**>> SPYNET BULLETIN 
 **>> EARTHDATE 91.12.02 
 **>> AN H-by-A SERVICE 
 
 
 **>> UN-ROTATE! 
 
Rotating planets didn't work. Nobody was happy with the system that made the
planets take turns being loaded into the game. You will all, therefore, be
delighted to know that Bella has the code ready to reverse all her previous
hard work and stop the planets from rotating. 
 
Under the new system, any players who get promoted to Thane will lose their
full planet and be asked to provide a new planet of just six locations. Piemur,
Russ and Oddball will be making the switch straight away. At the beginning of
next week, those Squires whose planets are sufficiently developed will be
promoted to Thane, and will switch to mini-planets. At that point, there should
be room for all the Squires' planets to be in the game at the same time. 
 
Anyone who hasn't had a chance to look around some of the planets that have
been in for a while should do so this week, before they are reduced to a mere
shadow of their former selves. 
 
Under the new system, planet-owners will be able to request that their planet
be removed if they are going to be away from the game - that will prevent their
economies running riot if they are not around to keep an eye on things. In any
case, if a governor doesn't log onto the game for 7 days, the planet will be
removed until they return. 
 
Planet owners should read the information in the Fed categories of the multi-
player games BBS, to ensure they are aware of the changes expected. 
 
 
 **>> THE TOURIST TRADE 
 
One fundamental change for those above Squire will go hand-in-hand with mini-
planets - the removal of a time requirement for promotion. This reflected the
number of player-minutes people had spent on your planet. 
 
The requirement will still be in force for the first planet-owning promotion,
that from Squire to Thane. The owners' own time will not, however, count
towards the amount. Previously it did, and no planet-owner ever left their
system, which made conversations a little tricky! The new way will reward those
players who have built a planet that is interesting and entertaining to
explore. 
 
Some planet owners are doing their best to build up their tourist trade.
Davidge recently ran a game of 'hide-n-seek' - he hid somewhere on his planet,
and the first person to find him received a prize. While the searchers were
searching, of course, the minutes were being added to his time accumulation.
Other governors are doing similar things to enhance the popular appeal of their
planets. 
 
 
 **>> DON'T SAY WE DON'T LISTEN... 
 
The Galactic Administration is a caring organisation, or so it would have us
believe. The fact that it has started doing things just because that's the way
people want them couldn't possibly have anything to do with the forthcoming
elections, could it? No, surely not! 
 
Be that as it may, the two hot debates in the Fed BBS - about spybeams and
Traders being able to check prices - have resulted in Our Illustrious Leader
promising to add two new features. 
 
Yes, there will be a spybeam-proof room. The room will be situated on a planet
somewhere in Sol space, but you'll have to find it for yourselves. It will
prevent spybeams being turned onto people who are in the room. All those who
have plotting to do can now do it in privacy! 
 
Yes, Traders will be able to find out the price of something before they sell
their wares. <CHECK PRICE commodity> will give them the price they request, for
the planet they are on, but it will only work while they are in the trading
exchange. 
 
Both of these new features will be provided some time next week. Now everyone
say "Thank you, Aunty Bella!" 
 
 
 **>> SPYBEAM DETECTOR 
 
There is an object in Fed Data Space that allows you to tell if someone is
spying on you or not, but in the absence of this device, a player inadvertently
discovered a new way! We will not disclose their name because we're nice like
that; here's what they had to say: 
 
I discovered a nifty (though fatal) way to determine if someone is spying on
you... I was filling my warehouse on Ocean with factory inputs when I noticed
Aackverdi on-line.  Since I was the only one in Federation Space who was lower
in rank, I assumed it a safe assumption that he had his spybeam tuned on me.
So, just to check, I thought I'd try to be funny. 
 
     >TARGET AACKVERDI 
      Activating target computer... 
           Target is Aackverdi 
 
     >CHUCKLE 
      'Fraid I don't understand you - why don't you try putting that another  
      way? 
 
     >"How do you like that Aackverdi? 
      You're the only one here! Talking to yourself again! 
 
As soon as I entered Sol space, my ship was torn to shreds and I found myself
in a hospital ward on earth. 
 
Now, I've only got missiles. I can target them on someone all day long and it
would do absolutely no good. And being that my brain goes dead-dead from terror
when I'm shot at, I'm really no threat to anyone. 
 
Ok, so it wasn't the brightest thing in the world to do. But I sure did find
out that he was in fact spying on me. :) And, being the gentleman that he is,
(cough ... choke), he generously donated a large sum of groats to pay for the
damages. 
 
Oh well, as Aackverdi put it later, die and learn... 
 
 
 **>> TURKEY TIME! 
 
For the past few days, a very nervous turkey took refuge in Fed Data Space,
hoping to avoid ravening hoardes of celebrants who were looking for the main
course for their Thanksgiving meal! 
 
The turkey was a mobile that visited every location in the Solar System in
turn. Somewhere in the Solar System there was a jar of cranberry sauce which
the turkey would pay well for... but as far as we know, no-one found it! 
 
 
 **>> FRANKENSTEIN! 
 
We've had reports from a number of people that Slew fancies himself as Dr
Frankenstein. Apparently, he's got this wild insane idea that if he collects
all the dismembered bits of Tal's body together, he can bring her back to life.
The only problem (apart from it being a crazy idea that will never work, of
course!) is that he's only managed to find her head - and he's apt to leave it
lying around on the bar in Chez Diesel, which can be a bit startling for those
enjoying a quiet drink. 
 
The question is, if he is not successful in collecting any more of Tal's parts,
will he try something drastic - like killing Captains and using their spare
bits? 
 
 
 **>> RETRACTION 
 
(Sounds painful!) 
 
Following Deep Throat's revelations in last week's news, we have received a
complaint. Deep Throat has been severely chastised (hence his non-appearance
this week) and we have promised to rebut the foul rumour. So, Spiff says he did
not have an affair with Maxis. 
 
Happy now? 
 
 
 **>> FROM THE TONGUE OF SHALLOW THROAT... 
 
Deep Throat's little brother has once again provided us with some scandal.
Let's hope this doesn't result in complaints and law suits! 
 
   Several days ago, I was sitting in CDs when Catrina popped in. After talking
with the regulars for a while, she asked if it made any significant difference
whether or not her system name was the same as her planet name. There was a
unanimous "YES! Make them the same!" cry from everyone in CDs, after which
Catrina was asked the name of her planet-to-be. 
 
   "Capri," said Catrina. There was a mumble from Maxis, who was also at CDs at
the time, that Capri sounded too much like Capella. That got everybody started!
Ramstein suggested the name "Feline," to which Catrina replied: "Eat it
Ramstein!" 
 
    Wondering why Catrina was so upset, Maxis asked her what was wrong. She
then had a huge outburst of how her name was CATRINA, not CAT, and that only a
small number of people were allowed to call her Cat. However, people had
started calling her Cat without asking, and she was very upset. She said "I
don't call you Max! And I don't call Ramstein Ram. And I don't call Vanjerin
Van.  And I don't call Spiff Spi." 
 
    After listening to Catrina go on like that for several hours, the regulars
at CDs were obviously getting quite tired of hearing it. So Maxis had everyone,
including this Throat, tune to channel 8. "Sulk" he told everyone. And after
about 3-4 minutes of prodding and tightbeams, Maxis had six people in CDs
sulking, with only Catrina rambling on to herself. 
 
    Maxis then told Catrina in a tightbeam (aren't spybeams wonderful?) what
had happened, and asked her if she was having fun, to which she replied, "I
hope you're all having fun sulking." 
 
    It turns out this whole escapade was an attempt to make Catrina laugh, and
that it did. One signal from Maxis, everyone would kiss an assigned partner.
Maxis would kiss Treato, and Treato Maxis. Ramstein would kiss Camber, and
Camber Ramstein. And Vanjerin would kiss Mirth, and Mirth would kiss Vanjerin. 
 
    The signal was sent, and everyone kissed each other. Catrina laughed,
Ramstein giggled, and Camber climbed up onto the ceiling. The plan had worked!
Although Ramstein was later dismayed to find out that Camber was a man. Knowing
Ramstein, he's probably still spitting every chance he gets! So if you see
Ramstein, and you're male, kiss him for this Throat. Just for kicks. 
 
    This has been another example of the social aspect of Federation II. Let's
not forget that there is more to life than groats! 
 
 
 **>> MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL - WHO IS THE SEXIEST OF THEM ALL? 
 
That's the question we asked in last week's news, when we launched our grand
survey to find Fed's sexiest male and female. So far, we've received two votes.
Yes, that's all; a measley two votes. Come on, chaps and chapesses! Get voting!
Tell us who you think is the sexiest. 
 
 
 **>> BORING, BORING, BORING 
 
Trade Richard thinks things in Fed are getting boring: 
 
"I was thinking of organising a "Party" so that Newbods could meet with Rich
People and score jobs and the like," he says. "We could charge an entrance fee
of 1000 IG and make a note of who paid. At the end of the Party we could pick a
name and give the fees to him/her. We could designate the Mares Nest as the
erm... well... you know!" 
 
Not sure that we do know, actually, Richard, but it does seem like a good idea.
We'll publicise the party in the news if it does happen. 
 
 
 **>> PROMOTIONS NEWS 
 
Ramstein has made it to Captain, well done. 
 
Camber has been promoted to Trader, and he asked us to point out that this was
after only a few days of play. 
 
Congratulations to Wizard, who has become a Merchant. 
 
Occy got her name on the SpyNet Review a few days ago, when she played her
1000th game! 
 
 
 **>>CONTACTS 
 
The following information will appear at the end of every News Bulletin, so 
you don't have to read it if you already know it. 
 
In the event of a problem or question, you can: 
 
 * talk to Hazed, Bella or Clem in the game 
 
 * leave a <TYPO> message in the game log 
 
 * send mail with the Federation Feedback option from the main menu 
 
You can order a copy of the unexpurgated printed Idiot's Guide to 
Federation by typing ORDER at any GEnie menu. Cost - a mere $12.95. 
 
Federation has several category in the new MPGames RT. To get there, type
M1045,1 from any menu prompt and SET category 13 (for information,
instructions, questions and answers) or 14 (for general chat and discussions).
The Federation Leader in the bulletin board is Occy (Mail ID: OCPAC). 
 
The MPGames RT also has a Federation library in the files area, Library 5.
Library 18 holds the Federation News Archives. 
 
 **>> BULLETIN ENDS