Genetic engineer helping Outversers fit in?

COMORRO STATION - Feren Tudom, an Aukami genetic engineering specialist who has worked for decades in the city of Multvaros, is relocating his business to Comorro Station.

"It is my sincerest hope that I can use my well-honed skills to improve the quality of life of the refugees who have found themselves stranded in this universe, which must be so terribly strange to them," Tudom said.

Exactly what kind of help is the scientist offering? It's too early to be specific, he says.

"I have a plan, certainly, but first there are theories to explore, experiments to conduct, and results to digest," he said.

Tudom expects to open his new office in the refugee enclave within the next week.

Refugee reprieve announced

COMORRO STATION - Just a little while longer.

The Yaralu known as Comorro Station has reduced power to several non-essential systems and cut off air filtration in some parts of the Forgotten Quarter to extend for perhaps as long as two weeks the deadline for getting half the current refugee population onto a planet while she hunts for special tissue-cleansing insects.

It is unknown how many casualties may result among the denizens of the Forgotten Quarter as a result of this action.

Medlidikke vow to keep hunting

COMORRO STATION - Vard Bokren, leader of the Medlidikke pirates who have been hunting for the ship known as the Zero Gravi, today announced that he and his followers had not yet abandoned hope for the lost vessel.

In a transmission received by Comorro Station, Bokren said: "The Aukami have developed a nasty habit of losing ships lately. That's the *real* tragedy. Such an advanced civilization, yet they are lucky if they can find their own shoes to lace them. It is good that they have called off their search for the Zero Gravi. Better that they are not between the Medlidikke and our quarry when the time comes."

Search for outverser ship abandoned

MULTVAROS, AUKAM - The search and rescue operation to locate a ship flying under a false pennant, believed to be that of the Zero Gravi, was abandoned earlier today. The search first started when the ship went missing en route from Multvaros on Aukam to Comorro. Unfortunately no sign of the ship or any wreckage has been located.

"It's truly tragic when a ship is lost," said a spokesperson for the Aukami Space Search and Rescue group. "However, this is one of the dangers that we must be mindful of. Which one of the many dangers of space befell this ship, we do not know. All we can do is extend our condolences and best wishes to the friends and family of those lost in this accident."

Comorro: Refugee reduction necessary within two weeks

COMORRO STATION - The Yaralu known as Comorro Station has completed an atmospheric analysis and determined that at least half the current refugee population must be relocated within two weeks or she will start dying.

Pollutants created by the increased population can be cleansed by creatures called fanala beetles, but they are rare.

Comorro will spend the next few days scouring Hiverspace for a habitable world that some of the refugees can call home for a while. Those who remain aboard Comorro will be called upon to assist in the hunt for the scrubbing beetles.

Thul leader welcomes refugees

COMORRO STATION - An elite among the few surviving Thul says that his world would welcome any outverser refugees to help avert a resource depletion crisis aboard Comorro Station.

"Isssh leassshhht we can do," Shog the Ancient said. "I am ssshhhertain much could be learned. We have no ssshhhortage of land here."

The muddy, bleak landscape of Thullok - adopted homeworld of the dwindling species that allied itself with the Il'Ri'Kamm Hive Mind during the Hiver-B'hiri conflict - might not be terribly appealing to most people, though. Also discouraging: Rumors that the Thul might be responsible for kidnapping space travelers for genetic experimentation.

"We deny thesssshhhe outrageousssshhh liesssshhh and sssshhlanderoussssshhh assshhhaultsssshhh," Shog said.

Ambassador offers shelter

COMORRO STATION - Okaskatitch, the B'hiri ambassador currently visiting aboard Comorro Station, wants to help alleviate the Yaralu's respiratory problems.

"Our vessel, the Harrower, is within hailing range," the ambassador said. "The ship is large, with minimal crew and ample room for several thousand refugees."

Comorro has indicated that she will consider the offer and make a decision within a few days.

Atmosphere filtering tissues faltering

COMORRO STATION - The Yaralu known as Comorro Station appears to be suffering some difficulty breathing with all the atmospheric pollutants provided by the recent influx of more than 50,000 refugees.

Tests of the station's filtration tissue throughout the vessel show that carbon dioxide and other elements exhaled or produced by the refugees may be causing irreparable harm.

It is possible to cleanse and revitalize the tissue, but it can only be done through the introduction of a rare species of creature known as a fanala beetle.

Missing Aukami ship sighted on Comorro

COMORRO STATION - The missing Aukami diplomatic vessel Alkuzart was seen today aboard Comorro Station, under the command of Vard Bokren, leader of the Medlidikke pirates.

The ambassador who had been aboard the ship was reportedly killed by pirates. During a refueling stop on Comorro, Bokren indicated that he was returning the ship to the rightful owners on Aukam.

The kill-on-sight order for all Medlidikke on Aukam makes that claim rather dubious.

Shadowtrapper killed on station

COMORRO STATION - A shadowtrapper was discovered and killed aboard Comorro Station today. The creature, which moves through shadows and feeds on psionic sentients, was in the process of attacking another refugee when it was destroyed.

It is believed that the creature may have caused the death of a Vollistan Light Singer last week.

It is unknown whether more shadowtrappers remain aboard Comorro. Most weaponry is useless against the creatures, but electric current is lethal to them.

Diplomatic ship missing and presumed lost

MULTVAROS, AUKAM - A diplomatic transport carrying Ambassador Andros Kazd, bound for Comorro Station to meet with B'hiri emissary Okaskatitch, has been reported missing by officials in the Cepelem, Aukam's ruling body.

The ship, identified as the Alkuzart, had been due to arrive at Comorro Station last night. Attempts to hail the Alkuzart thus far have been unsuccessful.

Refugee hydroponics garden suffers setback

COMORRO STATION - After demonstrating encouraging results, the hydroponics garden set up by the refugees that have taken up residence on the station has taken a turn for the worse. In recent days many of the plants have begun to wilt and die, slowly being covered in patches of white growths. However, only the plants native to Hiverspace have been affected, which has baffled many of the farmers. Efforts are underway to combat this potential catastrophe as it threatens to reduce the food supplies of the refugee encampment's inhabitants.

Vollistan refugee found dead

COMORRO STATION - A Vollistan Light Singer who arrived with refugees from Hancock Station was found dead this evening in his makeshift quarters in the recently built homestead zone of the Comorrite Hub.

The Light Singer, identified as Volanlazol, was relatively young by Vollistan standards and, according to a recent physical examination, was suffering from no readily apparent maladies.

The cause of death remains under investigation by station security, but foul play is not indicated at this time.

Medlidikke offers reward for ship and crew

BROAD SWEEP TRANSMISSION INTERCEPT - The holovid displays the image of a dark-green skinned Hekayti with a bald scalp, polished black horns and teal splotches. He has pale gray eyes beneath a scrunched brow. None of him is visible below the smashed-looking nose. A voice, apparently his, begins to speak:

"It is a rare thing for the Medlidikke to seek help from the inferior creatures that share our galaxy. We are a self-sufficient people. We would like nothing better than to dance upon the ashes of your precious empires and civilizations. However, we seek a specific starship and would rather not waste our time on the hunt. So, I am offering 100,000 Hekayti credits to whoever can deliver the ship that destroyed our comrade in Rigor Strand. The ship...and the crew. Yes. I want them too. They have much to tell us, I think."

The transmission ends.

Marvel starship shows off at Rigor Strand

COMORRO STATION - A Lotorian scavenger returned last night from Rigor Strand with footage of a craft that managed to outmaneuver a Medlidikke stalker craft in the asteroid field, using only navigational shields.

"It wazzz mozzzt amazzzzing thing I ever seen, yezzzz," Oloboz Skitirn told CNB. "Ship, it juzzzt bounzzze off rockzzz and make rockzzz bounce other wayzzz. Medlidikke want to shootzzz, yezzz, but can't!"

A close-up of the hull of the astounding starship showed the name "Zero Gravi."

"I don't know what name meanzzz, but I wantzzz!" Skitirn said. "I wantzzz very much, yezzz!"

Comorro thwarts Medlidikke attack

COMORRO STATION - Shortly after the arrival of Ambassador Okaskatitch, Medlidikke pirates attacked Comorro Station this afternoon. The Yaralu responded with evasive maneuvers, followed by the deployment of defensive web-tanglers that ensnared the pirates and neutralized their vessels.

Comorro then proceeded to consume the ships to satisfy dietary requirements.

No injuries were reported within Comorro. The ambassador's visit continues.

Zoological center plans expansion

KJERNKOR, HEKAYT PRIME - The zoological facility on the outskirts of Triumvirate Park in Kjernkor will add a new 200-acre wildlife expansion, with an eye toward opening this summer.

According to zoo officials, the expansion will showcase some of the more dangerous wild animals known to roam Hekayt Prime, including:

* Varmetann: A monstrous 10-legged fire-breathing reptile with a long sinuous neck and pebbled red and black skin.

* Surpust: A dark-furred mammal that exhales corrosive acid to slow its prey.

* Blodfot: A sharp-clawed mammal that's recognized as the fastest-moving land creature on the surface of Hekayt Prime.

Officials say that adequate security precautions are being taken to ensure that the animals will not interact directly with zoo patrons.

Epidemic strikes Muscipulan homeworld

MUSCIPULA - In recent days an outbreak of an unknown disease has struck the Muscipulan homeworld, resulting in hundreds of sickened citizens reporting to hospitals in the capital city. Doctors are currently baffled by the rapid onset, and thus far have reported that patients are not responding to standard treatments. Government officials have launched an investigation into potential sources of the disease, and travel to or from Muscipula is presently restricted.

Those afflicted with the disease are dubbing it the 'Wilting Blight', due to sufferers quickly losing strength and much of their ability to move. Other symptoms include the appearance of white splotches on their bodies, which in the advanced stages results in damage to the tissue. There are indications that the disease also interferes with their natural ability to photosynthesize food, resulting in many having to be tube fed. No reports of fatalities have yet been reported, and doctors do not know as of yet if any damage can be reversed. For now, they watch and wait while scientists rush to analyze the disease, hopeful that a cure can be discovered.

Nemoni base attacked

NEMONUS - Nemoni government officials have reported that the brewing conflict between the Nemoni Federation and the Elyssian Alliance escalated today when an Elyssian task force launched a sneak attack on a Nemoni Star Force base on Hacari IV. Casualties have been reported to be in the hundreds making this the bloodiest confrontation yet between the two micro races. Equipment losses have been estimated to be extensive, with several cruisers and battleships docked at the base destroyed or severely damaged.

"As of this moment, the Nemoni Federation and the Elyssian Alliance are in a state of war." Nemoni President Malcone Meston was quoted as saying at a hastily called press conference. "This cowardly attack on our sovereign territory will not go unanswered." The President answered questions regarding the spark that ignited the current conflict, and cited recent attempts by the Elyssians to annex Nemoni territory. "Our people have established legal claims to our territory, and we will not give it up easily. We will not be bullied, we will not be intimidated, and we will not be driven from our homes."

The Nemoni Star Force is reported to be on full alert and Nemoni patrols have tripled since the attack. If this will remain an isolated incident or indicates the start of more aggressive action by the Elyssians remains to be seen.

B'hiri ambassador plans visit

COMORRO STATION - Ambassador Okaskatich, representative of the B'hiri in the wake of the recently ended war against the Il'Ri'Kamm Hive Mind, is planning to arrive on Comorro Station in one week.

It will be the first time a B'hiri has set foot aboard Comorro since before the onset of the war and the Yaralu's refusal to intervene for either side.

The ambassador is expected to remain for several weeks and has expressed particular interest in meeting with refugees that arrived aboard Hancock Station.