**>> SPYNET BULLETIN **>> EARTHDATE 95.11.12 **>> AN H-by-A SERVICE **>> Compiled by Hazed plus a team of specialist newsdroids **>> your news and gossip and get paid good groats! **>> NEWS FROM THE TECHDROID Dukes will be delighted to see that they have had their missing duchy balances returned to them. Or at least, they have had the money that used to be in their duchy balances put into their treasury balance. Occy, in particular, will be relieved to be able to insure himself again. The TechDroid has finally stamped on the problems that were causing the recent crashes. The cause was things going wrong with factories when the planet on which they were sited closed for business. Now that problem is out of the way, he is finally back to working on new code. His first task is to change the build system so that planet-owners take goods for builds from their mega-warehouses. You should expect to see this sometime in the next couple of weeks. We'll give you more details about exactly how it works before the code goes in. **>> A MINOR CHANGE Just to show you that the TechDroid has been working on something apart from bug hunting... you will now see a message telling you when the person in your location or sector logs off the game. **>> FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP - TONIGHT! We all know that Federation, the adult space fantasy multi-player game, is not a violent game. It's not about fighting, it's about trading. But sometimes, it does the soul good just to have a blast! So come along to the Fighting Championship tonight in Arena Space and learn from the masters and mistresses of space warfare - or maybe teach them a thing or two! That's 9.00pm eastern tonight, Sunday November 12th. **>> LEARN HOW TO RUN A COMPANY IN THE ADULT SPACE FANTASY You don't have to be an expert in advanced economics to advance in Federation, the adult space fantasy... but if you want to make your company profitable, you have to understand how it works. Promotion to the rank of JourneyPerson requires a certain level of profitability, so you need to know what to build, where to build it, and where to sell it. There are also useful strategies you can use, linking together chains of interdependant factories. So come to our next Fed Training School, which is all about companies and factories. You'll learn the basic commands to buy and set up factories, and the strategies to use to maximise profits and get that promotion. The school is at 9.00pm eastern on Sunday November 19th, in Chez Diesel. **>> HOSTEL TAKE-OVER! The hotel situated just north of Chez Diesel (SC of the SS) has been infilterated by Saturian terrorists. Their plan was to take over the hotel and hold captive anyone who was unfortunate enough to find themselves there at this most monumentous occassion. Fortunate for all denizens of the galaxy, *no one* was held as hostage. When a newsdroid questioned Zzzax about this, his reply was, "Thiz waz mozt unfortunate planning. In the future I plan to target only thoze eztablizhmentz that have liquor lizenzez!" We have gathered information that suggests people (or equivalent) absolutely will not go to an establishment that does not serve alcohol! Yet another attempt by the feared Zzzax has been thwarted! **>> STOP THE PRESSES!! We apologize for any inconvenience or waste of time that the above article may have caused. There was no take-over of any hostel. Following is the story that should have been printed. **>> HOSTLE TAKEOVER!!! Last week there was reported to be a newsdroid strike. After much research, bribery, fabricated insight, and blackmail, newsdroids (the remaining assembled) uncovered the truth behind the strike. There wasn't one! It was a devious plot by management to cover-up the hostile takeover of the H-by-A News! Sources have yet to reveal the controlling party of H-by-A. What does this mean for the newsdroids that were enslaved by Hazed, the beloved editrix? Simple - the scrap pile. Already Castillo has been authorized as a new Planetfill for the ever growing rubbage pile of disassembled newsdroids. Estimations show that already 3,000 droids have been "laid-off" with an expected 10 more. When asked to make a comment, Hazed sends this following message: Hi Darlings! I assure you nothing will change. H-by-A will continue to provide you with the most fantastic rumours, secrets, and scandals. Should there be a lack of topics, our new newsdroids will carry-on with the tradition of falsely implicating persons as we see fit. **>> UPDATED ESTIMATION! We regret to inform the public that one more droid is scheduled for the scrap pile. Should any droids feel the electrical impulse to report on any management undergoings of H-by-A, the number of droids scrapped shall increase. **>> LCP, eh? Rising in the musical charts, over-throwing YMCA, is the brilliant performance of "LCP, eh?" The music has been buzzing around Federation Data Space for the last two weeks, striking a chord in the heart of the trade! Such an outcry has not been heard for a while in the galaxy. Newsdroids are conducting interviews with established members and outspoken adversaries. The waves of disharmony continue to ripple as new duchies join LCP and once loyal planets move to friendlier planet clusters. The want of persons willing to say exactly how they feel about this developement is non-existant as words are shouted over COMs. Budwarp has been interrogated by the newsdroids in a lengthy interview. This feature will be published in next weeks issue accompanied by words from Brandy, Daphne, Admiral, and various others who have had the misfortune of being in the presence of a newsdroid. As a preview to these delightful interviews, we have decided to whet your appetite you with what is to come. When newsdroids asked Budwarp why, exactly, the LCP was established, his response was, "There is intolerable "dumping" happening and planet owners are losing vast amounts of groats. Exchanges have been targetted, and LCP has decided to make a stand against this tyranny!" When asked how one becomes a member of this "elite" group, he mentioned that a planet owner must apply for membership. Not only do planet owners have to apply, but a rigorous background checks are performed on applicants. Newsdroid asks, 'Who conducts these background checks?' Budwarp replies, 'The head of security.' When asked who was head of security, Budwarp answers, 'The one in charge of security, of course!' To follow-up on this fascinating "background check", newsdroids asked if Budwarp has undergone a background check. His reply indicated that he had. When asked if Budwarp has =ever= in his existance performed the act of "dumping", there was a long silence followed by, 'In this version?' Just how many galaxies have you lived in, Budwarp? Inquiring minds want to know! Finally Budwarp divulged, 'I am innocent until proven guilty.' Well, folks! Interesting developements will unfold in next weeks addition! Brandy, when questioned, was the very soul of evasiveness! Newsdroids tip their hats at how Brandy managed to be noncommital with each question posed to her. It has been decided by the LCP executives that Brandy will head up any public relation confrontations. After being under the steady lamps of interrogation, Brandy smiled, winked, and powdered her nose stating, 'I hope I have answered your question thoroughly and I much enjoyed our little chat. Let's do lunch.' Next week we shall deliver the interviews in their entirity. Until then, if you wish to speak your mind about the IRS... err... LCP, please contact your local newsdroid! We pay good groats! **>> HEROISM IN FEDERATION DATA SPACE! Is it true? Are there still heroes in Federation? After much searching, one has glowed from the rest. A man so valiant. A man so intriguing. A man so... unexplainable! The man? Apocolypse! Yes, shudder later, I tell you this now! Apocolypse has made a step above the rabble and has performed such feats that leave newsdroids trembling in his wake. Trembling in his wake? Did he die?! After many threats, challenges, and hunts, Apoco has remained unscathed with his brilliant plan of running away! This, readers, is not a bane! For Apoco has proven himself the keystone to our society. His trading is the very model to haulers everywhere. His determination is above the multitude. Newbods look to him for direction and he gallantly lends a hand. We, at H-by-A, salute Apocolypse and advise everyone to see him as the idle he is. For his efforts, management is looking into supplying this wonder of the galaxy, with his very own teleporter! **>> TALKING TURKEY OR COLD TURKEY? Our very own Tomturkey is in danger of becoming extinct as Thanksgiving arrives rapidly! His demise is uncertain. Will he waste away with anorexia or will the hammer (or axe) fall? Beings of Federation have been seen force-feeding this fine fowl, filling him firmly with corn to fatten him. There's a =slim= chance that this turkey will be able to feed the multitudes! Everyone is asked to help donate their food supplies now for feasting later! Tomturkey is not going to be just a feather duster!! **>> SPYNET REVIEW Congratulations to everyone who was promoted during the week. The new Captains were Duke, Amberli, Fez and Adlyr. Tellurrain, Wolff and Amberli made it to Adventurer. Shandi joined the Traders Guild then promoted to Merchant. Successful CEOs who promoted to JP were Jordan, Pooh and Hodar. **>> 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. The current Federation Game Hosts are: Freya, Porcupine, Lyrynna, Grannie, Sparky, Zzzax, Geezer, Magneto, Syfari and Goblin. Their function is to answer questions, help new players get started, and make fun things happen. In the event of a problem or question, you can: * talk to Hazed or one of the Game Hosts in the game * a message to Hazed * send mail on your host system to the Federation team: on GEnie, mail FEDII.2 or use the option on the main Fed page on Delphi, mail FED2 or use the option on the main Fed page on Cris, mail FEDERATION2 You can buy a copy of the very excellent Idiot's Guide to Federation for the paltry sum of $15.95. On GEnie, type ORDER from any main menu page. On Delphi and Cris, send a check for $15.95 to: Leah Parker, 4543 La Crescenta Avenue, La Crescenta, CA 91214-2912. **>> BULLETIN ENDS