Draconis Combine Invades Alexandria

Alexandria, Virginia Shire, Lyran Commonwealth

A battalion of battlemechs and about three conventional regiments landed on Alexandria earlier this week. The battlemechs have been identified as the 2nd battalion of the 11th Legion of Vega, based on the Combine world of Marlik. The defending forces were quickly routed and have fled to the mountains of the Western Continent.

The invasion comes a little less than a month after House Kurita rejected Archon Katrina Steiner's Peace Proposal. Analysts believe that this is the first battle of a new Combine offensive against the Commonwealth.

"We are currently organizing a force to reinforce the Alexandria garrison," said General Jack Sphire, Margrave of Ryde Theater. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you who we are sending. The units of the Ryde Theater have been put on alert. I expect that several more worlds will be attacked soon."

Federated Suns Signs Free Trade Treaty with Outworlds Alliance

New Avalon, Crucis March, Federated Suns

The Federated Suns announced a trade agreement with the Outworlds Alliance yesterday. Traders from both nations will be able to cross freely across the border. The Federated Suns will also provide increased security for merchant shipping by assigning more units to garrison and patrol the Federated Suns-Outworlds Alliance border.

"Although the Free Trade Treaty doesn't mention any sort military cooperation or aid, note that the Federated Suns will use the treaty as an excuse to build up some forces in that region," commented analyst Pender Torias of IAC. "It is inevitable that the Draconis Combine will also increase its military preparedness in the area. This could lead to conflict uncomfortably near Outworlds Alliance worlds."

Douglas Aguillez, Outworlds Alliance ambassador, stressed that the Alliance will remain neutral in any Federated Suns-Draconis Combine conflict. "The treaty covers trade only," explained the ambassador. "We will not allow any military forces from neither the Federated Suns nor the Draconis Combine to enter Alliance territory."

Melissa Steiner Celebrates Tenth Birthday

Tharkad, District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth

Archon-Designate Melissa Arthur Steiner celebrated her tenth birthday last Thursday. Her birthday party, held in the Royal Court in Tharkad City, was attended by most of the politicians and military officers present on Tharkad. Also present were tri-vid star Naida Butur and current Solaris Champion Gray Noton.

Asked for her opinion of court life, Melissa said that it was "stuffy" and "tedious". She went on to say that she studies constantly which doesn't leave her any time for boyfriends.

Spotlight On: The Solaris Games

The Battlemech games of Solaris is the primary tourist attraction of Solaris VII. The games are conducted year round, with every city having some sort of match each week. The various arenas fall into one of six classes, although any arena can hold a match of any class with the permission of the next larger arena in the area.

The only class five arenas are found in Solaris City. Each of the five nation-zones has a state-of-the-art arena. Each arena is renovated every few years to keep up and outpace the other arenas.

Duels are scheduled in a haphazard fashion. Lower ranked duelists challenge higher ranked duelists. The top twenty duelists fight only three to eight duels a year.

Most duelists belong to one of dozens of stables. Each stable sponsors one to three dozen duelists with the largest and best stables getting support from the various governments in the form of new and experimental equipment and mechs. Many new battlemech designs are field tested on Solaris.

The current champion of Solaris is Gray Noton, who has held the title since 3016 when he defeated Maxwell Boddi. Gray has defended his title twenty times since becoming champion.