**>> SPYNET BULLETIN
**>> EARTHDATE 96.07.14
**>> AN H-by-A SERVICE

**>> Compiled by Hazed plus a team of specialist newsdroids
**>> <SEND HAZED> your news and gossip and get paid good groats!

FED INVADED BY THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS

Somehow in the past few months Federation has managed to survive
the onslaught of several severe viruses: Epinian Flu, Galactian
Flu, and, most recently, Mad Cow Disease.  We were horrified to
learn that the galaxy has now been invaded by the Seven Deadly
Sins. This week we look at Sloth and find it epidemic... from the
lowest to the highest levels... We see Groundhog Cheryl logging in
but too lazy to buy a ship and even promote to Commander!
Commanders?  Captains? Traders? They are all off drinking in the
bars! (Ed. note: See next week's edition on Gluttony) The merchants
do nothing but complain that the planet owners do not stock the
inputs for their factories, as if factories don't require SOME
hands-on management!  Journeypersons, with the notable exception of
Clovis, have made no effort to solve the puzzle to advance, but
rather wallow in their (supposedly) spyproof comfort.  Planet
owners are too lazy to stock their planets, just letting their
exchanges muddle along.  No wonder their citizens are being felled
by every little virus that comes along!  Nothing is done to
increase the health of the population!  Not to mention the
education and energy development!  We find that many characters are
spending so much time in the bars, drowning their troubles in
Diamond Ale, that they don't even bother to read the news!!! (Ed.
note: See next article) Even the Dukes have been affected by Sloth;
Duke Chance, proponent of 'reflexive management' wanders through
Chaos on occasion.. not to devote any attention to his duchy mind
you, but rather en route to Fractal and the open arms of his
fiancee Shandi (Ed. note: See the article two weeks hence on Lust).
And Budwarp! Duke Budwarp has been too lazy to gather a rescue
party to reclaim his wife Dierdre from the clutches of the
Galactian Council!  We have petitioned DrSpock for an antidote to
this sin, since, alas, there are no religious persons in Fed, we
must resort to scientific measures to conquer this invading Sloth.

GHOSTSHIP REAPPEARS ORBITING AKUMU

We cornered Instill and Sailor downing Diamond Ale in CDs late one
night and asked if there was an explanation for the news. We were
referring, of course, to the sighting of a Ghostship in the clouds
of Mist.  Both men looked very confused and whispered to each
other.  When it became apparent that neither had bothered to read
the news, they were kicked out of CDs and told not to come back
without an explanation!  They returned, all smiles, within the hour
and proclaimed that their mission on the Ghostship was classified
Top Secret and they were under oath not to divulge any further
information.  We did manage to catch some of the whisperings, and
it is believed that Trista is prisoner on the ship, having been
struck by Mad Cow Disease.  Sources report however that she is
feeling no pain, being struck by a severe case of amnesia.  As we
wandered the galaxy, hoping for another sighting of the Ghostship
and further clues of its mission, we saw it!  Rising over the
horizon as we began to descend to the planet Akumu.  The Ghostship
was heavily armed though, as we found out to our woe.  The mission
must be highly secret, and insurrection is suspected as the
Ghostship attacked a ship carrying the Newsdroid Flag!

IMPISH MELODIES

Our very own Matrix had a bout of sentimentality in CD's the other
day.  With a bottle of scotch in hand and the lovely Naida on
electric violin, he belted out a tune so lovely that it brought a
tear to this newsdroid's eye.  Naida plays pretty good and I heard
mention that this may happen again.  Naida was first seen playing
her electric violin on Wizard during a barcrawl with Bluebeard on
drums.  Though at that time they played a loud racous tune, the
title escaped me, but Naidia danced all over the bar playing fast
and furious.  A good time was had by all.

DIARY OF A DRAGOON

Our resourceful newsdroids have finally managed to track down
Admiral's missing second officer and have discovered that far from
being a political prisoner on the former prison planet of Chaos, he
is instead being treated to the very best hospitality that that
planet's duke and Chaosian school girls can dole out.  Rumors are
still flying concerning the reasons for his defection to Chaos, but
highly placed sources indicate that the mysterious soldier of
fortune had grown weary of waiting for Admiral's promised payoffs
and decided to further his own fortune by jumping ship to Chaos and
signing a lucrative book deal...

COMING ATTRACTIONS

On Tuesday July 23 at 10 PM, Join Fed's more adventuresome types as
they cruise the galaxy in a flurry of bell-bottoms and love beads
as wild and crazy Babzies takes us all on a trip back in time to
some of the more exotic love-ins of the 60s.

WANTED...A FEW GOOD POs

Planet owners, join the fun by designing a few locations in a 60's
theme and if you earn a bit of time in the processes...so much the
better.

**>> SPYNET REVIEW

Here we go with a bumper two-week's worth of important facts and
figures about the movers and shakers, the makers and breakers, in
Fed DataSpace.

The Tungsten Tourist Trap Trophy has been dominated by Shandi, the
Squire of Fractal over the last fortnight.  Fractal won 7 trophies,
Kama took 2, and Wizard, Silo, Vertigo, Sparta, and Bliss each won
once.

Alas, two more players have had their last clone claimed by the
diabolical planet of Tisanar.  In the last fortnight, the newly
dead-dead include Orakle and Redmack.

Congrats go to Huck and Redmack, who reached Captain; Grog who was
promoted to Captain and Adventurer; Gemphyre who promoted to
Trader; Shifty who promoted to Merchant; and Bluebeard who achieved
the rank of JP.

**>> 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 or one of the Game Hosts in the game

* <SEND> 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.

**>> BULLETIN