Archeologists Missing; Amazing Find Rumored

From Raconteur Reports

AL RAQIS CITY - Investigators are asking for the public to help to locate a missing archeological team, last seen heading northeast into the wastes. Long overdue to check in, authorities uncovered files describing the team's search: tracing possible offworld migrations to original settlers of Al Raqis.

Locals quickly denounced rumors and conspiracy threories around amazing "secrets" the team may have found. Anyone with information on the missing team should contact the Magistrate's office.

OOC: Rumor Backlog Cleared

By Allen Kerensky

It seems quite a few folks entered rumors starting about 5 seconds after I went on vacation last week *grin* I am back from my trip, and have approved all the pending rumors that seemed usable.

A few rumors were deleted from pendinglist, usually involving specific people's sexual preferences.
Remember, when entering rumors, please phrase them as if you had overheard people in the street talking about someone else.

Just saying "I did this" is not helpful, since no one would know who "I" was.
Enjoy!

Orions open Trade House for general use

Raconteur Reports

The Orion Factor is happy to announce that the Orion Trade House is open for visitation or use for local entertainment. The Trade House, or "The Den" as the Orions call it, features a food and drink replicator, a lounge and meeting area on the first floor, a dance pit and open bar on the second floor (and dance vase wit appropriate exotic dancer music). So feel free to come and enjoy the hospitality of the "The Den"

OOC: Seeq'ing roleplay?

Tuesday, 11-16, starting about 6 pm SLT, in Seeq Emet in the Wadi.

Make up a seeq-only name, throw it on a flip title, take off your shoes and be a Desertborn for an hour or two, socializing at the end of the day. Dinner is done, the kids sent to bed, it is time for the adults

Outside, the temperature is dropping with the setting sun, but it is warm in the seeq. Women wear summery dresses with long skirts. Men wear long or short kilts or pants, and go topless or wear openfront shirts.

TODAY MIDDAY - Robot Gladiators

By Vooper Weribee
Al Raqis

SPLINTERED ROCK, Al Raqis - Yes, those crazy Offowrlders are at it again with their odd and wasteful customs. Come watch them or evn take part!

There will be a Robot Gladiator tournament using Combat Cards on Splintered Rock today (LM to the arena attached). Everything you need to play is FREE and there is a 500 l prize for the winner of the tournament and also a 500 L prize for the competitir withthe best Robot avatar. IM Vooper Werribee for more details or just turn up at Midday.
 
Coordinates: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Splintered%20Rock/48/71/59

IISS Orbital Survey Report

By Baroun Tardis
IISS Head of Station

AL RAQIS - Imperial regulations require the IISS to publicly release Survey information that may be of benefit to the people of the world being surveyed.

Recent densitomiter scans have shown a deposit of transition metals in the north eastern section of the area known as the 'Deep Desert' . Orbital scanning does not indicate the exact metal.

Report ends.

IISS Plans Al Raqis Shuttle 'Wildlife Upgrade'

Raconteur Staff

GROUNDPORT, Al Raqis -- After protests that regular Highport shuttle flights continue to "slaughter wildlife", the IISS announced a total review and overhaul program for the aging shuttle fleet.

"Reduce Environmental and Wildlife Impact" is high in the list of program goals. "We remember Space Bat, and agree more should be done." says Allie Reiland, IISS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibq2IwznCgc

The IISS is seeking local and native feedback on reasonable and achievable and success criteria.

House Kira - Open Horizons Program Notice

Raconteur Staff

KIRA EMBASSY, Al Raqis -- The weekly House Kira shuttle between Al Raqis and Kira's World in DeChau sector consistently has 2-3 cabins open for the trip. As a public service, House Kira is offering "Open Horizons" scholarships to native Al Raqians interested in expanding their horizons by taking these cabins for a short trip offworld. Contact Baroun Tardis, Barounet Kira's embassy offices for further information or to schedule a trip.

Golf Developer Tramples Teen Vandals

Raconteur Staff
 
SOLEN'S DRIFT, Al Raqis - Arren Solen is pressing charges on three teens after they damaged a blade of grass on his 'golf course.' Solen explains, "My company has been working very hard to bring golf to Al Raqis. The tourism trade would greatly help the economy. I know pressing charges for damaging a single blade of grass sounds very petty, but after 4 years of work we only have 3 surviving blades, and these kids bending even one of them is a serious setback!"

Every Tuesday Night in Wadi Emet

WADI EMET, Al Raqis - Every Tuesday night starting at 6 pm, we will be holding a relaxa-night in the Seeq in Wadi Emet. Come roleplay with us as an alternate-personna Desert Born. Enjoy the dances of the DB, meet the Naib and the Reverend Mother, sneer at the offworlders, laugh at the Constable.

In the morning, you are your old self...mining spice, plotting to smuggle, thinking about a cold beer at the Water's End, knowing very little about the Desert Born.

OOC: Scout Sundays?

By Allen Kerensky
Al Raqis
You may have noticed a lack of "Scout Sunday" announcements over the past few weeks.

Scout Sundays have been postponed while Baroun Tardis has been fully consumed with new features and debugging on many new HTCS features and extensive core changes, due in the 1.06 release.
Kira/IISS news and HTCS classes will resume shortly, in support of the 1.06 launch.

Advisory: Flare Heads For Al Raqis

Al Raqis Raconteur

Magnetic field distortion blasted megatonnes of super-heated plasma from Lo Parabirra into space, which is forecast to hit Al Raqis in the next 20 hours.


The IISS Stellar Dynamics Observer watched as flares and filaments cast the coronal mass from Spot 1034 as a "solar tsunami" ripped across the star's northern hemisphere.

The planetary magnetic field is expected to deflect this plasma wave, but all vessels in transit and exo-atmospheric installations should prepare for an estimated C3-class event.

Marauders Attack Passenger Transport

SPLINTERED ROCK, Al Raqis - The quiet still of the SR landing pad area was shattered as a transport carrying missionaries was blasted out of the sky by hidden marauder Anti Aircraft guns; The only survivor of the horrible attack was the pilot, who seems to have taken a nasty head injury and lost his memory.


The marauders shortly issued this statement;

"We will smite the invaders from our skies. There will be more in the days to come. We are here. We will not be ignored. We will win. We are the Marauders. Expect us."

Commerce Raiders or Slavers?

Raconteur Staff

AL RAQIS PORT - Reports and rumors are swirling around the Highport and Groundport of unconfirmed sightings of commerce raiders or slaver ships operating somewhere in the outer asteroid belt.


All ships are cautioned to review their repel boarders protocols, service all security and defense equipment, and operated in convoy when possible to deter or avoid this possible threat.

The IISS Archimedes is enroute from patrol to do a full belt survey.

Two Customs Agents Killed

CNS news services

DEEP DESERT - While patrolling the Empty Quarter for smuggler bases, two customs agents were ambushed and killed.

According to telemetry uplinked from their flier, the agents were investigating a newly spotted shuttle and camp 135km west-northwest of Al Raqis.

The uplinked data should allow positive ID of the ship and several crew members caught outside as the flier came in. One of these apparently triggered a successful ground-to-air missile attack.

The telemetry have been sent to all nearspace authorities.

Theiving Shopkeepers Caught on Camera

Raconteur Staff

AL RAQIS - Natives have long suspected local shopkeepers were less than honest about certain exchanges. That dishonesty became plain earlier this week when native teens rerouted security camera feeds from several shops into local newsfeeds.


The result: several shopkeepers caught on their own security cameras scheming ways to cheat native traders. The basic ploy? Offworld junk re-dressed as useful spares and electronics components.

Several crimiral racketeering investigations have been opened.

Busy Week For Desert Rescues

Raconteur Staff

DEEP DESERT - Emergency response teams report the number of deep desert rescues has spiked after a a large flare lifted off the surface of our nearer star, earlier this week.

"That flare, combined with ferro-magnetic properties of our deeper deserts caused many desert-rated locators and comms to fail. Some were off by just by a few degrees and others just packed it in." said one rescue squad leader.

Consumer reporters recommend "hardened" locators with satellite commlink backups over cheaper, more available models.

Bomb Threat Grounds Shuttle Flight

Raconteur Staff

HIGHPORT - The Al Raqis ground-to-orbit shuttle was grounded for 9 hours today after anonymous threats were left, claiming the shuttle carried a bomb.


Bomb teams shutdown the automated shuttle, moved it to a remote field, and examined it completely. No bomb was discovered. However, many automated control boards were replaced before the shuttle was put back in service.

Officials stress that it is safe, but the automated shuttle is now under increased surveillance and security checking in the wake of this incident.

Death at the Keep

Raconteur Staff

AL RAQIS KEEP - Mr. Kamm, CEO of Imperial Logistics Corporation, was murdered last night at the Magistrate's Keep during a cocktail party. Magistrate Al Jofar summoned investigator Nephyxtemet Ceriaptrix, who quickly determined the identity of the murderer.

Reiko Soyinka, Lady of House Morloch, stands accused of murder. She walked away from custody, assisted by her paxman and a squad of Morloch guards.

New information indicates that Mr. Kamm may have had some connection to an outsystem pirate and smuggling cartel.

Security Arrests Suspects In Ship Theft Ring

Working with the IISS, House Security have arrested "several" men suspected in a series of starship hijackings over the past 18 months.

"They would 'hire' a ship to move false 'cargo' which would infiltrate ship systems and compromise them, leaving the vessel helpless to prevent boarding and 'salvage'"

The ship crews are still missing but stolen ship components and hulls have been traced to surrounding systems. Local officials continue recovery operations with officials from those systems.

Excalibur/Sword Worlds [TNS] 178-1127

Genetic material from the excavations on the third moon of Excalibur is being sent to several universities throughout the Imperium, including the University of Sylea.

A representative of the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service made the announcement, saying that the samples would be carried by special Scout couriers because of the importance of the findings.

"It is to be hoped," said a representative of the IISS, "that the samples will confirm the discovery of a previously unknown sophont race."

IISS Issues Storm Warning For Local Regions

The IISS adjunct to House Kira has issued a storm warning in effect for the next 200 hours. The IISS is tracking the formation of coriolis storms across the deep desert basins. Tracking models predict more than 50% chances these storms may cross the Al Raqis or Splintered Rock settlements. All residents are advised to check emergency supplies, preparations, shelter and evacuation plans. This storm warning may be upgraded any time due to concerns with increased solar activity levels driving these storms.

Al Raqis Wind Farm "On Indefinite Hold"

AL RAQIS CITY  - Offworld entrepreneurs notifed the IISS base on Al Raqis that the large-scale wind farm planned after this year's earlier successful pilot is now on "indefinite hold."

Local IISS representatives cite the current unstable political climate for the lack of continued investment, while studying interim plans and alternatives to continue the project without offworld help.

House Kira Shipment Delays

HIGHPORT - Upset local business people gathered at the House Kira manor, complaining about recent shipping delays.

"We have contracts that stipulate schedules, and these are not being met." said one angry owner.

Allie Reiland, representing House Kira, assured that ships were coming in, "But, the unstable political situation in Al Raqis' system makes many nervous. Ships are taking more precautions, causing these delays."

Many question these remarks but others speculate House Veles may be the source of the concerns.

Concordia Relic Salvaged

AL RAQIS CITY - An IISS team on a routine beacon servicing mission salvaged a derelict first-era Concordia frigate. The frigate, estimated to be on a 250-year cometary orbit, dates back to the original Concordia colonization phase here.

The IISS team laid a salvage claim marker on it and transmitted the orbital parameters to the Concordia Dept. of Antiquities. It is expected to take years to fully explore and document a find such as this, but Concordia historians are already excited by the initial survey results.

Reception for House Veles, Saturday 12:00 SLT

Al Raqis Raconteur
THE KEEP  - The Magistrate commands your presence at a formal dinner to honor the granting of a Great House contract to House Veles. The dinner shall be held at the Magistrate's Keep on Saturday, July 10. 12:00pm SLT. Formal dress required. No weapons. Freed attendants only. Poison detectors provided.

Kadiaru Faith Healers Gaining Acceptance

Al Raqis Raconteur

AL RAQIS CITY - Al Raqis-born have long known of the benefits of Kadiaru faith healers and their exotic treatments. New studies in the Concordia Journal of Regional Medicines have also taken note.

According to local tales, Kadiaru apprentices harvest only deep desert plants and animal extracts for the elders to prepare their closely-guarded recipes from, guided by rituals and chants handed down within families for generations.

Researchers are negotiating to document these treatments for widespread use off-world.

79-year Old Local Foils Break-In With Knife

UNDERTOWN, Al Raqis - A man, described as an offworlder, found a rude surprise in store when he tried to break into desert-born Alrin Qa Juran's small dwelling in undertown, Al Raqis City.


Qa Juran may look small and frail, but still wields a wicked blade.

"As last light, I was just putting my feet in my boots for the day and there he was!" However, no desert-born is ever without a knife in easy reach, as the shocked outworlder learned firsthand, quickly taking 3 stab-wounds before fleeing. Offworld criminals, take note: Qa Juran offered to skip the trial and finish the job if he can find the attacker first. DNA samples recovered should lead to an arrest in short order.

Natives Prepare for Migration

DEEP DESERT - The Lady Soyinka of House Morloch, representing the Desen, held a meeting last night. All amateur holo makers were requested to attend.

"As usual, the yearly migration of the outworlder nutcases is due," she started. "I want a complete record of all the deaths, same as last year. We will, as we did last year, be able to prove to the outworlder authorities that we are not responsible for the disappearances."

When questioned after the meeting, Lady Soyinka's only comment was, "What a waste of water."

Environmentalists Prepare for Migration

Al Raqis Raconteur

AL RAQIS - Eco-activists planet-wide started gathering this week for the twice-annual trip to observe young sand worm migration.


"No one knows why they choose the timing or the routes, but this is one of the best chances to study these magnificent creatures!" enthuses organizer "Freewater" Willy La Roque.

Feelings are mixed as locals greet the influx of tourist credit but eye the tourists themselves skeptically. "One nut bar says he can talk to worms? A lot of granola at these migrations..." opines a local.

Gala for House Veles Scheduled

Al Raqis Raconteur

The Magistrate commands your presence at a formal dinner to honor the granting of a Great House contract to House Veles. The dinner shall be held at the Magistrate's Keep on Saturday, July 10. 12:00pm SLT. Formal dress required. No weapons. Freed attendants only. Poison detectors provided.

Scout Sunday tomorrow, 9AM SLT -- Scavanger Hunt!

By Baroun Tardis

The IISS has recieved reports that a smuggler has stashed some treasure out in the desert... and we have a list of clues to where it is.

Tomorrow's Scout event is a scavanger hunt in Al Raqis to find the hidden treasure. Everyone participating gets a prize of some sort in this one

Contact Baroun Tardis for more details

OOC: The DarkBane Crime Syndicate

By Tygerius Galaxy

The DarkBane Crime Syndicate has just opened. If you're looking to join a band of Criminals, and make your way in the Galaxy IM me. We're currently looking for soldiers, pilots, assassins, bounty hunters and entertainers. If you know you're right for the part, let me know. We've got a base, and are fully functional, we just need you! IM Tygerius Galaxy for joining information.

OOC: Al Raqis Automatic Beacon, Fewer Bugs

By Allen Kerensky

I have improved the scripts in the beacon, for both Al Raqis and Zapedzki Shipyards automatic ship identification systems.

Reminder: Vessels over altitude 300 in Al Raqis region should use the automatic IFF beacon included in the notecard below, or run the risk of being misidentified as debris and fired upon by orbital or station anti-collision defenses.

House Kira Accepting Cargo Import/Export

AL RAQIS CITY - The recently-chartered House Kira has opened offices within Al Raqis City, outfitted an Offworld Import/Export Warehouse, and undertaken extensive modifications of the Al Raqis Highport.

Starship traders who wish to can dock at the Highport and sell cargoes to House Kira there for import groundside.

Locally-produced cargo can be sold to House Kira at their warehouse for offworld export.

House Kira has brought in an early CargoCom system to help manage cargo shipping for all.

Please see attached note.
 
WHAT IS CARGOCOM?


CargoCom is a simple way to visually represent the transfer of cargo units to House Kira for disposition from starships or groundside production.



WHERE DO I GET CARGO TO TRADE?

HTCS Resource Harvesting is one answer - groundside prospectors can survey the land for any number of valuable resources, harvest units of them, and pack those units into a cargo pallet for shipping.

Highport prospectors can harvest asteroid resources from the Inner Asteroid Belt between 1500 and 2000 Z altitude with a ship, HTCS vacuum suit, and HTCS mining laser (both available on the Highport, Deck 2).

Or, make it up - how DID you produce tons of consumer electronics? minerals? etc?



WHERE DO I FIND CARGOCOM TERMINALS?

CargoCom terminals are conveniently located at:

House Kira Offworld Import/Export warehouse in the Kira Court, Al Raqis, 31, 51, 64, just behind the Oasis Winds Tavern.

Al Raqis Highport, Deck 2, Cargo Bays 1 through 4



HOW DO I USE THE TERMINAL?

Whether you land on the Highport or drive a loader up to the warehouse groundside, simply click the CargoCom terminal to start.

A drop-down menu will appear asking which Cargo Pallet to use ... 1-12.

A second drop-down menu will appear asking what Cargo to load into the Pallet.

The Cargo Pallet will then expand to indicate it is full and show the Cargo and Source.

That's it!

Your cargo has been transferred to the warehouse or highport bay, pending final arrangements with a House Kira agent for purchase and disposition.



HOW DO I GET PAID FOR MY CARGO?

If you have already consigned your cargo to House Kira, you still need to contact an agent of House Kira, easily identified by their SL group tag of ... "House Kira", or Allen Kerensky or Baroun Tardis and roleplay the rest of the cargo transaction.

If you use HTCS, then a convenient roleplay currency system is already in place for House Kira to pay you for your cargo.

Without HTCS, any manner of value-for-value barter or trade agreement can still be reached.

Simply write up your offer as a contract notecard and present your offer to an available House Kira agent on the Highport or at the groundside offices next to our warehouse.



WHEN CAN I USE THE CARGOCOM?

The groundside CargoCom terminal deactivates at night when the warehouse gates close to prevent theft.

Highport CargoCom terminals are active day and night.



WHO MADE THIS?

CargoCom designed and built by Allen Kerensky and Baroun Tardis for the HTCS Type-S Sierra II roleplay starship project.



WHY MAKE A CARGOCOM INSTEAD OF JUST ROLEPLAY?

Every trader needs cargo to trade. Most simply rez cannisters around here and there, which is actually limited to all parties being present.

CargoCom is a step past that, allowing cargo transfers when only one party is available, without complicated modifications to ships or vehicles.

Also, the Cargo transfer from groundside to warehouse to Highport to Trader and back can now be "simulated" using a single system at no prim cost to the players.

Land your ship on the Highport, rez some cargo in the cargo bay with the cargocom, and start roleplaying!

OOC: Al Raqis Rumors, Minus Stupid Bug!

By Allen Kerensky
Al Raqis Group

For those of you who have given the spinning green crystal rumor system in Al Raqis a try, thank you!

You helped me find and shoot holes into a major annoying bug making the system unusable. So,I fixed it, and the rumor system seems MUCH more usable.While debugging, I took the opportunity to add many new features (and bugs most likely) on the server side for performance. I also reloaded the existing rumors =D

I have attached the instructions for the IC rumor system.

Please continue to help us test it!
 
Al Raqis In-Character Rumor System 2010


===========================

This sim uses a unique system to help you spread in-character (IC) tidbits without the rumor being linked to you, and giving you randomly wide distribution of interesting IC information.

These slowly spinning green crystal objects are scattered about the sim.

They represent information contacts, the average Joe who may or may not have heard something interesting, and is willing to share it with you.

They are non-player character, NPCs, "dummies", but can be included in roleplay when having to explain where you got information.

Their use is simple:

Touching the green crystal will bring up a dialog box, and you are asked if you would like to GET a rumor or create a NEW rumor.

GET:
Clicking this option will make the rumor contact whisper you a random rumor out of the database of rumors already entered.

Please do not madly click the object to get a lot of rumors at once, or you may find NONE of the rumor contacts will speak to you.

NEW:
This option will allow you to enter in a new rumor of your own.

You must enter in a rumor that you are certain you know IC; see our sim rules on Metagaming.

It should also be one that you don't mind anyone finding out.

Indeed, this is a great method to make sure people know about something without knowing who told... or to spread misinformation!

Another dialog box will come up, telling you when to start, and you will enter your rumor with the command: /600

NOTE: There will be a delay before the system accepts the rumor.

This is to give you time to type.

All incoming rumors are moderated by Sim Admin before entering the database to ensure they are not spam, and rumors expire automatically after 30 days after being posted.

All rumors record who placed them in case there are any questions, but that information is only available to Sim Admin.

Future Plans
---------------
Currently, the system assumes all rumors are at a level of "common knowledge".

Future enhancements will add five levels of how common the knowledge is, from Common Knowledge to Very Secret.

This will be enabled when the RP System comes online.

In-Sim Rumor System Originally Conceived and Designed by Disraeli Calderwood.

Scientist: Al Raqis not always desert

CNS news services

AL RAQIS - AL RAQIS - In a controversial report, offworld scientists working near Al Raqis City report that Al Raqis was not always a desert world.


"There is more water locked into local rock strata, as much as 100 times more, than fits our models for a planet that was 'once a desert, always a a desert.'" says senior scientist.

Other scientists disagree, "That report is sham science backed by no data. I expect we'll find core sample contamination skewed results."

With the report, amateur 'water prospecting' has increased.