Smuggler's Run GNS: 9701.12 From: dvistas@aol.com (D Vistas) Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 00:00:00 +0000 ====== I N T E R S T E L L A R C O M M U N I C A T I O N ====== DISPATCH: Satcom.Net 91715-0993.Earth.Sol FROM: Distant Vistas Interstellar PBM Company EMAIL: dvistas@ aol.com WWW SITE: http://users.aol.com/dvistas POSTAL: P.O. Box 90993, Industry, CA 91715-0993 SUBJECT: THE GALACTIC NEWSWIRE SERVICE - Volume 5, 9701.12 ================================================================== INTERSTELLAR NEWS BRIEFS DATELINE Alpha-Centauri - Prefect Mason Jaco has declared a major disaster in flood-ravaged Kampuch and Darna districts on Centaurus. The declaration makes Imperial aid available to flood victims and local governments in 13 Kampuch counties and 37 Darna counties. Timbur, Kesta and North Darna have also been hard hit in the last 10 days by powerful storms that have caused widespread floods, mud slides and power outages. "These people need help, and so we're doing all that is possible to assist them!", exclaimed Jaco. Indeed, the first official emergency action by the government was to increase pay to local officials by 10% in order to improve morale in these trying times. The storms have driven 130,000 people from their homes, caused hundreds of millions of QPs of property damage and are blamed for the deaths of at least 230 people. "The deaths are unfortunate, but will provide much needed emergency food sources for the locals until we can get help to them.", said Jaco. DATELINE Epsilon-Aurigae - Severe economic pressure has ravaged The Core since the secession of Chook'Tai from The Empire, and the loss of many Brogian and Mechbot citizens to far-off colonization projects, exploration and pyramid schemes in The Outer Zone. The vast industrial complexes that spew forth many of the toxic parts for space vehicles rely heavily on Brogian and Mechbot labor in hostile working environments. "Brogians and Mechbots are goodly to be using in dangerous-like places.", said Zephron Bulb, Zephyr Foreman for Radio-Active Mechanics on Pontus I, Rigel. "They are being highly resistant to radiations and toxics of many great variety.", he said. Loss of laborers and mineral contracts with Chook'Tai have resulted in shortages of ship parts throughout The Core. Vessel repairs have increased, and finding new ship systems can be difficult. Basic ship maintenance has increased dramatically, and is expected to rise again next period. Analysts expect costs to level out by then, but most pilots and corporations can expect to pay more to maintain ships for the long run, especially larger, more complex ships above level one. Inflation jumped to 1.25, but should level out by the end of the month. Or maybe not. DATELINE Mizar - Under extreme pressure from corporate stockholders, the Galactic Insurers Group (GIG) has decided to raise adjust ship insurance premiums in order to meet projected profits. "At this rate, we're losing money fast!" said Vertso Bingara, Zephyr CEO of Tantrum Insurance, a member of GIG. The new rates will be calculated at 1,000 QPs per Ship Level Squared. A level 1 ship would pay only 1,000 QPs per turn for 75% coverage (1 x 1 * 1000), whereas a level 4 ship would pay 16,000 QPs to remain insured (4 x 4 x 1000). "Higher level ships are more at risk from pirates seeking plunder!" claims Bingara. Also, the cost of replacing a high-powered space vehicle is dramatically higher than for smaller vessels. Current policy holders need not worry about getting new insurance papers, the changeover will happen automatically. DATELINE Rasalhague - Planetary security forces are denying that letter bombs mailed to Mammooth came from Betelgeuse, as suggested by some of the postmarks. An ALF informant told a Mammooth newspaper that Betelgeusean security agencies would have detected such a terrorist operation and said the postmarks could have been forged. It is not known whether Mammooth police have examined the letters. A total of eight letter bombs have been found. Five were addressed to the main office of the Terran newspaper "Terra Informa" and three to P. Sydney Boff, famous star and actor in the syndicated Friday night vidcom series "Mr. Jeepers!" DATELINE Sol - The Imperial Crime Division (ICD) says serious crime decreased by three percent on Sol in the first six months of IY 96. Cities with populations over 1 million -- including Imperial City, Old Chicago and New Paris -- recorded the greatest decline in serious crime. Cities with populations from 500,000 to 999,999 saw no change in the first half of IY 96, but other cities showed a drop in serious crime. There were also decreases in serious crimes in suburban and rural areas. An Imperial spokesman hailed the statistics and said they showed that serious crime had declined for the fifth year in a row, the longest period of decline in a quarter century. This study was performed by 7 Rhesians under extreme coercion with funds that were ear-marked for medical research. ================================================================== CARGO PRODUCTION AND STOCK INDEX This is current economic data gathered by the vast computer complexes at Megafalagon University on Earth. PRO is the current period's production level, CNG is the change in production from the previous period, E/U is the empire and underworld influence in that star system, COM is the company stock code, STK is the current period's cost per share and +/- is the gain or loss from the previous period. Current inflation is 1.25 with the base cargo pod cost at 6,250 QPs. STAR AGR AGR IND IND MIN MIN TEC TEC STOCK MARKET SYST PRO CNG PRO CNG PRO CNG PRO CNG COM STK +/- ------------------------------------------------------------------- ACH 7.13 -0.09 7.71 +0.12 5.82 -0.08 7.46 -0.22 FOO 659 +7 ADH 8.05 -0.22 4.47 +0.07 5.89 +0.07 4.62 +0.23 DUR 154 +16 ALD 3.55 -0.07 9.89 -0.02 5.09 +0.02 5.39 +0.24 DRD 110 +8 ALG 3.36 -0.24 6.44 +0.04 3.70 -0.24 9.52 +0.09 WID 1227 -8 ALK 5.23 -0.05 3.98 -0.06 5.23 +0.17 4.16 -0.07 CHE 580 -8 ALP 6.34 -2.48 3.39 -0.18 5.42 +0.10 3.35 -0.23 AUT 199 -13 ALZ 6.52 -0.22 6.42 -0.19 8.69 -0.05 4.54 +0.09 PET 104 -23 ALT 7.14 +0.18 6.30 +0.01 5.13 -0.08 1.04 -0.25 INS 213 +0 ANT 7.26 +0.10 1.01 -0.11 4.07 -0.18 5.59 +0.15 CRY 896 -11 ARC 3.42 -0.09 7.91 +0.18 7.12 -0.21 7.51 -0.10 BBP 621 -5 ATR 7.18 +0.22 4.13 -0.19 5.76 +0.17 9.73 +0.04 HYD 849 +19 BEL 8.06 -0.07 6.96 +0.18 3.99 +0.14 4.13 +0.12 ORB 391 -15 BEN 8.03 +0.00 8.51 +0.22 4.38 +0.22 4.29 +0.17 ZGM 275 +9 BET 6.85 -0.23 3.85 +0.03 8.70 -0.02 9.46 -0.21 NLG 246 +19 CAN 4.77 +0.00 5.72 +0.04 7.26 -0.13 4.33 +0.13 PHR 474 +2 CAP 4.76 +0.13 4.48 -0.03 3.75 -0.13 6.07 +0.04 SNS 623 -11 CAS 4.25 +0.12 8.51 +0.20 4.56 -0.07 9.56 +0.18 EVE 337 +7 COR 9.17 -0.10 7.09 -0.16 9.08 +0.05 0.26 +0.02 LOF 1118 +16 DEN 4.83 +0.06 4.50 +0.22 8.70 +0.06 4.25 +0.08 TOX 465 +4 DEB 7.54 +0.15 8.11 +0.18 7.20 -0.04 4.25 -0.10 HOA 290 +15 DIP 4.11 +0.00 7.34 +0.20 7.67 -0.01 3.42 -0.23 SPS 304 -4 DUH 8.49 +0.02 5.85 +0.15 4.48 +0.22 4.85 -0.11 SCR 632 +7 ELN 0.57 -1.96 7.20 +0.24 5.00 +0.18 2.75 +0.01 ZER 601 +20 EPS 7.86 -0.05 1.07 +0.20 8.50 -0.10 7.45 +0.10 GUA 365 +19 FOM 8.08 +0.24 5.35 -0.11 5.54 +0.10 9.18 +0.14 MET 272 -9 HAM 6.26 -0.20 6.11 -0.22 5.18 +0.14 4.49 +0.11 GTV 699 +15 KAU 3.85 -0.05 7.77 +0.10 8.15 +0.14 2.59 +0.16 ELI 449 -22 KOC 7.02 -0.05 6.70 +0.00 4.48 -0.17 9.99 +0.00 ATM 1060 +6 MEG 6.00 -0.04 7.72 -0.18 3.93 -0.24 4.58 +0.20 POW 86 +1 MIA 8.52 +0.07 3.49 +0.20 7.26 -0.18 5.76 -0.23 RAR 297 -21 MIR 3.65 -0.15 4.31 -0.23 3.73 +0.24 4.70 +0.09 PML 759 +19 MIP 5.08 -0.19 9.99 +0.00 3.55 +0.22 5.55 -0.17 SYN 1166 -1 MIZ 8.37 +0.15 4.31 -0.06 4.34 +0.05 9.89 +0.12 MCS 480 -9 NUN 4.07 +0.22 6.50 +0.25 7.63 -0.14 6.87 +0.03 GRE 411 +18 PHA 9.92 +0.22 2.88 +0.12 5.42 -0.14 7.00 -0.17 NUK 322 -15 POL 4.80 -0.02 1.17 -0.15 3.22 -0.21 9.92 +0.15 KLC 864 +8 POX 5.12 +0.19 3.24 +0.16 8.57 +0.07 2.45 -0.23 PHO 566 +5 PRO 8.29 -0.02 8.58 -0.15 9.18 -0.11 1.55 -0.21 MYR 321 +18 RAS 3.64 -0.15 7.09 -0.12 3.73 -0.19 5.06 -0.05 PIL 165 -23 REG 8.22 -0.16 4.62 +0.01 6.11 +0.17 8.23 +0.15 TAG 479 +24 RIG 3.61 -0.05 2.92 -0.13 8.86 +0.16 4.87 -0.04 UNI 1353 -1 SAB 6.25 +0.01 3.79 -0.22 6.18 -0.12 5.01 -0.21 REP 813 +21 SAI 9.56 -0.14 6.17 -0.13 4.11 -0.13 6.29 -0.14 KTM 364 +18 SHA 4.39 -0.20 3.38 +0.14 9.82 +0.19 7.79 -0.23 SPA 95 +15 SIR 3.67 -0.01 5.25 -0.11 5.92 +0.06 6.15 -0.20 END 101 -6 SOL 9.92 +0.00 6.94 -0.16 8.68 -0.03 9.99 +0.24 MNM 182 -14 SPI 4.25 +0.24 5.13 +0.23 5.47 +0.05 3.05 -1.64 6MB 325 -17 THU 9.31 +0.14 6.76 -0.13 6.99 -0.06 2.42 -0.02 XEN 420 -4 VEG 1.79 +0.00 2.04 +0.22 9.84 -0.09 4.00 -0.05 WTO 550 -20 WEZ 6.32 -0.12 3.36 -0.21 4.00 -0.16 8.66 -0.06 REE 390 +8 ================================================================== SHIPYARD PRICE QUOTES The Core's major shipyards are located on Earth, Chook'Tai, Draak, Fromida Froo, Shengmari, Themthelgia II and Zephyr. The industrial analysts from these homeworlds have set the prices for new spaceship components, and they are listed below. Themthelgia has special facilities available to accept used ship systems for cash, with an average expected value of 1/2 of the original system price, if it is in good condition. Prices can vary slightly from one shipyard to another. System Level: 2 3 4 5 6 Computer 250,000 500,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 4,000,000 Jumpdrive 125,000 250,000 500,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 Cargo Bay 100,000 200,000 400,000 800,000 1,600,000 Hull 150,000 300,000 600,000 1,200,000 2,400,000 Laser Gun 187,500 375,000 750,000 1,500,000 3,000,000 Maneuver 62,500 125,000 250,000 500,000 1,000,000 Sensors 112,500 225,000 450,000 900,000 1,800,000 Shield Gen 200,000 400,000 800,000 1,600,000 3,200,000 ================================================================== THE STANDINGS LISTS The following traders have earned a place of exceptional honor and respect by succesfully competing as first-class smugglers. Congratulations! NET WORTH LIST: #226: Hermes I (Quiiksiilviir)....... 14,126,845 #115: Achille's Heel (Alain Delon)....... 13,517,736 #367: The Defiant Vermin (Martin Kane)....... 13,507,544 #330: The Toreador Prince (Kymil Nimesen)....... 8,820,611 #359: Andromeda's Song (Perfak Nambari)....... 8,559,364 #236: Pallida Mors (Jack Death)....... 6,756,905 #232: Shark (Mako)....... 6,637,009 #181: The Phoenix (Lord Gorfling)....... 6,325,016 #133: Bat Out O' Hell (Biil Kliintiin)....... 3,806,546 #898: Big Sword (Grontz)....... 2,977,752 REPUTATION LIST: #226: Hermes I (Quiiksiilviir)....... 274 #367: The Defiant Vermin (Martin Kane)....... 229 #330: The Toreador Prince (Kymil Nimesen)....... 227 #232: Shark (Mako)....... 224 #115: Achille's Heel (Alain Delon)....... 156 #236: Pallida Mors (Jack Death)....... 142 #359: Andromeda's Song (Perfak Nambari)....... 122 #181: The Phoenix (Lord Gorfling)....... 101 #496: Pale Horse (Zane)....... 70 #133: Bat Out O' Hell (Biil Kliintiin)....... 64 DEMERITS LIST: #713: Nova Sophie (Aubrey O'Brien)....... 15 #232: Shark (Mako)....... 14 #181: The Phoenix (Lord Gorfling)....... 13 #236: Pallida Mors (Jack Death)....... 2 #496: Pale Horse (Zane)....... 2 #598: Heart Of Gold (Jack McGee)....... 2 #665: Mourning Song (Angel Mournsweet)....... 1 #946: The Lethargy Express (Eye-Claw Deus)....... 1 ================================================================== (c)1997 Distant Vistas. All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 90993, Industry, CA 91715-0993 http://users.aol.com/dvistas dvistas@aol.com Up