NationStates Jolt Archive

Official News Release from the Treznor Ministry of Information

The Emperor has declared a day of mourning for the thousand brave souls lost aboard the ill-fated colony ship Hope, assumed to be a fatality after it went twelve hours overdue in the Sslaa system. Modern Treznor FTL methods occasionally suffer navigational errors, resulting in ships ending up millions of light-years away from intended destinations, but Space Command officials say this has not happened in this case.

There have been probes that misjumped, and we've gained valuable data from them. Some of them have ended up all the way across the known universe in places we wouldn't have even known to look. It's broadened our search parameters greatly. But even so far away, we still get reports from our special communication devices that operate by the infamous principle Einstein referred to as "spooky interaction." If the Hope had ended up across the Universe, we would have heard from them. The fact that we haven't suggests that they never came out of transit. Enough time has passed that we suspect they never will. We can only pray they didn't suffer.

Emperor Treznor has ordered a new colony ship prepared, and is calling for new volunteers. To ease fears of a repeat of this event, the Emperor is in negotiation with allies to use a different means of faster-than-light travel to reach Sslaa, only 9.5 light years away.

The loss of the Hope and the noble adventurers aboard her is horrible, but not devastating. I've ordered a full investigation into the readings and records of the Hope's jump, and we're searching the stars for any hint of some sort of cosmic phenomenon between or near the space between Sol and Sslaa. If we can find any hint of unusual disturbances, we'll be able to refine our navigational methods to prevent this from ever happening again. Until that time, we will not risk another colony ship in wormhole travel. Probe exploration and military investigations will continue as normal; our need for a world suitable for colonisation is too great to allow this setback to cripple us. Our hearts and sympathies go out to the families who have lost loved ones in this disaster.

Analysts speculate massive market repercussions, as the full impact of this announcement will affect stock holdings in such space-age industrial firms as the Star Bright Corporation and Treznor Drive Systems, Ltd. Initial public response reports low confidence in the military's handling of interstellar travel and colonisation efforts. As far as the future of the Emperor's Project Exodus, we prefer to reserve opinion until the results of the government's investigation is complete.

Official News Release from the Treznor Ministry of Information

Today marked a historic moment for the Empire of Treznor. The colony ship New Hope launched from the L-7 station, bound for Sslaa VIII. The New Hope is a modified version of the Centipede class freighter purchased from the Federated Segments of Scolopendra, and fitted with recently declassified Black Knight hyperdrives. Due to limitations with the Black Knight drives, the New Hope must first travel to the outskirts of the solar system to avoid interference from strong gravity fields. Due to the vulnerability of the craft, the First and Second Fleets of the Imperial Space Navy will fly escort until the New Hope has safely made its historic jump.

Ten thousand colonists will spend the next five weeks under conventional EM drive until they reach minimum safe distance and jump to Sslaa. From there they'll spend another four weeks reducing their velocity to prepare for landing on Sslaa VIII, an ice world thought to be composed of pure water.

The New Hope was constructed in response to the loss of the original colony ship, the Hope, after a catstrophic failure of the Empire's classified "wormhole" drive system. The government has launched a thorough investigation, and astronomers have theorised of the presence of a "cosmic string fragment" passing through our region of space at the time of the Hope's launch. It is thought that this was the cause for the failure of the system. However, the government has yet to reach a conclusion, and until that time the ban on civilian travel with the wormhole drives continues.

In other news, overpopulation pressure has forced the government to impose temporary rationing in Devonton and other major cities throughout the Empire. Unless some means is found to ease population pressures, it is estimated that the infrastructure of the Empire will collapse in roughly ten years. The Ministry for Internal Affairs has assured us that they will not allow this to happen. Project Exodus, run by the Ministry for Interstellar Affairs, has hinted at an extraordinary find that will prevent disaster. Spokesmen for the Emperor declined to comment at this time.

Official News Release from the Treznor Ministry of Information

Two weeks away from the historic landing of the colony ship New Hope on Sslaa VIII, the government has announced the results of their investigation into the loss of the original vessel, the Hope.

The Empire is pleased to announce we have isolated the cause for the fault in the flight of the Hope, which resulted in the tragic loss of that vessel and all the brave souls aboard her. Our scientists, working in collaboration with technicians from Der Angst, have refined the underlying electromagnetic field output in our drive systems. In the process, our scientists uncovered a fatal flaw in the math that forms the foundation of our faster-than-light travel. This flaw, while miniscule, represented a mathematical certainty that sooner or later we would lose ships in transit. Space Command has already sent out several test probes to test the new system and report a marked improvement in travel time. More importantly, since the adjustment we have not lost any vessels. We are now ready to begin human trials with military personnel.

In light of this new event, the Empire is pleased to announce the discovery of the planet Jewel, an Earth-like world discovered by the heroic crew of the exploration vessel Hector under the command of Captain Jeffrey Hunt. While Space Command verifies the safety of the new drive calculations, the Emperor has ordered the construction of a new colony ship to begin transporting colonists to the new world. It is estimated that with government and corporate backing, colonisation will take the pressure off our population woes within ten to twenty years. We now call for loyal, adventurous spirits to step forward and volunteer to become the first colonists to settle on planet Jewel.

The Triumvirate has just been briefed on the activities of the Empire of Treznor. While we express our collective regret over the loss of your first vessel, we would like to offer any assistance you may need in facilitating your continued efforts. If you are in need of more advanced technology, we can offer you plans for our own Slipstream Drives. They are very reliable, and can theoretically travel at just under infinate velocity. Due to the nature of the drives, which use a subspace tunnel to travel through normal space at faster-than-light speeds, collision with objects in space is possible; so the limiting factor on speed is both the power input you can supply the drive with and your ability to successfully navigate obstacles.

The Empire thanks Xanthal for their remarkably generous offer. However, at this time we are confidant we have the situation under control and do not require further assistance. Should an opportunity arise for further diplomatic contact with your esteemed government, we will be in touch.

The Republic is always ready to make a new friend. Should you ever wish to contact us, please do not hesitate.