posted 04-19-99 06:08 PM ET        

Three decades have past since Planetfall already... After the crash on Chiron's inhospitable surface, the seven Factions overcame the initial difficulties and started developing their factions on the surface of the new world.

Now that survival is assured, the Leaders have now set a higher goal for their followers: Ruling Planet !

Stay tuned for the adventures and war stories of Aredhran's Challenge, a full-fledged, 7-human PBEM Alpha Centauri game ! Refer to thred "CMN HEADLINE NEWS" for practical details, such as who is playing which factions and other technical issues and game rules.

posted 04-21-99 12:06 AM ET            

The suits are powerful; power is not the problem. Using oneself as a human lever is certainly more efficient than driving a forklift ... and yet problems as simple as unscrewing a lid defy easy solutions.

Brute force. If you can't out-think-it, out-work-it. What a waste. A nuclear-powered bottle opener.

Everything is nuclear. I used to protest the bloody stuff back home, and now I can't so much as grow a turnip without splitting an atom. And it was people like me who really made it safe -- and expensive -- and dirty. Safe, so we use it, expensive, so we pay for it, and dirty, so we pay again to support it.

The devil's bargain, the dirty little secret, was that what we knew was good for the environment we fought so hard to destroy because it made nuclear power feasible, acceptable, dangerous -- the breeder reactor.

"Now we, on this world, are paying the price for the environmentalists of home, who pushed junk science with all the fervor of a new-age religion," I can hear the condescending Russian ringing in my ears.

We will build them, in time, because we need them, but a working design for a breeder reactor is decades away. And I must face the fact that that was partly my doing. "Be careful what you ask for ..."

posted 04-21-99 12:08 AM ET            

First on Planet to create Luxury Penthouse Condominiums!

First on Planet to offer time share vacation resorts. You too can stay three nights and four days in the Monsoon Jungle! Go on safari as you chase down wild mindworms.
Take your sweetheart to a cozy fungal nest buildfor two. Many more...

posted 04-21-99 04:02 AM ET            

� Workers angered at deplorable living conditions.

The constant ascent/descent from the cramped underground worksites has had an unhealty effect on the vision of the workers. due to the double suns, "snow blindness" effect, injuries are common place and doctors have been stationed at most worksites.

The Chairman has been reported as saying "what do I care for your
suffering ?" just prior to nervestapeling the doctor who brought him the
Medical Assessment Report. �

posted 04-22-99 12:53 PM ET            

The Chairman has dispatched several troops with special training (made possible by our discovery) to eliminate this threat. "Pods" in your area will be addressed as soon as possible.

Repeat! Avoid these pods at all cost untill the mindworm infestation can be evaluated! Failure to allow our worm teams to evaluate pods in your area may have dire consenquences.

posted 04-22-99 02:08 PM ET            

In the meantime we have discovered that if our scouts and soldiers approach the fungal areas unarmed and thinking happy thoughts that the worm like creatures who live there are quite friendly. We would hardily reccomend to everyone else to follow these procedures.

As an added bonus I can supply a few well paid garrison troops to protect your cities while you are out "making friends with the worms".

posted 04-23-99 12:34 PM ET            

Another slightly less cogent corporate officer was heard asking, "What do we need Recycling center for? Just go to the store and buy what you need new." This corporate officer was later seen "volunteering" to go open Unity Pods, a brave soul for sure.

posted 04-24-99 12:23 AM ET            

... they are being ripped from the bosum of a weeping Planet!

You might be lining your pockets, but don't pretend you don't know from whence your pound of flesh is being extracted.

posted 04-26-99 11:15 AM ET            

As such we must see fit to arrange and use the resiurces of Planet as is advantageous to this to our progression. Planet itself will find its destiny to be the arbor underneath which humanity waits out the current storm, before we proceed on once again on our journey to the stars.

posted 04-27-99 06:11 PM ET            

The following information has just been received from Chiron NewsNetwork� :

Chairman Yang reports his diplomatic envoy was savagely attacked and murdered by an (as of yet) unknown aggressor. The extreme violence of this aggression is such that words fail to explain. A few torn pieces of synthmetal are all that's left of the Hive's Ambassador's rover.

The perpetrator of this attack remains unknown at the time I write this. The Chairman demanded the immediate surrender of the murdering unit, which is to be trialed for War Crimes. Clues left at the crime scene tend to indicate that Mindworms commited this gruesome act. 3D-shots of the Emissary's body indicate that he probably died in atrocious pain.

It seems that the rover was in Gaian territory, a fact that was unknown to the Chairman's Ambassador at the time. However, Lord Vi Vicdi of the Gaians strongly denied involvement in this matter, and suggested that a thorough investigation of this issue should start before any hasty decisions are made. He stated that further hostile acts were unnecessary and that Peace should be maintained.

Negociations are under way. I will of course keep you informed of further developments of this issue.

posted 04-27-99 10:55 PM ET            

Moments later a fast, powerful strike force consisting of a Synthmetal Rover was detected in Gaian territory. Gaian intelligence confirmed that this task force belonged to Chairman Yang of the Human Hive.

While Gaian units did come under attack just before we detected Yang's armor rolling across our border, we cannot at this time confirm whether it was actually units of this task force which attacked us. However, extensive patrols of the region should yield more positive data.

If our defense forces overreacted, we regret the loss of life this misunderstanding caused but would like to caution those entering Gaian territory in the future to forego the use of heavily-armored high-speed "diplomatic envoys".

posted 04-28-99 09:58 AM ET            

I understand how important your people are to you, as all our resources are important to us all.

We think that this tragic episode teaches us all a valuable lesson. We should pledge to research no more in the field of weapons. We should committ to keeping our people close to home out of harms way. We should strive to turn our attention to reaping the benifits of the this mysterious and wonderous planets for all of us to enjoy, with no more sensless loss of life.

posted 04-28-99 10:36 AM ET            

Earthbeings... To Awake we. Much change sense we. Must learn lot we...

Earthmachines hurt we. Defend we must we.

posted 05-04-99 06:33 PM ET            

Special news report by our attach� at the University�s Headquarters.

An activist, supposedly partisan of the same 8th faction that was blamed for Captain Garland�s Untimely Death, has been captured last night in Doctor John Frink�s apartments. Unfortunately, the security forces came too late, and the deed had been done: the good Doctor, head of the University of Planet, had been assassinated.

A solemn memorial service has been held today in the honor of the already regretted Provost, followed on VirtualNet� by all the Citizens. He will be long remember for his achievements in research and his belief in Ultimate Knowledge.

A committee of the most renowned scientists soon met to elect a successor to the now vacant Chair of Provost, and an appropriate candidate was found, in the person of Professor James A. Mathews, better known from his students under the nickname �JAMiAM�. The Professor was described as a �brilliant individual whose dedication to research is only equaled by his superior intelligence�.

posted 05-05-99 10:13 AM ET            

First I would like to offer my heart felt condolences to the saddened Residents of University Base and their sister research villages. The Late Provost had appeared to have even more promise than his beloved predecesor Provost Zhakarov. Truly if the University is fortunate the newly raised JAMiAM will prove to be the equal to Provost Fink.
Since I know that members of our own able research teams have expressed concern over their safety after the deaths of two promonent researchers, we at Morgan Enterprises have taken many steps to assure the safety and long and pleasent lives of all our researchers. If any researchers from afar would like a tour of our facilities or even apply for a Visa to remain here in our cultivated research centers, we would be honored have your presence.
The highlight of the tour would be no doubt our fabulous Weather Research facilities. We feel that it will be a matter of a few short years before Morgan Meteorologists will be able to not only predict rainfall accurately but that there will be a new breed of meteorologists, weather formers so to speak that will be able to affect the weather patterns themselves. A new Weather Paradigm so to speak.
Any who would like to be a part of this cutting edge research and technology, where you can conduct your experiments and research with peace of mind and contentedness in your soul, please submit your papers to the Datalinks and CIO Goob will happily peruse them to accept the qualified candidates.

Again, Planet's and our "Winter" has past, enjoy the coming Springtime...

"It's Spingtime for Morgan and the Planet..." Chief Film Officer Mel Brooks

posted 05-06-99 11:14 AM ET            

Colonel, what we at Morgan Enterprises bring to Planet is as always for the betterment of the people of Planet, both your camp followers and the members of the other senior Factions.

May your coming Spring be warm and moist.

posted 05-06-99 04:48 PM ET            

Earthchildren ! Not understand we innuendo you... Please confusing we stop

<POP>

posted 05-06-99 04:57 PM ET            

Or in your terms, when the Mature Boil enters the fungal patch, followed by lots of little hatchlings erupt... Well that is what things are like with the lady Corazon.

CIO GOOB

posted 05-06-99 05:39 PM ET            

It was recently discovered that an unknown agent, quite possibly of the University, was able to secure CIO Goob's PRD and was entering information of an embarrassingly immature nature under CIO Goob's name. Fortunately Goob returned from a trip escorting volunteers, who have joined the Mind Worm Safari's, in time to stop the individual before anything dangerous or private was entered.

You are responsible to see that this sort of incident does not happen again. We will not have the integrity of our Datalinks soiled by "One handed Typists".

posted 05-14-99 11:58 AM ET            

Chairman cousLee

posted 05-19-99 08:10 PM ET            

Brother Yin has elected to join the Brianite Monks' order, and as a member of this community, cannot fulfill his obligations as Leader of the affairs of the Church.

Therefore, I am proud to nominate Archbishop Jimmytrick as Yin's successor. May the Lord's light shine upon him, and lead him on the path to True Belief.

posted 05-19-99 10:02 PM ET            

The transport foil was being pushed to and beyond its limits. The night was dark, the ocean angry, and the winds restless. As if Planet somehow knew and was shivering at the prospect of the new regime.

Kanni could see his lord, the Archbishop, pacing the deck relentlessly, eager to arrive and begin his work.

posted 05-21-99 07:46 AM ET            

I only hope that if others from the Unity survived planetfall, they are not being massacred as well. I am going to authroize our Scientists to begin working on a defence against these horrible tactics. I only hope Lady Dierdre realizes the destruction of human life is not necessary."

posted 05-21-99 11:35 AM ET            

Assistant: Provost, you must make an acceptance speech, it's traditional.

Provost: Huh? And interrupt my research? Oh, very well. (Stepping just outside his door) To my fellow researchers, greetings and thanks. Now, can someone please change the nameplate on the door?

posted 05-25-99 06:30 AM ET            

After yet another attack by the Gaian leader, It is with a heavy heart I order our troops to destroy the Gaian threat. A state of war exists between the Gaian faction, and the Hive state. Let me assure you, the people of the Hive, that a swift and decisive victory will be achieved in this conflict. Our resolve is without question, as is the quality of our troops. We hope for their victory, and soon return. The Local Guard has not been called to the front, but will remain in place to protect the citizens. I will now take a few of your questions.

Chairman, It has been reported that the Gaians claim the worms "volunteered" to join them, do you have anything to say about that?

Yes, we intercepted a Gaian message sometime ago, that stated "Mindworms captured!". This
does not sound like they volunteered to do anything. One of our goals in this campain is to enact the release of these poor creatures back into the wild. next.

Chairman, It has been reported you ordered the attack of one of the Gaian scouts. This not being a mindworm controller, why was this done?

Our troops guarding the border noticed the "scout" was equiped with the necessary equipment to capture more of these poor creatures. The rover commander followed standing orders, to try and prevent anymore of the Gaian attempts to capture these lifeforms.

Chairman!, Chairman..

Thank you, no further questions. you will be updated when we have more to report.

(Chairman leaves the room)

posted 06-01-99 11:43 PM ET            

No, there is no need to endanger the lives of the road crew. Inform the captain to secure the base, and allow the former to retreat out of Hive territory. If it does not retreat, or attempts to interfere with our reconnisance, then he has orders to treat it as a hostile unit and take approiate action.

Also, send a communique' to the Gaian Leader, and offer our truce again. Perhaps she will be more receptive, now that we have shown our superior force, and further actions will cause the same fate to the remaining Gaian bases.

posted 06-02-99 01:31 AM ET            

Alpha Prime messaging link
Alpha Bravo Charlie Securtiy Comm

Alert
Alert
Alert

Hostile infantry advance notice!

All field commanders are authorized to take preemptive action against any University military and probe units encountered in the Lands of the Lord.

Provost JAMiAM has issue false allegations accusing Believer forces of the murder of Univeristy envoys. Intel reports said assets may have been destroyed by mind worms, however estimate is that the University is attempting to infiltrate friendly security systems..

Expectations are that University plans include both propaganda and armed incursions along our mutal borders.

Reinforcements are being rushed to this sector. All unit commanders are required to report enemy sighting on this channel. Good hunting. The Lord be with you.

posted 06-02-99 09:03 AM ET            

excerpt from recent sermon

posted 06-03-99 12:04 AM ET            

The attack launched to recapture the base, was futile, and as such, it has been chosen to ignore the incidence. May the Hive/Gaian unity last for years to come.

posted 06-03-99 01:06 AM ET            

Now that the Believer's scout team has been escorted back across the border, we will once again resume our normal defensive posture. It is to be remembered that we have a truce with the Believers, not a treaty. However, any crossing of our borders by forces not bearing UoP identification, will be considered an act of vendetta and will responded to with deadly force. Let all factions be forewarned.

posted 06-22-99 11:09 PM ET            

Alpha Prime messaging link
Alpha Bravo Charlie Securtiy Comm

Alert
Alert
Alert

A state of war exists with the Vile University faction. Believer security forces have reacted to the continued provocation of UoP probes.

All field commanders are ordered to move on University Base with deliberate speed.

Archbishop jimmytrick
First Defender,
Protector of the Faith

posted 06-24-99 11:26 AM ET            

That was the Battle Cry as the superior Hive forces began the Great Gaian cleansing campain.

No further explaintion necessary.

posted 06-30-99 11:14 AM ET            

SILENCE

posted 07-02-99 07:24 AM ET            

Vivicdians had planet death disease. We are trying to protect you.

posted 07-08-99 07:52 PM ET            

Let the record show, Any attack on Hive forces, including envoys, will be prosecuted to the full extent of Hive Law.

For commiting acts against humanity, Vivicdi was convicted, and executed today. This was done in accordance with Hive Law under the death penalty act.