From Mars
     Mars is pleased to announce a cooperative venture with Luna to repopulate the Earth. We intend to restore the pristine beauty of the Earth. Our plan is for joint custodianship of Earth, with economic benefits to be shared by the entire Solar system. Details will be forthcoming.
     Mars is disturbed at the recent actions of the Tethys Empire. While respecting each nation's sovereignty, it is best to discontinue weapons exports to the Empire, until such time as a more moderate administration is in power.

From the Gamemasters
     The following are all examples of "no-cost" projects:
     Feasibility studies: How much time and money a future project will take.
     Political reorganizations and studies.
     Historical research: Mankind has been collecting data (scientific, social, political, astronomical, etc.) for millennia now. Much of it is simply stored away in data banks, forgotten to modern folks.
     Most theoretical research: Research done in the head or on a computer. (Note that even a lot of physical research may use only a little money just to set up facilities; once started they can often function without further funds.)
     Aggressive diplomacy and public opinion campaigns: Modern media is cheap and easily available to most governments.
     Most espionage: Specific espionage jobs rarely cost much money, since they require only a few key people and possibly a few well-greased palms. The major determinant of espionage success is not how much you spend on a specific project, it's how good your people are, based on past experience and training. If you've got the right people in the right places with the right connections, then an espionage job goes easily. If you don't then no amount of money will work.

From the Gamemasters
     And now the other extreme: big money projects. (And note that even a few MU is a lot of money!) It is extremely difficult to keep a big money project secret; that much money simply can't disappear out of the budget without being noticed by many people. Of course, for those of you who are lone nations in your own system with total control of all external communications (Tyrell, Cimmer, Kalahari Corporates, and Kuisti) this is no problem. But for Auroran and Solar nations, all it would take is a simple request from someone to your media to get a very good estimate (within a couple MU) of your total budget, complete with a breakdown of major projects. So, if you want to do something secret, don't spend over 1 MU on it.

From Metellus Aleta (Exsequor Primus) and the Senatus Repblicus Aurorae
     As of December of this year, the governments of Mars, Kuisti, and most of the Auroran extended colonies have joined the Republica Aurora in full-scale negotiations over the structure of the League of Colonies, with promising results. It is the intent of this conference to create an agreeable path to total completion, which will likely be a slow but steady one.
     Though the number of proposals for organizational elements is nearly ten thousand, it is certainly not a satisfactory cross-section of ideas from all of the colonies. New and revised suggestions are encouraged, but let it be noted that the League will not be a super-government; it is a jointly maintained construct for connecting the Human Nations over vast distances.
     Major negotiation points of the Conference of the League are: universality, confidentiality, and integrity of League FTL links; the LOC Charter itself (political, military, economic); an international reserve system for the Intercolonial Stock Exchange; enforcement capabilities and the possibility of an independent League military force; international trade laws; a code of martial conduct; human rights laws; and very importantly, national representation in the League.
     A working draft comprised of progress and proposals on most of the points mentioned will be published later in the year by the League Conference.

From CorpCo to the Citizens of Sol
     Looking for a quality job? Have a strong background in economics or sales, or just willing to learn? Then CorpCo is looking for YOU!

From Cimmer
     Cimmer is pleased to report that our communications problems are now fixed, so that we may once again discourse with our loyal subjects.

MEN LAND ON EARTH!!!
     After centuries of waiting, Earth's defenses were finally turned off in a ceremony by a joint team from over 13 nations. After testing the atmosphere with automated probes, a group of 100 diplomats and vips safely landed on Earth while billions watched on holovid. Emotions ran so high that many members of the landing party broke into tears at the return to "Mother Earth". Massive celebrations were held across the system, as a wave of euphoria swept through the population. Speeches about the "joint heritage of all mankind", "a return to our historical roots", and "a chance to correct the wrongs of our ancestors" were widely viewed.
     Much of the initial good feelings faded when, two weeks after the initial landing, 5000 Cookie colonists from the Lunar 1g training facility landed on Earth. Spread in small parties over the globe, and with economic and technological backing from numerous corporations and government agencies, the Cookies immediately began building homes, setting up launch sites to ship water to Luna, and stripping the cities of "collectibles" which are being sold across the system for outrageous prices. Despite the outcry from archaeologists and historians, the demand for such items continues to grow enormously.
     The only answer to complaints to the Lunar federal government is that the individuals are free citizens who are not breaking any laws (especially since Earth has no government and there are no laws).

New Center Founded
     A consortium of Lunar companies announced the "Earth Rejuvenation Center" with much fanfare, but no explanation of its function was given.

Lunar Election Results
     In general elections on Luna, President Mannion was re-elected to office by a bare majority. His Lunar Progress Party remained firmly in control of the Congress, though most analysts agree that the incumbents remain in office mostly due to inertia, a powerful party political machines, and the continuous stream of pork barrel funds and projects awarded to loyal districts. Wan Tojima, a noted Martian columnist, referred to Lunar politics as "anachronistic, patronizing, and disgusting". Cookie writers responded with a series of scathing anti-Tojima articles and cartoons.

Details of Benevolence Expedition Revealed
     Interviews with the Lunar crews that went to Benevolence (and dramatic reconstructions of the subsequent events) became big hits in solar media. They detailed the sudden attack without warning by the bases hidden inside the asteroids, the destruction of the cruiser Ghandi, the desperate flight of the two ships, the long distance detection of a massive fire-fight in the asteroid belt hours after the Cookies left, and the harrowing voyage home in a single damaged destroyer.

More Martian Exploration Ships Set Forth
     Two groups of Martian ftl ships were sent out to explore nearby systems. Their exact destinations were not revealed, however.

Lockheed Ship Production Expands Further
     Lockheed's shipyard expansions continued. This year alone, Lockheed was able to construct five FtrVal within one year, along with a number of smaller projects.
     Two gigantic freighters from CorpCo, the major Auroran trade company, arrived in Sol full of exotic goods. They set up corporate offices in Sol system, complete with 100 Auroran executives to handle relations. In two months they had installed their Sol regional headquarters on Ganymede and branch offices in all major nations, hiring over 1000 locals, with plans to raise this by an order of magnitude within a year. They began immediate construction of an interstellar communication array equal in size to that owned by the Martian government. With funds from the sale of goods they also purchased an ftl-2 freighter, iridium supplies, and a load of transition metals from Lockheed. The ships then departed for Tyrell, leaving the solar economic community gasping for breath.

     The Republica Aurora embarked on a program of large scale military construction. The first stage consisted of expanding station defenses around Republica worlds. Funds were set aside for later spending on ship construction once shipyards are complete. The Republica affirmed that all military craft are solely for defensive purposes.

Kuisti/Auroran Cooperation
     Astronomers from Kuisti and Aurora formed a team to compare construction on their respective telescope arrays and share data.

Anthrak Takes Office as Priest King
     The new Priest King, Kevin Anthrak, was selected and installed in office. In his inauguration speech he mentioned an increased emphasis on finding and colonizing new worlds and increasing ties with the other human worlds. He also praised the League of Colonies as a "light for colonial relations". His closing statement was, "May the One God bring peace to us and to the universe."

Kuistic Media News
     Star Trek: The New Galaxies, a popular science fiction holovid series on Kuisti, entered its 100th year of production. Fans hope to hold a 900th anniversary Star Trek celebration next decade on Earth itself, on the former site of the 20th-21st century Paramount Studios.
     Kuisti began a monthly video broadcast to all other worlds entitled "From the One God to Everyone". The program explains the religious beliefs of the People of the One God and shows the prosperity that has come to them through their faith. It includes sermons, educational programs, and various artistic pieces (musical, visual, and theatrical) which portray aspects of the religion.

     Tyrell built large amounts of ship parts to trade with CorpCo when their ship arrives in the middle of 2854.

     Without explanation, the planet Athens (formerly named Athena, no reason for the name change is given) reopened communications with the other human worlds.