JEDI HoloNet

With the ongoing war ripping apart the galaxy, weapon factories are becoming more and more vital- to both sides.

From standard edition blaster rifles to large scale weapons such as ion cannons, many large corporations have admitted a significant rise in profits. In fact, a recent survey of arms factories across Republic space revealed a staggering 39.78% rise in sales since the start of the war.

Owners of the factories of course attribute this rise to the continuing conflicts across the galaxy, though more specifically the large amount of troops being conscripted on all sides. Some skeptical experts claim that the huge rise in profits is not proportional to the levels of conscription into the Republic military forces, citing foul play.

The survey also uncovered a rising number of civilians preferring to drop their current careers to pursue similar productions, investing in weapons, clothing, unrefined resources and medical supplies.

Investigations on an Orveth mining colony on Edusa this morning resulted in the arrest of Republic Intelligence Agent Grath Harrick. Reports indicate that the situation came to a head earlier this cycle after Republic troops and a Jedi were misled into invading the mining colony, resulting in one casualty.

The colony’s owner, Loree Arak, and Republic forces Captain Derru Solari testified against Harrick, who will be put on trial later this month for bribery and fraudulent use of Republic resources. A warrant for larceny was also issued for elusive entrepreneur and accomplice Tylo Drimen, though so far no leads have been pursued.

The news has caused the price of Orveth to raise by an average of .23 credits per unit across Republic territories. Experts released a statement expressing concern that this event and others like it will result in a reduction in blaster canister production.

Today the Republic Senate announced a commission into core-world based companies. The move was prompted by fresh allegations regarding the super-profit corporation, Agos Co, whom has been caught out attempting to influence the votes of senators, through illicit means. The Senate membership was originally meant to vote on a bill that proposes sanctions on the purchase of public assets by Agos Co, but that has been delayed so that the commission can go ahead.

Agos Co has for, some time now, been trying desperately to purchase public assets from the Republic, allowing them control over water supply to over six systems. However, they denied all proposed regulations making them targets from Senate factions. Among the most outspoken of these senators, Airen Warren, spoke to media today about the commission; “We have fought so hard for this. It has been long overdue and I will make every effort to ensure that this commission is conducted properly”.

Senator Rita Sandria, another outspoken Senate representative in favour of the sanctions on Agos Co, was unable to speak to media as she faces allegations regarding improper conduct in a Coruscant detention centre. Although there has been no charges laid against her at this stage, her staff professed her innocence before denying to comment further.

Public opinion has rallied against Agos Co, as the suspicious death of three senators, who stood alongside Senator Warren and Sandria, has left many wondering if the company was responsible.

A logistics manager of the Asenti Nutri-Corp has been identified by planetary officials on Olanet as the one responsible for designating contaminated nerf meat for shipment. Amid an ongoing investigation, manager Kelsin Nauer surrendered himself to law enforcement and confessed that he was paid by executives from a competing meat-producing company to damage the reputation of the Asenti Nutri-Corp. Nauer alleges that he was approached by a third party a cycle prior to the incident to “identify methods to discredit Asenti and execute appropriate actions to the fullest of [his] ability”.

While the names of the executives and the competing company remain anonymous, officers report that they have an individual in their custody who is suspected to have facilitated the deal with Nauer. As investigators hope to ascertain the names of the executives in quick fashion, they have nevertheless confirmed that no contaminated nerf meat was found to have been shipped either prior to or after the whistleblower’s testimony. With this news, the Outer Rim may heave a sigh of relief as citizens may once again purchase their favorite cuts of nerf without fear.

The other plus side to what may have been a daunting outcome? In spite of worries about a potential blip in the Olaneti economy, an increased demand for bantha meat in the Hunnoverrs Sector has deposited significant capital into the accounts of rural farmers who herd the beasts. This recent development then begs the question of whether or not bantha meat will see a permanent increase in demand following the scare, as potential investors speculate the market in hopes of making a profit.

News coming from Olanet in the Hunnoverrs Sector has flustered local health inspectors and law enforcement personnel alike, as reports of an effort to sell contaminated nerf meat have begun to surface.

The reports arose after a whistleblower informed planetary officials of a suspected effort by the Asenti Nurti-Corp to process, package and sell various cuts of nerf meat that had been previously segregated for bioanalysis. According to the whistleblower, the cuts had been withheld based on a peculiar bruising being spotted on the surface of the meats. In spite of this effort, the cuts were repurposed, packaged and stored before inspectors could conduct further tests. Upon hearing this testimony, planetary officials were promptly sent to investigate and seize the shipments, which had fortunately not yet been sent.

Internal examination proved that every specimen of nerf meat, combined to weigh more than two and a half tonnes, was indeed contaminated with a bacterial infestation known to cause crippling, flu-like symptoms in most Human and Near-Human consumers. While no arrests have yet been made and the cause of the contamination and the motive to sell the meat are yet unknown, further investigations have been underway and all nerf meat processing factories of the Asenti Nutri-Corp have been indefinitely halted in their operations. In the meantime, officials have issued a warning to habitants of the Outer Rim to not purchase or consume any nerf meat originating from Olanet as a precaution, causing local economists to worry over the loss of production revenue on top of the present health concerns.