Earlier this week, automated stellar probes in the HIP 16497 system picked up an unusual heat signature. Local explorers promptly launched an investigation, only to discover that an asteroid had inexplicably disappeared from the system.

"It's most peculiar," said Kate Panamen of the Mars High Astrocartography Institute. "Given the asteroid's orbit, it shouldn't have come into contact with anything in the system for aeons. Nevertheless, the investigators found an expanding cloud of dust in the asteroid's supposed location. We're at a loss to explain how it could have been destroyed."

Both Federal and Imperial sources denied rumours that the destruction of the asteroid was a result of experimental weapon testing.

This report presents the latest data on conflict among the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to experience a civil war:

Vanayequi Independents

New 31 Aquilae Green Party

Chamunda Crimson Gang

Fusang Fortune Commodities

LTT 377 Purple General Corp.

Liberty Party of Zeessze

Ross 754 Universal and Co

Luyten's Star Co

Luyten 674-15 Industries

Alpha Centauri Gold Brotherhood

Civil wars occur when minor factions compete for control of major assets such as starports. When a faction is involved in a civil war, the standard of living, development level and security level in the system it controls are temporarily reduced. Combat activities can bring a civil war to an end.

Here are the latest factions to experience war:

Limapa Blue State Commodities

Coalition of Ngaliba

Lords of Ngaliba

Potriti Gold Mafia

Coquim Industry

Yakabugai Exchange

Laedla and Co

Kokary Liberals

Liberty Party of LP 751-1

Independents of Mildeptu

Wars occur when a minor faction invades a star system controlled by another minor faction. For the duration of the war, the standard of living, wealth level and security level in the disputed system are reduced. Combat activity between the two warring factions determines the outcome of the conflict. If neither faction succeeds in dominating the other, the war ends in a ceasefire.

After a relatively quiet start to the year, the Buckyball Racing Club is back with its first full-length race of 3303: Tunnel Vision.

The race, which is between Leopold Heckmann Ring in the Malaikudi system and Evans Port in Parutis, requires competitors to navigate a series of tunnels at various scientific and military installations en route. Bonuses will be awarded depending on ship size, meaning some very large ships will be squeezed through some very tight spaces.

The Buckyball Racing Club refused to address rumours that the race will use Federal and Imperial capital ship docks as gates.

The event starts on Saturday the 25th of February and will run until Monday the 6th of March.

Alec Turner

An Alliance spokesperson has announced that a Naval convoy has been attacked in the Rahu system. The spokesperson also confirmed that criminals have begun targeting the convoy with the intention of taking escape pods from the wreckage. They went on to say:

"These criminals have just one aim: to abduct Alliance personnel and sell them into illegal slavery. We cannot allow these vile opportunists to take our comrades captive."

"We are therefore asking pilots to recover escape pods from the wreckage and deliver them to Acharya Station in Rahu. We have also placed a kill order on all wanted ships operating in the system, in support of the rescue operation."

The campaign begins on the 23rd of February 3303 and will run for one week. If the final target is met earlier than planned, the campaign will end immediately.

This report presents the latest data on health issues among the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to experience famine:

Avan Labour Union

Green Party of HIP 103138

HIP 105577 One

Kvenland Services

Bubii Rats

Leaders of BD-08 2963

Cuicatec Gold Power Co

HIP 105639 Party

Sokat Values Party

Parhul Silver Electronics Hldgs

When a faction is affected by famine the standard of living in the system it controls temporarily decreases. Combat activity has no effect on influence while a famine is active. Completing food-trade missions can bring a famine to an end.

Here are the latest factions to experience an outbreak:

HIP 73428 Exchange

Bodb Den Advanced Network

Green Party of Dulos

LHS 1387 Jet Mob

Mooramoora Union Party

Aonghus Co

Hajon Industries

Totegafook Posse

Co-operative of HIP 49102

Progressive Party of Ross 210

When a faction is affected by an outbreak the standard of living in the system it controls temporarily decreases. Combat activity has no effect on influence while an outbreak is active. Completing medicine-supply missions can bring an outbreak to an end.

This report presents the latest data on the security status of the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to experience a lockdown:

Wolf 359 Blue Travel Commodities

LHS 1387 Jet Mob

WISE 0855-0714 Gold Gang

Zeus Bureau

Oho Bajo Public Holdings

Segoveduwa Empire Party

Nationalists of Aulin

Nationals of Themiscrya

Nang Ta-khian Public Co

Opala Power Commodities

When a faction experiences a lockdown, the security rating of the system it controls temporarily increases and the system's wealth temporarily decreases. Bounty hunting activity can shorten the lockdown period.

Here are the latest factions to experience civil unrest:

Kokary Holdings

Uru Federal Interstellar

Vanayequi Independents

Revolutionary Heheng Future

Natural LP 811-17 Conservatives

Ross 490 Mafia

Independents of LHS 3262

Mob of Nantariates

United Wat Yu Confederacy

Nationalists of Aulin

Civil unrest is the result of illegal activity. When a faction is affected by civil unrest, the standard of living in the system it controls temporarily decreases, as does the system's wealth. Combat missions and activities can bring civil unrest to an end.

This report presents the latest data on the economic health of the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to experience an economic boom:

Colanja Gold Power Services

Limapa Blue State Commodities

Uru Federal Interstellar

Avan Labour Union

Wolf 359 Blue Travel Commodities

Union of Wolf 359 Labour

Potriti Gold Mafia

Cemiess Commodities

Orrere Ring

Eravate Network

Boom is usually the result of consistent trade profit and completed trade contracts. When a faction experiences a boom, the wealth of the system it controls temporarily increases and trade missions completed in the system have double the effect on influence. The faction's influence may also increase. Booms typically last until they naturally expire.

Here are the latest factions to experience an economic bust:

Brotherhood of LP 98-132

Ngaliba Blue Camorra

Lords of Ngaliba

Chamunda Crimson Gang

i Bootis Central Limited

Partnership of LHS 2819

Family of Parun

HIP 6758 Posse

Orishpucho Jet Hand Gang

Chau Yu Gold Clan

When a faction experiences a bust, the wealth of the system it controls is temporarily reduced and the faction's influence is temporarily diminished. Trade actions do not contribute to boom while a bust is active. A bust typically has to run its course before ending.

This report presents the latest data on expansion and withdrawal among the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to have expanded into new systems:

G 41-14 Purple Travel Solutions

Annarr Dynamic Corp.

Kikians Purple Vision PLC

Betel Free

Jaques

Tian Xian Inc

Labour of Kalads

Movement for Oduwaid Fo Labour

Martio Imperial Society

Djinaura Brotherhood

Expansions occur when a minor faction reaches a sufficient level of influence and there is a populated system within striking distance. Expansion is costly, so when a faction expands, the wealth and development level of the system it controls are temporarily reduced.

Here are the latest factions in withdrawal:

Kokary Liberals

GCRV 4654 State Interstellar

Labour of Ethgreze

Revolutionary Heheng Future

39 Tauri Interstellar

Labour of Geras

Inupiates Patrons of Law

HR 8170 Brotherhood

HIP 113100 Imperial Society

LHS 3598 Transport Group

Factions are considered to be in withdrawal if their level of influence within a system drops below a certain level. If the faction's influence remains low for a total of five days, the faction must leave the system entirely. If the faction manages to increase its level of influence, it remains in the system.

This report presents the latest data on conflict among the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to experience a civil war:

New 31 Aquilae Green Party

Zeessze Clan

Ross 754 Universal and Co

Fusang Fortune Commodities

Vanayequi Independents

Liberty Party of Zeessze

Alpha Centauri Gold Brotherhood

Gliese 868 Services

Luyten 674-15 Industries

Aymifa Resistance

Civil wars occur when minor factions compete for control of major assets such as starports. When a faction is involved in a civil war, the standard of living, development level and security level in the system it controls are temporarily reduced. Combat activities can bring a civil war to an end.

Here are the latest factions to experience war:

Colanja Gold Power Services

Official Darkates Freedom Party

Order of Ethgreze

Coalition of Ngaliba

Laedla and Co

The Pilots Federation

Nuenets Corp.

Independents of Mildeptu

HR 3954 Crew

People's Changthini for Equality

Wars occur when a minor faction invades a star system controlled by another minor faction. For the duration of the war, the standard of living, wealth level and security level in the disputed system are reduced. Combat activity between the two warring factions determines the outcome of the conflict. If neither faction succeeds in dominating the other, the war ends in a ceasefire.

This report presents the latest data on democratic activity among the galaxy's minor factions.

Here are the latest factions to hold elections:

Limapa Blue State Commodities

Delphin Blue Federal PLC

HIP 8593 Empire League

Sol Workers' Party

Zeaex Flag

V886 Centauri Future

Liberals of Delta Pavonis

Marquis du HIP 110867

Nahua Citizens' Forum

Gitxsan Limited

Elections occur when two minor factions with a similar political structure resolve a conflict over ownership and influence within a system.

The Vestani Conservatives have announced that their Valentine's Day appeal received the enthusiastic support of the galactic community, with hundreds of pilots taking to their ships to transport commodities to Rose Terminal in the Vestani system.

A spokesperson for the organisation released a brief statement:

"We are delighted with the response, and would like to thank the galactic community for helping us make this Valentine's Day particularly special."

Pilots who contributed to the initiative can now collect their rewards from Rose Terminal in the Vestani system.

At 7.00 am tomorrow morning (GMT), the monitoring of powers' activities will go offline for a short period while the latest data is assembled. Pilots who operate for one of the powers should deliver any cargo or vouchers before this time to ensure their activities are registered.