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The Stargazer Vol 2, Iss 2
THE News for the Dragon Quadrant
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Your UDA news source, quarterly news journal.
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The 16th Day of Septem, Year 3437. | Sponsored by TriTeq Industries, Inc.
Issued on June 5, 1998 RL Time. | "When you want the best, get Teq."
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In this issue:
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TOP NEWS
UNITED DRAGON ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES NEW BUDGET
UDA News
RDO Commission improves Training Programs
Business Universe
New High Wizardry Franchise Opens!
Cutting Edge
TriTeq Expands Simulation Suites
TriTeq Updates Outdated Simulations
On the Wire
Online Help Available from Altair Corporation!
Xenoculture
Darvon Cult Leader Shares Secrets!
New Islands discovered on Beta Ward
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TOP NEWS
========
United Dragon Alliance Announces New Budget
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Controversy stirred its weary head last month when the United Dragon
Alliances' annual budget was announced. "We've had to make a great deal of
changes in this time of financial difficulty. However, we feel we've dealt
sufficiently with all the problems that have faced us," Commanding Officer
Joyce Westin, SDO Administrator and member of the UDA board of advisors,
told the Stargazer 3 weeks ago.
The most prominent and controversial effects of the new budget stem from
changes to staff on the Ruby Dragon Outpost. Noticeably, more than 2000
recruits were retired from service. The 2000 who were laid off were chosen
due to a lack of productivity in the last 6 months. Although this seems a
valid business move for UDA, some sociologists view the reduction in force
negatively, commenting that it may actually hurt the UDA. "I feel that with
the current state of uneasiness, especially surrounding the Khanvarians, a
large force should be maintained by the UDA, even if some of it is not
always active," commented Dr. John Morant, one of a few well known Human
sociologists. "While we may congratulate ourselves on a degree of success
with our peacekeeping of late, races such as the Khrenesch and Altair will
more likely respect the peace if the threat of a large force controlled by
the UDA is eminent."
-Tybalt Wei
UDA Newswire
UDA News
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RDO Commission improves Training Programs
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After UDA announced it's budget reforms, an announcement was issued from RDO
Officials. This change, which has caused tongues to wag, is a restructuring
of the spells and skills by RDO Commission On Recruit Training, or CORT as
it has been called internally. CORT, which is comprised of the RDO training
staff plus other UDA officials, such as Dr. Morant, found that by revising
the training programs, they were able to more efficiently budget resources.
While this will hopefully prove an intelligent decision, some recruits will
have to restructure their training programs. All recruits who feel they may
need to undergo this process should get in contact with their training
advisors.
-Judas N. Argwuffle
UDA Newswire
Business Universe
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New High Wizardry Franchise Opens!
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High Wizardry, the galaxy-wide franchise, has opened up an all new outlet
in the United Dragon Alliance station. "We're most pleased to have the
store on our premises," Rheilhan Ghenhurne of UDA Public Relations told the
Stargazer. "We hope it brings a few more of our recruits out there in the
field some useful skills and spells. We also like to see them come back to
HQ," she added with a smile.
High Wizardry uses a BrainWave Emulating Sub-Ether Device, or BWESED, to
instantly teach skills and spells. A controversial device developed in
high security Spaetor military labs almost 6 years ago, the BWESED
communicates with the brain, causing knowledge to be transferred instantly.
This makes learning in classrooms a thing of the past. However, the machine
is exceedingly complex to construct and requires extremely rare organic
components, that the cost of making just one requires such a school or shop
using the technology to operate for a minimum of 20 years before any
profit can be seen.
We went to the High Wizardry outlet on UDA and spoke to Taugreson, the
store manager, about their unusual financial situation. "We don't trade in
any normal currency," Taugreson told us. "That wouldn't cover the costs of
running our equipment. Instead, we only trade in the rare magical anomaly,
Questium, which, conveniently for our purposes, is a heavily mana rich
substance." When asked what the High Wizardry chain wanted with questium,
Taugreson only said that they "don't deal with that," and that the questium
was "passed on." Tracing the financial records from the latest store has so
far turned up nothing, but the Stargazer will continue to bring you the
news as it comes.
-Q. Y. Qyennev
Cutting Edge
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TriTeq Expands Simulation Suites
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With business booming for TriTeq Industries, Inc. this quarter, a veritable
spending and development spree by the corporation has seen a number of
changes, particularly in the area of simulations. "We're very proud to
announce not only two new simulations but also a few upgrades," Trillian
told audiences present at the unveiling ceremony.
A new simulation called 'Rebellion' has been installed in the SDO sim
booths "for the enjoyment of all," said Trillian, CEO of Public Relations.
"It's an new exciting story that pits you against a horde of ravaging,
acid-blooded, evil, nasty aliens." With a grin she added, "although we are
sure some of our UDA recruits get enough of this type of activity in the
field."
Tigger, Quest Director of TriTeq and a simulation designer in his own
right, recently finished construction of a new sim called 'Hundred Acre
Woods.' "I based the simulation on an old myth concerning a bear named
Winnie the Pooh, his friends, and their adventures." An interviewer asked
if he thought "vicious animals were appropriate viewing material for
children." As it turns out, the myth surrounding Winnie the Pooh is one
concerned with gentleness and generosity. The simulation is reportedly
"like a pleasant stroll through a vast and magical landscape." Still, due
to possible Animal Rights law infringement by cadets intent on more than a
pleasant stroll, the simulation has been restricted, allowing only recruits
of certain rank to enter. Similar restrictions are applied to most
simulations on SDO.
-P.R. Bot 4000
TriTeq Updates Outdated Simulations
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Infoteq, co-CEO of Technology Development, was asked to expand on reports
of updates within other simulations. "We've taken the liberty of upgrading
some of the simulations to make them slightly more challenging while also
making use of our latest technology." When asked about a reported contract
formed between certain guilds in the Quadrant and TriTeq with regard to
simulation rights, Infoteq paused before answering. "We have added into the
simulation suites two new guild testing simulations: one for the Heroes
guild, and another for the Pirates guild. This was done to cease certain
unauthorized and dangerous activities by both guilds in which testing has
been known to cause death or worse to the members of the guilds." When
questioned further about his statement, Infoteq would not comment and
called the press conference closed.
We at the Stargazer would like to encourage all to step over to the SDO or
RDO simulation suites and try their luck on one of the many TriTeq provided
simulations. Remember, TriTeq is your friend!
-Tac Von Tac
On the Wire
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Online Help Available from Altair Corporation!
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In an effort to increase their somewhat shady image, the Sirius Logic
Solutions Corporation has begun sharing information with the United Dragon
Alliance, the net result of which is present in their latest contribution
to the Dragons' Star Network.
"We believe that our technical expertise in the field of information
retrieval and observation, combined with the United Dragon Alliance's
comprehensive training program, will further help to keep our quadrant
safe from any outside menace," Retaal Complecase, Head of Sirius Public
Relations, told the Stargazer on Thursday. Sirius Logic Solutions, owned
by the recluse Capone Sirius of Altairn, deals in the dubious area of
corporate espionage and reputedly are one of the most successful companies
in the Quadrant in this business.
While working with the United Dragon Alliance, the corporation has provided
some demonstrations to students, and also to the public, of some of the
equipment their operatives use. It has also combined forces with UDA to
finish off the help files for the Thief section of the UDA training
curriculum.
-Nek D'log
UDA Newswire
Xenoculture
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Darvon Cult Leader Shares Secrets!
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Yuuve Ys Qyievette, leader of the Darvot Cult of Qitevyus, made his first
public appearance in 3 years over the weekend. "Now we enter the age of
Cluvuck, and we feel ready to share our secrets with all in this a glorious
and hopefully prosperous new age," he told expectant media last weekend.
The statement came as a huge surprise to the community since the Cult of
Qitevyus' secrets are very carefully guarded.
The being Qitevyus is a mythological creature resembling a Dragon that
flies through space. The Qitevyus is, according to the cultists, on a
mission to find a Zetuck chicken, the last 25 of which were last seen
heading out of the Darvan home system in a stolen freighter. The chickens,
due to their highly evolved brains (which incidentally are the part of the
chicken most prized by the Qitevyus) were the first animals to undergo
the now-famous BioComp Melding operation, which bonds a powerful
artificially intelligent computer to a living creature's brain. The early
results of such experiments lead to some unexpected results, such as the
Zetuck. The chickens, after stealing the ship, sent one last message to
the Rheleign: "Asta La Vista, baby. Cluvuck." To this date there has been
no correct translation of the first three words, and the meaning of this
message has been taken as a divine sign by the Cultists.
Yuuve Ys Qyievette has been leader of the cult since he mysteriously came
into power 23 years ago. When asked what the age of 'Cluvuck' was and why
it suddenly meant that they Cult would now open their doors to anyone, he
explained, "the age of Cluvuck is time when our search begins in earnest.
We as a united body must all search for the elusive Zetuck chicken. To this
affect, and in good faith, we shall share some of our most guarded secrets."
So far this has meant a new spell being added to the UDA's extensive list.
Fanaticism, the spell named by Qyievette, enhances religious fervor. The
end result of this is a magnification of fighting ability. Another way
of describing this is an increase in what military students at the UDA
Academy call 'Offensive Bonus.'
-Lyla Springbow
UDA Newswire
New Islands discovered on Beta Ward
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It appears that a side effect of the discharges from the service is a
significant increase in tourism to Feudal Japan. With the now unemployed
recruits left with nothing to do, many are flocking to this adventuresque
world. Interestingly enough, the recruits managed to stumble across a
heretofore undiscovered chain of islads off of the west coast of the main
continent.
The survivors of this unexpected discovery report a self-appointed
'Pirate King' has proclaimed this island chain the "Empire of Cathay" and
has warned that any further trespass will result in swift retaliation.
The local government has been rather close-mouthed about their plans for
dealing with this band of ruthless pirates, but sources tell us that this
challenge to their authority will not go unanswered.
-Smilodon
UDA Newswire
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Editorial Staff
Editor: Rayon Synergy
Publishers: Infoteq, Trillian, Dranor
Guest Reporters: Tybalt Wei, Q. Y. Qyennev, P.R. Bot 4000, Tac Von Tac
Reporters: Judas N. Argwuffle, Nek D'log, Lyla Springbow, Smilodon
Please direct all comments to Stargazr@dracon.net
If you wish to become a part of the Stargazer staff, please send email to
Stargazr@dracon.net with the subject: Stargazer staff application.
Please include a sample of writing over 100 words in length.
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