STCC Says Speaker Election is Closest in Years

UUNN News Wire

(Cornea Station)  With just three days to go before the polls close, the STCC says that the election is one of the closest three-way contests it’s seen in years, with the challengers in a dead heat, and the incumbent trailing by about 12%.

If the early results hold true, it will be a shocking defeat for Speaker Verhal and her Progressive Party.  Clearly she is hoping for a big late turnout.

Votes can still be registered at:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HDGF8CM

The exact number of votes to date has not been released, so it is impossible to project a winner at this time.

 

STCC Opens Final Runoff Election

UUNN Newswire

(Cornea Station)  The STCC has opened the voting for the final runoff election for the Speaker for Amanra.  The voting will be open until 117.6.30, and the final election results will be announced during the upcoming Founders Day holiday which runs from 117.7.7 through 117.7.9.

Solrain citizens are encouraged to register their votes here  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HDGF8CM
(Only votes from Solrain Citizens will be registered)

The finalist candidates for this triennial election are council members:

• Daneel Ruyden – Ruyden is a fairly new council member and this is his first runoff.  Ruyden’s voting record is usually moderate with regard to foreign affairs and conservative when it comes to fiscal matters.
• Cassia Verhal – Verhal has been Speaker for 15 years and is generally considered as the most progressive of the speakers.  She has sometimes found herself allied with Hellion’s Imogen Hugin against the powerful veteran Demeter Garreth
• Lylian Whyte – A 30-year veteran of the Council, ‘Lyl’ Whyte has tried to unseat Verhal three times without success.  She is a long-time member of the council and close personal friend of Demeter Garreth.  Her political views are extremely conservative and her fiscal positions are “traditional.”

Funding Denied for ShaiDen Project

by Yaz Shanndar

(Solrain Core)  In a surprising outcome, the funding applied-for by Conflux expert Professor Athena ShaiDen of Sutonia College was denied by Sorian Bank.  The loan, which most expected to be granted, was to help mass-produce a special kind of narrow-beam scanner ShaiDen had developed.  The scanner was used to take readings from Conflux infestations — with the goal of finding better ways to destroy — of even deter them.

Professor ShaiDen was unavailable for comment, but Carlo Adiar, TRI Corporation’s Director of Conflux Studies spoke out, “This is just incredible.  Professor ShaiDen and I do not always see eye to eye, but this was a no-brainer.  And the 500 million credits she was looking for is just a drop in the bucket for Sorian.  Her reputation alone should have been plenty of collateral — but she had a working prototype!  I don’t get it.”

Hyperial Names Aq’tamm a Fugitive; Places 10mm Bounty

UUNN Newswire

* * * * * U P D A T E D * * * * *

(Hyperial)  Hyperial Special Representative, Dr. Viggio Ragne announced today that Jalil Aq’tamm, the well-known data recovery expert, is a fugitive from Hyperial and that a 10 million credit bounty has been placed on him.

According to Ragne, Aq’tamm had been wanted by Hyperial Security for questioning and his ship had been impounded — but somehow he evaded authorities and was able to gain access to his ship and launch.

Aq’tamm is no stranger to manhunts and intrigue.  In late 114, he went missing after working on a mysterious DSS decryption.  It was revealed later that he was actually in hiding after avoiding an attempted abduction.  After releasing the decryption he eventually came out of hiding and began an independent DSS data recovery business, often aided by pilot Hammer-BS.

There have been no reports of Aq’tamm’s current location, though it is thought he has not ventured far from Hyperial.

UPDATE:  To collect the bounty on Jalil Aq’tamm, a screen shot showing the “kill message” should be sent to Hyperial:  hyperial@tri-subspace.net.

Quants say Hyperial is Secretly Developing GenMod Program

by Thane Carios

(Quantar Core)  The Quantar Holy Office of the Tahirs has released “evidence” that Hyperial has been secretly pursuing a genetic modification program with the goal of rebuilding its fleet of jump-capable ships.

“We now know what Hyperial’s secret faction missions have been all about,” said First Tahir Penjia Neamru.  “We already knew that they were testing jump-ship technology, because of the Rauder-1 drone.  Now we know that they have also been secretly pursuing their own genetic modification program.  The goal is clear.  Rebuilding their fleet .”

Quantar claims that the Hyperial program is code named “Chrysalis” and that it began over two years ago, with testing beginning early this year.  The Tahirs have also released an image (seen below) allegedly taken inside the Chrysalis GenMod lab.  It is likely that is was this information that was taken from Hyperial last declared to be contraband last Wednesday.  It is unclear whether Octavius was working with Quantar to obtain and publish the information.

Oct Pilots Wanted for Questioning

UUNN Newswire

(Hyperial Station)  Two Octavius pilots — Blonder and Fenrir — are wanted by Hyperial authorities for questioning.  According to Hyperial, the station’s automated Customs-Scanning systems set off an alert just moments after the pilots launched.

“We are not aware that anything has been stolen,” said Hyperial Dockmaster Renn Torrey.  “But the system showed a NO-SCAN right at the time these two individuals launched — as if the scan was being jammed.  We can’t tell which ship triggered the fault as they launched almost simultaneously.”

Hyperial has also submitted a formal complaint to Octavius, asking for its aid in obtaining information from these pilots.