Discovery of Planetary System Around Solaria! 

TO: Fleet Commander

FROM: General Johann Kane, ISB Liason Officer

RE: Aurora System (Background provided by CMDR/BG Melan Pyr/Tau-1/ISD Col) 

The Grand Master of the Bounty Hunters Guild has recently approached me with some interesting information. Although the Bounty Hunter’s information will be dear, it shall undoubtedly prove to be a very wise investment. 

The Bounty Hunters had learned of the existence of a hidden planetary system. The Grand

Master himself had apparently obtained this information from one of a handful of traders who frequent that system to do business. 

The red dwarf star known as Solaria is at the system’s center. It is located at the very edge of the Outer Rim. It has been casually observed that a large cloud of gases revolves around it in an abnormal path. It has been learned that a planet named Aurora (by which the system is now known) orbits Solaria. Aurora has a single satellite called Eos, and a system of platforms, factories and detection devices. 

The Aurorans have reportedly utilized gravity well generators in a ingenious way. They have managed to orchestrate the movements of Solaria’s gasses and material in such a way so as to constantly obscure the presence of Aurora and its satellite. If it were not for the information that the Bounty Hunters have provided the Hammer, the discovery of Aurora might never have occurred. 

Since it is firmly believed that neither the New Republic nor any other Imperial factions have any knowledge of Aurora’s existence, the Emperors Hammer is provided with a fortuitous opportunity. According to the Bounty Hunters’ reports, Aurora is verdant, fertile and rich in natural resources. It has numerous manufacturing faculties, both on and off world, which could be easily adapted to serve the needs of the Hammer. Its population is human, and with persuasion, can be easily pressed into our service. In addition, though well defended, the Aurorans have had no combat experience within the last 100 standard years. 

When acquired, the Auroran System will be a valuable hidden asset to the Emperor's Hammer. 

MISSION: To locate and survey the Aurora System for conquest. 

TIME: Two Standard Imperial Weeks 

PRIZE: Primary = 3,000,000 ICs

CLUE NO. 1 

In order to locate the Aurora System's exact coordinates and to survey the System for Imperial conquest by the forces of the Hammer, the Fleet Commander has authorized the expenditure of 3,000,000 Imperial Credits to perform the Mission. The successful Bounty Hunter will proceed to the Aurora System based on online clues he/she follows. Once in the system, the Bounty Hunter will relay back important tactical and strategic information on the systems' specific resources and military installations. Upon receipt of the Bounty Hunter's data, the Command Staff of the Hammer will develop an assault strategy (i.e. RBKugel's Combined Arms Battle will be released). 

In order to locate the exact system coordinates and proceed to the Aurora System, the Bounty Hunter is requested to proceed to a NEW Hammer related message board opened under AOL Keyword "SF". In this folder (on DAY 2), Mystique7, one of our key ISB operatives, will provide valuable information on the next Clue...The day of release of this Newsletter will be considered DAY 0....

CLUE NO. 2 

Subj: Bounty Hunters survey Aurora!

Date: 95-08-22 00:00:40 EDT

From: Mystique7

<<The following is a posting (Clue No.2) for the Bounty Hunters's Guild of

the Emperor's Hammer in their assigned Mission No. 3 to find and survey the

Aurora System for the Imperial Security Bureau and the Dark Brotherhood>>

The following was relayed by the first Bounty Hunter to exit hyperspace at a

safe distance from the remote probes around the system:

"Until the information recently obtained through the Bounty Hunters was

revealed, the Aurora system was unknown. Its sun, Solaria was recorded, but

was believed to have no orbiting satellites. This error in observation was

due to a cloud of stellar material that orbits Solaria, hiding its details

The information surveyed and transmitted by the Bounty Hunters revealed that

there were indeed planetary bodies in orbit about Solaria. Furthermore, it

was the inhabitants of the main planet in the system who were responsible for

the ignorance of the entire Galaxy. It was they who cleverly manipulated the

stellar gases and material so as to obscure their homeworld form view. They

accomplished this by adapting gravity well generators to the task of holding

this stellar material together and causing it orbit Solaria in such a way

that no one 'inside' the Galaxy would be able to see their planet.

SOLARIA 

Solaria is a red dwarf star, located on the far-most echelon of stars of the

Outer Rim region. It has the distinction of being the furthest star in this

sector from the Galactic center.

The last recorded mention of the star appears in an Imperial communications

log. A stray TIE had to be rescued after a minor skirmish with a rebel

flight. The pilot used Solaria as a marker for his coordinates. Other than

this one mention, the star has been only casually observed from a distance.

Solaria has only one planet in orbit, Aurora, which was only recently

discovered.

>>Bounty Hunters<<

The first Bounty Hunter to E-Mail the Fleet Commander @ GA Ronin with the

following will obtain the first Secondary Prize (500,000 ICs) for this mission, being the

first BH in the system:

>>Solaria identifed...Pyr's system ahead!<<

The next Clue (#3) can be found in the FSRC Organizations Message Area on DAY

4.

Good luck, Hunters!

Mystique7

CLUE NO. 3 

"Grand Admiral........Grand Admiral", Adams called for Ronin, but he was

keenly interested in the new survey maps sent back from the Aurora System.

Besides, there was plenty of time until the Hammer reached the Hast

Shipyards. Due to nagging mechanical problems with the Avenger and her drive

systems, the Engineers Corps put the latest arrival estimate in Hast in two

approximately weeks. There was plenty of time to kill.

"Grand Admiral, I have the latest reports from our Hunters at Aurora. Shall

I send them up to your office?"

"Please...That will be all for tonight, you may stand down. Please notify VA

Havok he has the bridge. Goodnight..."

Ronin quickly switched his monitor back to the latest information on the

Aurora System. It would make the perfect base for the Hammer in these

chaotic times.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-the following was submitted by RBKugel

Solaria is a red dwarf star, located on the far-most echelon of stars of

the Outer Rim region. It has the distinction of being the star in this

sector, furthest from the Galactic center.

The last recorded mention of the star appears in an Imperial communications

log. A stray TIE had to be rescued after a minor skirmish with a rebel

flight. The pilot used Solaria as a marker for his coordinates. Other than

this one mention, the star has been only casually observed from a distance.

Solaria has only one planet in orbit, Aurora, which was only recently

discovered.

The planet of Aurora is a rather old, tectonicaly stable world. It is

comparatively under-populated, and is still quite rich in natural resources.

It has an advanced civilization despite its seclusion from the rest of the

Galaxy. The human population is apparently heavily augmented by droids of

radical design. Half of its surface is covered by water. There are only two

land masses which are connected to each other by a wide land bridge, which is

thought to be artificial.

Aurora's land is covered in vegetation, and the population centers are

small, well ordered and do not seem to adversely impact their surroundings

It is clear that the Aurorans have spent most of their time and genius on

perfecting a quality of life for themselves. Their expertise in droid

design, their work with gravity well generators and their control of their

environment all speak to this.

Their military capability however, has suffered as a result. They have had

to rely on a small supply of fighting craft bought from a few trusted black

market traders. Since they've not seen war for more than a standard century,

they have been able to amass a large defensive force over time. This lack of

war time experience will be a liability when this force meets the Hammer in

combat.

They have back engineered several key systems for weapon designs, missiles

and other types of weapons, though they still relay on fighter and capital

ship deliveries from outside the system. Most of the larger factories are

located off world. These will be useful to the Hammer once the system is

secured

Aurora has one natural moon, named Eos. Eos is significantly smaller than

Aurora, but rich in ore deposits. It is also home to Auroran colonists,

manufacturing and military facilities. Eos is a heavily garrisoned world,

and will provide an interesting target for our orbital bombardment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ronin switched off his monitor. He had directed the Hunters to covertly

survey the Aurora System to obtain preliminary information on orbital

facilities and military capabilities.

Clue No. 4 will be posted in two days (Sunday, 8/27/95) within FSRC Forum by

Arcturus...

I have heard rumors that the Fleet Commander will pay the hunter well who

sends back the requested information...

CLUE NO. 4 

Subj: Survey Data from Aurora!

Date: 95-08-27 20:26:30 EDT

From: Arturus

<<The following is posted for the Bounty Hunters' Guild of the Emperor's

Hammer. It represents the first data sent by the Bounty Hunters from the

recently surveyed Aurora System, as submitted by BG Melan Pyr.>>

Grand Admiral Ronin was pleased with the latest data on the capabilities and

military strengths of the Aurorans. The Bounty Hunters' Guild serves the

Hammer well, Ronin thought:

Platforms are of two basic types, Civilian and Defense. The civilian

platforms are pleasant little colonies. The inhabitants are mostly native

Aurorans, supplemented of course with their ever-present humaniform droids.

Most of these temporary residents are on some sort of sabbatical or

extended holiday. It is rumored that the average platform dweller has been

off world for no more than 5 standard years.

The Defense platforms are obviously intended to thwart an external invasion

of the system. For all of the peace this system has seen, its inhabitants are

surprisingly paranoid. Unfortunately for them, their paranoia is matched by

their naiveté concerning the Galaxy before them. Despite their obsession

with military preparedness, they have no inkling of the power that will

presently be arrayed against them.

Factories are situated off world so as to limit the impact of their presence

on the planetary environment. There are military, consumer and scientific

oriented facilities among their number. The heaviest defenses are anticipated

at the military FACs.

Two fleets were initially detected. The First Fleet was in orbit about Eos.

The Second Fleet was located in the Daneel-Settler Quadrant. Later

reconnaissance revealed a substantial Fleet in low orbit over Aurora itself.

It was also suspected that a fleet of equal size might be garrisoned on Eos.

In addition to the Fleets, all military platforms and factories are well

defended by their own fighter squadrons and static defense systems.

>>The first Bounty Hunter to E-Mail the Fleet Commander @ GA Ronin will

receive the Secondary Prize of 500,000 ICs:

"...First Fleet>Eos...Second Fleet>Daneel-Settler Quadrant..."

The next and last clue, identifying and plotting an assault route on the

Aurora System, will be posted in three days (i.e. on Wednesday, August 30,

1995) in the SF Forum (Keyword "SF") by myself.<<

Best of luck, Hunters!

Arturus, ISB Special Operative

CLUE NO. 5 

<<The following is posted for the Bounty Hunters of the Emperor's Hammer and

is not related to this folder or club in any way>>

The Fleet Commander's monitor was showing a lot of interference; the image of

the Bounty Hunter wasn't very clear and the audio was barely being received.

Considering that the tight beam transmission was coming from the other side

of the sector, the reception was better than could be expected.

The moment he had been finally waiting for was here. Ronin was to receive

the suggested assault strategy into Aurora from his spies in-system. Ronin

let the audio fade as he read the document before him:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Battle (the following was transmitted/created by RKugel)

Maintaining the secrecy of the existence of Aurora is of paramount

importance. Any attack must be done in such a way as to not attract undue

attention from parties outside the Emperors Hammer.

In order to accomplish this, capital ship movements must be rapid and

staggered, so as not to give the impression we are engaged in a major

campaign. The attack itself must be planned to bring down the Aurora System

as quickly as possible. The shorter this battle is, the more likely it will

go undetected by our enemies.

The first stage of the Battle will involve only starfighters. As the battle

quickly progresses, the needed capital ships will arrive upon the scene. We

will leave the Hammer's secondary vessels in place for the final assaults on

the planet's moon of Eos and then Aurora itself. After the system's fighter

and static defense has been eliminated, the worlds will be secured and

garrisoned as quickly as possible. Our base at PLT Daedalus will be well

guarded by most of our captital ships.

The size and expertise of our Fleet will insure a quick operation with

minimum losses.

Major Objectives

1. decimate fighter defenses

2. eliminate static defenses

3. capture Eos

4. capture Aurora

5. secure all remaining facilities necessary for the Emperor's Hammer

The long term plans for the Aurora System will be made by the Grand Admiral.

He has mentioned the possibility that this system, once secured, might become

the Hammer's "home system"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Grand Admiral smiled. The Rebellion would pay dearly for Endor..very

dearly.

>>The first Bounty Hunter to E-Mail the following to the Fleet Commander@GA

Ronin will receive the Prize for Mission 3 of the BHG of 3,000,000 ICs:

"Aurora! Veni, Vidi, Vici !"

Good luck Hunters!<<

Arturus

ISB Special Operative