**>> SPYNET BULLETIN 
 **>> EARTHDATE 92.01.26 
 **>> AN H-by-A SERVICE 
 
 
 **>> BELLA GETS BACK TO WORK 
 
Our Illustrious Leader is starting to do a little work on the game again,
although she's not able to spend a lot of time at the computer - she gets tired
very easily. But she's certainly able to think as well as she ever could, and
she's turning her brain-power to the question of what happens after the rank of
Baron. 
 
At this point, the game-play will change yet again. Players who have learned
how to haul cargo, got to grips with trading on the exchanges, mastered the art
of building and running factories, designed and built a planet and then become
skilled in planetary management, are going to be thrust into the cut-throat
world of intergalactic politics! 
 
We've got no concrete information about what exactly the ranks of Duke and
Privy Counsellor will involve; the grand design is still floating around in
Bella's braincell. But we do know that the leap from Baron to Duke will involve
a complex puzzle. The setting of the puzzle has been decided, and it's going to
be a really good one! (Not an easy one like the JP and GM puzzles, says Bella.
To which we say, Phooey!) 
 
 
 **>> PLANETARY CHANGES 
 
During the next week, Jinx (Oxcart's world) will be shrinking down to a mini-
planet, so you only have a day or so left to explore this strange world. We do
recommend that you have a look around before it is demolished, because it is
one of the better planets to have been built, ranking up there with Gotham,
Haven and the legendary Scratchwood. 
 
Once Jinx has gone mini, there will be room for Flatliner's planet to go in. We
asked Bella what Flatliner's world was called, and with much grumbling she
limped off on her crutches to look up what Flatliner had said... and found that
he hadn't given it a name! Flatliner, if you are reading this, you'd better
tell Bella what your planet is called pretty quick, or she'll make something up
for you! 
 
 
 **>> AN ALARMING EXPERIENCE! 
 
Bella has also fixed a minor (but amusing) bug that was causing much
consternation amongst GroundHogs. Apparently, every time a new player entered
Fed Data Space, their alarms were going off after 1 minute! This prompted
attempts to look at watches, read messages, turn off alarm... none of which got
an intelligent comment from the game! 
 
 
 **>> ROMANCE UNDER THE STARS 
 
February 14 is Valentine's Day, and even in the far future that is Fed Data
Space it is still celebrated. We'll be marking the occasion in two ways. First,
we'll be running an anonymous personal ads column for young lovers. Send your
message to us, and we'll publish a special news bulletin on Valentine's Day.
Use the "Federation Feedback" option on the main Fed menu. 
 
This will be followed by an RTC entitled "Romance Under the Stars: Fed and the
Art of Role-playing" on Sunday February 16. The RTC will be held in the MP
Games RTC, and will be hosted by Freya. It starts at 2.00 eastern time. 
 
 
 **>> FROM THE THROAT OF POISON PEN... 
 
We now turn this bulletin over to the latest in our line of anonymous gossip
columnists. 
 
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 
 
///  POOR BLACKMARK!!! /// 
 
Not that we feel sorry for him or anything... We mean, of course, 'poor' in the
financial sense of the word.  Rumour has it that Blackmark has found himself
rather short on funds lately... he's even been spotted TRADING to make groats!
Will miracles never cease?   
 
Our informant, after being plied with large quantities of expensive alcohol,
explained that our latest pirate wanna-be - besides having an ongoing affair
with Diesel, which, as all her ex-paramours know, can get rather expensive -
has perhaps made a few too many powerful enemies through his carelessness of
late.  What sort of carelessness, you may ask? The sort of carelessness that
apparently involves making ill-conceived threats on the lives of such peaceful,
mild-mannered souls as Oxcart, Rezrov, and Krell. 
 
Catrina, Oddball, and even the Vile Cryptosporidium have also been seen taking
potshots at Blackmark.  We can only wonder about what he did to offend
them...[of course, one's mere presence in the same solar system is often enough
to offend Crypto, if it's feeling moody, so we won't wonder too much about
that.]   
 
In any case, profits at the Mars repair sheds are said to have gone up more
than 50 percent over last month's!  
 
///  CRYPTO GROUNDBOUND!?! /// 
 
What has happened to the Vile One's ship?  The Bowelmovement has not been seen
fouling up the interplanetary wastes in the last couple of weeks. Crypto has
offered no explanation for her lack of transportation, but the rumour going
around says the real reason is that she is trying gamely to keep up her old
reputation as the finest fighter who ever flew, and is afraid that Oddball will
shoot her down if she ever goes into space again! 
 
Poor Crypto's fear of being humiliated in battle has so far kept her confined
to Mars, as the passenger-liner operators are reluctant to let her ride on
their ships. We can't say we blame them!  
 
///  DISGUSTING!!! /// 
 
Slew, sick boy that he is, is still carrying Tal's head around with him! We
find this to be unspeakably disgusting, and refuse to make any further comment
on it, except to note that he attempted to give it to Bella as a get-well
present! Ugh! 
 
///  LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS /// 
 
Have you ever wondered what Rich People do to amuse themselves?  Well, besides
playing nasty tricks on newbods; a popular pastime as of late seems to be
Playing God...  Messing with Forces Beyond Our Control... trying to do things
which CANNOT BE DONE... i.e., futzing around with the Game Itself!  We have
heard tell that at least one recent crash was caused by a certain bored planet
owner [who shall remain nameless] engaging in an activity [which shall remain
nameless] which resulted in the Universe As We Know It being brought to a
screeching halt.   
 
The reason we bring this up in what is essentially a gossip column is this:
Boredom is an ever-present threat to Rich People as of late, and if you all
don't start engaging in some kind of scandalous activity to keep them occupied
with their spybeams, and provide something for them to giggle and gossip about
at those ritzy cocktail parties, this sort of thing may happen again!  And, to
make things worse, you will all be forced to read long, boring gossip columns
that contain NO SEX WHATSOEVER!   
 
///  WELL, MAYBE JUST A LITTLE SEX... /// 
 
A large number of new Commanders have entered Fed recently, and our resident
demi-goddess certainly has been going out of her way to make them all feel
quite welcome.  Hazed was spotted holding court in Diesel's, surrounded by
eager young admirers, giving all sorts of interesting instruction to the
beginners... instruction which, oddly enough, did not seem to include how to
haul goods around the Solar System.  One witness reported that the lessons
appeared to focus more on such things as creative use of the [GROPE] command...
We hear that several of her students have even expressed wishes to become her
personal slaves! They were obviously attracted by the slogan the Galactic
Administration uses to advertise Fed Data Space, and aspire to become adults. 
     
 
/// JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO BACK INTO SPACE... /// 
 
Shady characters in dark, malodorous alleyways have been overheard whispering
rumours that Logan is back....... 
 
 
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 
 
 
 **>> PESTILENT PENCIL? NOXIOUS NIB? QUERELOUS QUILL? 
 
As if Poison Pen weren't enough, yet another anonymous correspondent has
crawled out of the woodwork bearing gossip and scandal. Now, we've never been
known to turn away dirty news, but we must insist in future that those who
don't wish their true identies to be revealed come up with their own
psuedonyms, because we're running out of ideas! 
 
Whatever we decide to call this one, here's what he, she or it has to say: 
 
Oxcart got to play his old tricks on an obnoxious newbod who tried to spit on
us all. The fool dropped the Tdx... trying to throw it at us. Then this foolish
newbod tried to throw acid on us and ended up injuring himself. Finally, reborn
in the Earth Hospital he wanded into Jail and was unable to escape until Freya
took pity on him and whispered the way to escape through the bars. 
 
Meanwhile back at CD's Wingnut and White removed their clothes in front of
everyone and rolled around under the tables shamelessly. Considering the filth
on the floor at CD's this was not the least erotic, more revolting than
anything. 
 
A newbod this week was so foolish as to ask Logan to "help him learn how to
fight". Ah, innocence. 
 
Freya has been seen lately skulking around the Titan Cantina, measuring tape in
hand. Could it be she plans to open an establishment to challange CD's for the
title Social Center of the Solar System? 
 
Late night treats: a certain threesome have been getting together in the wee
hours for some rather wild times on FED. Those seeking to join them may expect
to be treated to the most depraved conduct imaginable..or desired. While we
won't reveal their names...This trio are all planet owners. They offer the
newbod to FED a unique perspective on "cooperative games"! 
 
 
 **>> A BRAND NEW ANGEL IN HEAVEN 
 
We've received a press release from someone who claims to be the agent
representing the mysteriously deceased Angel: 
 
Speculation continues to run rampant about Angel's mysterious disappearance.
Where did she go and why? No-one seems to know. It is rumoured that Oxcart and
Ladybug were present at the time of her alleged demise, but neither could be
reached for comment. 
 
"She'd been keeping shady company," one source, close to Angel, admitted, "and
I was starting to get worried." Another was heard saying, "She'd been going to
the hospital on earth regularly before her mysterious disappearance. Maybe she
was sick?" While still another confided in seeing her ship, Heavensent, flying
treacherously close to the sun just minutes before the disappearance. There has
also been some speculation that she may have become a victim of the seedier
side of Gotham's nightlife. 
 
Is Angel gone for good? Did she leave this world in favor of another? And, if
so, why? No-one seems to know. Until she can be found, the reasons for Angel's
mysterious disappearance will continue to plague us. 
 
 
 **>> PARTY GAMES 
 
Leatherby has suggested one way that bored Rich People might keep themselves
occupied, and at the same time provide entertainment for the lower orders. He
proposes a roulette contest amongst Planet Owners, to see who can lose the most
money in a set length of time. Sounds good to us! 
 
 
 **>> PROMOTIONS NEWS 
 
Pyro solved the infamous GM puzzle during the week, and then was promoted to
Explorer. Look out for his planet some time soon! 
 
Allen made Merchant. Well done! 
 
Don't forget to tell us when you get promoted, and we'll mention your
achievement in the news. 
 
 
 **>>CONTACTS 
 
The following information will appear at the end of every News Bulletin, so you 
don't have to read it if you already know it. 
 
In the event of a problem or question, you can: 
 
 * talk to Hazed, Bella or Clem in the game 
 
 * leave a <TYPO> message in the game log 
 
 * send mail with the Federation Feedback option from the main menu 
 
You can order a copy of the unexpurgated printed Idiot's Guide to Federation by 
typing ORDER at any GEnie menu. Cost - a mere $12.95. 
 
Federation has several category in the new MPGames RT. To get there, type 
M1045,1 from any menu prompt and SET category 13 (for information, 
instructions, questions and answers) or 14 (for general chat and discussions). 
The Federation Leader in the bulletin board is Krell (Mail ID: K.HILLYER). 
There are also categories for Explorers and for the Conclave; these are run by
Occy (Mail ID: C). 
 
The MPGames RT also has a Federation library in the files area, Library 5. 
Library 18 holds the Federation News Archives. 
 
 **>> BULLETIN ENDS