Volume 5

All the news that's fit to print, first!
From the Editor's Desk
Still no Keldon or Ska'ari women risque enough to submit photos. If this continues, I'll have to get into my pilots gear (that would be nothing) and become the poster boy. If you don't want to see that, have your wife, girlfriend, mistress, daughter, send in her picture.



General News
Empire Scientists have done it again! Diligent weapons researchers have changed the missile configuration enough so that Empire produced missiles can no longer be mounted on Federation ships. Unfortunately a new Hawk-class ship appears to have been developed by the Federation. One more target to add to your sensors.
A new threat has appeared in the universe, but so far it has not made any incursions into Empire Space. A mysterious Shadow, that apparently no weapons can damage, first appeared in Nex003. It has since disappeared and mysteriously reappeared across the galaxy in Nebul.

Pirate Activity
Revenant Squadron appears to have disbanded, only Solomar remains. Apparently the pirate band could not hold it together without their leader Vespacian. Ender and Scrotor McGrew are now terrorizing Pardusians on their own.
Doombringer has been rampaging, and is now the 2nd most prolific killer in the Universe. May this scum be soon brought to his knees.


New Buildings and Demolitions
Zamith has apparently had it's Z population contained by individuals from Famous Pirate, Quinto Imperiao and TSO as a "training facility". Word is the sector is closed to all others.
Count Archeron, of CASH infamy, was aghast when the Circle of Enlightened charged into his drug nook and destroyed his drug station and raided many others. Apparently a gentlemen's agreement was breeched regarding advance notice of hostilities. Archeron now seeks revenge. The bigger question would be why the Circle of Enlightened would have needed or been granted access to a drug nook.


Alliance News
A new alliance, Quietscheente has been formed. No word yet on what they are about, but they have aligned themselves with the Emperor, so hopefully some good comes of it.
Leadership of the Imperial Paladins has been passed to Dada. May he lead them to continued prosperity


Interviews
This weeks interview was with Baart of M.E.R.C., I couldn't catch up with him in person, but he was gracious enough to take time to answer my questions

MG> So why did you leave P.o.t.w.o.r.?

Baart> First of all I'd like to point out, that it wasn't an easy decision. It was POTWOR,
where I spent the first years of my career as a pilot, climbing up ranks in the empire. During that time POTWOR was seriously weakened after "the Frank Black incident" and an easy prey for attacks by pirates. I still remember trembling in fear at the helm of my spectre, when Orsan, Xarax and Xump wreaked havoc on us. I decided, that I won't feel this way ever again and from that moment I started to concentrate on developing my fighting skills. Then, I started to feel, that the life i lived lacks something. Whether you call this a lust for adventure, or a need to prove oneself as a fighter is irrelevant now. I didn't want to make POTWOR responsible for my actions and thus I left.

MG> Why not go pirate like your alliance mates did (P.o.t.w.o.r. and M.E.R.C.)?

Baart> Piracy and preying on the meek is against my personal code.

MG> Why has M.E.R.C. aligned itself with the Empire? You don't fight for the Emperor, so why do it?

Baart> MERC is an alliance consisting of imperial pilots. Imperial beaureaucrats decided, that we meet all the requirements. Making the obvious thing official was just a formality. Furthermore, our reasoning for declaration of Private Conflict on Ruby legion was found valid too and since Private Conflicts can only be declared between alliances of the same alignment, it was a neccessity.

MG> Rumour has it sparring is the major activity in MERC, was this true?

Baart> Improvement of fighting skills has always been a key goal of all MERC pilots, I don't deny that. Only the strongest can play a vital role in the universe as it is today.

MG> How do you hone your skills now?

Baart> Fighting with the Z menace the Federation allowed to escape and roam free in the universe.

MG> Who's the biggest name you've killed?

Baart> Propably Alexm of Ruby Legion, although I assisted in sending Romanu, formerly of Scorpion Guard to his homeworld too.

MG>What kind of ties do you have with Ye Olde Candy Lords?

Baart> YOCL is lead by an old firnd of mine from the POTWOR times, Thornal Malat, former member of MERC, who had to leave us, because he was relieved from his durty in the empire. That's all.

MG> What goes on in Paan?

Baart> Paan is our base of operations and producing goods required by the trade of a mercenary. Facilities producing commodities, production of which, is listed as illegal in the empire are officially owned by third parties settled in the neutral zone. Usage of same is not prohibited by imperial officials.

MG> Any plans to end your conflict with Ruby Legion?

Baart> Not anytime soon. Ruby Legion tried to force their, obviously tainted, rules on MERC and we are not to be pushed around easily.

MG> Your numbers have dwindled, any plans to bolster your ranks with some fresh blood?

Baart> No. MERC is not recruiting at the moment.

MG> Anything else you would like to add, or like the public to know?

Baart> Strength doesn't lie in numbers but in the dedication to pursue one's goals.


Next week we interview...You'll have to read to find out.