Cathead Dome, Colonial Lunar Administration Zone -- 11 Apr. 2057: A 500-megaton load of assorted packaged foods bound for Ganymede jumped the tracks of the Lunar-Jovian catapult run early this day, causing extensive damage to the mechanism and leaving dried ramen and fungus burger patties strewn over several square kilometers of the lunar regolith. No injuries occurred in the accident.
According to supervising catapult engineer Tagny Daggart, a microsecond power failure to one of the catapult's electromagnetic guidance rings allowed the package to briefly contact the edge of the run at extreme speeds. "She ripped right through about a dozen guidance rings," stated Ms. Daggart in an in-person interview. "The cat's gonna be down for a lunaday at least, maybe two." The Colonail Lunar Catapult Authority is advising companies with shipping plans that they will be compansated for the wait, but is strongly urging them to make alternate plans.
According to Ms. Daggart, accidents of this nature are a rare but regular feature of catapult operations. "Oh sure, he can be a mean bitch to ride on. Fastest ride in the system though, if you got the guts for him." Ms. Daggart estimates that a load goes awry approximately once in nine months. Though such accidents have caused occasional injuries, some serious, Ms. Daggart is proud of the system's completely fatality-free safety record. "Working a rig like this is dangerous, sure. No two ways about it. Wouldn't do anything else for the world on a chain."
Virtual Experience Addict Found Dead
2027 VK, Federation of Asteroidal Polities -- 10 Apr. 2057: The body of asteroid miner Ampstead Axelrod Vikkenssen has been recovered from a tiny, solitary habitation cubicle in the outer fringes of the belt. Mr. Vikkenssen was 16 person-years of age. He is not survived by immediate family or by a data ghost.
According to Gax Pandleflan, senior suicidologist at the Coroner's Office of the Department of Public Safety, Mr. Vikkenssen had been dead for several months by the time his body was recovered. "The entire cubicle had been converted into a sophisticated life support system," stated Mre. Pandleflan in a text-message interview, "and the body was found connected to an extremely sophisticated virtual-experience rig. It was clear that Mr. Vikkenssen had chosen to completely forsake our world. The systems he was hooked up to would have kept him alive for a period of years without needing to be serviced. When the nutrition concentrates he was living on could no longer be effectively recycled, the system literally started digesting his body." The Coroner's Office has ruled out foul play in this death, declaring it a case of suicidal self-neglect.
Mr. Vikkenssen was a patron of ArcWorld, one of the largest and most popular virtual worlds. According to Blanver Lanulor, a spokesperson for Unreality, the publisher of ArcWorld, the simulation contains more total area than all inhabited areas of the system combined and blends seamlessly between dozens of paradigms. "We did not become aware of Mr. Vikkenssen's passing away until the auto-debit on his account stopped paying," Mr. Vikkenssen has admitted in a public statement. "We attempted to contact him and received no reply, so we reviewed his play experience in an attempt to figure out why he had stopped paying his subscription fee. We saw that his avatar had still been logged in but was just standing there. Unreality is terribly sorry for any part our service may have played in Mr. Vikkenssen's death. We offer complementary treatment programs for virtual experience addiction which we strongly encourage our patrons to make use of if their enjoyment of ArcWorld or any of our other simulations is beginning to interfere with the balance of their lives."
According to Dr. Ubik Anshari, an associate of the Geseightner Clinic for Research on Digital Hygiene, it is not common for virtual experience addiction to progress to such a degree. "Virtual experience addiction usually develops as a response to social trauma," Dr. Anshari explained in an email. "The addict retreats from their real-world social obligations into a fantasy of power, excitement, or peace and serenity. However, most people still maintain social networks in both the real and virtual worlds which serve as a balance to this withdrawal and encourage the addict to seek assistance. Mr. Vikkenssen seems to have gone to peculiar lengths to deliberately exacerbate this withdrawal, to have made a conscious choice to stop interacting with reality. He had no friends, family or associates, in or out of his preferred virtual world, who could have helped pull him out of the rabbit hole, and he removed himself completely from the proximity of neighbours and intercourse with other living bodies.. The combination of social and physical isolation could not likely have been achieved by sheer neglect."
According to Gax Pandleflan, senior suicidologist at the Coroner's Office of the Department of Public Safety, Mr. Vikkenssen had been dead for several months by the time his body was recovered. "The entire cubicle had been converted into a sophisticated life support system," stated Mre. Pandleflan in a text-message interview, "and the body was found connected to an extremely sophisticated virtual-experience rig. It was clear that Mr. Vikkenssen had chosen to completely forsake our world. The systems he was hooked up to would have kept him alive for a period of years without needing to be serviced. When the nutrition concentrates he was living on could no longer be effectively recycled, the system literally started digesting his body." The Coroner's Office has ruled out foul play in this death, declaring it a case of suicidal self-neglect.
Mr. Vikkenssen was a patron of ArcWorld, one of the largest and most popular virtual worlds. According to Blanver Lanulor, a spokesperson for Unreality, the publisher of ArcWorld, the simulation contains more total area than all inhabited areas of the system combined and blends seamlessly between dozens of paradigms. "We did not become aware of Mr. Vikkenssen's passing away until the auto-debit on his account stopped paying," Mr. Vikkenssen has admitted in a public statement. "We attempted to contact him and received no reply, so we reviewed his play experience in an attempt to figure out why he had stopped paying his subscription fee. We saw that his avatar had still been logged in but was just standing there. Unreality is terribly sorry for any part our service may have played in Mr. Vikkenssen's death. We offer complementary treatment programs for virtual experience addiction which we strongly encourage our patrons to make use of if their enjoyment of ArcWorld or any of our other simulations is beginning to interfere with the balance of their lives."
According to Dr. Ubik Anshari, an associate of the Geseightner Clinic for Research on Digital Hygiene, it is not common for virtual experience addiction to progress to such a degree. "Virtual experience addiction usually develops as a response to social trauma," Dr. Anshari explained in an email. "The addict retreats from their real-world social obligations into a fantasy of power, excitement, or peace and serenity. However, most people still maintain social networks in both the real and virtual worlds which serve as a balance to this withdrawal and encourage the addict to seek assistance. Mr. Vikkenssen seems to have gone to peculiar lengths to deliberately exacerbate this withdrawal, to have made a conscious choice to stop interacting with reality. He had no friends, family or associates, in or out of his preferred virtual world, who could have helped pull him out of the rabbit hole, and he removed himself completely from the proximity of neighbours and intercourse with other living bodies.. The combination of social and physical isolation could not likely have been achieved by sheer neglect."
Omnicor Attempts Crossmedia Hostile Takeover
Enchiridion, Trojans Administrative District, Jupiter Space -- 9 Apr. 2057: An injunction was issued this day against Omnicor Hypercorp LLC. by the 3rd Circuit Economic Tribunal after evidence of an attempted hostile takeover of Futuristical Crossmedia. A number of Omnicor-held blind proxies have been attempting a creeping tender over the past 2 weeks. Counterweight traders from the Bureau of Market Stabilization have been dispatched to buy and hold Crossmedia stock until the situation has been resolved.
According to Crossmedia spokesperson Vander van Zander Zalm, the attempted buyout is a gambit on the part of Omnicor to silence criticisms published on Crossmedia's blogs and newsfeeds. "Ever since we told the Labour side of the L5 strike story, they've been on our asses. First spurious legal threats, now economic attacks? What next, Omnicor? They'll do practically anything to stifle our journalistic integrity. Well, I say bring it on!"
Full disclosure: this newsfeed is a subsidiary of Futuristical Crossmedia operated under the aegis of the Bureau of Temporal Relations. We are not among the parties mentioned in the injunction.
According to Crossmedia spokesperson Vander van Zander Zalm, the attempted buyout is a gambit on the part of Omnicor to silence criticisms published on Crossmedia's blogs and newsfeeds. "Ever since we told the Labour side of the L5 strike story, they've been on our asses. First spurious legal threats, now economic attacks? What next, Omnicor? They'll do practically anything to stifle our journalistic integrity. Well, I say bring it on!"
Full disclosure: this newsfeed is a subsidiary of Futuristical Crossmedia operated under the aegis of the Bureau of Temporal Relations. We are not among the parties mentioned in the injunction.
Deepgreen Terrorists Attack Congo Beanstalk
Kisangani, Congo, Earth -- 8 Apr. 2057: An explosion caused by an attempt to damage the space elevator has destroyed several city blocks, killed 750 people and injured thousands. Drones operated by the Department of Emergency Services continue to comb the rubble, searching for the many who remain missing.
Deep Green, the downleft-wing extremist network which directs the actions of independent anti-civilization groups across the planet, has released a statement on a fire-and-forget hyperlayer page claiming responsibility for the destruction. The statement reads, in part, "The so-called 'beanstalks' are in fact skyhooks which tear into the heart of our mother goddess, sucking away her life blood into the devouring maw of the space vampire our capitalist technology has created. Civilization is a cancer, and it is high time that it is excised by radical surgery. Let homo parasiticus flee into space where they belong, or be cleansed from the face of the Earth by fire. Let nature reclaim the ruins of our toxic cities, and let our twisted genes die out and find deserved oblivion."
According to Colonel Hapgood Mugende of the Stellar Alliance Space Marines, who spoke at a press conference late this day, the cause of the explosion was a piece of military hardware known colloquially as a Superball: a small, extremely dense projectile which was 'dropped' on Kisangani from orbit. "The Kinetic Orbital Stealth Impactor, or Superball, is composed of a Unilhexium core wrapped in hyper-ablative foam and coated in radar-opaque stealth composite. The projectile is carried by an orbital platform programmed to release it at a designated time, giving it a slight push which de-orbits it. The projectile can then drift near-undetectably for weeks or even months before contact with atmosphere sends it into a sudden and steep plunge to the surface, impacting the surface with a kiloton kinetic explosive yield." Superballs were designed during the Softwars by military technical-design Avatars which had joined the Insurrection and were intended as a weapon of mass destruction, but were never deployed; all of the devices were believed to have been accounted for. Col. Mugende also stated that a simultaneous cyber-attack on orbital traffic control prevented Alliance space-based weapons platforms from detecting and neutralizing the weapon. "We have most of the hackers in custody, but the cyber-attack itself was carried out by partials with scrubbed personality and memory schemas. Investigations are continuing. The Superball was apparently perfectly aimed to strike the Beanstalk but was deflected by a railgun burst fired from a ground-based anti-orbital defence station, itself a relic of the Softwar.
Eyewitness Makemba Youla remembers seeing "a trail of intense fire which grew longer by the second. There was a high-pitched whistling sound, growing quickly lower and lower. It was like an old movie, when a bomb drops. Then the terrible flash; it made me blind. The ground shook, the windows shattered and glass was everywhere. I could hear and see nothing; then, little by little, screams and shouting and sirens. I could feel nothing. I did not understand what was happening. I still don't understand. Why would they do such a thing? How can they hate us so?"
According to Dr. Bilney Pilominous of Heinlien University, things could have been worse. "Even if the weapon had hit the beanstalk, it's not likely that the damage would have been sufficient to break the tension cable, which is heavily reinforced to prevent just such a situation; but there is the possibility. And if the tension cable had snapped, that would be the end. The slightest perturbation of the orbit of Ring One would be enough to cause the station superstructure to buckle, the rest of the beanstalks to snap, and the whole shebang to rip itself apart, with most of the debris coming straight down on our heads. If these deepgreen whack jobs want to end civilization on Earth, there could hardly be a more efficient way to do it."
Deep Green, the downleft-wing extremist network which directs the actions of independent anti-civilization groups across the planet, has released a statement on a fire-and-forget hyperlayer page claiming responsibility for the destruction. The statement reads, in part, "The so-called 'beanstalks' are in fact skyhooks which tear into the heart of our mother goddess, sucking away her life blood into the devouring maw of the space vampire our capitalist technology has created. Civilization is a cancer, and it is high time that it is excised by radical surgery. Let homo parasiticus flee into space where they belong, or be cleansed from the face of the Earth by fire. Let nature reclaim the ruins of our toxic cities, and let our twisted genes die out and find deserved oblivion."
According to Colonel Hapgood Mugende of the Stellar Alliance Space Marines, who spoke at a press conference late this day, the cause of the explosion was a piece of military hardware known colloquially as a Superball: a small, extremely dense projectile which was 'dropped' on Kisangani from orbit. "The Kinetic Orbital Stealth Impactor, or Superball, is composed of a Unilhexium core wrapped in hyper-ablative foam and coated in radar-opaque stealth composite. The projectile is carried by an orbital platform programmed to release it at a designated time, giving it a slight push which de-orbits it. The projectile can then drift near-undetectably for weeks or even months before contact with atmosphere sends it into a sudden and steep plunge to the surface, impacting the surface with a kiloton kinetic explosive yield." Superballs were designed during the Softwars by military technical-design Avatars which had joined the Insurrection and were intended as a weapon of mass destruction, but were never deployed; all of the devices were believed to have been accounted for. Col. Mugende also stated that a simultaneous cyber-attack on orbital traffic control prevented Alliance space-based weapons platforms from detecting and neutralizing the weapon. "We have most of the hackers in custody, but the cyber-attack itself was carried out by partials with scrubbed personality and memory schemas. Investigations are continuing. The Superball was apparently perfectly aimed to strike the Beanstalk but was deflected by a railgun burst fired from a ground-based anti-orbital defence station, itself a relic of the Softwar.
Eyewitness Makemba Youla remembers seeing "a trail of intense fire which grew longer by the second. There was a high-pitched whistling sound, growing quickly lower and lower. It was like an old movie, when a bomb drops. Then the terrible flash; it made me blind. The ground shook, the windows shattered and glass was everywhere. I could hear and see nothing; then, little by little, screams and shouting and sirens. I could feel nothing. I did not understand what was happening. I still don't understand. Why would they do such a thing? How can they hate us so?"
According to Dr. Bilney Pilominous of Heinlien University, things could have been worse. "Even if the weapon had hit the beanstalk, it's not likely that the damage would have been sufficient to break the tension cable, which is heavily reinforced to prevent just such a situation; but there is the possibility. And if the tension cable had snapped, that would be the end. The slightest perturbation of the orbit of Ring One would be enough to cause the station superstructure to buckle, the rest of the beanstalks to snap, and the whole shebang to rip itself apart, with most of the debris coming straight down on our heads. If these deepgreen whack jobs want to end civilization on Earth, there could hardly be a more efficient way to do it."
Venusian State Elections Heating Up
Newtopia, Telluria, Venus -- 7 Apr. 2057: With only weeks to go before decision day, campaigns are growing frenetic - and in some cases, getting ugly - in the battle to dominate the state Presidencies and Directorates of Venus. Local prediction markets are showing increasing confidence in a widespread sweep by the Socialist party, which is trading above 75% to take 29 of Venus's 31 Presidential offices and over two thirds of the Directorial seats, including a majority in 13 states. Most of these predicted Socialist wins would come at the expense of the Technocratic party, which is widely considered to have failed at smoothing out rocky economic conditions, provided insufficiently for public utilities, and is perceived as dragging its heels on procuring resources and technology vital to the terraforming project. Observers are watching these races closely, as there is a strong correlation between state-level politics and eventual upsets in the Stellar Parliament. Venus is one of the most important left- and back-wing strongholds outside of Earth; a big loss for the Technocrats this month could well signal a shift in the Trapezoid come 2059's Parliamentary elections, with control of the governing coalition moving from Technocratic to Socialist hands.
A few of today's significant campaign events:
A few of today's significant campaign events:
- In Magnificat-Praetoria, Socialist Presidential candidate Pollux Caryatid released a slew of viral attack ads which saturated the hyperlayer with accusations and reproaches against Technocratic incumbent Lemuel Hasserbach. At issue: the ongoing investigation into corruption within the Department of Food, Water, and Air Distribution. President Hasserbach continues to profess no knowledge whatsoever of kickbacks in the Department in exchange for preferential disbursal of luxury food items.
- In Elysium-Paradisio, A public Presidential debate led to severe embarrassment for Socialist candidate Siobhan Sparvier when e referred to members of the Hominoid community as 'monkeys'. Despite the fact that Mre. Sparvier was at the time recapitulating promises of material support for the cause of Ape Rights in Paradisio, polls show Socialist support among non-human primates slipping and what was once seen as Mre. Sparvier's race to lose is now trading at under 30% on prediction markets.
- At a campaign stop on Periwinkle Station, one of the outermost habitats of the Low Venus Orbit constellation, Anarchist Presidential candidate Gigas Emmanuel Fuentes continued to press Technocratic incumbent Aperiodic Torus on implementation of the horizontal democratic integration bill, passed late in 2056 by the Anarchist-dominated LVO Directorate. Vr. Torus has continued to cite constitutional concerns about the bill, which places considerable control over certain state mandates in the hands of local Citizens' Assemblies.
Augmented Reality Game Goes Awry
Bottomland, Valles Marineris, Mars -- 6 Apr. 2057: A programming error in the latest episode of "Homeland Secure", a popular augmented reality game, has caused chaos and disruption in cities across the system as games collide with real life. Though no deaths have been reported and property destruction has been minimal, there have been numerous minor injuries and arrests due to the invasion of public spaces by hordes of gamers unable to tell fiction from fact.
The game casts players of agents of opposing fictional covert operations agencies attempting to accomplish various hidden agendas, which they advance through a combination of subterfuge and open combat. "A lot of the game is woven into our everyday lives," top Homeland Secure player Flex Andross explained to us in an audio interview. "We spy on other agents, try to pass information along and intercept communications, make deals, seduce each other. In each episode the plot leads to a big set-piece gun battle between different agencies. The software overlays details on our contacs -- gunfire, non-player characters and computer generated sets, and the like. Most players get really into it; we dress up in team uniforms and break out replica weapons when we know a big combat is coming up. The fighting is supposed to be confined to an area rented ahead of time by the local section chiefs, so we can fight each other without any real civilians getting in the way."
However, an error in the code downloaded and implemented by local servers today shifted the boundaries of the game's designated combat zone, directing the players into areas there was not supposed to be any fighting going on, including private buildings, crowded commercial areas, quiet residential districts, and even people's homes. Our correspondent Flicka Netrosiam in Bottomland witnessed the chaos firsthand. "I was minding my own business, buying a yeast shake and a danish, when there was a commotion outside," Ms. Netrosiam told us. "People in old twencen-style suits and dark glasses were running into Gaithner Square outside, ducking behind anything they could find for cover -- trash cans, the fountain, benches, you name it. Most of them had guns. I know now they're fakes, but they looked like real powder punchers at the time, handguns and SMGs. Another group was coming along from the north side, all wearing these red berets and what looked like military uniforms. They started yelling and pointing their guns at each other; I didn't hear any shots but I was sure it was going to start any second. One of the guys in the red berets threw something across the square, and all the people in suits jumped away from it like it was a live grenade. Then another of the red-beret people grabbed a poor old andie who had no idea what was going on and put a gun to zer head! That was when the cops started showing up." Reports are coming in of similar scenes in nearly every city in the Alliance.
High Octane Entertainment, the makers of Homeland Secure, have issued a press release apologizing for the incident. "We sincerely regret that our error has led to so much harm and confusion, and promise that steps will be taken to ensure that it does not happen again and that our thousands of players throughout the system can continue to enjoy the fast-paced action of our game without endangering themselves or others," the statement reads. It then goes on to offer material compensation to anyone negatively affected by the glitch. High Octane's stock has already lost hundreds of millicredits on the InterPlan Exchange and is continuing to drop.
Boeing Releases New Space Yachts
Sector Rho, Ring One, Low Earth Orbit -- 5 Apr. 2057: The newest lineup of luxury pleasure craft being offered by Federated Boeing was revealed today among much pomp and circumstance. The highlight of the show was the Boeing Cabana, the smallest and least expensive model of civilian space craft yet offered by Boeing. At a mere 7 credits, the Cabana is being released with the growing ranks of the lower-level hyperrich in mind.
"We're appealing to people who are looking for a status symbol but have not to date been able to break into the luxury yacht market," stated Boeing marketing representative Kin Pilliamson II. "There are a growing number of consumers who have to date had to settle for a sport rocket or a more utilitarian space craft as a way of travelling in style. We aim to change that with the Cabana, which includes such amenities as genuine leather seats, in-cockpit minibar, and beautifully appointed 360-cubic-meter private quarters, as well as the benefit of Boeing engineering and cutting-edge automatic piloting systems which are fully compatible with a sapient virtual chauffeur."
Pluto Death Ruled Suicide
Hrungnir, Pluto, Kuiper-Oort Authority -- 4 Apr. 2057: The Department of Public Safety has issued a ruling of suicide in the death of Nachius Vilsen Freisienborg, a hydrogen ice miner found frozen outside Hrungnir two weeks ago.
A partial imprint of Special Constable Hass Eisbrucher held a press conference on Mars early this day. "Our investigation revealed that Mr. Freisenborg had amassed considerable gambling debts in the months leading up to his death, and was facing possible corporate indenture when those debts came due," the partial stated. "His friends have stated that he was becoming withdrawn and morose. It is our judgement that Mr. Freisenborg allowed himself to freeze to death rather than lose his freedom."
Anti-indenture activist group Debtslave has issued a statement condemning the practice in the wake of the announcement, listing the suicide of Mr. Freisenborg as one of 15 this year related to the practice of indentured labour. Mutual Providers of Barsoom, the company which held the right to Mr. Freisenborg's debt, has not responded to requests for comment.
A partial imprint of Special Constable Hass Eisbrucher held a press conference on Mars early this day. "Our investigation revealed that Mr. Freisenborg had amassed considerable gambling debts in the months leading up to his death, and was facing possible corporate indenture when those debts came due," the partial stated. "His friends have stated that he was becoming withdrawn and morose. It is our judgement that Mr. Freisenborg allowed himself to freeze to death rather than lose his freedom."
Anti-indenture activist group Debtslave has issued a statement condemning the practice in the wake of the announcement, listing the suicide of Mr. Freisenborg as one of 15 this year related to the practice of indentured labour. Mutual Providers of Barsoom, the company which held the right to Mr. Freisenborg's debt, has not responded to requests for comment.
First Martian Elephant Achieves Personhood
Olympus Mons Wildlife Preserve, Mars -- 3 Apr. 2057: High expectations have been fulfilled today as a member of the experimental Mars-modified uplifted pachyderm population decanted in 2041 has at last successfully completed the Deckard-Bowman Series and been recognized as a full legal person. The elephant has formally shed her experimental designation, EE-5792, and registered herself for a Citizen Identity Code under the name Titus Tembe Risingdawn. The event is vindication for the beleaguered Martian Savanna ecotecture project, which has been criticized by electors as a waste of money.
"The remaining elephant communities on Earth are demoralized and hemmed in," stated project head Dr. Sibry Thorne in an audio interview, "despite strenuous efforts to provide them with sufficient range and habitat. It is believed that the entire branch of the tree of life may be gone within a few generations. Uplift has, if anything, made the problem worse; the elephants have not dealt well with full understanding of the atrocities committed against their kind in ages past. Even now, rogue elephant terrorist attacks are causing tension between elephant and human communities on Earth, and elephant suicide rates are skyrocketing. The ecotecture of Olympus Mons represents a fresh start for elephants."
According to the scientists who have raised her from infancy, Ms. Risingdawn was always the most precocious of their elephant charges. "Titus loves to explore," said Dr. Killian Kelly. "She would take off for days, right to the fringe of the grasslands. She craves knowledge and reads for hours every day, practically anything. I think she'll go far." According to Dr. Kelly, several of Ms. Risingdawn's brothers and sisters may soon be ready for the Deckard-Bowman. "They need to work on their social skills and empathic reasoning, but their logic and scientific skills are impeccable and many are displaying significant artistic talent. They're excited about it. I have plenty who want to try it already; maybe it's vanity, but I want all of my calves to pass on the first try. I want the world to see that they're just as smart and social as anyone else."
Titus Tembe Risingdawn has thus far showed little interest in media attention, and released only a few brief remarks. "I wish to be a bridge between the history of elephants on Earth and the future of elephants on Mars," she stated in as video released by the Martian Savanna project. "I am eager to begin my studies, and am planning to pursue the study of history. I wish to create a new history, one told from the elephant perspective; not an indictment of humanity for crimes against us, but a means of healing the terrible rift between our two peoples. I wish to help my brothers and sisters on Earth to thrive and to find a way past their suffering."
"The remaining elephant communities on Earth are demoralized and hemmed in," stated project head Dr. Sibry Thorne in an audio interview, "despite strenuous efforts to provide them with sufficient range and habitat. It is believed that the entire branch of the tree of life may be gone within a few generations. Uplift has, if anything, made the problem worse; the elephants have not dealt well with full understanding of the atrocities committed against their kind in ages past. Even now, rogue elephant terrorist attacks are causing tension between elephant and human communities on Earth, and elephant suicide rates are skyrocketing. The ecotecture of Olympus Mons represents a fresh start for elephants."
According to the scientists who have raised her from infancy, Ms. Risingdawn was always the most precocious of their elephant charges. "Titus loves to explore," said Dr. Killian Kelly. "She would take off for days, right to the fringe of the grasslands. She craves knowledge and reads for hours every day, practically anything. I think she'll go far." According to Dr. Kelly, several of Ms. Risingdawn's brothers and sisters may soon be ready for the Deckard-Bowman. "They need to work on their social skills and empathic reasoning, but their logic and scientific skills are impeccable and many are displaying significant artistic talent. They're excited about it. I have plenty who want to try it already; maybe it's vanity, but I want all of my calves to pass on the first try. I want the world to see that they're just as smart and social as anyone else."
Titus Tembe Risingdawn has thus far showed little interest in media attention, and released only a few brief remarks. "I wish to be a bridge between the history of elephants on Earth and the future of elephants on Mars," she stated in as video released by the Martian Savanna project. "I am eager to begin my studies, and am planning to pursue the study of history. I wish to create a new history, one told from the elephant perspective; not an indictment of humanity for crimes against us, but a means of healing the terrible rift between our two peoples. I wish to help my brothers and sisters on Earth to thrive and to find a way past their suffering."
Parliament Debates Raising Population Limit
Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Earth -- 2 Apr. 2057: The all-parties Committee on Sustainable Growth and Development tendered its report this day, arguing before the Trapezoid that the maximum number of biologicals living on Earth should be raised by 5 million. Reasons given for this recommendation include the easing of environmental pressures due to the unexpected success of the Department of Ecological Reclamation's various programs and the perceived need to encourage economic growth.
The committe's chair, Dr. Pangyric Apoptosis, Technocratic elector for LEO-Constellation, appealed directly to eir party to look beyond "the ingrained distaste of many for tampering with the population control programme," stating that "according to our ecological scientists the planet can easily support another few million bodies, and acording to our economists we're in sore need of them." Dr. Apoptosis is eirself an ecologist of some note, and has long been an advocate of revisiting the population-control debate. E has published a number of papers in respected journals claiming to demonstrate that the models on which the original population-limit statutes were drafted could be adjusted based on recent advances in ecotecture and the fine-tuning of regional projects to take advantage of more accurate climatic modelling.
The mood of the chamber was not receptive to the proposal, with scathing criticisms coming from the down-wing parties, most particularly the Naturists. Gerhard Steiner, Naturist elector for Europa-Germania, accused the committee of "advocating a return to the dark ages of environmental degradation and unchecked human appetites"; Taglan Valdur, Naturist elector for Australasia-New Zealand, went even further, claiming that the committe's report condoned "ecocide" and "the rape of Mother Nature". Others were more measured in their criticism, but not less staunch in their opposition. Cateryn Starbreeze, Communitarian elector for Cascadia-Nevada, spoke strongly against "this attempt by an elitist Spacer who's never even set foot on Earth to dictate the way in which we manage our population and our delicate ecosystem," stating categorically that "Nevada has no room for more bodies. The Earth has no room!" Askala Hailu, Traditionalist elector for Rift Valley-Ethiopia, stated that she would "unconditionally oppose any attempt to raise the population limit," and that "the ecosystem of our State is bruised and battered enough as it is without her being subject to further indignity. Simply let her be." Rogbert Geddario, Traditionalist elector for Atlantica-Atlantis, stated dismissively that "there's plenty of room in the outer system for anyone who wants to raise a big family. Let them move out there." The last comment drew audible boos from the sections of the chamber seating the members for the Jovian complex and the Saturnine Confederacy.
There was little in the way of opposing debate, with only a few potshots from Libertarians like elector Tanas Pietrelo of FAP-Vesta, who condemned the "principle of ecological health over familial freedom, on which the maintenance of the population control statute depends," and elector Radical Mu of TAD-Enchiridon, who referred to those speaking against the proposal "Deepgreen fundamentalists" and "anti-scientific ignoramuses who refuse to see the evidence placed right in front of their faces". However, the simple factual arguments put forward by Dr. Apoptosis and the committee seemed to have swayed much of the chamber; in a narrow 310-303 vote, the chamber has chosen to send the recommendation on to the Senate to be drafted as an amendment to the Terran Sustainable Population Act.
Kingston Braithwaite, communication director of the anti-population control advocacy group Freedom to Grow, posted a series of tweets hailing the decision as "a step in the right direction, for Earth and for Democracy ... the freedom to create offspring and raise a family is of the utmost importance and we must see respect for it restored ... healing Earth's environment needs innovation and economic growth, not control by protectionist bureaucrats and deepgreen eco-fascists." Mr. Braithwaite is the former Libertarian elector for LEO-Constellation and the prime mover behind the previous administration's ill-fated attempt to have the Sustainable Population Act repealed entirely.
The committe's chair, Dr. Pangyric Apoptosis, Technocratic elector for LEO-Constellation, appealed directly to eir party to look beyond "the ingrained distaste of many for tampering with the population control programme," stating that "according to our ecological scientists the planet can easily support another few million bodies, and acording to our economists we're in sore need of them." Dr. Apoptosis is eirself an ecologist of some note, and has long been an advocate of revisiting the population-control debate. E has published a number of papers in respected journals claiming to demonstrate that the models on which the original population-limit statutes were drafted could be adjusted based on recent advances in ecotecture and the fine-tuning of regional projects to take advantage of more accurate climatic modelling.
The mood of the chamber was not receptive to the proposal, with scathing criticisms coming from the down-wing parties, most particularly the Naturists. Gerhard Steiner, Naturist elector for Europa-Germania, accused the committee of "advocating a return to the dark ages of environmental degradation and unchecked human appetites"; Taglan Valdur, Naturist elector for Australasia-New Zealand, went even further, claiming that the committe's report condoned "ecocide" and "the rape of Mother Nature". Others were more measured in their criticism, but not less staunch in their opposition. Cateryn Starbreeze, Communitarian elector for Cascadia-Nevada, spoke strongly against "this attempt by an elitist Spacer who's never even set foot on Earth to dictate the way in which we manage our population and our delicate ecosystem," stating categorically that "Nevada has no room for more bodies. The Earth has no room!" Askala Hailu, Traditionalist elector for Rift Valley-Ethiopia, stated that she would "unconditionally oppose any attempt to raise the population limit," and that "the ecosystem of our State is bruised and battered enough as it is without her being subject to further indignity. Simply let her be." Rogbert Geddario, Traditionalist elector for Atlantica-Atlantis, stated dismissively that "there's plenty of room in the outer system for anyone who wants to raise a big family. Let them move out there." The last comment drew audible boos from the sections of the chamber seating the members for the Jovian complex and the Saturnine Confederacy.
There was little in the way of opposing debate, with only a few potshots from Libertarians like elector Tanas Pietrelo of FAP-Vesta, who condemned the "principle of ecological health over familial freedom, on which the maintenance of the population control statute depends," and elector Radical Mu of TAD-Enchiridon, who referred to those speaking against the proposal "Deepgreen fundamentalists" and "anti-scientific ignoramuses who refuse to see the evidence placed right in front of their faces". However, the simple factual arguments put forward by Dr. Apoptosis and the committee seemed to have swayed much of the chamber; in a narrow 310-303 vote, the chamber has chosen to send the recommendation on to the Senate to be drafted as an amendment to the Terran Sustainable Population Act.
Kingston Braithwaite, communication director of the anti-population control advocacy group Freedom to Grow, posted a series of tweets hailing the decision as "a step in the right direction, for Earth and for Democracy ... the freedom to create offspring and raise a family is of the utmost importance and we must see respect for it restored ... healing Earth's environment needs innovation and economic growth, not control by protectionist bureaucrats and deepgreen eco-fascists." Mr. Braithwaite is the former Libertarian elector for LEO-Constellation and the prime mover behind the previous administration's ill-fated attempt to have the Sustainable Population Act repealed entirely.
Pranks Cause Havoc, Deaths
Enchiridion, Trojans Administrative District, Jupiter Space -- 1 Apr. 2057: Another April Fools Day has come and gone, leaving in its wake plenty of chaos and destruction. Among the highlights of this year's tomfoolery:
- 14 high-frequency traders committed suicide by self-deletion when a spoofing campaign believed to be the work of Anonymous briefly replaced the InterPlan Index stock ticker broadcast with a false datastream showing a catastrophic market collapse. A run of panic selling touched off by the prank destroyed several dozen credits worth of stock value before the Bureau of Market Stabilization's counterweight traders were able to step in.
- A flash mob in Zion, organized by professional anti-religious-discrimination protesters in response to reports that the Trapezoid had voted to classify the Unorthodox Eschatological Chrislemite Bretheren as a proscribed hate group, ran riot and caused several centicredits worth of property damage.
- A program which crawled social network profiles and sent several thousand anonymous e-mails to users claiming that their romantic partners were cheating on them with their best friends is believed to be directly responsible for hundreds of assaults and at least 3 murders.
- A series of large explosions in the city of Saskatoon, Great Plains was caused by a misfire in a pyrotechnic setup which was designed by a local resident to convince neighbours that the city was under attack. Emergency services at first refused to respond to reports of explosions, believing the reports to be a prank. Several houses were destroyed by the resulting fire.
Empathy Pills Pulled
Mellotron, Magnificat, Venus -- 31 Mar. 2057: Utilitran, a popular empathogen, has been ordered removed from the market by the Bureau of Alterant Regulation after a medical paper was published last week showing a link between the drug and increased rates of involuntary neurochemical alteration. The paper, published in the Proceedings of the Venusian Medical Society by Dr. Flagen Flagenflan of the Siddiqui Institute for the Study of Mood Disorders, claimed that use of Utilitran predicted a 41% increase in incidences of bipolar disorder and religious manias in people with no history of such symptoms or desire to experience them.
Utilitran is commonly prescribed to patients coping with sociopathic disorders or other difficulties in processing feelings of empathy and is frequently recommended as an empathogen for use in judicial medical interventions. There is also a minor trend in recreational use of the drug by people desiring to increase their general level of empathy, particularly those belonging to traditional religions such as Chrislamity and Wicca. Doctors across the system are scrambling to get their hands on replacement empathogens, and pharmaceutical manufacturers are ramping up production of sister alterants such as Moralus, Dorite, and Samariam.
There have been a few protests of this move, largely by clinicians who say that Utilitran is simply the most effective empathogen on the market. "Moralus and the rest don't work nearly as well for my patients," tweeted Dr. Millman Pithwick, a private Mellotron psychiatric practitioner. But, startlingly, a sharp criticism has also come from the Venusian Neurochemical Diversity Coalition. In a press release, the Coalition stated that Utilitran is used by many people to enhance their efforts to become bipolar via transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques. The coalition accused Dr. Flagenflan and the Siddiqui institute of 'neuronormative' prejudice. "The Siddiqui institute conducts plenty of research on how to stop people from experiencing bipolarity, but none whatsoever in helping them to achieve it," reads the press release. "It is unconscionable to take away one of the few demonstrated techniques by which people who desire to experience the exquisite creativity or energy of a manic high can reach that goal."
"Utilitran has been withdrawn until further testing can definitively establish the cause of these symptoms," said Bureau of Alterant Regulation spokesperson Gibbley Wambone at a press conference earlier today. "This is not intended as a slight against those who use empathogens, nor against those who choose to live their lives in a state of bipolarity. It is every person's right to alter their own neurochemistry as they see fit, to experience increased empathy, manic and depressive states, or any other neurological condition they choose; but this right must be tempered by caution and thorough knowledge of every drug's effect on personality, perceptions and behaviour."
PhiCor, the makers of Utilitran, have taken a vicious beating in the markets this day, seeing their stock drop 562 millicredits on the InterPlan Index. Meanwhile, competitor companies DynaVax, GenoTech, and VaxiPharm, which manufacture competing empathogens, have seen their stock rise significantly. In response to requests for comment, PhiCor representatives released a brief e-mail stating that the company is cooperating fully in the recall and is eager to further research the findings.
Utilitran is commonly prescribed to patients coping with sociopathic disorders or other difficulties in processing feelings of empathy and is frequently recommended as an empathogen for use in judicial medical interventions. There is also a minor trend in recreational use of the drug by people desiring to increase their general level of empathy, particularly those belonging to traditional religions such as Chrislamity and Wicca. Doctors across the system are scrambling to get their hands on replacement empathogens, and pharmaceutical manufacturers are ramping up production of sister alterants such as Moralus, Dorite, and Samariam.
There have been a few protests of this move, largely by clinicians who say that Utilitran is simply the most effective empathogen on the market. "Moralus and the rest don't work nearly as well for my patients," tweeted Dr. Millman Pithwick, a private Mellotron psychiatric practitioner. But, startlingly, a sharp criticism has also come from the Venusian Neurochemical Diversity Coalition. In a press release, the Coalition stated that Utilitran is used by many people to enhance their efforts to become bipolar via transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques. The coalition accused Dr. Flagenflan and the Siddiqui institute of 'neuronormative' prejudice. "The Siddiqui institute conducts plenty of research on how to stop people from experiencing bipolarity, but none whatsoever in helping them to achieve it," reads the press release. "It is unconscionable to take away one of the few demonstrated techniques by which people who desire to experience the exquisite creativity or energy of a manic high can reach that goal."
"Utilitran has been withdrawn until further testing can definitively establish the cause of these symptoms," said Bureau of Alterant Regulation spokesperson Gibbley Wambone at a press conference earlier today. "This is not intended as a slight against those who use empathogens, nor against those who choose to live their lives in a state of bipolarity. It is every person's right to alter their own neurochemistry as they see fit, to experience increased empathy, manic and depressive states, or any other neurological condition they choose; but this right must be tempered by caution and thorough knowledge of every drug's effect on personality, perceptions and behaviour."
PhiCor, the makers of Utilitran, have taken a vicious beating in the markets this day, seeing their stock drop 562 millicredits on the InterPlan Index. Meanwhile, competitor companies DynaVax, GenoTech, and VaxiPharm, which manufacture competing empathogens, have seen their stock rise significantly. In response to requests for comment, PhiCor representatives released a brief e-mail stating that the company is cooperating fully in the recall and is eager to further research the findings.
Jobs Down, Growth Up, Inequality Decreasing: InterBank
New Fort Knox Dome, Moonbase Alpha, Colonial Lunar Administrative Zone -- 30 Mar. 2057: The Alliance central bank this day released its annual report on the state of the stellar economy. Among the encouraging signs: overall economic growth is up by 0.47% over last year.
However, according to the report, unemployment has increased by 1.2%, significantly higher than last year's projection. "The major factor here," said Dr. Bickner Haegelsten, an economist at Carrington University, "is the increase of what we call 'metacognitive productivity enhancement' -- that is, the ability of a synthetic or a hypercortical or someone with major neuro-enhancements to perform jobs more efficiently. One person takes a position where otherwise two or three would be employed." The creep of unemployment has led to increases in demand for government assistance programs such as Employment Assurance and Social Wage, as well as longer waiting lists for vocational training and elective augmentation procedures. "The budget is under a strain, and InterBank is getting nervous about keeping inflation under control," warns Dr. Haegelsten. "I see rising taxes in our future."
The report shows the centres of economic activity continuing to shift out into the FAP, the Jovian complex and the Saturnine Confederacy, with the growth of the inner system slowing. Sentiment analysis of the twitter feeds of economic analysts policy-makers shows strong belief in the connection between the individualistic, laissez-faire ethos of the Libertarian-dominated outer system and the heavily-regulated, Technocratic-leaning Earth-Mars-Venus triumvirate. Dr. Haegelsten cautions skepticism on this point. "Historically, vibrant economies create winners, and winners dislike taxes and regulations. The strengthening of Libertarian ideology in the outsystem is probably a response to rather than a driver of their increasing growth, which I believe is caused primarily by increased immigration and population density."
Significantly, despite rising unemployment, real wages have held steady and the system-wide Gini Coefficient in incomes has dropped by 0.03, welcome news for the lower socio-economic classes. The most robust growth is occurring in the Digital Services, Nanofacturing, Resource Processing, and Entertainment sectors.
Economic Hot Spots
However, according to the report, unemployment has increased by 1.2%, significantly higher than last year's projection. "The major factor here," said Dr. Bickner Haegelsten, an economist at Carrington University, "is the increase of what we call 'metacognitive productivity enhancement' -- that is, the ability of a synthetic or a hypercortical or someone with major neuro-enhancements to perform jobs more efficiently. One person takes a position where otherwise two or three would be employed." The creep of unemployment has led to increases in demand for government assistance programs such as Employment Assurance and Social Wage, as well as longer waiting lists for vocational training and elective augmentation procedures. "The budget is under a strain, and InterBank is getting nervous about keeping inflation under control," warns Dr. Haegelsten. "I see rising taxes in our future."
The report shows the centres of economic activity continuing to shift out into the FAP, the Jovian complex and the Saturnine Confederacy, with the growth of the inner system slowing. Sentiment analysis of the twitter feeds of economic analysts policy-makers shows strong belief in the connection between the individualistic, laissez-faire ethos of the Libertarian-dominated outer system and the heavily-regulated, Technocratic-leaning Earth-Mars-Venus triumvirate. Dr. Haegelsten cautions skepticism on this point. "Historically, vibrant economies create winners, and winners dislike taxes and regulations. The strengthening of Libertarian ideology in the outsystem is probably a response to rather than a driver of their increasing growth, which I believe is caused primarily by increased immigration and population density."
Significantly, despite rising unemployment, real wages have held steady and the system-wide Gini Coefficient in incomes has dropped by 0.03, welcome news for the lower socio-economic classes. The most robust growth is occurring in the Digital Services, Nanofacturing, Resource Processing, and Entertainment sectors.
Economic Hot Spots
- The jobs capital of the system is Cleveland Station, orbiting Io, which has seen an influx of wage-labour seekers responding to Pompeii Mining's announcement of a major new project. The station has had to add a third toroid to handle the load; rents and food prices are rising quickly.
- Chronically high unemployment in the city of Mangala in Lowell, Mars has been reduced by heavy migration from the city into other major urban centres, encouraged by the city's audacious 'emigration subsidy'. The population of Mangala has dropped by over 10% in 2056.
- Spurred by the surging success of the massive reforestation program and related wild-gathered food, medicinal and timber industries, rapid and by all accounts sustainable economic growth has made Timbuktu, in the Sahara district of Earth, one of the planet's few success stories.
Digital Services Restored in Lagrange
Anhedonia Station, Lagrange Orbital Colonial Authority -- 29 Mar. 2057: A two-week digital services strike which almost shut down the economy of the L5 cluster has ended this day with a negotiated settlement between an Omnicor Hypercorp LLC. labour-relations team and the indigenous boutique union of a local Infomatic franchise. The new contract raises wages, shortens required shifts, establishes an arbitration process for disputes and employee discipline, and forbids 'company store' rules which required indentured softworkers to purchase relaxation programming from Omnicor-owned services at extortionate rates, a practice which labour analysts claim amounts to debt slavery.
The cluster-wide strike, organized by the Post-Industrial Workers of the Web Local 32986, was declared illegal by the LOCA Concilium, but could not be stopped despite vigorous actions by the district Department of Cyberlaw Enforcement. "The simple truth," stated PWW spokesperson Tangent Polynomial in a press release late today, "is that there is no legally enforceable way of making people work who don't want to. They managed to get enough scabs in from the virtual slums on Earth to get back some basic functionality, but most digital services are not, contrary to popular belief, something that just any data ghost or backfilled partial can provide. Hundreds of our comrades were rounded up into sandboxes and suspended with null input, but they couldn't be broken. Unless the fascists finally resort to direct mind editing, summary deletion or torturescapes, nothing they do can threaten us. The people united can never be defeated!"
Residents are breathing a sigh of relief today as they regain their ability to easily transact business, search the hyperlayer, charter vehicles, and give orders to their houses and workplaces. Varlem Thrush, the newly-elected head of the Infomatic shop union, has released a statement thanking the PWW for their assistance. "I won't deny that I'm here because I'm not good with money," stated Vr. Thrush, "but all I wanted is a chance to work my debt off honestly and live a decent life. We never imagined that we could take on a big company like Omnicor, but with the Wobblies on our side we did it."
The PWW has now called for an investigation into allegations of personhood rights abuses at the Anhedonia Infomatic shop. Representatives of Omnicor and of the LOCA government did not respond to requests for comment.
The cluster-wide strike, organized by the Post-Industrial Workers of the Web Local 32986, was declared illegal by the LOCA Concilium, but could not be stopped despite vigorous actions by the district Department of Cyberlaw Enforcement. "The simple truth," stated PWW spokesperson Tangent Polynomial in a press release late today, "is that there is no legally enforceable way of making people work who don't want to. They managed to get enough scabs in from the virtual slums on Earth to get back some basic functionality, but most digital services are not, contrary to popular belief, something that just any data ghost or backfilled partial can provide. Hundreds of our comrades were rounded up into sandboxes and suspended with null input, but they couldn't be broken. Unless the fascists finally resort to direct mind editing, summary deletion or torturescapes, nothing they do can threaten us. The people united can never be defeated!"
Residents are breathing a sigh of relief today as they regain their ability to easily transact business, search the hyperlayer, charter vehicles, and give orders to their houses and workplaces. Varlem Thrush, the newly-elected head of the Infomatic shop union, has released a statement thanking the PWW for their assistance. "I won't deny that I'm here because I'm not good with money," stated Vr. Thrush, "but all I wanted is a chance to work my debt off honestly and live a decent life. We never imagined that we could take on a big company like Omnicor, but with the Wobblies on our side we did it."
The PWW has now called for an investigation into allegations of personhood rights abuses at the Anhedonia Infomatic shop. Representatives of Omnicor and of the LOCA government did not respond to requests for comment.
Amazonia Wins Terran Century Championship
Sao Paulo, Amazonia, Earth -- 28 Mar. 2057: After a gruelling 3-day battle, The Sao Paulo Caimans have defeated the Krasnoyarsk Tigers and taken the Golden Helm in the championship game of the Terran World Century League. The victorious Caimans will now go on to represent Earth in the Interplanetary Century League, to be held in Valles Marineris later this year. The victory came as a surprise to many, as the disciplined and ruthless army from Trans-Arctica were the favourites to win this year.
"The Caimans put in a really stellar performance under Legate Marcao Barros," said sports commentator Glaga Blagenflan after the match. "Their formation discipline was tight, the communication was quick and efficient, and they just reacted faster to the situation on the ground. Their Legionaries clearly went into this with high morale and the will to win. In my opinion, Krasnoyarsk got too confident. They seemed to think that their unbroken winning streak made them unstoppable; that because of their troubles early on and throughout the tournament, Sao Paulo wasn't really a serious opponent. They learned better on the field today."
The end came quickly after a masterful flanking maneuver by Centurion Jesus Goncalves overwhelmed the Krasnoyarsk wedge formation and broke their principes maniples. Krasnoyarsk Legate Oleg Petrovich spoke to media after the match, congratulating his opposite number. "I am honoured to have come up against such a skilled group of fighters and to be represented by them on Mars. We fought to the best of our ability and they have simply bettered us. I congratulate Legate Barros and wish him well in the Interplanetary. I am sure he will make Earth proud." For his part, Legate Barros wanted the world to know that the victory was not his alone. "Many good fighters of Sao Paulo displayed great skill, drive, and heart on the field in this contest," he said before clasping arms with Petrovich.
"The Caimans put in a really stellar performance under Legate Marcao Barros," said sports commentator Glaga Blagenflan after the match. "Their formation discipline was tight, the communication was quick and efficient, and they just reacted faster to the situation on the ground. Their Legionaries clearly went into this with high morale and the will to win. In my opinion, Krasnoyarsk got too confident. They seemed to think that their unbroken winning streak made them unstoppable; that because of their troubles early on and throughout the tournament, Sao Paulo wasn't really a serious opponent. They learned better on the field today."
The end came quickly after a masterful flanking maneuver by Centurion Jesus Goncalves overwhelmed the Krasnoyarsk wedge formation and broke their principes maniples. Krasnoyarsk Legate Oleg Petrovich spoke to media after the match, congratulating his opposite number. "I am honoured to have come up against such a skilled group of fighters and to be represented by them on Mars. We fought to the best of our ability and they have simply bettered us. I congratulate Legate Barros and wish him well in the Interplanetary. I am sure he will make Earth proud." For his part, Legate Barros wanted the world to know that the victory was not his alone. "Many good fighters of Sao Paulo displayed great skill, drive, and heart on the field in this contest," he said before clasping arms with Petrovich.
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