03-30-2011, 06:47 PM
GAPH press coverage of the recovery of Scout 1
Families of the Space Pioneers of Scout ship Alpha were elated today, when news came of their arrival at the target system. All systems are operational, all crew are present and accounted for, and a detailed scan of the planetary system has revealed 5 planets, including one that is even more hospitable to Consortium life than our own DataMine! It is believed that the 20 cases of champagne tucked aboard Scout 1 will not make it back to the home system, when the ship is due for refit.
Meanwhile, families of the pioneers of Scout Beta have been even happier. The ship arrived in system as per jump plan. Second Order officials credit aggressive research into gravitics propulsion and astrogation systems with the success. This jump was even further than Alpha's, and netted two further news items.
First, that system has 2 planets, which will be quite a treasure trove for our Xenocratic scientists as we try to unlock their secrets and learn how to colonize them.
Second, WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED ALIEN INTELLIGENT LIFE FORMS in that very system! They are flying a TR-1 class scout, basically similar to our designs. Efforts to hail them on common frequencies have not yet been successful, but our Xenobiologists are busy working on possible inter-species communication protocols. The system itself appears to be uninhabited, and given the small size of this ship, we are left to conclude that theirs is a scout ship with a mission similar to ours. Outreach!
Scout Gamma has not yet reported back. Jump signatures indicated a misfire, which was unlikely but not impossible. We ask for your prayers for the Space Pioneer volunteers and their families.
End press
Well, it's been a monumental turn for the Second Order! New life forms! Two systems successfully scanned, at last! Massive investment in research yields results!
Manufacturing technology has reached it's target level of sophistication! Engineers are already scrambling to put this knowledge into practice as we lay the hull for a TR-8 class behemoth. It will take at least 2 turns to fully build and equip it for its first colonial run. During that time we will have precious little funding for research, so our industry on the home world continues to be out of balance -- our Mining sector has not kept up with the breathtaking pace of manufacturing improvements! But we can't let minor inefficiencies distract us from this race for the first colony!
Biology advanced at a brisk pace, but it came at a cost. We have engaged in heavy deficit spending this cycle, to the point where our fluid economic reserves have nearly run dry. There is precious little left in our rainy day fund. Let's hope we complete these first few projects quickly so we can replenish that fund and guard against future need.
We will, of course, reach out to the alien species in sector 12. Who knows, that entity may even be reading this very transmission! We might have to start being more discreet in our press releases.
Families of the Space Pioneers of Scout ship Alpha were elated today, when news came of their arrival at the target system. All systems are operational, all crew are present and accounted for, and a detailed scan of the planetary system has revealed 5 planets, including one that is even more hospitable to Consortium life than our own DataMine! It is believed that the 20 cases of champagne tucked aboard Scout 1 will not make it back to the home system, when the ship is due for refit.
Meanwhile, families of the pioneers of Scout Beta have been even happier. The ship arrived in system as per jump plan. Second Order officials credit aggressive research into gravitics propulsion and astrogation systems with the success. This jump was even further than Alpha's, and netted two further news items.
First, that system has 2 planets, which will be quite a treasure trove for our Xenocratic scientists as we try to unlock their secrets and learn how to colonize them.
Second, WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED ALIEN INTELLIGENT LIFE FORMS in that very system! They are flying a TR-1 class scout, basically similar to our designs. Efforts to hail them on common frequencies have not yet been successful, but our Xenobiologists are busy working on possible inter-species communication protocols. The system itself appears to be uninhabited, and given the small size of this ship, we are left to conclude that theirs is a scout ship with a mission similar to ours. Outreach!
Scout Gamma has not yet reported back. Jump signatures indicated a misfire, which was unlikely but not impossible. We ask for your prayers for the Space Pioneer volunteers and their families.
End press
Well, it's been a monumental turn for the Second Order! New life forms! Two systems successfully scanned, at last! Massive investment in research yields results!
Manufacturing technology has reached it's target level of sophistication! Engineers are already scrambling to put this knowledge into practice as we lay the hull for a TR-8 class behemoth. It will take at least 2 turns to fully build and equip it for its first colonial run. During that time we will have precious little funding for research, so our industry on the home world continues to be out of balance -- our Mining sector has not kept up with the breathtaking pace of manufacturing improvements! But we can't let minor inefficiencies distract us from this race for the first colony!
Biology advanced at a brisk pace, but it came at a cost. We have engaged in heavy deficit spending this cycle, to the point where our fluid economic reserves have nearly run dry. There is precious little left in our rainy day fund. Let's hope we complete these first few projects quickly so we can replenish that fund and guard against future need.
We will, of course, reach out to the alien species in sector 12. Who knows, that entity may even be reading this very transmission! We might have to start being more discreet in our press releases.