Federated Suns Annex Galtor III

Galtor III, Raman PDZ, Draconis March, Federated Suns

The last of the organized Draconis Combine forces were hunted down and destroyed or captured two and a half weeks ago. A very few scattered Combine troops continue guerilla-style resistance but, for all intent and purposes, Galtor III is now a member of the Federated Suns. Several smaller nearby worlds have also taken the Davion banner and are no longer under the control of House Kurita.

The current advances by the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth continue with few setbacks. Combine garrison forces have been told to "fight to the last man". In many cases this is what happens, for the Combine has been unable to deal a decisive blow to turn the war. Relief is in the horizon, with the rumored Kurita-Marik Treaty close to signing.

ComStar Announces Universal Time Servers

Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra

ComStar representatives announced that their organization will begin to provide a universal time service for all worlds in the Inner Sphere. The ComStar Universal Time (CUT) service will provide every world with a standard time reference synchronized with all other worlds. ComStar declined to elaborate on the techniques and technologies used to establish CUT.

Each of the five Inner Sphere governments has expressed interest using the service, which will cost .01 C-bill per inhabitant per year on any particular world. "For the common citizen our service is unnecessary," said the ComStar spokesperson. "Governments and multi-world corporations will find our CUT service invaluable in many applications."

Irian BattleMechs Unlimited

Company:            Irian BattleMechs, Unlimited
                    A Division of Irian Technologies
Division Head:      Donald Ramsell

Irian BattleMechs currently has two operational 'Mech production facilities: a stripped-down but still efficient plant on Shiro III, which produces Quickdraws and Wasps, and the Soapstone Mountain plant on Irian, which, though virtually razed by Anton Marik's rebel forces during the civil war of 3014, has resumed producing Hermes II BattleMechs due to financial backing from Dame Catherine Humphreys. The division's recently appointed President, Sigmund Hughes, has received many accolades for bringing the Soapstone Mountain plant back on-line in less than three years.

Unsurprisingly for a BattleMech manufacturer, IBU has a small complement of light and medium 'Mechs at its private disposal. Each of the two active 'Mech production facilities are garrisoned with a company of 'Mechs. The general level of company security systems (most of which are produced in-house) is among the best in the Free Worlds.

-- From House Marik, Editor George Ninetrees, ComStar Press

Worlds of the FWL: Irian

World:              Irian
Star Type:          G5III
Position in System: 3
Days to Jump Point: 7.5
Recharging Station: Zenith, Nadir
Government:         Corporate
Political Leader:   President Georgio Frapollo
ComStar Facility:   Class A
ComStar Rep:        Precentor William Mullahey
Population:         2 169 000 000
%/Lvl Native Life:  15%/Plant

Located just coreward of the Marik Commonwealth, Irian is best known for its vast BattleMech manufacturing centers. This heavily garrisoned world has been invaded only once, by the Lyran Commonwealth in 2842, and the factories were left undamaged in the subsequent fighting.

The Irian landscape offers little of interest to either tourists or developers. Inedible grass cover most of the hilly or mountainous land, and the flatlands consist mostly of deserts with few minerals of any value. The oceans and rivers yield little in the way of seafood. Despite the fact that the people have to import most of their food (or perhaps because of it), Irian cuisine is notoriously bland.

-- From House Marik, Editor George Ninetrees, ComStar Press