lot of the collective was a calling for all as much as the striving for personal excellence in it's defence.

His old teacher, PQ-87104-XI-L, didn't answer when he called, but he left a suitable message.

Brother PQ,

Back in Dactylos for the Games. Squad able - most should make it. Trust you are fit.

Worked on your old gymnasium proposal while away - solved the buoyancy issues [probably]; attached 3D simulation found in old memorybank from your class. Nostalgia!

Spoiler

Show

Will forward to relevant commanders shortly, but thought you'd like a peek. Ping when you are available after the games, so an old teacher's pet can buy you an apple.

Brother IA

Another ping alerted him to his squad making good time - better than most - across the surface. With that, he activated the suit, and leapt into a suitable trajectory to meet them before they left; ready to give what would be for some, their last speech.

The Green Sahara Initiative. Pipe dream or Earth's only hope?

The Sahara, or al-ṣaḥrāʾ al-kubrā in Old Arabic (meaning "the Greatest Desert"), is the single largest hot desert on planet Earth. With the exception of the fertile regions on the direct Mediterranean coast, the Atlas Mountains of the Maghreb, and the Nile Valley - and even those areas are under heavy threat of desertification - it covers most of Northern African. Each year, this enormous mass of sand consumes more and more of the Sahel Region, a belt of semi-arid tropical savanna, as global climate change takes its toll.

But it was not always so. Once, the Sahara was green. Not once, even - several times the Greatest Desert has been a lush haven of both man and animal. Most recently, during the Neolithic Subpluvial which lasted roughly 7500–7000 BCE to about 3500–3000 BCE, megafauna roamed the now barren lands, and over 30,000 ancient petroglyphs depicting river animals such as crocodiles have been found. And so it can be again.

The GREEN SAHARA INITIATIVE, spearheaded by the GREEN SAHARA FOUNDATION (a joint-venture operation between the West African Coalition, the African Central Bank, and the Congolese Republic, chaired since Year 2398 by Grand Premier Sewamba herself) has been a long-discussed project within the African Union. Five years ago, as the climate refugee problem became increasingly intensive in East Africa and along the Atlantic Coast, an agreement was finally reached on preliminary funding for the experimental first phase of the mammoth project.

Generously, the Azawadi Elector volunteered his home city as the target of these first steps towards a greater future. The ancient city of Timbuktu (Berber: ⵜⵉⵏⴱⵓⴽⵜ), today nearly abandoned due to intense heat and frequent sandstorms, is located right in the middle of the Sahara, and was once the very heart of trans-Saharan commerce. Formerly great centre of learning, its University of Sankoré once legendary across the continent, Timbuktu will be born again under the watchful eye of the GSI.

While the terraforming project may at first glance seem inspired by similar ventures on Mars, the Saharan Desert faces unique conditions compared to its Red cousin across the heavens. Prominently, a functional atmosphere already exists - one which may not be altered at ease to fit the project itself, due to its possible impacts on the rest of Africa's children across the world. Experiences from the terraforming of Mars are however certain to be incorporated, as the GSF bring in experts from the extraterrestrial colonies.

Measures planed to be experimented with in the recently designated Timbuktu Zone include the introduction of (possibly) genetically engineered vegetation including fungi, trees and other plants, the seedingof dunes hardened by bacteria, the construction of artificial reservoirs and vast moisture synthesizers, an increase in solar energy production facilities, and other similar surgical incisions into the Greatest Desert's heart.

If successful, the GSI will be expanded to cover the whole of the Sahara. Enormous amounts of off-world resources will need to be extracted, a price which all citizens of Africa will certainly find worth paying, as it is sure to become self-sustainable once completed. This will result in the reclamation of an estimated 9,400,000 square miles of habitable land, an area significantly larger than for example the entire surface area of the moon of Triton, or the dwarf planet Pluto. This will increase Earth's total amount arable land by possibly as much as 70%, and attain the necessary living space for the many billions of Earthborn currently living in overcrowded conditions across the planet.

Out in the quiet spaces between the edge and the inner, there is more than just nothing.

Scintillating light played over the surface of the ship as it emerged from the hellscape of Venus. The upper atmosphere was just light enough that the ship could enter and dock and leave. The situation was uncomfortable in the way one might have a ticklish itch, but no worse. The cargo of frozen foodstuffs stored within it's belly was from Môresterland-Vrystaat. The sweltering greenhouses kept bodies that still needed it fed. They provided bodies too, in a different sense.

The pursuit vessel closed in and the ship tracked it with it's point defense guns. The Afrikaner voice over the tightbeam transmission choked slightly with anger.

"Free Trader CONVEX! You will alter your trajectory and return to the Vrystaat immediately. You are carrying wanted persons."

The pursuing ship was not as large as CONVEX, not by a long-shot but it was nimble and fast. CONVEX's point defense guns could obliterate it in one shot, should it wished. Instead an airlock opened on the side of CONVEX. The ship exhaled two bodies into space before transmitting.

"If you're quick, you might have them back alive."

The grating screech of machine laughter came over the speakers until the pilot turned them off. CONVEX continued on it's way with a serene ponderousness, and the pursuit vessel moved in.

The bodies seemed to float motionless in the void for the several minutes it took for the pursuit vessel to move into a complimentary frame of acceleration. Then they jetted small clouds of CO2 from discreet nozzles. Then the thump of mag-clamps against the hull echoed through the cockpit.

"Fokken Spiders!" The pilot growled. He flicked the radio on and found his ears full of jammer static. His hands worked quickly as he switched to rotate the tight-beam back to the Vrystaat. Before he could send a message, the board died then flickered to yellow. He could hear a metallic claw ripping the delicate geometries of the microwave into misalignment. Then a face... well that was generous...

Something or someone was staring at him through the cockpit window. It waved a nimble manipulator before vanishing. After a moment he reached for his emergency oxy mask, pulling it on as the cockpit popped and the escaping air tugged him toward the void. The second spider reached over the back of the his chair. He felt the claw he heard earlier against his neck, squeezing him and for a moment he thought it would snap his spine. The spider jerked him backward as the chill of the vacuum set in against his skin. The one who had waved to him, who hacked the cockpit control barged past him. Together they pushed him, kicking and screaming into his mask out into the void. The clamps were silent now there was no air.

He watched the spiders as they resealed the cockpit. One hunkered down right infront of the other. They squeezed their cyborg forms into a space that shouldn't have fit them both. The thruster burst into life on his ship as they angled it toward him. His eyes bulged in his skull as the vacuum set in and he realised his would not be a slow death. One quick, hard burn and he was no more than ash. The boarders adjusted their trajectory toward Mercury and then accelerated for several moments. Then the engine went dark and they let gravity do it's work.

"What does it matter?!" She yelled at the large crowd gathered around a tall man with Lunar features. "Who cares?! You think he cares about you?!" she pointed at the Lunar man who's jaw visibly stiffened.

"Luna claims to be a friend of all oppressed people in the Solar System... they come here speaking of a free belt, ran by belters, without oppression and exploitation. They talk about being our liberators like they liberated Luna."

The man opened his mouth to speak but she continued "THEY LIE. They are no better then the Earthers, yet another boot on the Belter neck. Their companies in the Belt are no less exploitative then the Earther's. Am I right, to sabaka kaka felota?"

The Lunar man took a step back, he was visibly unhappy, but which he then masterfully hid under the disguise of a disarming smile. His heavily modified body moved swiftly through the low gravity of Ceres, which was even less then the Lunar gravity. Extending his long thin hand in the Belter sign for peace, with his palm facing towards the roof. A flurry of exquisite dancing tattoos flashed briefly as they detracted from his skin, revealing a pale complexion.

"We are all just human. The only thing Luna wants, is freedom for the oppressed." He said in his silky smooth voice, possibly augmented as well. Lunar augmentation was subtle, exquisite, they didn't shy away from changing their bodies. Not as much as the spiders, but a lot. Especially the clones. But this one wasn't a clone, his face had different features. Several men from the crowd cheered, a little too enthusiastically she thought.

"You are Tychan, correct?" She asked, her voice calmer
"That I am. But I am first and foremost a Hu-"
"Yeah yeah, kaka felota [floating shit/bullshit], tell me, Inyalowda, who destroyed the Pashang?"

The Tychan slowly retracted his hand. "That is an old story, it doesn't matter."
"I seem to remember that the LuMiOp LTD, ran by your precious Triarchy, destroys belter ships almost every day."
"But the Earther..."
"The Earthers are the same sabakas, but you can't spend your life using them as an excuse for your own felota."


----
Ceres, the largest and most populated of the belt settlements was shaken today by protests, demanding an end to corporate warfare in the belt. Last week, two ships with a total crew of 7 were destroyed by different PMCs fighting on behalf of one corporation or another. Both LuMiOp and African Mining, one of the largest companies in the belt operated by the inner planets have similarly stated that these ships were lost to pirate attacks and were not dispatched by the corporations.

The representative of the Lunar Triarchy on Ceres, Ioannis Abu al-Fadl Han, made a statement today condemning the African Union for grossly mismanaging the administration of Ceres. While Ufuoma Arendse, the CEO of the Ceres Mining Authority asserted that the CMA is an independent company, not incorporated or part of the African Union. The African Representative Ogechi Abreu, scolded Mr Al-Fadl Han for trying to turn the tragedy into a political scandal, while also suggesting that LuMiOp's license should be revoked.

The Triarchy and African Union are yet to make public statements on this development, as both Mr Al-Fadl Han and Mrs Abreu operate with limited authority on Ceres.

----
The Russian Internal Ministry said on Wednesday they had arrested the top two leaders of the main opposition party, two months after it denounced President Fyodor Naoumov re-election as fraudulent and tried to block his inauguration.

Vladimir Orlov, president of the Justice and Freedom Party, and his deputy Vasiliy Konstantinov were arrested on suspicion of sedition. Sedition is a crime in Russia defined by conduct inciting people to rebel against the authority of the state, and carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

"They have been arrested and detained for seditious practices and unlawful assembly which occurred on Sept. 26. They will appear in court tomorrow," Moscow police chief Samuil Vasilyev told Solar System News. Orlov continues to dispute the August election outcome and in a statement before his arrest compared the government's conduct to the limitation of freedoms experienced when Russia was still under Communist rule.

"...We are telling Naoumov and his disputed regime that we shall not stop moving around the country to meet our structures and greet our people," Orlov said. Vasilyev said another 61 opposition supporters were arrested after they threw stones at police following the arrest of the two JFP leaders.

Last month the Moscow High Court threw out an attempt by Orlov to overturn a Constitutional Court decision not to give him more time to legally challenge Naoumov re-election. Naoumov said last month that Russians should put the divisive elections behind them and work as one to develop the country.

But the bloodshed continues as riots intensify in the larger Russian cities and towns. Analysts agree that the arrests of opposition will do nothing to stem the tide of collapse of the FSB regime that has ruled Russia in one way or another for over 300 years. Reports are emerging from the far east that several military units may have defected, the still conscript-made armed forces have been increasingly unstable and the world watches with bated breath, fearing a civil war.

---

An Indian operative has been captured on Luna, with what the local police is claiming was a cache of weapons. Details are sparse, but Tycho Security claim that the weapons were destined for "criminal elements" in Vimanagadha. Indian Security Services have issued a statement that they are being framed, blaming Tycho security for attempting to skew the truth.

[most of the news will be short and sweet, this is just the start. Now let it rip]

CELEBRITY NEWS KINSHASHA



In a surprise press release, Jean-Baptiste Tshombe - Governor of Shaba Province, Director of Lubumbashi Aeronautics and long-time rumoured "court favorite" of Grand Premier Sewamba (CHECK OUT our coverage of their scandalous joint appearance at the inauguration of the South Kasai Grand Stadium last year HERE) has announced an extra-provincial state visit, to the Ghanian centre of Accra. Due to meet several Electors and financial big-wigs from across the West African Coalition, the most surprising schedule point for the controversial Katangan Lunda politician and businessman appears to be a visit to the local Space Committee headquarters, in Outer Accra's military district. No further information has provided regarding the trip.

"Ah, at last. Which one is he?"

"Twelfth from the left, third row, 33rd Gorias Commando Regiment, brother."

A pause. Surprise evident from the first speaker.

"Ah, on the fifth viewing platform, among the blues?"

"Yes, brother."

"A low rank for such potential."

Another pause, nervous this time.

"We were forced to demote him for ah... insubordination, brother."

"Not the first, brother commander."

"No, brother Archon."

The commander - mercifully - could not see the grimace on the Archon's face within the suit, but could take solace that he was not subjected to further questions. "Insubordination" had taken many forms in the nine years he had held office. From traditional vices such as outright treachery and rank incompetence - to earning the emnity of a superior officer.

After reading what was - even he had to admit - an impressive analysis by the trooper of new resource extraction methods for the Collective, he had studied the file of the soldier standing unwittingly in the ranks far ahead. IA-100495-BQ-O had fallen victim to a political game during the unfortunate case of the Gorias Clique - one of many. Though the clique had been purged, still it rankled the Archon, supreme commander of the Collective, that good men had suffered as a result.

His thoughts were interrupted by the timely arrival of Collective Battle-Carrier Omicron-4, the lunar surface trembling as she landed approximately 1.37 miles ahead, churning up great clouds of lunar regolith into the starlit sky. It had been a long and gruelling games, but now at last, a new generation of clones had graduated. The 27th generation since liberation, and a fine one at that - fewer losses than usual in the more deadly games. Omicron-4 would now carry some of the graduates assembled on parade before them to their first full garrisons, ready to aid the Collective - and the freedom of all humans - as best they could.
The platoons began to move forward into the symbolic - and logistically somewhat unnecessary - march towards the great hulk of the battle carrier, seven fighters streaming overhead in a display of great fanfare. All the networks of the clone media outlets would be focused on ceremonies such as these, but the Archon's presence here - as traditional - ensured especially rapt attention from the media-drones streaming VR feeds to broadcast nodes throughout the moon.

His head buzzed with reports, conferences, tactical reports and military assessments, mind analysing information from the bizarre to the mundane. Soon, he would have to begin arrangements for his succession, a fact not conductive to relaxing his brain's breackneck processing.

But to all the cameras, soldiers, satellites and spectators - Archon TR of the Parthenian Collective appeared an oasis of calm, as his fist was raised in salute to Victory.

View from the top of the Commerce Ministry Building

The Doge sat down on the table, looking to the outside of a great window that layed in the opposite end of the room. He looked at the great city of Polyport, a city that never slept, with its borad avenues and never ending business, the city he would run to the end of his days. He sat comfortably in his chair, drinking a sip of Wine. The Doge did not work in the Ministry of Commerce, much on the contrary, his workplace was in the Augustus Building, a large skyscraper that was not only the Doge's office place, but his permanent residence while in office, the reason the Doge was in the Ministry was due to a meeting that was to take place in some two hours, where he would discuss new economic measures with the new Board of Finance. Still, the Doge had a small (yet luxurious) office & leasure room in every governmental building, both from the executive and the Judiciary. He was about to grab his portable pad and continue reading the book he was so invested into, until the door to his office opened. It was Andre Kowalcz, the young Minister of Commerce. Kowalcz was a young man, of short, blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and of a tall and strong stature. He looked somehwat concerned.

"Andre!" Said the Doge in a friendly manner, "How are you my lad?"

"Im am quite well, my Doge", responded Andre in a shy manner

"Dont you stand up in my office, take a seat! May I offer you something to drink? Maybe some wine? Or water?"

"I am fine for now, my Doge, thank you", He said as he sat down, "Im afraid we have much to discuss"

"Anything wrong?"

"Not much, just the usual"

"What usual?" Asked the Doge in a curious fashion

"The Hidden Colonies, our trade with them!" exclaimed Andre

"Yes, what about them?"

"I fear the secret wont last long, my Doge, not matter how hard it is hidden, the truth will always come out, and when earth finds out what we have been doing, they wont be thrilled"

"Dont worry about it, as for everything my good lad, I have a plan"

"For dealing with Earth?"

"In a way"

"What is it? May I know?"

"Give time, and I shall tell you... give it time"

Jovians Conflict Rages On! Freeholders Fire Back at Cartel with New Offensive on Callistan Front

The skies of Callisto are alive with fighters and dropships and its surface teems with soldiers, AI-controlled drones, and fighting vehicles after an offensive was launched to retake the moon's northern surface station from Cartel control. Earlier today an allied fleet of ships belonging to the Hu Clique, House Zijin, and the New Busan Co-op entered Callistan space and engaged Cartel traffic iin an attempt to cut off access to Callisto, while 'Lancer and House Marine forces made landfall to relieve the beleaguered garrison of Arcadia station, by now mostly composed of forces from House Soros. Chairman Soros acknowledged his awareness and approval of the relief effort, prompting many to consider that the Chairman and his house have cut an agreement with the incoming houses over future control of Callisto, in light of the pressure House Soros has felt when it comes to maintaining their vast holdings on their ow in light of their efforts to quash the Titan republics- prompting the house to make concessions to their peers to defend holdings further afield for the sake of Freeholder prestige.

We now go to our live feed on the surface, where reports indicate that Marine forces are attempting to station long-range artillery within range of the northern station's defensive line...

---

Association Chairman Announces 'Soros Doctrine'
At a press conference this afternoon, Chairman Michael Soros formally issued the Freeholder's Association's 'Line in the Sand' Defense Protocol, stating that "The Freehold is the basis of our society, originally formed for the collective security of our city-states. If we let the Freehold stand alone because of temporary disagreements, we abandon the virtues that make us what we are. Thus, the age of letting another Freehold be threatened due to politics must come to an end, and the first priority for the combined military might of this association must be and will be the ejection of hostile forces from any celestial body that freeholders call home.

Though most of the noble houses have already issued statements asserting their solidarity with the rest of the Freeholder cause and support for this commitment, a number of inside sources speaking on condition of anonymity have stated that less-belligerent factions are incensed by the move, suggesting the 'Soros Doctrine' is actually aimed at advancing the expansionist goals of the Imperial Faction by settling worlds and declaring their Freeholder populations under threat. Military sources suggest that reception among the 'Unified Command' apparatuses are reacting more positively to the development, their annoyance at the possibility of the Chair's trying to assert itself against their relative autonomy more than mollified by the possibility of greater support for their organizations.

---

House Zijin Executives, Engineers, Arrive on Mars
Representatives of the co-ruling House Zijin arrived in orbit around Mars and traveled by space-elevator to the surface today to personally meet with administrators and businessmen from the North American colony of Lincoln. Ostensibly the meeting was scheduled to discuss the possibility of altered financing on Jovian gases in light of Lincoln's economic uncertainties, though during a brief break in discussions, the two groups made a joint press conference announcing that the main focus of the talks was to discuss the assistance of House Zijin, their allies, and subsidiaries in finding a solution to what a few have dubbed the 'Lincoln Crisis' and prevent serious displacement of the colony's population. Though few specific details of terms were announced and talks have since resumed behind closed doors, it is known that several of the engineers in attendance were experienced members of House Zijjin's experimental terraforming programme, and a spokesperson for the group stated that the Freeholders and Lincoln delegation hope for a chance to invite input from scientists on Earth.

Some in the Jovians have slammed the announcement as untimely and a unnecessary provocation in light of Chairman Soros' bold declaration earlier today. While defenders of the talks have been quick to defend it as a humanitarian mission above all else, even some allies of the Soros-Zijin coalition have expressed concern about a poor reaction from neighors already unfriendly to the Freeholds.

Out in the quiet spaces between the edge and the inner, there is more than just nothing.

Ceres glimmered like a jewel at this distance. TROIUS floated near to a smaller asteroid nearby, as spiders worked on it's exterior. Occasional trips to the station by freight drones would move materials to and from it. Sparks would fly from the surfaces of the ship, pumped oxy-acetyl torches and grinders at work. The geometries of the vessel were typical Free Trader, in that they were both artistic and utilitarian. Sloped armoured faces to deflect rounds and stubby turrets mounting point defense cannons jostled with spiralling antennae. Over it's surface the more enhanced of it's crew performed intricate operations. Reactive armour plating welded onto components and off-the-shelf gear gradually customised. The ship was ugly as sin, but it had a brutalist aesthetic that intimated that messing with it would be a painful exercise.

KOBA lurked in the shadow of another asteroid. It was smaller and surrounded with a cloud of drones. The ship was leeching ice from the surface of the asteroid through it's drone swarm. Each drone was the approximate size of an early 21st century portable computer and could scrape with small manipulators. They flickered and scintillated around the body of KOBA, loading ice and digging into the crannies of the asteroid. Occasionally he squirted a microwave tightbeam message to TROIUS, when he saw one of the freight drones making another run.

~~~

JASMIN fired an adjustment burn and sent a short-wave radio transmission to the vessel she had tracked. It looked to be on a slingshot out to Kuiper, between Mercury and Sol. When the crew responded that they were from CONVEX she smiled. She pulled away from the sun, where she'd be tracking sunspots. It would be good to break her sunbathing to have a little chat with some friends.

~~~

UTRECHT tracked the LuMiOp vessel at a distance of 10 klicks. It moved from asteroid to asteroid, underslung guns unwaveringly pointed toward it's target. This one didn't seem to be intending anything, but it was always good to watch.

~~~

She shuddered as the machine entered her. The sensation of the cables forcing themselves her was both erotic and painful. Her implants connected with wires that slid under the back of her skull. Others were inserted into her breasts, under her ribs and into her pubis. Her teeth gritted and she wanted to twitch her clamps. Her arms and legs though were gone, implants for another now. She had been lowered into her new body and now she had to integrate. The dull functional cockpit was plugging into the ports and sockets she had left where they had been under AI and servitor help. She glanced to a man she had known once in the most intimate of senses, and felt the tears rise in her eyes. Not long now until he would be within her body in a wholly different sense. She tilted her head and he leant forward. She softly kissed his lips and then let out a moan. She wanted to clench her fist and instead the ship around her moved. Her lover took another tube, sliding it over her face. Cables forced themselves into her throat, up her nose and into her eyesockets. For one moment she could see nothing but blackness and then her senses stretched to the horizon. She was intimately aware of how... large she was... and how tiny he was... as he stepped out of her heart. She triggered the biogel to pump into the cocoon that would hold her last biological vestige, her heart. It was a strange feeling, akin to almost orgasming but being unable to. She wondered how long it would last as she murmured to herself so that her new crew could hear her.

"My name is KIRUNA... and I love you..."

Mod Report

A small fleet group sighted

A small group of military ships has been sighted leaving Luna, the markings of the ships and designs place them solidly with the Triarchy, but it is unknown to whom do they belong and where are they headed. Solar System News have contacted Triarchy authorities, but they remain tight lipped.

Summary:

- Tensions rise over the solar system
- A small group of Triarchal ships depart to an unknown direction
---

The Japanese in Africa on Mars

A Japanese cultural exhibition is held on the Mlima Wa Uhuru, by the residents of Kasei City, showing off their great works of art, exquisite craftsmanship and empathizing on the close cultural relations between Japan and Africa. The center of the exhibit was a statue, specially constructed by hand by a team of Kasei specialists of the ebony skinned samurai of the Japanese hegemon and warlord Oda Nobunaga, named Yasuke. The leaders of both Kasei and the African Union have pledged for closer cultural relations in the future.

Summary:

- Closer cultural ties between Kasei and Mlima wa Uhuru
- African rapprochement effort do not go unnoticed

--

The Callistan war


Drone combat litters the sky over Callisto, it has been a long time coming, but the Callistan Cartel and the Freehold are finally in an official war. Decades of corporate fighting have sharpened both forces for small scale engagements, but a large scale war is a whole different creature. Right off the bat the Callistan forces are caught unawares, cut off from their capital station on Callisto the Cartel realizes quickly that the former high-management of the Cartel is stuck on Callisto as the drones descend on the planet. Instead, the bulk of the Callistan forces, stuck patrolling the outer stations of Callistan territory and in the Asteroid belt withdraw rapidly to defend the so called "Upper Stations", the heavily militarized stations above Callisto on a Z axis.

They have engaged in a massive fleet battle with Freeholder ships for the control of the logistics line connecting Arcadia Station on Callisto with the rest of the Freeholder stations. After two indecisive engagements the smaller House fleets were forced to withdraw. Before the Freehold brought their Lancers to bare the Callistan forces were able to push several heavy ships into the gap, giving them enough time to reach Chandra station, now effectively a wedge in Freehold territory. Curiously, the Cartel is responding cautiously, choosing to conserve their forces and dig in. This might prove to be an issue for the Freehold as the Titan Republics and League of Ansoft after an emergency meeting declared that they will join the war on the Cartel's side if the Freehold does not begin negotiations and sign a cease fire.

Summary:

- The Attack on Callisto is devastating, the capital station of the Cartel is captured, the cartel is ran by middle management now.
- Cartel forces regroup, manage to dig in, bring forces to Chandra station which is now in the middle of Freehold territory
- Titan and Ansoft are threatening war unless a cease-fire is signed. The Cartel may be open to it.
- The war is bound to disrupt shipping of fuel and water to the Inner Planets

[For round two, I need a PM, with a short war plan, same with anyone fighting in this or if anyone wants to get involved in this. War plan via PM]

---

Timbuktu is Green

The Green Sahara initiative is finally bringing, quite literally, the fruit of its labor for the first time. It has been many years since the initiative started its path in the Azawadi wasteland, and today, for the first time, the scorch was pushed back. Once the Sahara was a place of oasis-es, the Amazigh claim and now finally, it is again.

Summary:

- The very early stages of the Green Sahara Initiative have bore fruit

---

The Green Bomb

An explosion shook the Pampas Jungle, the massive artificially created jungle in Argentina, as the Green Government of Argentina announced to the world and more importantly their neighbors that they now are in possession of a neutron bomb. Following the nuclear explosions during "The Unwinding" of the middle east, several countries had come forward claiming possession of nuclear weapons, joining the nuclear club, but few had dared to openly use them in such a rash manner as Argentina has.

---

Phobos Elevator Company Meeting

African Corporate leaders have met with the Phobos elevator company on the tether-station on Phobos itself. There, the various leaders discussed plans for the improvement of the elevator and more business contracts. Ultimately at the end of the day, the Phobos Executives emerged happy, but refused to divulge more information on what was going to be improved upon.

---

Refugees start streaming into Ceres Station

Refugees from the war on the Jovian moons are expected to start streaming into Ceres, as evacuations begin in the stations owned by the Cartel and some of the minor Freehold houses as well. The threat of refugees is already driving people to prepare, as funds start flowing in from private crowd-funding campaigns and volenteer organizations. While it will take about six months for the wave of refugees to hit, the money come in immediately and people begin preparing. Rumors are abound that an ICRS hospital ship might be traveling, but so far the rumors remain just that.


---

Russia spirals down

The Military has exchanged shots with the FSB regiment in the Eastern City of Primorsk. One of the cities to greatly benefit from the Chinese expansion, Primorsk has been one of Russia's most successful and economically developed cities. Hosting the largest Military contingent outside of Moscow itself, the city is also a formidable fortress and the exchanged shots that woke up the people early in the morning do not bode well for both sides in this endeavor. Meanwhile riots continue to engulf Moscow, with Military units withdrawing from their bases either abandoning their posts or something else entirely. The Internal Ministry is increasingly powerless to stop the chaos. Most worryingly, the small Russian Space Forces are unaccounted for and with them, some of the nuclear arsenal of Russia.

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