Local news and rumors encountered in the Play By EMail Traveller Game. These tidbits of information can be heard while on nearly any errand in the port, by just about anyone. Unless your character has not spent any time in the port before boarding, all of these notes are available as background information. These will be updated over time.

REGINA/REGINA

1) Rumor: The Golden Lily is one of a dozen small merchant vessels seized in the past few months in the Regina subsector in an act of extremely aggressive skip-tracing and repossession. Rumors abound about a new shadow corporation handling these activities for some of the larger megacorporations who wish to remain uninvolved due to legal considerations. Several complaints have been filed with the Imperial Ministry of Justice on Regina/Regina due to the nature of the repossessions. Rumors state the agents simply board the vessel and uses overwhelming force to remove any threats to the operation. This means that any action taken by the crew to defend the vessel is considered a hostile act and met with deadly force. So far, out of the twelve vessels seized, only two crewmen have survived, and they are in custody awaiting trial. The has been no official word from the IMJ at this time. Several lawsuits have been filed against GenTech and the Suma-Tangien Corporation on behalf of the deceased crewmembers, but the families of those on board are not entitled to any recompense due to the illegal nature of the activity of those involved, and no one at the corporate executive level will reveal the name of the corporation responsible.

2) News: A recent rash of jewel thefts have jewelry collectors worried. Four members of the Regina Jewelers Guild have reported losses involving over three hundred and fifty thousand credits. Two of the items stolen are one of a kind creations that have been part of the Regina Historical Society’s collection for over one hundred years. The IMJ is investigating the thefts, and some of the collectors have also hired independent investigators from agencies such as StarChaser and Recall to do so as well. The IMJ has no official comment on this action, but sources have confided in this reporter that tensions have grown with this situation, as the private investigations are beginning to interfere with the IMJ.

3) News: The terrorist group known as the Red Hand has claimed responsibility for the explosion killing three people in Pontafa last month. The group states they will continue to fight against "Imperial aggression" , and they will not stop "until the nobles in power are thrown down". Security has been increased by some of the noble houses, but many others simply disregard such as acts of a small group of unfortunate extremists who "cannot survive in a civilized world". Count Paul Montarra was quoted, "I might not believe those people are widely supported, but I’m not risking my four year old daughter on that assumption." Count Montarra has increased security at his home in Pribonn, which borders the Pontafa province.

4) Rumor: Several of the criminal syndicates have been operating at the lowest level of visibility possible over the past few weeks. Many people are expecting some type of conflict to erupt at any moment. So far, noone has actually moved against anyone else, but several of the weapons dealers in the Startown district have been experiencing extremely high volumes of sales lately. Most of the downport’s cargo handlers have been taking vacation time lately in record numbers, and merchant vessels have been forced to pay higher rates than normal.

5) Rumor: A FGMP-15 were stolen from a Imperial Marines Grav-APC at the downport’s Customs Hanger two weeks ago. So far, nothing has been heard about it, but the marine who left it unattended was severely disciplined.

6) Rumor: The inspectors for customs have been a bit on the zealous side lately, and have been citing merchants for improper container labels. Several of the citations were for stickers that were only a few centimeters off center. Some people have been saying they are just trying to increase the number of bribes they can get per week.

7) Rumor: The Toporek has been sighted again. The now-famous ghost ship of the Regina system was originally a reserve fleet fast frigate that was lost in during the fourth frontier war. This time it reported by two sensor operators on the bulk merchant freight vessel Algotha. They officially reported seeing the vessel on both passive scanners and actually had long range visual sighting. The company who owns the vessel inspected the sensor logs and has claimed "no such sensor report exists". Then how is it that the two crewmen were fired the same week, after they produced a bootleg copy of the log? They haven’t been seen since. Every paranoia conspiracy fanatic has been searching all over for the evidence.

8) Rumor: Robots all over the starport have been acting strangely. They have been more alert than normal at times, and several have disappeared. Local authorities believe those missing were stolen, and discount any inquiries of "higher intelligence" as fanciful imaginations.

9) News Report: A Merchant Guild Broker named Ashishanna Durieantiannar has escaped custody and is loose on the station. She is a large aslan female, and there are several holographic images on the displays of her. She was charged with assault and battery of a merchant freighter captain who alleges that she was attempting to coerce him into buying cargo far above normal prices. She is considered armed and dangerous.

10) Public Service Announcement: Please remember; Do not allow anyone to handle your luggage, and do not accept any packages from anyone while waiting for boarding your flight. Violation of this directive would place yourself and others in needless danger. Please notify security of any suspicious individuals you may see on the orbital station. Thank You.

11) News Report: A splinter sect of the Spathratha Faith are convinced that there will be a massive prophetic outpouring in the Forboldn system within the next few weeks and they have arrived on the station by the hundreds for this pilgrimage. Every port bay has been flooded by these people, trying to gain any type of passage to the nearby system. Many merchant captains are requesting help from station security personnel, as some of the crowds are refusing to take no as an answer and are practically invading the vessels. Security has been stepped up on the station, and the virtual horde has been seen heading toward the upper decks of the Regina High Port Station. Merchant crews are being warned to expect these individuals and consider locking down the ship entrances. Station security has issued a warning to the merchants to avoid lethal defensive measures at all costs. Normally the sect members are unarmed and peaceful.

12) Broadcast Station Announcement: "Warning! Warning! Station security commands all persons to seek safety in the nearest vessel available. The crowd problem has escalated into a class three riot. Station security forces are authorized to use deadly force in self-defense. Seek shelter! Warning!

13) News Report: An explosion in an upper deck landing bay on the Regina High Port Station shook the entire station and caused several deaths. Witnesses stated two vessels managed to escape the bay just before the blast, but only one survived to tell about it. The IMV Lucky Credit, owned and operated by a new merchant captain named Abstata Dunkensheel, avoided all but minor hull damage in the blast. The other free trader, the IMV Tradewinds, was destroyed by internal explosions as it left the bay. The explosions were so intense that a small launch from the station was destroyed in the blast. The IISS Grand Survey office has been called in to investigate the explosion.

IISS Team Leader Maxrella Xynth was quoted as saying, "We have reason to believe that the Tradewinds was carrying contraband cargo, and the smugglers died trying to avoid a tariff of a few hundred credits and a twenty-four waiting period. This is the kind of reckless actions that endanger good decent hardworking imperial citizens."

The starport rumor mill was ablaze with all manner of speculation about the incident, some even being so bold as to say that the Tradewinds hull could have only been so totally destroyed by close range weapons fire, implying that the station’s naval defense grid might have been activated and finished off the stricken vessel. Our news team interviewed Lt. Cmdr. Ashokrari Uui about this, who replied. "Absurd. Such an action would have been visible to every ship in the area. Such rumors are quite dangerous citizens, and serve only to damage the reputation of the imperial navy. People should learn to listen more than they talk."

(This place was too small for any notable information.)

ARRIVAL ON EFATE/REGINA

1) News: Yesterday morning, terrorists detonated an explosive in the 251st floor of The Tower, Efate?s only arcology. The bomb destroyed the entire floor, and killed 43 people. While no group has claimed responsibility at this time, the weapon seemed to have been targeting the Martel Exports firm. Law enforcement officials have not made any official statement at this time.

2) Rumor: ?The Zhos are preparing for an assault of the system. It has GOT to be true?, the young well dressed speaker says, ?why else would all of the reserves have been called to active duty overnight??

3) News Holo-report: Reporter Holly Ling on site at the Firepower Emporium. ?Weapon dealers have been ordering more stock than usual lately. Prices on mil-spec ammunition has also been on the rise. One local dealer says that the rumors of unrest along the border have everyone nervous. The most common weapon people have been purchasing looks like this, the GenTech Arms 7mm civilian auto rifle, designed after the military version our own police forces use in system. It provides good penetration without compromising stopping power like many other light rifles. This store owner says these weapons are going fast, so if you are looking to get one, you might want to go shopping tonight. This is Holly Ling reporting for Channel 56 News.?

4) News: Inspectors in the starport are looking for a white pomrafi who escaped last night from custody. The little creature is said to have contracted a rare disease dangerous only to other pets. All pet owners are encouraged to keep pets indoors until the little fur ball can be located. There is no threat to the general population.