The weekly newsletter for Fed2 by ibgames

EARTHDATE: April 5, 2009

Inside Scoop page 1


BRAVE NEW UNIVERSE

by Jezz

**Cue creepy music and Rod Serling voice over**

What you are about to witness is a journey into the unknown, a place so familiar and yet a place that might drive the mind over the precipice of insanity. The time is now. The place is here. And one person is about to wake-up alone... in the Twi-Fed Zone...


The static on the screen begins to clear.

Linking to Federation DataSpace. As you step into the link you see a sign saying, 'Knock hard. Life is deaf.'

So... there I was on Ritual. Everything looked exactly the same when I woke up. I went through my normal morning routine, reading the financial reports and checking the messages. The message board was strangely empty and I tried to remember what had been on it before I went to sleep. Nothing sprang to mind immediately. I figured I must have missed Zardoz as he wasn't in my exchange or our apartment on Ritual. I began to run the numbers on my exchange. Quickly checking the stockpiles, I found my producers were full and my deficits were empty. There were no riots, no factories missing, everything was comfortingly normal. I picked up my comm unit and sent out my first message of the day.

"Hello there, Fedizens"

Nothing but static. Thinking I'd picked up the comm unit that Zardoz broke the other day, I pulled the spare communicator from my desk drawer.

"Hello out there!" ... again nothing but static in reply. I decided to check for life-signs in the Galaxy.

>qw
Jezz
1 players

What?? Just me? No, that's not possible! All across the galaxy, factories were churning out goods, exchange prices were rising and falling and not a single Federation citizen was there to see it... except for me. I felt the beginnings of panic stir in my gut and let out a forlorn cry over the space waves in the vain hope that somehow SpyNet was mistaken.

Your comm unit crackles with a message from Bella, "Hi team"

Ah! Saved!

"Bella! help.. I'm all alone. What's going on? Where is everybody?"

Your comm unit crackles with a message from Bella, "Oh right. You're in the parallel universe I made when I decided to move Fed. Everyone else is just fine in the other Federation Galaxy for now."

"But... but... I'm not. I'm here and all alone. Zard is going to miss me"

Your comm unit crackles with a message from Bella, "um... no, he won't. You are in both Universes at the moment. You're supposed to be making sure this place is safe before I move the whole shebang over here. So... er... cut out the histrionics and get testing."

"Ack! you mean I'm an alt?"

Your comm unit crackles with a message from Bella, "No, you're just as much you as the you that's somewhere else. That's how it works in parallel Universes. Didn't you ever watch Star Trek? I expect regular reports, so get to it. Later"

Well, alone once more, more informed if not reassured, I set about testing the most important things first.

Parallel Universe Test - Report 1

Dear Bella,

I'll happies ta reporth that the distill.. distill.. distillery on Whiskey Map ish working. Hic!

Parallel Universe Test - Report 2

Dear Bella,

I tested burning down depots and factories. It works really well but the fire got a little out of hand. There are none left. The Cheese Steak Inc factory really sizzled. I tested all the movies at Dr. Foggs. I need an aspirin.

Parallel Universe Test - Report 3

Dear Bella,

Did you know if you play with the controls on Pearl you can actually change the orbit it takes around the Sun? Don't worry though. I got the kittens off in time. If you tell me what the PIN number is, I can test the ATM behind the Sun. The fireworks on the roof of CDs work too... all at once even. But the warm glow of the embers that used to be CDs just isn't the same without someone to share with.

Parallel Universe Test - Report 4

Dear Bella,

I had a small accident when I was dumping weapons and explosives on Parmigiano Cheese. Do you think Riley would notice if the planet name changed to Fondu? At least we know that ships and exchanges work here. I don't suppose there's a way I can funnel treasury funds from here to my planet in the other Universe, is there? Well I just thought I'd ask. I'm really lonely here. It's a big Galaxy to wander around in all alone. I really miss... others.

Parallel Universe Test - Report 5

Dear Bella,

I've bankrupted my business, decimated my treasury, caused riots, demolished over half of my planet's infrastructure. You did say this was all going to be put right when we finished testing, didn't you? I think the isolation here is starting to make me hallucinate. I keep imagining there are people hiding somewhere. I guess my mind can't quite process a Federation Galaxy without people, always present, even if they are sleeping. I hear whispers in the static on the comms channel, but I can't quite make out what they are saying. Please, Bella... I just can't take it anymore! Please send someone else here. Someone to talk to before I go insane! Please Bella!

Your comm unit crackles with a message from Bella, "ok, fine"

SPYNET REPORT: Captain Arlene has entered Federation DataSpace.

Your comm unit crackles with a message from Arlene, "I'm here to grace you with my magnificence."

**The picture disintegrates into static as a blood-curdling scream echoes across the Galaxy... NNNnnooooooooooooooo ***

**Cue creepy music reprise and Rod's voice over**

Somewhere out there exists another Universe where preparations are being made for your arrival. Be careful what you wish for in the Twi-Fed Zone.


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