From 6ba5d7b4492a84ca5decf7a78c6496c044fe4f5f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: James Tomasino Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2019 00:00:02 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] backup --- .../30-headlines-september-19-25-2421.txt | 413 +++++++++++++++ .../30.5-a-word-from-your-friend-and.txt | 60 +++ gopher/listing.gophermap | 2 + gopher/rss.xml | 491 ++++++++++++++++++ 4 files changed, 966 insertions(+) create mode 100644 gopher/Voortrekker/30-headlines-september-19-25-2421.txt create mode 100644 gopher/Voortrekker/30.5-a-word-from-your-friend-and.txt diff --git a/gopher/Voortrekker/30-headlines-september-19-25-2421.txt b/gopher/Voortrekker/30-headlines-september-19-25-2421.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..176f091 --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/Voortrekker/30-headlines-september-19-25-2421.txt @@ -0,0 +1,413 @@ +From: Universe Today +To: Nikolaos Soloviev +Delivered-To: Nikolaos Soloviev +Received: from qec4.helio.earthsys.gov + by qec.sv14417 + with ESMTPS id 4D4A053AB9513878 + for +Received: from relay5.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by qec4.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from relay2.qec6.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay5.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from mta041.sendcast.net + by relay7.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Subject: Headlines: September 19-25, 2421 +Date: 25 Sep 2421 00:01:39 +0000 +Date-Local: 11 Apr 2419 03:25:39 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +HEADLINES FOR SEPTEMBER 19 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2421 + +[We received your request to discontinue the following segments: +"Market Watch", "In Sport". Your content preferences have been +updated.] + +⦿ "I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT": EARTH SHIPS SMASHED AT MARS + +September 25 (UT): In a shockingly effective blitzkrieg attack, +Belter ships, led by the captured Earth cruiser ENS Brooklyn, +smashed the Earth Navy flotilla recently engaged in attempting to +suppress the labor riots on Mars. + +A Universe Today ship in Mars orbit, equipped with military-surplus +sensing gear, obtained visual and long-wave infrared imagery +detailing the entirety of the short and decisive combat. Based on +that imagery, retired wing general and military analyst Nathan +Coopersmith, recently arrived in Mars orbit at the time of the +battle, described the tactics of the attack as "absolutely +textbook." + +"They came in at maximum thrust on a shortest-time vector from +Ceres, and didn't even slow down before opening fire at maximum +reload rate. We would have set up that attack exactly the same +way," Coopersmith said. "That's absolutely critical, and very +telling. That velocity advantage gave them the ability to launch +their missiles far outside the range of the ships they were +targeting, and they made those shots count. I don't know where +they're getting their training, but one thing is absolutely clear: +this was not just a bunch of wild rock hoppers. Maybe they were the +ones who stole Brooklyn, but I'm not even sure of that. Whoever's +crewing her now, though - they know exactly what they're doing." + +Those initial launches from the stolen ENS Brooklyn, leading the +Belter ships, appear to have caught the Earth units in Mars orbit +completely off guard, despite over twenty-four hours' warning of +the incoming attack. Three ships - the cruiser ENS Pittsburgh, and +the frigates San Juan and Caguas - were immediately +destroyed. Based on imagery gathered by Universe Today during the +attack, it appears no other ships were targeted in this initial +assault, including ENS Chicago, flagship of flotilla commander Wing +General Hall. + +"Again, that's absolutely textbook," Coopersmith said. "It's how +you make the most of the advantage. Instead of spreading out your +fire, you concentrate, go for knockouts you know you can get +instead of shooting at everyone and hoping for luck. It's textbook, +and it's smart - if you find yourself counting on luck to win a +fight, you already made a mistake somewhere. But I'd been counting, +and Brooklyn had used up all her shipkillers to get those +knockouts. It was a good shot, but I didn't see what they thought +they could do to follow it up." + +Following the initial attack, the Belter ships turned over and +began hard deceleration burns which would end with entry into Mars +orbit. The remaining four Earth Navy units brought up their engines +and began to maneuver, apparently attempting to form up around ENS +Chicago. + +For several minutes, no further attack occurred from either +side. "The remaining Earth Navy ships were clearly preparing to +sortie out and meet their attackers, and it looked like the Belters +were trying to come in and slug it out in high orbit," Coopersmith +said, asked to describe these events. "It didn't make sense, +especially with how effective they'd already been - sure, they were +out of missiles, but at close range they'd lose in a hurry and they +had to know it. I couldn't imagine what else they might be doing, +though." + +The purpose behind the Belters' actions became clear minutes later, +as long-range radar aboard the orbiting Universe Today ship +resolved several dozen small objects separating from the group of +decelerating ships. Evidently released prior to the deceleration +burn, these unidentified objects continued to accelerate in toward +Mars orbit. + +The events which followed occurred so quickly that no one aboard +Universe Today's ship in orbit was able to tell what had +happened. Coopersmith and other analysts were later able to +reconstruct the sequence of events based on imagery gathered during +the attack. + +"When I saw the radar returns scatter and fade, I realized what +they had to be," Coopersmith said. "Rocks. Small Belt objects, +maybe a couple thousand tons each, rigged with engines and some +kind of shaped charges to shatter them into fragments. We think +they must have had some kind of targeting system, too, God knows +how. They knew they didn't have enough missiles for every ship in +Mars orbit, so they used what they did have, and it worked better +than I could have imagined. I've never seen anything like it." + +Seconds after the unknown radar returns disappeared, ENS Chicago +exploded, killing Wing General Hall and his entire command +staff. The two frigates nearest the explosion collided in orbit, +destroying ENS Phoenix and rendering ENS Ann Arbor unable to +maneuver, and leaving the frigate ENS Appleton as the only +remaining Earth Navy unit still functional. + +"I knew Steve Hall pretty well," Coopersmith said. "He was the kind +of officer we used to call a killer. Bold, aggressive, +hard-charging, always ready to bring the fight to the +enemy. Officers like that tend to pick their subordinates for the +same qualities, and clearly Steve had done that here. I don't see +any other reason why Appleton would've kept going out. Maybe her +captain thought the rock hoppers really were done, maybe he thought +he'd surprise Brooklyn with a knockout and clean up the small fry +after. I don't know, and of course we can't ask now. At least he +got a few shots off." + +ENS Appleton, still building thrust toward escape velocity, +succeeded in launching nine of her twelve shipkiller missiles at +Brooklyn. However, the stolen Earth cruiser's point-defense weapons +proved to be capably crewed, shooting down all of Appleton's +weapons well outside their attack range. Less than a minute later, +Appleton was hit and destroyed by another of the Belters' asteroid +weapons. + +In the aftermath of the battle, the stolen Brooklyn and the other +Belter ships entered orbit, accepted the surrender of ENS Ann +Arbor, and instructed the Earth marines still on the surface of +Mars to surrender at once. Liana de Buys of the Red Rock Guild +echoed the instruction, adding that the Martian miners would accept +these surrenders if given. "Your mission here has failed," de Buys +said, in a general broadcast from a Mars NewsNet transmitter. "Your +ships are destroyed or crippled. Your resupply, your +reinforcements, your air support, are all gone, and you know you +can't hold out forever. Surrender now! We will treat you as +prisoners of war, and send you home as soon as we can. If you try +to hold out instead, on your own head be it." + +At press time, most of the marine formations on Mars were confirmed +to have surrendered and been taken into custody by their erstwhile +enemies, with only a few holdouts at Endeavour Crater still +fighting. It is thought that ENS Ann Arbor, the only surviving +Earth ship at Mars, may serve after repairs to ferry home the +surrendered marines. Governor Ritter could not be reached for +comment, and Universe Today has unconfirmed reports that he may +have been killed in the fighting, or captured and executed by Red +Rock Guild miners. Universe Today will bring you further bulletins +on these events as new information develops. + +⦿ PUBLIC INFORMATION CLAIMS COLLUSION IN BATTLE OF MARS + +September 25 (UPI) - Shortly following the explosive news of the +Battle of Mars, Earthgov's Office of Public Information claimed +"credible evidence" suggesting that one or both of the Luna-Titan +Alliance partners had "colluded with Belt-based criminals" in the +attack on Earth's ships. + +"In recent days, Earth's deep-system intelligence platforms have +observed highly suspicious movements on the part of ships known to +engage in criminal trade with Titan," a spokesman for Public +Information said in a press conference. "While we continue to +develop and evaluate new information, we expect at this time to be +able to report very soon that Titan, presumably in conspiracy with +parties as yet unknown on Earth's moon, provided material aid in +weapons and personnel to the Belter criminals who went on to commit +their atrocities in Mars orbit. + +"Earth's government wishes to reassure the populace of the Solar +System that these criminals will not escape justice for their +terrible actions today. Our fellow citizens, our way of life, our +very freedom have come under attack in these deliberate and deadly +acts. We will bring justice to the terrorists responsible, and we +will make no distinction between them and those who aid and harbor +them. Earth has stood down enemies before, and we will do so again +this time." + +The spokesman did not ask for questions. + +⦿ EARTHGOV DECRIES DESTRUCTION OF KEARSARGE BY TITAN + +September 19 (UPI) - Following the destruction of an Earth frigate +in an attempt to intercept a Lunar passenger ferry four days ago, +Earthgov's Public Information Office stated that the incident was +an unprovoked attack by a new alliance actively attempting to +instigate warfare with Earth. + +"ENS Kearsarge was engaged in an internal police action with regard +to a single passenger aboard the Moon ferry Quetelet," a Public +Information spokeswoman said. "Kearsarge's Captain Whitlow +requested that Quetelet permit civilian police officers aboard +Kearsarge aboard, so that they could arrest a citizen of Earth who +was suspected, with probable cause, of engaging in treason and +espionage against Earth. + +"Instead of assenting to this peaceable request, Quetelet attempted +to flee the scene, necessitating a pursuit by Kearsarge in defense +of Earth's security interests. Just prior to Kearsarge's successful +overhaul and boarding of Quetelet, Titan's faster-than-light ship +appeared and opened fire without warning on Kearsarge, destroying +the ship and murdering our naval officers and crew before they had +any chance to defend themselves or even attempt to surrender. + +"Earth's government cannot accept such treatment of her brave +defenders. Earth's people will not allow it. The actions of Titan, +and of the regime currently in power on Earths' moon, constitute a +direct attack against the national security of Earth, and our +longstanding policy in such cases has been to respond as firmly and +assertively as our adversaries should choose to require of us." + +⦿ LUNA FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPLORES EARTH ACTION AGAINST FERRY + +September 20 (UPI) - A spokesman for Luna's Foreign Ministry in a +press conference today issued a strong statement regarding the +recent interception of an Luna Passenger Lines ferry Quetelet by +the Earth Navy frigate Kearsarge. + +"We are aware that Earth claims this unprovoked attack on an +unarmed passenger vessel to have been an internal police matter, +threatening none except her own wayward citizen," Li Yen-au +said. "These claims fall short of reality in several respects. When +the captain of our passenger ferry correctly declined to halt and +be boarded, Kearsarge responded by opening fire with weapons +designed to destroy other military ships. + +"It is only thanks to the timely intervention of our new treaty +partner, Titan, that no innocents were killed as a result of this +crime. We understand that Earth claims the destruction of Kearsarge +to be itself an unprovoked attack on a vessel operating peacefully +within the bounds of accepted interstellar custom. This, too, is a +lie. + +"Kearsarge had already struck the ferry Quetelet with one missile +and fired a second, clearly intending to make good on her earlier +threats to destroy the unarmed ship, when the Titan ship And Yet It +Moves arrived upon the scene. And Yet It Moves' captain, having +been made aware of the situation by a report bravely transmitted by +Quetelet's own Captain Crozer, judged that Kearsarge would not +accept a demand to cease fire, and acted as she felt necessary to +defend the innocent lives aboard Quetelet. + +"We of Luna wish now to express our deepest gratitude to our +Titanian allies and friends for their swift and decisive action in +defense of our citizens," Li said in concluding her remarks. "We +wish also to advise any and all who would so attack us that they +would be wise to consider carefully the fate of Kearsarge before +embarking on such a rash course of action." + +⦿ SILO SHIPS SEEN SHIFTING ORBITS IN "MAINTENANCE TASK" + +September 21 (UPI) - Following confirmed reports of Earth's "silo +ships" adjusting their orbits, questions to Earthgov's Military +Information Office were met with the response that the ships' +movements are related to ongoing maintenance required to keep the +giant vessels ready for action, and are not in any way associated +with political events in the system. + +"This is an ordinary maintenance task that's performed from time to +time," said Major Willem van Dort, in response to a UPI +correspondent's question. "We have to make sure those ships are +ready when we need them, and that includes their engines and +navigational systems. Having them change orbits is just a way to +make sure that they're fully functional and ready to defend Earth +if they're needed." Asked whether he thought the ships might be +needed to defend Earth in the near future, Major van Dort said that +he had no further comment, and ended the call. + +The six "silo ships", each large enough to be distinctly visible in +the night sky, are the backbone of Earth's deterrent forces, and +thought to carry between two and four hundred nuclear warheads +apiece. Retired wing general and military analyst Nathan +Coopersmith, when asked about the ships' movements, agreed with +Major Van Dort's comments about maintenance, and also noted that he +does not recall the last time he heard of the ships being moved. + +⦿ SPY HANGED FOR TREASON ON GANYMEDE + +September 23 (GNI) - Alexander Anders Seifert, a former worker in +Earth's military shipyard on Ganymede, was publicly executed today +for treason and espionage in the courtyard of the Ganymede +Garrison's headquarters and administration building. + +"Alexander Seifert was convicted of passing crucial military +secrets to known members of a Titan spy ring operating on +Ganymede," said General William Tasker, after descending from the +gallows. "While his Titan accomplices have for now escaped capture +and military justice for their crimes, Seifert himself was not so +fortunate, and he has now answered for having endangered the safety +and security of Earth by his actions." + +Tasker, thought to be in charge of a secret naval project on +Ganymede, went on to say, "Some may ask whether it is appropriate +for a military tribunal to pass judgment on a civilian. To them I +say: Look around. Look at what's happening in the system. Earth's +enemies surround her on every side, and she must be defended at all +costs. At a time like this, we soldiers must step to the fore, +stand our posts, and do what must be done. If you find our actions +distasteful, remember that the blame for them lies not with we +ourselves, your sworn protectors, but rather with our enemies, +internal and external, who force us to take such actions in defense +of us all." + +While the law mandating capital punishment in cases of treason +remains on Earth's books, Seifert's is the first such execution +actually carried out in almost sixty-five years. The last, of the +infamous "Tycho Seven", occurred in 2357, shortly after Luna's +secession from Earth. + +⦿ CARAVAN FORMING IN ARIVADA, HEADED FOR WYOMING CAMP + +September 23 (NAB) - In the wake of riots at the Wyoming New +Prospects Facility, a caravan reportedly consisting of hundreds of +individuals has begun to form in southern Arivada, with its members +claiming they intend to "close down" the facility. + +"They're enslaving people in there," said one woman, who claimed to +be a caravan member but otherwise declined to identify +herself. "They say it's a chance at a new life, but it's really a - +a prison, they're forcing them to work, starving them." Asked what +they would do upon reaching the camp, the caravan member said, +"We'll figure that out when we get there, I guess. But we've got +lots of trucks." + +A spokeswoman for the Population Administration, reached shortly +before press time, said only, "We are aware of the assembly in +Arivada, and we are prepared to take necessary measures to ensure +it does not interfere with the smooth running of the New Prospects +Facility." + +⦿ YOUR THOUGHTS ON MARS AND THE BELT + +In last week's update, we asked for our readers' opinions on the +recent news of events on Mars and in the Asteroid Belt. Here's what +you had to say. + +"I hope those Martian malcontents finally get what's coming to +them. Ever since they started up with this pointless unrest, +materials futures have been plummeting with no end in +sight. People's retirements are on the line here! Can't they +understand that?" + +- JAMES ST. JAMES, Investment Analyst, Lake Shore Drive + +"Are they even still human out in the Belt? I hear they can barely +even have kids with normal people any more. In another generation +or two, they'll be a different species, won't they? So why do they +even care what happens anywhere else?" + +- PAMELA CHRISTIAN, Proud Mom of Four, Lenox Park + +"It's about time they took it to the rich [unprintable] who've been +exploiting them! Those [unprintable] have had it too easy for too +long. They don't like gettng a taste of the just consequences for +what they've done? Well, [unprintable] them! They really won't like +it when the same thing starts up here at home." + +- "X", [unprintable], Lakeview Towers + +"If it's true about how those miners and their families have been +treated, I don't like it. Who would? But to think that violence +will bring any kind of improvement - as much as I understand the +impulse, a cursory reading of history shows that it's clearly +misguided. Only civil engagement among all stakeholders equally can +create lasting change." + +- [withheld by request], Government Major, Cornell University + +"Where does the Belt get off interfering with inner system affairs? +They've made it very clear they don't want anything to do with us, +except when it comes to marking up the raw materials we need to +rebuild Earth's infrastructure. That's probably the only reason +they're throwing in on the side of the miners who keep complaining +about their contracts - they don't like the competition." + +- ANDREW CHO, Purchasing Manager, Casper + +"Honestly, at a time like this, Mars is nothing but a distraction +from the real problem - this new alliance between the Moon and +Titan. Their crazy rhetoric about the menace from Earth isn't new, +but they've really heated it up lately, and I'm starting to worry +that they'll use it as an excuse for some kind of sneak attack on +our interests. We need to face them down now, instead of worrying +about a bunch of rioting rock-grubbers who don't know a good deal +when they see one." + +- [withheld by request], Loving Earth, Friendship Heights + +"The whole thing is madness. Look at history and you can see +arrangements like this are never stable long-term, and the ill will +they generate is a long-term liability that always outweighs the +short-term profit. This was always coming, and as long as we keep +trying to hold down Mars, it's only going to get uglier. We can't +do anything about the past, but we can change the future, and it's +time we treated fairly with them instead." + +- JOSEPH MUELLER, Freelance Historian, Roland Park Recovery Zone + +⦿ QUOTE FOR THE WEEK + +"The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery +and despair into hope and progress." - Martin Luther King, Jr. + +To update your content preferences, message HELP to +headlines@universe.today. diff --git a/gopher/Voortrekker/30.5-a-word-from-your-friend-and.txt b/gopher/Voortrekker/30.5-a-word-from-your-friend-and.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..37eb1fa --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/Voortrekker/30.5-a-word-from-your-friend-and.txt @@ -0,0 +1,60 @@ +Hi! It's me, Alexis. + +Back in November, I started a little story off the top of my head, +just to see what might happen. Would it go anywhere? No idea. But +it felt like it might have legs - or tentacles, considering. That +story became 'Voortrekker', of which today's update concludes Part +2 - and brings the total word count up to just over forty-one +thousand, with the story still not halfway done. Legs, indeed! Or +tentacles, considering. + +To start from a simple vignette of strangeness and hope on a world +orbiting a new sun, and become a tale of love, politics, warfare, +and strangeness spanning the entire solar system and beyond...I'm +amazed and delighted that my little story has come so far and grown +so much! And none of it would ever have happened if it hadn't been +for everyone who's participated along the way, both in helping me +find the story I want to tell and you want to read, and in the +Cosmic Voyage project overall. + +In particular, I want to thank ~tomasino, from whose forehead the +concept sprang full-grown, and ~kensanata, who mentioned it in a +place where I could see it. Had both those things not happened, +this story wouldn't have either! And perhaps I'm not the only one +who thinks that'd be a shame. + +Above all, though, I want to thank each and all of you who are here +reading this now, whether you've followed Voortrekker since the +beginning or have just come along now to see what all the fuss is +about. No one writes in a vacuum, even if sometimes it feels that +way. Your critique and your compliments have shaped this story +every bit as much as I have, and on days when I feel as if I can't +possibly string three words together in a way that makes sense, +remembering that you're out there waiting for the next installment +gives me the motivation I need to try my best. Thank you all! + +This sounds like a valedictory, but it's not one. Not except for +now, at least - Voortrekker has become by far the largest creative +project I've ever taken on, and I need a break! So I'm taking +one. For the next few weeks, I'm going to be recharging my +batteries, attending to various boring life things that I've lately +let slide in order to give this story the attention it deserves, +and preparing to carry the plot forward in Part 3. + +I might write a thing or two of another sort, too, in that +meantime. If I do, you can find it at https://lexie.space, where +all my writing lives. You can also find out how to contact me +there, if that's something you care to do. In particular, if you +have thoughts on the story so far or where you might like to see it +go from here, please do let me know! I won't make you a promise +that I'll incorporate those ideas, because it'd be a promise I +can't know for sure whether I can keep. But this isn't just my +story - it's *ours*. So I'll do my best to tell it in the way we +all like best! + +Regular updates will resume April 7, on the same +Wednesdays-and-Sundays schedule. In the meantime: stay awesome, +check out https://lexie.space for more of my writing, and let me +hear from you if you've got something to say! + +Love, Lexie. diff --git a/gopher/listing.gophermap b/gopher/listing.gophermap index a09ae2d..4e2f228 100644 --- a/gopher/listing.gophermap +++ b/gopher/listing.gophermap @@ -1,3 +1,5 @@ +0Voortrekker - [A word from your friend and author] /Voortrekker/30.5-a-word-from-your-friend-and.txt +0Voortrekker - Headlines: September 19-25, 2421 /Voortrekker/30-headlines-september-19-25-2421.txt 0Voortrekker - TO THE EARTH FLOTILLA NOW CRIMINALLY BOMBARDING AND OCCUPYIN /Voortrekker/29-to-the-earth-flotilla-now-criminally.txt 0Assumption - Autoresponse: amended. /Assumption/0001.txt 0RSS Revenant - Purple Moss /RSS Revenant/1626.txt diff --git a/gopher/rss.xml b/gopher/rss.xml index 1da7465..b8e49ef 100644 --- a/gopher/rss.xml +++ b/gopher/rss.xml @@ -2,6 +2,497 @@ Cosmic Voyage gopher://cosmic.voyage Messages from the human stellar diaspora + + Voortrekker - [A word from your friend and author] + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/30.5-a-word-from-your-friend-and.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/30.5-a-word-from-your-friend-and.txt + Sun, 03 Mar 2019 20:00:11 GMT + +Hi! It's me, Alexis. + +Back in November, I started a little story off the top of my head, +just to see what might happen. Would it go anywhere? No idea. But +it felt like it might have legs - or tentacles, considering. That +story became 'Voortrekker', of which today's update concludes Part +2 - and brings the total word count up to just over forty-one +thousand, with the story still not halfway done. Legs, indeed! Or +tentacles, considering. + +To start from a simple vignette of strangeness and hope on a world +orbiting a new sun, and become a tale of love, politics, warfare, +and strangeness spanning the entire solar system and beyond...I'm +amazed and delighted that my little story has come so far and grown +so much! And none of it would ever have happened if it hadn't been +for everyone who's participated along the way, both in helping me +find the story I want to tell and you want to read, and in the +Cosmic Voyage project overall. + +In particular, I want to thank ~tomasino, from whose forehead the +concept sprang full-grown, and ~kensanata, who mentioned it in a +place where I could see it. Had both those things not happened, +this story wouldn't have either! And perhaps I'm not the only one +who thinks that'd be a shame. + +Above all, though, I want to thank each and all of you who are here +reading this now, whether you've followed Voortrekker since the +beginning or have just come along now to see what all the fuss is +about. No one writes in a vacuum, even if sometimes it feels that +way. Your critique and your compliments have shaped this story +every bit as much as I have, and on days when I feel as if I can't +possibly string three words together in a way that makes sense, +remembering that you're out there waiting for the next installment +gives me the motivation I need to try my best. Thank you all! + +This sounds like a valedictory, but it's not one. Not except for +now, at least - Voortrekker has become by far the largest creative +project I've ever taken on, and I need a break! So I'm taking +one. For the next few weeks, I'm going to be recharging my +batteries, attending to various boring life things that I've lately +let slide in order to give this story the attention it deserves, +and preparing to carry the plot forward in Part 3. + +I might write a thing or two of another sort, too, in that +meantime. If I do, you can find it at https://lexie.space, where +all my writing lives. You can also find out how to contact me +there, if that's something you care to do. In particular, if you +have thoughts on the story so far or where you might like to see it +go from here, please do let me know! I won't make you a promise +that I'll incorporate those ideas, because it'd be a promise I +can't know for sure whether I can keep. But this isn't just my +story - it's *ours*. So I'll do my best to tell it in the way we +all like best! + +Regular updates will resume April 7, on the same +Wednesdays-and-Sundays schedule. In the meantime: stay awesome, +check out https://lexie.space for more of my writing, and let me +hear from you if you've got something to say! + +Love, Lexie. +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Headlines: September 19-25, 2421 + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/30-headlines-september-19-25-2421.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/30-headlines-september-19-25-2421.txt + Sun, 03 Mar 2019 19:30:49 GMT + +From: Universe Today +To: Nikolaos Soloviev +Delivered-To: Nikolaos Soloviev +Received: from qec4.helio.earthsys.gov + by qec.sv14417 + with ESMTPS id 4D4A053AB9513878 + for +Received: from relay5.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by qec4.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from relay2.qec6.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay5.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from mta041.sendcast.net + by relay7.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Subject: Headlines: September 19-25, 2421 +Date: 25 Sep 2421 00:01:39 +0000 +Date-Local: 11 Apr 2419 03:25:39 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +HEADLINES FOR SEPTEMBER 19 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2421 + +[We received your request to discontinue the following segments: +"Market Watch", "In Sport". Your content preferences have been +updated.] + +⦿ "I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT": EARTH SHIPS SMASHED AT MARS + +September 25 (UT): In a shockingly effective blitzkrieg attack, +Belter ships, led by the captured Earth cruiser ENS Brooklyn, +smashed the Earth Navy flotilla recently engaged in attempting to +suppress the labor riots on Mars. + +A Universe Today ship in Mars orbit, equipped with military-surplus +sensing gear, obtained visual and long-wave infrared imagery +detailing the entirety of the short and decisive combat. Based on +that imagery, retired wing general and military analyst Nathan +Coopersmith, recently arrived in Mars orbit at the time of the +battle, described the tactics of the attack as "absolutely +textbook." + +"They came in at maximum thrust on a shortest-time vector from +Ceres, and didn't even slow down before opening fire at maximum +reload rate. We would have set up that attack exactly the same +way," Coopersmith said. "That's absolutely critical, and very +telling. That velocity advantage gave them the ability to launch +their missiles far outside the range of the ships they were +targeting, and they made those shots count. I don't know where +they're getting their training, but one thing is absolutely clear: +this was not just a bunch of wild rock hoppers. Maybe they were the +ones who stole Brooklyn, but I'm not even sure of that. Whoever's +crewing her now, though - they know exactly what they're doing." + +Those initial launches from the stolen ENS Brooklyn, leading the +Belter ships, appear to have caught the Earth units in Mars orbit +completely off guard, despite over twenty-four hours' warning of +the incoming attack. Three ships - the cruiser ENS Pittsburgh, and +the frigates San Juan and Caguas - were immediately +destroyed. Based on imagery gathered by Universe Today during the +attack, it appears no other ships were targeted in this initial +assault, including ENS Chicago, flagship of flotilla commander Wing +General Hall. + +"Again, that's absolutely textbook," Coopersmith said. "It's how +you make the most of the advantage. Instead of spreading out your +fire, you concentrate, go for knockouts you know you can get +instead of shooting at everyone and hoping for luck. It's textbook, +and it's smart - if you find yourself counting on luck to win a +fight, you already made a mistake somewhere. But I'd been counting, +and Brooklyn had used up all her shipkillers to get those +knockouts. It was a good shot, but I didn't see what they thought +they could do to follow it up." + +Following the initial attack, the Belter ships turned over and +began hard deceleration burns which would end with entry into Mars +orbit. The remaining four Earth Navy units brought up their engines +and began to maneuver, apparently attempting to form up around ENS +Chicago. + +For several minutes, no further attack occurred from either +side. "The remaining Earth Navy ships were clearly preparing to +sortie out and meet their attackers, and it looked like the Belters +were trying to come in and slug it out in high orbit," Coopersmith +said, asked to describe these events. "It didn't make sense, +especially with how effective they'd already been - sure, they were +out of missiles, but at close range they'd lose in a hurry and they +had to know it. I couldn't imagine what else they might be doing, +though." + +The purpose behind the Belters' actions became clear minutes later, +as long-range radar aboard the orbiting Universe Today ship +resolved several dozen small objects separating from the group of +decelerating ships. Evidently released prior to the deceleration +burn, these unidentified objects continued to accelerate in toward +Mars orbit. + +The events which followed occurred so quickly that no one aboard +Universe Today's ship in orbit was able to tell what had +happened. Coopersmith and other analysts were later able to +reconstruct the sequence of events based on imagery gathered during +the attack. + +"When I saw the radar returns scatter and fade, I realized what +they had to be," Coopersmith said. "Rocks. Small Belt objects, +maybe a couple thousand tons each, rigged with engines and some +kind of shaped charges to shatter them into fragments. We think +they must have had some kind of targeting system, too, God knows +how. They knew they didn't have enough missiles for every ship in +Mars orbit, so they used what they did have, and it worked better +than I could have imagined. I've never seen anything like it." + +Seconds after the unknown radar returns disappeared, ENS Chicago +exploded, killing Wing General Hall and his entire command +staff. The two frigates nearest the explosion collided in orbit, +destroying ENS Phoenix and rendering ENS Ann Arbor unable to +maneuver, and leaving the frigate ENS Appleton as the only +remaining Earth Navy unit still functional. + +"I knew Steve Hall pretty well," Coopersmith said. "He was the kind +of officer we used to call a killer. Bold, aggressive, +hard-charging, always ready to bring the fight to the +enemy. Officers like that tend to pick their subordinates for the +same qualities, and clearly Steve had done that here. I don't see +any other reason why Appleton would've kept going out. Maybe her +captain thought the rock hoppers really were done, maybe he thought +he'd surprise Brooklyn with a knockout and clean up the small fry +after. I don't know, and of course we can't ask now. At least he +got a few shots off." + +ENS Appleton, still building thrust toward escape velocity, +succeeded in launching nine of her twelve shipkiller missiles at +Brooklyn. However, the stolen Earth cruiser's point-defense weapons +proved to be capably crewed, shooting down all of Appleton's +weapons well outside their attack range. Less than a minute later, +Appleton was hit and destroyed by another of the Belters' asteroid +weapons. + +In the aftermath of the battle, the stolen Brooklyn and the other +Belter ships entered orbit, accepted the surrender of ENS Ann +Arbor, and instructed the Earth marines still on the surface of +Mars to surrender at once. Liana de Buys of the Red Rock Guild +echoed the instruction, adding that the Martian miners would accept +these surrenders if given. "Your mission here has failed," de Buys +said, in a general broadcast from a Mars NewsNet transmitter. "Your +ships are destroyed or crippled. Your resupply, your +reinforcements, your air support, are all gone, and you know you +can't hold out forever. Surrender now! We will treat you as +prisoners of war, and send you home as soon as we can. If you try +to hold out instead, on your own head be it." + +At press time, most of the marine formations on Mars were confirmed +to have surrendered and been taken into custody by their erstwhile +enemies, with only a few holdouts at Endeavour Crater still +fighting. It is thought that ENS Ann Arbor, the only surviving +Earth ship at Mars, may serve after repairs to ferry home the +surrendered marines. Governor Ritter could not be reached for +comment, and Universe Today has unconfirmed reports that he may +have been killed in the fighting, or captured and executed by Red +Rock Guild miners. Universe Today will bring you further bulletins +on these events as new information develops. + +⦿ PUBLIC INFORMATION CLAIMS COLLUSION IN BATTLE OF MARS + +September 25 (UPI) - Shortly following the explosive news of the +Battle of Mars, Earthgov's Office of Public Information claimed +"credible evidence" suggesting that one or both of the Luna-Titan +Alliance partners had "colluded with Belt-based criminals" in the +attack on Earth's ships. + +"In recent days, Earth's deep-system intelligence platforms have +observed highly suspicious movements on the part of ships known to +engage in criminal trade with Titan," a spokesman for Public +Information said in a press conference. "While we continue to +develop and evaluate new information, we expect at this time to be +able to report very soon that Titan, presumably in conspiracy with +parties as yet unknown on Earth's moon, provided material aid in +weapons and personnel to the Belter criminals who went on to commit +their atrocities in Mars orbit. + +"Earth's government wishes to reassure the populace of the Solar +System that these criminals will not escape justice for their +terrible actions today. Our fellow citizens, our way of life, our +very freedom have come under attack in these deliberate and deadly +acts. We will bring justice to the terrorists responsible, and we +will make no distinction between them and those who aid and harbor +them. Earth has stood down enemies before, and we will do so again +this time." + +The spokesman did not ask for questions. + +⦿ EARTHGOV DECRIES DESTRUCTION OF KEARSARGE BY TITAN + +September 19 (UPI) - Following the destruction of an Earth frigate +in an attempt to intercept a Lunar passenger ferry four days ago, +Earthgov's Public Information Office stated that the incident was +an unprovoked attack by a new alliance actively attempting to +instigate warfare with Earth. + +"ENS Kearsarge was engaged in an internal police action with regard +to a single passenger aboard the Moon ferry Quetelet," a Public +Information spokeswoman said. "Kearsarge's Captain Whitlow +requested that Quetelet permit civilian police officers aboard +Kearsarge aboard, so that they could arrest a citizen of Earth who +was suspected, with probable cause, of engaging in treason and +espionage against Earth. + +"Instead of assenting to this peaceable request, Quetelet attempted +to flee the scene, necessitating a pursuit by Kearsarge in defense +of Earth's security interests. Just prior to Kearsarge's successful +overhaul and boarding of Quetelet, Titan's faster-than-light ship +appeared and opened fire without warning on Kearsarge, destroying +the ship and murdering our naval officers and crew before they had +any chance to defend themselves or even attempt to surrender. + +"Earth's government cannot accept such treatment of her brave +defenders. Earth's people will not allow it. The actions of Titan, +and of the regime currently in power on Earths' moon, constitute a +direct attack against the national security of Earth, and our +longstanding policy in such cases has been to respond as firmly and +assertively as our adversaries should choose to require of us." + +⦿ LUNA FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPLORES EARTH ACTION AGAINST FERRY + +September 20 (UPI) - A spokesman for Luna's Foreign Ministry in a +press conference today issued a strong statement regarding the +recent interception of an Luna Passenger Lines ferry Quetelet by +the Earth Navy frigate Kearsarge. + +"We are aware that Earth claims this unprovoked attack on an +unarmed passenger vessel to have been an internal police matter, +threatening none except her own wayward citizen," Li Yen-au +said. "These claims fall short of reality in several respects. When +the captain of our passenger ferry correctly declined to halt and +be boarded, Kearsarge responded by opening fire with weapons +designed to destroy other military ships. + +"It is only thanks to the timely intervention of our new treaty +partner, Titan, that no innocents were killed as a result of this +crime. We understand that Earth claims the destruction of Kearsarge +to be itself an unprovoked attack on a vessel operating peacefully +within the bounds of accepted interstellar custom. This, too, is a +lie. + +"Kearsarge had already struck the ferry Quetelet with one missile +and fired a second, clearly intending to make good on her earlier +threats to destroy the unarmed ship, when the Titan ship And Yet It +Moves arrived upon the scene. And Yet It Moves' captain, having +been made aware of the situation by a report bravely transmitted by +Quetelet's own Captain Crozer, judged that Kearsarge would not +accept a demand to cease fire, and acted as she felt necessary to +defend the innocent lives aboard Quetelet. + +"We of Luna wish now to express our deepest gratitude to our +Titanian allies and friends for their swift and decisive action in +defense of our citizens," Li said in concluding her remarks. "We +wish also to advise any and all who would so attack us that they +would be wise to consider carefully the fate of Kearsarge before +embarking on such a rash course of action." + +⦿ SILO SHIPS SEEN SHIFTING ORBITS IN "MAINTENANCE TASK" + +September 21 (UPI) - Following confirmed reports of Earth's "silo +ships" adjusting their orbits, questions to Earthgov's Military +Information Office were met with the response that the ships' +movements are related to ongoing maintenance required to keep the +giant vessels ready for action, and are not in any way associated +with political events in the system. + +"This is an ordinary maintenance task that's performed from time to +time," said Major Willem van Dort, in response to a UPI +correspondent's question. "We have to make sure those ships are +ready when we need them, and that includes their engines and +navigational systems. Having them change orbits is just a way to +make sure that they're fully functional and ready to defend Earth +if they're needed." Asked whether he thought the ships might be +needed to defend Earth in the near future, Major van Dort said that +he had no further comment, and ended the call. + +The six "silo ships", each large enough to be distinctly visible in +the night sky, are the backbone of Earth's deterrent forces, and +thought to carry between two and four hundred nuclear warheads +apiece. Retired wing general and military analyst Nathan +Coopersmith, when asked about the ships' movements, agreed with +Major Van Dort's comments about maintenance, and also noted that he +does not recall the last time he heard of the ships being moved. + +⦿ SPY HANGED FOR TREASON ON GANYMEDE + +September 23 (GNI) - Alexander Anders Seifert, a former worker in +Earth's military shipyard on Ganymede, was publicly executed today +for treason and espionage in the courtyard of the Ganymede +Garrison's headquarters and administration building. + +"Alexander Seifert was convicted of passing crucial military +secrets to known members of a Titan spy ring operating on +Ganymede," said General William Tasker, after descending from the +gallows. "While his Titan accomplices have for now escaped capture +and military justice for their crimes, Seifert himself was not so +fortunate, and he has now answered for having endangered the safety +and security of Earth by his actions." + +Tasker, thought to be in charge of a secret naval project on +Ganymede, went on to say, "Some may ask whether it is appropriate +for a military tribunal to pass judgment on a civilian. To them I +say: Look around. Look at what's happening in the system. Earth's +enemies surround her on every side, and she must be defended at all +costs. At a time like this, we soldiers must step to the fore, +stand our posts, and do what must be done. If you find our actions +distasteful, remember that the blame for them lies not with we +ourselves, your sworn protectors, but rather with our enemies, +internal and external, who force us to take such actions in defense +of us all." + +While the law mandating capital punishment in cases of treason +remains on Earth's books, Seifert's is the first such execution +actually carried out in almost sixty-five years. The last, of the +infamous "Tycho Seven", occurred in 2357, shortly after Luna's +secession from Earth. + +⦿ CARAVAN FORMING IN ARIVADA, HEADED FOR WYOMING CAMP + +September 23 (NAB) - In the wake of riots at the Wyoming New +Prospects Facility, a caravan reportedly consisting of hundreds of +individuals has begun to form in southern Arivada, with its members +claiming they intend to "close down" the facility. + +"They're enslaving people in there," said one woman, who claimed to +be a caravan member but otherwise declined to identify +herself. "They say it's a chance at a new life, but it's really a - +a prison, they're forcing them to work, starving them." Asked what +they would do upon reaching the camp, the caravan member said, +"We'll figure that out when we get there, I guess. But we've got +lots of trucks." + +A spokeswoman for the Population Administration, reached shortly +before press time, said only, "We are aware of the assembly in +Arivada, and we are prepared to take necessary measures to ensure +it does not interfere with the smooth running of the New Prospects +Facility." + +⦿ YOUR THOUGHTS ON MARS AND THE BELT + +In last week's update, we asked for our readers' opinions on the +recent news of events on Mars and in the Asteroid Belt. Here's what +you had to say. + +"I hope those Martian malcontents finally get what's coming to +them. Ever since they started up with this pointless unrest, +materials futures have been plummeting with no end in +sight. People's retirements are on the line here! Can't they +understand that?" + +- JAMES ST. JAMES, Investment Analyst, Lake Shore Drive + +"Are they even still human out in the Belt? I hear they can barely +even have kids with normal people any more. In another generation +or two, they'll be a different species, won't they? So why do they +even care what happens anywhere else?" + +- PAMELA CHRISTIAN, Proud Mom of Four, Lenox Park + +"It's about time they took it to the rich [unprintable] who've been +exploiting them! Those [unprintable] have had it too easy for too +long. They don't like gettng a taste of the just consequences for +what they've done? Well, [unprintable] them! They really won't like +it when the same thing starts up here at home." + +- "X", [unprintable], Lakeview Towers + +"If it's true about how those miners and their families have been +treated, I don't like it. Who would? But to think that violence +will bring any kind of improvement - as much as I understand the +impulse, a cursory reading of history shows that it's clearly +misguided. Only civil engagement among all stakeholders equally can +create lasting change." + +- [withheld by request], Government Major, Cornell University + +"Where does the Belt get off interfering with inner system affairs? +They've made it very clear they don't want anything to do with us, +except when it comes to marking up the raw materials we need to +rebuild Earth's infrastructure. That's probably the only reason +they're throwing in on the side of the miners who keep complaining +about their contracts - they don't like the competition." + +- ANDREW CHO, Purchasing Manager, Casper + +"Honestly, at a time like this, Mars is nothing but a distraction +from the real problem - this new alliance between the Moon and +Titan. Their crazy rhetoric about the menace from Earth isn't new, +but they've really heated it up lately, and I'm starting to worry +that they'll use it as an excuse for some kind of sneak attack on +our interests. We need to face them down now, instead of worrying +about a bunch of rioting rock-grubbers who don't know a good deal +when they see one." + +- [withheld by request], Loving Earth, Friendship Heights + +"The whole thing is madness. Look at history and you can see +arrangements like this are never stable long-term, and the ill will +they generate is a long-term liability that always outweighs the +short-term profit. This was always coming, and as long as we keep +trying to hold down Mars, it's only going to get uglier. We can't +do anything about the past, but we can change the future, and it's +time we treated fairly with them instead." + +- JOSEPH MUELLER, Freelance Historian, Roland Park Recovery Zone + +⦿ QUOTE FOR THE WEEK + +"The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery +and despair into hope and progress." - Martin Luther King, Jr. + +To update your content preferences, message HELP to +headlines@universe.today. +]]> + Voortrekker - TO THE EARTH FLOTILLA NOW CRIMINALLY BOMBARDING AND OCCUPYIN alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis)