Galactic Hour News Roundup: Assault Aftermath, State Diplomacy and Federal Infrastructure

The Scope's Galactic Hour with Ret Gloriaxx brings your roundup of the latest news from around the cluster as the aftermath of the Tanoo II attack continues to reverberate through New Eden; the Caldari State courts its ally; and the Gallente President presses forward with redevelopment plans.

Above: Naglfar-class Dreadnoughts Under Attack During Attempted Bombardment of Tanoo II

Aftermath of Tanoo II Attack Remains Confused as Calls for Restraint Collide with Accusations

Yulai, Genesis – CONCORD's Inner Circle has commended the Amarr Empire and Minmatar Republic for the "restraint and spirit of co-operation displayed" in the aftermath of yesterday's dreadnought assault on the capital planet of the Ammatar Mandate, Tanoo II. Inner Circle President Seri Okonaya conveyed her personal assurance of full support from CONCORD to Captain Marshal Sirdan xer Qosh, Imperial Delegate to the Inner Circle.

Delegates Keitan Yun of the Republic and Devan Malate of the Federation added their own voices to the call for continued restraint, while expressing their "firm, shared belief that this incident was carried out by rogue elements that may even be loyal to powers opposed to civilization and human freedom." Caldari Substitute Delegate Akimaka Saraki, stopping in Yulai enroute to Amarr Prime, responded to the Minmatar and Gallente representatives' remarks by emphasizing that "minds should remain open, both as to the truth of this matter, and the validity of the forms of government cultures outside the Gallente-Minmatar bloc choose to maintain."

The Amarr Empire's higher authorities have continued to maintain a pronounced silence over the affair, described by one seasoned observer of Imperial diplomacy as "a classic mask of inscrutability barely concealing extreme rage and a determination to exact vengeance." The news from Tanoo itself has been limited since the attack was defeated, due to a continuing security lockdown and the presence of large numbers of troops from the Ardishapur Royal Guards, Ministry of Internal Order and the Order of St. Tetrimon.

The damage to the environs of the planetary capital city of Tor-Ammat continues to be reported as "limited and light" by the ACN. This is despite the evidence from independent orbital overflights that a large new feature, resembling an impact crater, has obliterated an outlying peninsula used as a docks by aquacultural industries based at the coastal city. One military expert hired by the Scope to analyse the images remarked that the damage was "probably a deflection or guidance failure, as it's unlikely the attackers were after the local fishing fleet."

Even so, the main government, military, industrial, and residential districts of Tor-Ammat do appear to have weathered the attack unscathed under the protection of shields and counter-ballistic defenses. Given the formidable fortifications of Tor-Ammat, and Tanoo II in general, many have wondered at the goals of a small flight of dreadnoughts attempting to bombard such a strongpoint. One unconfirmed report from a correspondent in the city has claimed that a ground to orbit laser was being fired from close to the Order of St. Tetrimon Chapterhouse at the edge of the military district. Witnesses of the space battle have also noted that high-power targeting lasers were being used by the dreadnoughts, a common feature on vessels modified for orbital bombardment operations.

For their part, the Minmatar Republic, Brutor Tribe and Brutor Vanguard have all announced an investigation into the individuals identified as the leaders of the attack.

Above: Dreadnought Attacking Tanoo II Destroyed as Ammatar Fleet and Loyalist Capsuleers Respond

Caldari State Delegation Invited to Satellite Summit at Imperial Privy Council

Dam-Torsad, Amarr Prime – The Imperial Chamberlain's Office has confirmed that the Caldari State has been invited to send a delegation to a "satellite summit" to be held in parallel with the meeting of the full Imperial Privy Council summoned by Empress Catiz I. While unusual, such summits between the Empire and State allies at the Imperial Court are sometimes held to discuss matters of critical importance to both polities.

The Caldari State has confirmed that Senior Executive Director Akimaka Saraki of the Wiyrkomi Corporation will lead the delegation in his capacity as official substitute for the CEO of Wiyrkomi as current Caldari Inner Circle delegate. Executives of the CBD and Sukuuvestaa megacorporations are also attending with all three major factions of the "Big 8" thus represented at talks expected to be focused on common defense, infrastructure and trade issues.

The importance the Caldari State's CEP places on these talks can be gauged by the determination to press ahead with the summit during the Imperial Privy Council despite the continuing and growing protests by workers and middle-tier executives across the corporate territories of the ruling Big 8 megacorps.

Above: Trace Cosmos studied by Duvolle Gravitational Wave Observatory in Gererique

President Celes Aguard Announces Major Federal Infrastructure and Redevelopment Program

Gallente Prime, Luminaire – President Celes Aguard has delivered remarks announcing a "major new federal infrastructure and redevelopment program focused on the periphery of our great Federation", during a holocast open meeting between the President and the Senate Federal Works Committee. President Aguard ran for office on a program that emphasized the need for the Federation to invest in the security and infrastructure of the periphery systems and appears determined to make good on her campaign promises.

President Aguard confirmed that she recently authorized the Federation Navy's Stellar Survey Corps to carry out new surveys in the Solitude, Placid and Verge Vendor regions with a view to determining the best locations for a mooted direct stargate connection between Solitude and the other regions of the Gallente Federation. At present, stargate traffic must take a dangerous route through the Syndicate region or a longer and barely safer route through Genesis and Aridia. The President made the construction of a new stargate to Solitude a campaign promise emblematic of her commitment to the periphery of the Federation.

The President also pointed to federal support for the newly-established Duvolle Gravitational Wave Observatory studying the "Trace Cosmos" phenomenon in the Gererique system in Solitude. Additionally, President Aguard confirmed that federal funds would be made available for the next phase of the long-term project to restore or "remedially terraform" Mannar VIII. The original home world of the Mannar people, the planet was rendered barren and the surface uninhabitable after an ecological disaster nearly 150 years ago.

Above: Minmatar Alliance Barracks in Audesder system

DEVELOPING: Minmatar Republic's Audesder System "Raided" by Ardishapur Mercenaries

Audesder, Molden Heath – Several squadrons of Red and Silver Hand combat vessels have been reported carrying out "raids" in the system of Audesder on the border of the Minmatar Republic with the Ammatar Mandate. The Red and Silver Hand are a mercenary company known to be sponsored by the Ardishapur family, the ruling house of the Derelik region.

Audesder is a heavily-fortified system that serves as the headquarters of the Minmatar Alliance Defense Brigade, a combined force comprising elements of the Republic Fleet and allied Federation Navy forces. This alliance defense nexus commands the route to the Kenobanala system, itself a heavily-fortified base and location of the notorious Fort Kumar, headquarters of the allied forces of the Imperial Navy, Caldari Navy, Ammatar Fleet and Royal Khanid Navy.

The two alliance garrisons have maintained an uneasy peace on the Republic-Mandate border for decades, with relations even easing in recent years as diplomacy and trade prevailed on the Derelik-Molden Heath routes. The reported new incursion on this fragile border, even by mercenaries, comes at the worst possible time as tensions are at breaking point over the Tanoo II attack. There has been no comment from the Republic, Mandate or Empire so far.

In Other News

• Holoblimp Explosion at Huggar Gravball Match Kills 200 Spectators, Injures Over 500 More

• Guristas Pirates Release Financial Records Showing Undisclosed Payments to CBD, Lai Dai and NOH Executives

• Caldari Business Tribunal Declines to Comment on Claims PKN Interstellar "Overcharged" for Jita 4-4 Project

• Caldari Navy Veterans Society Breaks Silence to Express "Outrage at Misdirection of Funds from Defense of State"

• FIO Denies Intaki Star Press Report that "Black Eagles Surveilled Intaki Assembly" During Security Franchise Talks

• Intaki Prime Security Gendarmes Enter Assembly and Government Buildings with "High-Tech Equipment" - Witness Reports

• Material Acquisition Hails Successful Test of "Novel Ore Refining Process" at Cat VII M4 Research Facility

• Order of St. Tetrimon Given Title to Fortress in House Sarum Lands on Dihra VI; New Chapter to be Founded

• Holder of Oris, Lord Aslan Ul-Qosh Orders Military Census of Subordinate Fiefs After Return from Imperial Tour of Mandate

Late News

• BREAKING: Governor of Huggar Brutor Tribal Lands Among Those Killed by Explosion at Gravball Match

• BREAKING: Huggar Gravball Match Explosion Linked to "Black Dagger Killings" by Republic Security Services

• BREAKING: Holoblimp "Deliberately Rigged to Explode" and "Contained Anti-Personnel Shrapnel Dispersal Devices"

• BREAKING: Republic Fleet Bolsters Audesder Defenses Following Red and Silver Hand Mercenary Incursion

• BREAKING: House Ardishapur Denies Authorizing Cross-Border Operations for "Any Unit Under Our Command"