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                               The Stargazer                   Vol 5, Iss 2
                      THE News for the Dragon Quadrant
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Your UDA news source, quarterly news journal.
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The 9th Day of Septem, Year 3498.    | Sponsored by TriTeq Industries, Inc.
Issued on June 30, 2001 RL Time.     | "When you want the best, get Teq."
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In this issue:
--------------

TOP NEWS
                NEW SHUTTLES A NO-GO

UDA News
                Alarming Rise in Anarchist Activities
		Missing Persons: The Reverend Genie

Business Universe
                Industrial Espionage in Paraphysics Sector

Cutting Edge
                Paradise Founded

Xenoculture
                Cooking up Trouble - Bardic Students Balk at the Menu


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TOP NEWS
========

NEW SHUTTLES A NO-GO
--------------------

Shortly after releasing a new generation of shuttles that promised to cut 
transit time to a tenth of the current rate, Dran-Tran engineers ordered a 
complete and immediate recall. The new shuttles, which came after years of 
complaints by UDA personnel about the relative slowness of the shuttles 
compared to starships, utilized the latest advances in sling-shot drive 
technology. Able to compensate for gravity well interference more 
efficiently and equipped with computers that can plot wormhole trajectories 
that can come closer to stars and other celestial bodies than anything 
before, this new line of shuttles was expected to make exploration by newer 
recruits, as well as those veterans who refuse to learn how to fly their
own ships, more convenient and efficient.

"By increasing the amount of time that the shuttles are able to stay in 
sling-shot drive, we are able to significantly reduce the amount of time 
that they are forced to navigate through normal space- which is the major 
cause of slow shuttle speeds," reported Dran-Tran Chief of Design Wartoro 
Okuda a few days before the pilot release.  "By creating engines that 
automatically compensate for gravity well interference and creating 
trajectories that are longer than previously available, we were going to
be able to cut relative travel time to a mere fraction of what it is 
currently."

Unfortunately, problems that somehow escaped researchers during the testing 
phazes became apparent very shortly after the first launches. One of the 
most damning problems with the new shuttles was one of its biggest
benefits, the ability to travel so close to celestial bodies in space
(stars in particular). While it is true that the ship itself comes out just
fine after such a voyage, researchers failed to take into account that the
interior of the ship reached extraordinarilly high temperatures- resulting
in several shuttles emerging from slings-shot drive with a passenger hold
full of cremated remains.

"Until we can find a way to shield our shuttles from the radiation from the 
stars that we pass by, we are going to have to halt the manufacturing and 
usage of the new line of shuttles," said Okuda. Passengers who find it 
necessary to constantly complain about the time it takes to get from place 
to place on a shuttle are encouraged to look into purchasing a starship of
their own.

                			-L. Bistrl



UDA News
========

Alarming Rise in Anarchist Activities
-------------------------------------

UDA Officials have been concerned this quarter by a rise in anarcho-
terrorism which has been linked to the 150th anniversary of the public
execution of Altairn anarchist, Artedies.

Artedies is one of those names people talk about in hushed tones.
Historian, Feldman Symthe, told this Reporter in an interview on Novem 4,
"He is probably most famous for his devastating attack on the Altairn
capital in 3349, in which he killed nearly half a million people when he
unleashed VCA-23 nerve gas on the inhabitants of a densly populated city."

According to official records Artedies and a small group of terrorists
infiltrated the city's AirCycle System and let loose 10,000 liters of
VCA-23 - one of the most deadly substances known to Altairs. The attack
reportedly killed 450,000 people. Artedies was not arrested until the
following year where he was executed via VCA-23 on public holovision.

Despite this, Artedies is still studied by Political Science students
throughout the galaxy and some of his tactics are rumored to be taught
to special forces units by the Altair Military.

Symthe explains, 'Artedies was somewhat of an anomaly in Altair society.
Firstly, he was a true anarchist and not someone using anarchism as an
excuse to hold a military junta like many other Altairn stunts in the past.
Secondly, he put the majority above himself, an almost unknown thing for
politically active Altairs. He wanted to be a martyr in the attack on the
capital. The story goes that just as he let out the VCA-23 his comrades had
to force him back into their escape vehicle." According to Smythe there was
a long-standing rumor that Artedies was not killed or that he had survived
the execution via a very early and experimental braintaping process.

Although this rumor has never been substantiated, the Artedies Anarchist
Collective is still an active anarcho-terrorist group in the quadrant.
Their whereabouts are unknown but UDA Officials have been activly pursuing
leads in the investigation in Beta Tor.

If anyone has any information regarding the location of an A.A.C. Cell,
they are encouraged to inform their nearest representative of the United
Dragon Alliance Security Forces.

                                        -Q. Y. Qyennev


Missing Persons: The Reverend Genie
-----------------------------------

There are reports amongst the Church of Genie, Scientist insiders that the
great wonderful, charasmatic, and completely lovable Reverend Genie has
lost a clone. Clones, used widely throughout the United Dragon Alliance to
prevent a state known as Permanent Death, have also been reported to at
times go on their own program as a result of certain forms of wild magic. 

Widely known for her use of such unpredictable forces, a clone of Genie has
stolen into the Church of Genie, Scientist (over 25 million beings quadrant
wide at last count) coffers and stolen every credit, yen and platinum orb
to live the rest of her mortal life in decadent pleasure somewhere not
controlled by the UDA.

The Church of Genie, Scientist is well known for its payment plans to get
to Heaven, Nirvana, Disney Land, or in Dave Arnett's bed, whichever the
worshipper thinks he or she should get. In fact, such post mortum
destinations are guarenteed or 'Triple your money back' (aside from the
last, as of last report Mister Arnett wasn't into Necrophilia.)

In case one makes sight of The Reverend Genie's clone, who through it's
selfish act has singlehandedly left over 25 million worshippers stunned and
asking the eternal question, 'Who floated this keg and didn't get another?'

                			-Griff
  Griffin News Network.

Business Universe
=================


Industrial Espionage in Paraphysics Sector
------------------------------------------

Over the weekend PSI-node filed a lawsuit vs. an Altair Temp-Corp
calling itself BioWerk the UDA High Civil Court revealed. Legal
analysts are dubious about the effectiveness of the action.

"We had about 20 terabytes of raw data stolen from one of our AI's
which was also damaged in an act of sabotage" Dr. NicTic, CEO of
PSI-node told the Stargazer. "We think the perpetrator was trying to
cover up the theft when it rerouted the ice the AI uses to protect its
core systems."

Early estimates put the value of the infomation in the region of 30
million dollars, but the top secret hearing may find the value to be
considerably more.

"What we're looking at is infomation which is irreplaceable." said
Councillor Jukav of his defendants', PSI-nods', loss. "BioWerk has been
set up to take the hits for some larger corporation who wanted the info
at any cost - let alone the life of a well meaning AI."

BioWerk does indeed portray the signs of a Temp-Corp said the Altair
Business Tribunal in an article published three weeks ago in relation
to the sprouting of paraphysical entities around the quadrant.

Temp-Corps are designed with specific goals and often to take 'hits' or
legal repurcussions for the larger corporations which use them. They
are expensive ventures only used by large mega-corps in pursuit of
usually illegal goals. The PseudoCorporate Wars in Altair history were
fought almost entirely by Temp-Corps.

Under UDA Civil Law the Altair Corporations are only subject to direct
financial obligation if the findings of the Court comply with the rules
used by the Altairn Government. This means it is unlikely that
whichever company stole the infomation will ever be held fully
responsible.

"All we can ask for, realistically is compensation for a leak of my
clients vital information" said Jukav.

It is expected that an out of court settlement will be reached and
agreed to before the UDA High Civil Court reaches a verdict.

                			-Tybalt Wei
  UDA Newswire



Cutting Edge
============

Paradise Founded
----------------

Renowned graphics designer Sorrow has teamed up with the well-established
slick design teams at Llylix Solutions Gaming Devision to produce the
ultimate in relaxation simulations, Island Getaway.

As a result of a large-scale survey of UDA cadets, TriTeq physicians became
greatly concerned with the reported stress levels of recruits aboard the
RDO station. Commissioned by TriTeq Indusries, Inc. and working with
galaxy reknowned relaxation specialists, Llylix has endeavoured to produce
a simulation to please all the senses and relieve those long hours.

Themed around a paradise island, the Island Getaway simulation caters to a
wide variety of recreational activities including snorkling, scuba diving,
treasure hunting, fishing and lounging on a picture-perfect beach. In an
unusual change to Llylix Solutions gaming policy, Island Getaway conforms
to "real life" safety limits as opposed to the more usual "zero contact"
limits experienced in their other releases.

Already, predictions have been made regarding the success of this ambitious 
endeavor to improve living and training conditions for UDA cadets. Dr.
Vliet Rhodoco is quoted as saying "The stress levels of the cadets has been
increasing dramatically over the last several months. This simulation will
be just what this doctor will order!"

                			-Ghent le Mann
  UDA Newswire



Xenoculture
===========

Cooking up Trouble - Bardic Students Balk at the Menu
-----------------------------------------------------

Students of the Bardic Colleges have made it clear that they are tired
of being served the worst food in the Quadrant, and they are not afraid to
tell anyone about it. The situation is quickly growing into a food fight.
"This is the third time this week that we have had chili- and I think it
has all come from the same batch!," one student body spokesman said.

The head cook for the school, Drabeus Lockinstir, when pressed for a
comment, simply responded, "if them kids don't want chili, I 'spose I
could fix 'em up some nice spicy sloppy joes. That'd fix 'em and shut 'em
up." Hearing this, the student spokesman retorted, "Sloppy Joes?!?  More
like leftover chili on a bun! If we don't get some decent meals around here
PDQ, the school administrators is going to have a full-scale riot on their
hands!"

No representatives of the school's administrative staff were available for
comment.

                			-Grumpus McFarley


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Editorial Staff
Guest Editors:   Jellyfish and Felix
Publishers:      Infoteq, Trillian, Dranor
Reporters:       L. Bistrl, Q. Y. Qyennev, Grumpus McFarley
Guest Reporters: Griff, Tybalt Wei, Ghent le Mann

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.

Old issues archived at: http://www.dracon.net (Click Universe, Stargazer)
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