NationStates Jolt Archive

SNN Special Report
“Grand Prince grants Charter to miners”
In a move long expected by industry experts, Grand Prince Dmitri I of Skeelzania has granted a Royal Charter to the Skeelzanian Combine Advanced Resource Refiners, or SCARR. We now take you live to the Announcement Conference.

*****
*The image switches over to a shot of a large conference room. On stage, a man in business attire has just mounted the podium. Behind him is a large vidscreen, currently displaying the black-and-red flag of Skeelzania.*

“Lords, merchants, private citizens, I welcome you to the first annual SCARR Conference of Progress. It is our sincere hope that in future years, we will bring you news of Combine success. But tonight, I can only give you a taste of what is to come.

*The room darkens, the flag behind him being replaced with a cityscape dominated by factories. *

“Within Skeelzania, the fires of Industry are burning brighter than ever. We are one of the great trade giants of the Gamma Quadrant, and our nucleics and machines are second to none. However, the forges of Skeelzania require materials, for you cannot beat riches out of nothing.

“At last count, the Principality claims hegemony over 30 star systems, 8 of which are inhabited by Skeelzanians. Countless worlds exist within our borders, many of them uninhabitable. Uninhabitable, but not useless. These worlds contain all the raw materials the Principality will need for centuries, and then some. The only problem is how to get them.

*The image changes again, this time showing a great fleet of ships gliding through space. *

“In step with his most gracious nature, Grand Prince Dmitri has granted us a Royal Charter, and funding for three years of operation. In addition, we have been given access to previously-classified technologies developed by the Skeelzanian Navy. Primarily, those technologies for planetary bombardment.

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v87/Bad_Skeelz/Whaleboat.jpg

“What you now see on the screen behind me is the Ionic Miner Ship, or IMS. The original research was done by the Navy in a quest for an effective planetary-bombardment weapon. Taking a massive ion cannon, they planned to use it as a point-bombardment weapon. Unfortunately for them, the weapon was far too powerful, often punching through the planet’s crust.

“For our purposes, we modified the original design, giving the beam a wider destructive area while decreasing its power. In addition, the cannon is mounted on a super-freighter hull, which has been further converted, but more on that later. When the IMS finds an appropriate planet, it will use its mining beam to literally smelt the planet’s crust, burning off impurities and converting the ore into a magma-like state.

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v87/Bad_Skeelz/Miner.jpg

“Following the preliminary smelt, these craft will detach from the IMS, which, as mentioned previously, has had sections converted to a carrier-like state. These “Miners” are built to withstand the heat coming off of the ore-mass. They will begin further refining and extraction operations, siphoning the ore off-world en masse to the waiting IMS and fleet transports, where it will finally be stored for transit to further refineries. At these space-installations, any further impurities will be burned off and the various ores converted into a pure state. These will then be exported to other nations and companies, or alloys created for order. No task will be to great for SCARR.

*The screen finally fades to black, and the room lightens. *

“I am aware questions about the environmental impact of our practices. In response, I ask you this: Would you rather see lifeless worlds go to waste, or be utilized for the greater good?”

*****
That concludes the SCARR Announcement Conference. While details are sketchy, we can confirm that the company’s charter follows these guidelines:

-The Grand Prince shall receive a percentage of all company profits. The exact percentage is withheld.

-SCARR will be run by a board of directors, including the Grand Prince and leaders of other houses.

-SCARR is exempt from tariffs within the Principality.

-The Combine will have free reign to harvest from all unclaimed planets within the Gamma Quadrant, though within the Principality they must notify the government before collecting commences.

-No exemption will be given for inhabited planets. Since it is acknowledged that there are some races among the stars capable of fighting back, SCARR will be allowed to maintain a small, defensive force.

We will bring you more information as it comes in. Thank you, this has been SNN.

OOC: Your art is amazing.

OCC: I jsut copy and paste, with some editing when photoshop works. Its homeworld 2 art. Give them the credit, not me.

SKZS-423, Gamma Quadrant

The IMS Comstock cruised silently through space, its massive ion drives pushing it forward. The IMS and attending escort fleet (old Skeelzanian models, mostly) had exited hyperpsace a few thousand kilometers behind them, towards the edge of the systm. SCARR scouts had notified them that some of the planets here contained large amounts of resources, particularly heavy metals.

Captain Tybrus stood on the bridge of Comstock, smiling smugly. This would be SCARRs first large-scale operation, and he was extreamely pleased in netting the command. Fleet commanders were entitled to 5% of the net profits, which could come out to a tidy sum if allw ent smoothy.

Below him, a screen lit up and began filling with information. The crewmen scanned it quickly, then turned to address Tybrus. "Captain, sir! The scout ship has returned from its reconassiance mission. He reports that the third planet shows sign of a primitive civilization, unpossesing of space travel."

Tybrus frowned and looked at his notepad. "Third planet...oh dear. First one slated for beaming. No matter. Order the beam aimed at their largest population center, can't risk a retaliatory strike." The crewman saluted before relaying the orders.

Planet Ulgol, Merk City

It was a quiet night in Merk City, the largest on Ulgol. The sun had set several hours earlier, and the sound of traffic had receded. A few workers on graveyard-shift went about their tasks, oblivous to the gaping whale taking up position far above their heads. At the city airport, the controllers noticed an unusual patch of disturbance over the city center. Probably an electrical storm.

Geostationary orbit above Ulgol

The SCARR man looked at the city impassionatley. They were nothing but a threat to Combine operations, an obstacle to be removed. Bloody primitives. "Fire".

The entire ship hummed as the massive ion cannon began charging. It took a full two minutes, but finally full power was reached.
http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v87/Bad_Skeelz/planetkiller.jpg
On the planet, night turned to day as the beam of energy burned its way throug the atmosphere, turning water to steam or simply obliterating it. The beam slammed directly into the city, and turned the metropolis into a lake of molten rock within seconds. For miles around, buildings were flattened as the shockwave caused by so much air being dispersed spread, and massive tremors shook the entire planet.

Miners would detach from the Comstock within 24 hours, and begin inital operations. By the end of the week, the slag will start being siphoned off-world to waiting transports. The Great Utilization of the Gamma Quadrant had begun.

OOC: my word, those ships seem very familiar. Will rack my brains. Well Homeworld 2 was a kick ass game.

IC: The only one that goes around obliterating planets is me. The Imperium is most distressed by the stealing of our attention.

OCC: Well, the yellow one is the Hiigarin resource collector. The big blue monster was an old design for their dreadnaught/cruiser.

IC: We prefer the term "utilization of resources" to "obliterating planets". However, SCARR would like to assure the Imperium that this is not an attempt to steal your attention. Combine operations are strictly for commercial gain, and confied to the Gamma Quadrant.

"Another mining nation..."

"We have a warning. Interupt Mekantan mining operations at your own risk. All are equipped with transpace beacons and Mekantan ships tend to shoot first and ask questions later..."

"A warning for the safety of your own ships, of course."

[code:1:4ac7f9e81e]
Official Response to the Mekantans:
It would be infinitely helpful if you would say /where/ your operations are. We currently confine ourselves to the Gamma Quadrant, so it is unlikely we'll run into you anytime soon. But, for future reference knowing where you are would be good.[/code:1:4ac7f9e81e]

[code:1:8b5040f156]
Thank you for cooperating. It is fortunate you are presently in that area, as we lack any bases there at that time.

Presently, most of our mining operations are confined to the Urf star system, but more systems are expected to be added shortly.

As we are both now members of ESUS, perhaps we may combine our efforts.
[/code:1:8b5040f156]

[code:1:35707c8020]
The nation of Skeelzania might be a member, but SCARR is not. We are a private organization, and while the Grand Prince does hold substantial stock in the Combine as well as a seat on the Board, we are under no obligations to do what they tell us.

The prospect of a business alliance does intrigue us, however. We shall consider it. And thank you for giving your location.[/code:1:35707c8020]

IC: The Sskiss are angered at mindless/unthinking killing of 'sphere's of life' [life bearing planets] Few in existance/destuction mindless!!!

Multitudes of 'sphere's of desolation/non-life' [sterile/lifeless worlds] exist. Bountiful in all resources. Exploit/take from them!

Official Response to Sskiss protests:

All worlds thus slated for utilization are under control of the Skeelzanian government, who has allowed us to harvest these planets in any way we see fit. SCARR is a non-judgemental body, and well smelt both inhabited and uninhabited planets.

The stellar federation of Wetland files an official protest with your governement about the mindless destruction of a rare habitable planet with an intelligent species. Especially given the reason that far more profit can be gained by colonizing the planet then by completely destroying it!

The stellar federation of Wetland files an official protest with your governement about the mindless destruction of a rare habitable planet with an intelligent species. Especially given the reason that far more profit can be gained by colonizing the planet then by completely destroying it!

Skeelzania has an abundance of habital planets, and our original world of Solomon is still far from full. However, we greatly desire heavy metals, which Ulgol and the rest of the system has in plentiful quantity.

If we were to colonize the planet, we would need to eliminate that Ulgolians anyway, and given their tech level that would of been troublesome.