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Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

*Pilots' Federation ALERT*
Brewer Corporation intends to improve the travel corridor between the Alcor and Colonia systems by constructing several new starports.
The previous two phases of the Colonia Bridge project established stationary megaships in 56 systems. These provide rest, refuel and repair facilities for vessels making the 22,000 light year journey to and from the Colonia region. The additional infrastructure has also increased the amount of tritium available at these markets, easing the journey for capital-size ships.
A press release from Brewer Corporation outlined this latest initiative:
"Phase three aims to enhance the Colonia Bridge by building permanent starports in key locations along the route. These will offer a wide range of services to travellers, and also serve as homes for the many new communities that we expect to spring up around them."
"Our plan is to construct one

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

Brewer Corporation is enhancing the travel corridor to Colonia, but details about the project's next phase remain uncertain.
Business-related newsfeed The Tau Ceti Journal published this feature:
"There's no doubt that Brewer Corporation always thinks big. It has enjoyed huge commercial success as a manufacturer of starports and outposts, and its Drake-class fleet carrier has been enormously popular."
"The Colonia Bridge is the megacorp's most expensive undertaking yet, investing hundreds of billions of credits on the transportation infrastructure between the core systems and Colonia. More than one analyst predicted that the project might financially destabilise them."
"The first two phases proceeded on schedule. Before the end of this month, there will be a chain of 56 stationary megaships along systems between Alcor and Colonia."
"But there are rumours of a change of plans for phase three,

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

*Pilots' Federation ALERT*
The second phase of the Colonia Bridge project is complete, with Brewer Corporation confirming details for phase three.
An additional 26 megaships have taken up stationary positions in systems between Alcor and Colonia. Along with the existing 30 megaships, these will provide convenient rest, refuel and repair facilities to those travelling to and from the distant Colonia region.
A press release from Brewer Corporation addressed the next steps:
"The galactic community has made enormous contributions to establishing the Colonia Bridge. Encouraged by this, we have revised our plans and increased investment in the project."
"The next phase is scheduled to commence on the 6th of January 3308, and will add starports to key locations along the route. These will provide further services and opportunities to pilots, as well as forming permanent micro-communities between the

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

*Pilots Federation ALERT*
Brewer Corporation requests deliveries in the Alcor and Colonia systems for the next phase of the Colonia Bridge project.
A successful initiative in October resulted in the placement of 30 dockable megaships at intervals of several hundred light years, providing services such as refuelling and repairs. The second phase seeks to establish this support for the full route between the core systems and the Colonia region.
A press release from Brewer Corporation stated:
"We are now ready to continue work on the Colonia Bridge, by constructing additional megaships to fill the middle of the planned route. As before, we require shipments of ceramic composites, computer components and thermal cooling units at Macdonald Settlement in the Alcor system or Jaques Station in the Colonia system."
"Should deliveries reach sufficient levels, the top 75% of contributors will be awarded

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

*Pilots' Federation ALERT*
Deliveries have been requested in the Alcor and Colonia systems to implement services to the Colonia Bridge starports.
A press release from Brewer Corporation provided the details:
"The fourth and final phase of our Colonia Bridge project will take place over the next four weeks. Our goal is to finish constructing the starports that were recently added to the route between the Colonia and Alcor systems."
"For the first week, we require deliveries of Coffee, Emergency Power Cells, Geological Equipment and Liquid Oxygen to Macdonald Settlement in the Alcor system and Jaques Station in the Colonia system. If we receive sufficient commodities, we can add Universal Cartographics and Vista Genomics to all six stations."
"Everyone at Brewer Corporation was impressed by the galactic community's dedication to improving the travel corridor to the Colonia region. For this

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

*Pilots Federation ALERT*
Successful campaigns in the Alcor and Colonia systems will result in new megaships being added to the Colonia Bridge.
Large quantities of ceramic composites, computer components and thermal cooling units were provided at either end of the route between the core systems and the distant Colonia region.
Brewer Corporation provided an update on the project:
"Once again, the galactic community has provided the vital materials required to construct dockable megaships. These additional ports should be operational by the 25th of November, making journeys to and from Colonia easier and safer."
"Pilots can now collect their rewards from Macdonald Settlement in the Alcor system and Jaques Station in the Colonia system. We shall also be awarding an engineered frame shift drive with long range and fast boot to the majority of contributors."
The top ten pilots who delivered

Quote from Wing Commander News-Bot

If you were on the hunt for all of the international copies and translations of Wing Commander, Dennis Mull has an extra twist for the German edition of Wing Commander 4! He's got two different versions with some minor differences. On a later printing, the back side font was cleaned up, the age rating sticker was printed on the box and a couple missing name credits were added. I love tiny things like this. Good luck hunting your copies down!

Release (right) and re-release (left). The differences are a different font on the back of the box and the sticker "USK 12" is printed on the box. Jeffrey "JC" Combs and Frank Roan are also added.

Quote from Wing Commander News-Bot

Among many other Wing Commander endeavors,

Pedro

is still grinding away in the background on his

WC4 Remaster

project. He reports that there might be some exciting breakthroughs regarding cockpits soon, and

DefianceIndustries

has stepped up to share some of the prototype views. There's still work to go, but these examples are pretty sweet! Who'd like to take this ship out for a spin?

That said Defiance Industries just made me an amazing new cockpit for the Hellcat which I am eager to try out so by spooky coincidence I just started getting back to this project last week (specifically re-adding VR support which the switch to Vulkan broke). I hope to have some nice screenshots of both a VR view and a WC3 style static cockpit (for those who missed the cockpit in WCIV) in a few weeks.Stay tuned.

Maybe Defiance would like to post an image to tide you over?

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

Ask and you shall

Quote from Wing Commander News-Bot

Back in 2016, we reported on Joe Garrity's discovery of Deluxe Animation animation files that seemed like they could be unused Wing Commander art. The files were located on a 5.25" disk that once belonged to Origin artist Daniel Bourbonnais and were dated between 1991 and 1992. We published an analysis that concluded that while it was possible the art was intended for Wing Commander it was also just as likely it could be connected to another project.

Now, we have the real answer! Mr. Bourbonnais himself has identified the material. He writes: "I drew the hands for the throttle controls animation on Wing Commander in 91… [but] oh, that was a demo I created to get freelance work. It is in a video on YouTube. Daniel Bourbonnais computer artist or animator." That video is available here: :

The animation in question starts at the 2m27s mark and includes many impressive elements not found on the original

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

A spokesperson for the Cobra Wing has announced that its campaign to build a research outpost in the Ebor system has been enthusiastically received by the galactic community. Scores of pilots supported the campaign by delivering commodities to Morris Enterprise and eliminating agitators in Ebor, thereby ensuring the safety of traders.

A spokesperson for the Cobra Wing released the following statement:

"We want to thank all the Commanders who supported this campaign. We hope that the new outpost helps us communicate with our neighbours and achieve peace."

Pilots who contributed to the initiative can now collect their rewards from Morris Enterprise in the Ebor system.

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

Sirius Atmospherics has delivered an update on its experiments to terraform ammonia worlds in the Coalsack Nebula.
The subsidiary of Sirius Corporation is working closely with the Alliance to exploit the nebula's resources and pursue scientific investigation, including terraforming terrestrial planets with ammonia-based atmospheres.
Project director Dr Maximilian North gave this progress report:
"Preliminary efforts at ecosphere conversion have delivered promising results, but our new techniques are not as effective as the simulations based on exploration data suggested. We are still a long way from fully transforming these worlds into habitable environments."
Independent journalist Flint 'Firemaker' Lafosse commented on this via the Rewired network:
"Does anyone really believe Sirius is there for the terraforming? Of course they can't magically turn ammonia hellholes into paradise planets

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

The human colonists in the Coalsack Nebula has raised the alarm after Thargoid forces appeared several systems.
Following recent attacks on systems and vessels in the California Nebula, it appears that the Thargoids have again sought to occupy systems where barnacle fields are present on planet surfaces.
Councillor Lewis Laychurch, representing the Alliance Expeditionary Pact in HIP 62154, provided the following to the Alliance Tribune:
"Our security craft regularly patrol between the populated systems in this region. We had the first reports of nonhuman signals this morning. Obviously we've seen Thargoid activity in the Coalsack Nebula several times before, but this time was different. It's not an attack as much as a presence."
"We witnessed a huge upsurge in these signals in multiple systems. Over a couple of hours, it felt like Thargoid activity was visible on scanners wherever our ships

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

*Pilots Federation ALERT*
Explorers have catalogued many ammonia worlds for a Sirius Atmospherics terraforming project in the Coalsack Nebula.
The subsidiary of Sirius Corporation is one of several companies that are working in partnership with the Alliance to commercially exploit the region.
Project director Dr Maximilian North announced the successful completion of the initiative:
"The data provided on planets with ammonia-based atmospheres will be invaluable to our terraforming simulations. With our new environmental techniques, some of these poisonous worlds within the nebula may one day become habitable."
Sirius Atmospherics has confirmed that payouts for all contributing pilots are now available at Betancourt Base in the Musca Dark Region PJ-P b6-1 system.
As the expansion into the Coalsack Nebula progresses, Commodore Morag Halloran of the Alliance Defence Force commented on the

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

*Pilots Federation ALERT*
An Alliance initiative has successfully prepared the Coalsack Nebula for exploitation and reduced the Thargoids' presence.
Traders delivered shipments of power generators, robotics, structural regulators and building fabricators, which will be used to help construct several new facilities in the region.
The quantity of commodities received will result in construction of the following for the 26th of November 3306:
Betancourt Base Starport in the Musca Dark Region PJ-P b6-1 system.
Additional services: Interstellar factor, human technology broker, encoded material trader, extended range of Multi-purpose ships.
Cole Point Starport in the CoalSack Sector VU-0 B6-6 system.
Additional services: Interstellar factor, raw material trader, extended range of Multi-purpose ships and mining equipment, fleet carrier administration.
Hannu Arena Starport in the Musca Dark Region

Quote from Wing Commander News-Bot

And just like that, right out of the blue is a gorgeous new wallpaper from Klavs! It features two slick Hellcats cruising above the clouds at dusk. If you look really closely, there's some details like running lights and painted sections that make the scene look more realistic. The image below has been produced at 3840x2160 so it'll look crisp on your high res monitor!

Quote from Wing Commander News-Bot

And that's it for the front page! But the party continues! Come on back to #Wingnut on Discord to rejoin the fun! The livestream broadcast will also continue well into the night. There's lots of people we'd like to thank for helping make today possible. This has been a HUGE year for fan projects with a ton of absolutely marvelous efforts in full swing. Howard Day, DefianceIndustries, Popsicle Pete, Pedro, L.I.F./Rufus, UnnamedCharacter, Goliath, Dark Sentinel and Denis Loubet are just some of the people who are killing it this year. This makes our job tremendously fun since there's so much to report on. Once again, KrisV has outdone himself in literally keeping the website online from a technical perspective and doing all of the behind-the-scenes maintenance and upgrades that nobody else will touch.

And completely sincerely, I'd like to thank all of YOU for coming. It's the shared excitement

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

The Close Encounters Corps has announced that its appeal for commodities has reached a successful conclusion, having received an overwhelming response from the galactic community.

A huge number of muon imagers were delivered to Crown Prospect over the past week. These will allow the construction of a scientific megaship to research the nebula surrounding the BD-12 1172 system.

With the initiative at an end, Admiral Anton Vern of the Close Encounters Corps issued the following statement:

"I am grateful for the professionalism displayed by the pilots who took part in this project, and thank them on behalf of our researchers. New horizons and new worlds await us."

Pilots who contributed to the initiative can now collect their rewards from Crown Prospect in the Kagutsuchi system.

Quote from Elite Dangerous Galnet News-Bot

The Close Encounters Corps has announced its intention to construct a scientific megaship in the BD-12 1172 system. The new vessel will allow research teams to map and explore the planets of the surrounding nebula.

Admiral Anton Vern of the Close Encounters Corps issued the following statement:

"A number of survey groups have expressed interest in mapping the nebula surrounding the BD-12 1172 system. This new scientific vessel will act as a base from which they can research the abundance of unexplored planets throughout the nebula."

To facilitate construction of the megaship, the Close Encounters Corps has placed an open order for muon imagers, and has promised to reward pilots who deliver these commodities to Crown Prospect in the Kagutsuchi system. The organisation has also placed a kill order on all ships on its wanted list, to ensure that those contributing material can do so safely.

The

Quote from Wing Commander News-Bot

Wing Commander I's manual, Claw Marks, includes sixteen pages of hand drawn art of the game's ships. These schematics were part of a larger group draughted by Origin artist Glen Johnson as reference for the game's outsource 3D artist. While the original art consisted of 21 ships with 5 views each, Claw Marks reproduces only 16 ships with 3 views, two of those split in half to save space. We thought it would be a fun experiment to 'unsplit' the top and bottom views from the Claw Marks artwork! Here are the results, quick-and-dirty edits to show what the ships looked like when they were originally drawn:

Quote from Wing Commander News-Bot

I'm calming the old broken brain this weekend with a little research project: studying the evolution of Claw Marks! Like all holy books, Claw Marks evolved over time with edits and changes made by other contributors as Wing Commander I was ported and re-released...

And it's pretty fascinating seeing the changes! The original manual was developed in 1990 by the late, great Aaron Allston before Origin adopted digital publishing. It's the perfect lore booklet, absolutely defining the tone of the original game.

In 1994, Origin recreated it digitally for the Sega CD port (and then Super Wing Commander). Tuesday Frase overhauled the text, with changes ranging from dropping Oxford commas to rewriting sections and adding others!

And then in 1996 it was updated again for Kilrathi Saga with a host of lesser changes (and a totally new layout). And of course there are spinoffs and foreign translations that add