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Port Sandor Times News Service

"All the news is fit to print, and if it's news the Times prints it."
— Walt Boyd (H. Beam Piper), Four-Day Planet

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(Illustration by Ahkâm)

Based at Port Sandor on Fenris, the Port Sandor Times News Service is a colonial news service which reaches many worlds across the Federation. Established on Fenris in 458 AE, the Port Sanders Times has off-world bureaus on Terra, Odin, Isis, Baldur, Osiris, Marduk, Ishtar, Vishnu and Aton.

Port Sandor Times News Briefs

ᚠ PORT OBERTH, Federation Member Republic of VENUS^* Date: 13 AUGUST, 953 A.E.

‖ President Muthoni Kirima today issued a proclamation commemorating the death, 830 years ago, of Princess Charlotte the Martyr. Princess Charlotte, who at the time of her death was heir apparent of the former monarchy of Britain, was killed along with the crew of the former World Commonwealth space ship Temeraire in the skies above the Cytherean Ocean in the aftermath of the Fourth World War.
‖ The Martyrdom of Princess Charlotte is traditionally celebrated as Independence Day on Venus though it differs from the actual date nearly eight years later when Venusian sovereignty was recognized and the Member Republic was admitted to the Federation. Princess Charlotte had been sent from Melbourne, the seat of the former British government-in-exile in Australia, to the World Commonwealth colonies on Venus in an effort to safeguard the royal succession.
‖ The Temeraire was attacked by a ship of the former Terran Federation of States which had been sent from Terra to Venus specifically to pursue Princess Charlotte. The armistice which had ended the Fourth World War applied only to "first" Terran Federation and World Commonwealth forces on Terra. The "first" Federation's colonies on Venus, based at James Landing, had revolted during the war. The Venusian colonies of the former World Commonwealth, based at Arrhenius, had supported the rebels.
‖ After Terra was united under the "second" Terran Federation, the colonies on Venus continued to insist upon their independence. Nevertheless, Venus was the second colony world — after Luna — to submit to the authority of the new Federation, but not before Federation forces had reduced the capital at Arrhenius to ruble in the wars of pacification and consolidation by which the Federation ultimately imposed a System-wide pax. ᛟ

^* This item expands on information briefly presented in "The Edge of the Knife" as well as information in other Terro-human Future History works.

ᚠ WELLSTOWN, Federation Member Republic of MARS^* Date: 11 AUGUST, 953 A.E.

‖ Chidiegwu Guardia, Chancellor of the University of Wellstown, has opened cermonies marking the nonacentennial of the deciphering of ancient Martian languages. The Dane School of Linguistics and Language Studies will host scholars from across the Federation throughout the year to mark the anniversary.
‖ Martha Dane was an early Terran sociographer and member of the first Federation expedition to Mars. The Penrose Expedition discovered the first remnants of the extinct Martian civilization at Syrtis. A protected archaeological site of the ruins explored by the Expedition remains in the outskirts of the current metropolis.
‖ Dane and her colleagues had no "bilingual," a connecting document which could be used to translate the ancient Martian language to a known Terran language. Dane realized that an ancient Martian periodic table could be used to translate elements of the Martian language to Terran languages. Working from this original connection, Dane and her colleagues, assisted by scholars on Terra, were eventually able to produce a comprehensive translation of several ancient Martian languages.
‖ While scholars of several non-Terro-human languages, including some non-human sapients, will participate in nonacentennial events throughout the year, Dane's technique has yet to be used to translate a living, contemporary language. No sapient race yet discovered has had a civilization that mirrors the achievements of the ancient Martians which might have enable them to produce a periodic table. Nevertheless, Dane's techniques remain the translation touchtone for communication in any future encounter with an advanced, non-human civilization. ᛟ

^* This item expands on information presented in "Omnilingual" as well as information in other Terro-human Future History works.

ᚠ STURSINTIR CITY, Federation Member Republic of FREYA^* Date: 15 AUGUST, 953 A.E.

‖ Queen Sammeh has opened cermonies marking the sexcentennial of the admission of Freya into the Federation. Speaking to a joint session of the General Assembly, Her Majesty said, "We are pleased and proud to be with you today — not only to celebrate this anniversary of the establishment of the Federation Member Republic, but to rejoice in Freya, its past, its present and its future. We look forward to joining the people of Freya for these celebrations across the planet throughout the coming year."
‖ Speaking to reporters outside the Legislative Palace after the opening ceremony, President Inés dad-Ferik said, "The Planetary Republic will host a range of activities during the year ahead and support community projects and initiatives throughout the Freyan system. These activities will highlight not only the distinct identity of the Freyan people but also the many contributions Freyans have made and continue to make as citizens of one of the most important worlds of the Terran Federation."
‖ In prepared remarks at Her Majesty's evening reception at Yunsay Castle, Minister-General Catarina Gower said, "It is my very great honor to offer my congratulations on behalf of the Federation Government to Her Majesty the Queen, to President dad-Ferik and to all of the people of Freya on this jubilant occasion. The Terran Federation is more prosperous, more secure and more united because Freya is a Federation Member Republic."
‖ During the celebration, the Federation battleship T.F.S. Akrafena and the cruisers T.F.S. Santiago and T.F.S. Cumberland joined several ships of the Freyan Home Guard in a spectacular orbital display that delighted attendees at the evening reception. The walls and parapets of Yunsay Castle were aglow with a variety of changing colors from the mock orbital battle which was visible across Great Stursintir. ᛟ

^* This item expands on information presented in "When in the Course —" (and in "In Congress Assembled —") as well as information in other Terro-human Future History works.

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