**>> SPYNET BULLETIN
**>> EARTHDATE 96.06.23
**>> 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!


**>> MYSTERY OF THE MURDER OF THE MESSENGER SOLVED!

Last week, we noted that Dierdre had sent a messenger to reopen the 
Covian exchange, but this messenger was killed shortly after the 
exchange reopened. It seemed totally inexplicable at the time, but a 
few days later we noticed the closing of many exchanges in Epini, in 
fact even of the Administrative Center on the planet Epini. Newsdroids 
were sent out to ferret out the cause of all this activity and managed 
to corner Greybeard, the ruler of Atlantis, a planet in the Chaos 
Duchy.

He proudly confessed to the murder of Dierdre's messenger. It seems 
that the messenger was infected with some virus which caused planet 
owners to shut down their planets and disappear for a time... 
hopefully the virus runs its course quickly and the owners will return 
to full health. Being from Chaos, of a slightly more intellectual bent 
than the Epinians, Greybeard noted the first signs of the disease and 
killed the messenger before more could be infected. However even he 
suffered from the disease, though it was a mild case. Atlantis was 
offline only for a day or so...

While the Epinians recover from this bout of this newest Galactian 
flu, merchants who had invested in those planets are upset and worried 
about the length of the duration of the disease. Many are choosing to 
invest in some of the Chaosian planets which are open for business 
such as Atlantis, Aise, Bliss, Fractal, Shelter and Mist. Tisnar alone 
still has the death flag posted; but we hope to get a newsdroid to 
survive the trip there one day and tell us what plots are being 
hatched on that deadly planet...


**>> CRISIS ON EPINI

Apparently, Greybeard didn't notice signs of infection in the 
messenger early enough to save poor Budwarp, well, actually Budwarp's 
clone, from infection from this newest virus. Sources on Epini report 
that the unfortunately now highly contagious clone is running amok and 
currently is experiencing visions of godhood, completed with visions 
of Armageddon and a new universal order where Epini is the most 
profitable duchy in Federation DataSpace and he has overthrown Ming.

Epinians were forced to watch helplessly as planet after planet in the 
duchy was ordered closed to await this new world order as Dierdre, 
usually in charge of keeping Bud and his clone in control, is still 
dallying with the Galactic Council. It is whispered that even if Dee 
were present that it would do no good, as spies in the palace on Epini 
report that Bud's brain is NOT in its usual resting place on the 
dresser in Dee's chambers, and it is has been rumored that members of 
Anarchy Now are behind this latest Epinian crisis.


**>> CLOVIS RETURNS... AND SPEAKS!

While we weren't able to actually speak face-to-face with the recently 
returned Clovis, his office did issue the following statement:

I am writing this report to quiet any rumors and help set the record 
straight for the families of those involved with the greatest project 
Daniels, Inc. has ever undertaken. To the families who have lost loved 
ones working on this project, I express my deepest regrets. I would 
like to assure the families of the survivors that their loved ones are 
safe and that they should be reunited within the year. I have been 
asked to express the gratitude and appreciate that the Board of 
Directors feels towards all Daniels, Inc. families for their 
dedication, faithfulness, and loyalty to the company during this very 
difficult time; I promise you will not be forgotten, and you will be 
well taken care of.

To the customers of Daniels, Inc., we regret if any of the factory 
shutdowns have hurt your businesses. Daniels, Inc. factories will soon 
be back at full production and we hope you will return to doing 
businesses with us.

As some of my closest friends know, I have been working on the 
colonization of a planet. A long time ago, I personally went to each 
of my factories and asked for volunteers from my current work force to 
help with this project. Eventually we were ready to begin. This 
planet, which for now is being called Project 56 or P56, prompted the 
opening of two new departments within the company and the expansion of 
practically all existing sections from engineering to security to 
communications to automation.

The first new department was the zoology section. P56 was totally 
uninhabited except for some new species of animals never before 
documented. At the zoologist's request, I have been asked not to 
release any information or photos of any of these animals until they 
have completed their initial studies. Second was the opening of the 
archeology department; their job is to study the history of p56. 
Currently a botany section is being planed.

Everything was going according to our time schedule; the first step 
after arriving at p56 was to begin construction on an interstellar 
link and an orbiting construction platform and start surveying the 
planet for potential planetside water supplies, settlement sites and 
mineral deposits. The second stage was to choose 1 or 2 settlement 
sites, construct landing pads, and start mining operations for ores to 
supplement the materials on hand. By stage three, the landing pads 
were finished, ores were being processed at the construction platform, 
families were anxiously awaiting the completion of the link, and 
settlement construction had begun in preparation for their eventual 
arrival.

The communications section of the link had just been completed and 
tested thereby revealing the location of p56 when we suddenly ceased 
to recieve monthly progress reports. When the company did not receive 
a progress report one month it was really no reason for concern. Since 
we were not leaving the communications array powered up it was common 
to have to repair some of the power control equipment because of power 
spikes and fluctuations during the warm-up and shut-down procedures. 
As some of you know, it is not uncommon for repairs of this types to 
take up to 2 - 4 weeks before the system is ready to power up again.

This is the coded communication from p56 that alerted us that there 
was a problem: "Daniels HQ this is P56. Everything in orbit has been 
destroyed, very few survivors. Damage planetside includes the 
stationary orbital defense sites and most of the buildings. There are 
two non-federation ships in orbit. Shortly before the last radar 
station was destroyed, we picked up 3 more ships approaching. All 
attempts to communicate with the ships in orbit have failed. The 
communications officer believes our messages are being ignored. 
Security suspects the 3 approaching ships have been launched with the 
intent to attack P56 planetside. Anything that has attempted to leave 
the planet has been destroyed before it could reach orbit. We are 
preparing for a planet side attack but have little hope without 
outside help. We are in the process of evacuating....."

I learned later that the planetside communications tower was destroyed 
while the message was being sent. By the time, I received this 
communication it was estimated to be almost 2 months old since it was 
not sent through the link's high power communications array. I 
immediately started putting together a rescue operation that I planned 
to lead personnally; the people involved with p56 both here and there 
are my friends and employees. I had to get them out.

A few times I thought we would fail but thanks to the ingenuity and 
bravery of the people involved, P56 is again underway. At this time 
the link is finished, with an automated security system protecting the 
link and orbital areas of the planet. There is always a human force 
standing by to defend the planet against any form of aggression. The 
planetside defenses have been improved from what they were before the 
attacks. The original defenses were designed for protection from 
pirates and claim jumpers; the defenses of P56 are now prepared to 
repeal an invasion.

The reason for these attacks remains a mystery. There is no evidence 
that the planet has ever been colonized by any race before. The 
mineral deposits, while substantial, are not worth it. Investigators 
will probably be trying to piece together a reason for many years to 
come.

P56 is currently under very high security until all the legal paper 
work and red tape has been finished pertaining to mineral rights and 
planet ownership. Once this has been accomplished, the link will power 
up for full operation; if you want to have the full details of what 
took place at P56 during the past year, you will have to wait until 
then. All family members of those that died, will of course, be 
offered free transportation to P56 along with free lodging and meals 
during their stay.


**>> CHERI SIGHTED... WITH LEGS!

After recovering from the exploration of Aise last week, this 
newsdroid braved the lovely beach there for some well deserved R&R. As 
I was turning over to get some rays on my back, I spied a figure 
rising from the sea. The sun was in my eyes, and I squinted, making 
out a figure walking in towards the beach. Of course, I was 
flabergasted to realize that it was none other than Cheri, Overlord of 
Aise. I was momentarily speechless when I realized that she was 
walking on two legs that glittered in the sun. She turned and waved 
towards the sea; it was then that I noticed other figures in the 
water, but only for a moment before they disappeared under the waves. 
I was speechless with mouth agape, as she walked by, glowing under the 
morning sun. I saw that she was wearing some very attractive, tight, 
form-fitting, hip-hugging, bell-bottomed, golden-scaled pants. It took 
all my newdroid training to even wave and smile at her, let alone try 
to get a statement. Her long, thin braids, wet and dripping, draped 
her upper form, mostly hiding those charms, but it was a sight that 
like of which that I have never encountered in all my days. She was 
stunning and walking. She did stop and smile at me in my shock and say 
quietly, 'Welcome to Aise; be sure to wear sunscreen.' before walking 
away towards the lagoon. I stared at her golden hip swinging form and 
did not breathe until she was out of sight and hastily gathered all my 
belongings, towels, sunblock...etc and made my way to a phone to call 
this story in. She walks, talks, and graces our universe again with 
her warm smile.


**>> LOVE BITES

And if you are really forgetful, it can land you in the hospital on 
Earth, staring up at the ceiling in the cloning room with another trip 
to the insurance agent and higher premiums starting you in the face. 
Such was the fate of Big, after his latest trip to sample the charms 
of Diesel's ladies in the much-whispered about alcove upstairs from 
CDs. It seems that Big forgot to ensure (no pun intended) that he had 
sufficient stamina for the ladies upstairs by having the traditional 
ale or pizza before he ascended the stairs. Sources report that the 
earth moved for poor Big and just at the most unfortunate moment 
his... er... heart failed and he had to be emergency beamed to the 
hospital on earth where all attempts to revive him were unsuccessful 
and he had to be moved to the cloning room.


**>> CURRENT EVENTS

On Tuesday night, we'll let down your hair and tickle your toes, as we 
introduce a new event in Federation. The Intergallatic Bar Crawl is 
making it's debut at 10:00 PM Eastern time. Join Matrix, a mysterious 
new addition to Fedspace, and as many newbods as the game can handle, 
as they travel the better bars and taverns of Fedspace.


**>> COMING ATTRACTIONS

After 10:PM EDT, on July 2nd, Fedspace will never be the same. At the 
request of the Imperial Surgeon General, we must caution all the 
denizens of Fedspace that event is definately NOT for the faint of 
heart, and if you *do* decide to join us and take a walk on the wild 
side, you'll probably never be the same.

Be warned, take one false step on a deviously constructed planet, 
designed just for the occasion, and you'll find yourself a member of 
the opposite sex! Participants will then be remain in such a state for 
90 minutes at which time their performaces will be judged! Winners 
will be determined on the basis of originality, realism, and humor.


**>> MESSAGE RECEIVED

Bryan has asked us to tell everyone that he has returned. So, we take 
great pleasure in telling you all, Bryan has returned! 


**>> SPYNET REPORT

Here we go with two-week's worth of Spynet Report; a fortnight in 
which the Tungsten Tourist Trap Trophy was spread around among a 
number of planets. Atlantis gained the T4 three times; Kama, Sparta 
and Wizard were tops twice; and Mist, Opera, Delphi, Aise and Bliss 
received the award once apiece.

Alas poor Merchant Gemphyre... dead on the fatal world of Tisnar.

Contratulations to everyone who promoted. The new Captains were 
Cinnamon, Thes, Sandoval and Gemphyre (back from the dead).

Cinnamon and Gemphyre moved on to become Adventurers, as did Naida.

Catroina was promoted to Merchant.


**>> 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 ENDS