The July 95 Galactic Inquirer From: dvistas@aol.com (D Vistas) Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 00:00:00 +0000 <<< INTERGALACTIC NEWSWIRE SERVICE >>> SUBJECT: The Galactic Inquirer, Volume 3, July 95 TO : All Cargomaster's Guild Members FROM : Edited by M.W. Martin, Megafalagon University, Sol (dvistas@aol.com) *** H E A D L I N E N E W S >>> Special Corporate Edition by M.W. Martin, Editor As all of you should know by now, some pretty big changes are now in effect as of today. First off, turns are reduced from 15 to 10 orders. However, you will see as you read this special issue, a lot of orders have been improved so that you can do more with them. Make sure you read this newsletter thoroughly, even if you have already read the earlier warning flyers, because there have been last-minute changes! Good luck and keep smuggling! >>> Private Trader Companies Permanently Dissolved! A recent revocation of an overturned imperial law now prohibits the formation of private Companies. All such illegal ventures are hereby disbanded. All orders that once pertained only to members of private companies are now available only to corporate aligned traders. Early in I.Y. 995, the once great Cargomaster's Guild fell from grace and was shattered. Massive financial losses, political intrigue and bad hair was touted as the primary cause. In order to prevent a complete collapse of independent interstellar trade, seven huge mega-corporations, lead by the Kludge Cola Corporation, took over the Guild's function as protectorate and guide to the many thousands of members who had nowhere else to turn. Without protection, imperial oppression would destroy free trade in The Core forever. Without corporate protection, you would probably fall prey to pirates or other smugglers on your first trip out... or end up in a Macovian prison. But The corporate ships continuously scout the trade routes, blasting away bad guys, marking imperial customs beacons and keeping things a lot safer for you, the little guy. And they don't do it for love, or for country, or for any noble or philanthropic reason. They do it for money. Your money. The dues you pay every turn for their protection. To align with a corporation is a privilege, an honor and (some say) a necessity. You don't have to align, but without their help, you'll be on your own. Your dues are based on the value of your corporation's stock. The more powerful corporations offer better services, so you pay more. Each one of these corporations is made up of one or more companies. There are 50 companies in all, and they provide the majority of the goods and services that are used by the billions of citizens everywhere. You can invest in any company, even one you're not aligned with. Investing using the IN order is a fair way to make a quick fortune if you have good insight, or perhaps an insider's trading tip. Each corporation is listed below with the corporation's code, name, and all of the companies that make up the cartel with their stock codes: ABA: Abahz-Metro Importers MAX: Maxim PowerKil Industries (INS) Instant Art (BBP) Big Bang Pyrotechnics (LOF) Lester's Old Fashioned Books (SPS) Solomon Particle Splitting (ATM) Atmospheric Seeding Specialists (ZER) Zeerocks Clones (PIL) Piltdown Fossils (POW) PowerThrust Weapons Mfg. (KTM) K'Karkh'uk's Textile Mills (MYR) Myrmidon Security Systems (SPA) Slipping Penguin Artifacts (END) EndlessLoop Armaments BIO: The Biomed Consortium UNI: Universal Built (CHE) Chemico Corporation (WID) Widgets Incorporated (NLG) New Life Genetics (PET) RoboPets (PHR) Pharmicon (ZGM) Zero-G Tool Manufacturers (SCR) Screaming Organisms (GTV) Galaxy Terravehicles (RAR) Rare Air Radiates (ELI) Eliza Microbrains (PML) Perpetual Motion Limited (SYN) Synthoceramics (NUK) Nukonium Industrials (MCS) McSquared FTL Jumpdrives (6MB) 6M Bioprotheses (UNI) Universal Robotics (REE) Reerdin Steel Corporation GAL: Galactic Transport Cartel (TOX) Toxiwaste Shipping Co. KLU: Kludge/TriNutriate (HOA) Haul-O-Rama (FOO) FoodCo (GUA) Guaranteed Tame (DRD) Driheeve's Distilleries (PHO) Phoenix Recycling (CRY) Cryo-Fresh (TAG) Tagert Transport (ORB) Orboid Fruit Growers (GRE) Green & Leafy Spice Company XEN: XenoChem Mining Ltd. (KLC) Kludge Cola & Beverage Co. (DUR) Duraplast Industries (REP) RepliPod (AUT) AuthentiCoal (XEN) Xenosplice (HYD) Hydroponics Lumber (WTO) Warped Tree Orchards (SNS) Strip'n'Ship (EVE) Eversharp Elementals (MET) Metals and Minerals (MNM) Magma-Neutron Mining Use the latest issue of The Galactic Inquirer to check on stock values owned by your corporation, and total them to determine the corporation's net share worth. Take this number and divide it by 500 to determine your dues percentage, which must be paid each turn. For example, if your corporation's net share worth is 2,507 QPs, then 2,507 / 500 = 5.014, so you'd have to pay 5.014% of your onhand cash at the end of your turn as corporate dues. This is very similar to how the old Cargomaster's Guild used to work. The more powerful corporations have more ships and resources, but also charge higher dues. The choice is yours, and you may decide to be completely independent of the corporate squeeze, which many smugglers insist on doing. So the question remains: to join or not to join? >>> Align Corporation Order Align Corporation: AC Code --- You like your independence and freedom, but sometimes you feel like it's just too dangerous out there to go it alone. Then don't! Aligning yourself with one of the 7 galactic corporations is the way to go. Protection from interstellar piracy, ship insurance and policy voting privileges are just a few of the useful services they provide. To align yourself with one of these business powerhouses, just use this order. See the section Aligning With A Mega-Corporation elsewhere in this guide for more information. >>> Bigelow's Guide Order Bigelow's Guide: BG Star1... Star3 -- This order is used to activate Bigelow's Guide Of The Core for special data searches. Of course, you must own a working copy of Bigelow's Guide. You will automatically get a planet's or outpost's readout whenever you dock your ship. But there may be times when you want to look up a specific planet in the database, such as when you are trying to locate surpluses or shortages of cargo. In such a case, you may enter up to three locations to get current data. Star1 to Star3 is the 3-letter system abbreviation listed on your Map Of The Core. This order can be done from any place in the galaxy, even from deep space, to get data for the specific planet, but it will not work for outposts. Also, as an added bonus, if you enter LAW as one of the star systems, you will get a readout of The Imperial Bureau Of Law, Justice And Security's most recent "Ten Most Wanted" list of space pirates. A little something extra for those bounty hunters out there! >>> City Transfer Order City Transfer: CT City# -- Works the same except that you will automatically return to City#1 whenever you use the JU order from any other city instead of messing up your turn. >>> Gamble Order Gamble: GA Game#, QPs -- Works the same except that Game# is from 1 to 5 instead of 1 to 10. >>> Hire Crew Order Hire Crew: HC Pro, Level# -- Works the same except that you can no longer select the species of the crewman. This has no real effect on the abilities of the crewmen. >>> Invest Order Invest: IN Corporation, Shares# -- With this order, you enter the Corporation code, which is a three-letter designator or the company you want to invest in, and the number of Shares# for the transaction. Use a plus sign (+) to purchase shares, and a minus sign (-) to sell shares. So the order IN ATM +100 would allow you to purchase 100 shares of ATM stock. You may own up to 25,000 shares in each corporation, and they can be bought or sold anywhere in the galaxy at any time. Each 100 shares of stock in a company you are aligned with is worth 1 vote. You will not make any money from a stock until you sell your shares back to the stock market, at which time your profits or losses will be collected. Also, you'll have to pay a 5% fee to your broker when selling stock certificates. You may purchase or sell up to a maximum of 25,000 shares per transaction. Stock prices fluctuate on the open market along with the standard economic indicators. See the Economic Page in the latest Galactic Inquirer for economic details and stock values. >>> Improve Skill Order Improve Skill: IS Skill1... Skill3 -- Works the same except that you can train in up to 3 skills at a time. >>> Jump Order Jump: JU Dir# Dir#... Dir# -- To get from here to there, you use this order. Different ships have different drives... some faster, some slower. Dir# is a direction number as shown on your Map Of The Core, and it indicates a 1-quad jump in that direction. You can enter as many jumps as your drive is capable of handling in a single order, and you can use multiple jump orders for long distance travel. For example, the order for a level 2 jumpdrive, JU 7778, means jump 3 quads in direction 7 and one quad in direction 8. Slow drives can only jump 2 quads, while Imperial Navy ships can jump up to 12 quads, which is the hyperjump limit for space travel. A single jump uses up one unit of Nukonium Petrolex fuel, no matter how far the distance is. Valid direction numbers are 1 through 8. You may end your jump anywhere on the map, including deep space. Use 0 as the Dir# to dock your ship on a planet or outpost. When you dock your ship, the computer takes control, contacting the local authorities and landing your ship at a planet's capital city (city #1) or an outpost's docking bay. Whenever you dock, your Bigelow's Guide will give a listing of all cities, available services and special orders available, and this information should be recorded in your Exploration Log. Once on-world, you must go through the usual Customs inspections to receive your docking papers. Your ship might get scanned for illegal cargo, depending on the empire and underworld levels, and confiscation is possible. To avoid customs altogether, you can try a forced landing by using 9 as the Dir#, but only on planets. Forced landings are dangerous, and failure might result in a crash landing, so beware! Using 0 or 9 to dock does not count as a jump and uses no extra fuel. So, a ship with a level 1 jumpdrive could use the order JU 330 to move 2 Quads in direction 3 and then dock, expending 1 unit of fuel. Once landed, you are free to shop the bazaars, check out local taverns, enjoy the hospitality of the native inhabitants, and buy or sell items where available. You can also use the public city transfer system (CT) to travel to other cities on the world. See the entry on Bigelow's Guide in The Smuggler's Equipment section in this book for more information. >>> Modify Ship Order Modify Ship: MS System1... System3 -- Works the same except that you can modify up to 3 systems at a time. >>> Repair Ship Order Repair Ship: RS System1... System3 -- Works the same except that you can repair up to 3 systems at a time. >>> Vote Order Vote: VO Decision -- Responsibility comes to those who align with a corporation. There will be times when major policy decisions will require a vote from all corporate members, and these resolutions can alter your future and fortune forever! The number of votes you get is your ship level squared, so a level one ship gets 1 vote, but a level 4 ship gets 16. You also get 1 vote per 100 shares of stock you own in the same corporation you are aligned with. Your strength and power in your corporation are directly related to your own worth and influence. Whenever a vote is proposed, it will be published in The Galactic Inquirer. Once published, all corporate members may cast a vote Decision of AYE or NAY. A non-vote is automatically cast as a NAY, and if you vote more than once, only your last vote is tallied. This allows you to change your mind later in the month. All proposed votes are placed on ballot by the 7 intergalactic mega-corporations. >>> The Standings Lists The following players have earned a place of exceptional honor and respect by competing and succeeding as first-class Smugglers. A little luck was also involved. Congratulations! NET WORTH LIST #174: Vinny the Swank, 17,116,753 #308: Jarn Kargad, 15,715,245 #196: Her Majesty Priisciila Cartouche VII, 12,286,283 #490: Jiminy Windex, 7,517,394 #420: Daemon Rankiil, 7,018,679 #298: Philip Marlow, 6,742,063 #176: Tal-Le'Sin Brosil'Av'Shovo, 6,460,889 #375: Indika Buthalezi, 6,386,775 #450: Jell-0, 6,045,243 #280: Donal Jetje, 4,316,065 REPUTATION LIST #174: Vinny the Swank, 214 #450: Jell-0, 178 #308: Jarn Kargad, 177 #490: Jiminy Windex, 130 #196: Her Majesty Priisciila Cartouche VII, 112 #176: Tal-Le'Sin Brosil'Av'Shovo, 104 #375: Indika Buthalezi, 100 #420: Daemon Rankiil, 95 #228: OneScrewShort, 77 #280: Donal Jetje, 55 DEMERITS LIST #176: Tal-Le'Sin Brosil'Av'Shovo, 14 #174: Vinny the Swank, 6 #298: Philip Marlow, 5 #196: Her Majesty Priisciila Cartouche VII, 4 #291: K'Rhys'Atlantul, 4 #228: OneScrewShort, 3 #346: Eral Finn, 3 #420: Daemon Rankiil, 3 #280: Donal Jetje, 2 #476: Dirk Savage, 2 >>> Starship Obituaries The following ships were declared destroyed this month. No declaration of crew death is implied or assumed herin. #176: Vel'ika'ya Groz'naya Kosh'ka, E4 Trader #358: Fisster's Pride, I1 Trader #514: Disgraceful Immoral Duckbill, I2 Cargo Barge #523: The Tangerine of Diphda, E4 Reaper Mark IV #542: The Gorilla of Megriz, I1 Private Transport #554: Enchanted Bronze Partridge, I2 Bioplatform #561: Solitary Magician, I1 Private Transport #579: Copper Clam of Kochab, I2 Ore Barge #587: Cobalt Pig of Shaula, I4 Safari Ship #589: The Sapphire Sequoia, I2 Cargo Barge #593: Striped Famous Butler, I5 Garbage Scow #600: The Beige Minion of Spica, E1 Skip #616: The Only Remarkable Duckbill, I1 Skip #622: Asp of Atria, I5 Garbage Scow #632: Grumpy Village Idiot, I2 Bioplatform #649: The Vicious Lapis Animal, I2 Cruise Liner #679: The Prominent Insect, I2 Ore Barge #692: The Interstellar Shrinking Cougar, I1 Skip #707: Lapis Grimalkin, I2 Ore Barge #723: The Beryl Warrior, I3 Medical Ship #730: Creeping Canary Crow, I1 Private Transport #740: Mammoth Silver Madman, I2 Refinery #741: Peerless Mauve Tadpole, I1 Shuttler #777: The Musty Atrocious Galaxy, E4 Black Raider #786: Magic Indigo Eagle, P4 Reaper Mark IV #790: Brown Creature, E2 Privateer #792: The Dashing Bunny, I1 Private Transport #807: Jet-black Soothsayer of Achernar, I1 Mining Dredge #823: Dishonest Melancholy Journeyman, I1 Skip #831: The Spider of Alpheratz, I2 Biobarge #841: Mossy Squirrel, I3 Medical Ship #857: Radiant Fluky Acorn, I2 Cruise Liner #860: Wee Capon, I1 Mining Dredge #887: Drunken Stellar Aurora, I2 Refinery #888: Pike of Duhbe, I1 Skip #935: The Withered Slink, E2 Privateer #937: Creeper of Sabik, I5 Garbage Scow #955: The Macabre Stinky Wart Hog, I1 Cargo Shuttle #994: The Drunken Mink, E2 Privateer >>> CARGO IMPORTS/EXPORTS PRO: Production CNG: Prod. Change EXP: Near Exporter E/U: Emp/Und Level STAR AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY MINING TECHNOLOGY E/U SYST PRO CNG EXP PRO CNG EXP PRO CNG EXP PRO CNG EXP LVL -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ACH 5.11 -2.85 --- 5.03 +0.84 --- 6.65 -0.05 --- 8.33 +0.22 --- 7/6 ADH 9.10 +0.29 --- 3.19 +0.68 ALG 7.14 -0.02 --- 6.52 +0.42 --- 1/6 ALD 7.06 -0.36 --- 9.01 +3.41 --- 4.66 +0.14 ALZ 2.41 +0.23 MIZ 3/1 ALG 2.36 -0.75 ADH 6.80 -0.45 --- 3.39 +0.45 ADH 6.06 -0.62 --- 2/0 ALK 3.51 +0.10 ALD 4.01 +0.55 ALD 3.88 -0.66 ALZ 3.90 +0.46 MIZ 1/3 ALP 4.55 +0.19 FOM 6.89 -1.27 --- 7.75 -0.42 --- 5.67 +0.89 --- 6/1 ALZ 2.88 -0.67 MIZ 7.81 -0.11 --- 7.89 +0.75 --- 7.19 -0.72 --- 4/0 ALT 8.42 +0.71 --- 5.13 -0.38 --- 6.08 +2.05 --- 2.69 -0.44 DEN 2/7 ANT 7.63 -0.49 --- 2.02 +0.87 ACH 2.96 +0.56 ACH 3.71 -0.37 POL 5/2 ARC 3.53 +0.82 PHA 5.55 -0.07 --- 3.52 -0.98 SIR 3.30 -0.36 MIP 6/1 ATR 2.36 -0.61 ALT 2.33 -0.71 ALT 3.45 +0.73 ALT 9.82 +0.83 --- 3/6 BEL 8.19 +0.91 --- 6.92 -0.82 --- 2.90 -0.53 PHA 0.86 -0.08 KOC 3/3 BEN 5.15 +0.92 --- 6.24 +0.14 --- 7.06 -0.86 --- 4.41 -0.66 CAN 9/1 BET 8.81 +0.21 --- 5.10 -0.21 --- 6.17 +0.53 --- 7.97 +0.09 --- 9/3 CAN 3.83 +0.67 BEN 8.03 -0.55 --- 8.64 -0.26 --- 5.95 +0.31 --- 7/1 CAP 4.32 +0.67 ALD 6.82 +0.03 --- 2.10 -0.40 ALZ 4.14 +0.86 MIZ 3/2 CAS 2.82 +0.59 ADH 6.76 +0.31 --- 2.93 +0.13 ADH 8.19 +0.85 --- 1/5 COR 8.65 -0.01 --- 4.94 +0.31 ALT 2.38 -0.57 ALT 7.38 +0.15 --- 0/9 DEN 2.34 -3.41 ALT 3.18 +0.04 ALT 6.89 -0.08 --- 5.57 -0.02 --- 1/0 DEB 5.14 +0.07 --- 5.12 -0.83 --- 6.80 -0.11 --- 0.96 +0.60 REG 9/2 DIP 5.45 -2.80 --- 7.56 +0.96 --- 6.76 -0.39 --- 4.06 +0.25 FOM 7/1 DUH 6.97 +1.55 --- 5.45 +0.85 --- 4.96 +0.21 PRO 7.20 +0.86 --- 3/1 ELN 0.76 +0.13 KAU 5.52 +0.33 --- 3.70 -2.75 KAU 3.85 +0.68 EPS 3/4 EPS 9.51 -0.44 --- 3.47 +0.50 ELN 3.52 -0.31 WEZ 9.40 +0.79 --- 1/6 FOM 7.75 -0.37 --- 8.77 -0.85 --- 5.61 +1.37 --- 6.18 +0.33 --- 5/3 HAM 3.81 +0.90 THU 7.64 +0.16 --- 8.14 +0.77 --- 2.54 -0.77 THU 2/2 KAU 8.41 +1.40 --- 3.81 +0.00 ELN 9.13 -0.73 --- 1.54 +0.46 SPI 1/3 KOC 7.05 +0.65 --- 5.19 +0.35 --- 4.74 +0.68 ALZ 5.23 +0.79 --- 2/3 MEG 2.71 -2.55 ACH 5.38 +0.08 --- 3.48 +0.57 ACH 3.93 +0.69 SAI 7/6 MIA 2.90 -1.82 SAB 3.52 -0.17 CAN 9.95 +0.60 --- 3.60 +1.58 SAB 7/0 MIR 3.93 -0.41 ACH 4.20 -0.09 ACH 7.68 +0.06 --- 5.79 -0.58 --- 7/3 MIP 4.27 -0.75 RAS 7.55 +0.82 --- 2.59 +0.56 SIR 5.73 -0.28 --- 8/3 MIZ 9.78 +0.97 --- 4.48 +0.02 KOC 2.53 -0.46 ALZ 9.57 -0.31 --- 4/0 NUN 6.88 +0.70 --- 6.76 +1.80 --- 5.79 -0.42 --- 3.52 +0.75 RAS 7/5 PHA 9.45 +0.14 --- 1.60 +0.88 SIR 6.95 +0.92 --- 1.93 +0.01 RAS 6/4 POL 8.23 -0.47 --- 3.00 -0.62 BET 3.50 +0.13 BET 7.88 +0.95 --- 6/4 POX 5.12 +0.89 --- 6.41 +0.36 --- 8.28 +0.56 --- 1.67 +0.58 REG 8/2 PRO 7.81 +0.62 --- 9.47 +0.34 --- 7.58 +0.28 --- 4.14 +0.18 THU 3/3 RAS 7.24 +0.10 --- 3.41 +0.39 NUN 2.93 -0.19 NUN 6.81 -0.80 --- 5/4 REG 3.64 +0.26 BET 5.66 -0.11 --- 3.59 +0.18 BET 7.47 -0.75 --- 8/3 RIG 0.41 -0.87 KOC 1.06 -0.10 KOC 8.74 +0.73 --- 4.52 -0.90 KOC 2/2 SAB 6.65 +0.37 --- 3.09 +0.43 CAN 2.27 -0.50 SHA 5.71 +0.00 --- 8/1 SAI 4.92 +2.10 BET 9.20 -0.24 --- 2.47 -1.80 BET 8.69 -0.71 --- 8/1 SHA 3.45 +0.33 SAB 4.70 +0.29 ALP 6.90 +0.03 --- 5.10 +0.70 --- 8/0 SIR 4.72 +0.20 RAS 5.71 +0.77 --- 8.33 -0.62 --- 2.55 +0.16 MIP 5/5 SOL 4.32 -0.07 FOM 3.74 +0.69 ALP 5.60 +0.69 --- 3.80 -0.83 ALP 9/1 SPI 9.04 -0.89 --- 5.94 -0.48 --- 4.29 -0.67 WEZ 8.42 +3.47 --- 7/1 THU 7.29 -0.98 --- 4.68 -0.74 PRO 3.97 +0.50 PRO 5.00 +0.13 --- 2/4 VEG 1.79 -0.54 DUH 2.83 +0.10 DUH 4.09 +0.70 PRO 5.65 +0.64 --- 3/2 WEZ 3.67 -0.35 BEN 4.34 -0.90 BEN 5.65 +0.47 --- 4.78 +0.31 CAN 6/1 >>> STOCK MARKET INDEX COM: Company SEC: Prod. Sector STK: Share Value +/-: Gain/Loss COM SEC STK +/- COM SEC STK +/- COM SEC STK +/- COM SEC STK +/- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- 6MB TEC 603 +155 ATM AGR 871 +53 AUT MIN 291 -13 BBP IND 548 -4 CHE MIN 634 -45 CRY TEC 866 -33 DRD AGR 198 -8 DUR IND 216 +13 ELI TEC 410 +18 END TEC 197 +3 EVE MIN 353 +4 FOO AGR 498 -200 GRE AGR 562 +36 GTV IND 708 +11 GUA AGR 294 -14 HOA MIN 236 -3 HYD AGR 509 -33 INS IND 229 -10 KLC AGR 1295 +985 KTM IND 412 -11 LOF IND 966 +29 MCS TEC 345 -12 MET MIN 295 +35 MNM MIN 121 +7 MYR IND 372 +12 NLG TEC 185 +1 NUK MIN 390 +33 ORB AGR 440 +36 PET TEC 181 -15 PHO IND 1330 +46 PHR AGR 572 +36 PIL MIN 270 -6 PML TEC 880 -54 POW IND 96 +1 RAR MIN 436 +24 REE MIN 551 +24 REP AGR 813 +29 SCR AGR 635 +85 SNS MIN 768 -33 SPA IND 100 +2 SPS TEC 685 +16 SYN IND 881 +66 TAG IND 500 -6 TOX MIN 425 -4 UNI TEC 1007 -100 WID TEC 906 -60 WTO AGR 591 -34 XEN AGR 363 -40 ZER TEC 597 +38 ZGM IND 165 +2 (c)1995 Distant Vistas. All Rights Reserved. P. O. Box 90993, Industry, CA 91715-0993 Internet Address: dvistas@aol.com Up