WANTED: Kole Harkness

Former military psychic Kole Harkness is wanted for desertion of the Antethian Military branches. The Hegemon is willing to pay a 10,000 credit reward if Mr. Harkness is captured and turned into the police, alive only.

Harkness is to be considered armed and dangerous. Proceed at your own risk.

Person of Interest: Yasha Quick

Yasha Quick is a cyberhacker and former bounty hunter. She was a member of the Antethian bounty hunter's guild until a few years ago when he suddenly left the guild, ending her hunting career. She then started a small consulting firm where he put her freelance hacking and information gathering skills to use.

Very little is known about Yasha's past, her family, or her upbringing. Rumor has it that she was born on Kunus, other rumors state that she is a rogue psychic that escaped prison.

Currently she spends most of her time enjoying the luxury of life in the capital. Providing hacking assistance for sky high fees.

Person of Interest: Felipe Ruy

Felipe Ruy grew up in the slums of Nueva Ecuador and quickly found himself forced into a life of crime to survive. He was in charge of a smuggling operation to get various blackmarket items off world and past foreign customs agents. During a trip to the Arctic to gather chemical dropping from the Tundra Eels, Felipe was betrayed by a group of his underlings, and left wounded and alone in the frozen wastelands. Felipe managed to find a crashed Grav truck in the wastes and was able to get running enough to drive fairly close to the temperate ring. His body was quickly deteriorating due to frostbite and starvation, and he crashed before reaching help.

Luckily he was close enough to a weather station outpost to, and the heat from the crash registered on their sensors, and he was rescued by the scientists there and flown to a hospital. He would lose both his arms and a few toes to frostbite, and would go into eminence debt to gain cybernetic replacements. This only continued Felipe's dive into the criminal world.

Felipe may be quick to use others to his benefit, but he has a soft spot in his heart for children, and those without a way to help themselves.    

Person of Interest: Consol Otho

Otho Servius is one of the two Consols of the Antethian Hegemon. Born into a noble family with quite the military history, Otho entered into the military academy at age 15, and was awarded a Antethian Medal of Merit for graduating with the highest scores of his class. The next 20 years would prove fruitful as Otho built himself a successful military and political career. At age 35 he was elected to be a Consol after campaigning to serve the common workers of the Hegemon. He earned the nickname, "the people's Consol" after me worked to create multiple worker's reforms, increasing the working wage, and preventing profitable companies from cutting employee wages.

Otho has frequently found himself at odds with his fellow Consol Thracius Hial, who tends to have a much more traditional approach to governing. Many people claim that Thracius has been bought off by the giant corporations and venture capitalist groups that are opposed to Otho.

Recently the disagreements between Otho and Thracious have turned to open rebellion, as Otho declared the council to be unfit to rule over the Hegemon. Thracious and the council in return branded Otho a traitor and demanded that his military companies arrest and detain him. However, Otho's forces remained loyal and after the murder of his nephew by Antethian Counter Intelligence, both parties have declared war on each other.

Person of Interest: Mercury Rowe

Mercury Rowe is a high ranking crime boss for the Bantu Emissaries, one of the most powerful organized crime rings in the Antethian Hegemon region of control. The Bantu Emissaries mostly deal in higher class crime, such as fraud, identity theft, and cyber hacking. They also control a massive slice of the black market, throughout multiple systems. No one knows who the true leader of the ring is, and very fairly do top level members go down or get into serious legal trouble. Recently rumors have been spread that the Emissaries are even doing undercover work for the Ruling Council, undermining prices of political enemies and causing general disruption.

Mercury is generally known to be a very cool and collective man, which has led him to have so much success in navigating the murky waters of Antethian politics. He has a district look, as he has many cyberware upgrades that are visible even to the untrained eye.

Mercury Rowe currently has a 5000 credit bounty on his head for the suspected murder to two dockworkers.

Person of Interest: Hotaka Kita

Hotaka Kita is a Mercenary captain originally born on Tella 4. He was quickly outcast and joined the Manticorian Marines, and enjoyed a prestigious military career, that included the daring boarding of the pirate cruiser Interference which was famously stolen from the Ecuadorian Orbital Fleet in 3185.

Continued problems with public violence would eventually see Kita drummed out of the Marines, with a dishonorable discharge, Afterwards, Kita started a Mercenary company called Kita's Lions. Never consisting of a large amount of members, Kita's Lion quickly became one of the most feared combat groups in the entire sector. Known for their grit and recklessness, the Lions typically are all outfitted in power armor, and use mainly shock force tactics to overwhelm opponents.

Hotaka has enjoyed a life of infamy without gaining much in the way of a criminal record. He is generally considered to be "above the law," as few governments would risk damaging their reputation with the captain, or to encourage his wrath.

Planet Profile: Tella 4

Takiyah system (hex 505)

Tella 4

thin atmosphere - temperate - human-miscible biosphere - tens of thousands of inhabitants - tech level 3 - sectarians - alien ruins

Tella 4 is a small rocky world that contains a thin atmosphere. Although the atmosphere is too thin to support human life, Tella 4 does have a small desert live biosphere. Small hardy plants grow out the rock croppings, and many small reptilian and bug like animals roam the surface from their small caves and nests. Many of the animals have rough scales or exoskeletons to help with the thin atmosphere. While the plant and animal life is fairly sparse, they are for the most part, edible (although they are by no means tasty.) There is one very famous dish called Tella Shrew shish-ka-bobs, considered a delicacy across the sector. The dusty, landscape is stained red from the large amounts of iron that inhabits the soil. It is also dotted with ruins of a pre-scream alien civilization which is a large source of travel to and from the planet. The government of Tella 4 sells "ruin salvage permits" to travellers or scientists. Tella 4's "cities" are not very big compared to normal planets. Instead the population is organized into blocks, typically of no more than 1,000 people. Each citizen block inhabits a large pressurized "Colonization Habitat," which is a specially engineered to be self contained, and self sustaining. Every citizen has an assigned job that is inherited from their parents. Many of these habitats included well maintained greenhouses to grow at least some terran stock food. Any venture outside of the habitat blocks will require a full vac suit, or some sort of pressurized exploration vehicle.  

Planet Profile: Nueva Ecuador

Susila system (hex 304)

Nueva Ecuador

breathable mix - cold - immiscible biosphere - hundreds of thousands of inhabitants - tech 4 - tomb world - local specialty.

Nueva Ecuador is a mostly frozen world that is fairly hostile to humans. there is a thin band of around the equator (which runs north south compared to the planets orbit around the sun) which is warm enough to try and terraform some terran stock plants and animals. The planet's warm band has extensive ruins from the pre-scream area, and most of the current cities are built around these rotting high tech cityscapes. This gives the landscape of Nueva Ecuador's cities a very ramshackle look, as massive pre-tech skyhooks, sit next to standard tech skyscrapers. Most of the cities sit on the ocean side because of their relative lack of of hostile flora or fauna. A few terran stock breeds of fish have be able to adapt to the hostile biosphere and some might have been leftover from genetic engineering from the pre-tech scientists of the past. Inside the frozen tundra lives giant Ecuadorian Tundra Eels, which spend their entire lives eating through the ice. Their droppings when chemically altered, create a highly effective hallucinogen, comically nicknamed throughout the galaxy "space weed."

Slums of Ecuador

Incoming Message: Loz Grossman

Message Start:

I know who you are.

Meet me at Club Kitchi in the capital tomorrow at midnight, if you don't want your secrets getting into the wrong hands.

-Yasha

Sector Map Link

Strife Sector Map

Incoming message for Axel Rybeck

To: Axel Rybeck (fixinarounddaworld@ddn.net)
Message start:

Hello Mr. Rybeck,

Special agent Nero would like to inform you that your  freetrader application has been approved. The waiting list is no longer placing a hold on your account. The details of your loan offer are below.

Loan offer:
Total amount offered: $900,000 credits.
Interest rate 15%
Total debt: 1,035,000 credits.
Required monthly payment will be $17,250 over a period of 5 years.
Late payments will incur a 500 credit late fee.

The required down payment is: $31,050 credit or 3% of the total amount. This prepayment can be applied to any monthly payment of your choice.

If you have any questions please contact us at the loan office.

Incoming message to Mr. Suave

Message for Rico Suave: (rickismooth696969@dtech.com)

Message Start -

Hey there Rico you old dog you! How are you doing man? I can't believe you didn't tell me you were going off system, but I trust it must have been something bad to not even tell your old buddy Felipe Ruy where you where going. Anyways enough small talk. I have a business prop for ya, and knowing you it's too good to turn down. I have a friend on Antethia that wants to get a load of cargo offworld, and well he can't have it go through the normal customs shipping. Only problem is he is a bit paranoid about certain people tryin to get to his haul, if you know what I mean? Now look keep this part to yourself but you remember that outlaw gang that we hoodwinked into buying two tons of "extra crispy space weed"? I think they called themselves the Raja Redcoats? Raja, Raha, whatever all I remember was how stupid those dumb bastards were, wooo wee did we make out like bandits on that job. Well anyways yeah my mutual friend here apparently has gotten some cryptic messages from them, I guess they have some kind of a past, I didn't really ask. Apparently hes all worried that they will jump him on his way over to Cleotania. So he asked me if I knew anyone trustworthy enough to hire on as some extra muscle or as extra crew to run his ship for the 2 day flight over to Cleo. Now shit Rico I don't kno if I would say I trust you, trust is a big commitment, and I don't like to be tied down, when there is a whole new system of fine lookin young ladies that might want a piece of ole Felipe. But I know there is one thing you trust, and that is cold hard credits hombre. My friend is offering 30k just for a little bitty crew and a 2 day babysitting job. So get whatever boys you can together to run a ship and watch our backs, and get back to me pronto!

Your homeboy,

Felipe

Procul Infernum

My name is Procul 'Proc' Infernum. Born on Cleotania and not wanting to work the Bubble Farms, I joined the Cleotanian Protectorate Army at a young age. Years of experience as a search and rescue medic, piecing together friends ambushed and mutilated by the native Savino has shown me many horrors that war has to hold. Because of this background I am able to track and hunt targets, while recovering injured humans and repairing them. Being on the front lines, saving and taking lives, has given me a sense of purpose. It makes me think my talents are being wasted and my impact is minimal. I cant help but wonder if there is more for me and my expertiece. With my current military enlisted term coming to an end it's time for a change. Leaving the planet I grew up on is hard, but when I return it will be to remove my family from this hostile, unyeilding culture.

THE HEGEMON GAZETTE: IT'S WAR!

This morning, denounced Consol Otho hosted a press conference in which he formally declared "A war against tyranny, injustice, and corruption" against the Antethian Hegemon. The news broke and A.G. reporters have learned that Consol Otho's nephew, Marcus Augustine, was killed by Antethian Counter Intelligence. Sources have released satellite footage that appears to show a mixed group of Antethian soldiers and mercenaries shooting a man, assumed to be Marcus, at point blank range while in handcuffs in a remote location. The ruling council has adamantly denied that the killer is affiliated with the government, and that there is no proof that the man on the footage is indeed Otho's nephew.

The ruling council has stated that it will defend its territory "with unrelenting force."

Both militaries have begun to mobilize, and minor naval conflicts have sparked on the Jiat Sea that separates the two factions.

Otho also made a system wide statement that anyone that with information on his nephew's killer will be handsomely rewarded.

Everyone here at The Antethian Gazette urges people to stay safe in these troubled times.

My name is Torin Dol. I have started this journal because I realize I have nothing left.

My story begins when I was small boy growing up on a farm on the planet Cleotania. I was an only child and growing up in the toxic jungle was harsh. My mother and father were both hard workers and we prospered. Both my parents pushed me to get an education so I always had a book in my hand. Season after season, my family and I were hard at work.

One season the pollen levels on the planet were double they have been in years. And during this season we had a breach in one of our farming bubbles that my mother was working in. She had not taken her prescribed anti-allergenic medication that every human on Cleotania is given, yet. She was contaminated with the toxic pollen that surrounded the planet and she was dead within minutes. There was no one around and there was nothing I could have done…

When the pollen finally subsided from the poles, we found that the native lizard people known as the
Savino, had migrated. There were numerous reports of attacks in the area. We were next to get hit. Several creatures stormed our farm, tearing at anything that got in their way. My father fought with the rest of the town to ward off the beasts. I was forced to hide with the rest of the women and children. The governor’s army finally arrived to wipe out the hoard and I rush to find that my father was murdered.

After my family was gone, I tried to keep the farm going but I had to foreclose and the government took my farm. I turned to the government for aid and all they offered was a job stealing Savino eggs.
Apparently nobles raise them to become subservient. I thought of no better way of getting back at those lizards then to sell them into slavery.During my time scavenging for eggs, I learned from and studied the Savino. I learned their culture and have a basic understanding of their language. After learning about these creatures I decided the risk wasn’t worth the reward and I wasn’t making enough money. So I turned to my past farming contacts and got a job transporting various supplies back and forth from the poles of the planet.

I need to get off this planet. There’s nothing left but death here. I’ve heard rumors that there may be work for pilots on the nearby planet AntethiaI read a blog posted on one of these various job hunting sites. This guy named Loz Gossman is looking  for a crew. He’s on Antethia and I need a reason to get out of this jungle. I think I might hop on a transport and meet this guy. He says he’s ex-military so there may be some money in it. Besides if I don’t like where he’s going, at least I can check out the famous Casque and Flask.

Call for Adventure

My name is Loz Gossman. I was born on the planet Kunus. I am an ex-military psychic looking for work and adventure throughout the Herdis system. I've made contact with a client looking to find their missing relatives on Kunus... and the payment could be out of this world. I'm looking to gather a hearty crew and obtain a small starship to get off this bureaucratic mess of a planet called Antethia. Anyone looking to take up this call-to-arms, meet me at The Casque and Flask... you know... the shady bar in that one alley

Tahoe Station

Tahoe Station:

The Tahoe Space station is near the edge of the Hardis system. A spinning station that maintains its own artificial gravity.  It sits far away from the system's star, right on the edge of the system. It serves as an exchange waypoint, for both the exchange mailships, and as a supply and refueling station. As it is an exchange station it does not technically belong to the Antethian Hegemon. It has a small police force onboard, but for the most part it is considered to be international waters. The station itself houses the equivalent of a shopping mall, hotel, refueling center, and repair center. It is fairly big, and is a permanent home for over 1,000.

Planets of the Hardis System: Cleotania

Cleotania - breatheable mix - warm (jungle) - immiscible biosphere - hundreds of thousands of inhabitants - tech level 4 -  hostile biosphere - primitive aliens.

Cleotania is a jungle planet and is the most recent colony of the Hegemon. It is also the closest to the system's star. The jungle plant's pollen causes awful allergic reactions in humans. All of the human cities are near the poles of the planet, due to the reduced heat and plant life. Humans need to take a daily anti-allergen medication to be able to function without sickness. A human can survive without taking the medication they will show heavy flu-like symptoms, and they will have difficulty functioning. The colony cities around each of the poles grow a mixture of terran crops such as corn, wheat, and oats. The poles can also sustain the raising of many different kinds of earth livestock. Any plants or animals that cannot survive the sometimes harsh conditions are grown in air conditioned bubble farms. Cleotania is fairly self sustaining, and is enjoying a large influx of colonists looking to become farmers and tradesmen.

Cleotania is also home to a primitive alien race called the Savino. These lizard-like humanoids live tribal lives near the jungle choked equator, far from the lands inhabited by humans. However, there has been many clashes between raiding Savino bands and the Cleotanian Protectorate Army. In a direct fight, the weapons and technology of the Cleotanian soldiers would easily overcome the Savino, who fight will sword, spear, and bow. The Savino are masters of stealth and hit and run tactics however, and their full numbers are very much unknown, if they would fully band together under one leader and stop the tribal fighting, it is very likely that would could take over the planet. Savino that are taken while very young or still in their eggs are sometimes raised as slaves by the Cleotanian nobles, and upper class. Any Savino taken at an adult age, would be too savage and would kill it's masters. Slave Savino must be raised to love their master's and to question their race's violent way of life.

Cleotania's Governor is Sabina Vasili, a unyielding women who desires to crush the Savino with an iron fist. It was Sabina's father who started the aggressive plan to burn back the jungle life near the pole and create the infamous buffer zone that keeps the jungle and for the most part the Savino at bay. He burned and salted a massive strip of land over half a mile wide that marks the edge of the human colony. Sabina's aggressive governing is looked down upon by much of the Hegemon, however she is massively loved by her people who after seeing the violence of the Savino first-hand, stand by her stance to eradicate them. This love of the people also means that most experts believe that Sabina could declare all of Cleotania independant from the Hegemon and they would follow her; something that niether Otho or Thracious want. Cleotania's army, while small is the most veteran of the entire system, and it is unlikely that any invading army could take the colony by force without heavy losses.

Planets of the Hardis System: Kunus

Kunus - breathable mix - warm - No native Biosphere - hundreds of thousands of inhabitants - tech level 4 - freak geology - flying cities.

Kunus is the second most important planet in the Hegemon. It is an arid and desert planet swirling with dust and sand. It has an extremely unstable geology which causes constant earthquakes, the very ground shatters and breaks upon itself like a rocky sea. This makes the ground much too unstable for typical land based settlements, so Kunus is entirely colonized by cities flying / floating above the violent earthquakes. These cities mostly house a vast mining industry, which funds the entire planet. The mining is all run by The Kunus National Mining Corporation, a state-run company which uses mostly un-manned drones to mine the unstable surface, which so easily offers up its riches. Most of the minerals are then shipped off world, some raw, some refined. The flying cities all must be flawlessly maintained, and as such Kunus houses some of the best engineers in the sector. Life on Kunus is not nearly as luxurious as on other planets, as space is at a premium. Branko Tosa is currently serving as Governor of Kunus and, as of now, supports Consul Thracius and the Council, although as long as Kunus can find buyers for their ore, they could easily break away from Hegemon control. Branko Tosa very rarely makes appearances or public statements, preferring to talk through KNM Corp statements.

The Planets of the Hardis System: Antethia

Planet Antethia:

Antethia - Breathable mix - temperate - human-miscible biosheres - millions of inhabitants - tech level 4 - civil war - Regional Hegemon.

Antethia is a earth-like planet that controls the entire Herdis system (hex 405). The planet and sector is controlled by the Antethian Hegemon, a republic government which elects a ruling council to create and adapt laws. The council also elects from among themselves, two consuls which control great military power. Each of the other two colony planets of the Herdis system also have a governor appointed by the ruling council. Each of these Governors enjoys a great amount of independance, and is allowed to have a standing military presence.

Antethia has three major continents and enjoys a wide variety of industries, however it is lacking in mineral deposits compared to the average world. Currently Antethia is under a great political strife, as the great consul and general Otho Servius has declared himself "The People's Consul," and denounced the current ruling council has being both corrupt and for only serving the nobles, and the corporations. Otho has enjoyed a massive amount of public support from the lower and middle class, and now has full control of the westernmost continent of Monso. The ruling council and the remaining consul Thracius Hial remain control over the remaining two continents and the other system governments still answer to Thracius, however many fear that with the current instability, that the off-world colonies might turn rogue.

In general, most experts believe that Otho has an edge militarily and with public opinion, while Thracius and the council enjoy better the better supplied regions, and have a massive advantage in financial strength. Currently the civil war has been bloodless, and very little of the Hegemon's industry has been disrupted. The entire Hegemon stands balanced on the edge of the a knife.